Electrician Contractor in Johns Creek, GA

Jonny Hickey won’t be heading into senior year alone, his bearded dragon named Alberta will be right by his side.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — As thousands of students return to school across the Peach State, seniors are returning for their last first day of high school.

The Class of 2024 will embark on their final stretch of over a decade of education. Jonny Hickey is one of those seniors, heading to his final year at Johns Creek High School in Fulton County. Jonny won’t be heading to senior year alone, his bearded dragon named Alberta will be right by his side.

Jonny will be among the nearly 9,500 students with cognitive disabilities attending Fulton County Schools for the 2023-2024 school year. For Jonny, his autism is his superpower.

“Jonny’s actually been in public school since he was 3,” Jonny's mom, Linda Hickey said.

Linda said back-to-school prep really begins when the school year ends. She said they spend the whole summer working on Jonny’s academic and social skills adding his success in school is a team effort between their family and his instructors.

It all starts with an individualized educational plan. This is a document laying out Jonny’s goals and accommodations needed for him to succeed in school.

Jonny’s former special education teacher E’Lisa Ladson, who he refers to as “Coach Ladson,” said Jonny is a perfect student in the class and she builds off his strengths.

“If 20 kids are asleep, Jonny is the one awake raising his hand and asking questions,” Ladson said. “A lot of students have their disabilities. There are some areas that they struggle with but there are also some things that they are really good at."

Jonny said his favorite subject is chorus. The award-winning 18-year-old senior has found his footing in school plays and performances.

“There was a theatre banquet on May 2. I got my trophy, I got an award. It’s called ‘Rookie of the Year,’” Jonny said.

While his passion is rooted in the arts, Jonny’s academic performance is just as important. Linda said it was important for Jonny to graduate and get his diploma.

“We have a schedule,” Jonny said. “We have chorus, algebra, flex - all kinds of things."

While Jonny is looking forward to his senior year, many other students like Jonny are just getting started on their journeys to grade school.

Jocelynn McCullough is working with those young minds. She’s an interrelated (IRR) special education teacher at Heards Ferry Elementary.

McCullough said her goal is to lay a foundation so that the next generation of students with cognitive disabilities at her school is set up for success down the road.

She said on the elementary level, that means working on academics, social and emotional skills, as well as working with her student’s families to provide the necessary accommodations for their success in the classroom. It also means working with other staff at the school to make sure those students have a good experience when they leave her classroom.

“We have to collaborate effectively, we have to build that relationship and foundation in order for the student to be successful,” McCullough said. “We are going in with a positive attitude."

She's already starting the year with a smile and hope.

"We are going in saying-- we are going to have an amazing year. Everybody, regardless if they have a disability or not, every student has a strength. Let’s take our students' strengths and build upon that,” she added.

According to Fulton County Schools, 631 students with cognitive disabilities graduated with diplomas in 2022 and 591 students in 2023.

After more than a decade of schooling, Jonny and his family are looking forward to the moment he crosses the stage and gets his diploma in 2024.

Celebrated Early Childhood Educator Expands Atlanta Offerings with New Child Care Center

JOHNS CREEK, Ga., Aug. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Blue Marble Academy, known for excellence in early childhood education, is pleased to announce its child care center in Johns Creek, Georgia is now open and enrolling children ages six weeks to 12 years. The latest expansion in the Atlanta area marks another milestone in BBMA's commitment to providing top-tier infant and toddler care, preschool, before care, aftercare, and an enriching summer camp program. This location offers morning drop-off and after-school pick-up for Brookwood, Findley Oaks, Johns Creek, Lake Windward, Medlock Bridge, River Trail Middle, Shakerag, Sharon, and Wilson Creek.

With Big Blue Marble Academy's mission to Nurture Little Minds and Grow Big Hearts, this location combines the best in early childhood care, hands-on experiences, and a research-backed global curriculum that nurtures cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth while introducing children to diverse cultures and languages. This global curriculum is embedded with STEAM and service learning to inspire children and instill a love of learning.

"We are proud to announce Big Blue Marble Academy's latest expansion in the Atlanta area and the 22nd location in Georgia," noted Jeff Wahl, CEO of Big Blue Marble Academy. "We look forward to enriching the lives of families in the Johns Creek community and supporting their youngest learners as they embark on their education journey."

On October 20, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM local families are invited to a Fall Festival/Open House to tour the school, learn about the unique curriculum and offerings, and meet the education staff.

Big Blue Marble Academy Johns Creek is located at 3835 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30024, and is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM. For more information, visit bbmacademy.com.

209-401-9604

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The Johns Creek City Council is responsible for overseeing and managing the various functions and services of the city of Johns Creek, Georgia. This includes but is not limited to the administration of the city’s budget, the oversight of public works projects, the management of parks and recreation facilities, the maintenance of city streets and traffic signals, and the regulation of land use and zoning.

Council members are elected to Posts 1-6, which are not geographically designated as districts traditionally are. Therefore, each Johns Creek Council member represents the city at-large.

Each Council member serves a term of 4 years. By law, a Council member must be: 21 years of age; a resident of the City for 12 months immediately preceding his or her election; continue to reside within the city during their time of service on Council; registered and qualified to vote in municipal elections of Johns Creek.

Meet the Current City Council

The members of the 2023 Johns Creek City Council are:

Mayor of John’s Creek: John Bradberry

Post 1, City Council: Dilip Tunki

Post 2, City Council: Stacy Skinner

Post 3, City Council: Bob Eramilli

Post 4, City Council: Chris Coughlin

Post 5, City Council: Larry DiBiase

Post 6, City Council: Erin Elwood

In November 2023, the following posts will be up for re-election: Post 2, Post, 4 and Post 6.

In November 2025, the following posts will be up for re-election: Post 1, Post 3, Post 5 and the Mayoral post.

When does City Council Meet?

The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at City Hall, located at 12000 Findley Road.

City council meetings are also broadcast on the city’s website here.

Residents are encouraged to attend these meetings, as they are a great way to stay informed about the issues facing the city and to voice their opinions. The council also has a public comment period during each meeting, where residents can address the council on any topic they choose.

In addition to their regular meetings, the council also holds work sessions and special meetings as needed. Work sessions are typically held on the first Monday of each month, and special meetings are scheduled as needed.

Here is the 2023 Schedule:

Homegrown in Alabama, Cookie Fix is making its way up I-20 as a part of Johns Creek’s planned mixed-use development, Medley.

In a previous post by What Now Atlanta, 11 restaurants were announced to come to the suburban location. Cookie Fix is the first dessert eatery planned for the mixed-use site.

Founded and owned by Amy Jason, the Johns Creek store will be the first in Georgia. This particular store will be a franchise location, owned and operated by Missy Moon out of the Atlanta Metro Area.

In addition to Cookie Fix, Moon just signed leases for two Nothing Bundt Cake franchises: Columbus Park Crossing North, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd Columbus, GA 31909, and at Fayetteville Pavilion, 72 Pavilion Parkway GA 30214.

Gary Woodward, Senior Vice President, JLL Tenant & Landlord Representation, was Missy’s broker on all three upcoming franchise leases.

Future patrons of Medley who may be familiar with Cookie Fix can expect the same type of experience from the existing locations.

“Our menu changes daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. We have 25 different varieties per week and about 100 different cookie varieties per year,” Jason said about the menu.

Although the Johns Creek location will be a franchise, it will offer consistency in the menu and freshly baked goods with no warming drawer.

Customers can also expect to consistently enjoy Cookie Fix’s top three-selling cookies – chocolate chip, heavenly peanut butter, and salted dark chocolate caramel.

Cookie Fix is based in Alabama, beginning with Amy Jason’s passion for desserts. From an early age, she loved to bake sweets and transitioned from less extravagant desserts to cookies as her life as a mother and wife got busier.

Amy Jason explained to What Now Atlanta that after successfully baking cookies for friends and family, she was encouraged by a mentor to sell her cookies to the masses.

Jason opened her first location seven years ago in Homewood and expanded to Cahaba Heights in Vestavia, Alabama. Huntsville opened as the third Alabama location and the first franchise for the organization.

Cookie Fix is also opening a franchise location in Franklin, TN and is excited about expanding its footprint in Medley.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A popular fast food chain is trying to open a new location in Johns Creek, but residents near the spot are pushing back against it.

Shake Shack, known for their burgers and fries, and yes, shakes, would have to cut down a long-standing tree to make room at the location.

The neighbors in the Johns Creek area nearby want to protect the tree, which is 100 years old.

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On Monday night, Channel 2′s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson learned the neighbors scored a win.

The 100-year-old oak tree could block Shake Shack from opening its planned location on State Bridge Road.

There’s a final vote in two weeks, but a city commission voted to keep the tree where it is.

By doing so, the commission gave Johns Creek neighbors at least a temporary win, while potentially putting the popular burger chain in a pickle.

One of the neighbors opposed to the Shake Shack spot is Joan Compton. She told Channel 2 Action News that the 100-year-old, 69-foot-tall tree was important.

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“It’s a little oasis in a large suburban shopping center and we felt it was worth keeping,” Compton said. “We didn’t want to sacrifice this tree.”

For Shake Shack to make their restaurant, developers would have to cut the old tree down so they can make room for the drive-thru.

Compton is one of several neighbors fighting the business’ proposal.

“These old trees are a conduit for people who might not think about the history her to start thinking about it,” Compton said.

Shake Shack wants to build their new location on State Bridge Road near Medlock Bridge Road. It’s the business intersection in Johns Creek.

Not everyone is against Shake Shack removing the tree. Some people say that the tree standing in the restaurant’s way is dying.

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“We do feel like this tree has to be addressed because of the potential hazard it now poses,” Tyler Morris, Willow Capital Partners, said.

A representative linked to the project made a case for the restaurant’s plan to the Johns Creek Planning Commission on Monday. He said a study by an arborist revealed the water oak has defects that might cause limbs to fall over the next decade.

Still, neighbors who want to protect the long-standing tree pushed back.

“People say this tree is not going to last long, these fast foods are going to last less than this tree,” Royce Reinecke, another neighbor, said.

The planning commission denied Shake Shack’s proposal, but the final say lies with the city council in two weeks.

Compton said she has nothing against Shake Shack itself, just the location, echoing the sentiments of other residents.

“We need to save it and enjoy it for its entire natural and full lifecycle,” Lynn Pennington, of Johns Creek Beautification, said.

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