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Giving in droves for area needy Crabapple Crossing students learn, share for less fortunate By HANNAH YAHNE | hannah@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — The cafeteria at Crabapple Crossing Elementary School overflowed with 130 students Nov. 12, filling boxes and tote bags with donated food. Over the past four years, the elementary school has partnered with STAR House Foundation for the two-week Raise Craze fundraiser that provides underprivileged kids with meals over Thanksgiving break. “These families are having any number of struggles, be it food insecurity or childcare or a sustainable house,” Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Christiansen Butler said. “It really puts another layer on…because it really is a lot of the time that kid is home by themselves.” STAR House Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides after-school tutoring and mentoring to children throughout North Fulton County. Currently, there are STAR House programs at Esther Jackson, Mimosa and Vickery Mill elementary schools.
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
Parents help their kids fill food bags at Crabapple Crossing Elementary School’s fourth-annual Raise See COMMUNITY, Page 20 Craze fundraising event Nov. 12.
School Board advances $14 million in upgrades to Autrey Mill Middle By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Board of Education reviewed two contracts totaling over $20 million for school renovations at its Nov. 11 work session. The projects would renovate Autrey Mill Middle School and upgrade the
audio and visual systems at three high schools. The contract to renovate Autrey Mill totals $14.2 million with a 5 percent contingency fund. Funding comes through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The extensive renovations will remove and replace all light fixtures with LED lighting, replacing the emer-
gency generator, boilers and other heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and installing a new intercom system. All acoustic ceiling tiles will also be removed and replaced. The contracts, both awarded to Ward Humphrey, Inc., were placed on
Milton teen decorates her own path to profit ► PAGE 10
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