County kicks off renovations for Health & Human Services Center ► PAGE 7 Fe b r u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 2 5 | 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 9 , N o . 8
‘Reflections’ Newest Johns Creek art installation features use of century old steel By SARAH COYNE Sarah@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A piece of the historic former Rogers Bridge is forever memorialized at Newtown Park, thanks to a ribbon cutting held on Feb. 13 at its new home at Park Place. The art installation titled “Reflections,” was made possible through the partnership with artist, Julia Hill and the Johns Creek Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Johns Creek Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee and the Johns Creek Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Committee. Hill, based in Atlanta, created the sculpture in her studio, alongside a few assistants. Hill alongside many other specialties used her experience in sculpture, public art and welding to create the piece. “It was really exciting to be able to work with this historic steel from a bridge that a lot of people know as a marvel of its time, and a pretty rare specimen of the type of bridge it was,” Hill said. Metal from the more than century old Rogers Bridge was used to create the art installation. The bridge originally connected Duluth’s Rogers Bridge Park to John’s Creek Cauley Creek Park, was replaced with a pedestrian bridge in July 2023. The bridge sat atop the Chattahoochee River.
See SCULPTURE, Page 22
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Julia Hill stands in front of her art installation, Reflections, at the Feb. 13 dedication ceremony at Newtown Park in Johns Creek. The piece was created using steel from the historic former Rogers Bridge.
Proposed legislation could cut school funding By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Fulton County School District may lose millions in funding due to proposed legislation that could affect its senior homestead tax exemption.
At a Feb. 13 community meeting held at Roswell North Elementary School, District 1 Board Member Sara Gillespie said state legislators are considering a law that would expand the exemption. Lawmakers have not formally introduced the bill, and the details are still under consideration. However, if
Atlanta’s PREMIER LUXURY Real Estate Firm
it moves forward in its current form, school officials say it could have a negative impact to the district’s budget. “A large majority of our funding does come from our homestead taxes,” Gillespie told people at the meeting. Fulton County property taxes account for about 64 percent of the rev-
NOW SERVING Atlanta North Atlanta Sea Island Lake Oconee
enues in the district’s fiscal year 202425 budget. There is currently an exemption in Fulton County with a reduction of $10,000 of homestead assessment values for residents over 65.
See SCHOOLS, Page 21
ALLISON KLOSTER 404.784.5287 Allison@HOMEgeorgia.com