AP testing no sure thing AP enrollment up, passing rate down ►►PAGE 4
Avossa leaving for Palm Beach?
Batter up
Baseball season underway in North Fulton ►►PAGE 24
City alerts on your phone
Fulton Superintendent finalist for new job ►►PAGE 7
JC Now smartphone app garners praise ►►PAGE 11
April 16, 2015 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 19, No. 16
Appen Media ‘Best of the Best’ at AFCP awards By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
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1: Our editorial staff from left Jonathan Copsey, Kathleen Sturgeon, Hatcher Hurd and Shannon Weaver. 2: Sales team members Mike Dorman and Wendy Goddard. 3: From left production team members David Brown, A.J. McNaughton and general manager Hans Appen. 4: Sales team members Abby Breaux, Regan Schoch and Paige Roman.
SAVANNAH, Ga. – For the second year in a row, Appen Media Group returned from its annual Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) Conference April 8-11 laden with awards including “Best of the Best” for highest number of individual awards. This year’s conference at Savannah’s Marriott Riverfront saw staff winning honors for writing/commentary, design, photography and ad design. There were 72 national award categories in all with 1,250 submissions to the judges. Appen Media took home 28 awards, including Best of the Best and 12 first place awards. That was almost 17 percent of all firsts awarded. “The quality of the graphics and editorial content in our member publications continues to raise the bar every year as indicated in our Best of the Best Awards Competition,” said AFCP Executive Director Lauren Colburn. “Appen Media continues to lead the charge when it comes to maintaining a serious focus on quality. “Their impressive domination in this year’s competition demonstrates truly the Best of the Best
See BEST, Page 8
Johns Creek revamping Rec Master Plan $88K contract will map new 10-year strategy By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The city is embarking on a new Recreation and Parks Master Plan, saying the 2009 plan is not satisfactory for a growing
Johns Creek. The major focus of the new plan will be to prioritize the city’s investment in parks, programming and park facilities, Assistant City Manager for Recreation and Parks Kimberly Greer told City Council at its April 13 council meeting. Recognizing the current Recreation and Parks Master Plan was flawed, the City Council had budgeted for a new 10-year master plan.
It is charged with the mission to “recalibrate and refine the vision” of the city’s parks system. After reviewing eight proposals, staff decided on the proposal from the design team of Mack Cain Design Studio and Robert G. Betz, AICP, Inc. at a cost of $88,200. Greer said this particular team stood out both in experience – each part-
See PLAN, Page 26