Four-sport athlete covers her bases ► PAGE 4
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Fulton County organization counts number of homeless The annual Point-In-Time survey of CoC represents a network of service providVolunteers aid needy ahead of ice storm sheltered and unsheltered people experienc- ers and government agencies committed to By AMRITHA ALLADI JOSEPH newsroom@appenmedia.com
outdoors, scanning parking lots, ready to serve hot meals to the unhoused. Their mission: To get an accurate count ROSWELL, Ga. — On the eve of a winter of Fulton County’s homeless population by storm expected to ice power lines and roads, offering them warm meals, toiletry kits and volunteers donning coats and beanies waited blankets.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Ric Skees stands by one of his watercolor paintings at his exhibit at the Johns Creek Arts Center Jan. 23.
ing homelessness is underway in Fulton ending homelessness across the county. It County. The Department of Housing and excludes the city of Atlanta. Last year, the Urban Development (HUD) requires federally county identified 241 homeless individuals. funded Continuums of Care (CoC) to survey More than 40 percent were unsheltered. people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The Fulton County See SURVEY, Page 21
Retired architect turns focus to art By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Twenty years ago, Ric Skees was captivated by the color of the rising sun. “It’s hard to explain,” Skees said. A successful architect at the time, Skees had little experience as an artist, but the then-Charlotte, N.C., resident felt something compelling him to paint. Working in his kitchen, Skees suddenly found himself spending mornings capturing the mesmerizing orange hue and replicating it with paint. “I would go light blue, dark blue in the sky, and build down to this peach color in the sunrise, and then put the trees in,” Skees said. “It was just a connection.” That inexplicable experience led Skees on an artistic journey, shifting his focus from designing buildings to pottery, photography and paint. Now a Johns Creek resident, his work is on display at the Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700, in January. The exhibit features a broad sample of his body of work, 40 paintings, 40 pieces of pottery and countless photographs. It’s only apt that his works should be featured at the Arts Center. A self-described lifelong student, the Johns Creek artist spends several days each week taking classes there in pursuit of perfecting his craft.
See SKEES, Page 20
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