On Saturday June 5 the city of Johns Creek officially welcomed its first-ever community garden. Citizens, master gardeners, local businesses representatives and community leaders gathered at the garden site in Newtown Park for the Grand Opening. Mayor Mike Bodker and Commissioner Lynne Riley were joined by Council Members Randall Johnson, Beverly Miller and Karen Richardson; Ron Jones, Leadership Johns Creek President; and, Doug Russ, Johns Creek Chamber President for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Leadership Johns Creek (LJC) \"Carpe Diem\" Project Team members and community volunteers completed the construction of the 39 garden plots at the new Newtown Park Community Garden on Saturday, May 15. Individual gardens were assigned to the applicants through a lottery process in early May.

The Garden is a joint project between LJC and the City of Johns Creek and made possible through community sponsors: Newtown Park Community Foundation, Whole Foods Market of Johns Creek, The Home Depot Foundation, Optech Monette, North Fulton Master Gardeners, Davey Tree Co. and CIBA VISION. The Johns Creek Garden Association is open to the public. Information and an application can be found at www.leadershipjohnscreek.com.

The Leadership Johns Creek (LJC) inaugural Class of 2010 completed its program year with Environmental Day. The day began at the new Johns Creek Environmental Center, a Fulton County waste water treatment facility on Holcomb Bridge Road.
The remainder of the day consisted of speakers from the Clean Air Campaign, Georgia Power, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, Waste Management and a trip to the Roswell Recycling Center. During lunch, the group of 30 professionals were treated to a cookout by Optech Monette at Newtown Park.

The day centered around representatives from businesses and organizations not necessarily located in Johns Creek, but definitely have an effect on our citizens and/or provide services to the Johns Creek community. Speakers included Mayor Mike Bodker, Comissioner Lynne Riley, Atlanta Regional Commission\'s Kellie Brownlow as well as representatives from Georgia DOT, GBI, Georgia Lottery and MARTA. Class members traveled to Northside Forsyth Hospital for lunch in the Bennett Center and toured the Hospital and Women\'s Center. VIP Sponsors of the Day: Panera Bread (breakfast) and Northside Forsyth Hospital (lunch).

Government Day provides LJC participants with the insight of local government in action.  A tour of the Georgia State Capitol will include presentations by North Fulton Delegation including Burkhalter, Shafer, Jones, etc. as well as visiting the House and the Senate chambers.  The class will spend the day in downtown Atlanta under the Gold Dome visiting with the Governor and his staff, Secretary of State, Johns Creek Council members, Fulton County legislators.  The day ends with a tour of the Fulton County Government Complex and the Fulton County Jail.

Business Day focuses on businesses within the City. It includes tours of businesses in Johns Creek and presentations by big and small business owners. This year LJC participants visited State Farm, CIBA Vision, Movius Corporation, Martin Marietta Aggregate and World Financial Group.