What a strange last couple of weeks. Our usually warm Georgia spring has taken a turn toward frigid, and I know I'm not the only one who has been looking forward to Spring Break.

In fact, if you're anything like me, you're reading this e-mail on the go because the kids are out of school. I know there are a lot of local camps, clinics and excursions, but here's hoping you've found someplace warm, possibly sandy, and full of fun and memories you'll share as a family for a long time.  

If not, I hope you get away from the daily grind to slow down and enjoy this world of which we are so lucky to be a part.  

  Read the entire message.

Michelle Boyea, city ambassador for the Milton chapter of the Young Men's Service League (YMSL), was named Volunteer of the Year at the City of Milton's Volunteer Appreciation luncheon March 23.

Additionally, Cindy Eade, Milton's sustainability coordinator, and Amanda Quintana, who served as Milton's grant-funded community builder, were honored for their work with the volunteer Milton Grows Green Committee, National Wildlife Habitat Project and Better Together.

They joined more than 100 City of Milton volunteers and staff at the city's luncheon, held at Milton City Hall. To see photos from the event at the city's Flickr page, click here.

Boyea, a Milton resident, has served as the city ambassador with YMSL since its founding two years ago. As ambassador she worked closely with a number of Milton departments to coordinate volunteers for the Milton Roundup, Earth Day Festival, Adopt-a-Road clean-ups, planting and clean-up of Milton Fire Station No. 41, bi-annual Bulky Trash Amnesty Days, and Bring One for the Chipper tree recycling.

Boyea will assume the mantle of chapter president next year.

Eade, a veteran of local environmental efforts, came to Milton in 2010 and has helped expand Milton Grows Green's outreach projects while launching the National Wildlife Habitat Project. She was instrumental in securing Milton's Green Communities certification from the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Clean Air Campaign's Pace Award. She continues her work, and will soon be able to add Milton's inclusion in the National Wildlife Federation's "Community Wildlife Habitat" to her list of accomplishments.

Quintana led Better Together from its inception in 2011 until the completion of its grant cycle in 2012. During that time, the group issued grants supporting neighborhood improvements, promoting neighborhood associations and funding projects to bring community members together.

In that time, Better Together was able to vet, initiate and complete nine separate projects, including an adapted horse washing rack, a community art project, a bowling night for local youth, a sensory garden at Milton High School, landscaping at Milton Fire Station No. 43, two Living Room Conversations, a pet trick day in Crabapple, multiple service efforts for Milton-based Special Equestrians of Georgia and picnic tables for Milton-based Canine Assistants.

Did you know April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month?

In an effort to educate the community about prevention efforts for sexual violence, the City of Milton Police Department is offering a series of Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D) classes beginning Wednesday, April 10.

These classes are taught by certified R.A.D police officers/instructors and include discussions on existing dangers and self-defense techniques suitable for women of all ages and abilities. 

Classes are designed to give practical responses to women during various levels of confrontation, from passive verbal comments to severe aggressive acts.  

You can register for the class by contacting Community Outreach Officer Ara Baronian at ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2570.

Better Together, Milton residents looking for unique and fun opportunities to connect with neighbors, will meet twice this month on April 8 and 22.

Both meetings will take place at 6 p.m. at the Bethwell Community Center, 2695 Hopewell Road in Milton (click here for directions). We will discuss involving people of all abilities to enhance and strengthen the Milton community.

Also, on Sunday, April 21 from 2 to 3 p.m., Better Together will take part in a Milton Love Project at Just For Giggles. We'll hear more about the project's history and pitch in to paint and complete signs for those who need a bit of love and encouragement.  Additional information on this project can be found at the Milton Love Project's Web site.

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

On Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, the Legacy Lacrosse Cup will once again bring the memory of Parker Jackson to life in Milton.
 
This year, more than 18 boys and girls high school teams will play at Cambridge and Milton high schools in the elite tournament, while ten feeder teams will play at Kings Ridge Christian School and Northwestern Middle in the first ever "Junior Legacy Cup." More than 3,000 spectators are expected to attend.
 
The main event is Saturday at 2 p.m when Georgia Tech takes on Georgia Southern at Milton High. Additionally, there will be a LXM Pro clinic with Adrenaline Lacrosse and professional players Kyle Harrison, Geoff Worley and JR Oreskovich.

Wesleyan School graduate Will Worthington will speak at the feeder team players' dinner Friday night with a message of hope and direction. Bo Jackson, co-founder of the tournament, will speak at the elite high school payers' dinner about living the legacy you want to leave behind.  

Now in its sixth year, the Legacy Lacrosse Cup was established in memory of Milton High School varsity lacrosse player and student Parker Jackson. For more information, including schedules, speaker bios and more, visit http://legacylacrossecup.com.

Join Wellspring Living and Milton's own Stonecreek Church for the White Umbrella Community Roundtable and Concert event, Friday, April 19 at Stonecreek (click here for directions).

The Community Roundtable from 9 a.m. to noon will cover how to spot and deal with human trafficking in our own community. There will also be a special training for law enforcement in the morning. 

The Concert from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. will raise awareness for and celebrate the work of Wellspring Living.  

Learn more and get your free tickets to the evening event by visiting the event's Facebook page. To attend the Community Roundtable, e-mail Kelley Swann at kswann@wellspringliving.org.

Get ready to celebrate our planet and the many fun things we can do to keep it healthy, because on Saturday, April 20, the City of Milton and Milton Grows Green are proud to the present the 2013 Milton Earth Day Festival.

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

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

Food vendors
*    Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails
*    Olde Blind Dog
*    Shane's Rib Shack
*    Scoops
*    Boy Scout Troop 3000 (pizza)

Children's Activities
*    Rock Wall
*    Hamster Balls
*    Monkey Bridge
*    Kids crafts
*    Animal shows from the Chattahoochee Nature Center and Party Animals
*    Appearances from Captain Planet and One More Generation
*    Green vs. Screen games

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

Music and entertainment from
*    MJ Sound Solutions

The 2013 Milton Earth Day Festival is presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with support from Comfort Zone, Creative Solar, Home Depot, Lowe's, Macaroni Kid, Milton Fields Green Cemetery, Natural Foods Warehouse, Net Zero USA, Peggy Still School of Music, Renasant Bank, Roswell Pediatric Center, P.C., Scottsdale Farms, Thrive Chiropractic Wellness Center, Verizon Wireless and Walmart.

If you would like to volunteer to make this event a success, contact Cindy Eade, environmental sustainability coordinator, at 678-242-2509 cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Milton's Parks and Recreation Department will take input on the Bell Memorial Park expansion project at HYA Day, Saturday, April 27.  

This will be one of several input opportunities for residents and users of the park -- the dates will be scheduled and announced within the next two weeks.  

Click here for directions to Bell Memorial Park, click here.

HYA Day is fun for the whole family, and signals the kick-off of HYA's spring tournament. It includes blow ups for the kids, dunk tanks, basket raffles and a ceremonial first pitch involving elected officials.  

For more information on the Bell expansion project, contact Jim Cregge, parks and recreation director, at 678-242-2489 or jim.cregge@cityofmiltonga.us. For more information on HYA day, visit the HYA's Web site.

Children's Charities will hold a Denim & Diamonds Benefit Saturday, April 27 at Shannondale Farms to benefit the autism detection unit for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Forsyth.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Shannondale Farms is located at 2395 Birmingham Road (click here for directions). 

There will be a Harry's Farmers Market Chef Competition, music and dancing with Mid-Life Crisis, a silent auction, and cocktails and dinner. Plus, there will be an opportunity to win a 1 carat diamond from Atlanta Diamond Design. 

Tickets are $100 person, and seating is available. There are 10-person tables available.    

For more information, visit www.childrenscharities.org or contact 404-217-4643 or info@childrenscharities.org.

There's just a month until the City of Milton Police Department holds its "K-9 Support" golf tournament May 1 to raise funds to replace a retired police dog.

The tournament will take place at Echelon Golf Club, 501 Founders Drive, Milton (though the address of the course is in Cherokee County, click here for directions). It includes registration and breakfast at 8 a.m., a shotgun start at 10 a.m. and a reception and awards ceremony at 3 p.m.

Cost to play in the tournament is $125 per golfer or $500 for a team of four. Sponsorship levels include $7,500 (platinum), $3,000 (gold) and $1,500 (silver), with each level promising various corporate signage and placement in tournament literature.

To register or sponsor, click here for the sign-up sheet. To make a donation online, click here. You may also register or make a donation over the phone by calling 678-242-2570. Credit cards are accepted.

Officer Ara Baronian said since DaSilva's retirement in late 2012 after six years of service to the department, Milton has been without a needed K-9. DaSilva was privately donated to the city from residents, and the department needs help again to ensure effective policing.    

For more information on the tournament or the fund, contact Baronian at 678-242-2570 or ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us.

Are you an active senior looking for a fun and rewarding way to enjoy the beautiful Georgia spring? Then the 19th Annual North Fulton Golden Games are for you.

This year's games, scheduled throughout the month of May, are open to area adults 50 and older. Registration is just $15 for as many events as you would like and includes a T-shirt and opening day picnic lunch.

To sign up, download the registration packet here. Packets are also available at North Fulton senior centers.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. May 1 in Johns Creek's beautiful Newtown Park, home of the Park Place senior center. There North Fulton Mayors will compete in a "Minute to Win It" style challenge to prove who reigns supreme.

Track and field events, including a one-mile walk and run, half-mile walk, flying disc throw, discus and shot-put throw, washer toss, ladder golf and football throw, begin after the opening ceremony.

Throughout the month, participants can look forward to the 4th annual Wii video game bowling tournament, a dance competition, bunco, poker and mah jong contests, diving events, a tennis tournament, beach tennis games, rounds of corn hole and a softball skill challenge.

Please note, there is an extra $10 registration cost for bowling and bocce.

Additionally, golfers may sign up as a team or individuals for the always popular tournament held Tuesday, May 14 at the Alpharetta Athletic Club's West Course on Dinsmore Road in Milton.

With over 350 participants in 2012, registration fills up quickly! Cost is $45 per golfer. Register by April 12 to be eligible for a $50 gift card drawing.

The games will wrap up with a luncheon and awards ceremony Thursday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at the Helene Mills Senior Multipurpose Center, 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. in Sandy Springs.

There will be a final health fair Wednesday, May 29 at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell.

The 19th Annual North Fulton Golden Games are hosted by the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department in conjunction with the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department, Johns Creek Recreation and Parks Division, City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department, Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department, and Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department's Office of Aging.    

For more information on the Golden Games, contact the Roswell Ramblers at 770-641-3950 or visit the group's Web site at www.roswellramblers.org.

Fulton County Schools recently announced spring kindergarten registration dates - Wednesday, May 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday, May 2, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

During these two days, parents of incoming kindergarten students, as well as other new elementary students entering school in August, can register their children for the 2013-2014 school year. Registration will occur at all Fulton County elementary schools.

To register new students, parents should visit the school their child will attend in the fall. A list of documents needed for registration, including immunization requirements for kindergartners and pre-kindergarten students, is posted here. A notarized affidavit of residence is also mandatory for all students.

In addition, 1,678 spaces in pre-kindergarten classes are available at 42 elementary schools throughout the county. Pre-kindergarten registration dates vary by school and enrollment is handled by a lottery system. Parents also can visit the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning's web site, www.decal.ga.gov, to determine the availability of other privately-funded pre-kindergarten program providers.  

The final Evergreen School meeting of the year will be on Wednesday May 8 beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Johns Creek Environmental Center, 8100 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell (click here for directions).

At this meeting, Evergreen participants will highlight their school's environmental programs. You'll come away with lots of inspiration for environmental programs for your school or organization!  

As always, food will be provided by Harry's Farmers Market and children are welcome. Milton Evergreen School Representatives need to complete their Evergreen report for the 2012-2013 year by April 26.

For more information, contact Cindy Eade, environmental sustainability coordinator, at 678-242-2509 cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Come to Bell Memorial Park June 6-9 when the Hopewell Youth Association (HYA) and Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association host a tournament to benefit Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer.

Tournament proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer, a non-profit organization whose mission is to find cures for pediatric cancers in our lifetime.

This will be the first time HYA is involved in this tournament thanks to the partnership between Milton and Alpharetta's parks programs.

• Ages: 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U
• Classifications: All Star and AA/AAA.  All-Star and AA/AAA will not be combined. (See who is already confirmed to attend: www.alpharettasports.com/tgba)
• Where: Wills Park and Webb Bridge Park in Alpharetta and Bell Memorial Park in Milton
• Format: 2 pool games w/ single elimination bracket (3 game minimum)

The tournament includes homerun derby contest hosted by Grand Slam Sports Center.

Trophies will be given to the first and second place team in each classification. Each team has to provide two balls per game. The team entry fee is $350, plus $75 gate fee.

For more information about their mission, please go to http://www.curingkidscancer.org. Donations can also be made at this site.

For more information on the tournament, contact Mike Olmsted at 770-329-8093 or molmsted@comcast.net or Andy Faw at 678-984-5033 or andy.faw@rrd.com.

REGISTRATION: 

Registration is now open for Camp Joyful Soles, Milton's special needs day camp for children age 13 to 18. 

To register for Joyful Soles, click here to download the form. It may be filled out online, then mailed or dropped off at Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107 Milton, GA 30004 (click here for directions). 

Please make sure if mailing to clearly mark the contents are for Tom Gilliam, recreation programs coordinator.

Camp Joyful Soles, held in conjunction with Alpharetta's Camp Happy Hearts, will take place at Hopewell Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 3 to July 26 (with no camp the week of July 4). 

This small, specialized camp is limited to just 20 participants a week and includes arts and crafts, games, special guests, fitness classes and swimming once a week.
Cost is $125 for Milton and Alpharetta residents and $187.50 for non-residents (a 50 percent increase) per week. 

Guardians may register for all seven weeks or a week at a time. The first week must be paid in full. 

There is a $50 per-week, non-refundable, non-transferable fee to hold spaces in future weeks. Remainder of the balance is due prior to the week reserved.    

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

COUNSELORS NEEDED: 

Have a teen looking for a fun, rewarding and exciting opportunity this summer?

The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department is hiring four seasonal counselor positions to help run and staff Camp Joyful Soles, Milton's special needs day camp for children age 12 to 18.

Interested applicants need to have graduated high school by June 1, 2013.
Full information on job qualifications, pay and more is available at the City of Milton's online Career Center. 

Applications are due April 10.

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

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

Recently, battalion chiefs Roth Hutcheson and Jason Baswell spent seven days at the Maryland Fire Institute with more than 60 other chief officers from around the country learning new concepts in fire service management, leadership and administration.  

This program is designed to assist fire officers in modern concepts of emergency management, transformational leadership, fire-based EMS, budgeting, and much more.

"I was told before leaving that this training will fire you up," said Hutcheson. "And it did."

Hutcheson said talking with other fire officers from across the country revealed they all face the same challenges.

"To have instructors who had found a way to confront those issues proved priceless," he said.

Fire Chief Robert Edgar said his department is fortunate to be able to send officers to the prestigious training. 

"The payback is having informed and educated leadership in the fire department, which translates to better service to the community," he said.  

The Milton National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Habitat Program would like to welcome Cambridge High sophomore Sarah Ellison, who will now serve as volunteer coordinator. 

Ellison will help NWF as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which includes a neighborhood competition and outreach to businesses and places of worship. 

Make sure to say "Hi" to Sarah at the NWF booth at the Milton Earth Day Festival April 20 (for more information see above item).

And don't forget you can help by certifying your property to support wildlife. It's a simple, online process where you self-certify the four components to support wildlife:  food (berries, seeds, birdseed), water (creek, lake, retention pond, birdbath, water dish), shelter (dense shrubs, birdhouse), and places to raise young (birdhouse, shrubbery, trees).  

Once you certify and pay $20 to NWF, your business or home address becomes part of our city-wide project and helps achieve the 150 homes and 100 community areas benchmark!     

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.

MuleSoft, Inc: 13010 Morris Road, Building 1, Suite 600

Heitman Capital: 191 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 

Kustom Kreation Jewelry: 16308 Deer Point Court

Faster Export Corporation, LLC: 1310 North Park lane

Stonewalk Family Dentistry, LLC: 5304 Windward Parkway, Suite 107

Phoebe Loughrey Stables: 14735 Wood Road

Sunny Cleaners: 12872 Highway 9 North, Suite 100

Stonecraft Builders: 3827 Manor View

Bluearc Services, LLC: 575 Hickory Mill Lane

Fit for Royalty: 13361 Harpley Court

Mobility Partners, LLC: 980 Birmingham Road, Suite 501-304; 16050 Segwick Drive 

Auterson Baseball: 3459 Archgate Court

Alpharetta Athletic Club Manager, LLC: 3430 Highway 9 North

Henry & Pearl: 12660 Crabapple Road

Horse First: 16175 Hopewell Road

B2R, LLC: 13560 Morris Road, Suite 1140

Laguna Farm: 16160 Birmingham Highway

Cornerstone Residential: 3277 Watsons Road

MG Capital Ventures, Inc.: 3300 Compass Way

Keith Williamson Clock & Watchmaker Tools: 920 Canonero Drive 

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