Local sound designer earns Emmy nomination Fe b r u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 2 6 | 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 3 0 , N o . 9
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New legislation seeks to address affordable housing By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
PHOTOS BY: JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Members of VXZYN perform on stage at the fourth annual Lunar New Year festival in Johns Creek Feb. 21.
Lunar New Year festival hails Year of Fire Horse By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
From left, Angela Hung and Michelle Chen chat after dancing on stage at the fourth annual Lunar New Year festival in Johns Creek Feb. 21.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Residents of East Asian heritage are proud to call Johns Creek home, organizers of the Lunar New Year celebration say. Good schools, well-maintained roads and numerous parks have attracted many residents from South Korea, China, Vietnamese and other cultures, but organizer Joann Ling said one city attribute is special — its diversity. “It’s a sense of community and connection, and it's very important, espe-
cially in today's environment,” Ling said. “We need to understand each other.” Supported by the City of Johns Creek, the celebration attracted at least 8,000 residents to the Atlanta Athletic Club fields, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Feb. 21 for the fourth annual celebration that marks the beginning of a new year according to East Asian lunar calendars. A little bit of rain early in the day had little impact on the festivities, which included music, dancing, food and a host of vendors.
See LUNAR, Page 16
ATLANTA — Democratic Georgia House members are working to address various housing issues. State Reps. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta) and others announced a bipartisan package of legislation on Feb. 12 to address affordability. That package also seeks to expand housing supply, strengthen tenant protections and encourage more affordable housing development. “There is an issue of housing affordability across Georgia,” Oliver said. “We need more doors. We need more opportunities and a wide variety of ways.” The House Minority Caucus’s legislation includes proposals related to tax incentives, tenant protections, zoning reform and affordable housing development.
See HOUSE, Page 18
ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA
Georgia Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver represents House District 84, which includes Decatur and parts of unincorporated DeKalb County.
HEATHER LEE C: C: 404.455.9506 404.455.9506 || HetaherLee@HOMEgeorgia.com HeatherLee@HOMEgeorgia.com || @heatherleehomesga @heatherleehomesga