Roswell|News|
Roswell Rotary Learns of 'Heart for Africa' Initiative
Here's what happened at the Feb. 7 Roswell Rotary meeting.

<b>Email</b> christine.foster@patch.com <br><b>Phone</b> 770-329-5906<br><b>Hometown</b> Alpharetta, Georgia<br><b>Birthday</b> April 21, 1982<br><b>Bio </b>Christine Foster grew up between California and Georgia, but considers North Atlanta to be home. Fascinated with news and journalism since she was young, Christine got her first shot as a city beat reporter at her college town newspaper after graduating from Lee University, a small liberal arts college in east Tennessee. From there she headed to the Florida Keys where she worked as the Key West Bureau reporter for the Miami Herald sister paper, The Florida Keys Keynoter. But if you think Key West is all Jimmy Buffett and Hemingway wannabes, think again. There is a lot going on in that tiny 5 square miles. Very few (if any) other U.S. cities of the same size deal with the kind of domestic and international issues that Key West does. After nearly two years there, she decided to move closer to her family in the Alpharetta/Roswell area where she grew up and got a job as a general reporter at Appen Newspapers, which owns a string of weekly papers covering the North Fulton area. She has also been a regular writer for the Sunday Paper in Atlanta, an online city guide called HelloAtlanta and several private corporations during a stint freelancing. Her journalistic experience runs the gamut from covering Fidel Castro's transference of power, to investigating whether the economic downturn has had any effect on fertility statistics in Georgia.
When she's not working, Christine is hanging out with her husband, Michael, renovating their home, baking, antiquing, taking "Sunday drives" on a Thursday evening (a true rebel!), traveling anywhere or spending time with family and friends. She gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in January 2011.
<br><b>Your Beliefs</b><br>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.<br><br><b>Politics </b>
In general, I am a conservative voter. I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians in the past because I'm interested in electing the best person for the job regardless of party. I believe a concerted effort toward bipartisanship is absolutely necessary for the good of all citizens, unfortunately, there usually isn't enough of it.
<b>Religion</b>
I am a non-denominational Christian and regularly attend church at Restoration Church of God. These Christian beliefs have played a big part in my life ever since I was young. Because I believe in Someone higher than myself, I try my very best to live an accountable life and I hope my life blesses others as much as I've been blessed.
<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>
Transportation and district revitalization issues are probably the biggest Roswell is currently facing. With all of the metro-area bogged down in traffic, Roswell is looking at solutions for creating a better flow throughout the city, not only for automobiles, but bicycles and pedestrians as well. Because of the economic downturn, there are several retail districts throughout the city which lay vacant. District revitalization will be a topic in the city-wide discussion over the next few years as city council, planners and residents decide how to boost current and future economies, while retaining the uniqueness of Roswell.
Here's what happened at the Feb. 7 Roswell Rotary meeting.

School: Georgia Southern University
Celebrate Black History Month throughout February.
From 'Charlotte's Web' to 'Where the Wild Things Are,' share these classic books with your children and encourage their love for reading.
Pop singer to appear in concert at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth April 27. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8.
Kora is this week's Pet of the Week at the Atlanta Humane Society - Mansell Campus.
Check out these top stories from Patch sites around the Atlanta metro area and north Georgia.
Kora is this week's Pet of the Week at the Atlanta Humane Society - Mansell Campus.
The new Woodstock events facility helps fill a county-wide void.
Lisa Arrington and Fran Becker's company assists seniors with the task of moving into a new home.
Here are a few of the jobs we've found locally this week. Send available positions to christine.foster@patch.com for free posting.
Sam Robb 5K and Fun Run to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer.
"Roswell Presents Friday Nights Live!" welcomes Freddy Cole to the Roswell Cultural Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 15.
The local non-profit has plenty of ways you can help as they rev up for a busy spring.
School: University of Vermont
The new restaurant will be located at 1170 Canton Street in Roswell.
The race was presented by Big Peach Running Company.
The students will now move on to a district spelling bee at the end of the month.