Alpharetta-Milton, GA|News|
Lighting Of Avalon Kicks Off 2018 Holiday Season
The fifth annual event will be Sunday, Nov. 18, and includes tree lighting, a visit from Santa Claus, ice skating and more.

My name is Kristal Dixon and I'm your editor for Patch sites serving the communities of Cartersville, Canton, Holly Springs, Woodstock, Johns Creek, Alpharetta-Milton, Roswell and Sandy Springs.
Before coming to Patch, I spent five years as a reporter with the Cherokee Tribune in Canton.
I worked as the editorial assistant for the Griffin Daily News between February and August 2007. I was then hired by the Cherokee Tribune in Canton as the education reporter in August 2007. Along with education, I was also responsible for covering the cities of Woodstock and Nelson.
In early 2011, I became the government reporter and covered the cities of Woodstock, Canton, Nelson as well as the Cherokee County government.
While with the Tribune, I was recognized by my peers with first, second and third-place awards from the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Associated Press Association for my work in covering education, investigative journalism, business and breaking news reporting.
In September 2012, I joined Patch as a local editor in Georgia. I love covering the communities I serve, and I'm always on the hunt for news that's relevant to our readers. You can send your news to me at kristal.dixon@patch.com.
The fifth annual event will be Sunday, Nov. 18, and includes tree lighting, a visit from Santa Claus, ice skating and more.

GHC had a 2.8-percent increase in enrollment growth for fall 2018, the highest increase among state colleges in Georgia.
The SafeSchools Alert app can be downloaded for free from the iPhone App Store and Google Play for Android phones.
The weekend-long initiative was hosted by the Center for Israel Education and the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel.
Carol Lynn Smith left her home around 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5 to run an errand and has not returned to the city.
Errol Alex Martinez is accused of sexually assaulting at least four women in Roswell from 2014 to 2016.
The city of Milton is undertaking a planning process to transform the former Country Club into a public park and recreation facility.
The city is seeking bids to provide services in areas such as communications, finance, community development and public works.
Holbrook Woodstock will include 200+ residences, 2 pools, farm to table restaurants, wine cellar, a match maker service and a travel club.
The Bartow County Sheriff's Office is seeking information to help identify the man whose body was found Sept. 1 in Allatoona Lake.
Roswell, Blessed Trinity and Centennial will take on teams Friday, Nov. 9 while Fellowship Christian has a bye week.
The Milton Eagles host South Gwinnett while the Alpharetta Raiders head to Sequoyah for the first round of playoffs on Friday, Nov. 9.
The Gladiators will host the state-ranked Harrison Hoyas on Friday, Nov. 9.
The ninth annual ceremony will be held at City Springs, and will include three family-friendly events.
Thousands of pounds of trash spilled onto the road early Thursday when the tractor trailer overturned near Exit 16, Canton police said.
Law enforcement officials and others will provide tips to parents at a panel scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15 in Cartersville.
Incumbent Rep. Karen Handel lost her re-election bid to Democratic challenger Lucy McBath in the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
North Fulton voters gave the green light to new exemptions and for restaurants to serve alcohol at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
During the months of November and December, Cherokee County marshals can grow facial hair if they donate or volunteer with a charity.
Dr. Cindy Loe served as Fulton County superintendent from 2008 to 2011 before retiring to become a leadership consultant.