As a kick-off to Fire Prevention Week, Johns Creek Fire Station No. 61 opened it doors to the community on Saturday for a Community Safety Day. Demonstrations included training on escaping from a house fire, electrical safety, the equipment used by Johns Creek's Swift Water Rescue Team, and more.

The Georgia Affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving® recently hosted its signature Walk Like MADD® non-competitive 5K fundraising walk in Johns Creek. The event, which raised funds while rallying support for MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®, began at the State Farm Operations Center on Johns Creek Parkway. State Farm hosted the event, which also included an appearance by Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker.

The fourth annual Taste of Johns Creek at Chattahoochee High School on Sunday brought out the community to support Chattahoochee High School football and cheerleader programs. For a flat price of $20, attendees could sample food from some 50 restaurants.

It was standing-room only this weekend in Newtown Park as Johns Creek held its annual Fall Family Festival. The festival featured moonwalks, a giant slide, an obstacle course, carnival games, music, food, arts and crafts, and fun for the entire family. In addition, many local businesses and civic organizations took the opportunity to interact with the Johns Creek community.

On Tuesday, the firemen of Johns Creek Fire Station #61, located on Medlock Bridge Parkway, erected a memorial to the 343 members of the New York Fire Department who gave their lives trying to save others at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. On Friday, American flags will be added to the memorial site located on the lawn in front of the fire station.

The new Keso Mexican Grill held its formal grand opening on Thursday. Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker, members of the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, and lovers of Mexican cuisine were present for the ribbon cutting ceremonies. Keso Mexican Grill is located at 11030 Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek Walk.

This weekend the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center became a water park, if only for a day, when it hosted "Water Day," a celebration of everything H2O. The event featured water slides, displays and experiments in the preserve's water science lab, crafts, Cub Scout badge activities, demonstrations by members of the Johns Creek Fire Department, and learning activities related to local water-dwelling reptiles and amphibians. Plenty of good things to eat and drink were available on a warm summer day. For more information about the Autry Mill Nature Preserve, visit www.autreymill.org.

As the PGA Championship got under way on Monday with Day 1 of practice rounds, fans began to trickle into the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. "When I first found out the PGA was coming here, I jumped on it right away and ordered tickets," said Cumming resident Adam Eason, who brought his daughter, Elizabeth, along. He said he plans to attend all week. Plenty of children could be seen as one adult ticket will get in up to four children. The volunteer contingent was also on hand. Cheryl and Rody Broome came all the way from Amelia Island, Fla., to volunteer in the PGA Pro Shop. Members of…

"The last thing you want to see is the ball go bounce, bounce, bounce," Ken Mangum, grounds and course director at the Atlanta Athletic Club, says as he talks about preparing the course for next week's PGA Championship. But ground density and the difficulty of the course – with deeper bunking and a narrower fairway than when the club hosted the PGA in 2001 – and which seasoned golfers like last year's champion Martin Kaymer admit is a challenge, isn't the only thing on Mangum's mind as he and his crew work diligently to get the Highlands Course in tip-top shape. "TV coverage has gotten so …

The City of Johns Creek held the grand opening of its new active adult center, Park Place at Newtown School, on Thursday. The two-year project which was overseen by the Newtown Park Community Foundation, which converted Newtown School, built in 1929, into a thoroughly remodeled center for Johns Creek residents ages 62 and up. Park Place at Newtown School will host recreational and educational activities such as yoga and art classes, bridge clubs, book discussion groups, computer training classes, cooking classes, movie nights and monthly health and wellness screenings. For more information on…

On Monday more than 130 golfers played in the third annual North Fulton Community Charities Swing Into Action golf tournament at The Standard Club in Johns Creek. The annual event generates funds that go to support local families and individuals who are in need of assistance for a variety of reasons. NFCC assisted more than 5,000 families in 2010 and distributed $1.1 million in financial assistance. The organization works with an average of 130 families per day and distributes approximately 9.5 tons of food each week. This year's tournament was won by the team of T. Shields, S. Shields, H. …

Hundreds of Harry Potter fans, many dressed as their favorite Hogwarts characters, flocked to Regal Cinemas on Medlock Bridge Road for the midnight opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II early Friday morning. Some had arrived as early as 5 p.m. Thursday to ensure that they would get good seats for the opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the last in the franchise.

The second in Johns Creek "Movies in the Park" series of free summer movies was held Saturday at Newtown Park.  Festivities began at p.m. with an inflatable moonwalk and giant slide, face painting, carnival games, giveaways, and food and drinks. The animated feature "Rio" about a domesticated Macaw who has never learned to fly, began at dusk. The final "Movies in the Park" of the summer will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13.

With the goals of increasing a sense of community and encouraging healthy living by providing Johns Creek residents with fresh, locally grown and produced goods, the City of Johns Creek debuted its new Farmers Market this weekend. The market will be open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Newtown Park through Sept. 10.  Space is available for 32 vendors who are required to sell only locally grown or produced goods.

The Chattahoochee High School Soccer team would like to help you celebrate the 4th of July.  The team is operating a fireworks stand on the corner of State Bridge and Jones Bridge roads in Johns Creek in the Goodwill shopping center. The fireworks stand will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through July 4. Fireworks of every description are available for purchase from sparklers to Roman candles to sky rockets and more. Proceeds from the sale of the fireworks goes to support the Chattahoochee High School soccer team. 

While Friday's performance of Robin Hood at Autrey Mill Nature Center was temporarily halted by a thunderstorm, in the true spirit of the "show must go on" the production and the audience were quickly relocated from the Woodland Theatre to the Pole Barn. This well-known tale of good triumphing over evil was performed by Curtain Climbers Youth Theatre and offered something for everyone: adventure, romance, intrigue, humor and, of course, action-packed fight scenes. The title role of Robin Hood was played by C.R. Kimball.  Jackie Yarbro was Maid Marion. Hunter Crain was Friar Tuck.  Colin Daly …

Whole Foods on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek is preparing for the grand opening of its new Healthy Eating Center, which is designed to provide customers with one-on-one assistance and advice on nutrition. Rita Reynolds, Whole Foods Healthy Eating Specialist, will manage the center, which will feature recipes of the week, a supper club, and a healthy eating challenge. The Whole Foods Healthy Eating Centers were initiated two years ago by John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, when he decided that Whole Foods should take an active role in educating their customers on the benefits of a healthy diet …

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue hosted its largest fundraiser of the year this weekend at Country Club of the South. Those in attendance were swept back in time to relive the 80s, if only for one evening. The evening offered silent and live auctions, raffles, dinner and dancing to the greatests hits of the 80s. Many of those attending the fundraiser dug deep into their closets and old clothing chests to bring out their most totally awesome 80s attire to help set the mood for the evening.

In the spring of 2010, Johns Creek resident and dog owner Pat McNeely entered the Beneful WagWorld Dream Dog Park Contest.  Contestants were asked to share their vision of the ultimate dog park.  A short 250 word essay and video later, McNeely and his Siberian Huskey Koda found that they had won the $500,000 grand prize — a complete renovation of the dog park at Johns Creek's Newtown Park. The renovation of the Newtown Dog Park was managed by TV personality and design expert Jason Cameron.  The renovation features tunnels, water splash pads, shade trees, hoops, a bone-shaped bridge and …

The City of Johns Creek sponsored its first Movies in the Park for the season at Newtown Park on Saturday.  The movie, "Gullivers Travels," was preceded with games and events for kids of all ages.