Fake cops again Be wary of impersonators ►►PAGE 2
Youth on a mission
Old Alpharetta library recalled
20 head around the world ►►PAGE 6
Past, future examined ►►PAGE 12
&
Operation Oreo
What does 5 tons of cookies look like? ►►PAGE 15
Alpharetta-Roswell
REVUE NEWS
July 16, 2015 | revueandnews.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 33, No. 29
Timed parking vexes downtown business owners Safety, convenience at issue By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
For Aaron Kaminer, 14, learning to ride a bicycle is a large milestone for him. He joined 40 other special needs children in a camp just to learn to ride without training wheels.
TAKE OFF THE TRAINING WHEELS!
Special needs kids learn to ride bikes By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Riding a bike is something almost all children eventually learn to do. It’s a rite of passage. For some kids, riding a bike is more than simply to keep up with their friends; it’s a challenge to be overcome. With this in mind, iCan Bike helps children with disabilities learn to ride with a week-long course. In Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety pitched in to help run the camp. Held from July 13-17 at The Cooler Family
Skate Center, the camp featured about 40 kids and twice as many volunteers. “Being able to ride a bike is a normative thing we take for granted,” said Amanda Clay, with Alpharetta’s Bike Patrol Unit, who ran the camp. “Being able to do that opens up a whole world where kids can interact with other children and their peers.” The children are paired with at least two volunteers. They ride a special bike in a ring – the rear wheel is replaced with a rolling-pin-style device that acts similar to training wheels. As the student progresses, the pin gets smaller un-
See BIKES, Page 27
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Business owners and workers of downtown Alpharetta came out in force July 13 to oppose the city’s proposed timed parking limits on downtown spaces. The city has discussed enacting these limits for months now. The discussion began after business owner complaints of employee vehicles parking in prime spots all day, spots that could otherwise be used by paying customers. Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said there are about 125 parking spaces in downtown Alpharetta and that each well-managed on-street parking space in downtown Alpharetta would translate into more than $100,000 in annual sales for downtown businesses. Despite this, several local business owners said the requirements – two-hour time limits on most spaces during the work week – adversely affect their tenants, employees and even the customers the rules were designed to help. “Some tenants need to be able to park there and some services take longer than two hours,” said Allen Smith, a property manager for several buildings in the area. Jean Collett agreed. She runs the Alpharetta Beauty Shop on Milton Ave.
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“You cannot come into that shop and get a ‘do in two hours,” she said. Nearby hairdresser Matthew Khodayari, owner of Aria Salon, agreed. He said he has more than 25 employees and close to 100 appointments a day, many taking more than two hours. The limit is not feasible and forcing his employees to park away from the business will be trying and could be a safety issue at night.
The city is really starting to grow and this problem will only get worse.” LARRY ATTIG Business Owner Councilmember D.C. Aiken pointed out that the issue of timed spaces came after complaints from the downtown business community about employees taking up prime parking spots. “The city is really starting to grow and this problem will only get worse,” said Larry Attig, another business owner, who was in support
See PARKING, Page 27
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