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Friday, September 28, 2012

On A Campaign Note / Follow up.

Where do “Obama phones” come from?

Courtesy http://washingtonexaminer.com

This video of an Obama supporter bragging about having an “Obama phone” has gone viral on the web, but where do these “free cell phones” come from?

The program is called Lifeline, established in 1984, originally created to subsidize landline phone service for low income Americans, funded by government-collected telecommunication fees, paid by consumers.

In 2008, the program was expanded to support cell phones which quickly escalated the cost of the program. In 2008 the program cost $772 million, but by 2011 it cost $1.6 billion.

A 2011 audit found that 269,000 wireless Lifeline subscribers were receiving free phones and monthly service from two or more carriers. Several websites have been created to promote “free” government cell phones, including the”The Obama Cell Phone” website at Obamaphone.net.

Rep. Tim Griffin R-Ark. has proposed a bill to eliminate federal subsidies for free cell phones and has produced a great YouTube video highlighting the runaway cost of the program. The program has also been highlighted for reform by Senator Claire McCaskill D-Mo.

Pressure to reform the program led the FCC to announce an effort in February to “reduce the potential for fraud while cutting red tape for consumers and providers” by the end of 2013.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

On A Campaign Note.

New Poll Up / Old Poll Results.

All:

We have a new poll up.

It ask: What is more important for Milton to succeed?

A. More commercial.

B. More horse farms.

Have your say in the right column today!

Below are the results from the most recent poll.



Milton gets closer to green certification with wildlife habitat initiative.

by Betsy Rhame-Minor / The Milton Herald

To turn your backyard into a wildlife habitat, provide: • Food sources like native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and nectar • Water sources such as a birdbath, pond, water garden or stream • Places for cover: thickets, rock piles, birdhouses, shrubs and trees • Places for animals to raise their young such as nesting boxes, ponds, trees, shrubs or other vegetation • Sustainable gardening using organic compost, pesticides and fertilizers, as well as native plants

MILTON, Ga. — The city of Milton held its third committee meeting for becoming certified as a National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Habitat Community on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

This is part of a larger project by the Atlanta Regional Commission called the Green Communities Certification. Milton Grows Green is also taking an active role in this project.

To be certified, the city must reach 450 points, which are awarded based on over 60 different environmental criteria. Milton was well on its way at the beginning, having already met just over half of the needed points. Now, the city is working to complete the rest of the requirements, one of which is the NWF Habitat Community.

As part of this initiative, Milton staff encourages homes, businesses, schools, churches and other organizations to sign up and take part.

As a result, awareness and preservation of wildlife areas will increase. When the project began in July, 88 homes had signed up to be certified; currently, about 115 homes have volunteered. Since July, a steady five to 10 homes have been added to the project each week.

"It's really great that there's this much [interest]," said Cindy Eade, sustainability coordinator for Milton.

Boy Scout Troop 3000 will also soon be taking part in the project by building a NWF demonstration garden at the Thompson Road fire station, which will guide residents on how to set up their own habitats. The Master Gardeners of North Fulton will also assist with this part of the project.

"We have some plans already drawn up," Eade explained.

Johns Creek was the second city in Georgia to become certified as a NWF Community Habitat. Roswell is also currently working toward this distinction along with Milton, and one of the two cities will become the third to achieve this distinction.

Malcolm Barnard, a tenth-grader at Johns Creek High School, was at the helm of the certification in Johns Creek, which took two years to complete.

He is assisting Eade and the city of Milton in obtaining the same certification.

Barnard made a presentation at Wednesday's Habitat Community meeting on creating a habitat in one's own backyard.

He offered the following tips to Milton residents:

• Be organized from day one. • Communicate your cause with city residents. • Work with local schools. • Partner with local organizations. • Utilize media to publicize your cause. • Stay in contact with National Wildlife Federation. • Generate enthusiasm. • Do whatever it takes.

"He just has a real passion for this project," Eade said.

City of Milton summer intern William Check has also been hands-on with the project.

"He did quite a bit over the summer," said Eade. "[It's] exciting to have young people involved."

Eade encourages Milton residents to certify their homes and businesses, and encourage neighbors to do the same.

Visit www.cityofmiltonga.us/wildlifehabitatcommunityproject for more information on how to make your yard qualify for NWF Habitat Certification.

Milton to use CodeRED emergency notification system.

by Carolyn Aspenson / The Milton Herald

MILTON, Ga. — The city of Milton signed a contract with Emergency Communications Network to provide notification messages to residents during emergency situations.

The system will replace the current texting system provided by Nixle.

"The mass notification that CodeRED provides is so important because getting an early warning out to the community gives them time to take precautions against a potential disaster, rather than being caught unaware and therefore at much greater risk to life and limb," said Matt Marietta, Milton's fire marshal and emergency manager.

The system will be used for severe weather situations — such as tornado warnings — and in the event of less common incidents such as hazardous materials releases, he said. In addition, the system will be used to notify users of missing or abducted children and other serious emergencies where vital safety information needs to be communicated.

"The traditional press release or press conference is not quick enough," Marietta said.

CodeRED, a high-speed notification system, utilizes a database of phone numbers for Milton residents and businesses existing within the last year.

The system does not include unlisted numbers, cellular phone numbers or new or changed numbers from within the past year.

Marietta encourages all residents and businesses to sign up for notifications with home and cell numbers on the city of Milton website, www.cityofmiltonga.us.

Sign up can also be done over the phone by calling 678-242-2500.

Residents who had signed up for text messages from Nixle and have recently changed their numbers will have to sign up for the new service.

No information provided during sign up will be used for anything other than emergency alerts, Marietta said.

If a resident or business is not signed up, they will not receive a notification call.

"We understand this may be a hassle for residents," said Jason Wright, a Milton spokesman, "but the payoff will come when there is precious little time in a true emergency."

Milton City Council unanimously approves 2013 budget.

by Carolyn Aspenson; The Milton Herald

September 25, 2012

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council voted unanimously to accept a $20.5 million budget for fiscal year 2013 in their Sept. 17 meeting.

City Manager Chris Lagerbloom presented the final changes at the meeting, stating one key change to the final budget was adding the position of an economic development coordinator.

The council was aware of this change from previous meetings.

"This budget wasn't a surprise to the council," Lagerbloom said. "They had all been intimately involved for the previous 75 days."

The budget is consistent with past budgets, with monies being allocated conservatively to necessary projects and future expenses.

"The budget is relatively flat," Lagerbloom said. "You have to understand the nuisance of what happened two years ago with the Fulton County Tax Digest to see that one year it looked as though our revenues were short and one year long. "We received a late digest that year, and we have to average those two years because so many properties were in appeal due to the downturn in the economy," he said.

The fiscal year 2013 budget includes:

• More than $500,000 in new sidewalks to connect schools, businesses and residences in the Cogburn/Hopewell/Webb roads corridor;

• $1.4 million in park and trail development funds;

• $2.29 million (plus $4.9 million in state and federal grant funding) for planning and execution of new road and bridge construction projects, including work on the intersections of Hopewell, Francis and Cogburn roads; Birmingham and Hopewell roads; Ga. 140 and New Providence Road; Ga. 372 and Providence and New Providence roads; Bethany Bend, Hopewell and Bethany roads; Mayfield Road and Ga. 372 and Deerfield Parkway and Morris Road;

• More than $2 million for paving and road improvement at locations across the city as prescribed by the Pavement Management Plan;

• $35,000 for a newly created economic development coordinator position;

• $132,500 for tornado sirens;

• $12,000 for a hazardous waste collection day so residents can dispose of paints and other liquids barred from existing bulky trash collection events;

"The budget is kind of spot on now for us to keep doing what we need to be doing," Lagerbloom said.

"We've found the healthy balance," he said. "We know what we have to do and we're continuing to move in the right direction."

The approved fiscal year 2013 budget is available online at www.cityofmiltonga.us.

MPD holds drug take-back Sept. 29 at Target.

Bring old or unused prescription drugs; keep them out of the wrong hands.

by Jonathan Copsey / The Milton Herald

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Police Department will take part in the second installment of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Target on Ga. 9 in Milton.

The Target is located at 13057 Ga. 9. All forms of prescription drugs will be taken, no matter how old. When the results of the four take-back days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local and tribal law enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.

For more information, contact Community Outreach Officer Ara Baronian at 678-242-2527 or ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us.

Special needs housing and care experts to speak Oct. 11.

By Accessmilton.com

Two experts in accessible housing and in-home care options for individuals and families with special needs will discuss their work Oct. 11 as part of the Milton Disability Awareness Committee (MDAC) Community Link series.

Realtor Michelle Miralles and Para/Quad Services CEO J.D. Frazier's presentations will take place at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107E (click here for directions). Everyone is invited, and there is no RSVP required.

Miralles specializes in finding and selling homes for the physically challenged, the elderly and those with special needs for Keller Williams Realty, said Kennard Woods, MDAC Chairman. Her experience has led to her program "Building Bridges of Accessibility," a program connecting resources to those who need accessible options in the home process.

Frazier, a Shepherd Center Peer Supporter, owns Para/Quad Services, which matches clients with private home care provider staff so that they may live as independently, productively and comfortably as possible. He is also paraplegic, said Woods, offering the kind of reality-based rapport that can come only from talking with a person who has been there.

"There is now a number of accessible housing and in-home care options for the elderly or those with spinal cord injury, brain injury or neurological illness," said Woods. "Freedom and comfort are often within reach in the metro area, and these speakers represent a wealth of knowledge on how to find the gems."

For more information on this program, contact MDAC at mdac@cityofmiltonga.us or call 678-242-2500.

Please note: Any service or information presented at Community Links is intended only for general public education and the betterment of the city, its residents and businesses, and does not constitute legal or business advice or represent the endorsement of MDAC or the city.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Keller Williams Realtor Michelle Miralles specializes in finding or selling homes for the physically challenged, the elderly and those with special needs. A 25-year volunteer of special needs non-profits, she is a longtime resident with extensive knowledge of greater Atlanta and its many neighborhoods.

For more information , call 678-358-1031 or e-mail michellemiralles@comcast.net.

J.D. Frazier, MS, is CEO of Para/Quad Services. A C-4 quadriplegic injured 25 years ago, he runs and owns the firm his father started in 1988 to provide qualified, well-trained attendants for those with injury.

For more information, visit www.paraquad.net or 770-419-9151.

Crossroads at Crabapple Festival coming Oct. 6.

Courtesy City of Milton

It’s that time of year again to stroll through beautiful, historic Crabapple on a cool fall day, taking in the wares of more than 100 antique dealers and artists from six states.

We’re talking, of course, about the venerable Crossroads at Crabapple Antiques and Art Festival, held Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in historic downtown Crabapple (for directions, click here).

A tradition since 1969, this one day only, rain or shine, outdoor festival features thousands of antiques, accessories, and unique pieces of art in all mediums.

New this year is the “Literary Pumpkin Contest,” a partnership with Crabapple Crossing Elementary in which students’ decorated pumpkins – inspired by their favorite books – are placed along Birmingham Highway. A team of judges, including Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood, will choose the winner.

As always, rounding out the festival are the always popular roaming musicians, fantastic eats from Atlanta’s hottest food trucks, plenty of children’s art activities and an easy walk to the free parking areas. Handicap parking is available.

“We get quite a crowd, so shoppers need to come early for the best buys,” said festival co-organizer Amanda Quintana of the Crabapple Community Association.

Her fellow organizer, Lisa Renko, agreed.

“We have thousands of antiques -- from vintage to American Country -- pottery, quilts, plus, as always, the perfect find for someone searching out that unique piece of art or jewelry,” she said.

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.crabapplefestival.com or contact Quintana at 770-241-1125 or by e-mail at crossroadsatcrabapple@gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Monday, September 24, 2012

Per Your Request.

All:

A few months ago, we posted an article about Birmingham Falls Elementary. While activity on Accessmilton.com posted stories typically die down within a week or so, it appears as though even today, comments continue to come in on this topic. It has been requested by a reader of Accessmilton.com for us to make you aware of this activity as well as including a link to the intial post.

http://miltonga.blogspot.com/2012/05/conflict-at-birmingham-falls-elementary.html  

Milton announces drug disposal event.

By Pat Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Milton Police Department will take part in the year’s second DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Target, 13057 Ga. 9. All forms of prescription drugs will be accepted, no matter how old.

During the last Drug Take-Back Day in April, citizens turned in a record 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications at the 5,659 take-back sites in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Information: 678-242-2527 or ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Time To Put Action Behind The Image.

By Accessmilton.com

Help protect Milton Georgia's horses from abuse and harassment by supporting Liberty's Law.

Time To put action behind the image!

MPD holds drug take back Sept. 29 at Target.

Courtesy Milton Police Department The City of Milton Police Department will take part in the second installment of the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Target on Ga. 9 in Milton. The Target is located at 13057 Ga. 9 (click here for directions). All forms of prescription drugs will be taken, no matter how old. During the last DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the four Take-Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation. For more information, contact Community Outreach Officer Ara Baronian at 678-242-2527 or ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us. The DEA also maintains a Web page where you can find other drop sites and much more. Find it by clicking here.

Sidewalks, parks, road improvements in FY13 budget.

By Accessmilton.com Milton’s City Council voted unanimously Sept. 17 to approve the fiscal year 2013 budget, allowing city staff to move forward with a number of vital and popular projects aligning with the city’s Strategic Plan. The $20.5 million budget is designed to guide the City of Milton through the realities of the new economy while fulfilling community desires, said City Manager Chris Lagerbloom. “The ability to spend this money on needed projects is a result of smart budgeting,” said City Manager Chris Lagerbloom at the meeting Monday night. The fiscal year 2013 budget includes: More than $500,000 in new sidewalks to connect schools, businesses and residences in the Cogburn/Hopewell/Webb roads corridor $1.4 million in park and trail development funds $2.29 million (plus $4.9 million in state and federal grant funding) for planning and execution of new road and bridge construction projects, including work on the intersections of: Hopewell, Francis and Cogburn roads Birmingham and Hopewell roads Ga. 140 and New Providence Road Ga. 372 and Providence and New Providence roads Bethany Bend, Hopewell and Bethany roads Mayfield Road and Ga. 372 Deerfield Parkway and Morris Road More than $2 million for paving and road improvement at locations across the city as prescribed by the Pavement Management Plan $35,000 for a newly created economic development coordinator position $132,500 for tornado sirens $12,000 for a hazardous waste collection day so residents can dispose of paints and other liquids barred from existing bulky trash collection events Please note, not all of these listed projects will be completed in fiscal year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013); however, money in this budget will go to their completion. To view the full approved Fiscal Year 2013 budget, click here. It is also available at the City of Milton’s Web site, www.cityofmiltonga.us, under Your Government > Finance > Budget. For more information on this year’s budget, contact Jason Wright, Communications Manager at 678-242-2523 or jason.wright@cityofmiltonga.us.

SAR, DAR join Milton Council for Constitution Week.

By Accessmilton.com At the Sept. 17 Milton City Council meeting, the Sons of the American Revolution Piedmont Chapter and Daughters of the American Revolution Chestatee River Chapter joined councilman Bill Lusk in proclaiming the week of Sept. 17 through 23 as Constitution Week. The day marks the 225th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution by the Constitutional Convention, and the proclamation asks that all residents of Milton reaffirm the ideals the framers of the constitution had in 1787. As a special gift to the City of Milton, the Sons of the American Revolution gave Milton’s City Council framed copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence to be placed prominently in City Hall.

Council honors Milton girls’ lacrosse state title.

Courtesy City Of Milton At its Sept. 17 meeting, Milton’s City Council honored the Milton High School Girls Lacrosse team with a proclamation celebrating their 2012 state championship. The proclamation was read by City Councilwoman Karen Thurman, a longtime supporter of the team whose daughter, Claire, played on two previous championship squads. In addition to the most recent title, Milton’s girls’ lacrosse team has garnered state championships in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. In that unbelievable run, the team also racked up an unprecedented amount of player superlatives, including 57 All-State honors, 17 U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans since 2004, four U.S. Lacrosse honorable mention All-Americans since 2005 and 40 U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-Americans.

Emergency contacts needed for new CODERED system

By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification system, announced Emergency Manager and Fire Marshal Dr. Matt Marietta.

The system, which allows Milton to quickly deliver messages in emergency situations to targeted areas or the entire city, comes stocked with all listed phone numbers existing within the last year.

However, businesses and residents must input numbers if they:

have unlisted phone numbers, changed their phone number or address within the past year use a cellular or VoIP phone as their primary number Required information includes first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers can be entered, as well. All information is secure and will not be used for anything but emergency alerts.

To sign up, click here. You may also visit the City of Milton’s Web site, www.cityofmiltonga.us, and click on the CodeRED logo.

If you would prefer to sign up over the phone, simply call 678-242-2500 and say you would like to register. We’ll take care of the rest.

“If your phone number is not in the CodeRED database, you will not be called,” said Marietta. “Do not assume you are in the database – in an emergency, you’d rather get two calls then none at all.”

This system will replace the current free Nixle emergency alert system that texts residents, said Marietta. Unfortunately, because of privacy laws, the City of Milton cannot see the 500-plus people currently using Nixle. So if you’ve previously signed up for Nixle alerts, you’ll have to register with CodeRED.

“We understand this change may be a hassle for residents, but the payoff will come when there is precious little time in a true emergency,” said Communications Manager Jason Wright. “If anything, the situation speaks to the secure nature of the information residents and business owners provide.”

For more information on the CodeRED emergency alert system, contact Marietta at 678-242-2570 or matthew.marietta@cityofmiltonga.us.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Teen driver killed in DeKalb crash.

By Mike Morris; www.ajc.com

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Alcohol was believed to have been a factor in a Tuesday night wreck that killed a teenage driver, DeKalb County police said.

DeKalb police Lt. Pam Kunz said the single-vehicle crash happened about 10:30 p.m. on Osborne Road at Haven brook Lane.

She said a vehicle driven by Tomas Chipman, 18, of Atlanta ran off the road and struck a utility pole.

Chipman died of his injuries, Kunz said. A male passenger was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, she said.

“Detectives do believe that alcohol was a contributing factor,” Kunz said in an e-mail to the AJC.
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By supporting the Road To Safety Program; you can help protect young people behind the wheel!

Another Reason To Support Liberty's Law!

Police horses attacked, injured after break-in at stable.

Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News

Courtesy Fox News

CHICAGO (FOX Chicago News) - Two Chicago police horses are recovering after a break-in at the department's stable left them injured and nursing wounds.

The officers returned to the stable only to find dozens of horses had been terrorized while they were gone. According to officials, tissue paper was strewn inside and fire extinguishers were used in the attack. Two suffered injuries and detectives say it's the first attack of its kind.

Police horse JR suffered a swollen left eye after being sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher. For Schott, the injuries were much worse. Lacerations to his flank and left rear hoof after Sunday night's mayhem left 30 horses trembling in fear. Patrons were disgusted.

"It's horrible," says South Shore resident Chuck Kramers. "I used to work here, they take good care of them and I hate that somebody did that to them."

The break-in at the stable happened between 9:45 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. at the Chicago Police Department's mounted patrol unit housed at the South Shore Cultural Center. Police are turning to the public for help to catch the culprit.

"There are people out there that would know who entered this stable and they did not enter this to commit a theft, rather it appears they enter this to maliciously harm our horses -for what reason, I don't know," explains Lieutenant Paul Bauer. "The person or persons, once they were inside the premises, they turned loose approximately 27 of our 30 horses. They were found running throughout the arena and in the isle, a very dangerous situation for the horses."

The commotion caused a huge upset for the dozens of officers who report to work here each day and rely on the horses to help serve and protect.

"The person then took fire extinguishers off the walls and began spraying the horses in the face in the body. We found empty fire extinguishers in the arena which indicates that they were throwing them at the horses and trying to hurt them," says Bauer.

Trainer Michael Clisham spent the greater part of the day nursing the horses back to health and security.

There are no arrests at this time. Investigators say the suspects may have used a back window to break into the stable.

The horses are named after officers who have died in the line of duty. Police horse JR joined the department in 1999 and Schott in 2003.

Read more: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/19568100/police-horses-attacked-injured-after-break-in-at-stable#.UFkQfO_KpwY.facebook#ixzz26vGEBNUw

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Liberty's Law is a proposed enhancement to current animal protection laws which would help protect horses from abuse and harassment through education and enforcement. Liberty is Milton Georgia mare who was born and has live in Milton Georgia for over thirty years. She has been shot with paint balls, fireworks have been shot above her and into her pastures, and she has been screamed at and scared through noise directed towards her. To date, nothing has ever happened to the offenders even with physical, video, and eye witness evidence presented.

On A Campaign Note...

King: For Romney, how bad is this?
By John King, CNN Chief National Correspondent

Click here for video segment.

Washington (CNN) -- First Mitt Romney makes two references to 47 percent. Then he suggests President Barack Obama "starts off with 48, 49."

"These are people who pay no income tax," Romney said at a May fund-raising event that was secretly recorded and is now at the center of a campaign controversy.

Because of that remark, most of the commentary has understandably assumed he was referring at all times to the roughly half of Americans who don't pay income taxes.

CNNMoney.com: Romney's '47%' - Washington's tax break obsession to blame

Romney comments caught on tape

Who are the 47%? I think not.

The first reference -- 47 percent -- is the ballpark number smart pollsters in both parties consistently use to describe the president's most loyal base.

The math behind that?

Begin with the president's steady support among African-Americans, Latinos and other non-white voters. Then add in his backing among white, college-educated women.

So when Romney told the fund-raiser crowd there are "47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what" he was on solid ground and reflecting the consensus of his polling and political team.

But how he got from that data point to describing Obama's coalition as "victims who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them" is a mystery.

Not to mention a sweeping insult to many working-class voters and other taxpayers who support the president.

Romney comments rock campaign, latest setback in shaky stretch

In the recording, obtained by the left-leaning Mother Jones, Governor Romney twice uses the "47 percent" figure pollsters, including his own, suggest is the president's base.

Moments later he uses the numbers "48, 49," presumably a reference to the nearly half of Americans who, in 2009, were not represented on a taxable return, according to data from the conservative Heritage Foundation.

In any event, much of what he says in describing these voters is eye-popping.

'Anatomy of a leak' of the Mitt Romney video

"There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe that they are the victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, you name it, that that's an entitlement and they will vote for this president no matter what."

Many GOP strategists in Washington see this as another self-inflicted political wound, and the Obama campaign and its Democratic allies are gleeful for the opportunity to suggest it is proof that Romney is disdainful of working-class Americans and insensitive to those, who because of economic hardship or other reasons, need government help.

Secretly taped comments put Romney back on defense

Now, to be clear, some grassroots conservatives are not unhappy, and are hoping Romney defends his remarks and pushes a debate on government assistance and dependency.

While a healthy debate about government programs and priorities is always useful, such sweeping generalizations as those used by Romney are often a path into political quicksand.

In 2008, Obama won 95% of the African-American vote, two-thirds of Latinos, 64% of other minority voters, and 52% of white women who are college graduates.

Take another look at those numbers.

Now think all of those voters fit this?: "These are people who pay no income tax."

Or this?: "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

It was recorded in May, but released seven weeks before Election Day, at a time when there is mounting evidence that the contest, while still highly competitive, is trending in the president's direction.

They say timing is everything in politics. The timing for Romney here is horrible. He needs to be making his case about tomorrow's economy, not trying to explain away things he said months ago.

Battleground polls: Is Romney's path to the White House now more difficult?

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012

Kings Ridge students give stuffed animals to Milton police, fire.





Courtesy City of Milton

The students of Susan Starling’s pre-kindergarten class at Kings Ridge Christian School recently received a visit from members of the City of Milton police and fire departments after the students collected stuffed animals for first responders to give children in need.

During lunch time Sept. 12, the students toured police cars and fire trucks, ate pizza with police officers and firefighters, and watched K-9 officer DaSilva in action.

To see photos from the visit via Kings Ridge Christian School’s flickr account, click here.

Special thanks to Shuntel Beach, communications strategist at Kings Ridge Christian School, for the photographs.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

On A Campaign Note...



Courtesy wearetheRPA.com

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

On A Georgia Note...

Neighbors upset about church noise outside Atlanta.

The Associated Press

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. —
Neighbors of a suburban Atlanta church say the congregation has brought new meaning to making a joyful noise.

Residents such as Rachel LaLiberty and Patty Bakmac -- whose homes back up to the International House of Prayer in Lawrenceville -- say the church holds worship service at all hours of the day and night, with loud music.

LaLiberty tells The Gwinnett Daily Post (http://bit.ly/S4fmvV) that the bass from the music shakes the house inside, toppling things over.

The International House of Prayer opened its doors in Lawrenceville in 2004.

Since February 2006, the church has had its "prayer room" open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Daily Post reports that messages left for church officials were not returned.

___

Information from: Gwinnett Daily Post, http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com

On A International Note...

Courtesy http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr091112.html

U.S. Embassy Condemns Religious Incitement.

September 11, 2012

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others

Milton, Fulton Schools partner for greater school access.



Courtesy City of Milton

Thanks to a fruitful partnership between the City of Milton and Fulton County Schools, students across the city now enjoy easier, faster access to school.

“The coordinated improvements at the [Bethany Bend] intersection and the pedestrian safety improvements at multiple locations are examples of the benefits of the city and the school system maintaining open communication and searching for innovative solutions,” said Joseph Clements, executive director of Facilities Services for Fulton County Schools. “These examples demonstrate that the city and the school system are striving to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ funds.”

COGBURN/BETHANY BEND INTERSECTION

As part of this partnership, in May construction began on the intersection of Cogburn Road and Bethany Bend to accommodate the increased traffic of students attending Cambridge High. Fulton County Schools covered the portion of the improvements occurring on school land, Milton handled the rest. The contracts for roughly $700,000 went to Marietta-based Baldwin Paving Company, Inc.

The project included:

Widening of Cogburn Road and Bethany Bend approaching the intersection
Addition of turn lanes on all four sides of the intersection to decrease congestion
Construction of sidewalks
Inclusion of Milton’s signature four-board equestrian fence
Carter Lucas, Milton’s director of public works, said both agencies were able to use the same contractor and coordinate efforts to the benefit of taxpayers.

“Being a reliable, professional partner with our schools is a priority of this department and the City of Milton,” he said. “It’s our duty to make sure these joint projects are successful.”
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Additionally, Milton partnered with Fulton County Schools to bring walking and biking opportunities to Summit Hill and Crabapple Crossing elementaries and Northwestern Middle in the form of Safe Routes to School projects.

The projects included:

Filling in sidewalk gaps
Installing new sections of sidewalk/trail to provide connections to schools
School zone signage
Crosswalk improvements
Americans with Disabilities Act improvements
The $500,000 project was state funded as a result of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) selection of Milton’s plan for improvements to the schools’ infrastructure.

The project has been more than four years in the making, said Sara Leaders, Milton’s transportation engineer.

“Throughout this long process, our partners at Fulton County Schools have worked hand in hand to ensure students could benefit from this vital program,” said Leaders. “Moving forward, we’ll continue this partnership for the benefit of students and taxpayers.”For more information on the intersection improvements at Cambridge High or Safe Routes to School, contact Angie Kapijimpanga, public works citizen responder, at 678-242-2562 or angie.kapijimpanga@cityofmiltonga.us.

Sen. Albers and Sen. Majority Leader Rogers to Host Town Hall Meeting in Alpharetta.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Natalie Dale, Director
Shawna Mercer, Sr. Communications Specialist
Shawna.Mercer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

ATLANTA (September 12, 2012) – Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) and Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R- Woodstock) will host a Town Hall Meeting in Alpharetta on Saturday, September 15. During this interactive town hall meeting, Sen. Albers and Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers will address Georgia ’s ongoing transportation needs, and discuss solutions to ease congestion along our busy roadways.

Citizens are encouraged to attend and offer feedback on how to develop a strong, innovative transportation system in North Georgia and throughout the state.

WHEN: Saturday, September 15, 2012

10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Alpharetta City Hall

2 S. Main Street

Alpharetta, GA 30099


# # # #

Sen. John Albers represents the 56th Senate District, which includes portions of North Fulton County. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

Milton basketball coach denies breaking rules.


David Boyd, who has won six state titles at four different schools, resigned Monday from Milton High School after the school announced it had self-reported violations of “undue influence” of players to the Georgia High School Association.
Courtesy wsbtv.com

By Mike Petchenik

MILTON, Ga. —
One of Georgia’s most successful high school basketball coaches is categorically denying he broke any rules when recruiting players to his winning teams.

David Boyd, who has won six state titles at four different schools, resigned Monday from Milton High School after the school announced it had self-reported violations of “undue influence” of players to the Georgia High School Association.

On Tuesday, school officials declined to elaborate on the specific allegations or who raised them.

“It’s unfortunate news, but we’re moving forward,” said principal Clifford Davis.

Fulton County Schools athletic director, Dr. Steven Craft, said the system had been investigating the claims for weeks and would be turning over its findings to the GHSA.

“We need to make sure all of our coaches, both head coaches and assistant coaches, understand all of the GHSA rules and regulations,” he said, adding that “undue influence” describes a number of scenarios, including “inviting someone to attend a game or practice or giving influence to help convince somebody to come to your school.”

Under Boyd’s leadership, Milton has won two state championships in the last four years, taking runner-up the other two times.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, members of the Milton dynasty include high-profile transfers, including Shannon Scott (now at Ohio State), Dai-Jon Parker (Vanderbilt), Shaquille Johnson (Auburn) and Charles Mann (University of Georgia).

Other players who reportedly joined the team include college prospects DaQuain Watts from North Springs, Shawn O’Connell from Roswell and Isaiah Manderson of Westside-Augusta. The school also reportedly attracted out-of-state phenoms Johnnie Vassar from Indiana and Zach Hodskins from Tennessee. The AJC reported the team plays games in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida in the upcoming season and was almost certain to have top-25 national rankings.

In an exclusive interview with Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik, Boyd denied the allegations.

“If helping players, some of whom may be coming from the other side of the tracks, if helping those players be successful, do well in school, become good citizens, earn scholarships, play in a winning program; if that’s undue influence, then guilty as charged,” he told Petchenik.

Boyd said he resigned from his position because school officials told him he could no longer coach at Milton High School.


Click here for the wsb video segement on this story.

“When I did meet with the county (athletic director), he told me it was time for me to move on, told me I didn’t care about anything except basketball, didn’t care anything about teaching,” said Boyd. “All that is just very untrue.”

Boyd said he received emails and phone calls almost daily from parents of prospects interested in the school. In each case, he said he never offered them anything to transfer.

“The program sells itself. The only thing we offer is a great school, an outstanding program and an opportunity to compete. That’s what I told each and every parent,” he told Petchenik.

Boyd said he recently had a parent of a top player call to ask him why he hadn’t reached out to their family.

“He said eight other high school coaches had called him,” said Boyd. “(He) wanted to know why I hadn’t called him. I said, ‘because it’s against the rules. That’s why.’”

Boyd said when a student did transfer to Milton, he did his “due diligence” to ensure they followed all of the eligibility requirements. He also said he did allow outside players to work out with his teams but denies it was ever a try-out or a way to entice a transfer, something he said the county accused him of doing.

“We opened the gym up,” he said. “Kids who wanted to participate were able to come in, compete. We didn’t turn anybody away.”

But some disagree with Boyd’s methods. Petchenik heard from Micah Thomas, whose son transferred to Milton from Roswell’s Centennial High School to play for Boyd. She said her son didn’t make the varsity squad because the roster was filled with transfers.

“I don’t fault the families for moving their kids to a better situation. I moved to get a better school,” said Thomas. “I fault the system for not enforcing the rules.”

Thomas likened the competitive high school basketball atmosphere to “child prostitution.”

“There are agents with some of these kids and it’s turning into professional sports at a high school level,” she told Petchenik. “(That) erodes the sense of community and erodes everybody’s chance to have their child fulfill their dream.”

Thomas said her son transferred to another school because he felt he'd never get playing time with blue chip transfers filling up the varsity roster.

“There’s something the community loses when this happens,” she said. “It’s pervasive and it continues to happen year after year. I frankly thought it would never end.”

A spokesman for the GHSA told Petchenik the association was waiting to receive Fulton County’s investigation before moving forward. When asked if the school would have to vacate its titles, Steven Figueroa told Petchenik he would have “no further comment” until the report was received.

Boyd told Petchenik he doesn’t believe his coaching days are over.

“I have absolutely no regrets, none whatsoever,” he said. “I have my chin held high.”

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The New Milton High School Basketball Situation.



By Accessmilton.com

A story that has been whispered about in the shadows of Milton Georgia over the past few years has finally seen the light.

Both the Atlanta Journal and Wsbtv.com are reporting that David Boyd, who led the Milton’s boys basketball program, has resigned in light of recruiting violations resulting in "high-profile athletes transferring to form high school super teams". Additional information states that false addresses were used to justify attendance.

So what are your thoughts? Is this story much ado about nothing or is there some substance behind these allegations? Is winning the most important thing for young people today or is team participation and community representation more important?

Have your say in the comments section below.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Milton police, fire to take part in 9/11 ceremonies



City of Milton police, fire, staff and elected officials are supporting two student-led Sept. 11 ceremonies at Cambridge and Milton high schools remembering the victims of the heinous attacks on the United States.

“It is our duty to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2011,” said Milton police Chief Deborah Harrell. “The local youth taking on these projects are truly special, and deserve to be supported fully.”

Milton Fire Chief Robert Edgar agreed.

“We’re proud to take part in these ceremonies,” said Edgar. “That our young people are the ones carrying them out just makes it more special.”

MILTON HIGH

Milton High senior vice president Zach Bailey is organizing the fifth year of Milton’s Sept. 11 display. From 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, Bailey will place 2,997 flags on the front lawn of the school – one for each life lost during the attacks – with members of local Boy Scout troops and the Milton High School Beta Club, Spanish National Honor Society, cross country team, French National Honor Society and National Honor Society.

If you are interested in volunteering to help place flags at the school, click here. You may also contact Bailey at 770-663-8408.

The next morning at 7:45 a.m., there will be a short memorial service to commemorate the lives lost in the attacks. Milton junior Jason Byrd will sing the national anthem accompanied by senior cellist Madeline Steffenson. The event will conclude with “Taps” by Milton senior trumpet section leader Cara McDermott.

All aspects of the event are open to the public, said Bailey, and residents are invited to reflect on the display throughout the day.

“Our goal is to make an impact,”
said Bailey. “So many people have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and this event is a great way for our nation's future leaders to keep their memories alive while showing how much we appreciate all that has been done to make our country what it is today."

CAMBRIDGE HIGH

Cambridge High sophomore Caroline Willis enlisted the Cambridge cross-country and cheerleading teams, the Hopewell Middle School Jr. Betas and local Cub Scout troops to help organize a complimentary flag display at the new school.

“As one of the last generations of students to remember the tragedies of Sept.11, it is important that we keep the awareness for it alive,” she said. “Especially for those who may not have been old enough to understand what took place that day.”

Willis and her group will place also 2,977 American flags on the front lawn of Cambridge High School. The community is invited to visit the memorial throughout the day to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and to the men and women who have been fighting for our country, oversees and within the nation, ever since.

In addition to the flag display, on the morning of Sept. 11, the Cambridge chorus will be singing the National Anthem through the announcements.

For more information about this effort, contact Christina Willis at chswillis@aol.com or 770-815-9295.

Milton High basketball coach resigns from program.

Courtesy wsbtv.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. —

Channel 2 Action News has learned that Milton High School varsity basketball coach David Boyd has resigned from his role in the athletic program.

A letter sent to parents from Milton High School Principal Clifford Jones stated in part: "In an effort to maintain open communication and transparency, I have unfortunate news to share. Milton High has self-reported allegations of what the Georgia High School Association terms “undue influence” in our boys’ basketball program."

Although the letter did not identify Boyd by name, Boyd did confirm to Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein in a text message that he is no longer with the program.

Channel 2 sources said Boyd's departure stems from recruiting issues.

The letter continued stating, "As we move forward there will be a thorough investigation and the development of a comprehensive strategy to move our program to new heights of integrity and excellence."

Under Boyd's leadership, the Milton High School varsity basketball team won the AAAAA state championship in 2010 and 2012.

Boyd out as Milton basketball coach; school self-reports allegations of ‘undue influence’

Courtesy Todd Holcomb; www.ajc.com

One of the state’s most successful basketball coaches is out of a job after his school reported allegations of recruiting to the Georgia High School Association.

David Boyd, who led Milton’s boys basketball program to state championships in 2010 and 2012, resigned Monday, according to Samantha Evans, the executive director of communications for Fulton County Schools. Reached by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Monday, Boyd said he had no comment.

Milton contacted the GHSA to report allegations of ‘’undue influence,” principal Clifford Jones wrote in an email to the Milton High community earlier Monday.

‘’Undue influence,’’ or recruiting, is defined by the GHSA as influence by any person connected with a GHSA school to induce a student to transfer from one school to another.

‘’As we move forward there will be a thorough investigation and the development of a comprehensive strategy to move our program to new heights of integrity and excellence,’’ Jones wrote in his e-mail. “In the days ahead, I ask that we support our student athletes, their families, and the program.’’

Attempts to reach Jones on Monday were unsuccessful.
.
Under Boyd, Milton became a controversial lightning rod in the debate over high-profile athletes transferring to form high school super teams. Key former members of the recent Milton dynasty include transfers Shannon Scott (now at Ohio State), Dai-Jon Parker (Vanderbilt), Shaquille Johnson (Auburn) and Charles Mann (Georgia).

Milton’s 2012 championship team lost home-grown Evan Nolte (Virginia), Johnson and Mann to graduation but still figured to be one of the teams to beat in Class AAAAAA.

Among the new players reported to have joined the program were DaQuain Watts from North Springs, Shawn O’Connell from Roswell and Isaiah Manderson of Westside-Augusta. Two others were coming from out of state in Johnnie Vassar from Indiana and Zach Hodskins from Tennessee. All are college prospects.

Milton returns one of the nation’s top juniors in Jalyn Patterson and freshmen in Chris Lewis. Largely because of its status as a national program, Milton is scheduled to play games in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida in the upcoming season and was almost certain to have top-25 national rankings.

Boyd has been a head coach of six state championship teams and is the only coach in Georgia to lead four different schools to the title in Campbell (1982), Tucker (1996), Berkmar (2000, 2001) and Milton (2010, 2012). Boyd has 604 career victories in a career that began in 1980.

Boyd joined Milton for the 2007-08 season, when the school had made the state playoffs only three times since 1960. After one losing season, Milton became a national power, attracting transfers to surround Nolte and another home-grown star, Julian Royal (now at Georgia Tech).

Evans said that the allegations of recruiting were brought to the school district. She said she did not know who made the allegations.

”Whenever an allegation is made, the school has a responsibility to turn it over to human resources, and it was during that conversation with HR that Boyd decided to resign,” Evans said.

David Purdum helped report this article.

Friday, September 07, 2012

Friday night lights - times two.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

This past Friday, I went to the Milton/Alpharetta high home opener after Alpharetta’s Mayor David Belle Isle and I issued the “Mayor’s Challenge,” with the losing mayor having to serve lunch at the winning school. I’m happy to announce Milton won 35-28 in a nail biter of a game, so make sure to stop by Milton when Mayor Belle Isle does his time (though, to be fair, David did let me know he was torn because he has residents in both schools). Also, the city and school received a great trophy for the win!

As you can tell, there’s a lot happening in Milton now on Friday nights during the fall. We’ve got two high schools for the first time in the city. And I’ve got to tell you, every time I’ve been to the new Cambridge High, the atmosphere is fantastic – a lot of really happy, really excited people thrilled to be on the ground floor of what are destined to be great traditions.

I’ve been a fixture at Milton High for the past few years because my daughter graduated in 2009 and my son is now a senior. My youngest is set to go there next year, and I’m interested to see how the City of Milton adapts to the second.

Will there be a cross-town rivalry in sports, music, drama or academics? Only time will tell, but I really hope something fun develops. Think about how great Milton vs. Roswell has been historically. Now we’ve got Milton vs. Alpharetta, too. And don’t forget about Johns Creek, Chattahoochee, Centennial or Northview.

These are the types of things we take with us in our travels – the formative experiences of growing up in towns all across America. Whether it’s the football games on Friday nights, or the fall festivals, or the parks and gyms where we played, as we go forward in life we bring with us the cheer and camaraderie we learned from these experiences.

That’s probably the best thing about being mayor – being a part of these experiences as they come to fruition and watching the result of everyone’s hard work. Getting to know the people that make them happen -- from the coaches and educators and organizers who plan and execute the events, to the business owners who sponsor the fun, to the volunteers who make sure everyone has a good time – that’s the best part, hands down.

At the end of the day, all these things happen simply because a group of people will them to be. In Milton, we enjoy an abundance of community activities and events because we’ve got caring people who put in hours before work, after work, even sometimes during work (just don’t tell the boss) to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. And that’s a beautiful thing.

It means the rest of us can forget about deadlines and contracts and all the rest of daily life and just spend a few hours with friends, watching the first football game of the season.

And that, my friends, is what life is all about.

Sincerely,
Mayor Joe Lockwood

Volunteer soccer coaches needed.



By Accessmilton.com

Looking to give back to the youth in your community?

The City of Milton/Ed Isakson Alpharetta Family YMCA youth fall soccer program needs volunteer coaches.

Volunteers would give one hour a week and one hour on the weekend to coach the youth teams.

Come connect with your youth and the youth of tomorrow.

If you would like to help coach a youth soccer team, please contact Jessica Tucker, sports director at the Y, at 770-663-3534 or JessicaT@ymcaatlanta.org.

Lots of options for recreation this fall.





Accessmilton.com

Evergreen Program kicks off with 2nd resource fair.



Courtesy City of Milton

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. It is supported by the cities of Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell and Keep North Fulton Beautiful.

There will more than 20 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.

And to stay up to date with all the great things Milton schools are doing with environmental education and outdoor classrooms, as well as the latest news on environmental programs, trainings and contacts, check out EEnorthfulton.weebly.com.

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.

Milton's NWF community certifications soaring.



By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton Community Wildlife Habitat Project Committee is well on the way certifying Milton as a National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) Community Wildlife Habitat.

Milton currently has 165 points and needs 450 to be certified. Points are awarded based on: residential, school and business properties being certified (for more information on how click here); educational programs; demonstration gardens, promotional events; and advertising.

So we need your help to get the word out! HOAs can help by informing residents; additionally, though many schools have recently been certified, we would love to have day care centers, businesses and churches join us, as well.

Committee meetings are open to everyone. The next is Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the executive conference room of Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, suite G (click here for directions).

Visit our Web site for more information and updates on the project's progress at www.cityofmiltonga.us/wildlifehabitatcommunityproject.

Milton Basketball Chili Cook-Off Sept. 21.

Courtesy City of Milton

The Milton High School Tip Off Club is sponsoring a Chili Cook-Off at Milton High School from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 21 before the Milton Vs. Roswell football game.

There will be chili to taste, hot dogs, drinks, music and a silent auction.

The cook off and silent auction will take place on the grassy area by the stadium in front of Milton High.

Please come out to support the team, bid on an auction item, taste some celebrity chili and vote. We can't wait to see you there.

For more information, contact Melanie Felton, president of the Milton High School Tip Off Club, at 706-224-2125 or melanie.felton@att.blackberry.net.

MPD holds drug take back Sept. 29 at Target.

Courtesy Milton Police Department

The City of Milton Police Department will take part in the second installment of the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Target on Ga. 9 in Milton.

The Target is located at 13057 Ga. 9 (click here for directions). All forms of prescription drugs will be taken, no matter how old.

During the last DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

When the results of the four Take-Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed more than 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.

For more information, contact Community Outreach Officer Ara Baronian at 678-242-2527 or ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us. The DEA also maintains a Web page where you can find other drop sites and much more. Find it by clicking here.

Charity 5K walk set for Sept. 30.

Courtesy City of Milton

Milton-based Children's Charities, Inc. (formerly Milton Friends of Children's Healthcare) is holding a 5K walk Sunday, Sept. 30 at Roswell's Garrard Park to raise money for the fight against Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic affliction.

Registration includes a free T-shirt.

Ectodermal dysplasias are inherited disorders that involve defects in the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth. There are more than 150 different types of the disorder, and medical professionals estimate seven in every 10,000 babies is afflicted.

Garrard Park is located at 8000 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell (click here for directions).

For more information on this event, call 404-217-4643 or visit the walk's Facebook page.

Help make the Milton Roundup a success.



By Accessmilton.com

If you own a business or run a local non-profit, don't forget 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.

"This is a great opportunity for local businesses and non-profits to get their name out to the 3,000 to 5,000 people we expect to attend the Roundup this year," said Jason Wright, communications manager for the City of Milton.

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 Wright at 678-242-2523 or jason.wright@cityofmiltonga.us.

Crabapple antique festival to be held Oct. 6.



Courtesy City of Milton

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 artists and 50 American Country Antique Dealers from six states.

Rounding out the show are roaming musicians, fantastic food, children activities, and an easy walk to the free parking areas. Handicap parking is available.

Come to Crabapple for a unique work of art, handcrafted gifts, a one-of-a-kind antique or just for a relaxing stroll through this historic community. It's an event not to miss!

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.crabapplefestival.com or contact Amanda Quintana at 770-241-1125 or by e-mail at crossroadsatcrabapple@gmail.com.

Special needs housing & care experts speak Oct. 11.



By Accessmilton.com

Two experts in accessible housing and in-home care options for individuals and families with special needs will discuss their work Oct. 11 as part of the Milton Disability Awareness Committee (MDAC) Community Link series.

Realtor Michelle Miralles and Para/Quad Services CEO J.D. Frazier's presentations will take place at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107E (click here for directions). Everyone is invited, and there is no RSVP required.

Miralles specializes in finding and selling homes for the physically challenged, the elderly and those with special needs for Keller Williams Realty, said Kennard Woods, MDAC Chairman. Her experience has led to her program "Building Bridges of Accessibility," a program connecting resources to those who need accessible options in the home process.

Frazier, a Shepherd Center Peer Supporter, owns Para/Quad Services, which matches clients with private home care provider staff so that they may live as independently, productively and comfortably as possible. He is also paraplegic, said Woods, offering the kind of reality-based rapport that can come only from talking with a person who has been there.

"There is now a number of accessible housing and in-home care options for the elderly or those with spinal cord injury, brain injury or neurological illness," said Woods. "Freedom and comfort are often within reach in the metro area, and these speakers represent a wealth of knowledge on how to find the gems."

For more information on this program, contact MDAC at mdac@cityofmiltonga.us or call 678-242-2500.

Bulky Trash Day set for Nov. 10



By Accessmilton.com

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon and gather your large items for disposal at our bi-annual bulky trash event for Milton and Roswell residents.

The event is sponsored by the cities of Milton and Roswell, along with Milton Grows Green and Keep Roswell Beautiful.

Drop off is at the Roswell Public Works facility, 1810 Hembree Road in Roswell (click here for directions). Proof of residency will be required (utility bills preferred).

For more information and a list of acceptable items, check the flyer or e-mail mgg@cityofmiltonga.us.

River's Alive held Oct. 27 - we need volunteers.



Courtesy City of Milton

This year's River's Alive cleanup will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bailey Farms and Gardens, 255 Hickory Flat Road in Milton (click here for directions).

Volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. then clean up identified streams, roadways and school sites to help keep our city and waterways pure and beautiful.

Milton Adopt-a-Road groups are encouraged to have a clean-up during the event and stop by for refreshments and recognition.

For information or to register for the clean-up as a group or individual, please contact Milton Grows Green at mgg@cityofmiltonga.us or e-mail baileyfarmandgardens@mindspring.com. You may also contact Cindy Eade, environmental sustainability coordinator for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2509.

Milton growing greener.



Courtesy City of Milton

The city is in the final leg of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Green Communities Certification and one of the measures applies to Community Education. Here are some of the measures we have implemented or are implementing:

Measure #7: Government energy audits - The audits have been completed at three fire stations with recommended upgrades.

Measure #8: Government ENERGY STAR Partner - The city has become an Energy Star Partner and is developing an energy strategy for the future.

Measure #34: Community Forest Master Plan - The final Community Forest Master Plan, including appendices, will be up for adoption at the City Council meeting on Sept. 5.

Measure #48 Government environmentally preferable purchasing - The city is working on adopting an environmentally preferable purchasing policy. To receive credit for this measure, the local government must have adopted a policy to consider environmentally preferable products or services when purchasing goods for the local government.

Measure #50: Government nontraditional recycling program - The City of Milton has collection containers at Community Development entrance "F" for recycling copier toner, ink cartridges, batteries, and cell phones. Electronics are recycled at the bulky trash and recycling community events sponsored twice a year by the city.

For a complete list of Milton's Green Communities Measures, please click here.

Milton residents take to the trash.

By Accessmilton.com

A total of 375 people responded to Milton's Trash and Recycling survey conducted this summer by Milton Grows Green. Thank you for your time and help to better understand the needs of the community when it comes to trash and recycling. Here is a brief summary of the results:

80 percent of people who responded live in subdivisions, while the rest live in open road neighborhoods.

More than 60 percent had two or more haulers serving their neighborhoods.
10 percent of respondents require back door pickup due to length of driveway or inability to get carts to street.

73 percent do curbside recycling, with 63 percent having a cart for recycling.
15 percent would like to recycle more if they knew more about it.
68 percent of people use the Roswell Recycling Center either occasionally or regularly.

46 percent are composting yard waste on their properties.
For the full results, click here.

Monthly fitness tip: What is your body's powerhouse?

Courtesy City of Milton; By Kolleen Riddick, CorePhysique founder

What is your body's powerhouse? The answer is simple. Glutes, glutes and more glutes!

Your booty happens to be your powerhouse, yet it tends to be the most overlooked muscle group in the human body. Most of us think it is just used to provide cushioning when sitting. And sitting we do! But when was the last time you gave your booty the attention it deserved?

Let's talk about the muscles of the butt: We have the gluteus maximus, the gluteus minimus and the gluteus medius, which together are supposed to be one of the strongest groups of the human body. Central to the posterior chain (the backside of your body), they aid in keeping your body standing tall. They are designed to be your powerhouse when walking, running, golfing and even throwing. But, if ignored, they can pose many problems.

As technology has advanced, bodies have regressed. The more we sit, the weaker our booty muscles become. Over time, they atrophy or weaken, forcing the surrounding muscles to take over and perform tasks for which they were not designed. This can cause muscular imbalances and stress on joints.

Here are my top three exercises for waking up that butt:

The Fire Hydrant: Start on all fours in table top position, slowly lift one leg up and to the side (imagine a dog doing his business on a hydrant - hence the name). Perform three sets of 20 on each side.

The Bridge: Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the ground. Draw in the lower abdominals and lift your butt off the floor, lifting the hips until the knees, hips and chest are in line. Hold this position, purposefully squeezing the glutes to support the bridge position. While doing this exercise, keep the pelvis level and the lower abdominals drawn in. If you feel a strong contraction in the hamstrings, or if the lower back is straining, you are not using your glutes strongly enough. Focus on squeezing your butt cheeks together to ensure they do the work. Lower your butt and repeat. Perform three sets of 15 reps.

Side steps with a band: Start by standing with an exercise mini-band around your ankles. It should be snug when your feet are shoulder-distance apart. With knees slightly bent, take a sideways step focusing on the gluteus medius muscle on the side that you are stepping to. Step five to 10 times one way, then five to 10 times back the other way. Repeat three to five times (you can build up as you get stronger).

Click here for more information on the City of Milton/CorePhysique fitness camps.

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.

Little Tiger Trading, LLC 3472 Archgate Court

Thompson Electrical, LLC 3169 Genesis Way
Joy's Harmony, LLC 13213 Warrensville Cove
Nexxt Capital Partners, LLC 3228 Buck Way
Brian Unger and Associates 426 Pembroke Circle, #426
Georgia Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning 120 Canongate Kirk Circle
Eager Beaver Lawn Care 1490 Muirfield Cove
ERA Sunrise Realty 980 Birmingham Road, Suite 606
Building Technology Consulting 2150 Lake Grove Lane
Thrive Chiropractic Wellness Center 980 Birmingham Road, Suite 811
Total EHR 470 North Fields Pass
Mr. Jing Inc. 13085 Ga. 9, Suite 440
Hewitt Contracting Company Inc. 13465 Bethany Road
Britt Bass 165 Bay Colt Road
Van Aken Travel, LLC 980 Birmingham Road Suite 501-371, 1425 Rolling Links Drive
Joy's Harmony, LLC 12850 Ga. 9 North, Suite 600-162
Ultimate Group Design, Inc. 12838 Deerpark Lane
Susan Mauldin 810 Bethany Green Court
Dunn Right Sports, LLC 1635 Reddstone Close

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



Pay taxes online today.


By Accessmilton.com

City of Milton property tax bills were mailed today, Thursday, Sept. 6. After receipt, residents have 60 days to pay the bill without incurring penalties.

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.