By MICHELLE E. SHAW / www.ajc.com / Published on: 07/30/08
A storm water pollution project at Chattahoochee High is getting overflowing support from a county commissioner.
A $75,000 grant check was presented to the Chattahoochee Cougar Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization affiliated with the high school, Wednesday by Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley.
The grant will be used for the construction of the ARCH project, an effort to remedy a growing community problem of storm water pollution, to be housed at Chattahoochee High.
The proposed project incorporates a constructed wetland detention pond for storm water runoff, amphitheater and environmental education stations, officials say. The wetland detention pond will retain and clean storm water through a bioremediation filtration process before it enters Johns Creek. Drainpipes entering the ARCH will be fitted with engineering devices for the removal of macro-pollutants and sediments.
Chattahoochee's grant is one of three presented to environmental nonprofits in North Fulton County. Earlier this month, Riley presented the Mountain Park Watershed Preservation Society Inc. a $91,700 grant to purchase approximately 20 lots on the shore of Lake Garrett for environmental green space in the city of Mountain Park. She also presented Keep Roswell Beautiful Inc. with a $68,000 grant to fund tree replacement and education markers in Roswell Area Park and intersection beautification.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Gadget Showcase Comes To Johns Creek
July 24, 2008 Gwinnett Herald
JOHNS CREEK – The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will present the 2008 Gadget Showcase Thursday, July 24 at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.The showcase will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and will feature technology innovators, manufacturers and distributers who will exhibit the latest products.
"As business brokers we have the opportunity to talk with a lot of individuals with great ideas and products that struggle to make it to market. I am looking forward to being a participant in the Chamber's 2008 Gadget Festival and to presenting an innovative, award winning golf tool, The MarkMender," said Carol Yurick of AccuBrokers Inc."The purpose of the showcase is to allow local technology innovators, manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their latest and greatest products," said Sarah Christenson, event coordinator.Emory Johns Creek Hospital offers more space for the event, she said.
The exhibitors's list misses only a couple from last year, but many other vendors have been added."Beyond the expected new telephones and new banking services, we will have tables on elevators, patent law and email control. Our title sponsor, Intelligels, is showcasing a new gel wrist pad for laptops, once only for table top computers," she said.
Sponsorships are available for $500 to $1,000. Exhibitors can purchase booth space for $50 that will include one table with the company name and electricity.This event also will include the monthly Business After Hours for the chamber, with food provided by Glorious Events Catering.The cost to attend is $10 for GNFCC members and $20 for non-members. For more information, contact Sarah Christenson at 678-397-0532 or e-mail schristenson@gnfcc.com.Emory Johns Creek is at 6235 Hospital Parkway in Johns Creek.
JOHNS CREEK – The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will present the 2008 Gadget Showcase Thursday, July 24 at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.The showcase will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and will feature technology innovators, manufacturers and distributers who will exhibit the latest products.
"As business brokers we have the opportunity to talk with a lot of individuals with great ideas and products that struggle to make it to market. I am looking forward to being a participant in the Chamber's 2008 Gadget Festival and to presenting an innovative, award winning golf tool, The MarkMender," said Carol Yurick of AccuBrokers Inc."The purpose of the showcase is to allow local technology innovators, manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their latest and greatest products," said Sarah Christenson, event coordinator.Emory Johns Creek Hospital offers more space for the event, she said.
The exhibitors's list misses only a couple from last year, but many other vendors have been added."Beyond the expected new telephones and new banking services, we will have tables on elevators, patent law and email control. Our title sponsor, Intelligels, is showcasing a new gel wrist pad for laptops, once only for table top computers," she said.
Sponsorships are available for $500 to $1,000. Exhibitors can purchase booth space for $50 that will include one table with the company name and electricity.This event also will include the monthly Business After Hours for the chamber, with food provided by Glorious Events Catering.The cost to attend is $10 for GNFCC members and $20 for non-members. For more information, contact Sarah Christenson at 678-397-0532 or e-mail schristenson@gnfcc.com.Emory Johns Creek is at 6235 Hospital Parkway in Johns Creek.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Johns Creek Has Heart: Defibrillators In Every Police Car
By DOUG NURSE www.ajc.com
According to the American Heart Association, a person dies of heart attack every minute nationwide. Officials of Johns Creek are taking steps to improve victims' chances of survival.
A program to put defibrillators in each of the city's 29 patrol cars has prompted the AHA to name the Johns Creek as Georgia's First "Heart Ready City." The city also is placing the lifesaving devices in municipal buildings, and city parks. Firetrucks also come equipped with heart resuscitation device.Defibrillators send an electrical shock to the heart to restore the heart rhythm to a normal pace.
"This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city's leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level," AHA Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham said in a prepared statement.
Public Safety Communications Manager Rosemary Taylor said that last year a life was saved by a defibrillator owned by Newtown Park Athletic Association. Later this year, interested citizens also may learn how to use it through a community-wide defibrillator-CPR training program through the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital donated $10,000 to the program. Georgia Power Corp., Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms also helped raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car. The American Heart Association contributed $11,400 to provide six defibrillators to other city facilities.
An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
According to the American Heart Association, a person dies of heart attack every minute nationwide. Officials of Johns Creek are taking steps to improve victims' chances of survival.
A program to put defibrillators in each of the city's 29 patrol cars has prompted the AHA to name the Johns Creek as Georgia's First "Heart Ready City." The city also is placing the lifesaving devices in municipal buildings, and city parks. Firetrucks also come equipped with heart resuscitation device.Defibrillators send an electrical shock to the heart to restore the heart rhythm to a normal pace.
"This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city's leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level," AHA Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham said in a prepared statement.
Public Safety Communications Manager Rosemary Taylor said that last year a life was saved by a defibrillator owned by Newtown Park Athletic Association. Later this year, interested citizens also may learn how to use it through a community-wide defibrillator-CPR training program through the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital donated $10,000 to the program. Georgia Power Corp., Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms also helped raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car. The American Heart Association contributed $11,400 to provide six defibrillators to other city facilities.
An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Three Teens Rescued After Getting Stranded On A Rock In River
By MARCUS K. GARNER www.ajc.com
Fulton and Gwinnett county emergency teams rescued a group of teens Tuesday night trapped on a rock in the Chattahoochee River.Rescuers were called about 9:30 p.m.
The three youth, ages 17, 16 and 15, had been swimming near Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, when one of the river pumping stations began raising the water level, Fulton County officials said.
"The water got a little too high for them," Fulton County Fire Department Lt. Gregory Chambers said. "They were stuck on a rock, screaming for help."
Residents at a nearby apartment complex heard the teens and called the fire department. Fulton County rescuers called Gwinnett to assist.
"They had a boat," Chambers said of the Gwinnett County swift water rescue team.
The teens were brought ashore after telling rescuers they had been on the river "for hours," Chambers said. They were treated on the scene for minor injuries and released, he said.
Fulton and Gwinnett county emergency teams rescued a group of teens Tuesday night trapped on a rock in the Chattahoochee River.Rescuers were called about 9:30 p.m.
The three youth, ages 17, 16 and 15, had been swimming near Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, when one of the river pumping stations began raising the water level, Fulton County officials said.
"The water got a little too high for them," Fulton County Fire Department Lt. Gregory Chambers said. "They were stuck on a rock, screaming for help."
Residents at a nearby apartment complex heard the teens and called the fire department. Fulton County rescuers called Gwinnett to assist.
"They had a boat," Chambers said of the Gwinnett County swift water rescue team.
The teens were brought ashore after telling rescuers they had been on the river "for hours," Chambers said. They were treated on the scene for minor injuries and released, he said.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Roberts Realty Investors close $60M Deal
July 10, 2008 09:21 AM
Appen Newspapers
JOHNS CREEK – Roberts Realty Investors closed the sale of its 403-unit AddisonPlace apartment community for $60 million. Though shareholders and unitholders will receive 66 cents per share/unit, that's a far cry from the $2.50 announced in January and April press releases. The company blames the weakness in the U.S. economy and the continued stress in the banking system."Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, company CFO. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
The distribution will be paid Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.The sales price is equal to $148,883 per apartment unit or $102 per square foot and resulted in net cash proceeds of approximately $29.3 million to the company. The buyer was not disclosed.Addison Place is in Johns Creek and consists of 118 townhomes and 285 garden apartments. The first phase of Addison Place consisting of 118 townhomes was completed in 1999 and the second phase of 285 garden apartments was completed in 2001.
Addison Place was designed, developed, and constructed by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of the company.Charles S. Roberts, the company's founder and CEO, said: "Since 1994, our investment strategy has been to buy well-located land in high-growth neighborhoods and then develop, construct, and manage these high-quality apartment communities."
Elliott said they believe the best way to create shareholder value is to periodically sell its apartment communities to make distributions to shareholders from the proceeds.The company has paid dividends and distributions totaling $8.84 per share/unit since 1996. In 2003, Roberts Realty Investors sold its Highland Park apartment community and paid a distribution of ¢55 cents per share/unit. In 2004, the company sold a portfolio of five apartment communities and paid a distribution of $4.50 per share/unit.With Addison Place distribution payments, the company will have paid dividends and distributions totaling $9.50 per share/unit since 1996, which is equal to an average of 73 cents per share/unit per year for each of the past 13 years.
The company moves forward with development and construction of apartment communities in Forsyth County and in Sandy Springs totaling 374 residential units.Sawmill Village is a 22-acre site that is zoned for 154 residential units. The property is located at the intersection of Ga. 9 and Old Atlanta Road in Forsyth County, an area that is experiencing rapid growth. This community will be similar in size to Rosewood Plantation and Ivey Brook, two other 150-unit communities the company previously developed and sold for a substantial return.The company's Northridge property is an 11-acre site located in Sandy Springs, and is adjacent to its Northridge office building.This property is zoned for mixed-use and will include 220 residential units consisting of one- and two-bedroom homes along with covered parking for the residents.
Appen Newspapers
JOHNS CREEK – Roberts Realty Investors closed the sale of its 403-unit AddisonPlace apartment community for $60 million. Though shareholders and unitholders will receive 66 cents per share/unit, that's a far cry from the $2.50 announced in January and April press releases. The company blames the weakness in the U.S. economy and the continued stress in the banking system."Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, company CFO. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
The distribution will be paid Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.The sales price is equal to $148,883 per apartment unit or $102 per square foot and resulted in net cash proceeds of approximately $29.3 million to the company. The buyer was not disclosed.Addison Place is in Johns Creek and consists of 118 townhomes and 285 garden apartments. The first phase of Addison Place consisting of 118 townhomes was completed in 1999 and the second phase of 285 garden apartments was completed in 2001.
Addison Place was designed, developed, and constructed by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of the company.Charles S. Roberts, the company's founder and CEO, said: "Since 1994, our investment strategy has been to buy well-located land in high-growth neighborhoods and then develop, construct, and manage these high-quality apartment communities."
Elliott said they believe the best way to create shareholder value is to periodically sell its apartment communities to make distributions to shareholders from the proceeds.The company has paid dividends and distributions totaling $8.84 per share/unit since 1996. In 2003, Roberts Realty Investors sold its Highland Park apartment community and paid a distribution of ¢55 cents per share/unit. In 2004, the company sold a portfolio of five apartment communities and paid a distribution of $4.50 per share/unit.With Addison Place distribution payments, the company will have paid dividends and distributions totaling $9.50 per share/unit since 1996, which is equal to an average of 73 cents per share/unit per year for each of the past 13 years.
The company moves forward with development and construction of apartment communities in Forsyth County and in Sandy Springs totaling 374 residential units.Sawmill Village is a 22-acre site that is zoned for 154 residential units. The property is located at the intersection of Ga. 9 and Old Atlanta Road in Forsyth County, an area that is experiencing rapid growth. This community will be similar in size to Rosewood Plantation and Ivey Brook, two other 150-unit communities the company previously developed and sold for a substantial return.The company's Northridge property is an 11-acre site located in Sandy Springs, and is adjacent to its Northridge office building.This property is zoned for mixed-use and will include 220 residential units consisting of one- and two-bedroom homes along with covered parking for the residents.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Officer Poses As Patient, Fake Dentist Arrested
A Johns Creek woman was arrested last week for operating an illegal dental clinic out of her home, police said. Claudinette Varon-Castro, 45, was charged with five felony charges on July 2, including three counts of practicing dentistry without a license. She was also charged for illegally having several medical drugs, including antibiotics, anesthetics and muscle relaxers."This was very unexpected," said Johns Creek police detective Capt. Brian Weaver. "This was a regular subdivision."
Police said Varon-Castro had certificates from her home country of Colombia saying she was a dentist, but was not licensed to practice in the United States or in Georgia, a felony.
She was taking cash only to see patients, police said.
She was taking cash only to see patients, police said.
Authorities were tipped off about Varon-Castro in May, and began a month-long sting.
Undercover officers set up appointments at Varon-Castro's home at 4790 Ogeechee Drive.
She examined one officer's mouth and suggested taking X-rays and applying local anesthesia before a procedure.
Undercover officers set up appointments at Varon-Castro's home at 4790 Ogeechee Drive.
She examined one officer's mouth and suggested taking X-rays and applying local anesthesia before a procedure.
Varon-Castro told the officer she would charge $180 for her service. When the officer declined and asked only for pain medicine, Varon-Castro offered 22 Amoxicillin pills and charged the officer $60 cash."I'm delighted that this hit the public eye," said Dr. Peter Trager, former president of the Georgia Board of Dentistry, the agency that regulates dentists. "Hopefully, it will put the fear of God in some of these other people that police and the board don't know about."
Trager said many underground dentists like Varon-Castro prey on undocumented immigrants who either can't afford or are afraid to go to a conventional dentist."Most of the time, they get hurt, and they don't report it because of their illegal status," the Marietta dentist said. "Fortunately, the state Legislature made it a felony" in 2005.
Varon-Castro was released from the Fulton County Jail last week on $25,000 bond, according to jail records.
Weaver, the lead detective in this ongoing investigation, said more charges could be pending, "once we determine what was taken out of there."
He said police are trying to determine how she got Amoxicillin, antibiotics, the muscle relaxant Flexoral and three different anesthetics, including Lidocaine. "She could've gotten them online, or she could've gotten them through a regular dealer, since she has some medical connections," Weaver said.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Incorporating Cities: Tired Of Services Not Matching Tax Burden
By Jeffrey H. Dorfman www.ajc.com
Georgia has more than 500 cities. It would seem that we don't need more local governments, yet that is just what we are getting. Fulton County has added four cities (Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill Country) in the past few years. There has been talk of a new city in DeKalb. There is even talk of splitting Fulton County in two (by bringing Milton County back). Additionally, there was recent discussion of the Buckhead area of Atlanta becoming a city.When these new cities are proposed, there is much discussion about the economic consequences. Some effort is spent to answer the question "Will the new city be economically viable?" However, much more effort is usually spent on the horrible economic damage that will be done to an existing local government.When a county or city advances the argument that the formation of a new city will cause economic hardship to the existing government, resulting in service cutbacks or tax increases, it is admitting to overcharging the area considering forming a new city.
Atlanta doesn't want Buckhead to leave because Buckhead residents pay far more in taxes and fees than the value of city services received. Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek were all similar cases.Citizens pushing for new cities sometimes talk about local control, different zoning policies or other customer-service-type issues, but these are window dressing. Cities are forming because their would-be residents are being overcharged by their current service provider(s).There is no single definition of "fair taxation." However, the national consensus is that the federal government should be funded by a progressive tax system based on one's ability to pay. State government funding is generally less progressive, but still somewhat weighted in that direction.
We do not appear to have a similar consensus that city and county governments should be funded based on "ability to pay," with many people favoring paying based on services received.Cities and counties in Georgia typically get 30 percent to 50 percent of their revenues from property taxes, and that means the owners of more expensive houses are paying more taxes.Since it is rarely more expensive to provide services to those more expensive houses, local government collects a surplus from them and uses it to offset the shortfall from owners of less expensive properties. (Businesses also generate a surplus for local governments.)Some will feel that city and county governments should be trying to charge their citizens an amount equaling services received, which they generally do for some services, such as trash, water and sewer. Others will think the current system is fair, with wealthier citizens bearing a heavier burden. Who is right doesn't matter (it's both, since these are opinions).
What counts is that there are large numbers of people and neighborhoods that can have lower taxes by forming their own city.We might try solutions such as a property tax cap, more reliance on sales taxes or more reliance on user fees and charges for services.In the meantime, as long as we have a system where taxes are not tied to services received in a manner that people deem fair, new cities will continue to become reality.
> Jeffrey H. Dorfman is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia.
Georgia has more than 500 cities. It would seem that we don't need more local governments, yet that is just what we are getting. Fulton County has added four cities (Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill Country) in the past few years. There has been talk of a new city in DeKalb. There is even talk of splitting Fulton County in two (by bringing Milton County back). Additionally, there was recent discussion of the Buckhead area of Atlanta becoming a city.When these new cities are proposed, there is much discussion about the economic consequences. Some effort is spent to answer the question "Will the new city be economically viable?" However, much more effort is usually spent on the horrible economic damage that will be done to an existing local government.When a county or city advances the argument that the formation of a new city will cause economic hardship to the existing government, resulting in service cutbacks or tax increases, it is admitting to overcharging the area considering forming a new city.
Atlanta doesn't want Buckhead to leave because Buckhead residents pay far more in taxes and fees than the value of city services received. Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek were all similar cases.Citizens pushing for new cities sometimes talk about local control, different zoning policies or other customer-service-type issues, but these are window dressing. Cities are forming because their would-be residents are being overcharged by their current service provider(s).There is no single definition of "fair taxation." However, the national consensus is that the federal government should be funded by a progressive tax system based on one's ability to pay. State government funding is generally less progressive, but still somewhat weighted in that direction.
We do not appear to have a similar consensus that city and county governments should be funded based on "ability to pay," with many people favoring paying based on services received.Cities and counties in Georgia typically get 30 percent to 50 percent of their revenues from property taxes, and that means the owners of more expensive houses are paying more taxes.Since it is rarely more expensive to provide services to those more expensive houses, local government collects a surplus from them and uses it to offset the shortfall from owners of less expensive properties. (Businesses also generate a surplus for local governments.)Some will feel that city and county governments should be trying to charge their citizens an amount equaling services received, which they generally do for some services, such as trash, water and sewer. Others will think the current system is fair, with wealthier citizens bearing a heavier burden. Who is right doesn't matter (it's both, since these are opinions).
What counts is that there are large numbers of people and neighborhoods that can have lower taxes by forming their own city.We might try solutions such as a property tax cap, more reliance on sales taxes or more reliance on user fees and charges for services.In the meantime, as long as we have a system where taxes are not tied to services received in a manner that people deem fair, new cities will continue to become reality.
> Jeffrey H. Dorfman is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia.
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