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March 17 - 23, 2016 » Page 3A
AROUNDDEKALB
ATLANTA
Fernbank Science Center hosts annual NanoDay
On Saturday, March 19, from noon to 3 p.m., Fernbank Science
Center will be the site of NanoDay.
This free event, part of Atlanta Science Festival, features live
presentations and hands-on displays designed educate the public about
advances in nanoscience.
NanoDay is geared toward the young scientists, ages 5 and older,
and includes a chemical magic show, nano-themed story time, and
games.
More information is available at the Atlanta Science Festival website,
www.atlantasciencefestival.org/events/event/1285.
Fundraising workshop scheduled
Registration is now open for “Under Construction: Build Your 2016
Fundraising Program with RYB,” a fundraising training workshop for
nonprofit organizations being held Friday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to noon
at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
“Attendees will learn how to write compelling stories that move
prospects to donors, create mission, vision and values statements and
build development teams that make light work of fundraising heavy
lifting,” an announcement about the event states.
The $49 registration fee includes a workbook and access to a free,
online training call. Organizations that register up to two additional
attendees will receive a 50 percent discount for each registration.
The training workshop will be conducted by Dianne M. Thomas, a
nonprofit resource development trainer, coach and consultant, who has
extensive fundraising experience.
Registration for the workshop is online at dmariethomas.com. Druid
Hills Presbyterian Church is located at 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave., NE,
Atlanta.
AVONDALE ESTATES
City to host Easter egg hunt and dog parade
Avondale Estates will host its annual Easter egg hunt and dog
parade on March 26, from 10 a.m. until noon at Lake Avondale. Children
up to 10 years old are welcome to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt.
The hunt is divided into four sections based on age: 2 and under, 3-4
years, 5-7 years, and 8-10 years. Eggs are filled with toys and candy and
three eggs in each age category denote winners who will receive special
prizes. The Easter Bunny will also make an appearance.
The Annual Dog Parade will take place during the Easter Egg Hunt.
This event is free and costumes are not required to participate. Awards
categories include best behaved, best costume, best owner/dog duo,
and most spirited/enthusiastic. Check in/register onsite from 9:30-10:15
a.m. The first 50 registered participants to check in will receive a free bag
of goodies.
BROOKHAVEN
Mayor to host town hall
Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst will hold a town hall meeting March
31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Marist School Centennial Center Gym.
The school is located at 3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road. For more
information, visit www.brookhavenga.gov.
City to host ‘parent’s night out’
Brookhaven will host Parent’s Night Out on March 25, from 6:30
to 9 p.m. at Lynwood Community Center. The event is an opportunity
for parents to drop off their children on a Friday and get some time to
themselves. The event will include dinner, games, activities and options
to keep children entertained. Pre-registration is required and pick
up is promptly at 9 p.m. Cost is $15 per child; ages: 5-12. For more
information call (404) 637-0512.
CLARKSTON
Georgia Piedmont Technical College to hold early
childhood workshop
Teachers, child care professionals and homeschooling parents will
have an opportunity to increase their knowledge of education at Georgia
Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) March 19 and March 26 from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. The cost for both days is $175.
The 12-hour workshop, officially called the Montessori Principles and
Practices for Early Childhood Educators, will focus on the Montessori
approach to child development. Developed by Maria Montessori in
the late 1800s and early 1900s, the approach places emphasis on
independence, freedom within limits, and a child’s natural physical,
psychological and social progress.
GPTC is located at 495 North Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. For
more information, contact Annie Frazer at (404) 838-8472 or Roberta
Malavenda at (404) 736-6602. Both can be reached via email at annie@
montessori-partnerships.org and Roberta@cdfaction.org, respectively.
State Court judge announces annual S.M.I.L.E. summer
program
DeKalb County State Court Stacey K. Hydrick is accepting
applications for her fifth annual Summer Mentoring Initiative in Legal
Education (S.M.I.L.E.) Program.
Hydrick developed this free program specifically for high school girls
interested in learning more about the criminal and civil justice system.
The S.M.I.L.E program will meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday from
June 3 to July 29. The sessions will be held in Hydrick’s courtroom (2A)
located in the judicial tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N.
McDonough Street, Decatur.
The program will include speakers from DeKalb County Solicitor
General’s Office, DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office, Atlanta Legal
Aid, DeKalb County Probation Department, the Women’s Resource
Center, DeKalb County Superior Court, DeKalb County Magistrate Court,
DeKalb County Juvenile Court, DeKalb County Police Department DUI
Task Force, as well as attorneys working in private practice. The program
also includes a tour of the DeKalb County Jail.
The application deadline is April 15. For further information, visit the
program website at www.smiledekalb.com, or, contact Judge Hydrick
through her assistant, Tess Darisaw, at (404) 371-2350; or email at:
tdarisaw@dekalbcountyga.gov.
PINE LAKE
Post Office renaming bill passes US House
A bill renaming Pine Lake Post Office after a fallen city police officer
cleared the US House of Representatives March 1, moving on to the
next phase of federal approval.
Headed by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA4th District), the bill, officially
known as HR 3274, has since moved on to the US Senate for discussion
before potentially arriving on President Barack Obama’s desk to be
signed.
HR 3274 was introduced by Johnson in July 2015 and has been read
twice in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Government Affairs, according to congress.gov.
If the bill is passed, the Pine Lake Post Office, located at the
intersection of Rockbridge Road and Spring Drive, will be named the
Francis Manuel Ortega Post Office. Officer Ortega was shot and killed
in front of the post office on Aug. 11,2005, while conducting a traffic
stop. At the time of his death, Ortega was a part-time police officer with
Pine Lake and a full-time officer with Georgia Regional Hospital. He was
survived by his parents Francisoc and Luz, his sister Joann, as well as
his children Frankey and Kaylie.
Ortega was also pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
According to Johnson, Ortega stopped a vehicle for minor traffic
violations in front of the post office. While Ortega was communicating
with dispatch, the driver exited his vehicle and approached the police
officer’s cruiser. Ortega ordered the man get back in his vehicle, resulting
in a struggle.
Ortega was eventually shot and killed as a result. The perpetrator
then entered the Pine Lake Post Office and committed suicide.
“Ortega, like many men and women who choose law enforcement
as a career, was not driven by the mere pursuit of wealth,” said Johnson
before Congress. “Officer Ortega was motivated by the desire to serve
others by keeping our community safe.”