Johns Creek Symphony plans audition concerts for new music director ► PAGE 3 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 8 , N o . 3 8
Johns Creek adopts FY25 budget, purchases land for Town Center By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Amid heated debate, the Johns Creek City Council adopted a $79.9 million fiscal year 2025 budget Sept. 9.
About half of the city’s budget goes to public safety, and that includes a couple of major initiatives — five new police officer positions and vehicles as well as the rebuild of Fire Station 63, the city’s oldest fire station. The budget will also fund expanded
parking for the courts at Cauley Creek Park, baseball field lighting at Ocee Park, and a wellness initiative for city employees developed to offset the cost of rising health care rates. After Finance Director Ronnie Campbell presented the budget, City Council-
woman Stacy Skinner proposed a few changes. One was to reinstate $2,500 in funding to Student Leadership Johns Creek.
See COUNCIL, Page 9
Pup-A-Palooza Community bonds over canines By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Dozens of visitors came out for Johns Creek’s “Pup-A-Palooza” Sept. 14 to peruse vendors and get a peek at dogs dressed to the nines and others with a knack for performing tricks. Some visitors participated in contests at the Mark Amphitheater at Newtown Park, like Roswell resident Jewel Ausberry, whose pumpkin costume matched her shih tzu named Cherub, or Che Che for short. With separate green sleeves, Che Che was swallowed up in pumpkin, and a small man, dressed in a black suit, hung off. They won first place in the event’s “Best Dressed” contest. One of the three contest judges, Ethan Phillips, said her level of commitment to match her dog was the deciding factor. “It’s not hard to tell who’s really trying to get the best costume for their dog, like the most extravagant,” Phillips said, adding that two-piece costumes are particularly impressive. “If you get a dog to stay in a two-piece costume, that’s some major points right there.”
See CANINE, Page 21
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Jewel Ausberry and her shih tzu named Che Che walk across the stage donning pumpkin costumes for the Johns Creek Pup-A-Palooza “Best Dressed” costume contest Sept. 14. They won first place.
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