The Georgia Department of Transportation will begin resurfacing Highway 9/South Atlanta Street from Highway 120 to the Chattahoochee River, including the reversible lanes, beginning July 12, working from & p.m. to 5 a.m. Work is expected to be complete in 90 days.

Motorists should expect periodic lane closures and increased congestion for through traffic during the resurfacing project.

For information from Georgia Department of Transportation, please contact Steve Hubbard at 770.752.9836.

To contact the Roswell Department of Transportation, call 770.594.6420 or visit our web site at www.roswellgov.com.

FULTON TO SPONSOR BACK TO SCHOOL VACCINATION RUSH WEEKS

July is here. For the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, that means Back-to-School Vaccinations. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware that their children are required to have certain vaccinations in order to attend school. This upcoming school year, children who do not have proper vaccinations could be sent home until they are in compliance. There are special circumstances, such as religious beliefs, that will allow some children to be exempt, but for the most part, all children are to be vaccinated.

The Division of Children Medical Services will hold special vaccination sessions for parents to bring their children to designated locations to receive convenient and quick service to meet all public health vaccination requirements. “During those two weeks, the Division will focus on giving vaccinations, eye-ear-dental screenings and the required certifications for children to attend school,” says Dr. Kim Turner, Interim Health Director of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. “All of our health centers will be open for service, but during those two weeks, we encourage parents to use the five centers identified as vaccinations zones.”

The Back-to-School Rush Weeks will be held from 8:30am – 5:00pm:

July 17 – 31

August 3 – 7

Vaccinations will be administered at the following locations:

North Fulton Health Center – 3155 Royal Drive; Atlanta, GA 30022

Sandy springs/Benson Center – 6500 Vernon Woods Drive; Atlanta, GA 30328

Aldredge Health Center – 99 Jesse Hill Jr. Dr., SW; Atlanta, GA 30303

Adamsville Health Center – 3699 Bakers Ferry, SW; Atlanta, GA 30331

College Park Health Center – 1920 John E. Wesley Ave.; College Park, GA 30337

All parents are encouraged to take advantage of the Rush Weeks to be ready for school.

For more information, call (404) 730-1211 for health center locations. Log-on to www.fultoncountygahealth.org for more information on required immunizations.

ALPHARETTA CVB APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Spanka, General Manager of the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, was elected Chairman of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2009, with the start of the CVB’s new fiscal year, as the gavel was passed from past Chairman, Ms. Diana Wheeler, Director of Community Development for the City of Alpharetta.

Says Janet Rodgers, President and CEO of the Alpharetta CVB, “Mark’s background in the hospitality industry, coupled with his firsthand knowledge of Alpharetta makes him a tremendous asset to lead our Board of Directors.”

Mark attended the University of South Alabama. With more than 33 years of hospitality experience, Mark brings a wealth of talent and expertise to the Alpharetta area and during his career has been awarded Marriott’s “Restaurant Manager of the Year” and has earned both Marriott’s Service Excellence and Customer Excellence awards.

During his time in Alpharetta, Spanka has overseen a $1.3 million ballroom and public space renovation to the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta. Also included was renovation of the Gift Shop and Business Center. The overall renovation has increased sales for the hotel in an economic time when any increase is a celebration. Under Mark’s leadership, the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta is number one in the Atlanta area for Guest Service and Satisfaction.

“I am honored to have been selected by my peers to join the leadership of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau and am excited to be working with this great organization as we continue to bring new business to the Alpharetta area,” adds Spanka.

FLYING COLORS BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL DELIGHTS ALL AGES

The Flying Colors Butterfly Festival will be back for two days this year at the new Discovery Center and Pavilion at the Chattahoochee Nature Center! Join us for a dance with the Butterflies to celebrate their elegant beauty!

While native butterflies swirl above you, enjoy a picnic, enjoy a puppet show presented by Piccadilly Puppets that portrays the life cycle of a butterfly on Saturday or listen to live Latin music by Havana Son on Sunday. You can also create arts and crafts, have butterflies painted on your face and visit fascinating entomology exhibits from the UGA Museum of Natural History, Monarchs Across Georgia and The Bee Project, all while witnessing nature’s marvelous pollinators! Be sure to bring your camera to capture these fantastic, fluttering creatures up close at the Chattahoochee Nature Center from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, on Saturday, July 18th or noon to 5pm on Sunday, July 19th, during our 10th annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival. Kids can wear their butterfly wings and antenna to march in our butterfly parades. Native plants that attract butterflies will be on sale this year for avid garden lovers. The Georgia Nature Photography Association and others will help you improve your photography skills while trying to capture a picture of these beautiful illusive insects. So come play with nature and see the butterflies!

The Butterfly Festival is Saturday, July 18 and Sunday July 19. Admission is $8 for members, $10 for non-members.

GET FIT WITH IRONKIDS ALPHARETTA TRIATHLON GETAWAY GIVEAWAY

There’s never been a better time to get active with the whole family because this fall, IronKids is coming to Alpharetta! That’s right – the petite-sized version of the ultimate adult triathlon will take place in Alpharetta, Georgia, Sunday, September 13, for ages 6-15.

The race is divided into age-based categories:

- Junior (ages 6 to 8): 50-yard swim, 2-mile bike and 500-yard run

- Intermediate (ages 9 to 11): 150-yard swim, 4-mile bike and 1-mile run

- Senior (ages 12 to 15): 300-yard swim, 8-mile bike and 2-mile run

And, as if that’s not exciting enough – the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is giving away ten (yes, TEN!) entries to the race, $20 gift card to Roswell Bikes, family pass for four to Andretti Indoor Karting and Games and one lucky person will win a six month family membership to the Alpharetta YMCA!

It’s easy to register to win. Register at www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com or stop by the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center located on Main Street and pick up an entry form. The contest runs from June to August, with the winning entry drawn on September 1, 2009.

Other race weekend activities include the not-to-be-missed IronKids Expo, Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. and on Sunday, September 13, (race day!) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wills Park. Families are encouraged to take part in IronFlix presented by KIDS FIRST, which is FREE to the public. The IronFlix program, supported by Wills Park, will take place on Friday, September 11 (evening outdoor screening) and throughout the day on Saturday, September 12, at Wills Park.

REINHARDT COLLEGE LAUNCHES POLICE ACADEMY

The State of Georgia’s Peace Officer Standard and Training Council (POST) designated Reinhardt College’s Public Safety Institute academy certification for the POST Basic Mandate training of law enforcement officers.

The partnership between the College and the state marks a first of its kind between a private institution and the state. The College will deliver 404 hours of POST mandate training to students seeking full time positions as peace officers with area law enforcement agencies. In addition to receiving POST certification, students will also receive 15 college credits toward an associate degree in criminal justice at the College.

The academy will begin its first training class in September, but it will launch a pilot program with the ­Alpharetta Department of Public Safety and their volunteer reserve officers beginning in July. John Ballard, academy acting director, is a retired captain with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

”The College anticipates a good deal of interest in the academy based on feedback from areas agencies. This will be a new chapter in the history of the College and we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Peg O’Connor, associate vice-president of academic affairs.”

The Police Academy will be located at the College’s North Fulton Center on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. For information call 770-720-9191.

3RD ANNUAL JACKSON HEALTHCARE/PAL 5K RUN

Jackson Healthcare presents the 3rd Annual PAL 5K Run on August 20, 2009 at 7 pm from the Jackson Healthcare building at 2655 Northwinds Parkway in Alpharetta. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Alpharetta Police Athletics League (PAL), a not-for-profit youth outreach program.

This event promises to be bigger than the previous two years, with PAL anticipating close to 1,000 participants. The 5K offers the same individual challenges as a traditional race, with a twist: CEO’s and their employees competing against other North Fulton business leaders with a chance to win the first ever “CEO Cup.”

Registration is $20 before August 10th, $25 after August 10th. Registration fees include post-race refreshments, DJ entertainment, Family Fun Fest, pasta dinner, and the coveted Commemorative Technical T-shirt. Individual prizes will be awarded along with team awards. Go to the Alpharetta PAL website to get a registration form, www.alphapal.org . Register your company today to challenge for the CEO Cup!

The PAL 5K is one of the organization’s primary fundraisers. Alpharetta PAL is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, community outreach organization created to provide a variety of services to Alpharetta’s youth while establishing a bond of mutual respect, understanding and trust with the Alpharetta Police. The City of Alpharetta Police Athletic/Activities League is a nationally affiliated non-profit organization formed in Alpharetta in 1996.

EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL OFFERS THYROID SURGERY

The range of surgery capabilities at Emory Johns Creek Hospital continues to expand, with the latest addition to its menu of procedures being Parathyroid Surgery. Jackson Slappy, MD, board certified surgeon at Emory Johns Creek is the first surgeon to perform the technique at EJCH. “The minimally invasive surgery with rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurements gives patients significant advantages over the classical, traditional method for treating hyperparathyroidism,” said Dr. Slappy. The minimally invasive method utilizes radioguided localization during surgery. Rapid PTH measurements run during surgery allow the surgeon to be confident the overactive gland has been removed and no further exploration is necessary. As a result, patients experience a higher cure rate, fewer complications, less time spent in surgery and a smaller incision.

EJCH surgeons can now perform the minimally invasive parathyroid surgeries with a high degree of precision. “The Hospital’s immunoassay analyzer allows us to return rapid results for intraoperative testing,” said Laurie Hansen, Director of the Laboratory at Emory Johns Creek. “Use of the PTH analyzer means patients facing parathyroid disease now have minimally invasive options, and because the results are available during surgery, there’s less risk of having to undergo additional exploration or repeat surgical procedures,” explained Dr. Slappy.

Parathyroid disease, also called hyperparathyroidism, affects women three times more often than men, and the average age of diagnosis is 59. Often, however, parathyroid disease goes undetected or misdiagnosed for years. Usually, the first symptom is an unusually high calcium level in the blood. Parathyroid disease is associated with kidney stones, bone pain, constipation, depression, frequent urination and brittle bones.

“We are happy to be able to add yet another high tech capability to our operating rooms and to our laboratory to respond to the needs of our growing community,” said John Quinlivan, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital, located in the heart of Johns Creek, is known for its state-of-the-art technology in a luxurious, hotel-like setting. Services include emergency care, state-of-the-art all digital imaging including a 64 slice CT, MRI, The Birth Place with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 24-hour anesthesiologists, intensive care, advanced cardiac care, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services. Emory Johns Creek Hospital is home to the Atlanta Bariatric Center, designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

For more information, please visit emoryjohnscreek.com