Hands Unwashed, Dust Built Up At Alpharetta Restaurant.

An Alpharetta restaurant scored a C after a recent inspection showed an employee not washing their hands after using the restroom.

courtesy By Kathleen Sturgeon, Patch Staff | Apr 10, 2019 2:21 pm ET

ALPHARETTA/MILTON, GA -- Several local restaurants were recently graded on their cleanliness by the Fulton County Environmental Health Department. Scroll down to find scores from Alpharetta and Milton.

April 8, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A

Barleygarden Kitchen

900 AVALON BLVD ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 8, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A

Chin Chin Silos

270 RUCKER RD STE 115 ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 5, 2019 Score: 90, Grade: A

Cookout

11475 HAYNES BRIDGE RD ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 8, 2019 Score: 90, Grade: A

Country Club of the South

4100 OLD ALABAMA RD ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 10, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

Duke's Bar & Grill

12635 CRABAPPLE RD MILTON, GA 30004

April 4, 2019 Score: 93, Grade: A

El Azteca

13800 HIGHWAY 9 N STE W ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 4, 2019 Score: 94, Grade: A

Jimmy John's

875 NORTH MAIN ST STE 304 ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 9, 2019 Score: 97, Grade: A

Marriott Courtyard

11700 AMBER PARK DR ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 9, 2019 Score: 95, Grade: A

Nothing Bundt Cakes

5230 WINDWARD PARKWAY STE 102 ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 5, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

Oshi Poke Bowl & Sushi

875 N MAIN ST ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 5, 2019 Score: 95, Grade: A

Outback Steakhouse

6400 NORTH POINT PKWY ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 9, 2019 Score: 97, Grade: A

Pizza Hut

241 SOUTH MAIN ST ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 9, 2019 Score: 90, Grade: A

Poke Bar

6410 NORTH POINT PKWY ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 9, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

River Pines Golf Club

4775 OLD ALABAMA RD ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 10, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

Rumi's Kitchen

7105 AVALON BLVD ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 8, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A

Stone's Cuisine & Cocktails

3719 OLD ALABAMA RD STE 200A ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 10, 2019 Score: 94, Grade: A

Sushi Mania

3719 OLD ALABAMA RD STE 300F ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 10, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A

Taco Mac

875 NORTH MAIN ST STE 306 ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 5, 2019 Score: 95, Grade: A

Tapestry House

2725 HOLCOMB BRIDGE RD ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

April 10, 2019 Score: 99, Grade: A

The Nest Cafe

58 CANTON ST STE 101 ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 10, 2019 Score: 74, Grade: C

The Real Chow Baby

58 CANTON ST STE 104 ALPHARETTA, GA 30009

April 10, 2019 Score: 93, Grade: A

Wendy's

13794 HIGHWAY 9 ALPHARETTA, GA 30004

April 4, 2019 Score: 94, Grade: A

Rock for Rescues set to return to Milton

courtesy By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

MILTON, Ga. — After a successful inaugural launch last year, the city is excitedly anticipating the return of Rock for Rescues later this month. The unique concert and community event benefits local animal nonprofit groups. Rock for Rescues takes place from 1-10 p.m., April 27 on Crabapple Road in downtown Crabapple.

Around 4,000 attendees came out for festivities last year, and this year’s event will feature an expanded musical lineup. Also new for this year is the addition of a “backstage” VIP experience and reserved tables for eight that can be purchased in advance.

VIP tent access includes covered lounge seating, a private bar, catered food, a “swag bag,” drink tickets and the opportunity to interact with the musicians.

Bands will perform throughout the day, including some crowd favorites from last year, such as A Slow Boat to China and Pony League. Also performing is Sister Moon, Alex Guthrie, Last Chance Riders and the Rock U Kids from North Fulton organization Music Matters.

North Georgia group Walden will headline the event with its performance at 8:30 p.m. The group helped kick off the festival countdown with their “puppy sessions” filmed at the new Furkids property in Cumming (video: bit.ly/2Ux6tHa).

“Connecting local talent with community needs has really been a highlight of this project,” said Milton Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Courtney Spriggs. “All of the artists involved in Rock for Rescues support its mission wholeheartedly, and it shows.”

While the bands rock the stage, attendees can enjoy food, drinks, shopping and other happenings.

“This year we added a huge variety of food, kids’ activities, and more pet-themed retail vendors,” Spriggs said. “Crabapple Market shops will also open with an awesome array of goods to choose from.”

At the heart of the good time is the benefit the festival provides to local animal groups. Five nonprofits have been selected and all proceeds will benefit their initiatives.

Beneficiaries include AWARE Wildlife Center which rehabilitates Georgia’s injured and orphaned wildlife and the Georgia House Rabbit Society.

Three more groups will also receive proceeds from the event for the second straight year. The groups include Canine Cellmates, which works with the Fulton County Jail in a program to reduce recidivism while providing training to shelter dogs, Atlanta-based animal shelters Furkids, and Special Equestrians of Georgia which provides therapeutic riding and other programs.

Vox Artium, creators Rock for Rescues, said the organizations chosen present a wide array of organizations and are all based locally.

“Vox wanted to make sure that the non-profit lineup was complementary in the community, not competitive,” said organization director Laura Jesseph. “No two organizations serve the same mission.”

Leashed dogs are permitted at the event, and Furkids will also have animals available for adoption. Those interested in bringing home a furry friend can start the approval process at furkids.org.

“First and foremost [in importance] is sharing the message of each rescue and giving them all a platform to connect — not just with Milton, but with each other, the artists, sponsors, new volunteers and direct donors,” Spriggs said. “Creating lasting support in all the ways each rescue needs is very important to everyone involved in Rock for Rescues. The event supporting Milton’s love of animals and animal rescues while providing performance opportunities for local musicians makes it unique. Our partnership with Vox has helped so many animals and people.”

Rock for Rescues is free to attend but donations will be accepted before and after the event. All donations will be divided equally among the benefitting groups.

Handicapped parking is available at the Alpharetta Government Center. All other parking is at Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School, Crabapple Crossing Elementary School and Crabapple Baptist Church. Shuttles will run from Milton High School beginning at 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to car pool or use ride-sharing options.

For any additional information, contact Courtney Spriggs at courtney.spriggs@cityofmiltonga.us or visit RockforRescues.org.

Burglar removes computer from unattended vehicle

courtesy www.northfulton.com

MILTON, Ga. — A man returning to his car after dining with his family found his car window’s smashed and multiple items missing.

The victim said he and his family arrived at Nahm Thai on Windward Parkway around 9 p.m. on April 1 and parked in front of the restaurant. When the family returned, the man saw his rear passenger window had been broken.

The man reported to police that a MacBook computer, several checks made out to his company, a personal checkbook and tax documents and computer hard drives were taken from the car.

No other cars were burglarized in the parking lot.

Unknown package delivered after fraudulent charges

courtesy www.northfulton.com

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man’s identity was used to open a credit card which was used to make a large purchase that was later delivered to his home.

The victim said he received an email on March 26 from Discover that said his credit card was declined for a charge of $1,650 to “Octava Health.” The man contacted Discover and said he did not attempt to purchase anything for that amount or from Octava Health. He was told the company had issued him a new account and credit card.

On March 29, the man said he received a package with “Octava” printed on the side and an unknown name was on the shipping label.

Discover cancelled the man’s account and he was advised by police to freeze his credit.

Man walks out of store without paying for TV

Courtesy www.northfulton.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton police are searching for a man who stole a TV from the Milton Walmart.

An employee at the store said she saw the suspect select two TVs and begin to walk to the garden section of the store. She said when the suspect saw her, he walked away from the TVs and exited the store.

The suspect later walked back into the store, took a 32-inch TV from the shelf and walk out of the front of the store. The employee said the man also made away with a TV mount.

The suspect was seen leaving in a car registered in Florida, but his description did not match the owner of the car.

Community egg hunt slated for this weekend.

Courtesy By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

MILTON, Ga. — Cambridge High School’s football field will be awash in sea of colorful eggs this Saturday for the Milton Community Egg Hunt. Around 30,000 eggs will be scattered across the turf for the family event which will take place from 2-4 p.m.

Egg hunts will take place for children from infant to the fifth grade, including children with special needs, throughout the day. Along with the hunts, the event includes bounce houses, music, face painting, giveaways and an appearance from the Easter Bunny.

Milton hosted the egg hunt for several years at Friendship Park, but due to the city’s limited staff and a need for more volunteers, the event was discontinued in 2017. It has been revitalized, and over 300 volunteers are expected for this year’s celebration.

“We always had a great turnout in the past and hope for an even bigger crowd turnout this year,” said Milton Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Courtney Spriggs. “We do hope there is the potential for growth, as well as an opportunity to bring events to the Ga. 9 corridor of Milton.”

Spriggs said the event would not be possible without the collaboration between the city and Stonecreek Church and she is grateful for Milton’s involved community.

“We build community by giving Milton citizens lots of opportunities to connect and engage with their neighbors, businesses, and other organizations,” Spriggs said. “Partnering with Stonecreek Church and Cambridge High School was an awesome way to make that happen.”

Stoncreek’s Kid’s Pastor Jordan Ledwell said the church has a heart for Milton and its community and wanted to work with the city to expand the event’s reach.

“We knew that together we could do something spectacular,” Ledwell said.

Cambridge’s field will be subdivided into three separate fields with egg hunts beginning at 2:30 p.m. The event is free and no registration is needed.

What the City of Milton doesn’t want you to know.

Courtesy www.northfulton.com

Recently, I received a survey card from the City of Milton.

Not one question was about the dying equestrian community. A question did cover “rural character”, but in today’s Milton, when a new subdivision constructs a black fence at the entrance, such is considered “rural character.”

Upon incorporation in 2006, all emergency vehicles had horse decals showcased. Today, only the fire trucks have it. Fire and police have a horse patch on their uniforms. Watch — that horse patch will drop off soon. There used to be the “Milton Round Up,” a festival with horse themes prominent. It too has died, with “Crabapple Fest” being the annual celebration.

Milton has blocked the presentation of the proposed horse protection ordinance “Liberty’s Law” (libertyslaw.blogspot.com) countless times even though other municipalities that don’t claim to be “an equestrian community” allowed its presentation. Since then, two horses have died due to fireworks and many others are terrorized due to fireworks and harassment.

The recent five year parks plan has no equestrian facilities included. Milton continues to spend millions on land with their Greenspace Bond money. Many of the few remaining horse farms are for sale and not one has been purchased for remaining equestrians hanging on. Check active horse farm listings, they are all open to a developer’s call. Over 70 percent of Milton is subdivisions now.

Economics sway decisions. For most, our property is our biggest asset. An area’s changing of the guard can have a dramatic effect. Horse farms, pastures, and serenity are the exact opposite of subdivisions, manicured lawns, noise pollution and related traffic. One is not better than the other, just completely different. To believe that both can co-exist is not reality.

Milton could have been the equestrian capital of Georgia if the powers offered incentives and related infrastructure out of the gate. Look at how Peachtree City became the golf capital of the state. However, a different road was taken and the end result is today. Have you seen Crabapple lately?

I encourage the dwindling demographic of land owners to unite and look out for one another. The City of Milton is pulling no punches trying to hold onto a falsehood, be it with tax incentives or illegal land rules, killing our property values and futures in the process. They ignore the reality that Milton is Dunwoody — light already with more change to come and not horse friendly. They have refused to give the equestrian lifestyle a voice, protection or support. All they do is wallpaper horse pictures on city letter head, signage and website. With such a facade and facts, why would any horse person want to stay or move here? Life is short and there is cheaper land offering true serenity elsewhere.

— Tim Enloe, Milton

Horses and Fireworks Don't Mix!

While the City of Milton Georgia has not reminded residents about the negative affect fireworks have on horses be it in their July newsletter or on their website, Accessmilton.com believes that such is a necessary notice each July 4th and New Years.

Please remember your equestrian neighbors this July 4th! Do not shoot fireworks off near any equestrian properties! These illegal acts can have horrific results. Milton Georgia DOES NOT need another horse to perish due illegal firework use like this past July 4th! Help protect horses from abuse and harassment. Support Liberty's Law today!

***What Fireworks Are Legal In Georgia?***

Home Grown Pesticide Free Produce For Sale!

By Accessmilton.com

From a garden that once provided produce to the only grocery store in Alpharetta not too long ago, the time has gome again!

Stable Days Farm on Bethany Road now has home grown pesticide free vegetables for sale. From tomatoes to cucumbers to sunflowers, fresh choices are a plenty!

So stop on in at Stable Days Farm, grab some goods, and chat a while or give us a call at 770 653 0552!

Milton team rescues trapped horse.

Milton and Forsyth County fire crews managed to free a trapped horse from a muddy creek bed June 11. The horse was unharmed.

Forsyth, Milton free horse from ditch. Jonathan Copsey; The Milton Herald

June 17, 2014 FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Milton's horse rescue team was called out Wednesday, June 11 to help a stuck horse in Forsyth County.

The four-member crew was called to an area near Stablegate Court in Forsyth County after a report of a horse stuck in a muddy ditch.

A 28-year-old horse had fallen into a creek bed and, due to heavy rains, had become trapped in the mud. This only became worse when a tree branch fell on the animal. Milton Fire Battalion Chief Bill Bourn said the horse may have been stuck overnight.

"He had possibly lain there all night trying to get up and was physically exhausted," Bourn said. "And it was so muddy, he couldn't get his legs under him to stand up."

Firefighters from Milton and Forsyth County placed a harness around the animal and dragged him out of the mud 15 feet to the street, where he could get his footing.

"He was able to stand up on his own after that," Bourn said.

All told, it took about 30 minutes of work.

While many fire departments are trained in large animal rescue, Milton is one of the few departments in the region with equipment capable of helping horses and other large animals out of tight spaces.

Called "Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue," or TLAER, the prevalence of horses in Milton convinced the fire department to invest in horse rescue equipment.

Bourn said the TLAER crew could go months without a call and then get two in two days, but rain is a common factor.

"It presents more of a possibility for a horse to get in a predicament," he said.

Milton has a mutual aid agreement with surrounding cities to respond if they wish to such incidents.

Council honors Memorial Day Essay winner, finalist.

At its June 16 meeting, Milton’s City Council honored the winner and finalists of the 2014 Memorial Day Essay Contest.

Ashleigh Hays, center, a sixth grader at Hopewell Middle School, was the winner. Libby Povlot, a sixth grader at Hopewell Middle School, was also honored as a finalist. As part of her win, Hays read her essay, which you may see here, at the meeting.

Milton’s summer series involves movies, food trucks.

Courtesy Nicole Dow; Neighbor Newspapers

Friendship Community Park in Milton will be the site of an entertaining evening of activity Saturday as the city kicks off its Family, Fun, Flicks and Food Trucks summer series.

Now in its third year for an outdoor movie series, the city has enhanced the events with the addition of popular Atlanta food trucks.

“We’ll have two to three [food trucks] at each movie,” said Angela Thompson, Milton’s special events and projects manager.

The types of food trucks have yet to be announced, she said, adding that the crowd’s response to the first event will help determine what food trucks will be at future movie nights.

“We’re also going to have Olde Blind Dog’s food truck out there, which is amazing,” Thompson said. “I know a lot of our Milton residents will be really excited about that.”

The number of movies shown will be increased from two last year to three this year.

“Again this year they are throw-back movies,” Thompson said. “We decided to go with movies that were really well known from the ‘80s. There’s nothing much better than ‘Back to the Future,’ “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and ‘The Princess Bride.’ Those are pretty good classics.”

The film Saturday will be “Back to the Future.” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be screened July 12 and “The Princess Bride” will be shown Aug. 2. Each night, the event will kick off at 7 p.m. with the movie starting at dusk — about 9 p.m.

Thompson said attendees are encouraged to bring games, balls or Frisbees to entertain themselves before the movie begins.

“The venue’s beautiful,” she said. “The park was almost built to hold an event like this.”

Thompson estimated about 400 to 500 attendees will come out for each movie.

“The movies have been really well received every year,” she said. “We realized after our first year that when it gets dark and the movies start around 9 o’clock, it really makes more sense to turn the movies to a more mature crowd because it is rather late for children to be out when the movie’s not ending until 11 o’clock.”

While the movies are rated either PG or PG-13, Thompson encourages parents to learn about the subject matter and content of each movie before deciding whether to bring their young children to the events.

Summer is busy in the City of Milton.

Friday, May 30, 2014

I can’t believe its June already. The kids are out of school, vacations have started, the temperatures topping out in the 90s.

It seems like just a few weeks ago we were getting ready for Spring Break! Where does the time go? I guess it flies, though, when you’re as busy as we are in Milton this summer.

I mean, just look at this newsletter.

First off, we’ve got some of the most exciting news I think I’ll ever get to share as Mayor of City of Milton – we’re moving forward with our City Hall complex in Crabapple. Council recently secured $10 million in revenue bonds to help pay for City Hall, plus the Bell Memorial Park Expansion and the Court, Fire and Police Complex on Ga. 9. Soon we’ll have plans to share, meetings for residents to gather input – the whole nine yards. Until then, just keep an eye out and we’ll make sure to let you know everything we’ve got coming up with this exciting development.

Next we’ve got photos from our Memorial Day Ceremony. This year’s was our biggest yet, and it was the first one we’ve had at Freedom Park. What an experience. Take a look at the pictures if you weren’t able to make it out there.

Then we’ve got an exciting new blog from our conservation consultant, Milton resident Laurel Florio. She’ll write twice-monthly articles explaining important terms and concepts in the preservation of Milton as part of her “Destination Conservation” blog. I hope you enjoy it.

After that we’ve got our always popular Bulky Trash Day, then articles highlighting the hard work of our dedicated firefighters and our summer movie and food trucks series. This year we’re showing Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Princess Bride in June, July and August – complete with gourmet food trucks.

It should be the perfect summer event for the whole family in our beautiful and safe Friendship Park.

We follow that great news up with another Better Together business connection event – this time at Robeks Juice – tons of summer camp information, and lots of great community features. Just make sure you read all the way to the bottom to learn about our continuing roadwork and the grants MGG recently gave to local schools.

Like I said, it’s a busy summer here in Milton. I can’t wait to see you out in the community.

That’s it for this month. As always, I’ll close by saying your City Hall is always open to your concerns, questions and comments. Be sure to take some time this month to stop by and tell us what you think.

Sincerely,

Mayor Joe Lockwood

Milton secures funding for City Hall, project to open 2017.

Courtesy City of Milton

Milton's City Council in late May approved the issuance of a $10 million revenue bond in order to fund City Hall in historic downtown Crabapple.

The bond means Milton taxpayers will not have to levy additional taxes or fees to build the municipal complex, set to open in April 2017, said Mayor Joe Lockwood. Plus, city funds will no longer be used to lease property taxpayers do not own - an important step to ensuring the most value for resident dollars.

"We're excited to not only be giving the residents of the City of Milton a beautiful, welcoming and functional City Hall complex - we're doing it without adding to their tax bills," said Lockwood. "With smart budgeting and judicious use of our yearly fund balance, we'll be able to bring these projects to fruition without the additional burden of more revenue from property taxes."

The City Hall complex, which will be located between Crabapple Road and the existing Braeburn development (click here to see a site rendering), is slated to include offices, council chambers, meeting areas for residents and a town green for expansion of special events in Crabapple.

Milton paid $900,000 for a little over two acres to be used in the project from the city's land acquisition budget after a unanimous City Council vote in February. Staff continues to negotiate on a small portion of land - about a third of an acre - expected to enhance the final project.

As plans for the project - crafted in house by City Architect Robert Buscemi to maximize savings to taxpayers -- become available, residents will be able to view them and chart the project's progress via the city's Web site and several anticipated public meetings.

The bond will also pay for the 2014-2015 expansion of Bell Memorial Park (for more information, click here) and the construction of a Court, Fire and Police Services complex on Ga. 9 expected to open in 2019.

For more information on the City Hall project, contact the City of Milton Community Development Department at 678-242-2500 or info@cityofmiltonga.us.

Introducing Destination Conservation.

Courtesy City of Milton

Did you know Laurel Florio, a Milton resident and environmental law expert, has joined the City of Milton to help guide the city's land use plans?

Florio brings to the city decades of experience as consultant, legal counsel, land specialist and educator for a host of environmental protection organizations. Among that wealth of experience was six years as an attorney and land specialist for Memphis, Tenn.'s Ducks Unlimited, Inc. the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

Every two weeks, Florio writes a blog for the City of Milton in which she discusses important terms and concepts for land owners who wish to conserve their property.

To read the blog, click here.

Florio joins the city's growing list of conservation efforts, including: International City and County Manager Association (ICMA) consultancy on innovative strategies for green space protection from the Leadership ICMA program; a six-month moratorium on rezoning applications across multiple residential districts in the city; and smart growth strategies like form-based coding, transfer of development rights and community-based master planning.

To contact Florio, e-mail laurel.florio@cityofmiltonga.us or call 770-559-4025.

Flicks & Foodtrucks coming to Friendship Park.

What's better on a summer evening than a movie under the stars complete with dinner from a gourmet foodtruck? Nothing!

That's why the City of Milton is proud to present the "Family, Fun, Flicks & Foodtrucks" summer event series all summer long at Friendship Community Park in Crabapple (click here for directions).

All three films are free to the public, and gourmet foodtrucks will be on hand to complete the evening. Just come by, kick back and have a great time!

The events start at 7 p.m., and the films will be shown at dusk (approximately 9 p.m.).

June 14: Back to the Future (click here for more information) July 12: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (click here for more information) August 2: The Princess Bride (click here for more information) For more information on this, or any of the City of Milton's other special events, contact Angela Thompson, special events and projects manager, at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.

Learn the benefits of nutrition at Robeks June 20,

Courtesy City of Milton

Feeling sluggish? Weighed down? Maybe better nutrition - like healthy real fruit smoothies, freshly squeezed vegetable juices or wheatgrass -- is just what the doctor ordered.

If this sounds exciting, make sure you're at Milton's Robeks Juice Friday, June 20 when Better Together, the city's citizen volunteer committee, holds the second in its series of business connection events.

This free event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Robeks Juice's Milton location, 5250 Windward Parkway, Suite 113 (click here for directions). The entire community is invited, said Wayne Boston, community builder for the City of Milton.

"Our first event was an overwhelming success," he said. "We're looking forward to meeting residents interested in a healthy and active lifestyle."

At this second business connection event, Robeks Juice's experts will give residents the inside scoop on healthy nutrition and the benefits of eating well. Samples will be available for tasting.

Additionally, the first 20 attendees will receive a $10 gift card. There will be drawings every hour for a free smoothie each day for a month, and the first 50 people who attend will receive a mug or similar Robeks Juice gift.

Businesses in Milton are encouraged to contact Boston at 678-242-2512 or wayne.boston@cityofmiltonga.us if they would be willing to host an event in order to introduce their particular product or service to our residents. Better Together will then work with the business to plan an event that will be educational, productive and enjoyable to all.

Better Together is a volunteer organization of Milton residents looking for unique and fun ways to connect with neighbors. If you would like more information on Better Together or any of its activities, please visit the group's Facebook page or contact Boston at 678-242-2512 or wayne.boston@cityofmiltonga.us.

Milton awards two environmental grants.

Pictured at Birmingham Falls Elementary School are, from left, Chris Lagerbloom, city manager of the City of Milton, Tresa Cheatham, assistant principal of Birmingham Falls, Jack Lindon, chairman of Milton Grows Green, Windy Bottoms, principal of Birmingham Falls, and Beth Brock, a fifth grade teacher at Birmingham Falls.

Courtesy City of Milton

As part of the Milton's Evergreen School program, the city recently awarded Birmingham Falls Elementary School and Cambridge High School each $500 grants to further their work in environmental education.

Birmingham Falls is using their grant funds to purchase supplies for a new Adopt a Stream initiative for fifth grade. Teachers and parent volunteers will be trained in biological and chemical water testing by a water department representative from Fulton County.

Educators will be able to assist the students in monitoring the water quality of a stream on the school's campus on an ongoing basis. This project ties in with the Fulton County STEM curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and gives students an experiential learning environment to learn scientific methodology for testing water quality and recording data on a State of GA EPA website.

Additionally, some of the funds will be used for the installation of rain barrels in the school's courtyard area.

Cambridge High School was the other Milton school that received the environmental education grant.

To encourage the school to try and reduce the tremendous amount of paper, plastic and cardboard used, a grant was given to Cambridge to expand their classroom recycling program and to fund an organic garden.

For more information on Evergreen Schools, a no-cost program available to all public and private K-12 schools, please contact Cindy Eade, sustainability coordinator for the City of Milton at cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Burn ban now in effect.

Milton Fire Marshal Matthew Marietta would like to remind the community the state's "burn ban" goes into effect Wednesday, May 1.

The ban, which is enacted because of dry conditions and environmental health regulations, is issued by the state Environmental Protection Division and covers Milton, the rest of Fulton County and a number of other surrounding counties. It lasts until Sept. 30.

The following types of open burning are banned:

Burning of leaves, tree limbs, or other yard wastes Burning of vegetative waste from land clearing Burning over of forest land by the owners of the land Please note: Outdoor fireplaces and other types of fire pits are allowed if constructed and located properly. If in doubt, contact the Prevention Bureau at 678-242-2541 or fire.marshal@cityofmiltonga.us.

Summer camp registration now open.

Crabapple Fest now taking vendor applications.

Crabapple Fest, Milton's long-running and popular art and antique festival, is now accepting vendor applications for the Oct. 4 event.

If you are interested in taking part in this time-honored tradition, click here to visit the newly constructed vendor portal built by festival partner Crabapple Community Association (CCA).

Organizers welcome 19th century American Country furniture, primitive antiques, shabby chic items and unique pieces of art in all mediums - oils, photography, jewelry, textiles, pottery and quilts. Spaces are limited, so apply early.

Once again the festival features kids and entertainment activities across Crabapple and Broadwell roads thanks to a partnership between CCA and the City of Milton.

Crabapple Fest will be held Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Antique vendors, local juried artists and merchants from all over the Southeast will be on hand, in addition to loads of children's rides, games, a full day of entertainment and great local food.

Last year's event had more than 15,000 attendees, and was the biggest festival in Milton's modern history.

Vendor fees are tax deductible as the Crabapple Community Association is a chartered, non-profit organization. Proceeds benefit local community programs, scholarships and non-profit charities.

NWF donates trees to Milton.

More than 200 Milton residents, plus a Boy and Girl scout troop, were able to take home and plant seedlings in celebration of Earth Day thanks to the generous donation by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

How to Plant your Seedling Tree

1) Dig a round hole at least one foot in diameter. Make a small mound of soil in the bottom of hole. 2) Take the seedling from bag and spread the roots out in all directions, using the mound as a root support. Pull loose soil back over roots, filling the hole halfway. 3) Lightly tamp soil down or fill with water. Backfill the rest of the hole and tamp soil again or re-water. 4) Do not compact the soil by tamping wet soil. Soil compaction eliminates oxygen, which roots need to survive! 5) Be sure the seedling root collar (where it was planted in the nursery) is at the finished soil level. Watering is the best method to settle the soil, eliminate air pockets and provide moisture to the root system.

Care for your new trees

1) Water daily for first two months and then weekly for next 6 months 2) Add a tree protector (can be made from recycled soda bottle-2 liters) by cutting off the top and taping bottles (4 together) and placing over tree. Protect from deer or other animals for eating tree. Keep on tree for at least 2 years. 3) Mulch around tree to help keep soil wet. Do not mound soil as it can kill the tree roots. 4) Weed around tree or remove grass frequently.

Milton must continue achieving points each year to maintain its status of a NWF Community Wildlife Habitat, so we need your help. If you have not certified your home or business as a NWF Habitat, we encourage you to do so by going to the Web site: http://www.nwf.org/how-to-help/garden-for-wildlife.aspx.

Watering tips for drier months.

As we move into the hotter and sometimes drier summer months, here are some good tips from the UGA Extension Service (courtesy Milton Grows Green) for watering your lawn and plants that could help conserve water and keep your plants healthy.

Water deeply and less often: This practice helps develop a deeper supporting root system. Clay soils can be watered less frequently than sandy soils due to their ability to hold moisture.

Water no more than one inch per week per zone for turf and even less for established ornamentals: This practice is also designed to develop a deeper supporting root system.

Watering between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. is ideal: The plant material is naturally wet during this 12-hour time frame and extending this time of dampness makes the plant material more susceptible to diseases. Reduce plant disease by watering in evening or early morning. Get an irrigation checkup: Irrigation equipment is constantly improving to conserve water while meeting the landscapes needs. Watch for plant leaf curl: when leaves curl this is a good indication the plant is need of water.

Follow the UGA Extension Service on Twitter for up-to-the-minute sustainable landscape tips at www.twitter.com/UGAExtHOA.

Milton PTSA announces scholarship winners.

Courtesy City of Milton

The Milton PTSA is pleased to announce its 2014 MHS PTSA Scholarship winners.

Congratulations to the following students:

Academic Winners of $1,000 MacKenzie Curtis Anna Mahr

General Scholarships of $500

Community Service: Annika Jonker Language Arts: Morgan Laketa Math: Kristin Fucito Media/Arts: Andrew Savas Musical Pursuits: Annika Jonker Performing Arts: MacKenzie Curtis Science: Kaley Desher Sports/Athletic: Dawson Kipniss

Roadwork continues in Milton.

Roadwork projects continue throughout the city in January.

ROADWORK

Please note: All dates on roadwork projects are estimates and are based on weather conditions. Any road closures will be sporadic and announced well in advance.

Ga. 140 at New Providence Road

In July, CMES, Inc. began intersection improvements at Ga. 140 (Arnold Mill Road) and New Providence Road. Plans include redirecting the intersection approach, adding turn lanes and installing a traffic light.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) awarded the construction contract to CMES, Inc. in the amount of $1,161,626.92. The job is expected to last one year.

Ga. 372 at Providence Road/New Providence Road

In August, Bartow Paving Company, Inc. began intersection improvements at Ga. 372 (Birmingham Highway) and Providence and New Providence Roads. Plans include redirecting the intersection approach and installing a roundabout.

GDOT awarded the construction contract to Bartow Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $2,576,297.45. The job is expected to last 18 months.

Hopewell Road at Francis and Cogburn roads In August, Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. also began intersection improvements at Hopewell Road at Cogburn and Francis roads. Plans include installing a roundabout.

The City of Milton awarded the construction contract to Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $786,606. The job is expected to last one year.

For more information on these projects, visit http://miltonintersectionprojects.com or contact Angie Kapijimpanga, citizen responder for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2562 or angie.kapijimpanga@cityofmiltonga.us.

Monthly new business report.

This list is compiled from business license records kept by the city's Finance 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.

Pretty Neat Interiors: 3580 Archgate Court The Spray Nurse: 13077 Region Trace Baustudio Salon: 12872 Highway 9 JMC Properties: 14792 Hopewell Road Ask: 2347 Milton Place Drive My Kinda Shirt, LLC: 19106 Deer Point Court Stag Home Improvement and Repair: 719 Glenover Drive I Like Dreaming, LLC: 12220 Birmingham Highway XYZ Home & Pool, Inc.: 115 Arabian Ave Sims Real Estate Holding, LLC: 12220 Birmingham Highway Sequoia Golf Manor, LLC: 15951 Manor Club Drive Orion Wellness, Inc.: 12540 Broadwell Road Paula Dunson Dressage, LLC: 14825 Taylor Road Georgia Life Settlements, LLC: 2550 Bethany Church Road Enercom Global, LLC: 12600 Deerfield Parkway GRZ Partners, LLC: 840 Foxhollow Run Ian Ordway: 14741 Birmingham highway Guardian Angels of Greater Atlanta, LLC: 15350 Laurel Grove Drive For a continually updated list of current businesses in Milton via the city's Web site, click here.

Pushy 'IRS' agent dupes couple in Milton.

Courtesy The Milton Herald

April 13, 2014 MILTON, Ga. – A "pushy IRS agent" called a Morris Road couple and allegedly stole $2,000 from them.

The victim told police she was repeatedly called by a man claiming to be an Internal Revenue Service agent. Over the course of three days and numerous calls, he said the victim owed the IRS money and she needed to pay up immediately.

She was instructed to purchase a "Green Dot" pre-paid card from Walmart for $1,900 and paid the "agent."

This is part of a common scam, police say. Government and law enforcement agencies do not demand money over the phone.

Milton City Council April 14 meeting.

by Jonathan Copsey / The Milton Herald

Consideration of the issuance of the addition of wine package to an existing alcohol beverage license for All About Spirits Inc., located at 15840 Birmingham Highway, Suite B, Milton.

Approved 7-0

Consideration of the issuance of an alcohol beverage license for Sequoia Golf Manor LLC, doing business as the Manor Golf and Country Club, located at 15951 Manor Club Drive, Milton.

Approved 7-0

Consideration of the issuance of an alcohol beverage license for Sequoia Golf Manor LLC, doing business as the Manor Golf and Country Club, located at 15952 Manor Club Drive, Milton.

Approved 7-0

Appointment of a member to the Milton Board of Zoning Appeals for District 3/Post 2.

Approved 7-0

Approval of an inter-agency agreement between the city of Milton and the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Inc., doing business as Progress Partners North Fulton Atlanta, to implement certain economic development-related sections of the strategic plan.

Approved 7-0

Consideration of the abandonment of all public rights of way within the Crooked Creek subdivision.

Approved 7-0

Consideration of a professional services agreement between the city of Milton and Laurel A. Florio for land conservation consulting services.

Approved 7-0

Georgia DOT: Don't put signs in rights of way.

by McKenzie Cunningham / The Milton Herald

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is cautioning the public not to place signs on rights of way.

Georgia law stipulates that GDOT is required to maintain a safe roadway for the traveling public, which includes the immediate removal of any obstruction or hazard that may pose a threat to the traveling public.

Therefore, any sign along Georgia's state routes and interstates must meet safety standards and be permitted by GDOT to be within rights of way.

For example, signs that advertise yard sales, real estate for sale or political candidates on department land adjacent to roads are not allowed and will be removed by GDOT personnel.

"In the midst of this political season, Georgia DOT would like to clarify the laws that deal with signs along state routes and interstates," said Bayne Smith, GDOT district maintenance engineer.

"As part of our routine maintenance work, the department will remove any and all signs from our right of way. Right of way is defined as the strip of land over which facilities such as highways, railroads or power lines are built and maintained. It is a wise practice to ask the property owner where the right of way line is when you get permission to install your sign on their property."

Signs that are removed from right of way by department personnel will be held for a short while and then destroyed. To prevent the loss of signs, do not place signage within the state-owned rights of way.

2014 Legislative Session: Forging a Path to Prosperity.

By: Sen. John Albers (R- Roswell)

The Georgia General Assembly conducted efficient business at the Gold Dome this year, wrapping up the 2014 Legislative Session in mid-March. With an ongoing focus of keeping Georgia on the road to prosperity, the legislature passed a number of bills that will help our state remain one of the best places in the nation to pursue a quality education, own a business and raise a family.

The Georgia General Assembly also worked hard to pass a balanced, fiscally-responsible state budget as mandated by the Georgia State Constitution. On day 39 of the 40 day session, the Georgia General Assembly approved a $20.8 billion Fiscal Year 2015 General Budget, which represents a 2.9 percent increase from last year’s $20.2 billion budget.

Included within the FY2015 General Budget are several line items that boost educational funding and ensure our teachers are given all the resources they need to educate Georgia’s students. The list below represents some of the key funding allocations for Georgia’s educational system.

· In total, $535 increase for K-12 education, including: o $101.7 million for enrollment growth and training and experience o $314 million to increase instructional days, reduce teacher furloughs and increase teacher pay · $14 million in capital funding for technology infrastructure upgrades · $1.25 million increase in technical education for instruction · $5 million to create Georgia Innovation Fund to award grants for the implementation and dissemination of innovative programs in public education funding in the Office of Student Achievement · $2.15 million increase in Technical Education in the Technical College System for instruction

I am proud to highlight the following bills that passed during the 2014 legislative session – many of which have already been signed into law by the Governor.

Senate Resolution 415: Capping the State Income Tax In order for Georgia to maintain its position as the nation’s number one place to do business, the General Assembly remains committed to reducing the tax burden on Georgia businesses and families. This resolution proposes an amendment to the state constitution that will prohibit the Georgia General Assembly from raising the state income tax; giving businesses reassurance that Georgia will remain a low-tax state. If the amendment is approved by a state referendum in November 2014, the legislature will not be able to raise the state income tax above 6 percent. Senate Resolution 415 sends a clear message to businesses looking to move from another state or expand within our borders that we take economic development and business growth seriously.

House Bill 990: Transitioning the Power to Expand Medicaid Eligibility to the Legislature

Because the legislature is the deliberative branch of our state government, we passed an important measure to ensure Georgians are heard loud and clear when major decisions, such as expanding Medicaid, are made. Since the initial roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, state officials have been faced with several tough economic decisions, including the expansion of Medicaid eligibility. Citing exorbitant costs and the lack of flexibility built into the program, Governor Deal took the path of fiscal responsibility and rejected Medicaid expansion in Georgia after realizing the cost was much more than we could afford.

With the passage of HB 990, the decision to expand Medicaid eligibility now rests in the hands of state legislators. The passage of this legislation will enable legislators to work together towards a more sustainable solution to Georgia’s Medicaid program and explore opportunities to save taxpayer money.

House Bill 658: The Elimination of the “Death Tax”

For many Georgians, the estate tax is like adding salt to an already deep wound. After the death of a loved one, families should be focused on healing rather than fulfilling a heavy tax obligation. This year, the Georgia General Assembly worked to ease this pain through the passage of HB 658, which will effectively eliminate this tax for good. As a result of this legislation, no estate taxes will be levied and no estate tax turns will be required after July 1, 2014.

House Bill 772: Drug Testing for Applicants and Recipients of Public Assistance

Entitlement programs incur a significant cost to the state each year. As it stands, these programs are currently riddled with fraudulent activity and funds are often misused at the public’s expense. Under this legislation, all electronic benefits transfer—or ebt—cards must contain a photo ID of the recipient. In addition, this bill will also prevent individuals from using public assistance to supplement personal drug habits. This legislation is a two-fold approach to increasing overall accountability by encouraging welfare recipients with drug problems to seek help and preventing the misuse of funds intended to help feed, clothe and shelter families who have fallen on hard times.

SR 736: Calls for Convention of States for a Balanced Budget

SR 736 calls for a convention of the states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution, specifically to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress. For far too long, we’ve sat back and watched irresponsible spending at the hands of our federal government. I am proud my colleagues saw the potential of this resolution to secure our nation’s future economic prosperity and independence.

Senate Bill 98: Prohibits Taxpayer-funded Abortions

Under the ‘not-so-affordable’ care act, there are several situations where your tax dollars are potentially available to be used for abortion services. Thankfully, we passed senate bill 98. Senate Bill 98 is a measure prohibiting insurance plans offered in Georgia through the state or federal health care exchange from providing abortion coverage, except in the cases of dire medical emergencies where the life of the mother is at risk. This legislation also aligns Georgia with several neighboring states that have already passed legislation to ban the use of taxpayer funds for abortion coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

HB 697: Zell Miller Grant Scholars

The passage of HB 697 is great news for students pursuing technical careers. An educated work force is a major economic driver for our state. When Georgia created the HOPE scholarship and grant program 20 years ago, it was the first of its kind. Prior to HOPE, many of Georgia’s top students were leaving the state to pursue post-secondary education and careers elsewhere. However, a four-year liberal arts degree is not a practical option for everyone, and the passage of House Bill 697 makes a reasonably priced education a reality for students seeking degrees from an institution within the Technical College System of Georgia. The Zell Miller Grant Scholarship gives technical students a true alternative to the traditional four-year degree. By simply maintaining a cumulative 3.5 grade point average, technical students are eligible to receive full-tuition scholarship grants.

House Bill 60: Safe Carry Protection Act

During the final hours of session, the Georgia General Assembly adopted HB 60, a comprehensive weapons carry bill which expands where lawfully-abiding gun owners may carry a firearm. The bill allows places of worship to specifically opt-in or state that worshippers can carry in the sanctuary or on church grounds, grants immunity to licensed gun-owners who claim “Stand your Ground” in self-defense, protects individuals who transport locked firearms in private passenger motor vehicles and makes it unlawful to restrict possession of registered firearms in rental properties. The passage of this legislation will ensure the protection of Georgians’ second amendment rights for generations to come.

Even though the 2014 Legislative Session is now behind us, I am always happy to answer any of your questions or concerns. By law, the Governor has 40 consecutive days to either sign or veto legislation. If you are interested in learning more about a particular bill and whether it has been signed into law, please visit https://gov.georgia.gov/bills-signed/2014.

# # # # Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the State Institutions and Property Committee. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of North Fulton and Cherokee counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

Milton taps expert for conservation.

Milton resident Laurel A. Florio brings to Milton decades of experience as a consultant, legal counsel, land specialist and educator for a host of environmental protection organizations.

Resident brings decades of environmental law experience.

Courtesy Jonathan Copsey; The Milton Herald

April 19, 2014

MILTON, Ga. – In the latest move to try to stem the tide of explosive growth in Milton, the City Council approved an agreement April 14 securing a longtime conservation professional to help create the city's first "green print" land use plan.

Laurel A. Florio, a Milton resident, brings to the city decades of experience as a consultant, legal counsel, land specialist and educator for a host of environmental protection organizations. Among that wealth of experience was six years as an attorney and land specialist for Memphis, Tenn.'s Ducks Unlimited Inc., the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

"At the city of Milton, we are dedicated to finding the right balance of environmental conservation and the preservation of land owners' rights in an environment, welcoming smart, measured business and residential development," said Mayor Joe Lockwood. "Laurel Florio, who we are truly blessed to have right in our backyard, is perfect to help us realize this tremendous opportunity."

Florio joins the city's growing list of conservation efforts, including: International City and County Manager Association (ICMA) consultancy on innovative strategies for green space protection from the Leadership ICMA program; a six-month moratorium on rezoning applications across multiple residential districts in the city; and growth strategies like form-based coding, transfer of development rights and community-based master planning.

Florio said she's excited to help her hometown craft its first green print land use plan, which will help Milton conserve the rural character of the city.

"I'm here because City Council and staff agree that Milton's residents deserve a town unlike any other – one that features a heart of good business, great schools and growing economic opportunity with the soul of unparalleled access to nature," she said. "This is simply too important to leave to chance."

Free GBI cyber safety workshops April 27, 29.

Courtesy City of Milton

The Milton Community Alliance for Mental Wellness, a collaborative effort of Fulton County Schools and the City of Milton, among others, is sponsoring two GBI cyber safety workshops in April at Milton schools. •Sunday, April 27: Northwestern Middle School, 2-4 p.m. (click here for directions) •Tuesday, April 29: Cambridge High School, 7-9 p.m. (click here for directions) The GBI's Georgia CyberSafety Initiative is a free parent education workshop on current trends amongst children and their use of technology. To learn more about the effort, click here.

Join us for an eye-opening presentation about our youth and the technology they have at their fingertips.

The Milton Community Alliance for Mental Wellness, founded in 2013, works to educate Milton-area students, their parents, and the community at large about the importance of mental health and the impacts of pressure, anxiety and peer influence on the city's youth. It is a collaborative effort of the Fulton County Schools, The City of Milton, The City of Milton Police Department, and a host of caring community volunteers. To learn more about the group, visit its Facebook page.

Council celebrates Arbor Day.

At its April 14 meeting, Milton’s City Council proclaimed April 25 as Arbor Day in the City of Milton. They are pictured with arborist Mark Law.

The City of Milton was recognized as a Tree City in 2011.

The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home.

Milton: Equestrian center not on radar.

No plans for new horse facilities.

by Jonathan Copsey / The Milton Herald

MILTON, Ga. – Milton is known for its horses and riding culture. Many of the back roads in the north of the city have horse farms lining both sides of the street. However, the residents still depend upon neighboring Alpharetta's equestrian center and horse park for large events, being the largest in the region.

In part due to costs and the need for new sports fields, Alpharetta is considering abandoning the equestrian center, as their draft 2025 recreation and parks master plan shows.

Unfortunately, Milton has no plans to beef up its own horse programs or facilities in the immediate future.

"An equestrian center is not on our radar screen right now," said Jim Cregge, Milton's parks and recreation director. "We are working on other projects."

The expansion of Bell Memorial Park this year is chief among those "other projects."

Cregge said the city is working on its five-year master plan, and that horse facilities are not included.

"The plan calls for us to develop some trails for people to walk on, not necessarily horses, and more play space," he said. "We have nothing equestrian-focused in the next five years according to the master plan."

All plans are guides, he said, and the master plan could be changed if the elected officials decide it.

Milton's existing master plan details what the city currently has and what it will need in the future. However, it does not include any specific plans for horse-related activities other than horse trails. It does point out the possibility of a regional equestrian facility at Birmingham Park, which is undeveloped and already a popular spot for riders.

"If and when we do something equestrian, Birmingham Park is an option," Cregge said.

Savethehorses.org Welcomes Liberty's Law.

By Tim Enloe; Accessmilton.com

Liberty's Law; the proposed ordinance to protect horses from abuse and harassment; was more than well received this past Saturday at Savethehorses.org's 50 acre facility in Cherokee County.

With a large crowd in attendance at this beautiful horse refuge run by Cheryl Flannagan, the crowd paid keen attention to not only the unchecked abuse of Liberty, but also various other victims including Misty, Bo, Rocks, and Lucky.

Many were even more shocked to find out that the City of Milton Georgia, which sports numerous pictures of horses throughout the city website as well as on both old and new city logos, has turned a blind eye to even allowing Liberty's Law to be presented before council, much less enacted or enforced.

Kathy Sullivan; an active volunteer at the facility, was truly perplexed, "I thought Milton was horse friendly. Would love to live there with horses but not when you won't even hear the problem. Government .... So sad."

To date, Liberty's Law has over 1324 signatures of support on their online petition. More plans are in place to present Liberty's Law to various groups and / or organizations throughout Georgia; from local churches to horse farms to schools.

With more and more horse farms selling out to developers and clustered controlling subdivisions becoming the new normal in Milton along with no plans to create equestrian friendly facilities, it begs the question if the time of the horse in this suburban city of Atlanta has come and gone. Remember, image without action is nothing more than a facade.

Golden Games encourage camaraderie, competition.

Courtesy Nicole Dow; Neighbor Newspapers

Hundreds of North Fulton seniors 50 and older will compete in the 20th annual Golden Games next month from May 1 to 22.

Olympic-style events and other recreation activities will be held at various senior centers, parks and community centers in Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs. The opening ceremony will take place May 1 at Wills Park in Alpharetta.

“The opening day is a kick off of the games and the lighting of the torch,” said Dixie Pounds, program supervisor at the Alpharetta Adult Activity Center. “It’s like a field day.”

Opening day events will include a one-mile walk and run, a half-mile walk, a flying disc throw, a discus and shot-put throw, a horseshoe toss, ladder golf and a football throw. North Fulton mayors will also compete in a “Minute to Win It”-style challenge.

A variety of events will be held throughout May as part of the games, including tennis, bowling, a dance competition, card tournaments, cycling, rock climbing, basketball contests, badminton, pickle ball, table tennis, billiards, bocce ball, swimming, diving and more.

“This is a whole month of events for Older Americans Month,” Pounds said.“It just encourages people to get out and be active. People that are used to competing in their life, they never lose that desire to compete on whatever level they can. Really these games pretty much have something for everybody, even people on walkers or if they need to sit down.”

Kiran Fatania, program supervisor with Roswell’s recreation and parks department, said she hopes the games provide local seniors with opportunities to socialize, a chance to build camaraderie and good sportsmanship and a way to compete in a fun setting. About 350 applicants have signed up for this year’s games, she said.

Pounds said registrations will still be accepted through mid-April.

In honor of the 20th year of the games, event winners will receive special medals marking the anniversary, Fatania said. The awards ceremony will take place May 22 at the Dorothy Benson Multipurpose Complex in Sandy Springs.

“Some of these participants have been competing for 20 years", she said.

Pounds said, “We have one senior, Dorothy Benson … she’s participated all 20 years. She’s an Alpharetta resident.”

Legacy Lacrosse Cup takes over Milton April 25-26.

Courtesy City of Milton

The City of Milton is proud to help present the 7th Annual Legacy Lacrosse Cup Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26 at Milton High School.

During this popular tournament, 26 men’s and women’s elite high school teams from across the country will go head-to-head to embrace competition, develop character and honor the legacy of Milton High School lacrosse players Parker Jackson, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2006.

Weekend tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. To catch all the action, check the full men’s and women’s game schedule at www.legacylacrossecup.com.

Jackson was passionate about friendship, competitive lacrosse and his spirituality, so parents Bo and Lauren Jackson started the tournament in 2007 to promote his personal values. The tournament aims to honor Jackson’s legacy by communicating to student athletes how their everyday decisions can lead them to positively influence others, said Parker’s mother, Lauren.

“To accomplish the level of success we have had is extraordinary,” she said.

This 25-game tournament features a high level of competition, with eight of the 16 men’s teams and eight of the 10 women’s teams playing in their respective state championships last year. The marquee game showcases NCAA Division I heavyweights Mercer University vs. Bellarmine University at 3 p.m.

Special thanks go to Adrenaline Lacrosse, which played a key role in the development of the Legacy Lacrosse Cup and has donated each of the 26 Adrenaline Legacy Award Winners a head-to-toe apparel pack. That award is given to one member of each team who embodies the attributes known so well about Jackson – camaraderie, competition and character.

To learn more about the cup, Parker Jackson or to volunteer, please visit www.legacylacrosscup.com or visit the cup’s Facebook or Twitter pages.

HVAC equipment stolen from home in Milton.

Courtesy The Milton Herald

April 06, 2014 MILTON, Ga. – Someone took several thousand dollars-worth of heating and air equipment March 24 from a home under construction.

The builders of the Cogdell Trail home told police they came into the home to find the air handler and basement furnace missing. Pipes and air ducts were torn down and missing.

Doors were left unlocked at the home.

Dozens cited at teen party in Milton.

Courtesy The Milton Herald

Police break up large party

April 06, 2014

MILTON, Ga. – A large teen party March 30 on Dorris Drive was broken up by Milton police, with 22 teenagers charged with underage drinking. Police estimate some 50 young people were at the party.

According to police, they received an anonymous call just after midnight of a large raucous party at private residence with alcohol involved.

When officers approached the suspect home, they noted empty beer cans, bottles and cases of beer within sight of windows. When police approached a basement door, they could see many partiers inside.

However when the teenagers saw police, they turned off the lights and ran out of the room. Then the homeowners came out.

Both homeowners initially claimed to know nothing of underage drinking in the home, but quickly changed that story. They said the party was supposed to be non-alcoholic, however people sneaked in the booze.

When the homeowners discovered this, they began to "control" it. They said they were being responsible by taking everyone's car keys and monitoring the alcohol consumption.

No one in the home could confirm who had supplied the alcohol.

Inside the home were dozens of teenagers ages 16 and 17. Outside police found two of the guests with a half-empty bottle of vodka.

Police summoned the parents of the 16-year-olds to take them home. The 17-year-olds were questioned and all allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol.

There were about 50 teenagers in the home at the height of the party, the homeowners said. A number left before police arrived.

The 17-year-olds were made to call their parents to pick them up and were issued citations for underage drinking. One girl and her guardian allegedly left the scene before police could issue her a citation and attempts to contact them to return failed.

According to the police report, many parents told the officers they were being "completely unreasonable" in their handling of the party. They complained about the length of time their children were detained and since the young people did not receive Breathalyzer tests there was no evidence for citations.

Milton police say they deal with parties - teenage or otherwise – routinely.

"They are handled like any other call," said police spokesman Shawn McCarty. "Officers are given discretion to take what [action] they feel is appropriate at the time."

McCarty said if teenagers are arrested at a party for underage drinking, they are issued a citation with a mandatory court appearance. It will be up to a judge to decide what punishment to hand out, if any. This can be a combination of fines, probation or community service.

Milton home on New Bull Pen Road gets ransacked.

Courtesy The Milton Herald

MILTON, Ga. – A New Bull Pen Road resident reported his home was ransacked March 27, with thousands of dollars in cash and electronics taken.

The resident returned home from an outing to find the rear door kicked in.

An Xbox 360, LG 50-inch TV, black Ipad, Zeepad tablet computer, Dell Notebook computer, saxophone, diamond ring with three oval-shaped numbers set in it, a pressure washer and $1,200 in cash were all reported missing.

Alpharetta mulls closing equestrian center.

The Wills Park Equestrian Center faces an uncertain future, as the Alpharetta 2025 Recreation and Parks Master Plan calls for it to be either moved or replaced to make way for other uses, such as fields or an indoor swimming pool.

Last regional riding facility

by Jonathan Copsey / The Milton Herald

April 06, 2014 ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Wills Park Equestrian Center is a large, 300-stable facility that routinely hosts events throughout the year. However Alpharetta is considering tearing it down.

The question of what to do with the facility has long been on the city's mind. Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Director Mike Perry said it was originally built by Fulton County, on county land, decades ago. When Alpharetta annexed it, the facility became the city's problem.

"The in 1970s, when it was built by Fulton County, it was paid for by the whole county," Perry said. "It is no longer funded regionally."

Instead, the residents of Alpharetta pay for the upkeep of a facility Perry says it is infrequently used by its own residents, even though it is used extensively on a regional basis. There are events in the arenas 142 days of the year. However, it operates at a loss of about $225 thousand a year, costing more than twice that in upkeep from Alpharetta taxpayers.

Perry noted that many of the recreation facilities and programs operate at a loss, however they add a needed quality of life to the residents.

Milton in particular is known for its horse farms and riders who make regular use of the facility.

Alpharetta recently completed a draft of a 2025 Recreation and Parks Master Plan, detailing options and needs for the city in the next decade. Included in this plan are results of a poll of 400 residents about what they would like to see in the future. Of these results, more field space for football, soccer, lacrosse and baseball are desired. However those fields require a lot of land, land of which Alpharetta has precious little left. Another option is an indoor swimming pool.

An expensive equestrian park next to the large Wills Park would be prime real estate for more fields.

Laura Bentley, who owns and rides horses in Milton, said the loss of the park would be devastating for the horse community.

"So many people go there for local shows," she said. "I think it's really important. Most [riders] start out doing local, lower level shows. Wills Park is a great venue for that."

Without the Equestrian Center, Bentley said the next closest space is in Conyers, an hour away.

"When you have to travel with horses, it gets expensive," she said.

Perry stressed there are no plans of what to do with the Equestrian Center. More public discussion – both with residents and with the City Council – will be held in the coming years before any conclusive plan is drawn up.

Milton parents charged with murder in death of infant.

Courtesy Milton Poice Department

Milton police have charged two parents in the death of their one-year-old daughter.

Shaun Jewell, 35, and Altair Murphy-Hubbard, 30, both of Milton, were arrested by City of Milton detectives April 1 after a lengthy investigation into the death of their daughter last year.

On Oct., 22, 2013, Milton police and fire personnel responded to Jewell and Murphy-Hubbard’s Twinrose Way home after the parents reported their daughter was having trouble breathing. The young girl died later that day.

An autopsy by the Fulton County Medical Examiners’ Office later ruled the cause of death was homicide by medical neglect. Detectives launched an investigation and determined the child’s death was allegedly due to a pattern of neglect and lack of medical care from Jewell and Murphy-Hubbard.

Both suspects are in Fulton County jail without bail. Jewell is charged with felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree. He was previously arrested by Sandy Springs and Milton police in 2012 and 2013 on charges of domestic battery and cruelty to children.

Murphy-Hubbard was charged with felony murder and cruelty to children in the first and second degrees.

We've got a busy spring planned.

As I write this, spring has finally arrived – albeit with some pollen – and I’m glad to see everything waking back up and blooming after the tough winter we’ve had.

As you can tell, we’re proud of Milton’s natural beauty, and are committed to maintaining it. The question is how to keep Milton rural and preserved while balancing our legal responsibilities to property owners who wish to develop their land for heavier use.

In addition to our in-house work examining our zoning standards and land use, we’ve also begun working with consultants from the International City/County Management Association on a comprehensive green space preservation plan. These consultants, the best and brightest in city and county management from across the United States, are working in Milton for free as part of their Leadership ICMA program.

We’ve previously used program participants’ expertise on an electronic records management plan, and the work they gave us was spectacular. I can’t wait to see what they bring back – and how we can implement some of their recommendations to keep Milton a wonderful town for everyone involved.

Speaking of creating a top-notch community, take a look at this month’s newsletter for a slate of incredible community events. We’ve got our yearly boot drive, the launch of a business connection series, adopt-a-road clean-ups, the Earth Day festival, community garage sales, drug drop-offs, autism fundraisers, cyber safety workshops, the Golden Games, HYA Day, fundraising golf tournaments, Memorial Day and summer camps.

And on the “good news” side of things, we’ve got our volunteers of the year, news on a new fire truck, spotlights on our high-achieving fire fighters, a call for senior center donations, info about participating in Crabapple Fest, and roadwork updates.

One last thing: There’s a whole bunch of great things we’re working on for summer, like a monthly food truck event in Crabapple, movies in Friendship Park, and a host of new sport, performance, art and science summer camps. And of yeah, news on our City Hall project in Crabapple and the expansion of Bell Memorial Park, which starts Memorial Day.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that Milton is a community on the move, and we’re just getting started. Looking at all the progress we’ve made, it’s nothing compared to what’s on tap for the next few years. It’s truly an exciting time to be part of the City of Milton.

As always, I’d love to hear from you – contact me sometime and let me know what you think of everything we’re involved in, and what you’d like to see going forward. It’s only through those conversations that Milton can become the place our residents deserve.

Sincerely, Mayor Joe Lockwood

Milton names volunteers of the year.

Jack and Francia Lindon with Mayor Pro Tem Joe Longoria, left.

At the second annual volunteer appreciation luncheon Saturday, March 29 the City of Milton honored its volunteers of the year.

Volunteers of the Year: Jack and Francia Lindon The husband and wife team of Jack and Francia Lindon are founding members of Milton Grows Green (MGG), starting their volunteer engagement in 2007. In the seven years since, Francia has been instrumental in the city earning the Atlanta Regional Commission's CREATE Award and helping Milton become a National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat. She also serves as communications chairwoman and secretary for MGG, creating logos, signage, brochures and branding.

Jack serves as chairman of MGG, organizing household paint and chemical collection events, providing logistics for the annual Earth Day Festival, launching the Adopt A Stream Program, and planning the yearly Rivers Alive clean-ups in the fall.

Parks and Recreation Volunteer of the Year: David Winsness David Winsness is the founder of EagleStix Lacrosse Club, now the second largest recreation program in the City of Milton with 225 girls. EagleStix, founded in 2011, takes athletes as young as four to the high school level in both recreation and advanced levels of play.

The program serves as a feeder for Milton and Cambridge's programs, and has been instrumental in the Milton Lady Eagles string of eight state lacrosse championships in nine years.

Special Honoree: Peyton Jamison Longtime Milton volunteer Peyton Jamison currently serves on Planning Commission, Better Together and is the president of the non-profit Crabapple Community Association (CCA).

In addition to his regular volunteer duties with the city, Jamison was instrumental in launching the revamped Crabapple Fest in 2013 due to the city's partnership with CCA. In this role he spent hours planning and executing the largest festival in Milton's modern history, and is already hard at work this year to bring the fall festival to fruition in October.

Board and Committee Members of the Year One member of each of the city's volunteer boards or committees was nominated by the staff liaison as representative of the year. These honorees included:

Better Together: Teri Harrison Planning Commission: Paul Moore Design Review Board: Marty Littleton Board of Zoning Appeals: Gary Willis Historic Preservation Commission: Travis Allen Disability Awareness Committee: Tass Welch To see photos from the luncheon, click here.

Joyful Soles camp counselors needed.

Have a teenager and/or college student looking for a fun, rewarding and exciting opportunity this summer?

The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department is hiring seasonal summer camp counselor positions to help run and staff Camp Joyful Soles, Milton's special needs day camp for children ages 13 to 21.

Interested applicants need to have graduated high school by June 1, 2014.

Full information on job qualifications, pay and more is available at the City of Milton's online Career Center.

Applications are due April 25, 2014.

For more information on the job, contact Human Resources Director Sam Trager at 678-242-2516 or sam.trager@cityofmiltonga.us.

MDA boot drive April 4 - June 13.

Courtesy Milton Fire Department

The City of Milton Fire Department will kick off its annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) "Fill the Boot" drive Friday, April 4 at various locations across the city - so keep an eye out for firefighters.

The drive will occur every other Friday until June 13.

Last year the department raised more than $66,000 over six days of "Fill the Boot" drives, setting a new department fundraising record for the MDA.

To date the City of Milton Fire Department has raised nearly $353,000 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.

Learn cake decorating from pros April 15.

Courtesy City of Milton

From left, Better Together's Barbara Peck, Nothing Bundt Cakes owner Gloria Mattei, Better Together's Freeda Bush and Milton Community Builder Wayne Boston plan the event.

Ever wanted to learn how experts create those beautiful, perfect cakes day after day? Then make sure you're at Milton's Nothing Bundt Cakes Tuesday, April 15 when Better Together, the city's citizen volunteer committee, launches its series of business connection events. This free event will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Nothing Bundt Cakes' Milton location, 5230 Windward Parkway (click here for directions). The entire community is invited, said Wayne Boston, community builder for the City of Milton. At this first event, Nothing Bundt Cakes' decorating experts will give tutorials throughout the afternoon in various decorating and gifting options. Samples will be available for tasting. Additionally, the first 20 attendees will receive a free bundtlet each month for a year after an initial purchase. There will be drawings every hour for a special prize, and everyone who attends will receive a coupon for a free bundtlet (a $3.99 value). Finally, the Easter bunny will be on site for photos and entertainment. Businesses in Milton are encouraged to contact Boston at 678-242-2512 or wayne.boston@cityofmiltonga.us if they would be willing to host an event in order to introduce their particular product or service to our residents. Better Together will then work with the business to plan an event that will be educational, productive and enjoyable to all.

Better Together: April.

In addition to its two monthly meetings April 7 and 21, Better Together is also participating in the Adopt-a-Road project sponsored by Milton Grows Green. The next road clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 9 a.m.

If you would like more information on Better Together or any of its activities, please contact Community Builder Wayne Boston at 678-242-2512 or wayne.boston@cityofmiltonga.us.

Earth Day Festival April 19.

Get ready to celebrate our planet and the many fun things we can do to keep it healthy, because on Saturday, April 19, the City of Milton and Milton Grows Green are proud to the present the 2014 Milton Earth Day Festival.

Now in its fifth year, this Earth Day Festival is shaping up to be the best ever! Held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in beautiful Crabapple at Friendship Community Park (12785 Birmingham Highway, Milton - click here for directions), this year's festival features food, family friendly entertainment, environmental vendors, and much more. Parking is available at Crabapple First Baptist Church and Crabapple Crossing Elementary.

Thanks to returning presenting sponsor Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Milton Grows Green is able to bring a wide variety of activities educational exhibits and environmentally friendly products and services to the community, including:

Food vendors

Boy Scout Troop 3000 (hot dogs and pizza) Dog ON it King of Pops Nothing Bundt Cakes Sip Shane's Rib Shack Free Children's Activities

Egg Hunt (11:30 a.m.) Rock Wall Human Hamster Balls Monkey Bridge Kids crafts Barnyard Animals Animal shows from the Chattahoochee Nature Center and Party Animals Appearance from the Bag Monster Business vendors

More than 45 booths from area businesses featuring environmental activities and unique products and services

Music and entertainment from

North Fulton School of Music The 2014 Milton Earth Day Festival is presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with support from Comfort Zone, Creative Solar, Home Depot, Optech, North Fulton School of Music, Roswell Pediatrics Center, Scottsdale Farms, Rhino Shield, Brightway Insurance, Waste Management, Verizon Wireless and RGR Motorsports.

If you would like to volunteer to make this event a success, please contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2509. For more information on the festival, contact Angela Thompson, special events and projects manager, at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.