Happy Halloween!

Courtesy Yahoo.com

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays of the year. Many fun facts and trivia are associated with Halloween. Read on to learn ten trivia facts about Halloween.

Halloween Trivia Fact #1

Halloween was actually a Celtic holiday. It was originally called Samhain meaning "end of summer". In ancient Celtic Ireland, October 31st marked the official end of summer.

Halloween Trivia Fact #2

Potatoes and turnips were the original Jack-O-Lanterns. Irish children would carve and light them to use during the gatherings on Halloween.

Halloween Trivia Fact #3

Trick or treating had its roots in Europe. The custom known as "souling" dates back to the 9th century. On All Soul's Day which is November 2nd, the poor would walk through the villages and go door to door begging for food. They would be given "soul cakes" which is a type of pastry made from bread and currants. They would promise to pray for dead relatives in return for receiving the "soul cakes".

Halloween Trivia Fact #4

Pumpkins are a major part of Halloween. They are a member of the gourd family which includes squash, cucumbers and melons. Pumpkins are a type of squash. Many people think of them as vegetables, but from a biological standpoint they are a fruit because they come from a flower and have seeds in them.

Halloween Trivia Fact #5

Black and orange are the colors that go hand in hand when it comes to Halloween. This makes perfect sense because black is the color associated with death and darkness, and orange is the color associated with the autumn harvest.

Halloween Trivia Fact #6

Can you think of a word that rhymes with orange? It may be a popular color for Halloween, but don't try writing a rhyming poem with the word orange. Even if you use a dictionary, you won't find any words to rhyme with orange.

Halloween Trivia Fact #7

Halloween is the number two holiday in terms of commercial success. It's no surprise that Christmas is number one. Over four billion dollars is spent annually during the Halloween season. The majority of that money is spent on costumes, candy, parties, and decorations.

Halloween Trivia Fact #8

Chocolate candy bars are the most popular item to give trick-or-treaters. Which candy bar is the most popular? It's debatable and varies, depending on what website you research and who you ask. There are so many delicious chocolate candy bars, it's hard to choose. What's your favorite?

Halloween Trivia Fact #9

Approximately two billion dollars is spent annually on Halloween candy in the United States. That's a lot of Snickers bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Halloween Trivia Fact #10

Although Halloween is generally thought of as a fun holiday, some people have a fear of Halloween. If a person has an extreme, intense, or irrational fear of Halloween, they may be suffering from a condition known as samhainophobia. You can read more about this condition by reading L. Vincent Poupard's article entitled "Do you Suffer from Samhainophobia, the Fear of Halloween?".

As you can see, Halloween is a holiday rich in history, facts, and trivia. Share these ten trivia facts about Halloween with your family and friends. Have a Happy Halloween!

Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Courtesy Milton Police Department

The Milton Police Department wishes all residents a happy, fun and safe Halloween, said Police Chief Deborah Harrell, and as such has issued a list of tips to keep trick-or-treaters safe this Oct. 31.

The Costume

Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls. Use make-up instead of a mask. Masks often obstruct a child's vision, making tasks like crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous. Make sure children wear light colors, put reflective tape on their costumes, or carry flashlights and/or glow sticks. The chances of a child getting hit by a car increase by four times on Halloween, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The Trick or Treating

Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends, never alone, and carry a cell phone for emergencies. Parents should map out a safe route and stress staying in well-lighted, populated areas. Young children should be accompanied by adults. Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on. Remind children not to enter the homes or cars of strangers. Instruct them to scream and run if a stranger stops them and offers them candy to get in a vehicle. Follow your community’s trick-or-treating hours (generally early afternoon to 9 p.m. in Milton, though this varies by neighborhood, so check with your neighbors or homeowners’ association).

A good alternative to “trick-or-treating” is for parents to organize parties at home, in schools, or in community centers. If driving your children from neighborhood to neighborhood, be extra careful and: Place something highly visible on your car (like an electric Jack-O-Lantern) so your child does not accidentally get in another person’s vehicle Drive below the posted speed limit Do not text or use a cell phone Do not pass stopped cars, as they may be letting out children Park in a safe spot and use hazard lights while dropping children off

The Treats

Remind children not to eat any of their treats until they get home. Parents should check all treats at home in a well-lighted area and dispose of anything that seems to have been tampered with, has been opened, or is not wrapped. Remember to also inspect fruits for anything suspicious. As always, the City of Milton Police Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist residents. In an emergency, always call 911. Otherwise, dial 678-297-6300 Option 1 for the non-emergency dispatch line or visit the department’s Facebook page by clicking here.

Milton grandmother faces DUI charge.

Click here for video on this story.

By Christopher Seward The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Milton grandmother, who police say was driving erratically with a child in the front seat, was out on bond Wednesday after a weekend arrest on a DUI charge.

Police told Channel 2 Action News that Cui Chen, 46, was pulled over around 5:30 p.m. Saturday on Ga. 9 after a call to 911 about a woman “walking in a daze” and trying to get into several cars in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on Windward Parkway.

According to the police report, Chen was with her 3-year-old grandson in the parking lot. The child accidently hit another car with a shopping cart and when the owner confronted Chen, the grandmother “just stared,” the report said, citing a witness.

The police report said Chen finally got into a white Honda Accord, backed out, and several times drove short distances and stopped before leaving the parking lot.

By the time a Milton officer arrived at the Wal-Mart, the Accord had left and was headed down Ga. 9. After initially refusing to stop, police said the Accord, which had crossed the double lines, finally pulled into a CVS parking lot.

The officer said he found Chen behind the wheel and her grandson restrained in the front seat.

When she was asked to exit the car, the officer said Chen stumbled.

“She had trouble steadying herself and appeared physically intoxicated at the time,” Milton police Capt. Shawn McCarty told Channel 2.

After a sobriety test, Chen, who told the officer she couldn’t speak English, was taken into custody.

“It’s bad enough to have someone driving intoxicated with a child, but also to not have the child properly restrained,” McCarty said.

Family friend Shaoting Wang was called to pick the child up after Chen’s arrest. He told Channel 2 the woman does not drink or do drugs and may have been suffering from low blood sugar. The child’s parents were out of the country and the grandmother was taking care of him, the friend said.

Ferrari teen driver dies from injuries in Alpharetta crash.

AM NOTE: Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Akshay Panducherry, 18, crashed Oct. 19 after his car left Webb Bridge Road in north Fulton near Alpharetta High School.

By Christopher Seward The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The teenage driver of a Ferrari that crashed in flames last week in Alpharetta died Wednesday, police said.

Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon said Alpharetta resident Akshay Panducherry died from injuries received in the Oct. 19 wreck. Panducherry suffered burns over 80 percent of his body and was being treated at the burn unit at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Also seriously burned was a passenger, Harshavardhan Patlolla, 21, of Alpharetta. Relatives identified the two men as cousins, according to Channel 2 Action News. Patlolla remained hospitalized.

A “high rate of speed” was a factor in the accident, Gordon said after the accident.

Ferraris are equipped with a black box, similar to the devices found in airplanes, but Gordon said investigators could not get any information from it.

“The vehicle did contain the black box but it was destroyed by fire,” Gordon said Wednesday. “However, our crash team investigators will identify adequately the speed of the vehicle at the time of the crash.”

The F430, which was manufactured from 2004 to 2009, has an estimated top speed near 200 mph, according to Road & Track magazine. Police, however, have not speculated how fast Panducherry was driving.

The wreck occurred on Webb Bridge Road in north Fulton near Alpharetta High School. The car was traveling eastbound on Webb Bridge Road just before 4 a.m. when the crash occurred. Gordon told news media the driver narrowly missed a bridge abutment while leaving the roadway.

Police found the car about 60 yards into a wood line, engulfed in flames. Gordon said Panducherry and Patlolla crawled out of the car after the crash.

The high-powered Italian sports car was a birthday gift Panducherry had received from his father a week earlier, according to Channel 2.

Gordon said the investigation into the accident continued.

Hopewell/Birmingham intersection comments welcome.

By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton will improve the intersection of Hopewell and Birmingham roads, and residents now have the opportunity to provide comments on proposed plans for the work.

To view concept alternatives for the intersection improvements and make comments, visit http://miltonintersectionprojects.com/birmingham-road-at-hopewell-road. Here you will find project information and displays, as well as traffic simulations and a comment form that goes directly to Sara Leaders, traffic engineer for the City of Milton.

In addition to the online options, residents have to chance to view the improvement concepts in person Wednesday, Nov. 14 at an open house held in City Council Chambers at Milton’s City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, suite 107 E (click here for more information, click here for directions). The open house will last from 5 to 6 p.m.

Following the open house, the Milton City Council will hold its monthly work session, during which there will be an agenda item for a presentation on the intersection improvements.

“We hope you will take advantage of one of these opportunities to let the city know your view of the proposals,” said Leaders.

For more information on this project on the public meeting, contact Leaders at sara.leaders@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2559.

Council honors firefighters for saving life

The Mills thank the firefighters who saved Barton Mills' life.

Courtesy Milton Fire Department

At its Oct. 15 meeting, Milton’s City Council and the City of Milton Fire-Rescue Department honored Capt. John Cunningham, Fire Apparatus Operator Fred Barnes and Firefighter Paramedic Walker Mann for saving the life of Milton resident Barton Mills.

On Sept. 17 the three firefighters, at the time serving on Engine 43, responded to an emergency call of a man having trouble breathing. Within five minutes they were in the Mills’ home, where they found Barton with no pulse and barely breathing.

The firefighters immediately began CPR and started monitoring Mills, discerning his heart had stopped. They were able to get his heart beating again and assist with his breathing.

The firefighters rode with Mills to North Fulton Regional Hospital, where he was eventually released and able to return to his normal life.

At the meeting, the firefighters gave Mills a City of Milton Fire-Rescue Department hat signed by Cunningham, Barnes and Mann. They have all become close after the harrowing incident, with the Mills family spending time at Milton fire stations learning what it takes to be a firefighter.

“It’s just a great honor to be here tonight with these incredible men,” said Joanne Mills while fighting back tears. “They are people who devote themselves to the service of others.”

“I know for these gentlemen, it’s their job, but for us it was a life changing experience,” said Barton. “When my 18-year-old daughter throws her arms around me and doesn’t want to let go, I don’t know how you thank anybody for that – for giving me the gift of life.”

2 in Ferrari crash remain in Grady burn unit.

By Christopher Seward The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two north Fulton County cousins critically injured in a fiery Ferrari crash remained in the Grady Memorial Hospital burn unit Saturday.

The owner and driver of the red Ferrari F430, Akshay Panducherry, 18, of Alpharetta, was burned over 80 percent of his body. Also seriously burned was a passenger, Harshavardhan Patlolla, 21, of Alpharetta. Relatives identified the two men as cousins, according to Channel 2 Action News.

The Italian sports car was a birthday gift Panducherry had received from his father a week ago, according to Channel 2.

The accident occurred early Friday on Webb Bridge Road in north Fulton near Alpharetta High School. Police found the car about 60 yards into a wood line, fully engulfed.

Police spokesman George Gordon told the AJC that Panducherry and Patlolla crawled out of the car after the crash but sustained significant injuries.

“We know that a high rate of speed was a contributing factor in this crash,” Gordon said. The F430, which was manufactured from 2004 to 2009, has an estimated top speed near 200 mph, according to Road & Track magazine. Police, however, have not said how fast Panducherry may have been driving.

The car was traveling eastbound on Webb Bridge Road just before 4 a.m. when the crash occurred. Gordon told news media the driver narrowly missed a bridge abutment while leaving the roadway.

“The vehicle itself is totally destroyed,” Gordon said Friday. “It went completely up in flames and it basically is not recognizable as a vehicle at this point.”

Efforts were being made Saturday to reach police on the investigation.

Staff writer Mike Morris and photographer John Spink contributed to this report.

So..What Does a Ferrari F430 Look Like Sans Wreck?

Crashed Ferrari was gift from driver’s dad.

By Mike Morris and John Spink The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Ferrari that crashed and burned Friday morning in north Fulton, critically injuring the two people inside, was a gift to the 18-year-old driver from has father.

Channel 2 Action News reported that Akshay Panducherry, 18, of Alpharetta, who was burned over 80 percent of his body, was given the Italian sports car last week.

His passenger, Harshavardhan Patlolla, 21, of Alpharetta was also critically injured.

Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon told the AJC that authorities initially got a call just before 4 a.m. about a possible brush fire on Webb Bridge Road near Alpharetta High School.

“Unfortunately, when our police officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the fire was actually caused by a single-vehicle crash,” Gordon said. “They found a red Ferrari that was on fire approximately 60 yards into a wood line.”

Gordon said that the two men inside the Ferrari had crawled out of the car, but had sustained “significant” burn injuries. They were airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, he said.

“The vehicle itself is totally destroyed,” Gordon said. “It went completely up in flames and it basically is not recognizable as a vehicle at this point.”

“We know that a high rate of speed was a contributing factor in this crash,” Gordon said.

The Ferrari was a model F430, which was manufactured from 2004 to 2009. It had a base price of $171,000 and an estimated top speed near 200 mph, according to Road & Track magazine.

On A National Note...

By KEVIN ROBILLARD / www.politico.com | 10/18/12 1:58 PM EDT Updated: 10/18/12 6:39 PM EDT

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says in a new interview that she can’t stand “whining” by women who are unhappy with the work and family choices they’ve made in life and complain that they have no options.

Clinton, in the interview with Marie Claire, was discussing Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former director of policy planning at the State Department who left in 2011. This summer, Slaughter wrote a much-discussed cover story in the Atlantic — “Why Women Still Can’t Have It all” — about leaving her job because of the difficulty of balancing her work at State with the needs of her two teenage boys.

“I can’t stand whining,” Clinton told Marie Claire. “I can’t stand the kind of paralysis that some people fall into because they’re not happy with the choices they’ve made. You live in a time when there are endless choices. … Money certainly helps, and having that kind of financial privilege goes a long way, but you don’t even have to have money for it. But you have to work on yourself. … Do something!”

Clinton added, “Some women are not comfortable working at the pace and intensity you have to work at in these jobs. … Other women don’t break a sweat. …They have four or five, six kids. They’re highly organized, they have very supportive networks.”

Lea Goldman, director of features and special projects at Marie Claire, clarified in a statement that the “whining” comment wasn’t targeted at Slaughter.

“We are thrilled that Secretary of State Clinton was able to reflect on her time in office with us, weighing in on work-life balance, obviously a core issue for many American women—and certainly of avid interest to Marie Claire’s readers,” Goldman said. “We want to make it clear that Secretary Clinton’s specific comments about ‘whining’ were not in reference to Anne-Marie Slaughter but, as noted in the story, part of a larger conversation about women in the workplace and striking a work-life balance.”

Clinton wasn’t totally unsympathetic toward issues raised by her former employee. “It’s important for our workplaces … to be more flexible and creative in enabling women to continue to do high-stress jobs while caring for not only children but [also] aging parents,” Clinton said.

Slaughter, who is now a professor at Princeton University, responded via Twitter Thursday afternoon.

“Hillary Clinton, for whom I have the greatest admiration and loyalty, was not talking about me when she mentioned whining,” she tweeted, adding #anything4astory.

In the Marie Claire interview, Clinton also said once again that she has no desire to run for president in 2016.

2 men injured in fiery wreck in Alpharetta.

By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF

Two men were air lifted to the hospital after a car accident early Friday morning in Alpharetta.

Wrecked Ferrari. (Photo: George Gordon, Alpharetta Dept. of Public Safety)ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Two men were air lifted to the hospital after a car accident early Friday morning in Alpharetta.

Police say driver Akshay Panducherry, 18, and passenger Harshavardhan Patlolla, 21, were badly burned after the Ferrari they were in ran off of Webb Bridge Road and crashed into the woods near Alpharetta High School. Police say the car was going very fast and traveled 60 yards into the woods.

"We remind people – speed, speed. You got to watch your speed when traveling on the roadways of our state. High rates of speed take people's lives," said George Gordon of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

Police say the men crawled out of the burning car and were trying to climb the embankment for help when officers arrived.

Webb Bridge Road was briefly shut down while crews worked to clear the wreck. It has since been reopened.

Two badly hurt when Ferrari crashes and burns in Alpharetta.

By Mike Morris The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two people were seriously injured early Friday when a Ferrari ran off an Alpharetta road and burst into flames.

Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon told the AJC that authorities initially got a call just before 4 a.m. about a possible brush fire on Webb Bridge Road near Alpharetta High School.

“Unfortunately, when our police officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the fire was actually caused by a single-vehicle crash,” Gordon said. “They found a red Ferrari that was on fire approximately 60 yards into a wood line.”

Gordon said that the two men inside the Ferrari had crawled out of the car, but had sustained “significant” burn injuries. They were airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, he said.

“The vehicle itself is totally destroyed,” Gordon said. “It went completely up in flames and it basically is not recognizable as a vehicle at this point.”

The identities of the 19-year-old driver and his 21-year-old passenger have not been released.

“We know that a high rate of speed was a contributing factor in this crash,” Gordon said.

It was not immediately known what model the Ferrari was, but the Italian cars start at just under $200,000 and go up to more than $400,000. The newest model, the F12 Berlinetta, has more than 700 horsepower and is capable of speeds over 200 mph.

Milton doubles size of Bell Memorial Park.

Courtesy www.ajc.com

Milton’s City Council closed on the last of 14 acres of land adjacent to popular Bell Memorial Park Monday evening. The city paid $1.287 million for the land, which will more than double the size of the park. City leaders will schedule public meetings to discuss how the new property should be used.

The purchase was based on fair market value in an open environment that included public hearings, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom said.

Former state champion Coach Boyd opens up about allegations of recruiting out of area basketball players.

Former Milton High School boys' basketball Coach David Boyd.

GHSA says Milton High basketball players barred from playoffs.

by Carolyn Aspenson; Northfulton.com.

October 09, 2012

MILTON, Ga. -- Former Milton High School basketball Coach David Boyd said he believes the parents of one of the players sparked the initial cause for the investigation.

"I had received word from Shawn O'Connell's parents that they had made the decision to move their family to Milton so he and his brothers could play for the school," Boyd said. "When you have a program as good as Milton's, people want to play for it. I was excited to have him at Milton, and posted the news to Twitter."

The former coach said the school deemed the post improper because O'Connell had yet to register at Milton.

"That's what started this whole mess," Boyd said."That was my undue influence."

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Georgia High School Association (GHSA) officials announced sanctions on Milton High School varsity boys' basketball program.

The sanctions stem from the investigation into accusations against Boyd and the school.

The investigation determined Boyd and other school officials "unduly influenced" out of district students to play for Milton.

Boyd resigned from the school in September and continues to deny the allegations.

"The Georgia High School Association has placed the boys' basketball program at Milton High School on probation for the 2012-13 season for violating GHSA rules in regard to 'undue influence,'" GHSA said in a prepared statement on Tuesday, Oct. 9. "This means the Milton team will not be eligible to participate in the region tournament or the state tournament. The program will be on 'severe warning status' for the 2013-2014 season, but will be eligible for post-season play."

The GHSA defines "undue influence" as things done by one or more people associated directly or indirectly with a member school to induce or facilitate the transfer of a student to that school.

The school was also fined, but the amount has not yet been disclosed.

"This was a very detailed, long investigation," said Steve Figueroa, spokesman for the GHSA. "The players aren't being penalized, they're all still eligible to play during the regular season."

Still, the GHSA struck a blow to a team and school that has played in four state championships – winning two in 2010 and this year.

Boyd said he was cleared of accusations he initiated contact with parents of prospective players.

"The players are all eligible to play, which clearly means the families made legitimate moves, and that I did not, in fact, contact them first," Boyd told the Milton Herald.

The GHSA found no evidence that Boyd initiated contact with prospective transfer students or their parents or guardians.

"This investigation found no evidence that any of the transfer students mentioned in this matter had failed to have a bona fide move into the Milton service area," GHSA officials said. "Therefore, all the students mentioned in this investigation are eligible to compete at the varsity level in the upcoming 2012-13 season."

Boyd said the school's principal and athletic director knew of the 30 parents who contacted the school last spring and summer about their boys playing for the team.

Ten of those families decided to move, while the other 20 made different choices.

"No promises were made to these kids," Boyd said.

Steven Craft, athletic director for the Fulton County school system, said the issue was never about Boyd contacting players first.

"This investigation was about undue influence, not recruiting, and people need to understand the difference," Craft said. "The issue related to other situations where the students were influenced to attend Milton after their parents expressed an initial interest in the school."

The actions determined to be inappropriate by the GHSA include the school using their summer workouts as a way to evaluate the talents of out of district players, facilitate housing arrangements for the families and offering help with communication about a student's college possibilities even before the potential player was a registered student at Milton High School.

Craft said the county is in agreement with the GHSA findings and is ready to move forward.

"We are already interviewing for a new head coach and are excited to build a program based on integrity and ethics," Craft said.

"The school and the team are ready to move forward and be a strong competitor in the coming season."

Boyd said he is relieved the boys are still eligible to play and has called the investigation unfair to his reputation.

"I was sent down the river," Boyd said. "The school administration was well aware of what was happening."

Boyd is now retired, after teaching and coaching for about 25 years.

He is considering coaching next spring, but will look to schools outside of GHSA influence.

"The definition of undue influence defined by the GHSA is too broad," Boyd said. "There's too much room for error and if I'm going to coach again, I'd like it to be somewhere where the rules are more defined."

Area schools prepare to install school governance councils as part of charter system.

Councils will develop plans for school to increase performance through waivers, flexibility.

by Candy Waylock; Northfulton.com

September 25, 2012 NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Nine schools in North Fulton will take their first step toward increased local control in the coming months as they prepare to elect school governance councils to guide them through the process.

While this group of nine schools will be first to install governance councils, every school in the Fulton County School System will undergo the transition over the next five years, installing governance councils to oversee the operations of the school.

This year, the Fulton School System became the state's largest charter school system, with the goal of providing each school the flexibility to develop programs and processes free from many local and state requirements.

Under a charter system, overall governance will remain with the elected Fulton Board of Education, which still must approve any waivers requested by each individual school. Any policies adopted by the board must be followed system-wide. However, school-specific plans will be developed by the governance councils at each school, depending on each school's needs and goals.

Schools may seek flexibility in areas such as "seat time," class sizes and teacher credentials if it can assure the school board that such changes will increase student achievement.

In this first year of the five-year, renewable charter, Fulton Schools will focus on developing school governance councils for 20 schools, referred to as "Cohort 1" schools, which is the first step in seeking changes at the local school level.

"These schools will be a model for others to observe as they elect students, parents, teachers and staff and community members to serve on their governance councils," said Susan Hale, a spokesperson for Fulton Schools. "Elections for the Cohort 1 schools will be held in [November-December], and training for members will occur in the winter."

In North Fulton, Cohort 1 schools include Abbotts Hill Elementary School, Hembree Springs ES, Mountain Park ES, Roswell North ES, Shakerag ES, Autrey Mill Middle School, Centennial High School, Milton HS and Northview HS.

Fulton officials noted these early advocates of the charter system opportunities are poised to begin work.

"We've worked closely with the Cohort 1 principals and they are enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity," said Ken Zeff, chief of strategy and innovation for Fulton Schools. "And we, as a system, are excited to give the schools the tools to help them manage this process. It will be a busy month, but we feel we are well positioned to launch these governance councils."

Fulton School officials recognize that not every school is in the same position to start seeking changes under the format a charter system allows. For that reason, there is a three-year rollout to support schools in the transition, with the goal that every school must have a governance council in place by the 2015-2016 school year.

While similar in structure, the governance council and the local school advisory councils (LSACs) — currently in place in every school — have distinct differences. LSACs are advisory only, with the principal and staff making the final decisions. Governing councils have the power to implement programs and chart direction for the school.

Governing councils are comprised of the principal, teachers and staff, parents and community members. The make-up of the councils will be balanced to ensure that no one entity has more power than the other.

Alpharetta bid, $4M woo Gwinnett Tech selection.

Courtesy Jonathan Copsey; Northfulton.com

October 01, 2012

ALPHARETTA, GA. – Alpharetta's aggressive pursuit of the proposed North Fulton site for a technical college – which included a $4 million contribution as a "pot sweetener" has proved successful.

The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has approved the future purchase of 25 acres of land in Alpharetta as the site for a $25 million new satellite campus of Gwinnett Technical College.

This property is at the southwest intersection of Old Milton Parkway and Ga. 400 and will be across the street from the $600 million Avalon mixed-use project. The land in question is owned by Avalon.

Mayor David Belle Isle said the city courted TCSG hard, including having a dinner for TCSG officials in which Alpharetta business leaders from Avalon, Red Prairie, McKesson, Hewlett Packard and others also joined in making a pitch for the facility.

"It's going to look like a good day for Alpharetta, but it is going to be an incredible day," Belle Isle said. "The ripple effect of what this will do for our city will be felt for a long time. Yes, they don't pay taxes, but the economic effect will still be huge."

As a show of good faith and desire to have the project, the city also added $4 million as an inducement to locate the project in Alpharetta. The city did not put any limits on how the city's contribution would be spent, although Belle Isle said the school is not allowed to build structured parking with state funds, and the city's donation could go for that and reduce the parking footprint.

The strings the city did put on its bid would first that it be new construction and not occupying existing office space. Second the city wanted Alpharetta appear in the name of the school.

"We didn't make it a deal-killer, but we would like to have the city's name on it somewhere," Belle Isle said.

The board approved the recommendation from Gwinnett Tech's North Fulton County Site Selection Committee at its September 26 meeting in Savannah. The college opened an Indication of Interest for the North Fulton County Campus Site Selection in May, and this recommendation is the result of that process. Gwinnett Tech's service area was expanded to include North Fulton County in June 2010.

"We believe we've identified an ideal location in our North Fulton County service area for our future campus -- a site that provides both needed capacity and is convenient and accessible for area residents. We now look forward to the next steps in this process and the ultimate approval and purchase of the property," said Sharon Bartels, president, Gwinnett Tech.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brandon Beach said he was "ecstatic" that the search is over and the North Fulton technical college is a step closer to a reality.

"Our concern since we began pursuing this has been to have a quality tech school in North Fulton," Beach said. "It's a good location with access to Ga. 400 and Old Milton Parkway. It will provide a tremendous asset for the business community and the healthcare community," Beach said.

Asked what he thought of Alpharetta's offer to contribute $4 million as part of its offer, Beach said it showed a tangible desire to have the college in its community.

"Anytime a city puts skin in the game, it clearly demonstrates a desire and an incentive to have the facility," he said. "This will be good for all of North Fulton. Gwinnett Tech had a lot of students from North Fulton ZIP codes. Now North Fulton will be bringing in people from ZIP codes from surrounding counties."

The recommended purchase will now be submitted to the State Property Commission for approval, with the transaction ultimately closed by the State Attorney General's office. The expected timeline for both actions to be completed is between six to nine months.

The 25-acre recommended site can support 4 three-story buildings and necessary parking. When fully built out, the campus could serve up to 10,000 students.

Discussions between Gwinnett Tech leadership and North Fulton employers will continue to determine which college credit programs and Continuing Education courses will be offered to support both short-term training needs and future employment demands.

While these discussions are under way, GTC will continue to offer focused training through online degree programs, Continuing Education courses and Adult Education programs in North Fulton.

Rumor Has It...

By Accessmilton.com

That the City of Milton is being sued by a developer with papers filed this past week.

The issue at hand is the desire to build an apartment complex in Milton and the city's decision to deny the application.

Until more information is gathered, consider this post simple rumor at best.

Senator Albers Visits Students at Young Life Academy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Natalie Dale, Director Jennifer Yarber, Deputy Director jennifer.yarber@senate.ga.gov 404.656.0028

ATLANTA (October 4, 2012) –– To celebrate Georgia’s Pre-K program and its 20th Anniversary, Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) recently read to a group of preschool students at Young Life Academy in Roswell.

October 1-5 is recognized as the state’s 2nd annual Georgia Pre-K Week; sponsored by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a child advocacy organization (www.georgiavoices.com) and its Pre-K Week partners.

“It was an honor to witness the work that Georgia’s Pre-K program is doing to prepare our youngest learners for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Sen. Albers. “Early childhood education is essential to providing the building blocks for success, and helping Georgia’s students compete with their peers around the globe.”

During his visit, Sen. Albers participated in learning activities with the children, took a tour of the facility, interacted with staff, and received an up-close look at the many ways the center is supporting early childhood education.

“Georgia’s Pre-K is an exceptional education program that serves 84,000 4-year-olds throughout Georgia,” said Pat Willis, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “Pre-K is a milestone in a child’s early education. Studies show that early education programs for children age birth to five — in all income groups — will have long-term impact on a child’s education. We are proud that Georgia’s Pre-K is making a difference in the lives of so many of our youngest learners, preparing them for future success in school and in life.”

In honor of Georgia’s Pre-K Week, Sen. Albers was one of nearly 140 state officials who visited one of the approximately 3,800 Pre-K classrooms throughout Georgia.

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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.

City Council honors Milton boys’ lacrosse champs.

Courtesy City of Milton

At its Oct. 1 meeting, Milton’s City Council joined Mayor Joe Lockwood in honoring the 2012 state champion Milton boys’ lacrosse team.

During the ceremony Lockwood, whose son Evans is on the team, recounted how the Eagles racked up state titles in 2010 and 2012.

This year, the Eagles were ranked first in the state and posted a record of 19-3, outscoring their opponents 250 to 143.

Antiques, Roundups, clean ups, oh my!

If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in your home town, now is the time! October is absolutely packed in Milton, with virtually every weekend full of great opportunities to get out, meet your neighbors and build the type of community everyone can be proud of.

Let’s start with one of the most popular events in Milton, the Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Art Festival on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Like in previous years, it’ll be held in historic downtown Crabapple and feature tons of antiques, art and great food. Plus, this year I’ll be one of the judges for a new pumpkin decorating contest featuring work by students from Crabapple Crossing Elementary. It should be a great time.

Just five days later our Disability Awareness Committee will bring their valuable Community Link series back to City Hall. On Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. they’ll host two experts in accessible housing and in-home care options for individuals and families with special needs, Realtor Michelle Miralles and Para/Quad Services CEO J.D. Frazier.

If you or anyone you know is trying to find comfort and freedom for a family member with special needs, this is one meeting you will not want to miss.

Then, on Oct. 20, comes our big birthday party – the Milton Roundup. It’s hard to believe we’ve had five so far. Like previous years, we’ll hold the Roundup at Birmingham United Methodist Church from noon to six.

This year, we’ve streamlined the event and tried to pump up what people like most – great local food and free crafts, free rides, free games and free music and entertainment. Come early – the first 250 in the door get a free T-shirt.

The next weekend is the long-running River’s Alive clean-up in Milton. Volunteers will meet Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. at Bailey Farms and Gardens, then branch out across the city to help keep our waterways clean. We always need help with this worthy endeavor, so make sure to see how you can volunteer.

And that’s just what the city offers. Take a look through the newsletter to find information on community-driven races, pumpkin carvings and meetings.

As always, if you would ever like to talk to me about Milton and where we’re headed, give me a ring or stop by City Hall.

Sincerely,

Joe Lockwood; Mayor