🌱 Roswell FD Working On Growth Plan + GA-400 Toll Lanes Delayed

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Jessica Griffin, your host of the Roswell Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now. Today you'll learn about...

• Attention given to the north end of Canton Street in downtown.
• A specially called Mayor and City Council meeting is scheduled for June 21.
• North Fulton Community Charities will celebrate 40 years of service.

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Now, today's weather: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 73 Low: 63.

Here are the top stories today in Roswell:

1. The city's recent budget approval is allowing the Roswell Fire Department to move forward with its five-year growth plan that began with the 2023 Fiscal Year Budget. The current 2024 budget will offer the fire department the opportunity to hire three new battalion chiefs which will help its sole battalion chief. They will also add nine new lieutenants, and a full-time logistics captain to its roster with the allotted funds in the budget. Roswell City Councilmember Christine Hall said, “Here we are, the seventh or eighth largest city now in the state of Georgia, I think we were the largest city in the United States that did not have a full-time fire department.” According to Roswell Fire Chief Joe Pennino, the City of Roswell was maintaining an "unworkable system" by employing part-time employees and using volunteers in the fire department. (Atlanta News First)
2. Gorgia Destination, and online travel blog for Newsbreak, recently wrote about Canton Street in Downtown Roswell. Their goal was to highlight the atmosphere of the north end of Canton, which according to the blog, doesn't receive as much attention as the south end of the street. Canton Street Beer Market, North End Kitchen & Bar, and Wegman's Bayou Louisiana Kitchen were some of the businesses in the area that received special mention. There is everything from restaurants, jewelers, artisan furniture stores, and a general store on this relaxing side of Canton Street's north end. (Newsbreak)
3. The project to add toll lanes along Georgia 400 has been delayed for about four months. The delay is due to one of three contractor finalists dropping out of the consideration pool. Express 400 Partners, one of the groups who were short-listed for the project by the GA-DOT, withdrew from the roadbuilding selection process. Now Georgia Express Link Partners and SR 400 Peach Partners are competing for the contract. The Georgia 400 toll lane project will build two toll lanes in both north and south directions along Georgia 400 from the North Springs MARTA station north to McGinnis Ferry Road. MARTA will also run rail lines inside of the toll lanes and will create transit stations at Holcomb Bridge Road and the North Point Mall. (smokesignalsnews.com)

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Today in Roswell:

Wednesday, June 21

• Coffee, Chat and Games — Roswell Senior Center (9:30 AM)
• Tanglewood Marionettes presents "Cinderella" — Roswell Cultural Arts Center (10:00 AM)
• Storytime by the River — Chattahoochee Nature Center (10:30 AM)
• Frisch Marionettes presents "The Wizard of Oz" — Roswell Cultural Arts Center (1:30 PM)
• Folk Music From The 60s — East Roswell Library (2:00 PM)
• Sacred Oasis Women's Circle — Green Girl Basics (7:00 PM)
• Rockstar Karaoke — Rock 'N' Taco Roswell (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• City of Roswell, Georgia Recreation and Parks: This Sunday, June 25, the Big Peach Swing Band will hit the stage at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Give the Cultural Arts Center a call or visit their website to purchase tickets to this swinging show. (City of Roswell, Georgia Recreation and Parks via Instagram)
• Roswell Inc: North Fulton Community Charities will be hosting their 40-year anniversary celebration on Friday, June 23. There will be food, live music, giveaways, and the Roswell FD and the Roswell PD K-9 unit will be present as well. The event will begin at 5 p.m. outside of the NFCC's gift shop on Elkins Road. (Roswell Inc via Facebook)
• Communications Manager Karen Zitomer, City of Roswell: There will be a specially called Mayor and City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 21. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and will be open to the public via in-person or on livestream. The agenda for this meeting can be found on the City of Roswell's website. (City of Roswell, Georgia Government via Nextdoor)
• Visit Roswell, Georgia: The Marcella Jones & Brown Liquor Band will headline Sunset Sips event at the Chattahoochee Nature Center this Thursday evening. The band will perform funk, jazz, and rock hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Tickets are currently on sale on the nature center's website. (Visit Roswell, Georgia via Instagram)
• City of Roswell, Georgia Recreation, Parks, Historic, and Cultural Affairs: The pool at the Adult Aquatics Center closed on Monday, June 19 for repairs. The pool will remain closed until the repairs are complete; the city will update residents once the pool is reopened. (City of Roswell, Georgia Recreation, Parks, Historic, and Cultural Affairs via Facebook)
• Access Atlanta: Roswell Area park will be one of the six places in Fulton County that will host a public fireworks show for the Fourth of July. Before the sun sets, the city's Fourth of July event will offer food, music, and entertainment for the entire family. (accessatlanta.com)

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That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another 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