Mayor joins Mill Springs’ students for arts appreciation.

Mill Springs Academy Headmaster Robert Moore joins students in a drum roll.

Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood recently joined Mill Springs Academy’s annual “National Anthem Day,” which celebrates the anniversary of the song’s creation by poet Francis Scott Key and shows support for music and arts education in schools.

While at the school, Lockwood spoke to students about the importance of fine arts education in a school’s curriculum.

“I challenge each and every one of you to be as creative as possible,” he said. “This is the privilege you have being taught art, being taught true freedom, in school. Take advantage of it.”

As part of the festivities, chorus teacher Kate McElliott and band director Elizabeth Plastiak led 300 students in performing Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner.”

Walmart Wednesday.

Just my luck! The one day I leave the house without my Spinning Jenny and I run into the motherload of potential textiles. Sorry, that’s wikipedia for “Ha, that chick has long purple hair that looks like yarn.”

Courtesy www.peopleofwalmart.com

Driver in Barnes collision dies.

By Alexis Stevens and Ty Tagami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Cobb County teenager who drove a Porsche head-on into a minivan containing the daughter and two granddaughters of gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes has died.

Mario D. Zuniga Jr., 17, was pronounced dead at Atlanta Medical Center at 12:22 p.m. Monday as a result of injuries he sustained in the Sunday afternoon crash, said Cobb County police spokesman Officer Joe Hernandez.

Barnes' eldest granddaughter, Lilly Salter, 6, was released from the hospital Sunday evening with cuts to her face, but her 4-year-old sister remained in the hospital Monday for surgery, a spokeswoman for the former governor said.

Ella Salter, 4, underwent surgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite on Monday for a broken arm and shoulder, Anna Ruth Williams, Barnes' spokeswoman, told reporters outside the hospital Monday morning. The child was released late Monday afternoon and is recovering at home, Williams said.

Zuniga was driving a black 2002 Porsche Boxster south on Old Mountain Road near Marietta when he struck the front of the 2008 Honda Odyssey driven by Barnes' daughter, Allison Barnes Salter, around 12:40 p.m., Hernandez said.

Salter, of Marietta, was driving north on Old Mountain Road near Greymont Circle, police said. The Porsche crossed into her lane while attempting to negotiate a curve to the right, Hernandez said.

The posted speed limit is 30 mph, but investigators believe Zuniga was traveling faster.

Zuniga, of Kennesaw, had to be extricated from the vehicle before being transported to Atlanta Medical Center, Hernandez said. A 16-year-old passenger, whose name was not released, was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

Zuniga's father said Morning morning that his son suffered a serious head injury. The elder Zuniga said the passenger was his son's friend and that the boy underwent surgery on his leg and was "doing fine."

Zuniga Jr. is a former student at Mount Paran Christian School, according to David Lowery, a spokesman there. The elder Zuniga said his son was now a home school student. Zuniga said his son was driving his own car and that the crash was "just an unfortunate accident."

"He was just a normal kid who had a bad accident," the father said.

Last month, Zuniga Jr. was arrested by Cobb County police after an officer smelled marijuana coming from the teenager's vehicle at a traffic stop, according to an incident report obtained by the AJC. Zuniga was charged with possessing less than an ounce of marijuana and was also cited for a curfew violation because of his Class D license, according to the report. After his 1:40 a.m. arrest on Sept. 21, Zuniga spent several hours in the Cobb County jail before being released on $800 bond, according to jail records.

The Zuniga family declined to speak Monday afternoon following the teenager's death.

Before Zuniga died, Barnes and his family were wishing the teen a full and speedy recovery.

Salter, 35, was taken to Kennestone and was released Sunday evening.

Williams said Salter was running errands at the time of the crash and that her youngest daughter was not in the vehicle. The two girls were in car seats and the airbags in the Honda deployed, Williams said, adding that police told the family that "lives would have been lost" had the kids been unrestrained.

Salter is an attorney in her father's Marietta law firm.

Williams, who spoke to reporters outside Scottish Rite, said Barnes had put his campaign on hold.

"Roy is focused on his family and therefore we have canceled all campaign events until further notice," Williams said.

On A National Note.

School system to get Muslim holiday.

Courtesy Boston.com
By Brock Parker

As a Muslim and a high school senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 17-year-old Dunia Kassay faces a tough choice every year on Islamic holy days: go to school or stay home to be with family and friends.

If she stays home, Kassay says, she will be forced to play catch-up and make up her school assignments. But if she goes to school, she will be neglecting what she feels is her religious obligation on holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

“It’s really conflicting,’’ Kassay said. “Instead of fasting for a month and enjoying this really big day, eating and going to family’s houses, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, hey, guys, I’ve got to go do my homework.’ ’’

But beginning next year, Cambridge public schools will attempt to make it easier for Muslim students to honor their highest holy days.

In a move that school officials believe is the first of its kind in the state, Cambridge will close schools for one Muslim holiday each year beginning in the 2011-2012 school year.

The school will either close for Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, depending on which holiday falls within the school year. If both fall within the school calendar, the district will close for only one of the days.
The school district’s decision, announced last month, was made as the national discussion about Islam continues, fueled by a Mosque proposal two blocks from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Florida preacher Terry Jones’s threat to burn a Koran. The discussion has also touched local schools, as Wellesley school officials drew criticism recently for a video that showed sixth-grade students kneeling during a prayer service at a Boston mosque during a field trip in May.

But Cambridge School Committee member Marc McGovern, who pushed for the Muslim holiday in city schools, said he thinks people need to take a step back from what he called hysteria and the stereotypes of all Muslims as terrorists.

“At a time when I think the Muslim population is being characterized with a broad brush in a negative way, I think it’s important for us to say we’re not going to do that here,’’ McGovern said.

Cambridge schools already close for some Christian and Jewish holidays, and McGovern said he believes Muslims should be treated equally.

“The issue that sort of came up was should we celebrate any religious holidays, but there was not the will to take away Good Friday or one of the Jewish holidays,’’ he said. “So I said, if that is the case, I think we have an obligation to celebrate one of the Muslim holidays, as well.’’

State and federal laws require schools to make reasonable accommodation of the religious needs of students and in observance of holy days, but the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education leaves the decision about how to do that up to individual school districts because they “know best about the needs and unique demographic makeup of their student population and community,’’ said JC Considine, a spokesman for the department.

If a school district has a large number of students who observe Good Friday and would not attend school that day, Considine said the districts are allowed to close because of the expected low attendance. But the state does require districts to schedule at least 180 days of school.

Cambridge School Superintendent Jeffrey Young said the district does not collect information about the religion of its students. But Young said that there is a significant Muslim population in the city, and that, at least anecdotally, the Muslim population in the schools appears to be growing.

A large Muslim population is one of the reasons why the school district in Dearborn, Mich., began closing schools for high Islamic holy days 10 years ago, said David Mustonen, communications coordinator for the school system.

Mustonen said that at first there were some people in the community who didn’t like the schools being closed on Eid holidays. “However, I don’t think this is the case anymore as people have come to realize that it is no different then taking time off at Christmas or Easter,’’ Mustonen said in an e-mail.

In September, public schools in Burlington, Vt., also closed on Eid al-Fitr for the first time, said Dan Balon, director of the school district’s diversity and equity office.

Balon said there is an increasing Muslim population in the schools, and the district decided to close on the holiday rather than risk low attendance rates and force students to decide between school and staying home to celebrate the holiday.

Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said that to his knowledge Cambridge would be the first school district in Massachusetts to close schools for a Muslim holiday.

“Somebody has to be first,’’ said Koocher. “I suspect there may be heightened interest in this. We’ll see how this plays out.’’

Marla Erlien, chairwoman of the Cambridge Human Rights Commission, said the discussion about closing Cambridge schools for an Islamic holiday began several years ago when the commission conducted a survey at Rindge and Latin asking students about discrimination, and at a follow-up forum students raised concerns about how Muslims were a “discarded group’’ whose holidays weren’t recognized in the schools.

From there, several students, including Kassay and Humbi Song, a 2009 graduate of the high school, began working to raise understanding of Arab and Muslim culture at the high school and then advocating for a day off from school on a Muslim holiday.

Song, who is not Muslim, said she tried to promote awareness about Islam at the high school in part because she had Muslim friends who had been made fun of for their religious clothing and headwear. She said she thinks some students were uneducated about Muslim culture.

Erlien said she thinks closing schools on the holiday will help build connections with Muslims in Cambridge.

“As their kids come home and say, ‘Oh, look, we now have a holiday,’ the parents might begin to feel safer here,’’ Erlien said.

But McGovern said he’s sure there will be some people who think closing school for a Muslim holiday is a terrible idea.

“Can’t please everybody,’’ he said. “You have to do what you think is right.’’

Real officers wear pink in Milton.

Milton PD supports breast cancer research with fundraising wristbands.

MILTON, GA., Oct. 11, 2010 - Residents might have noticed a trend among Milton's patrolling police officers this October - pink wristbands. No, it's not a standard part of the uniform. But it is an important one, nonetheless.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And the City of Milton Police Department is doing its part by not only wearing the wristbands, but selling them, too.

All funds collected from selling the wristbands will go to breast cancer research, said Milton Community Outreach Officer Andrew Phillips. They are available for $2 at City Hall (13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107F) and Milton Fire Station No. 43 (750 Hickory Flat Road).

The wristbands may also be purchased directly from Phillips, who is available by phone at 678-242-2505 or e-mail at andrew.phillips@cityofmiltonga.us.

"This cause is very dear to a few of our officers who have had family members go through the ordeal of breast cancer," said Phillips. "We're happy to show our citizens that real men, and real ladies, wear pink."

Milton pays its way while preserving pastures.

By Patrick Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Say "commercial growth" in Milton, and everyone's ears perk up.
Small wonder.

The city's 38 square miles include some of the most pastoral horse farms and pastureland in metro Atlanta. A key reason many people voted to incorporate in 2007 was to take the reins of zoning from Fulton County.

While neighboring cities such as Johns Creek and Alpharetta go out of their way to attract business, Milton continues to guard its growth.

Consider:
-- The city council deadlocked 3-3 last month on a zoning ordinance that would have essentially prohibited any new gas stations or convenience stores. The measure is due for more discussion later this year.
-- In August, the council passed an ordinance placing a long list of restrictions on new cell towers, including detailed line-of-sight studies, an application fee and liability for up to $7,500 in engineering or consulting costs incurred by the city.
-- More than 85 percent of the land inside the city is zoned residential or agricultural. The city's sewer system likewise supports 14 percent of the city's acreage. The remainder is on septic tanks.

Governments traditionally encourage business development because, on the whole, it is more valuable than residential property. More commercial value brings in more tax revenue and helps offset the tax burden on homeowners.

But, Milton may have found a way to turn that on its head.

By preserving the aesthetics of a rural community, the value of property actually can increase, said Milton City Council member Julie Zahner Bailey, a champion of preserving the city's pastoral posture.

Milton falls in one of only two ZIP codes in Fulton County to show an increase in value this year. The value in the 30004 ZIP was up 3 percent, while the county's overall tax digest fell 9 percent from last year.

Bailey likes to add that she is also a champion of appropriate growth.

"Of course commercial areas are important to Milton," she said. "They, too, are part of the character of the city."

At the same time, she added, citizens have indicated there are some characteristics uniquely important to the community, characteristics that require careful planning in commercial growth.
Milton businessman Mike Moss has his own ideas about the city's attitude toward commercial growth. He said he favors a moderate tack that encourages smart growth, like the developments in Crabapple in the southwest section of the city. The area features office space, medical offices, restaurants, retail services mixed with town homes and single-family homes.

"We have to work with and through business," Moss said. "We shouldn't just block them out."
Commercial property also can also be offset by large residential tracts, like horse farms.
Large tracts reduce the impact of homestead exemptions on property, said Fulton County chief appraiser Burt Manning.

Milton offers a basic $15,000 off the assessed value of an owner-occupied home. Large properties, like farms, get only the one exemption, whereas three homes on the same amount of land would get three exemptions, or a combined $45,000, Manning said.

Mayor Joe Lockwood said Milton can sustain itself by operating as any smart household, within a budget.

"There's no doubt in my mind that the difference between when we were Fulton County and became the city of Milton, we can all day long get the same service for the same dollar that we were getting before," he said.

The trick now is managing expectations.

"What we have to consider is now that we're a city, a lot of our residents expect more, parks, infrastructure things like that," he said.

Milton's fiscal 2011 budget calls for $17.4 million in spending, down about $400,000 from last year. The city levies 4.731 mills on property. By city charter, that rate cannot rise without a special referendum.

City Manager Chris Lagerbloom said Milton has been able to exceed the services residents had lived with under Fulton County government by focusing money within the city limits. Federal and state grants can be directed to help pay for local, rather than countywide, projects, he said.
"That bar keeps going up as it should," Lagerbloom said. "But as the bar goes up, along with that bar is the need for additional funding to manage the expectations."

Lagerbloom said there are at least two potential sources of additional funding outside of property taxes.

First, the city receives its portion of the local option sales tax, $3.5 million, based on an official population of 15,000. That estimate is way off, said city officials, who put the actual count at more than 30,000.

When the new census numbers come out later this year, receipts may not double but they should grow substantially, Lagerbloom said.

Impact fees are another source of possible revenue the city is studying, Lagerbloom said.
"They're not fun to talk about, but they're easier to talk about in a non-election year," he said.
Impact fees for transportation would be assessed against those that are causing the roads to be used more frequently, like a business, Lagerbloom said. If a business is expected to draw more traffic on a street, he said, the business should help pay for its upkeep.

The city already charges a usage fee for garbage haulers to help defray the costs of maintaining roads.

"Realistically, we could always use more money to put into our roads," Mayor Lockwood said. "But if you compare, look 10 years ahead, I think we'll be ahead of where the county would have been if we weren't here as a city."

Commercial digest in north Fulton cities*
Sandy Springs -- $2.9 billion
Roswell -- $1.2 billion
Alpharetta -- $2.5 billion
Johns Creek -- $847 million
Milton -- $348 million
Mountain Park -- $13.7 million

*Figures are assessed value, meaning they are 40 percent of fair market value.

Car versus bike crash leads to driver versus rider debate.

NOTE: Due to the popularity of the story posted earlier regarding a cyclist wreck which involved a vehicle in Augusta, we thought the follow up article might be of interest to our readers.

By Ty Tagami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A crash involving an SUV and a group of cyclists near Augusta has led to a cultural collision between people who want to use the roads for exercise and others who just want to get where they're going.

Daniel Johnson, 41, was driving near his home on rural Beech Island Avenue in South Carolina last week when he ran into a group of recreational cyclists from Augusta.

The crash injured five of the bike riders, sending one to the hospital with a brain injury.

Matthew Burke, 37, an orthopedic surgeon from Fort Gordon who survived a tour of duty in Iraq in 2009 and became a father this year, was fighting for his life after the recreational ride.

While he lay in the hospital, proponents and opponents of cycling were clashing on the radio and on the Internet. Many noted the inherent danger when cars must share the road with slower-moving bicycles. Others pointed out that drivers are obliged to control their vehicles and give cyclists wide berth when passing.

It's gotten downright nasty, with people from Beech Island complaining that the Augustans should stay in their own state: "The bike riders broke the law and this poor driver is paying the price. If I was on the jury working this case I could not find him guilty. No way in hell," one person wrote in an anonymous post on the website of The Augusta Chronicle. "I live in Beech Island and I love this place, I can understand why people want to ride here yet, I just can't bring myself to care about bike riders."

Beech Island Avenue is curvy in parts and straight in others. Johnson's father, also named Daniel, has openly questioned why the riders chose that road, telling the Chronicle that it is "crooks and turns, and it's narrow."

Scott Moore was among the injured cyclists. He told the AJC Friday that the criticism has been hard to take. He said the crash occurred on a straight section of the two-lane road and that the group was riding two abreast at the side of the road and that it was a straight stretch.

Moore, 39, said he and the other cyclists just want to stay physically fit and that the South Carolina roads, which are an easy jaunt from downtown Augusta, offer scenic and challenging terrain.

"It's almost like we're portrayed as a bunch of Hell's Angels terrorizing the roads of Beech Island," he said.

Moore was riding alongside Burke at the back of the group of about 15 riders when Johnson hit them from behind with a Dodge Durango.

The collision left Moore with bruises and scrapes on the left side of his body. He landed on the road and when he looked up, he saw that Burke had been tossed about 40 feet ahead. He limped over to Burke and saw his chest heaving, and his face covered in blood.

"I just knelt down, put my hand over his leg and prayed for him," Moore said. "I thought he was dead."

Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the South Carolina Highway Patrol told the AJC Friday that no charges have been filed against the driver. Robinson previously said that Johnson admitted he wasn't paying attention when he drove into the cyclists.

Investigators told Robinson that Johnson was "distracted" at the time of the crash, but they didn't elaborate, Robinson said.

Moore said the driver could just as easily have hit a pedestrian, yet the incident has led him to reconsider the risks of cycling.

A father of five, he said he is not sure he'll ride a bike out on the open the road again. His 12-year-old son was with his wife when she collected him from the crash scene.

"He saw the blood on the road, and that really tore him up," Moore said.

"I used to be a cop. I've been involved in a lot of dangerous things. But this was the first near-death experience I've had."

Welcome To Bethany Road!

Double Click To Enlarge Screen.

"Welcome to Bethany Road; the Southeastern gateway to beautiful Milton, Georgia!

This open road neighborhood is home to 44 families; from newborns to seniors in their 90's!

'Isn't Bethany Road beautiful?', a Milton Council Member recently asked, 'it is truly the epitome of the clean, neighborly, rural lifestyle that we have worked so hard to promote and protect!'

With speeds in the 70mph range, annual vehicular fatalities, constant road-side trash and noise pollution to boot; the open road neighborhood of Bethany is the perfect place!"

Time To Laugh.

Double Click To Enlarge Screen.

Get rid of bulky trash for free on Oct. 30.

By Ralph Ellis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Residents of Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton can dispose of bulky trash items for free from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Roswell Public Works Division at 1810 Hembree Road.

Proof of residency will be required. Utility bills are preferred. Roswell residents with a city window decal do not need any other form of identification.

Acceptable items include tires off the rim, sofas, tables, refrigerators, chairs, washers and dryers, televisions and deactivated cell phones. Items that won’t be accepted include paint, household hazardous waste, motor oil and antifreeze, household batteries, construction and demolition materials and yard waste.

For more information, Roswell residents should call 770-641-3715 or e-mail jliberman@roswellgov.com. Alpharetta and Milton residents should call 678-297-6200 or e-mail tporter@alpharetta.ga.us.

Studio One To One Announces Body Balance Challenge with a $700 Prize.

Studio One to One announced the launch of the Body Balance Challenge, an 8-week nutrition and exercise challenge exclusively for Milton residents. Only 15 people will be accepted into the challenge. Once qualified, participants only need to pay $5 to put the first two weeks of the Body Balance Challenge to the test. Participants who accept the 8-week challenge can expect a physical and emotional transformation, and have a chance of $700 "best transformation" prize.

Elaina Smith, owner, says "If your body is out of balance, then your life is out of balance. I've seen it happen myself. When I take care of my body, everything else falls into place. And I've seen it happen with more clients than you'd ever imagine."

Body Balance Challenge will provide a highly structured, highly personalized 8-week nutrition and exercise program -- no more guesswork about how to get the weight loss, fat loss and fitness results you want in the shortest time possible.

The challenge is accepting entries through October 15th. Visit http://bbc.viprespond.com for complete details and registration form. -- Elaina Smith
Studio One to Onewww.MiltonTraining.com(678)367-3619Visit Our Blog: www.studio-onetoone.com/wordpress

To find out more about Studio One To One on Accessmilton.com, click here=>

http://www.accessmilton.com/Advertisers/StudioOneToOne.php

Free fitness sessions offered Oct. 15.

Spaces remain for city-sponsored camps

MILTON, GA., Oct. 7, 2010 - The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department and Milton-based CorePhysique today announced there will be free sessions on Friday, Oct. 15 for residents interested in joining the city's inaugural fitness camps.

Those curious about the camps, which are hosted at Bell Memorial Park (15245 Bell Park Road), can experience them first-hand at no charge Oct. 15 in each of the offered sessions: 5:45, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. They will be hosted by Milton resident and mother of three Kolleen Riddick, a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist.

"I've heard a lot of good feedback since we announced the city-sponsored program," said Riddick, "so I figured giving a free session would help give everyone an idea of what we're offering."

Riddick said participants in the free sessions need only bring water, a mat and hand weights. No prior registration is needed, and all Milton residents are invited.

The camps, offered in four separate sessions three times a week, will start Monday, Oct. 18. Riddick said there are still spots available in each of the times offered. However, residents looking to enroll in the 7:30 and 9:15 a.m. sessions should act quickly, as they are nearly full.

For Milton residents, the four week camps (12 full sessions) will be offered at a special rate of $90. For non-residents the cost rises to $120. The price includes an informational booklet and personal fitness journal, nutrition coaching and enrollment in one of four camps:

Early Riser: 5:45 a.m.
Just Right: 7:30 a.m.
New session: 8:30 a.m.
Late Riser: 9:15 a.m.

Please note that camps are limited to just 30 participants per session.

A great value - just $7.50 per 45-minute session - each camp includes a warm-up and workout that combines strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility exercises.

To sign up, visit www.corephysique.net and click on the "Boot Camp" link or call 770-752-3159.

You may also click here.

For more information, call Cyndee Bonacci, Milton's Director of Parks and Recreation at 678-242-2489 or e-mail cyndee.bonacci@cityofmiltonga.us.

Verizon donates to Fallen Soldiers Memorial.

by Bob Pepalis / Appen Newspapers

Milton – Denny Thibault has been missing some days and weeks from work, but his employer, Gordon Cook, doesn't mind. Thibault is an RF engineer for Verizon Wireless, but he also serves as a captain in the Ga. Army National Guard.

Earlier this year, Thibault, a Forsyth County resident, returned to work from a second tour of duty. But not all the soldiers in the 1st Squadron-108th Cavalry returned. In their memory, the 108th Memorial Fund created the 1-108th Cavalry Fallen Soldiers Memorial at the Calhoun National Guard Armory, where the battalion's headquarters are located.

On Sept. 22, Verizon Wireless donated $2,000 to the memorial, to honor the memory of fallen troops and in thanksgiving for those who serve the country, including the company's employees.

The support he's been given led Thibault to nominate his boss, Gordon Cook, for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award. Cook was given that award, which is in recognition as an outstanding employer who supports a strong National Guard and Reserve force. Employers are required by law to provide a certain level of support, but it takes a much higher level to earn this award.

"There's no question, no doubt in my mind if Verizon weren't as supportive as they are, I could not be in the National Guard and still support my family and keep my job," Thibault said. "They go above and beyond the minimums of the law in every way. They've been nothing but supportive through my two deployments."

The check Verizon Wireless gave to the Fallen Soldiers Memorial is an example of how Thibault said his employer goes so much farther than anybody expects from an employer.

Capt. Geoffrey Miller of the 1-108th Cavalry also thanked Verizon Wireless for the donation.

"Getting a donation like this from a company as large as Verizon is very important – it's important to us, and it's important to the families and children of those we lost in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2005 and 2006," Miller said.

The soldiers just returned from a deployment in March and wanted to do something different that hadn't been seen in Georgia before, building a memorial at the armory site in Calhoun.

"Companies like Verizon are allowing us to do that," Miller said.

Thibault's responsibilities have grown within the Guard, as he is about to assume command of B Troop in Canton.

Keeping your fire hydrants safe.

by Jonathan Copsey / Appen Newspapers

Milton – There are about 3,000 fire hydrants in the city of Milton. And it is Lt. Bruce Borders' job to make sure they all get inspected throughout the year.

A 38-year veteran firefighter, Borders organizes the Milton Fire Department's biannual check on the city's fire hydrants. In both the spring and the fall, the entire department spends two or three weeks checking each of the hydrants to make sure they work properly and have no problems.

Borders started his career in fire fighting when he was on summer break from college, working a summer job at what is now MARTA.

"I saw a fire across the street," said Borders. "Watching those guys fight that fire was amazing. It looked like fun."

It turned out a friend of his was a firefighter part-time. He suggested that Borders try out for an open position with the department. He did. Thus, began a lifetime career that took Borders through the Atlanta and Cherokee County fire departments before bringing him to Milton.

So how do you check a hydrant, anyway? The firefighter checks for leaks and water pressure, looks for signs of damage, and then flushes the hydrant to loosen any particles or sediment out from the pipe. This debris builds up throughout the year. If there's no problem found, the hydrant is given a lick of silver, reflective paint.

If there is a problem, the owner is contacted. Fulton County owns the vast majority of hydrants. The county's water authority handles all public hydrant repairs in the county. If a hydrant is leaking or needs repairs, the county will organize a replacement.

With the size of the crew used and budget cuts, Borders says it takes the county about six months to complete the repairs. He says it is very rare for a hydrant to be broken to the point of being inoperable, such as if a vehicle hits it. Those, the county fixes very quickly.

While being without a working fire hydrant for up to six months may sound scary, Borders isn't worried; there are plenty of fallbacks, the simplest of which is that, for most residents, there's another hydrant just a few hundred yards down the road. Failing that, many of the fire trucks carry water with them to calls.

"[A broken hydrant] makes a lot more work for us, but generally, a hydrant is close enough," Borders said.

Even so, a broken hydrant does not mean it cannot be used. Leaking or low-pressure hydrants can still be used to fight fires.

"They rarely break to the point where we can't use them," Borders said.

For those broken hydrants not owned by Fulton County or the city, the owners are notified and expected to fix them at their own expense. These are typically homeowners' associations or businesses.

A word of helpful advice from Borders: many people try to hide hydrants that are in their yards from view by placing bushes or plants around them, thinking them unsightly. This is a bad idea. If you can't see a hydrant from the road, neither can a firefighter who's looking for a place to hook up his water hose when your house is on fire.

"When you're landscaping your yard, you need to keep access open to the hydrant, and it has to be visible from the street," said Borders. "And please don't put a sticker bush near it."

Milton Fire raises $48,715 for MDA.

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

Milton - The Milton Fire Department raised just over $48,715 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during a month's-worth of "Fill the Boot" drives in the area.

Milton's firefighters were second only to the Warner Robins Fire Department, which raises money throughout the year, said Angela Brown, fundraiser coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. With its total, Milton topped the fundraising efforts of more than 70 departments throughout the state.

Despite a battered economy, Milton's citizens gave more in 2010 than in the previous drive, beating last year's total of $48,000.

In just four years, the Milton Fire Department has raised more than $161,000 for MDA, which uses the money to aid local children and adults affected by neuromuscular diseases. MDA provides wheelchairs, leg braces, clinic visits, support groups and a chance for children to attend Camp Walk-N-Roll.

"Milton firefighters are truly heroes for MDA," said Brown. "The dedication and heart they have while collecting on the streets during some of the hottest days of the summer is extraordinary. MDA is so thankful to have their support."

Milton Fire Chief Robert Edgar said each of the three shifts in Milton's fire service competed against each other to raise the most money. The victors, A shift, received this year's trophy for the most money collected in one day, after raising $12,600, he said.

"I am very proud of our firefighters for joining their peers across the nation in the annual MDA 'Fill the Boot' drive," said Edgar. "It was certainly a selfless act by Milton firefighters, who endured extreme temperatures."

But they couldn't have done it without the passing motorists who gave what they could.

"This year's success is also due to the generosity of our citizens and visitors of the city of Milton," he said. "Thank you to all."

2nd Annual Milton Mayor's Run to be held Oct. 16.

Peachtree qualifier is flat and fast

MILTON, GA., Oct. 6, 2010 - Attention to those Miltonians with fleet feet: The 2nd Annual Milton Mayor's Run will be held Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Kohl's on Ga. 9.
The 5K (3.1 mile) race, which begins at 8 a.m., will circle Deerfield Parkway beginning and ending in Kohl's parking lot on the Deerfield entrance side.
Click here for directions.

According to race organizers, it is a flat, fast course that is perfect for runners looking to chalk up a good time for the Peachtree Road Race. There will also be a 1K fun run.

Cost for participation is $20 if received before Oct. 11 and $25 after. That fee includes plenty of food and fluids after the race. All participants receive a quality, moisture-wicking T-shirt with an event logo designed by Milton resident Andrew Furman, founder and president of Roswell-based Apparel Image.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Milton Parks and Recreation Department.
To download the participant application, click here.

"We are very excited to work with the City of Milton for a second year in a row on this race," said race organizer Zach Middlebrooks. "We're hoping that plenty of Milton runners will join us for a great morning of fun."

For more information, contact Milton Parks and Recreation Director Cyndee Bonacci at 678-242-2489 or cyndee.bonacci@cityofmiltonga.us. You may also contact race organizer Pacesetters P.R. with questions by e-mailing pacesetr@bellsouth.net.

The 2nd Annual Milton Mayor's Run is sponsored by North Point Pediatrics, Georgia's Own Credit Union, Exide Technologies, S&ME, Kohl's, Foresite Group, Metro Group Development, CVS, Meade Family Chiropractic, It's My Party Rentals and Big Peach Running Company.

North Fulton’s most dangerous intersections named.

By Rachel Kellogg / Neighbor Newspapers

Providence/New Providence at Ga. 372 in Milton, Holcomb Bridge Road at Market Blvd. in Roswell and State Bridge Road at Medlock Bridge Road are among the most dangerous intersections in north Fulton, according to city officials.

According to Steve Acenbrak, director of transportation for Roswell, based on 2009 data that was analyzed, the intersection at Holcomb Bridge Road and Market Boulevard, which is also the entrance to the Kimberly-Clark campus, has the most accidents when considering the volume of traffic.

There were 62 accidents here in 2009 with 11 injuries and no fatalities, and in 2007, there were 79 accidents with 30 injuries.

“[Most of the accidents at this location] are rear end and side swipes. These types of accidents are common during over saturated traffic conditions,” Acenbrak said. “The cause of congestion is the extremely heavy traffic flowing to or from Ga. 400. The eastbound traffic at this intersection is approaching a lane drop at the down stream intersection of Old Alabama Road which adds to the problem.”

But the city has been working toward fixing the problems at this intersection.

“Design work is in progress for an Advanced Traffic Management System on this corridor which will improve the traffic flow,” Acenbrak said. “We are conducting an internal study to address the congestion at Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road interchange.”

Acenbrak said the city is also on the verge of advertising for an engineering consultant to perform a comprehensive corridor study on Holcomb Bridge Road from Warsaw Road to Holcomb Woods Parkway.

“The study will address new configuration options for the interchange, as well as provide options which seek to improve safety and capacity at Market Blvd as well as the remainder of Holcomb Bridge Road,” he said. “A long-term project to relieve congestion on Holcomb Bridge Road is the Big Creek Bridge Road project, a parallel facility over Ga. 400 between the interchanges of Holcomb Bridge Road and Mansell Road.”

According to the Milton Police, the intersection with the most number of accidents in the past six months was the intersection of Ga. 372/Birmingham Highway at Providence Road/New Providence Road, with 10 accidents.

In October 2009 Milton received approval from Georgia Department of Transportation to proceed with the process started by Fulton County of redesigning the intersection.

“The project consists of realigning the intersection approximately 300 feet to the north such that intersecting skew angle with Ga. 372 is 80 degrees, improving the vertical sight distance along Ga. 372. The existing non-signalized four-way intersection will be replaced with a roundabout,” said Sara Leaders, transportation engineer for Milton.

According to Johns Creek’s monthly COPS Connect newsletter, the top intersection for accidents for the past three months has been State Bridge Road at Medlock Bridge Road.

Campaign 2011 One Year Away...

Time to start stockpiling popcorn...

MILTON - Next year this month, Milton will be holding it's third city election.

With seats 2, 4, and 6 up for grabs, current Council Members Zahner Bailey, Hewitt, and Tart will have their work cut out for them.

Earlier this year, Accessmilton.com conducted an impromptu poll; each asking if citizens cast their votes that day, where would their support lie. For those unaware, only Burt Hewitt came away the victor from those results. While the polls can be manipulated, Accessmilton.com has never been wrong in predicting the winners of council seats thanks to our readers.

If you are a resident who is not pulling for any one of the incumbants, who would you nominate to take their seats instead?

Have your say in the comments section below.

Walmart Wednesday.

"Yeah sure, let’s go ahead and show off the fact that you stole Mrs. Clause’s negligee."

Courtesy www.peopleofwalmart.com

Cyclist seriously injured when hit by SUV during group ride.

NOTE: While not actually taking place in Milton, we thought the follow article might be of interest when considering the numerous cyclists riding in our open road neighborhoods today.

By Ty Tagami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A military surgeon from Fort Gordon served a tour of duty in Iraq, but on Monday he was fighting for his life after a recreational bicycle ride back home.

Matthew Burke, 37, of Augusta, was with a group of people riding on a rural South Carolina road just across the state line when a man in an SUV hit them from behind Friday evening.

"We don't have any long-term prognosis," his brother Paul said Monday.

Burke, an orthopedic surgeon who served in Iraq in 2009, is married and has a 7-month-old daughter, his brother said.

He suffered brain trauma and has been unconscious, said his brother, who spoke to the AJC by telephone from the waiting room of Medical College of Georgia. "It's a very serious situation."

The collision occurred on Beech Island Avenue, a scenic byway that is popular among cyclists in Augusta, in part because of the light traffic.

The driver, Daniel Johnson, 41, lives in the area, said Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Johnson told investigators that he was not paying attention while driving, Robinson told the AJC. The corporal, who is a highway patrol spokesman, said the investigators did not tell him what had preoccupied Johnson.

"They just said he was distracted," Robinson said.

Johnson was not arrested and, as of Monday, had not been charged with a crime. The case remains under investigation.

Four other cyclists were hit, too. Robinson didn't know their conditions, but Paul Burke said all had been treated for their wounds and none was hospitalized as of Monday.

The cyclists had departed from an Augusta bike shop for a regularly scheduled ride that leaves at 6:15 p.m.

Matthew Burke was at the back of the pack about half an hour later when the group hit an incline and slowed to a conversational pace, said Randy DuTeau, an avid cyclist who knows Burke and spoke with cyclists who witnessed the incident.

DuTeau, who is the sports development manager for the Augusta Sports Council, is also familiar with the stretch of road where the crash occurred. He described it as two lanes wide with good visibility.

"It's basically a straight shot for, I'm guessing, over a mile," he told the AJC.

Johnson's father gave a different description. He lives with his son near the incident scene, according to The Augusta Chronicle.

The father, also named Daniel, questioned why cyclists chose that road, according to an article published on the Chronicle's website Sunday. He said it had "crooks and turns, and it's narrow."

The elder Johnson also said he and his family were distraught over what happened.

"It's a terrible situation; we don't know what to do or say," he said. "We just keep praying for [Burke]."

Cycling is growing in popularity in Augusta. The city recently hosted a half Iron Man triathlon that attracted thousands of competitors.

DuTeau said that has created a growing friction between cyclists out for exercise and drivers who just want to get where they're going.

He said cyclists need to obey the law, and so should drivers.