As I write my letter this month, construction is moving swiftly on no less than four intersection improvements and a park in our beautiful City of Milton. It's amazing to see the tremendous work we've put into smart planning coming to fruition in the form of these projects.  

So I want to start off this month by imploring our residents to take a bit of time this Veterans Day, Monday Nov. 11, and check out the park I just mentioned. It's called Freedom Park, and its right next to City Hall at the corner of Deerfield Parkway and Webb Road.  

On the holiday we'll have a special ribbon cutting and opening starting at 10:45 a.m. After we cut the ribbon, local veterans will raise the nine flags we've got on site representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, POW/MIA, the state of Georgia, the United States and the City of Milton.  

Freedom Park will now serve as the site for our Memorial Day Ceremony, and will be a great starting point for residents who wish to walk amongst the veterans' markers Councilman Bill Lusk builds and places along Deerfield Parkway.

   Read the entire message.

Online registration for Hopewell Youth Association's (HYA) Spring 2014 recreational baseball season is now open at the group's Web site, www.hopewellbaseball.org.  

To register and for full information on age cut off dates, volunteer coaching opportunities and league fees, click here. This page is also accessible by visiting www.hopewellbaseball.org and clicking on the "Register Online' link to the upper left.  

Please note the registration process is split into three parts: The first, for Milton residents only, is now open. The second, which begins Friday, Nov. 15, is for HYA veteran players who do not reside in Milton and city residents. The third, kicking off Sunday, Dec. 1, is open registration for everyone regardless of residence or previous league history.  

Registration will close Wednesday, Jan. 1. A $35 late fee will be charged for any registrations after this date. Each phase of the registration is open to all ages.

HYA, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, is a non-profit organization that schedules and programs the baseball activities at Milton's Bell Memorial Park through a joint agreement with the City of Milton. For more information about the programs, including a full schedule of fall baseball, visit the group's Web site at www.hopewellbaseball.org.

The Milton Police Department recently launched the MyPD app, putting a staggering array of crime suppression tools into residents' hands.

Now with one simple-to-use cell phone app, residents can ask questions, commend an officer, submit a tip or feedback with photos, and view wanted listings, crime maps, sex offender listings, and much, much more. There are 24 possible features and options for users, meaning a wide variety of vital information for Milton residents.

The app can be downloaded by searching for My Police Department or MyPD in the iPhone App Store or Android Market. There is no charge for the app and it is free of advertisements.

Once downloaded, the user can simply navigate to Milton's page by selecting the correct city and state. There are also options to follow neighboring police departments.  

As is the case with the City of Milton Police Department's e-mail, tip sites and social media, the app is not for any type of emergency situation. It is for routine questions and information sharing only. In an emergency, always dial 911.

For more information, contact the City of Milton Police Department at 678-242-2570.

In an effort to increase community safety and interaction with the City of Milton Fire Department, the agency recently launched its own Facebook page and Twitter feed.  

To see the Facebook page, click here. To see the Twitter feed, click here. Please note, you must be a member of Facebook and Twitter to view the pages. If you are not a member of either social media site, you will not be able to view the content.  

"Like" the Facebook page and "Follow" the Twitter feed to receive updates about upcoming events or classes, safety alerts and tips regarding fire prevention.

For more information on the Milton Fire Department's social media efforts, please contact Fire Administrative Assistant Jamila Jones at 678-242-2541 or jamila.jones@cityofmiltonga.us.

Milton Arborist Mark Law, center left, and Principal Planner Michele McIntosh-Ross, center right, were joined by Gary White of the Georgia Forestry Commission, far left, and Rob Ryan, president of Georgia Urban Forest Council, in accepting the "Outstanding Community Grand Award."

At its 23rd Annual Awards Ceremony in October, the Georgia Urban Forest Council gave the City of Milton the "Outstanding Community Grand Award" for its work in adopting a Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan in late 2012.

With the award the Urban Forest Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining Georgia's green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees, highlighted Milton's efforts to maintain and protect its natural and forested areas.

The Milton Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan focused its inventory of targeted high-use areas along public rights-of-way and in parks which included the areas of: Arnold Mill Road/Ga. 140; Crabapple; Ga. 9/Cogburn Road; Bell Memorial Park; Bethwell Community Center; Birmingham Park; and Hopewell House.

In total, 3,598 sites collectively representing more than 10,000 trees were collected during the inventory.

These projects were funded by the Georgia Forestry Commission's Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

To see the management plan, click here.

The City of Milton Community Development Department will hold two meetings in November to update the public about progress in the Ga. 9 North and Arnold Mill corridor visioning studies.

GA. 9 NORTH VISIONING COMMUNITY MEETING
The first will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers of Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107E (click here for directions).

This meeting will update the public on the overall vision for the corridor. Additionally, it will address the conclusions of the Five Acres and Bethany/Cogburn resident subcommittees formed in June to reach amicable solutions for property owners.

In February, staff began the visioning study for the northern portion of Ga. 9 from Bethany Bend to the Forsyth County Line to ensure the main thoroughfare of the city was in line with resident desires.

For complete information on the Ga. 9 Visioning Study, including meeting presentations and a list of subcommittee members, click here.

ARNOLD MILL VISIONING COMMUNITY MEETING
The second meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 12900 Arnold Mill Road (click here for directions).

During the meeting staff will provide residents with information and answers to their questions from the first three meetings of the process in June. During those first meetings, staff met with residents and business owners to gain insight into what they feel is appropriate for the future of the heavily traveled road.

For complete information on the Arnold Mill Road Visioning Study, click here.   

Evergreen Schools will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Alpharetta Arts Center, 12624 Broadwell Road (click here for directions).  

It is open to anyone.  

The meeting's topic will be grant writing and other fundraising opportunities for schools and clubs. Sarah Visser, Executive Director of Keep Georgia Beautiful will speak. Lunch will be provided by Harry's Farmers Market.   

Click here for the Evergreen October newsletter.  

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

Please note Milton's City Hall will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. It will reopen for normal business on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 8:30 a.m. 

To see the entire City of Milton calendar, click here.

The City of Milton will once again display commemorative markers for the two weeks surrounding Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, and in preparation is adding veterans into the city's registry of service men and women.

Through five years of hard work and the generosity of residents, Milton has amassed a list of 586 living and fallen veterans, 335 of whom are memorialized with markers to be placed on Deerfield Parkway and Crabapple Road from Nov. 3 through Nov. 17. Any deceased veteran of a Milton family is qualified to be honored with a marker. Information on living veterans will be used for recognition purposes. Living veterans DO NOT receive markers. There is NO CHARGE for the service.

Each year residents ask how their family members may be added to the registry. The city does not have access to a government database revealing who served in the military. Instead, we need you to tell us.

To sign up, click here.

Once you give the City of Milton the information, it will be placed in a secure database. The names will then be sent to City Councilman Bill Lusk, who for five years has personally built, painted, engraved and placed the markers at his own expense.

The names will then also be used in the City of Milton's yearly Memorial Day service.
Please note: Only veterans who have passed away receive markers. Living veterans will have their service recognized with inclusion in lists printed for Memorial and Veterans days. 

Milton is opening another great park - and this time we're honoring our nation's heroes.  

 The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Department will host a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony for Freedom Park at the corner of Deerfield Parkway and Webb Road (click here for directions) Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m.   

Immediately after the ribbon cutting, local veterans will raise nine flags representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, POW/MIA, the state of Georgia, the United States and the City of Milton.  

The flag raising will be followed by remarks from Rep. Tom Price and Milton's elected officials, included Mayor Pro Tem Bill Lusk, a Vietnam veteran.  

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

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

Amp1, the world's only organized team of amputees playing stand up competitive basketball, will be at Milton High School Tuesday, Nov. 12 to spread hope, inspiration and the courage to "Never Give Up" no matter the adversity at hand.

At 6 p.m. the Amp1 team will play the Milton High basketball alumni. Proceeds benefit Milton basketball and the Adventure Amputee Camp, a non-profit children's camp.

For more information, visit www.amp1basketball.com or www.adventureamputeecamp.org.

For more information on this, or any, road project in the City of Milton contact Transportation Engineer Sara Leaders, PE at 678-242-2559 or sara.leaders@cityofmiltonga.us.

The Milton High School PTSA will host the fifth Annual Holiday Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 16 in the school cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be unique gifts, raffles and more than 90 vendors.

Proceeds benefit the PTSA Scholarship Fund.

For more information, contact Shannon Wagar at shannon@wagar.net. 

The Georgia Philharmonic is proud to present an evening of enchanting music from the Italian countryside on Saturday, Nov. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. in their new concert hall at Cambridge High School in Milton.

The program will feature Respighi's "Fountains of Rome," Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien," Rossini's "Italian Girl in Algiers" and Berlioz's "Roman Carnival Overture." These selections convey the romance, drama and rolling countryside for which Italy is famous.

Ticket prices are $10 for seniors/students, $15 for adult general seating and $25 for adult prime seating.   

Additionally the group will hold two other concerts at Cambridge in 2014. They are:

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.

Please note Milton's City Hall will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of Thanksgiving. It will reopen for normal business on Monday, Dec. 2 at 8:30 a.m. 

To see the entire City of Milton calendar, click here.

Perk up those ears for sleigh bells and pack the mittens, because the City of Milton will once again provide two holiday events for residents - the fifth annual City of Milton Tree Lighting on Friday, Nov. 29 and, in partnership with the Crabapple Community Association (CCA), the sixth annual Christmas in Crabapple on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Fifth annual City of Milton Tree Lighting
Milton's holiday season will kick off Friday, Nov. 29 with the fifth annual City of Milton Tree Lighting ceremony from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Ga. 9 and Webb Road.

Click here for directions to the tree lighting ceremony, which will be held in front of the Deerfield Place shopping center at Webb Road and Ga. 9.

The tree lighting ceremony will last 30 minutes, from 6:30 to 7 p.m., and include musical performances and Milton's Mayor and City Council counting down to the big moment.

After the tree is lit, good St. Nick will arrive by fire truck to the tune of "Here Comes Santa Claus."  

Following the ceremony, there will be refreshments, photos by Blencoe and Co. Photographic Arts with Santa Claus and holiday music. It's an evening of fellowship with your neighbors - not to mention a perfect opportunity to get some holiday shopping done at one of the Ga. 9/Deerfield Parkway corridor's many retailers.

Sixth annual Christmas in Crabapple
Saturday, Dec. 7 is sure to have heaps of holiday cheer in Milton as the city, in partnership with the CCA, hosts the sixth annual Christmas in Crabapple from 2 to 5 p.m. in historic downtown Crabapple.

Again, Christmas in Crabapple will be a celebration throughout the Crabapple Crossroads. At Friendship Community Park there will be Christmas, Hanukkah and holiday music favorites, a holiday bounce house, a bonfire with s'mores and hot chocolate and holiday train rides.

In historic downtown Crabapple, the CCA is offering photos with Santa Claus at Blencoe and Co. Photographic Arts, a bonfire and the return of the "North Pole Passport" program featuring local businesses.

Click here for directions to the park, located at 12785 Birmingham Highway between Crabapple Crossing Elementary and Northwestern Middle schools. Click here for directions to historic downtown Crabapple.

For more information on either of these holiday events, contact special events coordinator Angela Thompson at 678-242-2530 or angela.thompson@cityofmiltonga.us.

The City of Milton Public Works Department and Milton Grows Green are offering residents a bulky trash amnesty day Saturday, Dec. 7, so gather your large items for disposal.

From 8 a.m. to noon, residents of Milton can bring items to the City of Roswell Public Works Division at 1810 Hembree Road in Roswell (click here for directions). Only City of Milton and Roswell residents will be served. Proof of residency will be required, and utility bills are preferred.

Also, bring your gently-worn shoes for a recycling and reuse program to help fund Milton's Community Wildlife Habitat Project (click here for more information on the project).

Some of the items accepted are (reusable items will be donated to Atlanta Furniture Bank): 

• tires - must be off the rim, automobile tires only; limit 4 per car
• sofas
• tables
• refrigerators
• chairs 
• washers 
• dryers 
• televisions 
• deactivated cell phones
• computer equipment and electronics
• mattresses and box springs
• grills
• lawnmowers (with fluids drained)  

The following items will not be accepted:  

• paint
• household hazardous waste 
• any fluids including motor oil and anti-freeze
• household batteries 
• construction and demolition materials 
• yard waste  

For proper disposal of these items, please contact either the Roswell Recycling Center at 770-442-8822 (motor oil and anti-freeze) or Chadwick Landfill at 770-475-9868 (construction and demolition materials).

Materials will only be accepted at the site on the day of the event and only during the hours of 8 a.m. and noon. Please note that the gate will close at noon.

A special thanks goes to the Young Mens' Service League for their continued volunteer support.

For more information, please contact Milton Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at 678-242-2509 or cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

Plans are being finalized for the Joe Lockwood, the mayor of Milton, to hold another holiday open house hosted by Milton's City Council Sunday, Dec. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Every resident of Milton is cordially invited to the party, hosted at Lockwood's home on Dorris Road.  

You read that right: The entire city is welcome to the informal holiday party, which will be held at the Mayor's home. All food and drinks will be donated by City Council and local businesses.

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

Better Together, Milton residents looking for unique and fun opportunities to connect with neighbors, will be participating in North Fulton Community Charities' annual Senior Sponsorship Program. Senior Sponsorship includes sponsoring either a senior 65 and older or a disabled adult. Sponsors provide Thanksgiving non-perishable meal items with a small gift or gift cards.  

Additionally, during the remainder of the year, Better Together will be finalizing plans to participate in the national "Little Free Library" program. These small, stand-alone structures in neighborhoods hold books that are free to the public. Currently, some 10,000 of these libraries are located throughout the United States.  

Finally, during December, plans are in place to host a fall Communiteen event. Communiteen is a group of teenagers who meet to have fun and establish new friendships.  

All residents are invited to attend Better Together's twice-monthly meetings which take place at the Bethwell Community Center, 2695 Hopewell Road in Milton (click here for directions).

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.

In collaboration with the Fulton County Department of Water and Sewer, on Oct. 23 10 people were trained in chemical water testing to monitor water quality as part of Milton Grows Green's Adopt a Stream program.  

Through the partnership Fulton County will loan county testing equipment and supplies to the City of Milton to develop its program to adopt streams and creeks and monitor their water quality.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Cindy Eade, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Milton, at 678-242-2509 or mgg@cityofmiltonga.us.

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.

Citizens Government Academy 7

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.

The Milton High School PTSA recently honored Milton Principal Cliff Jones for his dedication and support of students, the PTSA, and the community as part of October's National Principals Month.  

Pictured with Jones are members of the school's PTSA.

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.

Tracey Renae: 12600 Deerfield Parkway

Quigley Partners, LLC: 14785 East Bluff Road  

Ascent Wellness, LLC: 14880 Hopewell Road

Intelligrated Systems, LLC: 13560 Morris Road  

Bryan Thompson: 13933 Ga. 9  

Finger Nails Spa: 13920 Ga. 9 North Suite 150

Patten Properties, LLC: 220 Tor Court

Christine Johnson Enterprises, Inc: 16470 Westbrook Road

Wealth Advisory Group, Inc: 12220 Birmingham Highway

Alar Enterprises, LLC: 13021 Deerfield Parkway

The Farm at Pamelot, Inc: 2105 Bethany Way

Fusionetics, LLC: 980 Birmingham Road 

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