🌱 Former Mayor Passes Away At 95 + Roswell PD Teaches CRASE Course

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening these days in Roswell. Today's issue includes updates on...

• Centennial Boys Baseball wins Game 1.
• Improvements to Wellstar's waiting room.
• Battalion Chief Rogers's anniversary with the FD.

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Now, today's weather: Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 66 Low: 45.

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Here are the top stories today in Roswell:

1. Former Mayor William Lee “Pug” Mabry passed away on Friday, April 28; he was 95 years old. W.L."Pug" Mabry was Roswell's 34th mayor and he held the position for 31 years. The Mabry family settled in the area in 1841. Mabry Rock at Leita Thompson Memorial Park is a historical marker near the site where his ancestors settled. Mabry's parents moved to Roswell in 1956 from Sandy Springs, and soon became one of the most "influential and established" families in the city. Pug Mabry began his tenure as mayor in 1966 and was a pinnacle contributor to Roswell's growth during the subsequent three decades. The Georgia General Assembly praised Mabry for his accomplishments by naming a section of GA-Hwy 9 as the W.L. “Pug” Mabry Highway in 1988. He was also given the honorary title of Mayor Emeritus by the City of Roswell. W.L. Mabry's memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 7, at Roswell First Baptist Church. (appenmedia.com)
2. On Sunday, the Roswell Police Department held an active shooter training course for the community. The course titled CRASE's (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) objective is to empower citizens with tactics and knowledge that will keep them safe in the event of an active shooter and/or attack. The department teaches this course to churches, schools, businesses, and local entities on a consistent basis. The CRASE course is based on the A.D.D model: Avoid, Deny, & Defend and was created by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program. The department reported a positive turnout for this event, but still had plenty of room for more participants. They shared a recap of the A.D.D. model on their social media sites and have asked citizens in the community to share this information. (facebook.com)
3. The first round of the Class 5A playoff series were held on Monday, May 1. Centennial High School's boys baseball team competed against Flowery Branch High School. The Knights made five runs in the second inning, including a grand slam hit made by player Nick Southard. Centennial won the game in seven innings, and only allowed the Flowery Branch Falcons to make 11 hits while -striking out ten of those. The Knights won game one with a final score of 8-2. The heat is on for Flowery Branch as they vie to stay alive in game two of the series. (accesswdun.com)

Today in Roswell:

• Ongoing Conversation: Assembly Point Exhibition — Roswell Visual Arts Center (10:00 AM)
• ESL Conversation Class — East Roswell Library (10:30 AM)
• FAST Spirit Night — Menchie's in Roswell (3:00 PM)
• Dance Starz Audition Prep Clinics — Roswell Area Park, Physical Activity Center (4:30 PM)
• Team Trivia — Houck's Grille (7:00 PM)
• Paradigm Shift w/ Dr. Wade Port — The Well of Roswell (7:00 PM)
• Music Bingo and Taco — Rock N' Taco Roswell (7:30 PM)
• Kings of Karaoke w/ Bryan — Chaplin's Bar and Grill (9:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know an incredible mom you'd like the rest of Roswell to know about, too? Maybe it's your mom — or your daughter, a friend who's a mom or someone who steps up like a mom for the people in her life. Whoever it is, we want to hear about her! Just fill out this simple form and we'll do the rest.

From my notebook:

• Roswell Rotary Club: "Alex Kaufman will be the next president of the Roswell Rotary Club. He was welcomed to the position by past club presidents with the club's traditional 'toss in the pool.'" Kaufman definitely received a "refreshing" initiation to commemorate his upcoming term as president of Roswell Rotary. (Roswell Rotary Club via Facebook)
• City of Roswell, Georgia: Yesterday the city closed an eastbound lane on Mansell Road that is expected to remain closed for multiple days. The Mansell Road lane is located at the intersection of Mansell Road and Warsaw Road. A reopen date for this eastbound lane was not given at this time. (City of Roswell, Georgia via Instagram)
• Roswell, Georgia Fire Department: The Roswell Fire Department thanks Battalion Chief Buck Rogers for 23 years of service to the department and to the city. Battalion Chief Rogers is championed for his professionalism, valor, and for the commitment he has given to the department. (Roswell, Georgia Fire Department via Twitter)
• Hembree Springs Elementary: What a great way to wrap up National Volunteer Month! This past weekend, Roswell's Girl Scout Troop 23029 did some gardening at Hembree Springs Elementary. The troop planted some spring flowers in the school's garden beds. There is room to join the troop; contact Meredith Herndon via the email address in this post for more information. (Hembree Springs Elementary via Facebook)
• The Swift School: The Swift School is celebrating one of their 2nd grade students, who is an example of a Good Samaritan. Declan went to Orange Beach for a vacation. While there, he found $400 and turned it in to the police. No one claimed the money for 6 months; the Orange Beach PD awarded Declan with the money for his good deed. (The Swift School via Twitter)
• Roswell Historical Society: To honor May 1 as School Principals’ Day, the Historical Society shared a little of Roswell's public school history. G. W. Adams moved to town in 1938 to become the principal of Roswell's combination Junior High and Elementary School. Adams later became the first principal of Roswell High School in the 1950s. He retired from his career in education in 1966. (Roswell Historical Society via Facebook)
• Roswell Inc: The Roswell Rotary Club and Wellstar Hospital worked together to provide improvements to the Family Waiting Room at Wellstar North Fulton. The groups also launched a podcast and video series that aims to positively influence student and parent behavioral health. Almost $60,000 was given to this project by the Roswell Rotary Club. (Roswell Inc via Facebook)
• Fellowship Athletics: Fellowship's Girls Lacrosse will be competing in the Class A-4A Elite 8 competition rounds today at 6 p.m. The Lady Paladins will compete at the Bob Lord Field. There will also be a raffle at halftime for students for a chance to win a $50 Chick-fil-A gift card. (Fellowship Athletics via Twitter)

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Featured events:

• Estate Planning Seminar at Milton City Hall - Community Place (May 4)
• 3hr Salsa Boot Camp Atlanta @ Ballroom Impact Sat May 6, 2023 (May 6)
• Intuitive Art Classes - Paint Medicine (May 8)
• Estate Planning Seminar at Milton City Hall - Community Place (May 9)
• Here Comes the Sun: Music of the Beatles (May 12)
• Clinton Nature Preserve Exploration Challenge Group Hike (May 13)
• Splash into Summer Safety Party! (May 13)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Jessica Griffin

About me: My name is Jessica Griffin and I am a native of Roswell, Georgia. I have been in the Roswell-Alpharetta community for over 30 years. As a native "Roswellian", I embody, participate, and support all things local. Community is at the core of all of us, and I aim to convey the collectiveness and unity that should be promoted and celebrated throughout our community. Being a mother, a writer, a student of history, and the arts are my passions.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roswell Patch newsletter? Contact me at Roswell@Patch.com