It’s hard to keep such a wonderful secret when you can’t help but want to show it off. Before the creation of Sandy Springs, Johns Creek or Milton, there was another small city named Mountain Park. It began as a summer retreat for Atlanta’s wealthy residents who wished to escape to an environment of lakeside leisure. When Mountain Park incorporated in July 1927, a total of three families lived in the town year round, with one business, and a store called the Stand. Today, it is a thriving community with less than 300 homes. Because of its natural beauty, the environment has always been an important concern of the residents.

“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” — George S. Patton

Sometimes we find ourselves burdened with worry and feel like we are walking about with a dark cloud bearing down on us, feeling the pressure of an impending storm. We’ve all been there. We’re often challenged by an obligation, oppression or something else we perceive as ominous. We find ourselves drenched in worry, paralyzed with inaction, at the edge of fear, dizzied and confused.

As the City of Woodstock prepares for this year’s July 4th Celebration, we’ve been looking back at our past Independence Day celebrations. Although the way we celebrate July 4th in the City of Woodstock may have changed from year to year, one thing remains the same, Woodstock shows its patriotic pride every time!

Do you remember when … skydivers used to land in the middle of Main Street just before the parade, hot air balloon rides and go cart races? How about Grand Marshall’s Corky Jones, Don Hatcher, Earl and Linda Mulkey, and Lillie Mae Brownlee? Can you remember when the fireworks were displayed at Dupree Park, the old Woodstock Elementary School field, and in the downtown City Park?

Listening to live music is one of life’s most delightful pleasures, and Johns Creek offers several opportunities for its residents to enjoy musical performances. From the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra to the Newtown Park Amphitheater concert series, if you love folk, rock, country or instrumental ensembles, we’ve probably got you covered.

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is the only professional symphony orchestra outside of Atlanta. Its instrumentalists average 16 years’ experience in professional orchestras and hold advanced degrees, diplomas and international training. Led by Maestro and founder, J. Wayne Baughman, the orchestra brings the citizens of Johns Creek the world’s greatest symphonic music performed at the highest artistic level. JCSO’s season runs from fall to spring, and includes multiple performances. The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra adds heft and credibility to Johns Creek’s arts and culture.

There’s a certain aspect of our character that I believe reigns high above in regards to not only personal relationships but to business dealings as well. One thing we all look for in a relationship of any kind is support. Support stems from the trait of firm and solid loyalty. An unwavering loyalty is one thing I’ve always admired as something that is not only difficult to find in others, but may be equally as challenging to discover within ourselves.

The Woodstock Parks and Recreation Department is on the move, finding new and unique ways to incorporate health and fitness into our citizen’s daily lifestyle. Over the past few years, we have focused on expanding our outdoor fitness opportunities to fill this need.

With its one-of-a-kind pirate ship theme, the Dupree Park Playground was constructed with our youngest residents in mind. Climb, swing and steer the ship from the upper level of the playground and then slide your way to more fun on the lower tier. While your kids see it as a jolly good time, it’s a great way to set the pace for a lifestyle of outdoor enjoyment.

The Georgia General Assembly meets for forty days, during which there are many bills that are passed. While the media usually focuses on one or two key pieces of legislation, I would like to bring a few bills to your attention that you might not have heard of before now.

The first is HB 233, the Georgia Uniform Forfeiture Procedure Act that was carried by Rep. Alex Atwood. This bill represents hundreds of hours of consensus building with law enforcement and prosecutors across the state. Rep. Atwood worked tirelessly to achieve a bill that increases transparency and oversight in the civil forfeiture process by strengthening the mandatory reporting requirements of all law enforcement agencies, standardizes civil forfeiture procedures statewide, and collects the disparate provisions into one uniform procedure to be followed for almost all civil forfeitures.

Has anyone noticed recently a decline in the quantity of drama since the last time you checked? I must say that I’ve found a little hope since I quit making marks on yesterday’s calendar. It’s come to my attention that the day flows better when it starts fresh, clean and new. Waking up may not be the favorite part of your day, but we all do if we’re inclined to and allowed the opportunity. We may or may not wake to fortune, good looks or fame, but we all wake by grace — we awaken to a new beginning and a new set of circumstances that no doubt fall into place.

The City of Woodstock has announced its 2015 Summer Concert Series line up. This year, the Concert Series will feature the following acts: Savannah Jack (Country), Eliminator (ZZ Top Cover Band), Departure & Electric Avenue (Journey & 80’s), The Rupert’s Orchestra (70’s and 80’s), Gimme Abbey (Satisfaction & the Return). The Summer Concert Series spans the months of May through September with concerts on the second Saturday of each month. Concerts start at 7:30 p.m.

With the arrival of springtime, the City of Johns Creek is offering a cornucopia of opportunities and events. Spring is a time of optimism and new beginnings. It’s a time for shaking off the lethargy of winter, getting outside, and trying new adventures.

The City is taking this to heart, exploring a bold vision to create a downtown sense of place on a 728-acre area centered around Technology Park. “The District” will be a catalyst to transform Johns Creek into a world-class city, and create an economic engine to sustain our local tax digest.

When I began chatting with folks about running for the newly created House District 23, many urged me to stay in Cherokee County. They felt it very important that I remain connected to the district that I was to represent. To that end, I commute to Atlanta when the Legislature is in session. During the chaos that is Session for the General Assembly, I am often buried under a hail of emails, phone calls, and meeting request by voters from across the state hoping to influence our votes on one issue or another. During the next three months we’ll have an endless series of committee meetings and we will debate hundreds of bills. In all of this madness it is easy for legislators to lose track of an issue or to miss an email, as mailboxes are flooded by form letters and automated emails. And while there is nothing wrong with these forms of communication, they can be supplemented to be more effective.

Spring is right around the corner and many of us are starting to wonder how to spend our warm and sunny days. Of course, just because of the change of season; that doesn’t mean we will have more actual “time” to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones. We will simply make it happen because it is what we do in better weather, longer days and more sunshine.

In early 2015, Woodstock Fire Department was notified that it had received a rating of Class 1 from the Insurance Services Offices (ISO), giving it the highest possible score a fire department can achieve. The new ISO rating will take effect April 1, 2015. The new rating should help citizens and businesses receive a reduction in their insurance premiums.

Spring is just around the corner, and it will soon be time to plant vegetables and flowers for summer. Here in the City of Johns Creek, we offer a community garden next to Park Place, the adult activity center in Newtown Park. The Community Garden is popular among people who may not have space for a garden, or lack adequate sunshine in their yard. Gardeners have enjoyed planting tomatoes, squash, peppers and leafy vegetables, among other herbs and rare varieties. We certainly have some very talented gardeners in our city!

Dupree Park, located at 513 Neese Road in Woodstock, has seen a lot of changes in the past few years. The 35-acre park, originally constructed in the mid-‘70s, features a 3-acre pond with rolling hills with pine trees and hard woods covering one third of the park. In 2010, the Woodstock Parks and Recreation Dept. consolidated two small play areas into one large playground and constructed handicap-accessible park restrooms. The existing picnic pavilion was demolished and a new modern pavilion was constructed in its place. The City later converted its two underutilized softball fields into 5 acres of multi-use greenspace.

As February arrives, Johns Creek’s city staff is busy planning and implementing some of the biggest projects we’ve seen in our short 8-year history.  I’ve written previously about 2015 being “The Year of Public Works.”  This will be such an important year as various public works projects will be underway, improving our quality of life at every turn.

As February arrives, Johns Creek’s city staff is busy planning and implementing some of the biggest projects we’ve seen in our short 8-year history.  I’ve written previously about 2015 being “The Year of Public Works.”  This will be such an important year as various public works projects will be underway, improving our quality of life at every turn.