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City hails launch of east-west link for Alpha Loop By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com
ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin speaks at a Oct. 24 groundbreaking for the Alpha Loop Extension project.
Diwali festival fills park for cultural celebration By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Anokhi Parikh migrated from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, to the United States at 10 years old. In her younger years, she always felt the need to fit in, not knowing how to speak English well. The bright-eyed 27-yearold came to know the varied cultures in America but
never forgot her roots, with parents who instilled Indian culture and values from the beginning. With a growing appreciation for her heritage and a purpose to bring the East to the West, Parikh founded Merakhi, one of AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA around 15 Indian clothing and accessory vendors at the A dancer performs during the Johns Johns Creek Diwali festival Creek Diwali Oct. 22.
festival Oct. 22 at See DIWALI, Page 12 Shakerag Park.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — State and local officials broke ground on the newest phase of the Alpha Loop Oct. 24, celebrating the beginning of work to connect east and west sections of Alpharetta’s multi-use trail. The Alpha Loop trail system, launched in 2016, will connect the city’s most active areas — Downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, Northwinds and North Point. When completed, the trail system will include an approximately 4-mile inner loop and a 7-mile outer loop. “If you want to find the cool places to Alpharetta, this is it,” Alpha Loop Foundation President John Goss said at the groundbreaking event. “This is really truly the beginning of what we see for the future, of how Alpharetta
See LOOP, Page 4
Roswell condemns land for Oxbo Road By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — For the first time in decades, the City of Roswell is taking ownership of one of the last parcels of land needed for the Oxbo Road realignment project. At its Oct. 24 meeting, the Roswell City Council unanimously authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire 1,368 square feet of property at 50 Maple Street for fee simple right of way and another 2,947.41 square feet for a temporary easement for construction of the project.
Eminent domain, or condemnation, is the taking of property for fair market value for redevelopment purposes such as roads, sidewalks and parks. It can prevent projects from running behind schedule if the city cannot reach agreement with landowners on a price. Proposed more than a decade ago, the Oxbo Road project is designed to solve a host of safety and mobility problems by eliminating the staggered intersection at Ga. 9 and converting the portion of Oxbo Road near Mimosa Boulevard into a two-way street.
See OXBO, Page 8