City of Johns Creek Appoints New Fire Chief Johns Creek City Manager Warren Hutmacher announced the appointment of Chris Coons as the new fire chief for the City of Johns Creek. Coons has served as assistant fire chief for Johns Creek Fire Department (JCFD) since 2012 and brings more than 26 years of professional experience to the position.Chris is a thoughtful leader and a talented professional who brings an intimate understanding of what it takes to run a full-service department along with an appreciation for the exceptional level of service Johns Creek residents expect and deserve, said Hutmacher, who conducted a thorough nationwide search to ensure the city maintained exceptional direction and leadership for all operations and oversight of the JCFD.The members of our City Council and I are familiar with the outstanding commitment and dedication Chris has shown throughout his tenure in our citys fire department, said Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker. He is a tremendous asset to our organization. Our fire department is in very capable hands thanks to his experience as a leader and his vision for success.
Georgias 50 Safest Cities Ranked for 2019 The home security website, Safewise, has released its rankings of the 50 safest cities in Georgia, topped by Senoia, which is known by fans everywhere as the home base of the AMC TV show The Walking Dead. While the safest cities are scattered across the state, the following north Fulton cities made the list: Milton (No. 3)Johns Creek (No. 5)Alpharetta (No. 7)Roswell (No. 18)Only two cities on the SafeWise list had more than 100 violent crimes, and 70% of the safest cities had no murders. Survey respondents ranked digital security as the top safety concern in Georgia; 26% reported personal experience with digital security issues in the past year, which is two points higher than the national average.
Alpharetta and Johns Creek Bring Waze Carpool to Local Residents and Employers The cities of Alpharetta and Johns Creek recently announced a partnership with Waze Carpool, a service offered by Waze that connects riders and drivers for easier, more affordable commutes. Through August 5, residents can upgrade their commutes to work by enjoying $2 flat-rate rides via Waze Carpool. Waze Carpool connects drivers and passengers with similar destinations by pairing them together to share commutes on the most optimal routes. Commuters can use the Waze Carpool app to choose a rider or driver based on the users personal profile and select filters, including gender, co-worker or classmate, and proximity to a preferred route. Waze Carpool drivers manage routes through the app, which can be customized to schedule rides up to seven days in advance. Drivers will also receive the full ride-fare payments during the promotional period.Our goal is to help address the traffic congestion we witness on a daily basis in the north metro area by taking cars off the road and providing commuters with convenient and cost-effective options for getting to work or wherever they need to go, said Johns Creek City Council Member Chris Coughlin. Georgia Commute Options (GCO), a program managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission, is working with employer partners in the north Fulton area to promote this limited time program. The GCO team works with employers, commuters, and schools around the entire metro Atlanta region to encourage drivers who ride alone to make the switch to a sustainable commuting alternative like carpooling, teleworking, or taking public transit.For additional information on Waze Carpool, to download the application, and to sign up to be a rider or a driver, please visit Waze.com/carpool. For more information on Georgia Commute Options, please visit GaCommuteOptions.com.
First Woman President Set to Lead North Fulton Community Charities Board of Directors North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) board of directors recently welcomed a new president and five new members for the 2020 fiscal year. The election of Mary Good as president is the first time in the 36-year history of the organization that a woman has led the board. Good has been a longtime community volunteer and has served on the NFCC board of directors since 2012. New board members include Bill Brower, Ken Davis, Gina Daunt, Julie Haley, and Matt Powell. Founded in 1983, NFCC serves as a human service agency dedicated to building self-sufficiency and preventing homelessness and hunger for residents in north Fulton in the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, and Roswell.
The Drake House Turns 13 and Welcomes a New Executive Director Thirteen years ago, June 12, 2006, the first family moved into The Drake House. A mother and her teenage son had lived in a local extended stay hotel for almost two years, so that he could continue to attend Roswell High School. Mom worked downtown and was able to take MARTA to and from work, but she could never accumulate enough money for rent and utility deposits. The hotel was their best option. The family flourished at The Drake House, and the mother was finally able to save enough for those deposits after a 90-day stay.Since that time, The Drake House has served 476 mothers and 864 children, with a success rate of over 85%. The recent renovation of The Drake Village will help the organization continue to grow, provide more services, and assist families as rent steadily increases. Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, and Roswell are flourishing. The Drake House works with residents of these cities to ensure continued support for those who struggle to live in these communities.The Drake House also recently welcomed new executive director, Nesha Mason. Mason is an experienced nonprofit executive director, who has successfully led an educational foundation in the metro Atlanta area. In the past, Mason has served as an elected city mayor, an early childhood program director, a special education support lead teacher, as well as the operations director and employee relations director for a family business located in Kansas. She also cofounded and served as a longtime board member of a youth center in Kansas that is flourishing to this day.
Together Roswell Shaping Our Future The City of Roswell recently launched Together Roswell, a robust community-engagement effort, with the primary goal of developing a strategic plan for the City based on its residents vision and shared goals. The Together Roswell public engagement phase kicked off with a series of Get Together Roswell listening-and-learning sessions. During these sessions, the Citys consultants, Planning NEXT, gave a brief presentation introducing the process, with most of the time dedicated to small group discussions and activities. The listening-and-learning sessions were held to receive critical feedback from Roswell residents and business owners. Public input collected throughout the Together Roswell process will serve as the foundation for the strategic plan. Planning processes like Together Roswell represent good stewardship. But for the city to know the communitys priorities, we must ask them, said Gary Palmer, city administrator. This plan will be driven by public engagement and supported by the conclusions drawn from these discussions. Its critical that everyone get involved and help shape the future of Roswell. To learn more about Together Roswell, please visit TogetherRoswell.org.
A Record High Fundraiser for InCommunity InCommunitys most recent fundraising event was attended by 350 supporters and raised almost $300,000 for the organization, which will continue to support their mission of partnering to enrich and sustain the lives of individuals who have disabilities, their families, and their communities. Visit InCommunityga.org for more information.
Cherokee County Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch Named The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the 2019 group of Cherokee Countys Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. This recognition program focuses on Cherokee County residents under age 40 who are considered to be up-and-coming leaders over the next 10 years. The Top 10 in 10 initiative is designed to cultivate and showcase exceptional Cherokee County young professionals, said Pam Carnes, Chamber president and CEO. We were extremely pleased with the number and caliber of candidates for this years recognition. As we have grown accustomed to, far more than 10 nominees were submitted. Each application was carefully reviewed by a panel of judges that found the task of only choosing 10 honorees challenging, said Chamber Board Chair John Barker. Judging criteria included past professional achievements and awards, five- to 10-year professional goals, as well as the nominees volunteer and community activities. The winners were recognized during the Chambers monthly networking breakfast. The honorees who will be under the age of 40 on October 1 have been nominated for the prestigious GeorgiaTrend Magazine 40 Under 40 recognition. The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber, a Georgia Certified Chamber of Commerce, is to promote business and the community while expanding the economy and enhancing quality of life.
Next Step Ministries Announces Expanded Space Next Step Ministries is excited to announce a newly expanded Trickum Road location in Woodstock, which will allow the organization to serve more clients with special needs in Cherokee, Cobb, and Fulton. This expansion to its original space will allow more flexibility, room for client growth, and needed space for its growing staff. New hours of operation are 8:00am-6:00pm. The additional hours and service space will provide more opportunities for client family members to rejoin the workforce while knowing their loved one will be in a safe and fulfilling day program.
Roswell Soccer Team Celebrates State Victory Roswell Soccer Programs Santos 14U Girls Blue Team recently won the Georgia Soccer State Cup. The girls finished their season with 10 wins and one tie. By winning the state cup, the team advanced to the 2019 US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.This team has worked so hard over the last 10 months. Im very proud of this group, and its been a pleasure to watch them grow as soccer players and people, said Coach Mark Lomas.Team members include Lauren Connelly, Kelsie Crosier, Caroline Curry, Laurel Edge, Olivia Gowin, Teller Gucky, Molly Henderson, Taylor Keller, Lara Kennedy, Reghan Lednik, Joelle Miller, Ella Parker, Siyona Raina, and Rachel Williamson.For more information about the City of Roswells soccer programs, visit RoswellGov.com/register.