Primary run-off election set for July 22

Fulton and DeKalb voters will be heading back to the polls on July 22 to decide the fate of a number of candidates who didn’t reach the required percentage of the vote during the May 20 primary.

Candidates in the runoff include Republican US Senate hopefuls

Jack Kingston and David Perdue; State School Superintendent hopefuls include Republicans

Michael Buck and Richard Woods and Democrats Alisha Morgan and

Valarie Wilson; State House Dist.

54 Republicans

Beth Beskin and John McCloskey; Fulton County Commission Dist. 5 Democrat

Marvin Arrington and Brenda

Muhammad; and DeKalb County

Sheriff hopefuls

Vernon Jones and Jeff Man, both Democrats.

To see sample ballots with all the run-off candidates and view polling places in our coverage area, visit these websites: Fulton County, fultoncountyga.gov; DeKalb County, dekalbcountyga.gov.

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Libraries weather budget, staff cuts

By Clare S. Richie

In January, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners passed a budget that included a $6 million (19 percent) cut to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (AFPLS) budget.

Starting in February, overall library hours were cut by more than a third and more than 100 positions were eliminated. Every branch (except Central Library and Auburn Avenue Research Library) is closed Fridays, and 20 of the 31 are closed at least two days per week.

In June, we asked several branch staff, the AFPLS Interim Director Anne Haimes, AFPLS Board Chair Stephanie Moody, and neighbors about the impact of the hours and staff cuts.

“Certainly the worst impact is on patron access,” Moody responded. Circulation for April 2014 is down dramatically compared to last year due to the new reduced hours. Staffing levels are at an all-time low, which is hurting patron services and staff morale. When the Buckhead Branch opened 25 years ago, it had 24 staff, in January it had 13, and is now down to six. Programs were cut or are offered on different days. The East Atlanta Branch previously hosted three story-times per week and now only hosts one.

At the Ponce de Leon Branch, staff has been bombarded with questions about how they can help and who to contact. “They can’t keep the new hours straight; they keep coming when we’re closed. For a majority of our patrons, coming to the library isn’t just about picking out some books, or checking their email. It’s part of their routine. They come on the same day, every week. They chat with the staff. They run into friends and neighbors. They attend programs. The library is a part of the community.”

It’s a situation, Moody said, the board and the Fulton Commission are trying to rectify. In fact, the Commission is reportedly considering adding back some Friday hours by pulling them from other days.

“The biggest thing people can do is use the library,” urged Haimes. “

All Ages

On-line holds: Request book (using library card) at afpls.org to pick up at any branch Ecampus: SAT/ACT prep, GED prep, ESL lessons, continuing education, and more

Adults

Adult Book Club – 2nd Tuesday each month - Ponce De Leon Health & wellness workshops (Breast Cancer, Diabetes prevention) –Mechanicsville

Children & Youth Summer Reading Program

Kuumba Family Storytellers

July 2, 11 a.m.

Elder

July 3, 10 a.m.

Bowen/Bankhead – Gloria

Adams Park – Josie Bailey

July 3, 10:30 a.m. Buckhead – Ernestine

Brown

July 9, 10 a.m. Ponce De Leon – LaDoris

Bias-Davis

July 9, 11 a.m. West End – Cynthia Watts

Crafty Thursdays 3 p.m., elementary school age – Ponce De Leon

Ages 12-18, Limit 20, Registration Required Improv 101 for Teens

East Atlanta: Tuesday, July 8, 2 p.m.

Buckhead: Thursday, July 10, 1 p.m.

Filmmaking 101 for Teens

Buckhead: Thursday, July 24, 2:30 p.m.

Songwriting 101 for Teens

Adams Park: Thursday, July 17, 2 p.m.

Buckhead: Thursday, July 31, 1:30 p.m.

East Atlanta: Tuesday, July 15, 2 p.m.

Drawing 101 for Teens

Buckhead: Monday, July 28, 1 p.m

Painting 101 for Teens

East Atlanta: Monday, July 7, 2 p.m.