This November, be a ‘Milton’ voter.

The City of Milton is coming up on its sixth birthday, and looking back at all the issues we’ve encountered, there’s one that continues to linger, despite our best efforts: residents not realizing they live in Milton.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s getting better every day. But still, there are a number of reasons for the confusion: being surrounded by long-standing and popular communities; the inability for mapping software and widely-used address databases to keep Milton as a location over Alpharetta or Roswell (due in part to year scrubbings of the data, we’re told); and the simple fact that Milton is a town in which Old Milton Parkway does not exist, and neither does Milton Center, the former site of Milton High School (luckily, though, Milton High is now in Milton).

And we’re not alone. Every new city faces these issues. Johns Creek is having similar problems, as are Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. They’ve got some factors in their favor – for instance, that people knew the names Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody as specific geographic areas long before incorporation -- but overall, it’s a tough row to hoe.

So here’s my call to action to all Milton residents: This November, when you go to the polls, make sure your registration card says you are from Milton. It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to claim ownership of your city while ensuring the voting system is working properly.

But how do you know if you live in Milton?

1.Your property tax bill: This is the simplest way to decide where you live. Simply check your property taxes. If you live in Milton, before Dec. 1, 2006 you only received a tax bill from Fulton County. You now receive bills from the City of Milton and Fulton County (and to be clear, the totals haven’t changed: Fulton charges about half what you paid before. We now receive the rest to pay for city services like roads, parks, police and fire).

2.Maps: What if you don’t pay property taxes to the City of Milton because you rent? That’s easy, too. Just check any of the city’s maps available at www.cityofmiltonga.us and see where you fall.

3.Call us: Still not sure? Just give us a call at 678-242-2500 and one of our staff will be happy to assist you in determining if you live in Milton.
Now once you know you do live in Milton, how do you make sure your voter registration card reflects it?

1.Visit City Hall: At Milton’s City Hall, located at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107A, you can find a voter registration form in the City Clerk’s Office. Simply check “Change of address” and fill out your new address.
2.Visit a county service office: These forms are also available at the two county service offices available to Fulton County residents:
•North Fulton County Service Center: 7741 Roswell Road Sandy Springs, GA 30350 404-613-7675
•Fulton County Government Center: 130 Peachtree St., SW Suite 2186 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-612-7020
Simple enough, right? Here’s hoping I see you – as a Milton resident – at the polls this November!

Joe Lockwood
Mayor, City of Milton

Another Wreck Takes A Life.

By Tim Enloe; Accessmilton.com

As word spread early this morning about the horrific wreck on GA400 and another Milton life lost, it brings other similar tragedies to mind. All sad. All irreplaceable. A hole in so many peoples' lives forever.

In times such as this, we must embrace this family and their loss. We must stand hand in hand, neighbor to neighbor, and grieve and support as a collective whole. Finally, we must work towards insuring such terrible events never happen again through a focus and a goal. We must not relent.

Please keep this family and the victim in your thoughts and prayers.

Kelly Stevens injured in GA 400 crash.

http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1801782382001

Courtesy 11alive.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- A popular Atlanta radio host was injured and a young woman was killed in a wreck that virtually shut down southbound GA 400 Friday morning.

11Alive confirmed with B98.5 FM's Vikki Locke that her co-host, Kelly Stevens, was injured when he was hit by a wrong-way driver just after getting onto 400 at Roberts Drive at around 3:30 a.m.

The wrong-way driver was identified as 22-year-old Carlyn Royball of Alpharetta. She died at the scene.

Sandy Springs Police spokesman Steve Rose said both Stevens' SUV and Royball's car overturned.

Stevens suffered a broken leg, broken arm, and cuts and bruises. He is being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The accident closed all but the righthand emergency lane of southbound GA 400 for more than two hours overnight.

All lanes reopened shortly before 6 a.m.

1 killed, 1 injured in Ga. 400 rollover crash.

Courtesy Wsbtv.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —
A driver involved in a fatal crash on Ga. 400 Friday morning says the other driver slammed into him while going the wrong way on the highway.

Sandy Springs police said the two cars involved in the crash near Northridge Road were both overturned. At least two people were injured, and one person was killed.

Morning show host Kelly Stevens of 98.5 WSB-FM was injured in the crash.

“I was in the left lane, then all of a sudden I looked up and there was headlights, it was a wrong-way driver. I heard the person who hit me didn’t make it,” Stevens said when he called into the radio station from the hospital.

Police said driver who was killed was a woman in her 20s. Her family has not yet been informed.

The road was closed for several hours while police investigated the crash, but lanes reopened just before 6 a.m.

Click here for video coverage=>

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/1-killed-1-injured-ga-400-rollover-crash/nRJjm/

Watch Channel 2 News and check back with WSBTV.com for updates.

One dead, one hurt in Ga. 400 wreck caused by wrong-way driver.

One dead, one hurt in Ga. 400 wreck caused by wrong-way driver.

By Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The southbound lanes of Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs have reopened following the second fatal wrong-way driver crash on the highway in as many weeks.

The two-vehicle wreck happened around 3:30 a.m. on Ga. 400 southbound between Holcomb Bridge and Northridge roads.

Sandy Springs police spokesman Steve Rose said Carlyn Emily Royball, 22, of Alpharetta, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes when she struck a sport utility vehicle head-on.

The SUV driver, Kelly Stevens, said he was on his way in to work as morning show co-host on B98.5 FM when he encountered the wrong-way driver.

"I was in the left lane and all of a sudden, I just looked up and there were headlights and it was a wrong-way driver," said Stevens, who called in to the show from Grady Memorial Hospital. "It just happened so fast, there was just nothing I could do."

Stevens' vehicle rolled over in the collision, and he apparently suffered some broken bones.

Royball, a 2008 graduate of Milton High School, died.

Rose said investigators had not yet determined whether Royball got on going the wrong way at Northridge Road or further south.

All southbound lanes of Ga. 400 were blocked after the crash, but by 5 a.m., traffic was easing by the wreck scene in the right emergency lane. Authorities reopened all southbound lanes about 6 a.m.

Friday's crash happened just nine days after two people died in a wrong-way crash a few miles south on Ga. 400.

In the August 15 crash, Atlanta police said Frampere Ingle got on Ga. 400 going southbound in the northbound lanes around 4:15 a.m., then slammed head-on into a car driven by Eric Hanks.

Both Ingle and Hanks were killed.

City Council honors Milton High FBLA.

courtesy City of Milton

At its Aug. 20 meeting, Milton’s Mayor, Joe Lockwood, was joined by his fellow council members in recognizing the work of the Milton High School Future Business Leaders of America.

The group has contributed to the more than $300,000 raised in the last seven years for state chapters to the March of Dimes and recently adopted a local family and raised for them more than $200, plus gifts, for Christmas.

For more information on the Milton High School Chapter of the FBLA, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Join in with your neighbors and the National Foundation of Ectodermal Dysplasias for a 5k walk on September 30!

Bring your kids and a friend for great exercise and good cause. More information to come in the next few days...stay tuned!

What are ectodermal dysplasias?

The ectodermal dysplasias are inherited disorders that involve defects in the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth. When a person has at least two types of abnormal ectodermal features—for example, malformed teeth and extremely sparse hair—the individual is identified as being affected by ectodermal dysplasia.

The conditions are a remarkably diverse group of disorders which may also affect other parts of the body. The ectoderm contributes to the formation of the lens of the eye, parts of the inner ear, the fingers and toes, and nerves, among others. Therefore, ectodermal dysplasia may cause these parts of the body to develop abnormally.

There are more than 150 different types of ectodermal dysplasias. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Only in rare cases does ectodermal dysplasia affect lifespan and very few types involve learning difficulties.

How are ectodermal dysplasias diagnosed?

In some cases, ectodermal dysplasia is apparent at birth. In other cases, a parent or doctor may only begin to suspect that a problem exists when teeth fail to develop normally. The ectodermal dysplasias are diagnosed by the pattern of what part of the body is affected and how it has developed and functions.

Specific genetics tests to diagnose ectodermal dysplasia are available for only a limited number of ectodermal dysplasias.

What causes ectodermal dysplasias?

All ectodermal dysplasias are heritable or genetic disorders, which means that they can be inherited or passed on to children. However, it is possible for a child to be the first person in his or her family to be affected by an ectodermal dysplasia. In that case, the condition likely has been caused by a change in the DNA or a genetic mutation.

How many people are affected?

No one is really sure. The latest estimate, published in the 1990 edition of The Birth Defects Encyclopedia, is that as many as seven of every 10,000 babies are born affected by an ectodermal dysplasia.

Ectodermal dysplasias affect both males and females of all races and ethnic groups.

Can ectodermal dysplasias be cured?

There are no cures for ectodermal dysplasias, but many treatments are available to address the symptoms. Research is ongoing to learn more about how different genes cause ectodermal dysplasias, what may be done to prevent the disorders in the future, and how to better treat individuals who are affected.

Governor honors MDA Boot Drive, firefighters.

By Accessmilton.com

In a ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 14 Gov. Nathan Deal proclaimed August “MDA Firefighter Appreciation Month” in recognition of the selfless service of departments across the state in the fight against muscular dystrophy.

Firefighters from Milton were in attendance at the historic occasion, joining colleagues from the Atlanta and Rockdale fire departments and representatives from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Milton’s designees were honored for their work in raising a record breaking $65,620.71 through boot drives this summer – topping last year’s total by nearly $5,000.

“I’d like to personally thank the extremely generous residents and drivers in Milton for their tremendous support of the boot drive in this, and previous, years,” said Fire Chief Robert Edgar. “Every year, we surpass our goals because our residents and motorists are so giving.”

Deal’s proclamation honors the continued contributions of firefighters who volunteer hundreds of hours to support annual boot drives, golf tournaments, camp and numerous other events to benefit the MDA. For more than 50 years, these firefighters have teamed up with MDA to fight muscle disease.

In five years, the City of Milton Fire Department has raised more than $221,000 – not counting this year’s totals – for MDA, which uses the money to aid local children and adults affected by neuromuscular diseases by providing wheelchairs, leg braces, clinic visits, support groups and a chance for children to attend Camp Walk-N-Roll.

County: Property values rise in Milton.

Courtesy Neighbor Newspapers

City officials received strong financial news this week, as it was announced Milton's tax digest, or total value of all real property in the city, rose 1.14 percent in 2012.

Due to the growth, the city of Milton is legally obligated to hold three public hearings and advertise a property tax increase.

However, the city is not increasing residents' taxes - by law it cannot unless a majority of registered voters choose to increase the millage rate. The increase is due solely to the reassessment of existing real estate, and the millage rate remains at the legally mandated cap of 4.731.

The public hearings, to be held in Council Chambers of Milton's City Hall, are scheduled for:

Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. - first readings
Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. - second reading and vote

"We want to make sure residents understand the City of Milton is not raising their taxes," said Stacey Inglis, Finance Director for the City of Milton. "As a result of the increased value of property in the city, we must advertise a 'tax increase' - but it is wholly separate from what voters decide at the polls." Inglis said though the total digest rose 1.14 percent, values across the city varied.

The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office reported some rose, while others dropped or remained stagnant. Property tax bills will be sent Sept. 6, and taxes are due back to the city by Nov. 5.

For more information on the tax digest increase, please contact the city of Milton at (678) 242-2500 or info@cityofmiltonga.us.

Read more: NeighborNewspapers.com - County Property values rise in Milton

Property values rise in Milton.

1.14 percent tax digest increase.


Courtesty Appen Newspapers / Staff

MILTON, Ga. – In a mixed blessing, Milton's overall tax digest increased this year. That means more money for the city to operate on, providing much-needed services. The down side is that, due to state law, it's called a tax increase.

The tax digest is the total value of all real property in the city. It was reported by Fulton County that Milton's digest rose 1.14 percent in 2012.

Due to the increase, the city of Milton is legally obligated to hold three public hearings and advertise a property tax increase. However, the city is not increasing residents' taxes – by law it cannot, unless a majority of registered voters choose to increase the millage rate. The increase is due solely to the reassessment of existing real estate, and the millage rate remains at the legally mandated cap of 4.731.

Three public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers of Milton's City Hall. They are scheduled for:

Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. – first reading

Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. – second reading and vote

"We want to make sure residents understand the city of Milton is not raising their taxes," said Stacey Inglis, finance director for Milton. "As a result of the increased value of property in the city, we must advertise a 'tax increase' – but it is wholly separate from what voters decide at the polls."
Inglis said though the total digest rose 1.14 percent, values across the city varied. The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office reported some rose, while others dropped or remained stagnant.

For more information on the tax digest increase, please contact the city of Milton at 678-242-2500 or info@cityofmiltonga.us.

Fulton County cleaning up land near existing sewer systems.

By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton Public Works Department would like to inform residents Fulton County’s Department of Water Resources will begin clearing the county’s sanitary sewer easements (land owned by the county) in the City of Milton for easier access to its infrastructure to expedite repair and maintenance.

This will be an ongoing, three-year, county-wide project performed by contractor Georgia Power Company.

Residents will be informed of clearings in their neighborhoods via inserts in their water and sewer billing statements, door hangers, Fulton County Web site notices and HOA meetings. When the work begins, signs will be posted along the roads informing the public.

For more information, contact Reid Campbell, sanitary sewer easement maintenance project manager, at 404-613-3002 or Simeon Solomero, senior construction project manager, at 404-730-7418.

It's a blue Christmas for ASO in flap over holiday programming.

AM NOTE: While not officially taking place in Milton, the following story has been making the rounds. We thought it would be of interest to our readers.

By Bo Emerson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

For the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, it never rains but it pours.

On top of money troubles and bitter ongoing contract negotiations, the ASO has provoked a nasty public backlash when it was reported that the orchestra disinvited choruses from Lassiter and Walton high schools from the ASO's holiday programs because the choirs weren't "diverse enough."

Websites lit up with negative responses.

“The ASO has just lost my business,” posted Linda McMichael, mother of a Cobb County high schooler. “They should be sued for racism.”

Earlier this week, Stanley Romanstein, president and CEO of the ASO, told Channel 2 Action News, "We want the stages of the Atlanta Symphony, whether here, Verizon, or Chastain, to reflect the diversity of Atlanta."

But contacted Friday afternoon, Romanstein said he was referring to the eclectic programming offered by the ASO. The symphony has previously performed with the like of ZZ Topp and Dolly Parton.

"My comment was taken out of context," said Romanstein, "and I'm not very happy about that."

To the rescue Friday came the ASO Players Association, making an offer to stage free concerts at Lassiter and Walton.

"The musicians have felt kind of helpless through this whole thing, trying to repair the relationships with the community," said players representative and ASO principal trombonist Colin Williams. "The only way we know how is by performing."

Jay Dillon, spokesman for Cobb County schools, said he didn't know whether the schools were aware of the offer.

"I will forward it to them as it seems like a reasonable remedy," he said.

Romanstein said the controversy developed through a "misunderstanding." Four years ago, he said, the ASO invited the choirs at Lassiter and Walton to participate in the symphony's yearly holiday performances, which include Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs and appearances by Santa Claus. The ASO has a long tradition of performing with amateur groups, including the Atlanta Boy Choir and glee clubs at Spelman and Morehouse colleges.

At the end of the 2010 season, the schools were told the ASO could collaborate with Grady High School in 2012.

"We wanted to make sure other people had a chance," said Romanstein. "The directors were cordial and understanding and thanked us for the opportunity to sing with the ASO. ... How this got twisted on Monday into a racial battle ... is really alarming."

It was more trouble at a time that the ASO has plenty. The symphony has operated at a deficit during the economic turndown and is currently $20 million in debt. In the meantime, management at the symphony is embroiled in increasingly contentious negotiations with the musicians union, seeking to reduce musician salaries in order to trim the deficit.

Should the players come to management's rescue in what has become a public relations faux pas, that would be fine with the players, said trombonist Williams.

"Everyone wins," he said.

Thousands of Fulton taxpayers overbilled.

By Johnny Edwards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Yet another billing error has hit thousands of Fulton County taxpayers.

An estimated 6,500 to 7,000 property owners have been overcharged because one department, the tax assessor's office, did not key tax appeals into a computer system before another department, the tax commissioner's office, generated 2012 bills. Chief Appraiser David Fitzgibbon attributed the delay partly to a flooded workspace during heavy rains in July.

Under state law, homeowners contesting their property's tax value should receive temporary bills calculated at 85 percent of its value, but those whose appeals weren't entered got billed at 100 percent. A similar problem cropped up in Fulton last year, part of a series of errors made during a record appeal year.

Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand estimated the extra cost in printing, postage and manpower to send corrected bills will be about $2,000.

The overbillings are particularly vexing for those whose tax values got raised this year, now that a three-year state-mandated moratorium on raising assessments has ended. Some homeowners worry that mortgage companies will pay the bills and raise monthly payments, but Ferdinand said lenders won't start paying off taxes until next month, and bills should be corrected by then.

Many residents and taxpayer advocates who have seen other foul-ups have doubts.

The assessor's office raised the value of Scott and Elizabeth Osmon's home in Inman Park from $655,400 to $733,300 this year. The couple appealed before the June 28 deadline, so they should have received a green temporary bill. Instead, they got a bill on white paper that's $2,000 higher than it should be.

"I hope he's right," Osmon said of Ferdinand, "but I have zero reasons to trust what he says or anyone in his office says."

Last year, under Fitzgibbon's predecessor Burt Manning, the county sent overblown tax bill estimates to about 136,000 Atlanta property owners, attributed to a computer glitch and careless staff. The county wound up remailing 230,000 assessment notices, costing an estimated $140,000.

Later, some homeowners who filed appeals received bills calculated at 100 percent.

Then, research by tax activist R. J. Morris revealed Fulton had appraised dozens of properties higher than they sold for in 2010, contrary to state law.

Brent Sobol has spent the past week scrambling to correct his bills. He's been overbilled nearly $20,000 on the southwest Atlanta housing complex he owns and manages, about $570 on his Buckhead condominium and about $470 on two rental properties.

The lender on his housing complex is waiting for him to provide the tax bill, he said.

"My margins are thin," Sobol said. "I can't afford to trust the clerk at the counter that I will get in the mail that temporary bill for 85 percent."
Barbara Payne, executive director of the Buckhead-based Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation, said, "Every time Fulton County has a massive slip-up, all it does is infuriate those who want to split," referring to the movement to split north Fulton into its own county.

Fitzgibbon took responsibility for the latest problem, saying it's mostly the result of his staff getting behind. Fulton appeals are down this year from about 38,000 to 22,000, but Fitzgibbon said a flood of them came in during the week before the June 28 deadline.

Then a literal flood in his downtown Atlanta office exacerbated the delay when a pipe in a ceiling separated, soaking a data-entry room with almost an inch of water. Dozens of workers had to be moved to new stations, Fitzgibbon said.

Some appeals, from 1,000 to 1,500, get entered late every year, Ferdinand said, causing him to have to send corrected bills. It happens in other counties, too. Some DeKalb County taxpayers, for example, had their appeal deadlines extended after receiving corrected assessment notices, and some appealed and weren't accounted for before bills went out, according to Property Quality Control Supervisor Theresa Gaffney. That probably affected less than 150 taxpayers, she said.

Taxes are one thing, but a succession of glitches, oversights and foul-ups has made Fulton County's tax system especially maddening for property owners. Watching your tax dollars, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution exposed a slew of errors made last year. Today's story, a collaborative effort with Channel 2 Action News, digs into a tax bill slip-up this year.

Property tax bills to be mailed Sept. 6.

By Accessmilton.com

City of Milton property tax bills will be mailed Thursday, Sept. 6, the city’s finance department announced today. After receipt, residents have 60 days to pay the bill without incurring penalties.

“We have been receiving a number of calls from residents wondering when their property taxes were being sent,” said Finance Director Stacey Inglis. “In order to clarify this situation and provide transparency to taxpayers, we simply wish to announce when the bills will be mailed.”

Residents have four options available for paying their bill:

Online: Click here to pay your taxes online.

By phone: Call 678-242-2500 and ask for the Revenue Office.

By mail: 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107G, Milton, GA 30004. Please make check(s) payable to City of Milton. Mail both the tax stub and your check or money order.

In person: Finance Office: 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107G, Milton, GA 30004. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Acceptable forms of payment are check, money order, cashier’s check, credit card (Visa/MasterCard/American Express and Discover) and cash (exact change only).

Ad valorem taxes, more commonly known as property taxes, are levied for city operations and maintenance. All real estate and personal property is taxable unless exempted by law.

For more information, visit the Finance Department's Tax FAQ page here or download the 2012 Property Tax Guide.

County: Property values rise in Milton

By Accessmilton.com

City officials received strong financial news this week, as it was announced Milton’s tax digest, or total value of all real property in the city, rose 1.14 percent in 2012.

Due to the growth, the City of Milton is legally obligated to hold three public hearings and advertise a property tax increase. However, the city is not increasing residents’ taxes – by law it cannot unless a majority of registered voters choose to increase the millage rate. The increase is due solely to the reassessment of existing real estate, and the millage rate remains at the legally mandated cap of 4.731.

The public hearings, to be held in Council Chambers of Milton’s City Hall are scheduled for:

Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. – first readings
Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. – second reading and vote

“We want to make sure residents understand the City of Milton is not raising their taxes,” said Stacey Inglis, Finance Director for the City of Milton. “As a result of the increased value of property in the city, we must advertise a ‘tax increase’ – but it is wholly separate from what voters decide at the polls.”

Inglis said though the total digest rose 1.14 percent, values across the city varied. The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office reported some rose, while others dropped or remained stagnant.

Property tax bills will be sent Sept. 6, and taxes are due back to the city by Nov. 5.

For more information on the tax digest increase, please contact the city of Milton at 678-242-2500 or info@cityofmiltonga.us.

Be a part of the 2012 Milton Roundup Oct. 20.

By Accessmilton.com

The 2012 Milton Roundup sponsorship/vendor packet is now available online at www.cityofmiltonga.us and includes everything potential sponsors and vendors need to help Milton throw its biggest birthday party yet.

To download the packet immediately, click here.

The packet is also available on the Milton Roundup's official Web site, www.cityofmiltonga.us/roundup. As vendors and sponsors come in, their names, logos and links to their Web sites will be added.

As in the past four years, there are three levels of sponsorship: Golden Horseshoe ($1,500), Pardner ($1,000) and Buckaroo ($500). Each features its own perks, including company logo placement on all event banners, advertisements and T-shirts, prime booth space and links to your organization from the City of Milton's Web site. Please note, however, that specific inclusion and logo placement are based on sponsorship level.

To assure names and logos are included in promotional advertising, sponsors must be in by Sept. 10. Sponsorships will be taken after this date; however, they will only be added to advertisements scheduled after their approval.

Non-profit and food vendors are also welcomed to take part in the 2012 Milton Roundup. Booth space is $25 for non-profit groups. Food vendors can expect to pay a $100 deposit to participate, plus 20 percent of gross sales minus the deposit.

The application deadline is Sept. 20. Food vendors that offer similar services will be limited at the discretion of the City of Milton.

The 2012 Milton Roundup will take place Oct. 20 from noon to 6 p.m. on the grounds of Birmingham United Methodist Church (click here for directions).

All residents of Milton, along with their family and friends, are invited to join in the day-long event where they can eat great local food, play games, listen to music, hop on one of our exciting rides or just spend the day outside enjoying Georgia's beautiful fall weather. Parking and admission are free.

For any information on the festival, please contact Jason Wright, Communications Manager for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2523 or jason.wright@cityofmiltonga.us.

..Horses Provide Therapy for Special Needs Kids.

By Bridget Marquardt | Animal Nation

We recently visited a clinic for children with developmental disabilities where therapists are using horses to provide occupational and physical therapy. It's called hippotherapy and at McKenna Farms in Dallas, Georgia, the patients range from autistic children to those with physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy.

We met one four year-old boy named Noah, whose cerebral palsy prevents him from sitting upright or fully using his hands or legs. For Noah, doing his therapy while riding on the horse helps him build strength in his trunk muscles that will help him work towards the goal of keeping his body upright and head up. His therapists also say that, since the stride length and pace of the horse so closely mimic the human stride, these hippotherapy sessions are helping his brain and muscles learn the patterns involved in walking. They are also of the the few times he gets to experience what it might feel like to walk.

Noah's mom says the horses have made a huge difference in her son's life. He loves the animals and finds motivation to work harder. And what's more, he's found something he truly loves doing.

On A Yummy Note!

Courtesy Jamie Schler; Huffington Post

Happy Birthday, Julia And Thank You For The Gift!

I was given a set of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in 1986 just after I had moved to France, which was, when I come to think of it, a bit like bringing coals to Newcastle or, as I did, bringing a pasta machine to Italy. Although I have always loved my copies of "Mastering," it wasn't Julia Child who taught me to make Blanquette and Daube, ratatouille and mayonnaise. No, I learned how to make the French classics from my French husband, a man who had never even heard of Julia Child, The French Chef, until well into our marriage when I explained who she was. His response? There was no revelation, no epiphany, no beginning of a love affair with her recipes. No, he shrugged his shoulders and promptly forgot about her. I mean, he is French, grew up learning to cook from his own Maman so what would he need with Julia Child, une américaine?

I have long been fascinated by Julia yet, unlike so many of my American friends, it's never really been about the food. Oh, I know the lady could cook! I do have charming memories of watching The French Chef when I was a kid but it didn't particularly inspire me to cook. If we learn from example, then I was more likely to make a big pot of cabbage soup or pop a tv dinner into the oven than try and concoct clafoutis or coq au vin. I never attempted to cook like Julia Child nor did I expect French food to ever appear on my mother's kitchen table. No, I wasn't an enthusiastic fan of The French Chef for the food. What I loved about those shows was Julia herself. It was her enormous personality, her energy, her own passion for cooking -- and eating -- and her humor that inspired and entertained me. Her casual nonchalance, her endearing lack of grace and lack of beauty made me, a clumsy ugly duckling, a little more at ease with myself, less embarrassed by my faults and maybe a bit more confident in my own talents, whatever they would turn out to be. The Galloping Gourmet, my other television hero, was all sexiness and suavity, charisma, British accent and perfection while Julia was, well, Julia.

Today, my personal relationship with, my passion for Julia Child has transformed into something else completely. As I have gotten older, our connection has grown more complex. Thirty some odd years after first discovering her on television, twenty-five years after receiving her cookbooks, what fascinates and inspires me today was Julia's age when she discovered her passion for cooking, her age when she embarked on an entirely new career. Julia was a ripe old 36 when she arrived in Paris and succumbed to the incredible cuisine and ambiance of her adopted country, 37 when she enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She was in her forties, stoutly Middle Aged, when she embarked on her career of teaching, cooking and writing, 49 when published for the first time. You see, I moved to France, not quite as old as Julia was -- but almost -- and slowly discovered the incredible food. I was married and pushing middle age before I, too, began my own love affair with French cuisine. And here I am, like Julia, a woman of a certain age, on the brink of starting over, embarking on my own new career. Julia has become my role model, a woman who was able to transform and recreate herself, daring to start over long past the age that we are told we should already know who we are and where we are going. Long past my own prime, or so society tells me, I glance around at all the young whippersnappers in their twenties and thirties who have discovered their own passions for writing or photography, some of whom leave college armed with creative writing or journalism degrees or those who go onto culinary school or are given a camera when still a babe in arms and it intimidates me. I question my choices and the possibilities of a future. I wonder if I am just plain crazy to be doing this now and up against all of those who have been at it for years. And so Julia's own history, her life, which is in many ways similar to my own, reassures and spurs me on.

I look at those old black and white episodes of The French Chef and see a funny, witty woman, not particularly elegant, larger than life who tromped fearlessly through France in her size twelve shoes, who grabbed at life with much more gusto than the average human can muster up on any ordinary day. I see a woman who made a name for herself in what was thoroughly and insistently a man's world in both France and the US. And I am encouraged. Connected by the revelation of a first sole meunière, mine eaten at that venerable old Parisian icon Chartier, hers at La Couronne in Rouen, a first oyster, mine tasted with the same mixture of curiosity and fear at a bustling brasserie on La Place de la Bourse, culinary lightbulbs popping and flashing, Julia and I are united by the irresistible urge to make food our life, our career. And while she dove in head first, no looking back, and I tiptoed in rather hesitantly, we both stumbled upon a passion and a new start quite by accident and surprise and later in life than either one of us should have. In my constant search for inspiration, Julia is my muse.

Julia Child's 100th birthday is bringing out the nostalgic in all of us. Fans all across America talk about how Julia inspired, gave them the courage to take to the kitchen and, whisk in hand, whip up their own mayonnaise or hollandaise; she encouraged them to master a traditional bouillabaisse; she offered the perfect recipe for the perfect clafoutis; she had the country rolling out homemade pastry dough for an authentic Quiche Lorraine. Proverbial sticks of butter are being laid at the altar of the Grande Dame of classic French cooking updated for the modern American kitchen. Yet while all wax eloquent on how Julia got them cooking, I thank her for simply, unknowingly inspiring me to write, to forge a new career, for giving me the assurance to start over at my age and for doing it joyously, confidently and with relish. As Julia once said, "Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." And to slightly appropriate another of Julia's truths "The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking -- and writing -- you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude."

Happy Birthday, Julia Child, and thank you for the gift!

Traffic Issues Spawned from Redistricting?

by Accessmilton.com

Numerous emails have been recieved regarding commutes for the first two days of school.

It was well publicized this past year that some might be affected by redistricting with the biggest concern being potential traffic issues.

The screen capture above showcases a severe back up at Birmingham going towards Providence from earlier today with the eventual destination for many being Birmingham Falls Elementary. According to this resident, "It was a parking lot at 7:30 am..."

Some believe that this snarl is a result of the new traffic pattern headed towards Cambridge High School.

AM UPDATE:

This picture was taken by a carpool parent stuck in the left hand turn lane, southbound on Birmingham Hwy, trying to enter into BHFES. The view is looking southbound bumper to bumper traffic at 7:30 am today, from the school to Providence Road.

Double Click To Enlarge Image.

Courtesy Nike.com

Cambridge High School opens its doors for first time Monday.

By Jeffry Scott
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On Monday, when school starts in Fulton County, Cambridge High School in Milton will become the school system's 17th high school, composed mainly of students who last year attended Alpharetta and Milton high schools.

Principal Ed Spurka said the biggest challenge in starting a high school from scratch and establishing its importance and role in the community has been easing parents' concerns that the new school won't sustain the high academic performance of Alpharetta and Milton.

The school had an open house on Aug. 3 attended by about 900 parents to talk about academics and school spirit. That was reassuring, Spurka said. "I felt like it was a great success, a big payoff — and we sold about $12,000 worth of school spirit-wear."

Fulton County school officials have worked to make Cambridge feel like bedrock from the beginning. The letter C in the school's name is in honor of the Cogburn family, who owned the land the school was built on at the corner of Bethany Bend and Cogburn Road, which used to be a cow pasture. The letter A is a nod to the students who transferred from Alpharetta. The letter M recognizes students who transferred from Milton.

Appreciating that high school spirit probably gets its greatest spike during football season, Cambridge head football coach Craig Bennett recently staged a midnight practice under lights in the school's 4,500-seat stadium, with parents and supporters watching and cheering from the stands as about 100 players went through drills on the artificial surface emblazoned with the Cambridge Bears team name. Afterward, the Touchdown Club fed the team breakfast.

Fulton is also opening another new school Monday: Banneker High School is getting a new facility on Feldwood Road in College Park to replace an older, outdated building. The 340,000-square-foot school will be home to 1,300 students.

More details about the new school:

School project and construction started: 2010

Size: 320,000 square feet, including a 600-seat theater with a stage deep enough for a full orchestra, and a science hall

Cost to build: $45 million

Principal: Edward J. Spurka. For the previous eight years, he was the principal at Roswell High School.

Number of teachers: 60

Number of classrooms: 99

Number of students: About 1,200, roughly 60 percent of them from Milton High, 30 percent from Alpharetta High, and 10 percent from private schools.

First football game: Aug. 31, against Riverwood

Mascot: Bear

How they decided on a bear mascot: A committee of students from Alpharetta and Milton, and feeder middle and elementary schools came up with three finalists — broncos, bears or jaguars — and voted. Bears won.

School colors: Navy blue, Carolina blue and white

Back to school

Thousands of students in metro Atlanta have already returned to school. Monday is the first day of school for students in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fayette and Fulton.

Milton honors world Taekwondo champion.

By Accessmilton.com

At its Aug. 8 meeting, the Milton City Council honored Councilman Matt Kunz in honoring 14-year-old Cameron Comrie, who recently took the top spot in traditional forms at the American Taekwondo Association World Championships. She is pictured with her parents and the Milton City Council.

Comrie, who began her martial arts career in 2005 at the Milton’s own Karate Atlanta, is now a third degree black belt. She has also gained state titles in forms, sparring and weapons.

Comrie came into the World Championships ranked first in the world among traditional forms for 12- to 14-year olds with 2nd and 3rd degree black belts – one of the most competitive divisions. She took the title after a flawless routine that showcased her mastery of the Songahm 82-move form.

Milton clamps down on moving signs.

By Pat Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Milton City Council gave unanimous approval Monday to a proposal that would prohibit moving signs.

The text amendment, which must still pass a final vote of the council Aug. 20, would ban moving signs that are held by people or animals, except during demonstrations, assemblies and public gatherings.

The city's ordinance already prohibits sandwich boards and signs applied directly to a sidewalk or curb, balloons,streamers or gas-filled figures and other similar temporary signs.

Bandit takes nearly 3,000 pills from Milton pharmacy.

By David Ibata
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A man who passed a clerk a note saying he had gun robbed a north Fulton County pharmacy of nearly 3,000 pills, then may have gotten away on a bicycle, police said.

Enlarge photo Channel 2 Action News A surveillance camera caught this image of a man who police say robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Milton of nearly 3,000 pills. Credit: Channel 2 Action News


Pharmacy robberies like this one are becoming a trend, Channel 2 Action News reported.

"Between the people who are addicted to it and the people using it for profit, I suspect you'll see a lot more of it," Milton police Detective Charles Barstow told Channel 2.

The robbery occurred about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the CVS Pharmacy on Ga. 9 in Milton.

A man "went to the back counter where the pharmacy is and presented a note stating that he had a weapon and that he desired certain prescription medications from behind the counter," Barstow said.

The store's pharmacist told investigators he saw a bulge in the suspect's waistband area but no weapon. He went back to the safe and started loading drugs into a CVS bag.

"The suspect appeared very nervous and [was] stammering things under his breath," police said in the incident report. A cashier told police she heard the man say, "I am sick. This is an epidemic and no one will give me what I want."

The bandit took 810 pills of Percocet, 407 pills of Oxycodone and 1,686 pills of Alprazolam, police said. Percocet and Oxycodone are powerful pain relievers, and Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorder.

The pharmacist estimated the pharmacy value of the drugs to be $1,500 to $2,000, police said. Investigators estimated the "street value" of the haul could be about $20,000, Channel 2 reported.

"On the street, some of the pills are going for $20 a piece," Barstow said.

The man ran outside and into the woods behind the store. Police described him as a white male in his mid 20s, wearing a red Nike shirt, gray sweatpants and baseball hat and carrying a dark-color backpack.

Milton police set up a perimeter and, assisted by Alpharetta police and an Alpharetta K-9 unit, searched for the suspect but did not find him. They did recover a black and white Huffy bicycle believed to have been the suspect's in the woods near Oakmeade Trace and Bethany Bend.

Click here for the video segment.

Milton cuts ribbon on Cogburn Road Bridge.

By Accessmilton.com

Members of Milton’s City Council and staff joined residents Aug. 3 in cutting the ribbon to open the Cogburn Road bridge, which has been closed since May.

The Milton Public Works Department reminds drivers that sidewalk construction will continue on the shoulders even though the road will open at 4 p.m. Please use extreme caution in the work zone.

For more information on the bridge project, contact Angie Kapijimpanga, Public Works citizen responder, at 678-242-2562 or angie.kapijimpanga@cityofmiltonga.us.

On A National Note...

Unemployment Rate Rises to 8.3 Percent,163,000 Jobs Added

Courtesy Foxnews.com

The unemployment rate ticked up to 8.3 percent in July, reflecting a stagnant economic picture as hiring improved but not by enough to make a dent in the sea of unemployed Americans.

The Labor Department report, in a glimmer of positive news after three straight months of dismal jobs numbers, showed that hiring reached its best level since February, with 163,000 jobs added.

But the number brings the economy back to treading-water status. The economy added an average of 151,000 jobs a month this year, roughly the same as last year's pace. That's not enough to satisfy the 12.8 million Americans who are unemployed. It would take 250,000 new jobs a month to rapidly bring the unemployment rate down.

With the rate rising from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent, Republicans amped up their criticism of President Obama's stewardship Friday.

Both sides are expected to use the report to double down on their respective tax plans. Boehner said "any new job creation is welcome news," but that unemployment above 8 percent makes it "insane to raise taxes on small businesses."

Republicans want to extend the Bush-era tax rates for all Americans; Obama and congressional Democrats largely want to extend them for those making less than $250,000, letting rates rise for top earners.

Obama is expected to reiterate that call in an appeal to Congress Friday.

Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/unemployment/2012/08/03/unemployment-rate-rises-83-percent#ixzz22VBNNllp

What a busy August.

Sometimes, it seems like there isn’t a day at City hall where there’s something new and exciting going on. Take a look at this month’s newsletter. August is a big month for Milton, and there’s a lot happening in the next 31 days. So I’m just going to jump into everything happening and let you know what to expect:

Cogburn Road bridge: First off, on Aug. 3 at 4 p.m., we will officially open the Cogburn Road Bridge for motorists. It’s been closed since May, and I know the detour has been a pain. But I think you’ll all be pleased with the end result – a well-built, spacious bridge complete with sidewalks and tie-ins to our future trail system.

And, I‘m happy to report, the project happened on time and on budget, even with the huge amount of rain we had during construction. A big thanks goes out to our Public Works Department and Hitson Construction for a job well done.

“Puss in Boots:” The very next day, we finish up our summer movie series with the family hit “Puss in Boots.” As with the other films in the series, the festivities start at 7:30 and the movie is shown at dusk at Northwestern Middle School. I hope to see you there.

National Night Out: On Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Milton’s police and fire departments are partnering with our friends in Alpharetta’s Public Safety Department for National Night Out 2012 at the Wills Park Equestrian Center. It’s a fun evening full of free food and exciting displays of public safety tactics and training. For any boys and girls who want to fight fires or go into law enforcement, it promises to be something they won’t soon forget.

“Pet Trick Day”: Pet Trick Day, which will take place Aug. 11 in Crabapple, is funded by the community building program Better Together’s mini-grants. It’s organized by Thomas Eller, who, along with his brother Zack, runs Woof ‘Em Down Dog Biscuits. You’ve probably seen them at local events selling the treats for charity. All I can say is that I’m glad upstanding young men like them live in our community to show the rest of us what’s possible if you care and dream.

The event is aimed at connecting pet lovers across Milton in the most fun way possible. Be sure to stop by and get to know your neighbors!

Community wildlife habitat meeting and tree workshop: We’re going strong in our efforts to become a National Wildlife Federation-certified community, and you can help us. Just attend the meeting Aug. 15 (followed by a tree care workshop for you greenthumbs) and you, too, could have a wildlife habitat right in your backyard.

Go through the rest of the newsletter, and you’ll see where we’ve tapped longtime parks advocate Jim Cregge to lead our parks department in the interim (not to mention the slew of fall sports and programs we’re launching this year), when firefighters will be out collecting in an attempt to smash their 2011 MDA Boot Drive total, and how you can dispose of tough-to-recycle items at City Hall.

Like I said, it’s busy. There’s something for everyone here in Milton. So let’s all take part and make this the best community in the nation.

And one last thing -- let’s all give a big welcome to the brand new Cambridge High School, which opens Aug. 13 (and check out the article on their "Midnight Growl"). What a beautiful addition to our community. It’s been exciting to see it spring up from that field at the corner of Cogburn Road and Bethany Bend. Now that it’s finally here, I know legions of residents and students chomping at the bit to make it their own while welcoming the rest of us to their new family.

Sincerely,
Mayor Joe Lockwood

Cambridge High holds 'Midnight Growl' Aug. 1.

Courtesy City of Milton

August 1 was a night to remember in Cambridge history. A crowd of fans, students, parents and Cambridge High School supporters gathered to see the football team for the first time under the stadium lights. The atmosphere was similar to a Friday night game complete with music, cheers and plenty of Bears spirit throughout the stadium.

Head football coach Craig Bennett lead the way as the Bears took to the field when the clock struck midnight. Bennett and several assistant coaches ran the players through drills until around 2:30 a.m. There are more than 100 players who have signed up to play with the Bears this season.

Following the practice, the team went back inside the locker room to change into their shorts and t-shirts and came back on to the field to hear the coaches talk about team building and leadership lessons. The Touchdown Club was on hand to serve breakfast to the players in the early morning hours around 5:00 a.m. before everyone headed home.

It was also a chance for the public to get a first look at the new stadium at the school, which will open Monday, Aug. 13. The Bears open at home with their inaugural game against Riverwood at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31.

For more information about Cambridge High, click here.

Cogburn Road bridge to open Aug. 3 at 4 p.m.

By Accessmilton.com

The Cogburn Road bridge, which has been closed since May 19, is scheduled to re-open at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

Prior to the opening, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. to mark the end of Milton's first major construction project. When the bridge opens, motorists will be able to travel Cogburn Road unimpeded, and all detours will end. However, work will continue on the shoulders and motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling through the work zone.

Carter Lucas, public works director for Milton, said the new arched culvert is far superior to the previous dilapidated bridge structure that spanned Cooper Sandy Creek between Bethany Bend and Webb Road. The bridge's replacement had been identified as a top priority in a 2009 inventory of city infrastructure because it bore the load of more than 10,000 vehicles a day.

"It's wider, more stable and easier to navigate," said Lucas. "Additionally, there are sidewalks and tie-ins for the city's future trail system."

Lucas kept residents up-to-date with the project by offering weekly blog posts and photos on the city's Web site and social media platforms. To view the project's completion week by week, click here.

Oxford-based Hitson Construction, Inc. brought the project in on time and within the approved budget of $478,020.39.

For more information, contact Angie Kapijimpanga, Public Works citizen responder, at 678-242-2562 or angie.kapijimpanga@cityofmiltonga.us.

Movie series concludes Aug. 4 with 'Puss in Boots'.

By Accessmilton.com

"Puss in Boots," the third and final film in the city's free summer family movie series, will be shown at dusk Saturday, Aug. 4 at Northwestern Middle School. Festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Northwestern Middle School is located at 12805 Birmingham Highway (click here for directions).

As with the other films in the "Movies in the Park™ - City of Milton presented by Southern Outdoor Cinema, Sponsored by Northside Hospital Forsyth" series, "Puss in Boots" will be shown on Southern Outdoor Cinema's huge, two-story inflatable movie screen in high-definition. Before the film there will be a fun, festival atmosphere with face painting, an inflatable moonwalk and tons of children's activities.

Concessions will be available, so just bring your lawn chair, blanket and bug spray.

For more information on "Puss in Boots," click here. For more information on the summer movie series, visit www.gamoviesinthepark.com or contact Special Events Coordinator Angela Thompson at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.

Wildlife habitat certification continues.

By Accessmilton.com

Milton is now officially registered with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) after completing a lengthy application process supported by City Council and staff.

Next meeting Aug. 15

The next NWF committee meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room of City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, suite 107G.

The meeting will concern the start of a NWF demonstration garden, updates on the project as a whole, and will be followed at 7:30 p.m. with a "Tree Care Workshop."

Get certified

There are currently 85 properties approved in Milton as wildlife habitats, but to achieve national certification the city needs a minimum of 65 more homes and points in other categories such as educational workshops and a demonstration garden.

The good news is most Milton properties qualify immediately for NWF certification, or with minimal work.

To learn more about this project, become a volunteer or to certify your property, please visit the city's Web site or e-mail wildlifehabitatproject@cityofmiltonga.us.

Tree care workshop Aug. 15.

Courtesy City of Milton

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. to attend the tree care workshop conducted by City Arborist Mark Law, City Planner Michele McIntosh-Ross and Chris Heim, regional manager for Davey Tree Company.

This meeting will be held immediately after the National Wildlife Foundation committee meeting in the Executive Conference Room of City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, suite 107G.

This meeting will include an overview of the Milton Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan project. There will also be a presentation on proper tree care and pruning, as well as selecting trees and shrubs that thrive in Georgia while attracting wildlife.

Bring your questions for the experts!

For more information on this meeting, please contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at 678-242-2509 or cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (SDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and maital or family satus. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-A, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Final MDA Fill the Boot Drive Aug. 17.

By Accessmilton.com

The final day of collection in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's (MDA) "Fill the Boot Drive" will be Friday, August 17, the Milton Fire Department announced. So far, firefighters have raised $58,177.

C shift will hold the extra day of collections due to being cut short July 6 because of extreme heat. The department is trying to top its 2011 total of more than $60,000, which was second in the state in fundraising.

Over the last five years, the City of Milton Fire Department has collected $226,631 from generous citizens for local children and adults fighting muscular dystrophy. In 2011, the Department raised $60,854, the most in metro Atlanta and the second most in the state.

For more information on the City of Milton Fire Department, click here.

Crabapple antique festival to be held Oct. 6.

By Accessmilton.com

The popular Crossroads at Crabapple Antiques & Art Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in historic downtown Crabapple.

A tradition since 1969, this one day only, rain or shine, outdoor festival features 50 local juried artists and 50 American Country Antique Dealers from six states.

The City of Milton is a presenting sponsor of this community event coordinated by the Crabapple Community Association.

For more information for this event, please visit www.crossroadsatcrabapplefestival.com or contact Amanda Quintana at 770-241-1125 or by e-mail at crossroadsatcrabapple@gmail.com.

Firefighters train for technical rescues.

By Accessmilton.com

For the past few months, you might have noticed Milton firefighters receiving training in the use of specialized ropes, knots and other technical rescue hardware.

While incidents requiring this kind of specialized training occur relatively infrequently, eventually firefighters will assist in removing patients from ditches, ravines, towers and multi-story buildings. The skills will also be used in the privately-funded Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue unit's operations, which often include the use of ropes and pulleys to move animals.

Additionally, these skills can also be used in stabilizing overturned vehicles, moving heavy equipment on fire scenes, and conducting rescue operations from the roof or upper floors of a burning residence. Internally, the training increases firefighter safety during ladder operations where ropes and knots provide the means of ensuring that no one is injured or killed in a fall.

Upon completion, Milton's fire department will receive national certification in the skills.

For more information on the City of Milton Fire Department, click here.

Fall means big things for Parks and Recreation.

Courtesy City of Milton





For more information, contact Tom Gilliam at 678-242-2519 or tom.gilliam@cityofmiltonga.us.

Difficult to recycle items are collected at City Hall.

By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton has collection containers available at the Community Development entrance (13000 Deerfield Parkway, suite 107F), for recycling these items:

copier toner and ink cartridges
batteries (alkaline and rechargeable)
cell phones for Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program
City Hall is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This program is part of Milton's Green Communities Certification.

For more information, please contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at 678-242-2509 or cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Evergreen Program kicks off with 2nd resource fair

By Accessmilton.com

The North Fulton Evergreen Schools Program and the Chattahoochee Nature Center present the 2nd annual Environmental Education Resource Fair Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road in Roswell.

The event is open and free to everyone - including all school (public and private) personnel, PTAs, parents and children.

There will be loads of environmental vendors with information for starting or enhancing your Evergreen school program, including curriculum materials, recycling, fund raising and more. Refreshments will be provided by Harry's Farmers Market.

For more information, please contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at 678-242-2509 cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us or the Chattahoochee Nature Center's Tom Howick at 770-992-2055 x235 or t.howick@chattnaturecenter.org.

Local teen wins Humane Heroes Award.

Courtesy City of Milton

Zack Eller, a rising senior at Milton High, recently won the Atlanta Humane Society's Mariel Hannah Humane Heroes Award for his work benefitting homeless pets.

Eller is the founder of Woof 'Em Down Dog Biscuits, which he runs with his brother Thomas. Zack and Thomas donate all profits from the sale of their homemade dog biscuits to pet rescue and so far have raised $13,000 and donated more than 1,000 pounds of pet food to local animal shelters.

The award is named after 18-year-old Mariel Hannah, an animal lover who was tragically killed in a 2006 home invasion.

The Ellers have racked up a number of awards for their work. In 2006, Zack earned the President's Volunteer Service Award for his hours spent helping homeless pets. Zack and Thomas both earned the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2008, Zack and Thomas were chosen by Disney's Wondertime Magazine and the nonprofit Points of Light Foundation as Grand Prize winners in the "Littlest Volunteers" contest. That same year, they were awarded the "Shining World Compassion Award" in recognition for their efforts.

Additionally, in 2008 Zack was named the middle school State Honoree in "The Prudential Spirit of Community Award" program, which is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.
Zack was awarded the 2009 Young Hero of North Fulton Award from the Roswell Rotary Club and the Teaching Museum North. He also received the DAR Citizenship Award.

But it didn't stop there. Zack was a finalist for the 2010 Humane Teen of the Year Award. He received an Honorable Mention for his exceptional contributions to animal protection from the Humane Society of the United States. Additionally, in 2010 he was the local store winner in the Kohl's Kids Who Care contest.

For more information on Woof 'Em Down Dog biscuits, visit http://woofemdown.com.

Monthly new business report.

By Accessmilton.com

This list is compiled from business license records kept by the city's Community Development Department. If a new business receives a license within the month proceeding the newsletter, it will be listed.

The appearance of a business on this page is not intended, nor should it be construed, as the City of Milton's or Milton City Council's endorsement, sanction, promotion or advertisement of any particular business. Identification of businesses on this list is for informational purposes only. Citizens interested in retaining or conducting business with any of the companies or agencies listed in this item should conduct their own review and investigation of that business.

Access MD, LLC 12600 Deerfield Parkway Suite 100

D Squared Development 3105 Bethany Bend

CrossFit Silos, LLC 12635 Crabapple Road Suite 130

For a continually updated list of current businesses in Milton via the city's Web site, click here.

“Pet Trick Day” set for Aug. 11 in Crabapple.

Courtesy City of Milton

Attention all Milton dog owners: On Saturday, Aug. 11, a community “Pet Trick Day” will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dog Wash Café in Crabapple – and every dog that does a trick will get a prize.

The Dog Wash Café is located at 12635 Crabapple Road, Suite 230 in Milton (click here for directions).

The event is the brainchild of 13-year-old Northwestern Middle School student Thomas Eller, who, along with his older brother Zack, runs Woof ‘Em Down Dog biscuits, a non-profit company that raises money for homeless pet shelters.

Eller applied for and received a mini-grant for “Pet Trick Day” from the Better Together: Real Communities - Milton Mini-Grants Initiative, which has also funded landscaping projects at Milton Fire Station No. 43, a community art installation, an adapted riding stable and two “Living Room Conversations.”

Eller said he jumped at the chance to apply for a grant because he saw its potential for the community.

“This event, it’s not a fundraiser, it’s just an opportunity to get a lot of people in town out and having fun,” said Eller. “Every dog that comes out can get a prize, even if its best trick is sitting.”

Engaging the city’s youth for fresh ideas is one of the program’s goals, said Amanda Quintana, grant coordinator for the Better Together initiative.

“Our mission is to build community, and sometimes the best way to do that is by finding a shared interest like pets,” she said. “A fun, festive event like ‘Pet Trick Day’ seemed a perfect fit for our grants.”

Since 2007, Thomas and Zack have donated more than $13,000 and 1,000 pounds of dog food from the sale of their homemade Woof ‘Em Down biscuits to homeless pet shelters. Because of the work, the Ellers have earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award four years running. Additionally, in 2008 Thomas and Zack were chosen by Disney's “Wondertime Magazine” and the nonprofit Points of Light Foundation as Grand Prize winners in the "Littlest Volunteers" contest. That same year, they also received the Shining World Compassion Award in recognition for their efforts.

Zack Eller also serves on the Better Together grant board. However, his position had no influence on his brother’s selection, said Quintana.

Better Together is funded in large part through the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities' (GCDD) Real Communities Initiative: Milton. The grants support neighborhood improvements, promote neighborhood connections and fund projects that bring community members together.

Currently, GCDD provides Milton a little less than $20,000 in federal funds and the city matches just less than $5,000.

For more information on this event, contact Thomas Eller at 678-630-5179 or woofemdown@bellsouth.net.

For more information on the Better Together: Real Communities - Milton Mini-Grants Initiative, click here. For more information on Woof ‘Em Down Dog Biscuits, visit http://woofemdown.com.