Barnwell Elementary donates coats, mittens to NFCC

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

2009-11-18 Students at Barnwell Elementary in Johns Creek held a Warm Coat Drive in October, collecting more than 250 coats, 150 pairs of shoes, and boxes of mittens and hats in just a two-day period. The coats were donated to North Fulton Community Charities and distributed during their Warm Coat Give Away on Oct 25. Wearable shoes were also donated to NFCC, while the worn-out athletic shoes will be recycled by Nike to become track, court and playground surfaces. Pictured: Third grade students in Heather Perlmutter’s class donated the most items during the Warm Coat Drive last month at Barnwell Elementary in Johns Creek. The items were donated to North Fulton Community Charities.The Coat Drive is the first of three Caring and Sharing events held at Barnwell each year. The students will hold a Canned Food Drive in November and a select special holiday gifts for needy children from Giving Tree in December.

Johns Creek Beautification raises more than $6,000

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

November 18, 2009

Johns Creek Beautification raised more than $6,000 at the Johns Creek Mayor's Ball Oct. 24. The Johns Creek Foundation recognized Johns Creek Beautification for second consecutive year as its designated recipient of proceeds from the silent auction at the ball.

Proceeds from the event will enable Johns Creek Beautification to provide matching funds of $5,000 to the city of Johns Creek as part of a continuation of the Medlock Bridge Median Beautification Project.

Future plans focus on landscaping installations at 10 areas in the city, including Abbotts Bridge/Jones Bridge roads intersection, Old Alabama/Buice roads intersection and initial plans for State Bridge Road corridor.

For more information, visit www.johnscreekbeautification.org.

Por Fin opens in Johns Creek

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

November 16, 2009 JOHNS CREEK – One of Georgia's newest cities has one of the state's newest restaurants, the upscale Por Fin. Restaurant operators say it offers affordable, "Creative Coastal Mexican" cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

Por Fin, meaning 'finally' or 'at last', will offer fresh, high-quality Mexican and coastal ingredients — both traditional and newly inspired flavors — served in a creative, healthier manner. With entrees ranging from $6 to $18, Por Fin's menu will offer signature items such as marjoram and tomato braised short ribs, Yucatan-style fresh fish crusted with chili adobo, wrapped in corn husk, grilled on an open flame, and marinated brick-weighted chicken with coriander jus, as well as traditional fare such as burritos, tacos and enchiladas.

Por Fin, located at 2100 Ray Moss Connector (at the Jones and State Bridge Intersection), opened on Nov. 6. No reservations are necessary.

Por Fin, Creative Coastal Mexican, is opened Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Owners Nancy Pingitore, a first-time restaurant owner and veteran Business executive, Jon Agri, a 30-year restaurant owner and mentor, are partners in the restuarant. Visit www.destinationporfin.com.

Suspect trashed victim with trash in Johns Creek

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

November 16, 2009

An Ogeechee Drive resident told Johns Creek police someone broke into his house Nov. 3 and spread trash in his house while stealing his computers and a gun.

The man said he'd returned from eating lunch when he noticed the trash dumped in the dining room and a smashed back window. He immediately called police.Among the items stolen were a .40 caliber handgun and two laptop computers.

The suspect apparently missed the other gun and $700 in cash, which were also in the same area as the .40 caliber pistol.

Northview holds International Night

Courtesy Jason Wright; Appen Newspapers

November 13, 2009 Johns Creek — Northview High School showed off the talents of its diverse student population Nov. 12 with its yearly and ever-popular International Night.

This year's event, dubbed "Starry night," featured food from around the world and a stage show packed with music, dancing and entertainments from the USA, India, Liberia, China, Iran, Spain, Venezuela, Africa and Korea. International Night is presented by the school's Kaleidoscope club, which promotes unity through student diversity.

Johns Creek selects Firefighter of the Quarter

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

November 11, 2009 Johns Creek — John Walton has been named Johns Creek "Firefighter of the Quarter" for the second quarter of 2009.

"John Walton is an outstanding firefighter. I've known him for many years and his attitude, work ethic and dedication to his job are exemplary and commendable. He represents the best of what a firefighter needs to be and he consistently gives his all, smiling all the way," said Fire Chief Joseph Daniels.

A native of Red Oak, Walton joined the Johns Creek Fire Department in its October 2008 launch, after serving 28 years with Fulton County Fire including several years based in North Fulton.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a firefighter for 19 years with Fulton County while Walton was growing up.

"I wanted to be a firefighter since I was around 7 years old and I saw how much my father helped people. I like helping people and being a firefighter gives me many opportunities to do so," said Walton on receiving his award. "I come to work and do my job. If I can help someone, I'm happy."

Walton is an apparatus operator, driving an 80,000-pound, 100-foot ladder truck based at Station 63.

Johns Creek says ‘no’ to Newtown carwash

By Rachel Kellogg; Neighbor Newspapers

Residents of Johns Creek will not see a new car wash in the Haynes Market shopping center because it would not meet the standards of the city’s comprehensive plan.

The property’s owner, Daniel Grass operated a package store on the corner of Old Alabama Road and Haynes Bridge Road for 16 years, but the store has since gone out of business.

Grass requested to have the zoning of the property changed to open a carwash, but his application was denied by council in an unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Justin Kirouac recommended denying the application because the development would be “out of character with the surrounding area.”

Several residents, including members of the Johns Creek Community Association, came to Monday’s meeting to speak in opposition of the application.

Residents expressed concern that a carwash would take away from the pedestrian feel of the Newtown area and would create additional traffic.

Call brought a signed petition from other business owners in the shopping center asking the council to deny the rezoning request.

For a carwash to be built on the property, it would need to be rezoned from C-1 status to C-2, meaning, in the future, businesses like pawn shops, repair garages and check cashing companies could be established.

A spokesman for Grass said the carwash would not hinder pedestrian walkways and connectivity, and he pointed out the BP fuel station and carwash adjacent to the property and the Kroger fuel center in the shopping center.

Grass also promised to only operate 12 hours a day and plant trees and additional landscaping around the area.

But council was not convinced that the development was a good fit for Newtown.

“I’ve got a comprehensive plan that wasn’t thrown together,” said Councilwoman Karen Richardson. “It doesn’t allow for a change to C-2, and I’m uncomfortable making that change.”

Councilman Randall Johnson said he had not met any members of the community who supported the development.

Dr. Lee Chiropractic Grand Opening In Johns Creek.

Double Click To Widen Screen.

By Tim Enloe;
Accessjohnscreek.com
11/7/09

It was a beautiful sunny Saturday as Johns Creek welcomed it's newest business, Dr. Lee Chiropractic, to the city.

Mayor Mike Bodker and various chamber of commerce members were all smiles as they cut the ceremonial ribbon with Dr. Lee and his staff.

The grand opening event kicked off at noon with food, a raffle, balloons, and even a latin band in attendance to help put a kick in your step!

It was a proud day for Dr. Lee, "I am very excited to serve this community," he shared, "We are...a chiropractic clinic and we are going to be a multicultural clinic. This place can be where you can heal yourself but at the same time we can learn from each other."

Located at 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek, Dr. Lee Chiropractic is open Monday / Wednesday / Friday from 9:30am to 6:30 pm, Tuesday & Thursday from 12:30pm to 5pm and every first and third Satuday from 12pm to 2pm. They can be reached at 770-559-4236 or on the web at http://www.drleechiro.com/.

Man drives through stone wall, crashes car into Johns Creek house

By Kristi E. Swartz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police have identified a man who led them on a 10-minute chase through Gwinnett and Fulton counties before crashing through a stone wall and into a Johns Creek house early Friday morning

No one was hurt, but police had to taser the man to take him into custody, a Johns Creek police spokeswoman said.

Juan Soto, 22, of Snellville, was arrested after police chased the Ford F-150 truck he was driving from Duluth to Johns Creek.

According to a Duluth police report, an officer saw the white truck parked in front of the Moe's Southwest Grill in the Peachtree Hill Shopping Center around 2:50 a.m. The truck's driver's side door was open, and police saw a man walking around the building.

The man then got in the truck and began driving on Pleasant Hill Road, police said.
Police they began chasing the man on Pleasant Hill Road, driving at 85 miles an hour. As the truck was nearing State Bridge Road, it swerved to get around another vehicle, jumped the median and then swerved again, police said.

At that point, a Duluth Police officer stopped following the truck, but a Johns Creek police officer had begun chasing the vehicle instead.

The truck's lights were off, a Johns Creek police spokeswoman said.

The man turned south on Jones Bridge Road and traveled about a mile before he lost control of his vehicle and ran into a stone wall that fronted a house in the Jones Bridge Landing subdivision, police said.

The truck he was driving was registered to another man, police said.

A Johns Creek police spokeswoman said the man was charged with criminal damage to property, reckless driving, DUI, driving without a license and fleeing and attempting to elude police, which is a felony. He was taken to the Fulton County Jail.

Johns Creek Police tap 'Officers of the Quarter'

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

JOHNS CREEK – The Johns Creek Police Department has chosen two officers from its Uniform Patrol Unit as the latest recipients of its "Officer of the Quarter" award.

Officer Lincoln Brown received the honor for the first quarter of 2009, while Officer Mike Yager's award represented outstanding work during the second quarter of 2009.

"Both of these men are experienced in community policing and have served our residents and businesses with exceptional professionalism during these periods. They continue to represent our department in the most positive manner. I am very proud of them," said Police Chief Ed Densmore.

Brown, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., began in law enforcement as an officer with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Police Department, working in Manhattan's Grand Central and Penn stations. A graduate of New York University, Brown became a senior police officer with DeKalb County Police in 2006 and joined Johns Creek Police in April 2008 as a member of its Inaugural Squad.

"I love being a police officer in Johns Creek. It is a very pleasant experience to serve people who appreciate a police presence and to work with officers and commanders who support you," said Brown.

Originally from Otego, N.Y., Yager earned a teaching degree from Oneonta State University before entering law enforcement. He began as a deputy with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in 1998, and then moved to Holly Springs, where he was promoted to sergeant/Uniform Patrol commander. He joined the JCPD with the Inaugural Squad in April 2008.

"I do my job to the best of my ability. It's a great honor to be recognized and I appreciate it, but my job is to protect and serve. I'll just keep doing that the best I can every day," said Yager.