Johns Creek Herald - August 4, 2016 by Appen Media Group

A u g u s t 4 , 2 0 1 6 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 0 , N o . 3 1

37 Main closes doors for good

Rock club shuts down amid new city noise ordinance ►►PAGES 10 – 11

JC stands by billboard agreement Six ethics complaints against council dismissed ►►PAGE 4

Double homicide stuns Roswell

Two teens found dead behind Publix ►►PAGE 5

Olympian Carl Lewis wows NF Chamber The Greater North Fulton Chamber Breakfast drew a big crowd – or Olympian Carl Lewis did. From left are Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, Lewis, GNFCC President Brandon Beach and Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann. Read more, Pages 14 – 15. EHC 8407 JCHerald strip ad.pdf C

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Everybody is a story Appen publisher gives an update from the Appalachian Trail ►►PAGE 8

Real Estate Report Sponsored section ►►PAGE 22

2 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen EDITORIAL QUESTIONS:

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Pedestrian sustains life-threatening injuries

ROSWELL, Ga. — A pedestrian was sent to the hospital early morning July 27 with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Ga. 120. While being treated, doctors found that the man had stab wounds prior to the collision. At 4:52 a.m., a black Acura traveling eastbound slammed into 32-yearold Lawrence Cornelius Range, from Marietta, who had been crossing the highway near Coleman Road. He sustained extensive injuries after hitting the windshield, said Roswell Public Information Officer Lisa Holland. “The windshield was caved in, and there was obvious car body damage to the hood,” Holland said. “[Range’s] injuries were life-threatening.”

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Man struck by car was stabbed prior By Julia Grochowski julia@appenmediagroup.com

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Swindler makes off with $6K in gift cards

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported July 22 that she was swindled out of $11,000 over the phone. The woman was contacted that morning by a man claiming to represent the IRS who told her that she owed $13,800 from 2005. He threatened her with arrest if she did not pay that day. The man told her she had to pay off the $11,000 with gift cards

ROSWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT

The eastbound lanes of Ga. 120 were shut down for two hours July 27 after a pedestrian was struck by a car and severely injured. According to Holland, Range was in the roadway, not the crosswalk, when he was hit. The crash shut down the eastbound lanes on Ga. 120 for two hours. They were finally opened close to 7 a.m. after the roadway was cleared. The female driver “was very cooperative” with the Roswell police officers and stayed on scene while the man was sent to a local hospital, said Holland. Range is currently in critical

condition. According to the doctors evaluating him, Range was “stabbed several times prior to the accident.” One witness saw an old, tan sedan flee from the accident scene. Police ask anyone with information about that vehicle or the victim are urged to contact Detective P. Reid at 770-640-4522. As the investigation is ongoing, no charges have been filed against the driver or the pedestrian.

secured through iTunes. The victim went out and bought 31 iTunes gift cards for $6,000 total and read off the serial numbers to the man. She paid the other $5,000 with her debit cards. When the caller demanded more money, the victim hung up and called police. The IRS does not take payments via gift cards, nor does it solicit collections by phone.

Alleged thief runs, found in restaurant MILTON, Ga. —Milton police were called July 21 to the Walmart store on Windward Parkway about a theft in

See BLOTTER, Page 26

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DUIS & DRUGS All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

DUI arrests ►► Randy Lloyd Winston Woods,

49, of Lawrenceville, was arrested July 19 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to obey a traffic control device. ►► Matthew Joseph Blocha, 47, of Drummond Pond Road, Milton, was arrested July 21 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and driving within a gore. ►► Joseph S. Campbell, 28, of

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 3

When is the right time to consider cataract surgery? By Cameron Johnson, M.D. As you get older, your natural lens in the eye turns into a cloudy cataract. This process usually begins in your early 50s and slowly worsens as you age. During the early stages, cataracts may not impact your vision or have a minimal effect on the quality of your vision. However, as they progress and become denser, you may notice a Cameron Johnson, M.D. general blurring or fogginess of your Cataract & Refractive Surgeon vision. This can interfere with your ability to read, and you may require extra light to read. Others may notice difficulty with seeing road signs or glare from oncoming headlights, especially when driving at night. Colors become faded and dimmer and objects can often appear to be out of focus. Sometimes, your glasses prescription can change very rapidly with the development of cataracts. These symptoms will begin to interfere with driving, reading, working at the computer, or even leisure activities such as playing golf. When these activities are affected, this would be the right time to consider a consultation with a cataract surgeon to discuss cataract surgery to restore your vision. If your vision is unchanged or your daily life remains unaltered, you can put off surgery and decide to have it done in the future. However, you do not need to wait till they become severe. Cataract surgery has become a very sophisticated and safe procedure with over 3 million Americans undergoing the surgery every year. If you are generally healthy, the surgery can be performed with the use of mild sedation to keep you relaxed during the procedure. This helps to reduce anxiety and anesthetic eye drops are used to ensure minimal eye discomfort. Recovery is usually fast with most patients able to return their usual activities by the next day. The complication rate with cataract surgery is very low with over 98% gaining improvement in vision after the procedure. If you decide to defer cataract surgery, you can maximize your current vision with the aid of new prescription glasses. But be sure to return to your optometrist or ophthalmologist for another exam in 6 to 12 months for re-evaluation of the status of your cataracts and your vision.

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4 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Scolds residents for spurious emails attacking council members’ integrity By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Emotions ran high at the July 25 Johns Creek City Council meeting when a couple rose during public comment to raise ethics questions that had been refuted back in March 2015 by the BODKER hearing officer (attorney) appointed by the state Ethics Commission to hear the allegations. At the time, the Ethics Commission threw out all the charges saying they were long on innuendo but woefully short on DAVENPORT any hard evidence. Tom and Christine Corrigan each spoke at the meeting raising what they said were allegations of impropriety in the negotiations between the city and the three sign companies that had won the right in court to erect 31 billboards in the city. (See Johns Creek Herald July 7, 2016, edition). The Corrigans said they were disturbed by the continuing online allegations that Mayor Mike Bodker and Councilwoman Cori Davenport exceeded their authority in negotiating with the sign companies, and further, that Davenport had a conflict of interest because she knew the wife of one of the principals in one of the sign companies. Tom Corrigan said the city should “revisit the settlement agreement” because of what he called “troubling perceptions” about the agreement.

Bodker said he was glad to clear the air because the Ethics Commission had ruled on all of those allegations filed in March 2015 and found them wanting. In that ethics complaint filed by Johns Creek resident Cindy Eads against Davenport she alleges six counts against the councilwoman where Eads claimed she violated the portions of the City Charter by acting as one of the “lead negotiators” in settling the lawsuit with the three (later just two) sign companies. All six ethics violations were dismissed as “unjustified, frivolous and unfounded.” Most of the allegations centered on a provision in the City Charter that was violated in that only the city manager is allowed to negotiate contracts and that council members are to go through the city manager if they want to consult with city employees. In no way did these ethics charges touch on those prohibitions nor was there any financial evidence found or offered that Davenport benefited in any way. The fact that she had been a friend of Christie Hartrampf, the wife of one of the principals of Action Outdoor Advertising, is not in itself an ethical dilemma. The Ethics Commission Hearing Officer Gregory D. Jay, an attorney, found that “facilitating a meeting between two parties in a lawsuit, one of which is a personal friend, does not rise to the level of an ethics violation.” In conclusion, Jay ruled: • Eads offered no evidence that Davenport had received any financial interest or gain nor evidence that Davenport holds a position with Action Advertising. Her friendship with a principal of the billboard company does not rise to an ethics violation

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We all knew that Cori knew the wife of one of the people we were negotiating with. There was never any question she would do anything but represent the interests of the city. And everything Cori and Mike [Bodker] did was voted on and approved unanimously by the council.” LENNY ZAPROWSKI Johns Creek councilmember under these facts. • No prohibition exists that prevents an elected official from facilitating a meeting, negotiating, attending mediation, or taking part in the resolution of existing litigation. Further, Eads failed to present any facts that suggest Davenport interfered with any staff employee or gave an order or directive to a city employee. • The allegation that Davenport superseded the city manager’s authority by negotiating a contract fails because “the argument assumes that the settlement agreement can be equated to a contract.” Jay said. “A contract contemplated under the Charter (funded in the City’s budget and purchase and procurement) is vastly different than an agreement to end years of litigation in a pending civil action. The argument also fails when one realizes the contract/ settlement of this nature must be approved by the City Council.” Except for the allegation of personal gain through friendship of one of the parties, Mayor Mike Bodker was subject to the same allegations and each was likewise found “unjustified, frivolous and unfounded.”

See BILLBOARD, Page 9

NEWS

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 5

Police, GBI investigate double homicide 2 teenagers found dead in Roswell By Julia Grochowski julia@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell residents woke up Aug. 1 to the shocking news that two young teenagers were found dead and left behind Publix grocery store at King and Woodstock Road. A delivery driver discovered the bodies of 17-year-old Natalie Henderson, a Roswell High School student, and her companion Carter Davis, also 17 and a student of River Ridge High School in Cherokee County. Roswell police confirmed that their deaths are being investigated as a double homicide, but have not released any details about the investigation at press time. Henderson was found less than a mile away from her high school, one week before she was due to enter her senior year Aug. 8. “Natalie Henderson was a thriving member of the Color Guard — a fun, smart, talented young woman who was loved by so many,” said RHS Band Director Michael Moon. “Her absence

will be felt by each of us tomorrow and for a long time to come. During this difficult time, we ask that you continue to keep the Henderson family in your thoughts and prayers.” Susan Hale released the following statement from the Fulton County School System: “Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two beautiful students. As the investigation continues and more information is gathered we ask that you join us as we come together to support one another through this difficult time.” Both high schools will provide counseling and resources for students as needed. The delivery driver made the discovery a little before 6 a.m. in the King Plaza Shopping Center, on the corner of King and Woodstock Road, said Roswell police spokesperson Zachary Frommer. According to a preliminary investigation, the two victims received “severe head trauma,” the cause of which has yet to be determined. Roswell detectives and Crime Scene Investigators have been working together with Sandy Springs Crime Scene Investigators and the Georgia Bureau of

Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two beautiful students.” SUSAN HALE Fulton County Schools Investigation on the homicides. They will “continue to follow up on leads, perform interviews and review surveillance video from area businesses,” Frommer said. Police are not releasing more information at this time as the investigation is still ongoing. Any witnesses who might have been in the area that morning, especially 2-3 a.m., are asked to contact the Roswell Police Department. Visit northfulton.com for updates.

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. – If you think the past three years have been busy, just wait. In less than 36 months, the face of Alpharetta’s downtown has been rebuilt and an 86-acre swath of land with the concrete wreckage of a failed dream has flowered into Avalon, one of the state’s biggest retail attractions. Few metro cities have seen the construction witnessed in Alpharetta in recent years, and a whole lot more is on the way. Just last month, the city signed off on two major projects – one private, the other public – in the downtown area. Work begins this month on clearing

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6 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Map Key A. Public parking – West Milton Ave. (east of Rest Haven Cemetery) • One-acre lot to be cleared as part of city’s plan to add parking to west side of Main. B. The Lofts – 58 Canton Street • 36 condominiums over retail, built 2014 C. Teasley Place – Canton Street at Milton Avenue • 4-story building with 24 for-sale units of residential above 17,000 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office on 1.5 acres D. Liberty Hall – 33 S. Main • Four-story building with first-floor restaurant • Office space • Private club E. City Center – 2 N. Main • Up to 104,000 square feet of retail • Up to 168 residential units • Up to 29,950 square feet of office F. Providence Group – Academy Street (East of Main) • 41 single-family homes

City leaders also suggest a parking deck west of Main is somewhere in the future. The city also last month cleared the way for Liberty Hall, a four-story colonial-style building that will house two floors of office space atop an upscale restaurant. Developer John Adams says the fourth floor will feature a private club with domed ceiling. It’s all a little fast for some: the orange barrels, the felled trees, the heavy machinery. Debra Zemlock, who heads the Alpharetta Tree Commission, said recently that while she does not oppose redevelopment in the downtown area, the pace of development worries her. “Since there is limited space and often challenging topography for the developer, it results in a lot of trees coming down so they can grade,” she said. The city committed to energizing its downtown five years ago when residents approved a $29 million bond to redevelop 22 acres of its downtown.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 7

• 42 townhomes • Save and restore historic Manning Home; open up Cumming Street G. Hedgewood Homes – Haynes Bridge Road • 42 single-family smaller homes H. Edward Andrews Homes – Thompson Street • 40 Townhomes I. Providence Group – Old Milton Parkway • 49 townhomes; office J. East Village – Old Milton Parkway • 35 single-family homes • 96 townhomes • 54 condos • New retail, restaurant and bank K. Avalon – Old Milton Parkway at Ga. 400 (Phase II) • 90,000 square feet of retail • 550,000 square feet of office space in two buildings • 276 multi-family units • 325-room hotel and conference center with 45,000 square feet of space **Green line represents Multiuse Path

Not long after, the city negotiated an extension of Westside Parkway as part of a deal with North American Properties. That completed the corridor that mirrors Northpoint Parkway as an arterial road parallel to Ga. 400 running from Ga. 9 south to Old Milton Parkway. That was the final piece of a puzzle that led to Avalon, a mega-mixed-use development on Old Milton Parkway at Ga. 400. In the intervening years, construction has been constant, particularly among private developers in the downtown area. “I think you could always overdo it, but I think as long as it’s generally within the long-term plan, it’s a good thing,” City Councilman Mike Kennedy said. “I think it says people enjoy living here. They enjoy working here. Investors are confident in the future of the city and willing to invest their money here.” Still to come this year will be the launch of the City Center’s commercial

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OPINION

Who is on the Trail? Publisher Ray Appen began walking the Appalachian Trail back in March. He is writing from the trail and we will publish his columns as they come in. He has traveled quite a few miles now; stay tuned for the rest of the story. Everybody has a story. No, everybody is a story. The hikers on the Trail are of all ages and from all walks of life. They are hiking by themselves and together. Some are RAY APPEN hiking with dogs. Publisher, AT Hiker ray@appenmediagroup.com There are parents and children hiking, grandparents hiking with grandchildren, seniors hiking with seniors. They are from all over the world and they are your next door neighbors. Asking who is on the trail can be similar to asking someone to describe the clothes on the trail. However, if one proceeds to only describe all the colors of clothes people wear on the trail — which could be quite accurate — but neglected to describe the feel and texture of the fabrics of the clothes, the thread counts, the cut, style and design of the clothes as well, the account would be hollow and wholly inadequate. So in the interest of providing you with the most complete account, I’ll do my best to not only go over their colors but also thread counts, design and any other vital details at my disposal — all gleaned from about a 30-minute stretch of time I experienced one rainy afternoon at a shelter on the trail somewhere in North Carolina. Then I’ll share a few additional hiker notes. I am sitting in a shelter talking to a young woman I’ve just met — in her early 20s — from Chicago who is just back from a two-year stint in Albania with the Peace Corps. I am taken aback. She learned the language there and worked in very remote areas teaching English. She didn’t go with a group; she went by herself. “It was a good experience” she said “but I wasn’t prepared for the isolation” she reflected matter-of-factly as we sat there. She said she wasn’t ready to return to “civilian life” as she put it back in the States and hoped that hiking the Trail would be something that she could embrace more than Albania. We talked about 20 minutes, then she thanked me for the conversation and headed back out on the Trail to get a few more miles in for the day — in the rain. The kids — as I call them — never seem to be ready to stop for the day and always want “one more mile.” I

never got her Trail name unfortunately. A few minutes after she left, the rain started coming down harder and a rain-coated man — a Brit (actually an Aussie) — stormed hurriedly into the shelter, soaked. He reminded me of a wet rat. One of my hiking buddies recognized him from the previous year on the Trail. Small world. He looked to be in his fifties, thin, animated, and somehow I couldn’t imagine him ever being still. His Trail name was — don’t ask — “Wanjana.” We talk for a bit. He asked my Trail name. “Alpaca,” I tell him. He thinks for a moment than says “I like your name. Alpacas are sometimes put with other herd animals to help protect them — to help the herd stay safe,” he tells me. Then he announces that he’s hungry and heads back out of the shelter to a picnic table to eat — in the rain. Why he didn’t just eat in the shelter I have no idea. After he finished eating he just sat at the table — still in the rain — for what seemed the longest time deep in thought. Then, abruptly he too headed off for a “few more miles.” My friend later went on to tell me that the rain-soaked guy had had to leave the trail the prior year to go help oversee disaster relief in Nepal and was now back on the trail to finish his thruhike. You just never know. Danni and Matt were also in the shelter that afternoon. Danni (the mother) was with her university-age son for two weeks to see how they liked hiking the Trail — with plans to return the following year if all went well. They were Canadian and lived, I believe, in Montreal. It was obvious they had done their homework in advance. They had all the appropriate gear and knew where they wanted to hike and why. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and they seemed completely at home making everyone’s acquaintance and conversing. Our paths crossed several times in the weeks that followed which allowed me to watch the progress of their adventure. After the first week, they changed their plans, and with the car a section hiker had offered to loan them — even though the section hiker never even knew their real names, just their trail names — they drove to another section of the trail to hike. I ran into them again about a week later when I was trying to get a room or bunk at a full hostel. Danni overheard the clerk tell me there were no openings and offered me space in the cabin she and her son had rented for the night. I was floored as she really didn’t know me from Adam, but that is how the Trail so often works. And, yes, she did return the borrowed car to the section hiker

Wanjana sits at a picnic table eating in the rain. on time. The last time I saw her, she and Matt were giving out cold beers and fruit to hikers and preparing to go home. Also in the shelter that afternoon were another pair of Canadians — two women in their mid- to late 50s who as far as I could tell were thru hiking the Trail. However, neither spoke English — only French. One spent much of her time doing crossword puzzles — in French — while the other always seemed to be studying maps and presumably a plan for their hike. They spoke to no one, although they would often exchange smiles with anyone who looked their way. I spotted them at various places on the Trail for over the next month, than ceased to see them more. The final visitors to the shelter in those 30 minutes that afternoon were a group of “kids” — late teens —who were just finishing up their extended weekend hike and had stopped into the shelter to get ready to go home. They were all tired but excited to have had the experience. They gave all their uneaten supplies to the other folks in the shelter as well as some of their equipment. That’s not uncommon on the Trail — this unspoken bond among both strangers as well as friends. So in the space of 30 minutes in that shelter my Trail acquaintances ranged from kids to late middle aged adults — some of whom didn’t even speak English. The group was as eclectic as it could possibly be; you can’t make this stuff up. All were wanderers with keen interests in new experiences and the most amazing air of self-confidence and childlike curiosity. What they all seemed to have in common was that in reality they had almost nothing in common. Here is a supplemental profile of several other hikers - primarily just the color of their clothes.

“Roadrunner” - a 72-year-old retired public school administrator from Florida. He was trying to hike the remaining 500 miles of the trail he lacked from hikes in prior years. When I talked to him last I think he decided it was too much for him and was giving up in the next town. He asked me to email him photos of where we both hiked as his hands trembled too much to hold a camera steady. His hands have gashes from a fall on the trail. Lou and Julie - retired pediatricians (husband and wife) from Utah in their late 50’s. They alternate yearly, either hiking or bike tours. Organized, focused, on time. No trail names. They think those are silly. Diamond Ears, Pack Rat, Huckleberry: Trail names of three hysterical moms in their 40s and 50s from Michigan who have met for the past 16 years to section hike a part of the Trail for two weeks. We shared shelters a few times and I loved their company and sense of humor. Outback: A 28-year-old veteran (retired) who, upon getting out of the service, toured the country for almost two years on his bike, racking up something like 15,000 miles. After finishing his bike trip he decided to thru-hike the AT. There is a huge number of vets on the trail, many dealing with PTSD. Sam Squared: A 79-year-old grandfather hiking the Trail with his 13-yearold grandson. Both of their real names are “Sam.” Mogley (like from “The Lion King”): Trail name of a young kid in his very early 20s who I will let represent that huge contingent of millennials on the Trail who typically have graduated from college with – frequently — STEM degrees and worked a year or two on a career track and hated it and decided to hike the Trail instead — instead of what?

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 9

Billboard: Continued from Page 4 An emotional Councilman Lenny Zaprowski said all of these details were known about Davenport’s friendship with the wife of one of the principals. There was no question of anyone using that friendship to influence or “buy” her for a more favorable agreement. “We all knew that Cori knew the wife of one of the people we were negotiating with. There was never any question she would do anything but represent the interests of the city. And everything Cori and Mike [Bodker] did was voted on and approved unanimously by the council,” Zaprowski said. Councilman Steve Broadbent agreed, saying he had complete confidence in the job Davenport and Bodker did in negotiating the deal that was finally struck. “After the Supreme Court said in effect they could put up any sign they wanted at those locations, we could only ask – the city could not make those companies do anything,” Broadbent said. Davenport said she’s known Christie Hartrampf more than 20 years before she married Jack Hartrampf and often went to concerts and shared family vacations. “My only concern was to try to get the best deal we could for the city,” Davenport said. “People MIKE BODKER have gone through Johns Creek mayor our Facebook postings to try to create something that simply isn’t true. Everything we did was approved by council. They were in this every step of the way.” Bodker said he and Davenport were allowed by council to enter the negotiations because they were getting nowhere with the former city manager and city attorney. “The reality was the three companies were about to break off all negotiations and start building on any of the 31 sites that the courts had already approved,” Bodker said. “It was not like we had many arrows in our quiver. The reality is we had none. “We asked [Davenport] to be one of the lead negotiators precisely because she knew Mr. Hartrampf. We thought it might buy us some good will, because these were angry people. They thought

we were giving them the runaround just to delay the signs going up.” There was reason among the sign companies to believe that. They had finished negotiations with Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Milton and Roswell. Those cities were under the same Supreme Court ruling and had to negotiate the best deal they could from the same weak position. The billboard companies were tired of dealing with the city and ready to start putting up billboards – and the city would have been powerless to stop them, said Bodker. But they were businessmen, and they knew the value of getting some good will from the city. They were also adversaries among themselves and wanted to negotiate sites that were more advantageous for their respective companies. In the end, Action Outdoor bought out the interests of one of the companies and the two remaining sign companies settled for 10 locations instead of 31. In some cases they were able to get more favorable locations by trading off approved but less desirable locations. “That was really the only bargaining chip we had,” Bodker said. In other instances, Bodker said they were able to push the sign locations to the perimeter of the city where they were less visible to the residences. In the end, Davenport said she didn’t understand why the companies bartered away twothirds of their locations, but she was glad they did. Bodker said he agreed. “You can point your finger at the deal we finally struck and second-guess it all you want. But the reality was, we didn’t have much to bargain with, and we went from 31 signs to 10,” Bodker said. “We think we got the best deal we could and Cori was a big part of that.” Bodker and Davenport said it is reprehensible that there is an internet witch hunt still going on that impugns their reputations and their character. “I have teenage children who go on line. How do you think I feel about having them read somewhere that their father is doing terrible things,” Bodker said. “If you wonder why it is hard to get good people to go into public service this is a big reason why.”

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37 Main tempest Popular rock club closes; couldn’t find compromise for rock ‘n’ roll, neighbors By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com

hoc committee of business owners, the Chamber of Commerce and residents to devise a comprehensive noise ordinance JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – What was arguthat would, among other things, reconably Johns Creek’s most popular night cile noise disturbances from entertainspot shut its doors for good last week ment venues such as 37 Main. with the adoption of what the owners In their release, the White brothof 37 Main said was an unacceptable ers said the failure of the ordinance to noise ordinance. establish firm decibel limits meant that In an email to the club’s fans the they could no longer operate the club. owners said, “It is with a heavy heart “Once again, in the new ordinance, that we have to inform you that 37 the term ‘plainly audible’ takes preceMain Johns Creek dence over the use has closed its doors. of an actual decibel The [Johns Creek] meter,” the brothers City Council ruled last said. night to change the That, coupled noise ordinance to an with June setbacks in unrealistic measure Magistrate’s Court (a (or lack of measurecurfew of 9 p.m. for ment).” live music and 11 p.m. Joe, David and on weekends) and John White are a suspension of the brothers who started club’s liquor license the first successful by the Johns Creek 37 Main rock club city manager, was too in Buford. When the much. brothers brought their Even serving liquor formula of live rock during the appeal of music and good food the liquor license susto a 117,000-squarepension, business had foot venue at Medlock fallen 25 percent at 37 Bridge Road at Wilson Main. Road, it became an alThe White brothmost instant success. ers said they were, in THE WHITE BROTHERS That is, it was a effect, being run out of 37 Main owners success with everytown by the city. They one but residents in said they were welthe Medlock Bridge comed in and the 37 subdivision who have consistently Main business plan was accepted, but claimed the loud music and “thump” of now the rules were changing. the sound waves were destroying their They also complained the new noise quality of life. ordinance set up a double standard Earlier this year, the Johns Creek for their club while other businesses, City Council brought together an ad such as the golf courses, are handled

... Why should one business be treated different than the next? This entire time all we asked for was an ordinance that they could hold everyone to, not just to single 37 Main out.”

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at an end differently. “It leads [us] to ask why should one set of neighbors’ complaints be more important than another’s? And why should one business be treated different than the next? This entire time all we asked for was an ordinance that they could hold everyone to, not just to single 37 Main out,” they wrote. But residents in Medlock Bridge subdivision say claims they did not like having a rock club on Medlock Bridge Road because it might create a “bad image” or attract a rowdy sort of audience were false. The residents consistently pointed to the club’s inability to keep loud music from intruding into their homes, often by way of low frequency sound waves creating a “thumping” inside their homes. Mothers complained that their children did not get enough sleep at night and residents said repeatedly their sole complaints were noise-related. Community Development Director Sharon Ebert, who headed up crafting the new noise ordinance, said every effort was made to be fair to the business community and the residential community. However, Johns Creek is heavily

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 11

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

The White brothers, from left, Joe, David and John, brought their successful rock club 37 Main to Johns Creek in 2014. Their club had a successful formula: Good food, cool drinks and rock ‘n’ roll. But they could never find common ground with the city over a workable noise ordinance and have closed their doors. residential, and it is hard to find commercial property that does not back up to single-family residences. It was difficult to find the perfect balance, but the noise ordinance committee did a good job of being fair to both, Ebert said. “We absolutely hate to close, but our

hand has been forced. We cannot have the growth of 37 Main be put to a stop by the biased city council members of Johns Creek,” they said in their farewell. “So, on behalf of everyone at 37 Main, we appreciate all of the support during the entire process. We are so

blessed to have a strong 37 Main family like you guys! I thank each of you so much for being a part of it.” In closing they promised to “rebuild” at another location. Meanwhile they reminded their patrons that 37 Main in Buford is still going strong.

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12 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

JCHS seniors develop rideshare app ‘Vroom’ By MILES GARRETT news@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Getting to and from after-school activities can be a hassle for any student without a driver’s license. Six seniors at Johns Creek High School have developed an app called “Vroom” that helps students solve this problem at their school and in surrounding areas. The app was created for the Verizon Innovative Learning App Challenge among high school students across the country so that kids can get to their extracurricular activities after school. The Challenge aims to inspire the next generation of creators by engaging students in STEM subjects, giving them an opportunity to use technology to solve problems. The competition is open to any middle and high school students who have an idea for an app that can solve a problem in their school or community. Past winners of the award have been featured at the White House Science Fair. “Vroom” matches users with other students, or parents, in their area who have cars and are willing and able to drive them to their after-school activity.

The “Vroom” team is presented with a check for $20,000 awarded to Johns Creek High School. Sneha Iyer, Pretti Iyer, Tiffany Hseih, Jacob Abramow, Stephen Hahn and Avery Paul were the six members of the team that finished in the nine Best in Nation winners of the App Challenge. The students were able to work with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab experts to help create their app. The Johns Creek students though, worked differently than other groups. The team used its own software rather than the one other teams utilized. “We used a different software and

a different language than the other teams,” Paul said. “We thought there’s was a little restricting. We wanted flexibility over convenience.” The students presented the app before the Technology Student Association Conference in Nashville June 28-July 2 where they were awarded the honor. “Nashville and the experience was a lot of fun,” Paul said. The students said the concept of creating an app like “Vroom” came up through an engineering project that Hsieh men-

tioned during a brainstorm session. “I just spit out the idea,” Hseih said. “A lot of times we bring some underclassmen home in our area, so we wanted to make it easier for them to get rides.” The kids they were bringing home were underclassmen on their robotics team who often could not get rides home after school. Being the only kids on the team who could drive, it was up to the upperclassmen to get them home. This got old quickly for students who had plans of their own after robotics concluded. “We all got tired of taking kids home,” Paul added. The group is hoping their app can spark interest from other places in Georgia and across the country in helping other high school students with the same problem. The students also hope the app will encourage more students to join extracurricular activities. “The broad goal of this app is to get kids more involved in extracurricular activities,” Hsieh said. “Transportation is often the biggest hindrance.” “Vroom” is now available for free download on Google Play. For information on the Verizon Innovative Learning App Challenge, visit appchallengetsaweb.org.

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University of Georgia ATHENS, Ga. — The following students from the University of Georgia were named on the fall 2015 dean’s list: Jacob Eskew from Forsyth and Alexander Smith of Roswell. Additionally, the following students graduated from the University of Georgia fall 2015: Joshua Eskew.

University of Iowa IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa has named Annika Olsen of Johns Creek on the dean’s list for fall 2015.

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University of Memphis Memphis, Tenn. — The following students from the University of Memphis have been named on the fall 2015 dean’s list: William McDonald of Roswell.

University of New Hampshire DURHAM, N.H. — The following students from the University of New Hampshire were named on the fall 2015 dean’s list: Hannah Milstein of Roswell.

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ORANGE, Conn. — The following students from the University of New Haven have been named on the fall 2015 dean’s list: Nicholas Massoudi from Alpharetta.

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City Calendar Events

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 13

Summer Concert Series “Savannah Jack” Newtown Park - Amphitheater 7:00 p.m.

City Council Work Session 5:00 p.m. City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. EVENT LOCATION IS CITY HALL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. For a complete list of events, meetings and classes please visit: www.johnscreekga.gov/calendar

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14 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

Carl Lewis eloquent on exc 10-time Olympic medalist took no shortcuts to victory By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenemdiagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – What better athlete for Comcast to bring out to introduce the media giant’s all-out effort to bring the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games than sprinter-long jumper Carl Lewis? Lewis won 10 Olympic medals, nine gold and one silver, and made every American Olympic team from 1980 (the games President Jimmy Carter made us sit out) to the Atlanta Games of ’96. He was such a dominant force in track and field from the time he was a high school sprinter in 1979 until he retired in 1996, that he won many accolades including “World Athlete of the Century,” by the International Association of Athletics Associations, “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympics Committee and “Olympian of the Century” by Sports

Illustrated. Lewis always performed best on that world stage that the Olympics provided. His feats were enormous and one wonders how much more glory he would have amassed had the American team gone to the then Soviet Union. We’ll never know, but what is well documented was Lewis’ commitment to excellence and he did it cleanly. Speaking to the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Lewis said the path to excellence he found as an athlete and a coach requires two things. Repetition and excellence. He broke down the 100-meter race as knowing what you can do and when to do it. Teasing the crowd, he asked how long can a sprinter truly run at full speed? The answer is surprisingly short: about 1.1 seconds – or about 10 meters. “So for 90 percent of the race, you are either speeding up or slowing down,” he said. So, can you set the moment when to go top speed and when to do it? The answer is yes, and Lewis said that is

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Let the finish line come to you. Everyone is slowing down at the end. As soon as you tell yourself ‘I got it,’ you are letting up. You have to let the finish line come to you while you are running as hard as you can...” CARL LEWIS Olympic sprinter-long jumper

where repetition comes in. You have to teach your body how to perform and when. “I always had a strong finish. But my top speed was 60 to 70 meters,” he said. The next thing to learn was not to focus on the finish line. That is a distraction. “Let the finish line come to you,” he said. “Everyone is slowing down at the end. As soon as you tell yourself ‘I got

it,’ you are letting up. You have to let the finish line come to you while you are running as hard as you can. “At the end of the day, there are 10 people at the same place. It is not necessarily the fastest, but who manages their race best,” he said. In 1996, the Olympics had come to Atlanta, and so had Lewis. At age 35, he did not have quite the sprinter’s speed he had in past Olympiads. But he qualified in the long jump where he

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ellence is still the world indoor record holder. A long jumper will jump 26 feet or more, but is in the air only about 1 second. In that time the athlete must choreograph every movement from the run up to launch and then into the air wind milling the arms to propel the body forward and then extending the legs as far as possible. He knew to medal one final time, it would be about focus. Again, it is repetition to train the body to do what he wants that is key. In 1996, his first jump was mechanically off and he scratched on his second takeoff. He had to make a qualifying jump on the third and final attempt. That was where he brought full focus to what he was doing, launched himself and qualified. “When I didn’t get to go to the Olympics in 1980, it was OK. I knew I would be back. In 1996, I knew this was my last shot and I wanted to go out on a high note. This is where the training comes in. I got in my zone and composed myself.” His jump took him from 15th place to first – and by a foot.

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 15

Comcast, Olympian Carl Lewis roll out Rio coverage Olympic champion did it right way, Comcast in Rio goes for gold too By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com

HATCHER HURD/HERALD

Carl Lewis, as trim at 55 as ever, talks about his Olympic career and Comcast’s coverage at Rio. The next day, he was relaxed, and when it came his turn in the medal round, he passed and let his jump from

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – It was Comcast’s chance to roll out its expanded coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, but five-time Olympic athlete Carl Lewis stole the show. Lewis was at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce breakfast July 29 with Comcast as host to reveal its expanded coverage bringing 6,000 hours of live, on-demand and online streaming content. The crowd at the chamber was excited to see and hear Lewis, but Comcast was there to show why it claims to have the best Olympics coverage ever. Comcast Vice President of External Affairs Andy Macke said the Olympics are a special time to be proud of American athletes and Comcast is going all-out with a feature called X1 to make the most interactive Olympics ever. “Comcast viewers will be able to personalize their Olympic coverage like never before,” Macke said. “With Comcast technology every the day before stand. “I don’t believe in psyching out the other guy,” he said. Lewis thought he would save his energy to see if he really needed it. He

event will be live-streamed. People will have all the content they want. It’s the Front Row to Rio and we’re launching a lot of new technology so that you can personalize your experience and browse by sport, athlete or nation.” Comcast promises Front Row to Rio will be “seamless, intuitive and easy to navigate.” But perhaps the most intriguing aspect is its voice search. The X1 voice remote lets the user navigate the entire Olympic experience by voice. Whatever the channel streaming Olympic coverage – NBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo or USA Network – it will guide viewers to the right place. The livestreaming coverage allows viewers to hop to various competitions. If you like one and want to see what you missed, just ask X1 to start from the beginning. There is also the “Gold Zone” where Comcast will take viewers from one medal event to the next. The X1 service integrates traditional TV coverage, on-demand viewing and live streaming. didn’t. He won the gold. But he did find out that out of 21 jumps on the second day, 21 were fouls. He had psyched out all of the competition at age 35.

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The interesting fact to me is not where you are behind, but who you are ahead of. TOMMY HOWARD, COO of the Norton Agency 16 | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016

Norton Agency: Forsyth growth continues to sizzle Has few rivals for future growth, headed to population of 500,000 By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While much of the rest of the state and country suffered through the recession, Forsyth County was an anomaly continuing to see growth. That growth is not going to stop in the foreseeable future, so Forsyth needs to begin planning for that growth. That was the news according to Tommy Howard, COO of the Norton Agency, which specializes in north Georgia real estate. Howard spoke July 26 at the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Cabinet Economic Outlook breakfast giving his insights into the economic status of northeast Georgia, the Ga. 400 corridor and Forsyth County. In 2015, Forsyth was among the largest populations in north Georgia coming in at a little less than 225,000 residents. Only Cherokee County exceeded Forsyth by a small margin. Forsyth ranks ahead of many counties including Hall, Dawson and Clarke should continue to outstrip them. “The interesting fact to me is not where you are behind, but who you are ahead of,” Howard said. “For those of you who have lived in Forsyth County for a period of time, you understand not that long ago you were the stepbrother of Hall County. You were swallowed by Hall County.”

KATHLEEN STURGEON/HERALD KATHLEEN STURGEON/HERALD

COO of the Norton Agency Tommy Howard speaks on the economic outlook for metro Atlanta focusing on Forsyth County.

Today, Hall County has around 193,000 residents, about 15 percent less than Forsyth’s population. Population predictions say Forsyth will have well over half a million people in the county by 2042, Howard said. “Like it or not, that’s the growth we see,” he said. Forsyth also has the highest median household income out of north Georgia counties coming in at about $95,000. Oconee is second is a distant second at just about $75,000 annually. Hall is at an average annual income of $51,000. “You’re exceeding northeast Georgia

as far as your income is concerned,” Howard said. “That’s huge. That has impact. You have to pay attention as to how you are going to handle that. That will affect you moving forward.” The average home price in Forsyth for 2015 was close to $400,000. Hall County’s average home price was about $235,000. Forsyth saw a small decrease in total housing permits from 2003 to 2013 from around 3,200 to just over 2,400. But with all this growth, Howard said it’s time for Forsyth to decide if it wants to increase job growth to go with those bedrooms in the county. “Right now, Forsyth’s biggest industry is home construction. That will begin to taper as buildout approaches by2049. Forsyth needs to consider enriching its economy as it continues to

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grow. But it will need a plan for economic growth,” Howard said. Forsyth needs to reevaluate its affordable housing because that is often what millennials are looking for and they are the largest group of consumers. Lake Lanier is also a popular place to live, so the county needs to capitalize on that opportunity. “You are a popular place to be,” he said. “Some of you might say that’s a great thing, and some might think it’s not such a great thing. In my world that’s a fantastic thing,” he said. “It’s all in how you deal with it. How do you take that and use it as an opportunity to shape that to make our county what we want it to look like?” For information on the Norton Agency, visit gonorton.com.

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 17

There are Fintechs among us If you are not familiar with the term “fintech,” then you may unknowingly be out of an important Atlanta loop. Fintech is an industry that employs nearly 40,000 people in Atlanta and plays a part in more than 70 percent of all payments processed in the United States. Atlanta’s economy is so very diverse. Our four largest companies are on the Fortune 100 list and each represent GEOFF SMITH completely different sectors of the global Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com economy: The Home Depot, UPS, The Coca-Cola Co., and Delta Air Lines Inc. Diversity in industry makes for a healthier economic climate. If one industry is down, real estate agents, for example, may only see a slight drop in home purchases because there are so many other industries here to fall back on. Atlanta is known for its strength in several industries, including logistics, transportation, financial services and technology. It is the presence of these last two, among other things, that has put Atlanta at the center of one of the fastest growing new industries: financial technology, or fintech. When someone tells you they are in the fintech industry, most of you might nod your head and change the subject. Well, you won’t have to do that anymore. I’ve perused several sources on the Internet trying to find a solid definition, and here is what I’ve come up with: Fintech is essentially the application of technology to the financial services industry in an effort to make its processes more efficient. I know that is an incredibly general way of explaining it. So here is a list of some Atlanta fintech companies and what they do: NCR Corporation: The global leader in consumer transaction technologies. NCR’s software and machines enable nearly 550 million transactions a day. Currently based in Duluth, they are relocating their headquarters to Midtown. Groundfloor: An online real estate investment site where people can invest in real estate and borrowers can borrow. Kabbage: An online lending site where businesses can get approved for loans up to $100,000 in minutes. Bridge2Solutions: Based in Alpharetta, they develop and manage loyalty and rewards program websites for banks, credit card processors and employee incentive companies. So that’s fintech. From what I read, as more and more transactions occur online, this industry will continue to grow. And the technology industry in general will continue to grow in North Fulton and the rest of Atlanta. These companies are uploading and downloading exponentially more

data, and it is important that they can move that data quickly. This is a big part of why North Fulton is such a big tech mecca. Years ago, when fiber optic cable wasn’t even cool, the state laid miles of the stuff along several key roads in North Fulton. Because of this, Alpharetta alone is host to more than 600 tech companies today. Comcast recently announced major upgrades to its infrastructure in Roswell and Alpharetta which includes a new fiber network that will deliver 10-gigabit Internet speeds to businesses. It’s a significant upgrade that will no doubt make North Fulton an even more attractive and competitive market for relocations. According to a press release, the cable will run in Roswell along Ga. 92 from Hardscrabble Road to Eves Road, and along Ga. 9 from just north of the Chattahoochee River to downtown Alpharetta. The 10-mile Alpharetta network will run along Westside Parkway from Old Milton Parkway to Haynes Bridge Road, then along Haynes Bridge Road to North Point Parkway, then along North Point Parkway to Mansell Road, and along Mansell Road to Westside Parkway. Geoff Smith, gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433, Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group

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18 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

Pieology Pizzeria opens in Alpharetta Business name: Pieology Pizzeria About: Pieology is the study of custom pizza. Guests order from a selection of crusts, sauces, cheeses and unlimited fresh toppings, fired in a stone oven and delivered hot to the table in five minutes or less. Fresh salads, Coke products and draft / bottled beer also available. Owner: Lisa Lewis Opened: June 27, 2016 Address: 2685 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta GA 30009 Phone: 770-569-4426 Website: www.pieology.com

Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson and First Lady Val Peterson, center, pause with staff of Kimberly Clark in Roswell after a tour of the facility June 22.

GT President stops in Roswell/Alpharetta for tour ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson visited General Motors and Kimberly Clark before wrapping up the third day of his annual Summer Tour with a reception at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta on June 22. This week marks Peterson’s eighth tour as president. Each summer since his arrival at Georgia Tech, the president and First Lady Val Peterson have used the summer as an opportunity to visit communities across the state. The tour is a chance for the Petersons to meet with alumni, Regents, businesses, lawmakers, and other friends of the Institute. This year’s tour will cover 570 miles through Middle Georgia and metro Atlanta. They will travel through 21 counties and 15 cities.

Skyline Pest Solutions hires branch operations manager ATLANTA — Marcus McCoy has recently joined Skyline Pest Solutions as branch operations man-

NEWBUSINESSSPOTLIGHT

Black Walnut Cafe opens in Alpharetta

Business name: Black Walnut Cafe About: Black Walnut Cafe is a unique dining concept offering an extensive menu of American fare in a warm and inviting ambiance. With a menu that has something for every appetite and occasion, the restaurant invites its guests to an elevated dining experience that makes the most of their time, whether they’re craving a quick coffee or a leisurely retreat. Opened: July 2016 Address: 5805 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005 Phone: 404-600-1222 Website: www.blackwalnutcafe.com

BUSINESSBRIEFS ager for its offices in Marietta and Cumming. He brings 20 years of experience in the pest control industry. In his new role, McCoy will oversee the training of employees, budgeting, generating business for the two branches and ensure quality service for Skyline Pest Solutions’ customers. The two offices MCCOY have 27 employees total. Prior to joining Skyline, McCoy spent much of his pest control career working for Terminix International, most recently as a general manager in the Atlanta area. While at Terminix, he won the company’s Award of Excellence three times and its President’s Club award once. Skyline Pest Solutions is operated by Environmental Pest Service. “Marcus’s extensive leadership experience in the industry will make him a valuable asset to the Skyline team,” said Joe Finney, CEO of EPS. “Marcus has a proven history of consistently focusing on customer satisfaction, which fits perfectly with our strategy of maintaining high levels of customer service.” McCoy attended Clark Atlanta University.

It’s raining silver, gold and platinum at HSP ROSWELL, Ga. — Henderson Shapiro Peck was recognized June 13 by both the Communicator Awards and Hermes Creative Awards, taking home a total of 14 trophies for their work. The marketing company is headquartered in Roswell and offers a full-range of marketing services to its clients, including, branding, design, public relations and advertising. With over 6,000 entries, the Communicator Awards is the world’s largest international awards program. It recognizes companies for innovative ideas in the marketing and communications indus-

try. This year, the Communicator Awards judges selected HSP’s “Keeper of the Code” book cover for the “Marketing and Promotion of a Book” gold. The agency was awarded silvers for “Keeper of the Code” video trailer, the corporate identity of the “Brain Expert” Dr. Jim Robinson, C2 Education’s Point-ofPurchase Materials, the 70 West Builders’ business-to-consumer brochure and overall design of a brochure. The Hermes selection committee gave the agency a platinum award for the integrated marketing materials for “Keeper of the Code.” They also received a gold award for Advanced Gastroenterology’s “1 Hour” advertising campaign, Alex Luxury and Classic Car’s Logo Design, and the Merial Custom Vaccine’s video marketing product. HSP was given three additional honorable mentions. To learn more about HSP, visit hendersonshapiro.com or call 678-352-7100.

Keller Williams Partners welcomes new member ATLANTA — Nick Alexander Ulatowski has recently joined Keller Williams Community Partners in Cumming. Alexander comes to the firm after serving as a student in the area. He also served as a dock worker at Bald Ridge Marina and has grown up in Cumming. Alexander’s extensive research of the business led him straight to ULATOWSKI Keller Williams, where he is now serving the local community. Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty is the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count, with approximately 700 offices and more than 110,000 associates in more than a dozen countries around the world. Alexander can be reached at 770-314-9811 or at nickalexander@kw.com.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 19

NOTICE OF ELECTION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 8th day of November, 2016, an election will be held at the regular polling places in all the election districts of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia, at which time there will be submitted to the qualified voters of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia for their determination the question of whether the general obligation debt of the City of Johns Creek shall be issued in the amount of up to $40,000,000 (the “Debt”) to fund the acquisition, construction and installation of parkland, park improvements, park build-out, greenways and recreation trails, and an indoor recreation center, including as described below: Cauley Creek Park Build Out

Parkland Acquisition and Improvement

Technology Park Linear Park Build Out

Autrey Mill Park Improvements

Morton Road Park Build Out

Newtown Park Improvements

Bell Boles Park Build Out

Ocee Park Improvements

State Bridge Park Build Out

Shakerag Park Improvements

Rogers Bridge Trail Across the Chattahoochee River

Indoor Recreation Center

Recreational Trails and Greenways (the “Projects”), and facilities and paying the cost of such Debt. The Debt, if so authorized, may be issued by the City of Johns Creek, Georgia in whole or in part and in one or more series and shall bear interest from the first day of the month during which the Debt is to be issued or from such other date as may be designated by the City of Johns Creek, Georgia prior to the issuance of the Debt, at a rate or rates not to exceed 6% per annum, payable semiannually on April 1 and October 1 in each year, and the amount of principal to be paid on April 1 in each year during the life of such Debt shall be as follows: Date

Amount

Date

Amount

Date

Amount

Date

Amount

Date

Amount

4/1/2018

$ 600,000

4/1/2024

$ 800,000

4/1/2030

$ 1,080,000

4/1/2036

$ 1,450,000

4/1/2042

$ 1,940,000

4/1/2019

630,000

4/1/2025

850,000

4/1/2031

1,140,000

4/1/2037

1,520,000

4/1/2043

2,040,000

4/1/2020

660,000

4/1/2026

890,000

4/1/2032

1,190,000

4/1/2038

1,600,000

4/1/2044

2,140,000

4/1/2021

700,000

4/1/2027

930,000

4/1/2033

1,250,000

4/1/2039

1,680,000

4/1/2045

2,250,000

4/1/2022

730,000

4/1/2028

980,000

4/1/2034

1,320,000

4/1/2040

1,760,000

4/1/2046

2,360,000

4/1/2023

770,000

4/1/2029

1,030,000

4/1/2035

1,380,000

4/1/2041

1,850,000

4/1/2047

2,480,000

NO PERFORMANCE AUDIT OR PERFORMANCE REVIEW SHALL BE CONDUCTED WITH REGARD TO THE BONDS. Any brochures, listings or other advertisements issued by the City Council of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia or by any other person, firm, corporation or association with the knowledge and consent of the City Council of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia, shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the City Council of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia, concerning the use of the proceeds of the Debt. The ballots to be used at such election shall have written or printed thereon substantially the following:

⁪

YES

⁪

Shall general obligation debt of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia be issued in the aggregate principal amount of up to $40,000,000 in order to fund the acquisition, construction and installation of city parks and recreation land, improvements and facilities and paying the cost of such debt?

The election shall be conducted in accordance with applicable law, and the several places for holding said election shall be at the regular and established voting precincts of the election wards of City of Johns Creek, Georgia, and the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date fixed for the election. Residents of the City of Johns Creek wishing to vote in the November 8, 2016 election to authorize general obligation debt, but who are not registered electors of the City of Johns Creek, Georgia, may register to vote through October 11, 2016 through 5:00 p.m. All residents of the City of Johns Creek qualified to vote at such election shall be determined in all respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia. This notice is given pursuant to a resolution of the City Council of Johns Creek, Georgia. Joan Jones, City Clerk, City of Johns Creek

20 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

CALENDAR

OLD SOLDIER’S DAY RACE AND PARADE Join the annual Old Soldier’s Day race and parade Saturday, Aug. 6 to celebrate the veterans of all wars. The festivities will include free hot dogs, drinks, activities and keynote speaker Colonel Anthony C. Dill. The 8K road race will start at Wills Park at 7 a.m. and the parade band will kick off in downtown Alpharetta at 9:15 a.m. Race registration starts at $24. For more information and to register for the race, visit awesomealpharetta.com.

Looking to get the word out about your event? Submit it to our online calendar at NorthFulton.com/ Calednar.

EVENTS: CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK

What: Children’s car seats will be checked for free by certified car seat technicians to help improve their safety during trips. When: Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: location TBA More info: cityofmiltonga.us or 678242-2527

FAMILY, FUN, FLICKS & FOOD TRUCKS

What: “A League of Their Own” will play for free at Milton High School. The event starts at 7 p.m. with food trucks, and the movie starts dusk. When: Aug. 6, 7 p.m. Where: Milton High School, 13025 Birmingham Highway, Milton More info: cityofmiltonga.us, 678-2422533

WATER DAY

What: Water Day celebrates the wonders of water as summer winds down. Splash through sprinklers, meet water-loving community partners, play games and make water crafts. When: Sunday, Aug. 7 Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Cost: Included with general admission, $6 for children, $10 for adults More info chattnaturecenter.org

FREE OUTDOOR FITNESS

What: The Johns Creek Recreation and Parks division is offering free outdoor fitness classes for all fitness levels and taught by certified instructors. Participants must be at least 16 years old. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. When: Sunday, Aug. 7, 9-10 a.m. Where: Newtown Park Amphitheater, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov, 678-5123200

WEEKLY WEST COAST SWING DANCE What: Learn swing dancing or refine your skills at these weekly sessions. The first introductory lesson is free. When: Sunday, Aug. 7, 6-6:45 p.m. Where: American Legion Club 201, 201 Wills Road, Alpharetta More info: swinginvasion.com

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

What: The Citizens Police Academy provides an in-depth look at JCPD operations and the policies it follows over nine weeks. Ages 21 or older. Must fill out application. When: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 6-8 p.m. Where: Johns Creek Police Headquarters, 11445 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek More info and applications: johnscreekga.gov, JCPDcommsvcs@JohnsCreekGA.gov

DATE NIGHT ON THE RIVER

What: Come relax at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on this adults-only, 2 ½-hour sunset evening paddle. Ages 21 or older. When: Ongoing 5-9 p.m. Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Cost: $30 general public, $25 members More info: Check availability and register at chattnaturecenter.org/families/ canoe-programs

FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD TRUCKS: JOHNS CREEK FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

What: Johns Creek’s Food Truck Fridays return to Technology Park, with different food trucks each Friday. When: Friday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Technology Park, 35 Technology Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekadvantage.org

ALPHARETTA FARMERS MARKET

What: The Alpharetta Farmers Market features fruits, vegetables, natural

meats, fresh flowers and herbs, and a variety of home goods. When: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., through Oct. 29. Where: Old Canton Street in downtown Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

ALPHARETTA FOOD TRUCK ALLEY

What: Alpharetta’s Food Truck Alley on Thursday evenings offers a variety of six to eight rotating area food trucks. When: Thursdays, 5-9 p.m., through Oct. 20. Where: Old Roswell Street in Alpharetta’s historic district More info: awesomealpharetta.com

Scott Road, Roswell Cost: tickets start at $28 for 5K, $15 for fun run More info: liveforjamie.com

THE GET RIGHT BAND

What: The Get Right Band will perform at the free Roswell Riverside Sounds Concert Series. At least two food trucks will be on location from 6-9 p.m. When: Saturday, Aug. 6, 7-9 p.m. Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

ROSWELL FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

What: The Roswell Farmers & Artisans Market offers fresh, local farm, ranch and artisan foods direct from producers, and much more. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon. Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St., Roswell More info: roswellfam.com

JOHNS CREEK FARMERS MARKET

What: Held at the Newton Park Amphitheater, each market features more than 25 local farmers and vendors with organic and/or sustainable foods and produce. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, through Sept. 13. Where: 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: JohnsCreekGA.gov

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: SPOTLIGHT: ARTIST KELLY CROSBY

What: Come visit the Roswell Cultural Arts Center and view Kelly Crosby’s “Plastic Abstractions” exhibit in the lobby. Open to the public. When: Monday-Friday, Aug. 2-30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest St., Roswell More info: kellycrosbydesign.com

SERENITY GARDEN CONCERT

What: The Roswell Summer of Fun program is organizing on a free concert in the Roswell Area Park Serenity garden behind the Visual Arts Center. When: Friday, Aug. 5, 3-5 p.m. Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

ROCKET SHOT 5K ROAD RACE

What: Join the third annual 5K Road Race and fun run for the Jamie McHenry Memorial Foundation. All proceeds will go toward the foundation and used to award local students with scholarships. Shirts included in price. When: Saturday, Aug. 6, 7:30 a.m. Where: Centennial High School, 9750

97.1 THE RIVER PRESENTS BOSTON

What: 97.1 The River presents a live performance by Boston with special guest Dennis DeYoung. When: Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m. Where: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: Tickets starting at $20 More info: vzwamp.com

SEUSSICAL

What: ACT1 Theater presents “Seussical,” a musical that melds classic Dr. Seuss tales together and brings to life timeless characters like Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Jojo and more. When: July 14-Aug. 7, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy St., Alpharetta. Cost: $20 for adult, $17 for child More info and tickets: act1theater.com

LIBRARY EVENTS: MIDDAY AT MILTON BOOK CLUB

What: Come join the Milton Book Club for a discussion of this month’s book, “Happiness Key” by Emilie Richards. When: Friday, Aug. 5, noon-1 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road More info: julia.padgett@fultoncountyga.gov or 404-613-4445

BOOK AND MOVIE SHARING FOR ADULTS

What: Participants will get to share their favorite book and movie titles with one another or talk about any good media they have discovered lately. Find new titles to explore. Registration required. When: Saturday, Aug. 6, 1:30-3 p.m. Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell More info and registration: afpls.org or comments@co.fulton.ga.us

COOKING WITH CHEF LYNN

What: Learn how to create healthy back to school meals full of vegetables. Chef Lynn is known for her creative, healthy and tasty recipes. When: Monday, Aug. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org or michael.salpeter@fultoncountyga.gov

SUMMER CRAFTS FOR ADULTS

What: Enjoy making summer crafts with Sharon Crumley, a local mixed media artist, for free. Adults only. Registration required. When: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m.-noon Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: afpls.org

ASTRONOMY CLUB: SATURN

What: Join Jeff Thompson as he traverses through the night sky. If weather and light permit, the class will take the telescope outside after the talk to look at the stars. When: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 6-7 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org or milton.branch@ fultoncountyga.gov

PET ADOPTIONS: FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185

FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

What: Pet adoptions When: Every Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Where: PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958

OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: ALICE COOPER

What: Alice Cooper will be playing a uniquely theatrical brand of hard rock, designed to shock, in Atlanta during his worldwide tour. When: Wednesday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m. Where: Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta Cost: Tickets starting at $35 More info and tickets: atlantasymphony.org

CALENDAR

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 21

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA:

Sharrows come to town If you’re like many, you may enjoy taking the ol’ bicycle out for a morning or evening ride along one of Alpharetta’s designated bike routes. Make no mistake: a STEVE HUDSON two-wheel, pedGet Outside Georgia, al-powered excurChattahoochee Media Group sion is a great way to enjoy the out-of-doors. You may also have noticed some new roadway markings on some of those routes – chevron-style arrows paired with an illustration of a bicycle. They’re called “sharrows,” and they’re another tool in the ongoing effort to help motorists and bicyclists safely share the road. These shared-lane markings are being stenciled onto a number of local roads. According to John Maloney, traffic operations manager for the City of Alpharetta, the idea behind sharrows is to bring drivers’ attention to the fact that there may be something, in this case a bicycle, ahead of them in the roadway. They serve as what he calls an “on-street driver notification system,” which reminds motors that they’re sharing the road with bicyclists. “Anything we can do to alert drivers, the better,” Mahoney said. Are sharrows effective? The National Association of City Transportation Officials has noted that sharrows potentially offer several benefits on shared roadways, reminding motorists that bicycle traffic may be present, while also reminding cyclists where they should be. However, NACTO and others have noted that sharrows are not the same as bike lanes, which offer some degree of separation between bicyclists and motorists. Are more bike lanes a possibility for Alpharetta’s roads? That depends, and the reason is that the construction of bike lanes requires an additional four feet of lane width. “Any time we build a new road, we try very hard to get that four feet in there,” Maloney said. However, he added that it’s not so simple on existing roads. The presence of existing curbs and drainage structures makes it much more complicated and expensive to widen a lane on an existing road by the necessary four feet. “That’s where sharrows come in,” Maloney said.

WAYNE UTZ/BIKE ALPHARETTA

Alpharetta Public Safety Officer Amanda Clay left, and bicyclist Emil Walcek during placement of new sharrows on an Alpharetta roadway. The city placed its first sharrows several weeks ago. Most recently, sharrows were added to Charlotte Drive, and other roads, including Wills Drive and Milton Ave., should see the addition of sharrows in the future. “Our goal is to keep putting more of them down,” Maloney said. “In this area, we want [bicyclists and motorsts] to get along.” Wayne Utz, co-secretary of Bike Alpharetta, is enthusiastic about adding sharrows to local roads. Bike Alpharetta worked with the city to come up with Alpharetta’s designated bike routes, and the sharrow program should help make those routes safer for all concerned. “Local drivers are now better aware of the presence of cyclists,” Utz said, praising the program as “part of the city’s long-term plan to include a

‘share the road’ focus.” He added, “The project helps to continue Alpharetta’s community-centric efforts for a safer dynamic downtown and around-town living environment.” By the way, I asked Utz what he considers to be the best place for a family bike ride in the area. Next week we’ll take a look at what he had to say. To learn more about Bike Alpharetta or about Alpharetta’s designated bike routes, visit bikealpharetta.org. Steve Hudson’s book, “Hiking the Hooch,” will help you discover the great trails of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, including the trails of the Cochran Shoals Unit. Check it out in local outdoor shops or on Amazon, or order online from www. chattahoocheemedia.com.

22 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

22 | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016

Sponsored Section

What is real estate due diligence? Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings, BILL RAWLINGS Vice President/Managing Broker, North Atlanta Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty What is Due Diligence? Due diligence is a time period given to you as the buyer to investigate the property and make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase before the final transaction of ownership. In the case that there are any defects found in this investigation period, you as the buyer have the opportunity to cancel the purchase or the seller may offer solutions to compensate for the issues found. It is very important to take advantage of the due diligence period and make sure that the purchase you are making is as great on the outside as it is in-between the walls. Your agent will assist you throughout this process and will advise that

you take the following steps during due diligence period: Schedule a Home Inspection: Completing a home inspection during due diligence is one of the most important steps to take. Your agent can recommend a professional home inspector to come through the home and find any major problems that could end up being a problem in the future. The most common problems can be found in the foundation, termites, roof and HVAC, just to name a few. There can also be issues within the neighborhood and surrounding areas, such as being in a flood zone. It is important that an inspector complete as thorough of an examination as possible. Title Search: Title search allows for you to take legal ownership of the home that you are purchasing. Completing a title search is the best way to find any

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 23

24 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

Crye-Leike continues to grow in the Atlanta market It’s been eleven years since Harold Crye, CEO of Crye-Leike Real Estate, expanded the company’s footprint into the Atlanta metro area. The fourth largest privately owned real estate company in the nation recently opened its tenth office in the Atlanta Metro area at 1240 Highway 138 SW in Riverdale. Crye-Leike is pleased to welcome Karen Baxter as the new Managing Broker. Crye-Leike’s Riverdale office is currently open for business and ready to assist clients with all of their real estate buying and selling needs. The office is also in the process of recruiting and interviewing agents to grow its team. It will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this summer. “The Atlanta real estate market is strong and greatly improving like many of the markets Crye-Leike serves,” said Cofounder and CEO Harold Crye. “We see a lot of potential for the local market and are very happy to be expanding in and around the Atlanta area with additional offices opening soon in Lawrenceville, Gainesville, Dahlonega and Marietta.” “Being a full-service real estate brokerage firm, our goal is to make it convenient for our customers and sales associates to utilize all of our services before, during and after a home purchase by offering reliable, efficient and convenient services for today’s busy lifestyles,” said Steve Brown, president of Crye-Leike Residential Sales. Crye-Leike Real Estate Services had a great year in 2015 achieving $5.7 billion in sales volume. Over a nine-state region, 3000 highly skilled Crye-Leike agents sold 31,400 properties. CryeLeike’s sales outperformed the national average in the real estate market. Crye-Leike Atlanta has sales offices in Alpharetta/Roswell, Norcross, Carters-

Being a full-service real estate brokerage firm, our goal is to make it convenient for our customers and sales associates to utilize all of our services before, during and after a home purchase by offering reliable, efficient and convenient services for today’s busy lifestyles.” STEVE BROWN President of Crye-Leike Residential Sales ville, Cumming, McDonough, Smyrna/ Vinings, Johns Creek and Woodstock in addition to a Residential Property Management, Commercial and Relocation division. As a full service real estate company, Crye-Leike offers real estate and related services, including: relocation services; commercial business and investment real estate services; property leasing and management services; insurance services; title & closing services; mortgage services; home warranty services; home services; auction services; business brokerage services; REO services for bank-owned & foreclosed properties and real estate schools.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 25

Home remodeling simplified The roadmap to a smart and successful remodel Brought to you by John Hogan Co-owner of the Remodeling Expo Center in Roswell. 404 910 3969 You’re not alone. All North Atlanta homeowners are faced with the same issue; the value of your house has increased but the finish level of your kitchen and bathrooms is now inconsistent with the home’s value. Homeowners of higher value homes expect current designs and finishes especially in kitchens and bathrooms, and with increasing real estate values; it now makes sound financial sense to remodel. Selecting the right General Contractor. 1. Interview the GC’s team: designer, project manager and owner. If they can’t make this happen, move on. 2. Drive to the G.C’s office/showroom. If they don’t have one, move on. If they have an office but not a showroom, still move on. Why? You need to know that the G.C. has infrastructure, stability, and resources. Showrooms are costly and only the best and most reliable G.C.’s have them. 2. Documents- The Scope of Work

and Drawings. The output of the design process is a detailed scope of work and construction drawings. Don’t enter into a contract without both and don’t commence any work until every item in the contract is detailed. The Bathroom Roadmap 1. Larger Tile – Use 12 x 24 or 12 x 12 for small rooms. You will achieve an immediate updated look. 2. Larger Shower. Since the shower will be rebuilt, it’s doesn’t cost much more to make it larger. And the shower is the new focal point of the bathroom. 3. Garden Tub Removal. No one uses them anymore so use the space for the shower of free standing tub. 4. Vanity Makeover. Get one that’s taller with granite on top and more drawers. 5. Full Wall Mirror (very 1980’s). Replace with framed & hung mirrors 6. Plumbing Fixture Art. The perfect place to define your new room. They can be pricey but they’re works of art 7. Shower Glass. What better way to showcase the new tile and plumbing fixtures than with large sheets of frameless shower glass! The Kitchen Roadmap

1. Open Up the Room. Open concept isn’t a fad; it’s the standard for kitchens. 2. Insert large Island/Peninsula in place of former wall. This will become the new focal point of the room. 3. Convert the 2 level breakfast bar to a 1- level island/peninsula. It’s more functional and feels much larger. 4. Replace countertops with granite or quartz. 5. Move the Microwave from above the cooktop. Relocate to above wall oven or under-counter. 6. Larger Cooktop with hood. Go to a 5 or 6 burner cooktop and put a

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26 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

Blotter:

Window smashed, $9K in items, cash taken

Continued from Page 2

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Two residents reported a burglary July 20 with $9,000 worth of items missing from their home. One of the residents said she was the last to leave the house early morning, and she said she had locked all the doors. When the male resident returned late evening, he saw that the front door was unlocked and the side window was broken. Inside, the house was ransacked. The missing items included $5,000 cash from a recent wedding, perfumes, watches, diamonds and jewelry.

progress for items worth $2,000. Police arrested a man for felony shoplifting. The loss prevention officer told Milton police that he had seen a man, later identified as 26-year-old Franklin Walden, allegedly steal merchandise, including video game equipment, luggage sets and electronics. When the loss prevention officer approached the man, the suspect bolted. Security footage showed Walden allegedly hiding items under a rug in a shopping cart and leaving the store without paying. While reviewing the footage, police were informed that Walden was spotted and detained at a restaurant nearby.

Arrests: Continued from Page 2 Thompson Station, Tennessee, was arrested July 22 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding and failure to maintain lane. ►► Leroy Carl Brown, 28, of North Avenue, Jonesboro, was arrested July

Employee allegedly steals $1.3K in falsified returns ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A teenager was arrested July 19 for allegedly stealing 23 on Lakeview Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding and failure to maintain lane. ►► James Michael Turner, 45, of Forest Valley Road NE, Atlanta, was arrested July 14 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and improper u-turn. ►► Jasmine Marie Warren, 23, of Surrey Park Trail, Johns, Creek, was arrested July 21 on Sweet Creek Road in Johns Creek for DUI.

$1,300 worth of gift cards over a month from her place of employment. An asset protection officer saw that the employee had been making multiple returns onto several gift cards. The security footage showed the teenager used receipts without anyone at her register. She was recorded scanning merchandise off of the shelves as returns. The transactions had been occurring since June 20. Police obtained a warrant for the teen and arrested her without incident.

locked in the parking lot midday. A blue box trailer was attached to the back of the truck. When the man returned an hour later, the truck and trailer were gone.

Dark window tint leads to pot bust

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man reported his truck missing July 22 while he was shopping at a local hardware store. The man said that he had left his blue Dodge Ram truck, valued at $10,000,

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A man was arrested July 14 for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute after he was pulled over for having windows tinted too dark. An Alpharetta officer stopped a white Dodge Durango on Old Milton Parkway to talk with the driver. While he was taking to the man, the officer reported that he could detect a strong smell of marijuana from the car. He found a medium sized mason jar under the front driver’s seat with six baggies of suspected marijuana.

Drug arrests

►► Quran Williams, 27, of Abbotts

Man’s truck missing after shopping trip

►► Criste Lee Wise, 24, of Clermont,

Georgia, was arrested July 20 on Morrison Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of methamphetamines. ►► Dearick Lynn Milton Jr., 27, of Windy Hill Road, Marietta, was arrested July 21 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and failure to maintain lane.

Bridge Road, Johns Creek, was arrested July 21 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. ►► Edgar Jaramillo, 45, of Cumming Street, Alpharetta, was arrested July 20 on Thompson Streetin Alpharetta for possession of methamphetamines, possession of marijuana and wanted person.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ITB #16-230 2016 ASPHALT PATCHING The City of Johns Creek is accepting sealed Invitations to Bid (ITB) from qualified construction firms for the 2016 Asphalt Patching Project. Sealed ITB’s will be received no later than 2:00PM. On August 19, 2016 in the City of Johns Creek Purchasing Office, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite-400, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097. ITB’s received after the above time or in any other location other than the Purchasing Office will not be accepted. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on August 9, 2016, at 10:00 AM at the City Hall, Chattahoochee Conference Room, 4th floor. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. ITB packages and plans are available on the City of Johns Creek website (www.johnscreekga.gov) . Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Office at (678) 512-3233. ITB’s shall be presented in a sealed opaque envelope with the ITB number and name clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. The name of the company or firm submitting an ITB response should also be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. (TWO (2) ORIGINALS AND ONE (1) COPY OF THE ITB ON CD MUST BE SUBMITTED.) ITB’s will not be accepted verbally or by fax or email. All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions enclosed herein. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek. Warren Hutmacher City Manager

Mike Bodker Mayor

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 27

ONLINE AUCTION BY CITY OF ALPHARETTA The City of Alpharetta, in conjunction with GovDeals, will conduct a CONTINUOUS online auction to sell surplus material, equipment, and vehicles. To view the surplus items or to place a bid, please visit www.govdeals.com. All sales will be final to the highest bidder and sold as is, where is, with no warranty expressed or implied. The City of Alpharetta and GovDeals reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and the right to waive formalities. Once the items are sold, the coordination of and actual removal of the items must be completed by the selected party. For further information, visit www.govdeals.com or contact Joshua Amusa with the City of Alpharetta, Department of Finance at (678) 297-6095 or jamusa@alpharetta.ga.us. Notice of Public Internet Auction Johns Creek Police Department The following is a list of property located at the Johns Creek Police Dept. If you believe that you are the owner of this property, please call 678-474-1572 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Proof of ownership and a valid ID will be required to claim any property. A public internet auction of the following items will begin the week of 09/03/16. The auction’s website is www.propertyroom.com. Items: Vehicle key Dell laptop/tablet Red book Black book Black wallet Ga driver license S&w 642 revolver Ammunition Gun parts Sakroots wallet Florida license Social security card Wells fargo visa Us bank mastercard Assorted discount cards Brown leather wallet and contents Georgia driver’s license Tripods Black leather coach brand money clip U.S. currency

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, August 4, 2016 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, August 22, 2016 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. Z-16-05/V-16-21 Aycock/Thompson Street/DT-LW Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 1 acre from O-P (Office-Professional) to DT-LW (Downtown Live-Work) in order to develop 7 single-family detached homes. A variance from UDC Appendix A, Section 3.7.3 to reduce the minimum lot size for detached homes and a variance from UDC Section 2.5.5 (D) to allow for crushed stone to be used for internal private streets is requested. The property is located on the north side of Thompson Street east of Haynes Bridge Road and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 748, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR CITY-WIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE OF RIGHT-OF-WAYS AND CITY FACILITIES RFQ 17-1003 The City of Alpharetta (City) is requesting statements of qualifications from qualified landscape maintenance contractors for the City’s Landscape Maintenance of Right-of-Ways and City Facilities contract. Contractors will also be responsible for the installation of certain tree planting and landscape improvement projects, so each must demonstrate relevant installation/ construction experience. The Request for Qualifications document will be available online Thursday, August 4, 2016 at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. Interested parties are required to log in to review the RFQ documents. Statements of Qualifications will be due on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. For information, please contact Debora Westbrook at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.

28 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

Abuzz: Continued from Page 7 phase, which is expected to include 70,000 square feet of restaurants and retail. A separate building will provide 30,000 square feet of office space. Cheri Morris, president of Morris &

Fellows, who heads the retail part of the development team for City Center, said she expects construction to begin sometime this fall. “We’ve got huge interest from retailers and restaurants and office tenants, so all of that is going,” she said. “We’re finalizing our design and getting ready to start construction this fall.” Morris said architects are still de-

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signing the buildings, and spaces must be precise before leases can be signed. However, she added, there have already been a good number of signed letters of intent. “We have 50,000 to 60,000 square feet in signed letters of intent on the commercial, which is not quite half of the commercial,” she said. Kennedy said the city’s downtown is generating quite a bit of excitement. “I think a lot of people are really buying into the idea that we’re creating something vibrant, especially in the downtown area, a vibrant, walkable

area.” Kennedy, who serves as liaison to the Community Development Department, noted that the Downtown Master Plan was a long process that drew on public input over the course of many months. Meetings were held among residents, he said, to determine proper densities and where development should be confined. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve had quite a bit of public opportunity to provide comment on growth,” Kennedy said.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR DESIGN / BUILD FOR DOWNTOWN PARKING DECK RFQ 17-1004 The City of Alpharetta (City) is requesting statements of qualifications from highly qualified firms/teams experienced with design/build of a multi-level parking deck within a Downtown setting. The Request for Qualifications document will be available online Thursday, August 4, 2016 at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. Interested parties are required to log in to review the RFQ documents. Statements of Qualifications will be due on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. For information, please contact Debora Westbrook at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 29

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | August 4, 2016 | 31

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Georgia Transmission Corporation: Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Assessment (EA) associated with the proposed CummingPinecrest 230 kV Transmission Project. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 15001508) and RUS’s NEPA implementing regulations (7 CFR Part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures). The purpose of the EA was to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a potential RUS loan or loan guarantee for the proposed project to Georgia Transmission Corporation. The project consists of building a 230 kV transmission line and modifying associated facilities in Forsyth County, Georgia. ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the FONSI or EA, or for further information, contact: Ms. Lauren McGee Rayburn, Environmental Scientist, USDA/RD/Rural Utilities Service, 84 Coxe Ave., Suite 1E, Asheville, NC 28801; telephone: (202) 695-2540; fax: (202) 690-0649, or e-mail: lauren.rayburn@wdc.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Georgia Transmission Corporation (Georgia Transmission) proposes to construct 7.4 miles of 230 kV line to connect the Cumming 230 kV Substation to the Pinecrest (formerly known as the Sharon Springs) 230/115 kV Switching Station. Line construction would require new equipment at the existing substation and switching station, although no new land disturbance would be required at the Cumming Substation. The transmission line would primarily follow existing road or highway right-of-way. A notice of availability of the EA for public review was published in the Forsyth County Hearld on June 30 and July 6, 2016. The EA was available for public and agency review at the Forsyth County Public Library, located at: 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, Georgia. The 14-day comment period ended on July 13, 2016. RUS received no comments. Alternatives considered by RUS and Georgia Transmission include (a) no action alternative, (b) electrical alternatives, and (c) alternative routes. An environmental report that describes the proposed project in detail and discusses its anticipated environmental impacts was prepared by Georgia Transmission Corporation. RUS conducted an independent analysis of the assessment and concurred with its scope and content. In accordance with 7 CFR § 1970.102(6), RUS accepted the assessment as its EA for the proposed project. Based on its EA, RUS has concluded that the proposed project would have no significant effects to water quality, wetlands, the 100-year floodplain, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and safety. The proposed project will have no adverse effects on historic properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and no adverse effects to federally listed species or designated critical habitat. The proposed project would not disproportionately affect minority and low-income populations. No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed project have been identified. Therefore, RUS has determined that the issued FONSI fulfills its obligations under NEPA for its action related to the proposed project. RUS is satisfied that the environmental impacts of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. If RUS takes a Federal action on the proposed project, it will not result in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared for the proposed project.

32 | August 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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