COBB
Police sergeant honored for rescuing woman
Powder Springs Police Sgt. Keith Moore was given an annual public safety award during a recent meeting of the South Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce for rescuing a woman.
She was being dragged by her hair outside of a convenience store in June during a domestic dispute.
Moore still is recovering from his injuries when he struggled with the suspect until three other officers arrived to help him arrest the suspect, Powder Springs City Manager Brad Hulsey and Police Chief Charlie Sewell said. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Police cars selling online through Nov. 14
Powder Springs officials are selling two 2005 Ford Crown Victoria police vehicles on GovDeals.com through 9 p.m. Nov. 14.
Both have nearly new batteries, and they have mileages of around 100,000 and nearly 139,000.
Bidding registration is free.
These items may be seen by typing “Powder Springs” in the search box.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Smyrna to hold development meetings
Smyrna will hold three public meetings before the council considers annexing and rezoning almost 82 acres at Riverview Road and Nichols Drive for a $300 million mixed-use development on the Chattahoochee River. A Smyrna Business Association meeting will be at noon Thursday, Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green. A Ward 7 town hall meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Whitfield Academy, Whitefield Road, Smyrna. A public hearing will also be held 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 before the council vote at City Hall, 2800 King St.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Diversity job fair at Cobb Galleria
Diversity Hiring Expos, Inc. will host the Atlanta Diversity, Veteran, Professional Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. Attendees should wear professional dress, bring resumes and be prepared for a possible interview. Industries represented will include sales, management, logistics, retail, programmers, engineers, database administrators, nursing, higher education, finance and more. Admission and parking are free. Information: www.diversityhiringexpos.com.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Get free native plant seeds in Mableton park
The Georgia Native Plant Society will be giving away native plant seeds from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Heritage Park, 60 Fontaine Road, Mableton.
Also, those who would like to help with planting in the park are asked to bring a pair of gloves and a shovel.
Information: prca.cobbcountyga.gov/heritagepark.htm or price3@charter.net.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Austell city employees honored
Four Austell city employees received recognition from Mayor Joe Jerkins and the City Council Monday.
A reception was held in their honor, and they all received five-year pins.
They include Deborah Brown, police; Zach Evans, parks; and Firefighters Mitch Parrott and Keith Thompson.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
I-85 HOT lane toll climbs to record $8.50
The cost to drive the 16-mile stretch of “HOT” express lane on I-85 southbound in Gwinnett and DeKalb County soared to a record $8.50 Tuesday morning, eclipsing the old mark by 50 cents.
The High Occupancy Toll lane’s cost is set on a sliding scale depending on the level of congestion on I-85 and in the HOT lane.
The website says the authority’s goal is to keep traffic in the HOT lane moving at an average speed of greater than 45 mph during peak hours. The maximum toll has been gradually climbing since the lanes opened on I-85 northbound and southbound 25 months ago. Mike Morris
Braselton collecting for needy at tree lighting
Braselton will light the town’s holiday tree, collect gifts for area youth and view a free movie to kick off the holiday season at 5 p.m. Saturday The movie “Monster University” will be shown. Chairs or blankets welcome. Concessions available. Free.
Information: www.downtownbraselton.com or 770- 367-3021. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gingerbread house competition begins
The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will host its fourth annual Sustainable Gingerbread House Competition and Exhibit with entries accepted beginning Nov. 25.
Designers are asked to create environmentally friendly houses highlighting sustainability and green building design using edible materials.
Awards will be presented during the GEHC’s Green Your Holiday Program at 11 a.m. Dec.14. E
ntries will be available for viewing at the GEHC until Jan. 3. Information: www.gwinnettehc.org/.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Humanist to address Freethought Society
Atlanta Freethought Society will host a nationally acclaimed atheist and humanist writer Dale McGowan 1 p.m. Sunday at AFS Hall, 4775 N. Church Lane, Smyrna. Free.
Nancy Badertscher
Hudgens has Spanish/English workshops
The Hudgens Center for the Arts will hold two workshops taught in Spanish and English this fall.
The first Mosaic Workshop will focus on fall/winter garden décor 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 16 for adults and children 14 and up. The second Creating Experimental Artwork in Mixed-Media will be 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7 for children 8 and up.
Details: www.thehudgens.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Call for art, fundraiser for African village
Kudzu Art Zone invites Georgia artists age 18 and up working in two- and three-dimensional media to participate in the Karansi Project art exhibit Friday through Nov. 22, at the gallery, 116 Carlyle St., Norcross.
Kudzu Art Zone, in partnership with the Tanzania Global Team ministry of Perimeter Church, is sponsoring the fundraiser to benefit relief efforts for the village of Karansi, Tanzania. Information: www.kudzuartzone.org or 770-840-9844.
Veronica Fields Johnson
NORTHSIDE
Cherokee school board member appeals sanctions
Embattled Cherokee County Board of Education member Kelly Marlow is appealing the sanctions levied on her by the board to the State Board of Education.
Marlow was sanctioned by the board Oct. 2 for a policy violation-sending a letter to the district’s accreditation agency asking for an investigation.
She was fined $3,600 by the board. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Johns Creek to break ground for memorial
Groundbreaking for the Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at 3125 Alabama Road.
The memorial will be a meditative four-acre site within Newtown Park aimed at honoring all veterans of conflicts from World War I forward.
The guest speaker will be John Del Vecchio, a Vietnam veteran and war novelist.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Songwriters festival in Alpharetta
The city of Alpharetta will debut its Wire and Wood Songwriters Festival from 4-9 p.m. Saturday at 2 S. Main St. Individual songwriters will perform on various stages from 4- 7 p.m. with the main stage hosting the Home by Dark Songwriters Show 7- 9 p.m.
Admission is free.
Information: www.alpharetta.ga.us
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cumming to host Veterans Day ceremony
The City of Cumming Veterans Day Ceremony will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans War Memorial, 301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard.
Mayor H. Ford Gravitt will give the welcome and Command Sergeant Major Roy F. Marchert will give the keynote address.
Information: Commander George C. Vernon at 706-258-7533 or geovernon@tds.net or Pam Daugherty at 678-592-8694 or cpdhome5@gmail.com.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Woodstock group sets holiday home tour
The Junior Service League of Woodstock will host its 17th annual Holiday Tour of Homes on Nov. 9-10.
The self-guided tour will feature homes in Woodstock and Canton professionally decorated for the holiday season by local designers.
Tickets are $20 with all proceeds benefiting local charitable groups.
Tickets and more info: jslwoodstock.org
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Roswell cultural and arts guide released
The city of Roswell’s 2013-2014 Arts and Cultural Organizations Directory has been released.
The resource guide contains information about 21 organizations in the city which offer arts and cultural programming.
Residents can download the guide at www.roswellgov.com/ArtsMonth.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Habitat builds 800,000th home
Construction will raise the walls this week on its 800,000th home, marking a milestone in the nonprofit’s history.
On Wednesday, construction will begin on a home on Verbena Circle in Atlanta.
So far, 14 homes have been built on Verbena Place by Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and plans call for the construction of 38 more.
Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to build, renovate, repair or improve a million homes by the end of 2015. Atlanta Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which works to open the doors of homeownership to working families.
Sheila M. Poole
Jackson renovations almost done
Students, staff and the community celebrated a milestone Monday in the $48.3 million renovation of Jackson High School by signing the last two beams that will become part of the school’s permanent structure.
The newly renovated school is scheduled to open in January and features a new gym, improved performing arts spaces, a turf football field, a 400-meter track, a baseball field, a softball field, three tennis courts, a media center and an improved cafeteria.
The eastern Atlanta school, which had 917 students enrolled last spring, will accommodate up to 1,500 students.
Mark Niesse
Coalition to sponsor World Diabetes Day
The Diabetes Community Action Coalition of Fulton County will host Take One Step to Stop Diabetes, a free World Diabetes Day event, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Washington Park Branch Library, 1116 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
Attendees will learn more than 50 ways to prevent Type 2 Diabetes, including how to “dance away diabetes” with Zumba.
Information: 740-807-1054.
Veronica Fields Johnson
DEKALB
School management focus of meeting
Charter school advocates and government officials will attend a Dunwoody parents meeting at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday to discuss alternative ways of managing and organizing public school districts.
Speakers at the Dunwoody Chamblee Parents’ Council meeting will explain a state mandate that systems such as the DeKalb County School District consider a charter management model. They will also talk about a proposal to amend the Georgia constitution so that new, smaller school districts could be created in cities.
The meeting is at Dunwoody Elementary School, 1923 Womack Rd., Dunwoody. Information: www.dcpc-dekalb.org.
Ty Tagami
VA clinic official for DeVry site
It now appears certain that Greenstone Properties will build a VA clinic on the old DeVry University property in Decatur. The developer told city planner Amanda Thompson Tuesday it would “try to submit development permits by the end of the year.”
Construction will probably begin in February with renovation of the existing 100,000 square-foot building taking eight months.
Before Greenstone’s purchase, the 22-acre site, annexed into the city in 2009, was long envisioned by the city as a potential residential/retail development. Bill Banks for the AJC
Evansdale raises big money with walkathon
For the second year in a row, Evansdale Elementary School in north DeKalb County has raised about $70,000 in a walk-a-thon, leading Principal Daniel McGuire to cluck about the success while wearing a chicken costume.
McGuire donned the goofy suit outside the school on a recent morning as parents dropped off their children. The Oct. 3 walk followed six weeks of pledge collections, with 53 percent of students and more than 900 donors nationwide participating, according to event spokeswoman Lauren Shankman.
She said “every penny” will be spent on Evansdale, with the school’s administration, foundation and PTA working jointly to allocate the money.
Ty Tagami
Best-selling author returns to DeKalb
Author and essayist Anne Lamott will discuss her latest book, Stitches, at a free Georgia Center for the Book event Nov. 11 in Decatur.
Lamott is a best-selling author known for her largely autobiographical works. She will speak at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur.
Information: www.georgiacenterforthebook.org.
April Hunt
Engineering group to host monthly meeting
The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers will host their monthly dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Piccadilly Cafeteria, 2000 Crescent Centre Boulevard, Tucker.
Scott M. Callan, a certified professional in supply management, will give a presentation on Purchasing, Principles and Practices, highlighting how a competitive procurement process can help to win contracts. RSVP to 404-509-2399 or jnRemichPE@gmail.com with GSPE in the subject line.
Veronica Fields Johnson
SOUTHSIDE
Clayton State to break ground on building
Clayton State University will break ground on a $19.8 million science building 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14 across from the university’s laboratory annex building. . University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby will speak at the event along with university president Thomas Hynes and others.
More lab and classroom space has been critical for the university’s natural sciences department since the university grew from 4,675 students in 2001 to more than 7,200 students today. Tammy Joyner
Peachtree City to honor Vietnam vets
Peachtree City’s 2013 Veterans Day Observance will include special recognition of Vietnam War veterans. An open house and ceremony will be held 9 a.m.-noon Saturdayat the Dixie Wing museum at Falcon Field Airport. Vintage aircraft, musical performances and guest speakers will be featured. Information: www.dixiewing.org.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Dinner will benefit food bank
The Midwest Food Bank Dinner and Auction will be held 6 p.m. Saturday at 220 Parkade Court in Peachtree City. Proceeds will support the food bank’s goal of “Bridging the Gap Between Prosperity and Poverty.” Tickets are $25. Informatin: www.midwestfoodbank.org for details.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
East Point middle hosts science event
Woodland Middle is inviting students to participate in science experiments and other activities 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the school, 2745 Stone Road, East Point, as part of an effort to drum up interest in engineering and related fields.
Super Science Saturday is in its first year and is scheduled for , and elementary and middle school students and parents are encouraged to attend.
Rose French
‘Thriller’ engineer to speak at Clayton State
Producer and recording engineer Matt Forger will be the guest lecturer at Clayton State University’s Student Activities Center 5 p.m. Thursday.
He will discuss his years in the music business, including his work on Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking “Thriller” album. A question and answer period will follow. Free.
Information: John Shiffert at 678 466-4463. Tammy Joyner
McDonough hosts services for veterans
A Veterans Day service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Wall of Honor in McDonough’s Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road just off Hwy. 81.
The ceremony is being hosted by the American Legion Post 55.
There will be remarks by a number of local officials and patriotic music from various school groups.
The keynote speaker is retired U.S. Army Capt. Tommy Clack, who lost three limbs in Vietnam in 1969 and recently retired after 47 years of military and government service.
Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.
Monroe Roark for the AJC
