Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all members of the community. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns.

Board members have set the following meeting dates for September 2009:

Linda Schultz, District 1
September 15, 9:30 a.m.
Crabapple Middle School

Katie Reeves, District 2
September 15, 7 p.m.
Milton High School

Gail Dean, District 3
September 15, 9:30 a.m.
Heards Ferry Elementary School

Linda Bryant, District 4
September 14, 6 p.m.
Camp Creek Middle School

Ashley Widener, District 5
September 15, 11 a.m.
Ocee Elementary School
 Catherine Maddox, District 6
September 14, 6:30 p.m.
McNair Middle School

Julia Bernath, District 7
September 14, 9:30 a.m.
Esther Jackson Elementary School

Fulton County Board of Education members have hosted these community meetings for a number of years and are believed to be one of the few school boards in the country to use such a process for gathering input.

Alpharetta Elementary celebrates Green Day

On Wednesday, September 2nd, students at Alpharetta Elementary celebrated Green School Day. This group of students and teachers (along with parents) started the day by getting off the bus and out of their cars and walking to school together on the newly installed sidewalks along Mayfield Road.

Absentee Ballots

To obtain an absentee ballot, a Fulton County registered voter must fill out an application for an official absentee ballot. The applications can be obtained at City Hall, the Public Library or from the Secretary of State. Voters can also go to the North Fulton County Annex at 7741 Roswell Rd, fill out an application and vote there.

Voters may then either mail the Application to:

Fulton County Voter Registration
Suite 406
141 Pryor St., SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

or fax the application to Fulton County at 404-730-8839.

Fulton County will mail the ballot to the voter, and the ballot will need to be mailed back to Fulton County after completion. All absentee ballots must be received by the County Registrar by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

19th Annual North Fulton Rivers Alive Festival and River Cleanup

Rivers Alive, Georgia’s annual river clean-up, comes to North Fulton on September 26. Sponsored by Keep Roswell Beautiful (KRB), the clean-up will take place from 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. followed by a festival until 1 p.m. at Riverside Park. The event will be held rain or shine.

Georgia has more than 70,100 miles of rivers and streams that need your help to stay clean. Individuals, neighborhoods, scout troops, schools, churches, clubs and service organizations are being asked to pull together to make a difference for the Chattahoochee River. Cleanups of the Chattahoochee and surrounding areas will be going on in the week leading up to the event. Volunteers are also needed on the morning of this event for privet (invasive species) removal at Riverside Park and Chattahoochee Nature Center, as well as litter pick ups in surrounding areas. Participants who own a canoe or kayak are encouraged to bring them to the clean-up.

Everyone is invited to this year’s festival, which will feature interactive educational displays, crafts, environmental demonstrations and music by Johnny Roquemore. All ages are invited to come celebrate the Chattahoochee River. The snack bar will be open for lunch or bring a picnic and enjoy the park.

All volunteers under age 18 must have the Rivers Alive volunteer waiver form completed and signed by a parent before arriving at the event. The form is available at the Keep Roswell Beautiful website at www.keeproswellbeautiful.org.

The North Fulton clean up is co-sponsored by KRB, the City of Roswell, the City of Alpharetta and the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Partners include Harry’s Farmers Market, SuperTARGET, Starbucks, Kiwanis Club of Historic Roswell, North Fulton Rotary and Windward Rotary.

For more information, please contact Laura Aikens at 770-641-3715.

Historic Book Signing

Thursday, September 17 at Roswell’s Alive After Five, local historian and co-author Darlene M. Walsh, will be signing her book “Providence: Selected Correspondence of George Camp.” The first five Roswell residents (must show valid driver’s license) will receive a complimentary copy of the book (a $50 value). Additional copies will be available at the signing for cash or check as well as down the street at The Chandlery or the Roswell Visitors Center.

The book signing is being held to promote “The Providence in Historic Roswell” housing development, that inherits its name from the novel, which was co-authored by Connie M. Cox and Darlene M. Walsh, and captures a 57-year long love story between George Camp and Jane Atwood in the 1800s.

Providence in Historic Roswell is a new development of brownstones right in the heart of Historic Roswell. With homes ranging from the $290s to the mid $400s, Providence will offer a simple, walkable lifestyle. Lehigh Homes is dedicated to conserving resources and focuses on developments that are within walking distances from city centers. Providence is designed by the local Roswell architectural firm Arie Kohn Architects PC, which specializes in integrating modern elements into historical architecture. Call (678) 277-8382 or visit www.ProvidenceRoswell.com for more information.

Milton High School To Host WCI Marching Competition

Mark your calendar - Milton High School will host their 5th Annual White Columns Invitational Marching Competition on Saturday evening, October 24th. High School bands from across the southeast will compete in this outstanding evening of musicianship. The community is invited to attend and watch these awesome bands perform. Please visit www.miltonband.org for more information. This is a special year for the Milton High School Band as they celebrate their 60th year!

Milton Band Reunion Party

Calling all former Milton High School Band Members (and parents who played in their high school bands)! You are cordially invited to attend the Milton Band Alumni Night, Friday October 30th.

Come join the Milton Band Foundation for pre-game tailgate refreshments and a reunion of band members representing 60 years of the Marching Eagles. Dust off instruments or flags and join the band on the field for an alumni pre-game show and play with the band during the game. Milton Band Alumni t-shirts will be provided to all who register. Be a part of the 60th year celebration.

For more information or to register for this event, go to the Milton Band Foundation web site at www.miltonbandfoundation.org or call 770-740-8933. Proceeds will support the foundation’s purchase of much- needed equipment. Deadline for registration is October 15th.

Johns Creek Police laud their best

Ten members of the Johns Creek Police Department were recognized for their exemplary public service at the 2009 Johns Creek Police Awards Banquet held August 22 at the Standard Club in Johns Creek.

Police Chief Ed Densmore named Uniform Patrol Officer Lincoln Brown “Officer of the Year” and Crime Scene Investigator Tanesha Taylor “Employee of the Year” for their outstanding work during the department’s first year of operation.

Corporal Dion Smith received the “Leadership Award” for his commendable work with Uniform Patrol, while Lt. Randa Hafez, who oversaw recruiting during the department’s start-up, received the “Chief’s Award.”

“Each of these individuals has shown admirable dedication, work ethic and professionalism during our first year. A number of officers were nominated but ultimately, these individuals were selected,” said Chief Densmore, who presented the awards at the JCPD’s first Awards Banquet at the Standard Club.

Additionally, several members of Uniform Patrol were equally lauded for their heroic actions as first responders over the last year. Lt. Chris Byers, Corporal Brian Covert, Officer Chris Smith and Corporal Dion Smith received Lifesaving Awards. Police Cross medals were awarded to Corporal Victor Massarelli and Officer James Harris, who also received a Purple Heart Medal.

“Our police officers put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect this community. In the case of these individuals, that line was significant,” said Densmore.

The State Bridge office of BB&T Bank sponsored the JCPD’s annual awards and has sponsored the department’s quarterly awards since its April 2008 launch.

Sail-A-Bration

North Metro Miracle League and ORPHAN Foundation bring food, fun and festivities.

Let the good times roll with North Metro Miracle League and ORPHAN Foundation as they set sail on Lake Lanier with New Orleans style cuisine. This inaugural event takes place on Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 5:30p.m. This Sail-A-Bration will feature live music provided by the Dennis Nelson Band, signature cuisine from the heart of the Bayou and an auction. Sail-A-Bration will provide much-needed funding for two non-profit organizations.

For 8 years the North Metro Miracle League (NMML) has been providing inclusive sports and social programming for all children, especially disabled and disadvantaged children from all across the metro area. In the last year the NMML has aggressively developed programming for young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with disabling battle wounds. The programs include the spouses and children, because not only was the warrior’s life forever changed, but those that know, love and depend on them must also face a new reality.

After hurricane Katrina brutally left her mark on the Gulf Coast region affecting the lives of many of our friends and family members, seeds that were planted years prior began to take root and, hence ORPHAN was born. Many friends, family members and neighbors reached out to help aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina, and ORPHAN’s roots began to flower.

ORPHAN’s mission is two-fold: first, to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged high school seniors who plan to attend college; and second, to redesign and decorate living spaces in the homes of the young men and women of the military who have returned home after putting their lives on the line for our country’s freedom. ORPHAN (OutReaching People Helping Aid Needs) believes that every person deserves an angel.

Corporate and civic sponsorships are available. General ticket admission of $125. Space is limited. For more information, on Sail-A-Bration please contact Cookie Haynes 770-841-2665 or cookiesconcepts@aol.com.

Bard in the Yard at Barrington Hall

Barrington Hall will be hosting Bard in the Yard, an event featuring the North Fulton Drama Club (NFDC) performing “Macbeth,” on September 18-October 3 on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday, September 27. Performances are free and will begin at 7:30 p.m. with seating starting at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday, September 27 performance will begin at 4 p.m., with seating at 3 p.m.

Comprised of 45 volunteer actors, the NFDC is a non profit organization that started in 2006 and has been performing at Barrington Hall each year. The NFDC enjoys performing at Barrington Hall because it naturally lends itself to performances. There are two porches, several entrances, plenty of green area for the audience, access to several streets, lots of privacy and a sense of history.

“Shakespeare plays are performed because most people know the plays and can relate to them, they’re inexpensive to produce and there are no concerns about licensing since it’s public domain,” explains Thomas Strickland, Artistic Director of the NFDC. In the past, the NFDC has brought Shakespeare into different eras, i.e. WWII, 1970’s, etc. This year the play will be set in the 1930’s in Louisiana.

Reserved tables and catering are available through the NFDC at www.northfultondramaclub.org.

The Scarecrows Are Coming!

The City of Alpharetta invites teachers and students from local elementary schools with the entire community to celebrate the spirit of fall by creating a scarecrow for the 4th Annual Scarecrow Harvest. The celebration will have over 50 scarecrows from elementary schools displayed on Main Street (SR 9) in Downtown Alpharetta beginning October 1, 2009. Residents, businesses and organizations throughout Alpharetta are encouraged to join in by displaying their own scarecrows as well.

“The Scarecrow Harvest is an event that brings our entire community together,” said City of Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas. “The schools get involved, the students get excited, and it’s fun for everyone to see the innovative scarecrows line Main Street.”

The 4th Annual Scarecrow Harvest - Sat, October 3 from 10a.m. – 2p.m. is a thank you celebration for all the children making scarecrows. The event will take place on Old Roswell Street at the Alpharetta Farmers Market in downtown. Please come to the event and walk the scarecrow trail, also live music with High Cotton, free hayrides through downtown, free face painting, free fall crafts, free inflatables, and buy fresh produce at the farmers market. We encourage families to bring cameras for a photograph at a fall harvest photo area next to The Cannery.

Barbecue sandwiches from Smokejack, A Southern Grill, ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s and assorted fall treats will be offered. The celebration will occur in conjunction with the Alpharetta Farmers Market hosted by Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association each Saturday from May through October. Parking is available at City Hall and Milton Center (old Milton High School).

On Saturday, October 3 at 12pm at the stage, selected scarecrows will be given either “Most Creative,” “Best Constructed,” “Best Personality” and “SchCOOLest” (school with the most participating classrooms) Scarecrows. Each classroom/school winner will receive prizes donated by Alpharetta Farmers Market, Attorney Bruce T. Leonard & Associates, LLC, Ben & Jerry’s, Chick-fil-A, Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association, Harry’s Farmers Market and Philly Pretzel Factory.

In 2008, sixteen elementary schools created scarecrows that lined Main Street. Scarecrow 2009 entry applications from local classrooms are called for by Friday, September 11. Teachers and/or classroom representatives may obtain an application on-line at www.alpharetta.ga.us or by phoning Kim Maloney at (678) 297-6000, ext.1008. The City of Alpharetta will deliver hay to schools for each classroom’s creation on September 17 or 18, and provide hay bales along Main Street for each classroom’s scarecrow display. Scarecrows must be placed in their assigned spaces along Main Street September 25 through 28.

We invite the entire community to join in on the fun by displaying your own scarecrows in front of your business or subdivision. If your business or organization would like to be on the “Scarecrow Locator List”, please complete our simple application. For more information on the event, applications, or how to create a scarecrow, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us or phone 678-297-6000, ext. 1008.