By now I am sure you have seen the advertisements, stories and signs around town promoting Crabapple Fest, a revamped and expanded version of the Crossroads at Crabapple Arts and Antique Festival with elements of the Milton Roundup. This is the first time we're partnering with the Crabapple Community Association (CCA) to produce an event like this, and I'm excited to see the results.  

So for my letter this month, can I ask you to have a bit of fun with me?  

I want everyone to think about being a kid. Little kid, teenager - it really doesn't matter. Just think of a fun time in your life. Think about going to the fair or a parade with your family. Maybe it's a fall harvest festival, maybe a spring school carnival.  

I want you to imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells. I want you to imagine getting your face painted, making a craft, getting some of that great food that just doesn't taste the same anywhere else.  

Remember seeing your friends after agreeing at school to meet up? Think about getting that little dose of freedom because your parents felt safe letting you run around with your group of friends. It felt good, didn't it? Like the night was never going to end.

   Read the entire message.

The changing leaves and temperatures of October in Milton can mean but one thing: It's time for Crabapple Fest!

Held Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in historic downtown Crabapple, Crabapple Fest will see the City of Milton and non-profit Crabapple Community Association (CCA) combine their two popular events - the 5,000-person Milton Roundup and 10,000-person Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Arts Festival - into one massive destination festival.

The best from each event will greet the community, including:

• antiques and art from hundreds of juried vendors
• a music and entertainment stage with local and touring acts, plus roaming musicians
• games, rides and activities for kids
• for the first time, beer and wine in the festival grounds

Unlike previous years, the expanded Crabapple Fest will sprawl across the crossroads of the historic community. Both Crabapple and Broadwell roads will be shut down, with vendors dotting the usually busy intersections. It means a safer, more immersive experience for everyone.

Parking and attendance, as always, are free. Shuttles will be available all day from Milton High, Northwestern Middle and Crabapple Crossing Elementary schools and Crabapple Baptist Church. Click here for directions to Crabapple Fest, located at 765 Mid Broadwell Road.

For full information about Crabapple Fest, including volunteer opportunities, parking maps, food and entertainment offerings and much, much more, visit www.crabapplefest.com. To talk about the festival, ask questions or spread the word, use #crabapplefest on Facebook and Twitter. 

For any information on the festival, please contact Angela Thompson, special events and projects manager for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.

Friends of the Milton Library (FOML) will hold its second book sale during Milton's Crabapple Fest Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Crabapple.  The book sale will take place in the driveway of Crabapple Family Dentistry, 12685 Crabapple Road.

More than 5,000 books have been collected for sale to support the new library at the corner of Mayfield Road and Charlotte Drive.  

"Our first book sale was an outstanding success," said Matt Kunz, President of FOML.  "We raised more than $2,000, which will be used to support a range of library needs prior to and after construction."

FOML is still seeking used books, CDs and video tapes in good condition.  Books can be left in specially marked bins at the following locations:

1. Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107: (678) 242-2500
2. Milton Fire Station No. 43, 750 Hickory Flat Road: (770) 777-6952
3. Shannondale Farm, 2395 Birmingham Road: (770) 569-9555
4. Urban Farmhouse, 12680 Crabapple Road: (770) 410-1112

Construction of the Milton library will begin in late 2013 with completion scheduled for late 2014.  

FOML seeks additional volunteers to assist with book sales and other projects. For further information call Kunz at 404-386-0354.

This year's River's Alive cleanup will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bailey Farms and Gardens, 255 Hickory Flat Road in Milton (click here for directions).

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

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

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

Milton Grows Green, the City of Milton's environmental sustainability committee, recently launched an Adopt-A-Stream program.  

A statewide project of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the Adopt-A-Stream program aims to educate residents about water quality issues and provide training in the evaluation and protection of local waterways.  

This program is open to Milton residents looking for training on how to monitor local streams using techniques and test kits provided by Fulton County.  

The first meeting to discuss the goals and techniques of the program will be held Wednesday Oct. 23 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107 (click here for directions). For those who want to become certified in water quality testing, please plan to stay until 9 p.m.  

There is no charge.

To register or for more information please e-mail
 mgg@cityofmiltonga.us or contact Cindy Eade, environmental sustainability coordinator for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2509.

Better Together, Milton residents looking for unique and fun opportunities to connect with neighbors, will be hosting House Speaker Pro-Tempore Rep. Jan Jones on Thursday, Oct. 24 for an update on matters of interest to Milton area residents.  This event will be held at City Hall and will begin at 7 p.m.   

Milton's City Hall is located at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107 (click here for directions).  

Additionally, in October, Better Together will be participating in the annual coat drive for North Fulton Community Charities and the Rivers Alive Fall Clean-up.   

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.

The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department will open the as-yet unnamed pocket park at the corner of Deerfield Parkway and Webb Road Monday, Nov. 11.  

The park will act as an exercise center for the runners, bikers and walkers on Deerfield Parkway and host the city's patriotic events. It will feature a .15 mile trail and equipment for sit ups, body curls, a cardio walker, rowing machine and elliptical machine.  

The trail will frame a flag pavilion displaying nine flags. The flags will represent the state of Georgia, the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, POW/MIA, the United States and the City of Milton.    

For more information, contact Parks and Recreation Director Jim Cregge at  jim.cregge@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2489.

In November, the Georgia Philharmonic will move from Roswell into Cambridge High School's state-of-the-art auditorium.  

There the group will hold a series of concerts through the spring.  

Nov. 16, 7 p.m.  

Italian Delights  

Feb. 22, 2014, 7 p.m.  

Young Artists Concerto Competition  

March 29, 2014, 7 p.m.  

With a Song In My Heart

For more information on the Georgia Philharmonic, visit www.georgiaphilharmonic.org or call 770-664-7255. You may also visit the group's Facebook or YouTube page.

Milton Fire Chief Robert Edgar recently attended the National Fire Academy's Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction course in Emmitsburg, Md. 

There Edgar, along with executive fire officers from across the United States, explored leading and facilitating the programs, initiatives and services that prevent or mitigate the risk of or effects from fire, injuries, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents and acts of terrorism.

"This is a great opportunity for fire chiefs from all over the country to network and come together to learn new strategies on community risk reduction," said Edgar.

The course included theory, case study analysis, discussion and feedback with Edgar's peers in the fire service.  

For more information about the City of Milton Fire Department, click here.

Both paving and roadwork projects continue throughout the city in October.  

PAVING

Please note: The paving schedule is now in its second phase. All work should be finished by early November.

Roads to be reconstructed include: 

Hamby Road from Hopewell Road to the Forsyth County Line
Bethany Road from Providence Road to Alpharetta City Limits
Dinsmore Road from Freemanville Road to Thompson Road   

ROADWORK

Please note: All dates on roadwork projects are estimates and are based on weather conditions. Any road closures will be sporadic and announced well in advance.  

Ga. 140 at New Providence Road
In July, CMES, Inc. began intersection improvements at Ga. 140 (Arnold Mill Road) and New Providence Road.  Plans include redirecting the intersection approach, adding turn lanes and installing a traffic light. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) awarded the construction contract to CMES, Inc. in the amount of $1,161,626.92. The job is expected to last one year. 

Ga. 372 at Providence Road/New Providence Road
In August, Bartow Paving Company, Inc. began intersection improvements at Ga. 372 (Birmingham Highway) and Providence and New Providence Roads. Plans include redirecting the intersection approach and installing a roundabout.

GDOT awarded the construction contract to Bartow Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $2,576,297.45. The job is expected to last 18 months.   

Hopewell Road at Francis and Cogburn roads
In August, Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. also began intersection improvements at Hopewell Road at Cogburn and Francis roads. Plans include installing a roundabout.

The City of Milton awarded the construction contract to Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $786,606. The job is expected to last one year.  

Deerfield Parkway at Morris Road
In September, Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. began installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Deerfield Parkway and Morris Road. 

Milton awarded the construction contract to Baldwin Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $339,955.52. The job is expected to last six months.  

For more information on these projects, visit http://miltonintersectionprojects.com or contact Angie Kapijimpanga, citizen responder for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2562 or angie.kapijimpanga@cityofmiltonga.us.

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

Citizens Government Academy 6

The City of Milton Communications Department has undertaken a monthly, video-on-demand Citizens Government Academy hosted through the city's YouTube page. 

Each month, Communications Manager Jason Wright will discuss a new topic in the two-minute videos. 

Soon, installments will cover virtually every aspect of the city's municipal operations, including sections reserved for hot topics that arise throughout the project.

To visit the City of Milton's YouTube page, click here.  

For more information, contact Communications Manager Jason Wright at jason.wright@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2523.

Milton students at the simulators.

In honor of "National #ItCanWait Day" Sept. 19, Milton High School's PTA sponsored a custom driving simulator event to give students the opportunity to experience the true perils of texting while driving.  

These simulators allowed students to experience a life-like simulation of driving through a city while receiving and responding to text messages. The simulation demonstrated that sending or looking at a text, tweet, post or e-mail from behind the wheel can be deadly.  

In fact, studies show that those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash. The students signed a pledge to not text and drive and a banner of signatures will be proudly displayed at Milton.

Recently Milton added a part-time revenue clerk to our family.  Read below to get to know her a little better.

FINANCE
Jennifer Crummel
Hobbies: Golf, boating, wakeboarding, being a mom and wife
Hometown: Cumming 

Previously: Worked in government and finance in California

 

For more information on our staff, visit the City of Milton's Web site at www.cityofmiltonga.us.

Councilman Lance Large helps cut the ribbon for Pilates Edge at the Birmingham Crossroads in late September.

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.

CJ's Talk of the Town: 13075 Highway 9 North
Hillside Development, LLC: 615 Scarlet Oak Trail
Sequoia Golf North Atlanta, LLC: 300 Clubhouse Drive
Wood Fiber International, Inc.: 780 Autumn Close
Silvia Tennis Academy, Inc.: 14250 B Creek Club Drive
Origin Group International, Inc.: 12220 Birmingham Highway
Flatiron Construction Group, LLC: 12732 Lecoma Trace
Train Me, Train My Dog: 13300 Morris Road
DA Enterprise, Inc: 13560 Morris Road
Sequoia Golf North Atlanta, LLC: 350 Tournament Players Drive

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