You've asked for community improvements, seen us call for plans, been to the planning meetings, watched us vote the plans into action, and now I'm very proud to say: We're moving dirt in Milton. 

This is just the start of some very big things for the city, and I'll think we'll all be able to look back at the summer of 2012 and say that's when it all started happening in Milton.

COGBURN ROAD BRIDGE
First up, as I'm sure you've seen, is the Cogburn Road bridge replacement project. Let me start by saying I'm sorry for the road closure and the traffic problems it's created. But I think you'll be pleased with the results once the bridge and road come back on line. 

We'll keep you up to date with construction by doing weekly blog posts, and of course you're always welcome to talk with one of our Public Works folks should you have a question about the project. 

 Read the entire message.

Photos from the City of Milton's 2012 Memorial Day ceremony are now online at the city's flickr page.

This year's ceremony was the biggest yet, with crowds flocking to City Hall to hear speaker Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth and listen to patriotic music and a roll call of local veterans who are no longer with us.      

Click here to see the photos.

The City of Milton will host a series of free family movies on the side lawn at Northwestern Middle School this summer, said Special Events Coordinator Angela Thompson.

The "Movies in the Park™ - City of Milton presented by Southern Outdoor Cinema, Sponsored by Northside Hospital Forsyth" series will kick off Saturday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a showing of "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked."

The series continues July 7 with "The Three Stooges" and Aug. 4 with a third film to be determined. All three movies will be shown at the school, located at 12805 Birmingham Highway (click here for directions).

At sundown the film will be shown on Southern Outdoor Cinema's huge, two-story inflatable movie screen in high-definition. Before the film there will be a fun, festival atmosphere with face painting, an inflatable moonwalk and tons of children's activities.

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

"We've had success with a single movie and a summer concert series in the past," said Thompson. "It just seemed like a perfect fit to continue this tradition with a movie series aimed at providing local families with a fun, free night out."      

For more information on "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," click here. For more information on the summer movie series, visit www.gamoviesinthepark.com or contact Thompson at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.

The Milton Market at Crabapple will open for the summer season June 2 at 9 a.m. at The Crabapple Community Center, 12615 Broadwell Road (click here for directions). 

The market will be open weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the summer. It will have local growers and craft artisans selling products, and will expand as the season continues.   

For more information, contact Linda Neal of Neal's Produce at 404-944-5607. 

From left, top, Farmer Sue, owner of TheArtBarn at Morning Glory Farm and Patti Silva, creator of the Milton Sweet Tea Society; bottom, Leigh Halsema, Rose the dog, Emma Johnson, and Debbie Johnson. Photograph by Beth Melberg Photography©

The Milton Sweet Tea Society will meet Tuesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. for a Ladies Night Out Potluck Social at TheArtBarn, located at 208 Roper Road Canton, GA 30115 (click here for directions).

Each person is asked to bring along an appetizer and a beverage of their choice to share with the group. The farm will be decorated with candles and tablecloths, provided by the hosts of the event. Entertainment will be provided by Susan Shaw, otherwise known as Farmer Sue from TheArtBarn at Morning Glory Farm - where good things grow.

The evening will begin with a guided hayride tour of the farm lead by Farmer Sue. Along the tour, she will stop and introduce the ladies to some of her many farm animals including chickens, roosters, donkeys, goats, horses, her famous cow and potbellied pig, to name a few.

After the tour, the group will collectively create a mixed media art project while sipping a beverage and nibbling on some of the appetizers brought by the attendees.

The Milton Sweet Tea Society, founded by Patti Silva in May 2010, is an eclectic group of women living in or near the City of Milton who love where they live and understand the concept of a small town. Members offer friendly tips and referrals to one another.

This social is a great way to learn more about the Milton Sweet Tea Society, as well as mingle with some of the members and meet other women from the City of Milton.       

If you are interested in attending, please visit the Milton Sweet Tea Society's Facebook page for more information on how to RSVP. Hope to see you there!

On July 31, you have the opportunity to vote on a referendum that will fund $8.5 billion in transportation improvements through a regional one percent sales tax.

The Atlanta Regional Commission will host a series of 12 Wireside Chats over six evenings in June to help you understand what projects are on the list and how the penny tax would impact your community.

North Fulton County's chat will be June 6 at 6:15 p.m. and feature Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves.

In order to participate, simply register your name and phone number at www.wiresidechats.com and be available at the designated time on the number you provide.       

For more information, visit www.wiresidechats.com.

It's summer, and in Milton that means you'll see firefighters collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's (MDA) "Fill the Boot Drive."

This year the City of Milton will be collecting on June 8, June 22 and July 6. 

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

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

This is just a reminder Cogburn Road is closed from mid-May to early August so that the bridge over Cooper Sandy Creek between Bethany Bend and Webb Road may be replaced. 

The project has been timed specifically to coincide with summer break and improvements at the Cogburn Road/Bethany Bend intersection to be completed before Cambridge High School opens. Access to existing property owners will be maintained at all times.

The proposed project will replace the bridge with an arched culvert spanning the creek, which means minimal impact to the waterway and savings in both time and taxpayer money.

To stay up to date with the project, visit the Cogburn Road bridge replacement project page by clicking here. The updates will also be posted on the city's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Oxford-based Hitson Construction, Inc.'s price of $478,020.39 was the lowest reliable bid of the four received.

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

If you regularly use the City of Milton's mobile-friendly Web site, you might have noticed a change May 25. That's because the city brought a new site online. 

The new mobile site offers the complete functionality of the full desktop site, only redesigned for mobile devices. It is powered by GovOffice, the city's content management provider for the current city Web site. 

Previously, Milton utilized a bridge technology from mobile provider Mofuse from December 2011 until May. If you have previously downloaded the mobile app for or bookmarked this site, it will no longer work.  

Let us know what you think: Send comments and concerns to Jason Wright, Communications Manager, at 678-242-2523 or jason.wright@cityofmiltonga.us. 

The Milton High School boys' basketball program will host a summer camp for boys entering third through ninth grade. 

The camp will be held at Milton High, 13025 Birmingham Highway, from Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29. Camp hours will operate from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp tuition is $175 before June 25 or $200 at the door.

It is open to anyone interested in learning fundamental basketball skills from players and coaches from the 2009 and 2011 AAAAA state runner-up and 2010 and 2012 AAAAA state championship teams. 

The camp features quality fundamental instruction and specializes in individual attention in all phases of the game of basketball. All participants will learn the skills that will build the foundation for success in basketball. 

Campers are organized by age group and will participate in daily skills contests and league games. The camp closes on Friday with a league tournament. Every camper will receive a t-shirt and basketball they can use on their own after the week has concluded.     

For more information, contact Nathan Tornow at tornown@fultonschools.org.

The second annual Crabapple July 4th Walking Parade, sponsored by the Crabapple Community Association (CCA), will take place at 9 a.m. in historic downtown Crabapple (route begins at McFarlin lane).

As in previous years, the parade is an open event in which citizens may march. If you don't want to walk the parade route, you can be a spectator and cheer everyone on. Organizers will have water and freeze pops while supplies last.

Councilwoman Karen Thurman and her husband, Mark, will act as Parade Marshals. Prizes will be awarded for a number of creative displays.

"We want to encourage community involvement - it is a parade for all ages and all abilities," said parade organizer Sally Rich-Kolb. "The route is approximately half a mile, which makes it ideal for young families to participate."

Organizers said participants are invited to walk, ride a tricycle or use a stroller, wheelchair or other small vehicle. However, because of the crowd, no large bicycles please. Additionally, no cars are floats are allowed, and firecrackers and sparklers are prohibited.

Pets may be included, but they must be on a leash and owners are responsible for clean-up.  

Parking is available at Crabapple First Baptist Church and Strawberry Fields. Parking for those with Disabled Parking placards will be at the John Weiland office at McFarlin Lane.     

If you have any questions or you would like additional information, please e-mail crabapplecommunityassoc@yahoo.com.

From left, Amanda Smoltz, Diya Sharma, Liam Nugent and Nico Leis.

Recently, four Hopewell Middle School eighth-grade students were recognized for their service to the community by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the school itself.

Amanda Smoltz and Liam Nugent were recognized by DAR for their honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism. Diya Sharma and Nico Leis were recognized as Silver Mustangs (the school's mascot) for being involved in clubs and activities, maintaining an excellent academic record, showing school spirit, participating in community service, and being well-respected by their peers and good citizens and role models.
 
All four award recipients were nominated and voted upon by their teachers. 

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.

Firedog Firearms 115885 Hopewell Road
Fun Is the Answer 745 Soneley Court
Cheeses & Mary 765 Mid Broadwell Road 
Sleep Tight Pals, LLC 12460 Crabapple Road 
Vibe Salon & Boutique 12605 Broadwell Road
Nevaeh Transport, LLC 13085 Morris Road
Kunz Capital Management, LLC 730 Sable Pointe Road
Big Horn Concrete, LLC 621 Knox Hill Drive
Stinkweed Station 525 Wickstone Place
Med Literacy 2980 Serenade Court 

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