It's hard to believe we're already five months into 2014. But boy, isn't May beautiful? It's the perfect mix of spring and summer - warm, but not too hot - and everything is in full bloom, especially with the rain we've been getting.

This month I want to talk again, as I have in years past, about Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off of summer for most folks. But there are hallowed and somber origins of the holiday, and a lot of times this fact gets lost.

In Milton, Memorial Day has taken on a special significance thanks to the hard work of Councilman Bill Lusk, himself a former Navy Seabee and Vietnam veteran.  

Check out the video about him produced as part of our Citizens Government Academy. It's a really neat look into his workshop and motivations for creating all those markers put out around the holiday.

This year our Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at Freedom Park on May 26 at 10 a.m. A fundraiser breakfast will be served by Boy Scouts starting at 9 a.m. Retired U. S. Air Force Colonel the Reverend Dr. Robert G. Certain will be the ceremony's featured speaker.

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Citizens Government Academy 13

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 City of Milton Fire Department will kick off its annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) "Fill the Boot" drive Friday, April 4 at various locations across the city - so keep an eye out for firefighters. 

The drive will occur every other Friday until June 13. 

Last year the department raised more than $66,000 over six days of "Fill the Boot" drives, setting a new department fundraising record for the MDA.

To date the City of Milton Fire Department has raised nearly $353,000 for MDA, which uses the money to aid local children and adults affected by neuromuscular diseases by providing wheelchairs, leg braces, clinic visits, support groups and a chance for children to attend Camp Walk-N-Roll.  

During the past three months, some 125 new homeowners have received a welcome letter from the Mayor and the 45-page Milton Newcomer's Guide. 

In addition, on April 15, Better Together had a successful launch of its first in a series of business connection events at Nothing Bundt Cakes. This well-publicized event doubled the number of customers that would normally visit the business. Additional events are planned to take place at various Milton businesses in the coming months. 

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 end of the year Evergreen School program will be Wednesday, May 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Autrey Mill Nature Center, 9770 Autrey Mill Road in Johns Creek (click here for directions).

This is always an interesting meeting to hear reports from each Evergreen school representative on their accomplishments in 2013 and 2014.  We can all learn from each other and get ideas for next year.  You do not have to be making a presentation to attend.  Children are welcome too, and Harry's Farmers Market will be providing the food.

For additional information, please contact Cindy Eade, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Milton, at cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2509.

Hopewell Youth Association (HYA) will hold HYA Day Saturday, May 10 to kick off its spring tournament for players ages 5 to 15 at Bell Memorial Park, 15245 Bell Park Road (click here for directions).   

As in previous years there will be inflatables, a dunk tank, basket raffles and other fun activities. 

To learn more about HYA, click here.

Please join Milton's Georgia Philharmonic for an exhilarating evening on May 10 at 8 p.m., when they present the Music of Shakespeare at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University (4484 Peachtree Road NE, click here for directions) closing out their 13th season.

The evening's concert will feature Tchaikovsky's famously gorgeous Romeo and Juliet, and includes the enchanting works of Dvorak's Othello, Smetana's Richard III Overture and Walton's Henry V Suite. The orchestra has also engaged a member of Georgia Shakespeare to bring to life some of the speeches from these plays.

Celebrating its 30th year this season, the Georgia Philharmonic is a philharmonic in the truest sense of the word: local musicians devoted to performing out of their love of music. As such, the artists create classical music experiences that not only rival those of professional orchestras, but also delight and inspire audience members. Enthusiasts become repeat patrons, volunteers and donors. Serving the community with cultural enhancement and education is their goal. Sharing their love and appreciation of fine music is their passion. 

Visit www.georgiaphilharmonic.org to purchase your tickets and for more information.  Ticket prices are $10 for seniors/students and $25 for adults.

The Cambridge High School hand will hold a golf tournament fundraiser Monday, May 12 to help send 100 students to London, England for the 2014 London New Year's Day Parade and Festival. 

Students will travel to London on Dec. 27 to perform for an international audience the 29th annual London New Year's Day Parade on Jan. 1, 2015. Approximately one million people are expected to line the streets of London to view the parade, and the total viewership on television and Internet is expected to exceed 300 million.  

The Cambridge Band Golf Classic will be held at the Manor Golf and Country Club, 15951 Manor Club Drive (click here for directions) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m.     

Individual participation fees begin at $250, but there are a variety of sponsorship levels available for individuals and businesses ranging from $500 (Ad Sponsor) to the $25,000 (Title Sponsor).      

The application deadline is Thursday, May 15, at 4:30 p.m., and parents will be notified of their child's transfer status by June 30. A transfer application is available online for the following schools:

• Summit Hill Elementary School
• Cambridge High School

Printed forms also can be picked up at Milton Center, 86 School Drive in Alpharetta (click here for directions).

The City of Milton will hold its seventh annual Memorial Day ceremony May 26 and in preparation is adding veterans into the city's registry of service men and women.

Through years of hard work and the generosity of residents, Milton has amassed a list of nearly 600 living and fallen veterans, almost 325 of whom are memorialized with markers placed on Deerfield Parkway the week of the holiday. 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.

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.

If you, a friend or someone in your family is or was a veteran, please click here or go to www.cityofmiltonga.us. To access the form, click on the "Find a Form or Permit" tab at the top of the page and choose "Register military veterans' information" from the "Online Forms" section at the top of the page.

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.  

All gave some, some gave all: a simple phrase used by millions to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women who served their country valiantly throughout this nation's history.

It is also the theme of the City of Milton's seventh annual Memorial Day Ceremony, scheduled for Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at Freedom Park, 13200 Deerfield Parkway (click here for directions). A fundraiser breakfast will be served by Boy Scouts starting at 9 a.m.

This year's ceremony features local veterans, the City of Milton Fire Department Color Guard, Taps as performed Bugles Across America, and much more.

Retired U. S. Air Force Colonel the Reverend Dr. Robert G. Certain will be the ceremony's featured speaker.

The ceremony will conclude with a roll call of local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Their friends and families are then invited to reflect upon the markers created to remember their legacy and placed along Deerfield Parkway and in Crabapple by Councilman Bill Lusk.

Please start your Memorial Day by joining the City of Milton in remembering those who have served the cause of freedom to their last breath.  

The City of Milton Finance Department would like to remind residents that the deadline to file for senior homestead exemptions is May 31. To qualify, property owners must be at least 65 and must own and occupy their home as primary residence as of Jan. 1. Property owners already receiving the basic homestead exemption through Fulton County need not reapply each year unless there is a change in ownership or the owner is applying for a different exemption.

Applications received after May 31 will become eligible the following year. The following exemptions are offered by the City of Milton:   

• Basic Homestead Exemption of $15,000 off the assessed value of your tax bill. (Applied for through Fulton County)
• Senior Basic Exemption of $15,000 is available to residents 65 or older on or before Jan. 1 of the year in which the application for exemption is submitted. (Applied for through City of Milton)
• Additional $10,000 Senior Homestead is available to homeowners who meet certain income requirements and are 65 or older on or before Jan. 1 of the year in which the application for exemption is submitted. Certain income qualifications apply and proof of income is required. (Applied for through City of Milton)
• Full Value Exemption is available to disabled residents and residents 70 or older on or before Jan. 1 of the year in which the application for exemption is submitted. Certain income qualifications apply and proof of income is required. Proof of disability is required for disabled residents. (Applied for through City of Milton)

The City of Milton Public Works Department and Milton Grows Green are offering residents a bulky trash amnesty day Saturday, June 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.

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.

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

Crabapple Fest, Milton's long-running and popular art and antique festival, is now accepting vendor applications for the Oct. 4 event.

If you are interested in taking part in this time-honored tradition, click here to visit the newly constructed vendor portal built by festival partner Crabapple Community Association (CCA).

Organizers welcome 19th century American Country furniture, primitive antiques, shabby chic items and unique pieces of art in all mediums - oils, photography, jewelry, textiles, pottery and quilts. Spaces are limited, so apply early.  

Once again the festival features kids and entertainment activities across Crabapple and Broadwell roads thanks to a partnership between CCA and the City of Milton.

Crabapple Fest will be held Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Antique vendors, local juried artists and merchants from all over the Southeast will be on hand, in addition to loads of children's rides, games, a full day of entertainment and great local food.

Last year's event had more than 15,000 attendees, and was the biggest festival in Milton's modern history.

Vendor fees are tax deductible as the Crabapple Community Association is a chartered, non-profit organization. Proceeds benefit local community programs, scholarships and non-profit charities. 

• Water deeply and less often: This practice helps develop a deeper supporting root system. Clay soils can be watered less frequently than sandy soils due to their ability to hold moisture.
• Water no more than one inch per week per zone for turf and even less for established ornamentals: This practice is also designed to develop a deeper supporting root system.
• Watering between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. is ideal: The plant material is naturally wet during this 12-hour time frame and extending this time of dampness makes the plant material more susceptible to diseases. Reduce plant disease by watering in evening or early morning.
• Get an irrigation checkup: Irrigation equipment is constantly improving to conserve water while meeting the landscapes needs.
• Watch for plant leaf curl: when leaves curl this is a good indication the plant is need of water.

The Milton PTSA is pleased to announce its 2014 MHS PTSA Scholarship winners.

Congratulations to the following students:

Academic Winners of $1,000

MacKenzie Curtis

Anna Mahr

General Scholarships of $500

Community Service: Annika Jonker

Language Arts: Morgan Laketa

Math: Kristin Fucito

Media/Arts: Andrew Savas

Musical Pursuits: Annika Jonker

Performing Arts: MacKenzie Curtis

Science: Kaley Desher

Sports/Athletic: Dawson Kipniss

Roadwork projects continue throughout the city in January.  

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.  

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.

This list is compiled from business license records kept by the city's Finance 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. 

Pretty Neat Interiors: 3580 Archgate Court

The Spray Nurse: 13077 Region Trace

Baustudio Salon: 12872 Highway 9

JMC Properties: 14792 Hopewell Road

Ask: 2347 Milton Place Drive

My Kinda Shirt, LLC: 19106 Deer Point Court

Stag Home Improvement and Repair: 719 Glenover Drive

I Like Dreaming, LLC: 12220 Birmingham Highway

XYZ Home & Pool, Inc.: 115 Arabian Ave

Sims Real Estate Holding, LLC: 12220 Birmingham Highway

Sequoia Golf Manor, LLC: 15951 Manor Club Drive

Orion Wellness, Inc.: 12540 Broadwell Road

Paula Dunson Dressage, LLC: 14825 Taylor Road

Georgia Life Settlements, LLC: 2550 Bethany Church Road

Enercom Global, LLC: 12600 Deerfield Parkway

GRZ Partners, LLC: 840 Foxhollow Run  

Ian Ordway: 14741 Birmingham highway

Guardian Angels of Greater Atlanta, LLC: 15350 Laurel Grove Drive 

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