Mimosa Boulevard Extension

Welcome back!

The city of Roswell is taking steps to begin the Mimosa Boulevard Extension Project.  The city plans to hold a bid opening for January 13, 2009 and the selected contractor must be able to begin work within ten calendar days after the “Notice to Proceed” is issued.  The completion date of the project is expected to be in aproximately six months.

The extension of Mimosa Boulevard will allow a parallel route to Canton Street which should help aleviate traffic as well as provide additional parking for shopping and special events in the area.  The project consists of extending Mimosa Boulevard northbound from Magnolia Street to Webb Street.  Construction will include 20 feet of travel lanes with on-street parking, curb and gutter and brick sidewalks.  The project will also improve an extisting parking lot that is owned by the City of Roswell.

2009 Roswell Home Owner’s Association Update

In an effort to maintain accurate information, the City of Roswell is gathering needed contact information from Homeowners Associations (HOA) in the City. The City can better update residents on specific issues, events or meetings with updated HOA contacts.

Community Information has established a form on www.roswellgov.com where HOA contacts can easily update their information. If your HOA contact does not have online access, he/she can simply email the following details to communityinfo@roswellgov.com:

• Subdivision name
• Full name (s) of HOA President and/or HOA contact
• Term of President and/or HOA contact
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Mailing Address
• Annual meeting dates
• HOA publication editor (if applicable) name and contact information.

If your HOA does not have access to email, please contact Community Information at 770.641.3727, or stop by City Hall, 38 Hill Street, to update your information.

Atlanta Wine School Provides Vinotainment

The Atlanta Wine School in Roswell, GA is located in the shopping center with neighbors Aqua Blue and Twisted Taco.  It  opened its doors in January of 2003.  Since its inception the school has seen over 4,500 students with around 160 courses s and events each year.  Michael Bryan is the Founder & Executive Director.

The Atlanta Wine School is the only wine-centric institution in the Southeast and teaches what Bryan calls, ‘vinotainment’.  The school provides education on wine to both consumers as well as individuals within the wine trade.  Atlanta Wine School provides continuous training and learning experiences through selected renowned international speakers and courses offered.

Bryan’s school teaches people about the joys of wine, catering to everything from the large corporate parties to the private, intimate gathering of friends. Classes are offered as well for the “wine curious.”

Breaking News…Santa on his way

Great news. It appears that Santa is on schedule and is heading across the Atlantic Ocean as we write this. So it may be time to get the cookies and milk ready and get the kids tucked into their beds for the night. Santa is on his way to the Roswell area, so be ready.

If you’re one of those people who have actually lit a fire in their fireplace in this warm weather, make sure you put it out before Santa arrives. He never likes it when his britches get singed.

Also, if you want to keep up to date on Santa’s progress, click here for the Santa Tracker.

Happy Holidays from the team here at AllAboutRoswell.com.

Roswell Christmas Tree Recycling Event

January 3, 2009
9:00 am	to	4:00 pm

Keep Roswell Beautiful invites you to join a tradition, the 19th annual “Bring One for the Chipper” and recycle your Christmas tree after the holidays.

As part of a statewide effort to reuse Christmas trees, Keep Roswell Beautiful has joined with sponsors The Home Depot, 11 Alive, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Keep Georgia Beautiful, Kiwanis Club of Historic Roswell, Starbucks, Georgia Beverage Association and SuperTarget to sponsor the “Bring One for the Chipper” program.

Roswell residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees to one of the two Roswell Home Depot locations. The Christmas trees will be recycled into mulch and will be available for delivery to the public by Davey Tree.

Participating residents will receive a free dogwood seedling in appreciation for their recycling efforts, however there is a limited supply of seedlings so be one of the first at this event!

Since 1991, “Bring One for the Chipper”, has collected over 4.5 million trees and provided over one million tree seedlings to participants.

The event will be held Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Running at Large…Legally

Hopefully the title of this post means nothing to you, but if it meant something then you and I both have had the unfortunate experience of being cited for a Roswell city ordinance for “running at large” because your dog was not on a leash outside.

I only need to tell a very short version of my story to make you appreciate local dog parks.  The story goes like this:  My Golden Retriever slipped out the front door as it was being opened and got in a fight with a neighbor’s Pitbull, another neighbor called the police, I am cited for my dog “running at large”, the fine is “judge imposed” so I must appear in court, I have the option of A) Paying $180 fine  B)  Spend 18 days in jail or C)  Complete 16 hours of community service.  I choose the later of the three.

Not common in the Chicagoland area I have learned to really love and appreciate…I mean really appreciate dog parks, especially now.  Dog parks are a great place to take your best friend and let him or her run at large without the fear of court appearances, fines, service hours, or jail time…yes jail time! Your dog will love the experience and you’ll love it too as it is a great way to get rid of your dog’s excess energy!

Dogs can run free at the dog park at East Roswell Park located off Fouts Road.  The $23,000 facility opened October 20th.  Smaller than Piedmont Park’s dog park, East Roswell Park has a dedicated 1-acre fenced section of the park dedicated to “man’s best friend.”  The dog park features park benches and a water fountain for both owners and canines.  The minimum age for anyone to enter the off-leash area is 12 and all youngsters must be accompanied by an adult.

Santa’s Reindeer to Visit Harry’s Farmers Market

December 9, 2008 9:00 am

to

December 15, 2008 5:00 pm

Before Santa and his reindeer venture around the world bringing good little boys and girls Christmas presents they will be making a stop at Harry’s Farmers Market in Roswell.  The Reindeer plan to rest for one week, Dec. 9-14th before making their annual outing on Christmas Eve.

Boys and girls of all ages are invited to come visit and see the reindeer first hand while they stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables from Harry’s Farmers Market to give them the energy needed to make their way around the world.  Come meet the reindeer, take pictures and maybe even see Santa Claus at this Harry’s Farmers Market tradition.

Reindeer visits are free and available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Santa will be on site Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 12 from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harry’s Farmers Market is at 1180 Upper Hembree Road.

Large Turnout Expected for Roswell School Redistricting Meeting

December 10, 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

The third meeting regarding North Fulton school redistricting will be held tonight at The Milton Center (formerly Milton High School at 86 School Drive, Alpharetta) from 7-9 p.m.

The redistricting process is a result of the opening of the new elementary school on Birmingham Highway in Milton in August 2009. School capacity numbers will also be impacted by elementary school additions at several schools in Roswell and Alpharetta coming on line over the next few years. Elementary school additions will also be coming on line over the next few years in Roswell and Alpharettta at Alpharetta, Barnwell, Mimosa, Mountain Park and Roswell North elementary schools.

There have been large turnouts for the first two meetings and there is no reason to expect a smaller turnout for the third and final redistricting meeting. The last redistricting in northwest Fulton County occurred in 2004 with the opening of Cogburn Woods Elementary. Schools in the Roswell area have not been rezoned since 2001 with the openings of Hembree Springs and Hillside elementary schools.  

Fulton School staff are using this opportunity to adjust attendance zones at every elementary school in North Fulton west of Ga. 400. The changes could impact up to 14 elementary schools in Roswell and Alpharetta to some degree, with some seeing wholesale changes of their student body as a result of the new school.

The Fulton County School System redistricts schools based on the policy established by the Fulton School Board. That criteria includes primary criteria of geographic proximity, available school capacity and projected enrollment. Should the primary criteria not lead to a clear answer, staff will consider a second set of criteria, which include traffic, frequency of neighborhood rezoning, special programs and school feeder alignment.

While staff uses data for the primary criteria, it depends on the community to provide information on the secondary criteria in developing the zones.

Each time a redistricting effort is under way, the school system holds three rounds of meetings to gather information needed to draft a redistricting proposal that best meets the community’s needs. Unlike other school systems, Fulton uses a process that encourages public discussion before developing a proposal. This allows the community to have maximum input in how the proposed attendance lines are created. 

Tonight is the third and final meeting, so if school redistricting is important to your family, be sure to attend.

The Holidays and Home and Neighborhood Security

As the economy continues to be a major concern for Americans and Roswell residents alike, a growing concern for the byproduct of unemployment exists…property crime.  With the holidays approaching home and neighborhood security is of greater concern.  Although crime is a serious concern, Roswell homes and communities are safer than they’ve been in decades, and this is likely due, at least in part, to citizens being aware of the concern and being proactive by doing the following:

• Asking police to increase patrols in neighborhoods
• Outside doors have strong deadbolt locks
• Keep spare keys with a trusted relative or neighbor, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in the mailbox
• Lock gates, garage doors, and shed doors after every use
• Illuminate or eliminate places an intruder might hide:  the space between trees or shrubbery, stairwells, alleys, hallways, and entryways
• Set timers on lights when you’re away from home so it appears to be occupied
• Keep your bike and sports equipment inside the house when not in use

Perhaps the best thing you can do to help protect your home and neighborhood this holiday season is to be active…get out and take walks throughout your neighborhood and admire the displays of holiday spirit.  By walking your neighborhood you are in effect patroling it and this too will ward off burglars.

Neighborhood safety is every Roswell residents responsibility; if you see something that looks suspicious, call the police.  If you notice a garage door left open, let your neighbor know.  Together Roswell residents will help keep the city of Roswell a safe place to call home.