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STEM school continues with needed repairs
Waterproofing work among list of items district is addressing By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmedia.com CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA
Roswell City Councilman Mike Palermo displays a key to the city for former Councilman Marcelo Zapata at an Aug. 29 reception and open forum honoring him for his service. Zapata’s wife, acting under power of attorney, submitted his resignation letter in June, citing medical reasons.
Roswell honors Marcelo Zapata
By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Former City Councilman Marcelo Zapata was honored for his contributions to the City of Roswell at a reception and open forum on Aug. 29. Residents, elected officials and family members hailed him as a man of integrity, values and loyalty. Zapata was unable to attend the event for health reasons. Addressing Zapata’s wife and daughter, Selena and Isabella, Mayor Kurt Wil-
son said Marcelo was a prime example of how one person can change the course of many events and that the city was better off because of him. “Marcelo Zapata really was the beginning of the resident change agent in the City of Roswell and was often alone in that path and had the courage and audacity to stay on that path,” Wilson said. “So, a lot to learn, a lot to emulate, a lot to aspire to be like Marcelo Zapata.” A special election to fill Zapata’s unexpired term on the Post 1 City Council seat will be held in conjunction with
state and federal elections Nov. 8. Selena, acting under power of attorney, submitted his resignation letter to the mayor in June, citing medical reasons. Marcelo Zapata was elected to the City Council in 2015 and won re-election in 2019. His term expires Dec. 31, 2023. The candidate who is elected to fill the remainder of his term will have to run for re-election in the November 2023 Municipal Election.
Avalon fashion benefit to aid area charities
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ATLANTA — Heavy equipment and construction materials on the area’s newest school campus has drawn scrutiny from the community on the structural stability of the building. However, officials with the Fulton County School System say the ongoing work at Innovation Academy in downtown Alpharetta this summer is routine for any new building. “During the final walkthrough [prior to opening in 2021] we found some deficiencies, including the waterproofing for the building,” said Noel Maloof, chief operations officer for Fulton Schools. “So the contractor – at their cost – is back to fix these issues this summer.” The $70 million school opened in the fall of 2021 and is located on
See ACADEMY, Page 26