Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog: May 2009

NANYANA LIVE AT CHARLIE MOPPS!!!!
Live show in Sandy Springs!!!!
Host: Nanyana

Type: Music/Arts - Concert

Network: Global
Start Time: Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00pm
End Time: Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 1:30am
Location: Charlie Mopps
Street: 5830 Roswell Rd NE
Phone: 4048450713
Description
Come see Nanyana live in Sandy Springs! For a late night jam!

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Start Time: 9:00 am End Time: 1:00 pm
(Time Zone: US/Eastern)

Location: Jones Bridge Park (map)

Category: Community Events

Description:
The Georgia Dept of Natural Resources, Gwinnett Co. Parks & Recreation, the Kiwanis of Johns Creek, Tailwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Rainbow Ranch, and several of our partners are hosting a FREE Kids Fishing Event!

Bring rod and reel if you have them, if not, we’ll have some loaners. Bait is provided or feel free to bring your own. Fishing demonstrations and volunteers are available to assist baiting hooks and removing fish.

Fishing license not required for children 16 and under.

Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Parents and kids need have no experience!

Life jackets are recommended.

Email: info@johnscreekkiwanis.org

More Info: http://www.johnscreekkiwanis.org

Location Details

Jones Bridge Park
4901 E Jones Bridge Road
Norcross GA 30092 US

Labels: city of johns creek, free kids fishing event, Georgia, georgia department of natural resources, Gwinnett COunty, jones bridge park, norcross

The eastbound lanes of Hospital Parkway will be closed for road repairs starting May 27 from 9 am to 4 pm daily. Work is expected to last about a week.

The closure begins east of Emory Johns Creek Hospital and extends to the City Hall access road. Traffic entering the hospital will not be affected but exiting eastbound traffic (right turn) will be detoured onto McGinnis Ferry Road.

Labels: city of johns creek, eastbound lane closures, hospital parkway, may 27

June 5 & 6, 2009

Come listen to 2-days of traditional and contemporary Bluegrass, Americana and Folk music in the Anderson Music Hall. Great Music Performances by Buck & Nelson, Irons in the Fire, Dale Ann Bradley, Seldom Scene, Jim Lauderdale, The Steeldrivers (2009 Grammy Nomination for Country Vocal Group Performance), Red Stick Ramblers, The Greencards, and Dan Tyminski (Famous for music vocal in film, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" & 2009 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy Nominee)

http://www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

Ticket Prices:

Friday: $18.00
Saturday: $27.00

2 Day Pass: $36.00 Advanced Tickets
2 Day Pass: $40.00 Non Advanced Tickets

Labels: Georgia, georgia mountain fairgrounds, june 5 and 6, roots and music festival

There’s no question tax assessors across metro Atlanta have reacted to the continuing real estate collapse. When Fulton County mails out notices June 5, the five major counties will have dropped values for more than 350,000 parcels.

The question taxpayers must now decide is, “Have they gone far enough?”

That’s the central issue in a lawsuit filed last week challenging DeKalb County’s efforts to set 2009 values. The county sent out about 30,000 bills in April, less than half reductions.

Officials admitted they did not include foreclosures in their calculations even though a new state law mandated their consideration. They also raised values for some parcels even though a different state law froze values for three years.

So, last week they redid their calculations and sent out 95,000 notices, this time following the dictates of both new state laws. Hank Ruffin, DeKalb’s interim chief appraiser, said at least 40,000 properties will fall by more than 25 percent.

Still, local lawyer John Woodham filed a lawsuit challenging 2009 taxable values for DeKalb County.

“There’s no way they could have done all that work in three weeks,” said Woodham. “They say the tax digest went down 4 percent. It’s probably at least 12 percent. I don’t think that’s a reasonable number.”

John O’Callaghan, CEO of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, agreed. His local nonprofit did a study earlier this year of values in high-foreclosure neighborhoods across the five major metro counties and found the sales prices were often a fraction of their tax appraisals.

The study found median sales prices in three high-foreclosure ZIP codes in south DeKalb were on average 57 percent of the tax appraisal. The same study found ZIP codes in Clayton and Fulton where median sales prices were half or less of the median taxable values. Two Fulton ZIP codes had median sales prices in the $20,000 range but median tax values five times as high.

“It’s seems unlikely you’ll see values set at the levels they should be,” O’Callaghan said.

The continuing real estate crisis certainly has sent assessors scrambling to catch up and understand.

Sales volumes are dramatically down. Foreclosures and increasing rapidly. Distressed sales are becoming the market in many places. For many values are falling. Some pockets are holding their own.

Assessors say all those factors make setting 2009 values extraordinarily difficult. The system of mass appraisal, assessors agree, is designed to make gradual changes year to year and struggles during times of dramatic, swift change. Normally, prices go up each year, allowing assessors to follow a consistent pattern.

But this year, few of the normal patterns hold true. Values in some places values have collapsed under the weight of foreclosures and distressed sales. A computer search for metro Atlanta Friday returned 177 properties for sale at $10,000 or less.

“It really throws several monkey wrenches in the way we normally do things,” Burt Manning, chief appraiser for Fulton. “With some of these low-priced sales, we don’t know has the plumbing been ripped out. Is the air conditioner gone. That’s why we are truly struggling with how low do we go.”

Fulton expects to be the next major metro county to send out revaluations. Plans are to mail about 105,000 notices on June 5. About 95,000 will lower values, Manning said.

Still, Manning said he expects to get complaints that he hasn’t gone far enough. He agreed the department isn’t likely to value homes across wide parts of south and west Atlanta in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.

Property owners who feel their values are still too high have the right to appeal, as long as they got a revaluation notice this year.

But even appeals have a new twist this year as well — an optional appeal system using binding arbitration rather than an appearance before a Board of Equalization.

With the tax system in so much turmoil, assessors say they have no way to predict how many folks will accept their lower values or choose to contest them or choose arbitration versus the traditional system.

In Clayton, where appeals must be filed by June 8, the county’s already taken in 1,800 appeals. However, that’s against 70,000 notices. Clayton lowered the values on nearly 80 percent of its parcels, the most in metro Atlanta.

Rodney McDaniel, chief appraiser in Clayton, said normally the county gets a last-minute flood of appeals, but this year he’s uncertain what will happen next.

Woodham, though, said the actions by assessors should be simple and clear. If sales are consistently in the $20,000 range, then tax values should match those numbers.

“It’s a new world,” Woodham said. “I don’t think they hesitated to raise values the last five years. Their state mandated duty requires these movements downward.”

Labels: dekalb county, drop, five counties, Fulton County, Georgia, tax assessments

Two former New York Times journalists say the paper could have broken the story of Watergate if they hadn't let a hot tip fall through the cracks.

Former reporter Robert Smith tells the Times that the FBI's acting director hinted at White House involvement in the 1972 break-in over lunch two months after it happened.

Smith says he shared the information with Times editor Robert Phelps, but had to hand off the story because he was quitting to attend law school.

Smith says he decided to come forward after learning that Phelps planned to reveal what happened in a memoir that was published last month.

Phelps says he has "no idea" what happened. He says it's probably his fault that the Times didn't pursue the story and got beaten by the Washington Post.

Labels: New York Times, Watergate

Marietta National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony – Monday, May 25 at 12:00 p.m. (Guests are advised to arrive early because parking will not be available on the cemetery grounds).

Seventh Annual DeKalb Memorial Day Service, Liane Levetan Park – Monday, May 25 at 9:00 a.m.

Roswell Remembers, Roswell City Hall – Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Memorial Unveiling, Woodstock City Park – Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.

City of Milton Memorial Day Service, Milton City Hall – Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Sixteenth Annual Dacula Memorial Day Parade, starts on Dacula Road at Hebron Baptist Church – Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.

City of Smyrna Memorial Day Ceremony, Smyrna Village Green – Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Peachtree City Memorial Day Celebration, the Gathering Place on McIntosh Trail – Monday, May 25 at 8:30 a.m.

Labels: Atlanta, Events, Memorial Day Weekend

West Nile Virus season runs May through October and the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness cautions residents to use preventive measures to deter mosquito growth in their neighborhoods. Residents are urged to clean areas of standing water and to take precautions when outside.

“We are at the beginning of the season for increased mosquito activity,” says Dr. Kim Turner, Interim Health Director of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. “In 2008, only one human case of WNV was identified in Fulton however 22 mosquito pools were identified throughout the county. It is important for everyone to use preventive measures to protect themselves against the virus.”

Symptoms of WNV include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a rash. WNV can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and lining of the brain). People with compromised immune systems or other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease.

Dr. Turner adds, “Transmission of this potentially serious illness from mosquito to human is high. West Nile Virus is a serious illness but is preventable if we take action to reduce our exposure to mosquito bites.” To reduce exposure to mosquitoes and to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness recommends the following:
In January 2009, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved an additional $150,000 in contingency to support mosquito control activities of the Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness, to prevent West Nile Virus.

Mosquitoes need water to breed. They can breed in any puddle or standing water that remains more than four days. By removing areas of standing water, breeding grounds can be eliminated to reduce the number of mosquitoes:

• Dispose of old tires. Regularly empty any metal cans, ceramic flowerpots, bottles, jars, buckets, and other water-holding containers on your property.

• Turn over plastic wading pools, outdoor toys and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.
• Keep gutters cleared and sloped to the downspout.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors.
• Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated. Remove standing water from pool covers.
• Make sure windows and screens are in good condition.
• Purchase and use Mosquito Dunks (a larvicide used to kill mosquito larvae) to control mosquitoes in areas with standing water and in containers that cannot be dumped.
Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus bite during the evening, night and early morning. Take precautions to protect yourself and your family during these periods.
• Use insect repellent containing the active ingredient N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). Spray the top of your clothing and exposed skin. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk.

For more information on West Nile Virus and prevention methods, call the Mosquito Hotline: 404-730-5296 or contact the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness; Division of Environmental Health at (404) 730-1301. Also, more information is located on-line at http//:www.fultoncountygahealth.org

Labels: Fulton County, Georgia, west nile virus

The City of Milton hosts a Memorial Day service honoring Milton veterans both living and deceased at City Hall 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25.

Similar to last year's ceremony, the program includes a series of activities including the Presentation of and Call to Colors, guest speaker Lt. Gen. Roy Beauchamp, the roll call of deceased veterans and more. A Milton High School choral group will perform an arrangement of patriotic songs and Terry Haynes will once again play Amazing Grace on bagpipes.

The service will end with family members of the deceased veterans placing flags on markers along Deerfield Parkway.

The markers will be displayed along Deerfield Parkway the week proceeding Memorial Day. The City of Milton continues to update its database of area-related veterans both living and fallen.

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 only. Use our online form to send us veterans' information.

Labels: City Hall, city of milton, Georgia, second memorial day service

Help us make Cards for our Troops! Our troops do not always have adequate resources for purchasing and sending greeting cards back home to their loved ones. On May 30th from 10 am to 1 pm, come join us at Be Healthy Chiropractic where you can donate just a few moments of your time to make a greeting card that we will ship over to Afghanistan or Iraq.

Dr. Annette Degliumberto will donate space in her Chiropractic office during open house event at the Meadow Walk Shopping Mall. Stampin’ UP!® Demonstrator, Renee Pagenkopf, will donate all the necessary paper and products as well as provide simple instructions for making birthday, anniversary, holiday or other occasion cards to be used for the Cards for Troops. We will also be making “Thank You” cards to send to a list of local troops who have just been deployed to express our appreciation for their service.

“Now that I have a nephew-in-law in the Air Force, who will be shipped to Afghanistan soon, I’ve become more focused on how I can actively participate in and show support for our troops. As I now have the resources available through my business, Stampin’ UP!®, I thought that this would be the perfect fit. I’m hoping, that in three hours, we can make a good number of cards to ship over to our troops so they have a way to communicate with their families and friends back home”, commented Renee Pagenkopf. “And this is a great way to let them know how much we appreciate their service”.

Other retail shops participating in the open house event are Metamorphosis Skin Care and Creations Bakery. Metamorphosis owner, Julie O’Connor, says that they will have specials on products and services as well as drawings during the open house. Metamorphosis, a clinical skin care provider, offers a wide variety of programs, skin care products, services and techniques with anti-aging as their specialty. For information on products or services, call Julie at 678-341-8012.

Creations Bakery, an 18 year-old full service bakery will also be open on May 30th for the mall event. Owner, Frank, states that their specialty lies in their “custom celebration cakes”. “We have been the largest bakery and cake decorating supply provider in Cumming for 18 years”. They also provide many other unique pastries and desserts for all your party needs. One of their most recent additions is the development of a children’s entertainment center where parties may be hosted and cakes and pastries decorated by all. The entertainment area will also feature a Tiki Hut smoothie bar. For more information, call 770-887-4944 or visit www.creationsbakeryonline.com.

Meadow Walk shopping center is located on Meadow Dr. and Highway 9 near downtown Cumming. For more information, please contact, Renee Pagenkopf, Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrator, at 678-947-0283 or Dr. Annette Degliumberto, Be Healthy Chiropractic, at 678-455-7646.

www.LetsSayThanks.com is another great way to send cards if you cannot make it on May 30, 2009.

Labels: be healthy chiropractic, Cumming, Georgia, may 30th, meadow walk shopping center, thank you cards for the troops

The Riverside Farmers Market is open for the summer on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Riverside Park. The market will be open every Saturday through September 5, excluding June 13 and July 4, and will concentrate on fresh, locally grown produce.

Items include a variety of fresh produce, jams and jellies, farm fresh eggs, shade-grown organic coffee, breads and tarts, local honey, specialty spice rubs, organic herbal soaps, gourmet doggie biscuits and an array of other natural and locally crafted products.

Vendors must grow their own produce and it should be grown within 100 miles of the market. Prospective vendors can get more information by contacting Louise Estabrook at 404.613.7670.

With support from the City of Roswell, the market will fill a demand that has existed in the community for many years. Other metro communities have established markets which have proven to be highly popular.

Restrooms and free parking is available. Riverside Park is located at 575 Riverside Road in Roswell.

Labels: Georgia, Riverside Farmers Market, Roswell

As Georgians pack-up their cars for the first big vacation trip of the summer, they face a set of sobering crash predictions for the Memorial Day holiday ahead. The Georgia State Patrol estimates as many as 2,725 traffic crashes resulting in 875 injuries and 18 traffic deaths could occur within just a 78-hour travel period on Georgia roadways this weekend.

“It’s a fact, there are more crashes during the summer travel months, due in part to the increased vacation traffic volume,” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). “But most of these crashes aren’t just random events caused by too many cars navigating through too much congestion. The Georgia State Patrol reports alcohol and the lack of safety belt use were the primary contributing factors in a majority of the fatal crashes they investigated during the Memorial Day Holiday last year.”

During the 2008 Memorial Day period, there were 2,480 traffic crashes, 721 injuries and 12 fatal crashes resulting in 14 traffic deaths in Georgia. The Georgia State Patrol investigated eight of those 12 fatal crashes, finding alcohol was a factor in five of the traffic deaths and a drug-impaired driver was noted in another fatal crash. Investigating Troopers found four of the victims were not restrained by safety belts! (Other fatal crashes reported during Memorial Day 2008 involved a motorcycle, a four-wheeler, and a pedestrian).

Labels: accidents, Georgia, georgia office of highway safety, Memorial Day Weekend

The 14th annual Celebrate America 5K and 10K is going to the dogs, literally. The proceeds of this year’s race will help several local charities, including Canine Assistants and Happy Tails. Canine Assistants trains and provides service dogs to children and adults with disabilities or other special needs. Happy Tails volunteers share the unconditional love of their pets with people at healthcare facilities, social agencies, nursing homes and special needs programs. The race will be held Monday at 7:30 a.m., rain or shine at 7730 North Point Parkway, in front of the AMC Theatres.

This race was organized by the Alpharetta Junior Woman’s Club in 1996, the year Atlanta hosted the Olympics to help instill a sense of community spirit and patriotism on Memorial Day. The races are U.S. Track and Field certified and the 10K is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Early registrants are guaranteed to receive a thick T-shirt with a patriotic design. A limited number of T-shirts will be available on the day of race.

“The 10-K distance is a great warm-up for the Peachtree. We are looking forward to having over 1,000 runners this year. We will once again have prizes for our runners, including gifts from Spikes Running Store, New Balance Running Stores and Braves tickets. This is in addition to plaques awarded to the top 3 finishers in each age category,” said Race Chairman, Karen Daniel in a statement.

Registration forms are available online at www.active.com. The entry fee for any application received by May 17 is $20.00. Entry fees after that date and on day of race are $25.00.

Information: (770) 740-2648.

Labels: 10K, 5k race, Alpharetta Juniors Club, canine assistants, Celebrate America

Milton High School was well represented at the GHSA State Track & Field Meets held the previous two weekends.


At the boy's state meet contested in Jefferson, GA, Milton had two athletes competing. In the 800 meter run, senior Fraser Reade ran 1:56.92 to eventually place 8th in the AAAAA competition. That time was a new Milton school record, the old record was 1:59.64 from 1967! Also competing for the Eagles was junior Peter Flaaen. Peter was in two events and placed 12th in the high jump and 15th in the long jump.


At the girl's state meet, contested in Albany, GA, the Lady Eagles had two competitors. Sophomore Samantha Becker in the Pole Vault and junior Chelsea Weiermiller in the 3200 meter run. Samantha placed 8th in the pole vault competition and Chelsea had a breakthrough race, passing 3 runners on the last lap to finish in 6th place, running a 11:39.98, breaking the school record in the process.

Labels: Alpharetta, Georgia, milton, Milton High School, state championship, track meet

District 50 State Rep. Mark Burkhalter, R- Johns Creek, and District 46 State Rep. Jan Jones, R-Milton, announced an initial Milton County Legislative Advisory Committee. The Committee will assist and advise Burkhalter and Jones as they proceed forward with historic legislation to allow the re-creation of Milton County.

Burkhalter first introduced legislation to facilitate Milton County’s re-creation over 15 years ago. In January, Ms. Jones authored HR 21 to allow the re-creation of previously-merged counties. Burkhalter and other north Fulton representatives co-sponsored the resolution.

The resolution applies to two counties that were merged in the 1930s, Milton County in north Fulton County and Campbell County in south Fulton County. North Fulton legislators will push to bring HR 21 to the House floor for a vote in the 2010 Georgia General Assembly session.

“The Milton County Legislative Advisory Committee will evaluate, collaborate with and make recommendations to the north Fulton delegation,” Ms Jones said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Committee to addressing issues identified in the recently-released study performed by the University of Georgia and Georgia State University on the re-creation of Milton County.”

The primary areas to be evaluated by the Committee relate to separating the counties’ functions, establishing a new school system and addressing judicial services and tax concerns. The Committee will serve through March 2010.
The Committee will consult and engage north Fulton citizens with expertise in specific areas being evaluated.

The Committee will be composed of:
nTom Campbell, Fulton County Superior Court Judge; former State Representative
nRandall Johnson, Johns Creek City Council Member
nJim Paine, Alpharetta City Council Member, Mayor Pro Tem
nRusty Paul, Sandy Springs City Council Member, Mayor Pro Tem; former State Senator
nRobert Proctor, Tax Attorney, north Fulton resident
nKatie Reeves, Fulton County School Board Member
nLynne Riley, Fulton County Commissioner
nAshley Widener, Fulton County School Board Member
nEx Officio Mark Burkhalter, State Representative, Speaker Pro Tem
nEx Officio Jan Jones, State Representative, House Majority Whip.

Labels: Alpharetta, city of milton, Georgia, milton county, milton county legislative advisory committee

Schedule
Fri, 5/22 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat, 5/23 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Downtown Lawrenceville Square
Crogan Street at Perry Street
Lawrenceville

Over 50 local and regional juried fine arts exhibitors. Wine tasting 5 p.m.-8 p.m. May 22 and 1 p.m.--5 p.m. May 23. Silent auction 5-8 p.m. May 22. Sponsored by Dunwoody Arts & Crafts Guild and the Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association.

Info: 678-226-2639
Cost: Show is free; wine-tasting $20

Labels: art on the square, downtown square, Georgia, lawrenceville

The City of Suwanee will commemorate Memorial Day Weekend with patriotic music, song, and a parachute demonstration by members of the Silver Wings. The Gwinnett Community Band and the Sugar Hill LDS Choir will perform in a free concert, sponsored by the Gwinnett Daily Post, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Town Center Park. Members of the Silver Wings, the Command Exhibition Parachute Team that is part of the U.S. Army Infantry based at Fort Benning, will drop in – literally – around 7:30 p.m, weather permitting.

The concert is free, but attendees are asked to bring a canned good to be donated a local food bank. Also bring picnic baskets, blankets, and chairs, but no alcohol please.

Labels: Events, Georgia, holiday weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, suwanee

Last week Roswell Mayor Jere Wood informed council members he had vetoed the May 11 vote to allow a rezoning of 30 townhouses on Hardscrabble Road.

The 30 townhouses were part of a more comprehensive project that involved 20.5 acres on the northwest corner of the Ga. 92 Highway-Hardscrabble Road intersection. The project received a 5-1 approval at the May 11 meeting.

Coro Development LLC, the applicant in the rezoning, asked at Monday night's meeting and was granted a deferral until Monday, June 29, to give the company the chance to work out a compromise with the Brookfield West community.

At the May 11 meeting, only one representative from Brookfield West attended to voice the community's opposition to the project. This week, around 70 were in attendance.

Wood, who opposed the rezoning but as mayor has no vote except in a tie, said the Parkway Village zoning overlay that governs development along Ga. 92 in Roswell requires no transitional housing between commercial development and the residential areas behind it. Instead the overlay requires a 175-foot buffer.

"This does away with the buffer. Instead we gave [Coro] transitional housing, which I think is a big mistake. It is a fundamental change to the Parkway Village concept," Wood said.

The veto can be overridden by a simple majority of four votes on the seven-member council. Or the council can simply fail to act and the veto will stand with no action taken.

The Brookfield residents object to the 30 townhouses that would be built on the north end of the project along Hardscrabble Road. The 20.5-acre tract is one of the last undeveloped, big corner lots on Ga. 92 in the city.

Brookfield West, the golf-tennis community with homes valued from $300,000 to $1 million, underwent an $8 million renovation in 2001, and residents say they want to protect their property values.

The community has opposed the townhouse portion of the Coro project, saying single-family homes are what are called for.

Wood also opposed the rezoning of the townhouses, saying it broke the Parkway Village zoning overlay for Ga. 92 initiated 14 years ago when the road was widened to six lanes. In it, the city called for assemblages of parcels with a minimum of 7 acres to develop large tracts and require a 175-foot buffer to protect the residential population behind it.

But the developer argued that a private lake and stream on the property make the project unique and in need of special consideration.

The plan that was approved rezoned the 6.8 acres for townhouses to provide buffering for the project because of those water features.

Labels: brookfield west, Georgia, Hwy 92, mayor jere wood, roswell mayor, townhomes, vetoes coro project

Be a loving foster home to care for Sheltie dog's looking for their permant lifelong family. With every dog you help foster there is another dog out there we can save!!


All it takes from you is a loving heart and food -- that's it!!


Please won't you consider taking in a Sheltie who needs you...

For more information:
Name: Evelyn Epperson
Position: Foster parent
Email: sheltierescueofgeorgia@gmail.com

Labels: animal rescue, foster home, Georgia, sheltie rescue, volunteer opportunities

DeKalb County’s efforts to correct its tax values for 2009 roll out today with the mailing of about 100,000 tax revaluations — this time taking foreclosures into account.

Tax officials say the do-over will benefit thousands of property owners across the county who will see their county tax appraisals, and possibly their tax bills, fall in reaction to the ongoing real estate slide.

DeKalb’s first mailing, last month, did not include distressed sales despite a new state law requiring that such sales be used in setting values for 2009.

The first mailing, tax officials said, lowered values on about 13,500 parcels. This one will drop the assessments on 95,000.

“The number of sales we included in our sales ratio studies doubled when we included distressed sales,” said Hank Ruffin, interim chief appraiser.

Ruffin said at least 40,000 properties will fall by more than 25 percent.

“It’s safe to say the southern part of the county took the biggest hit,” Ruffin said. “The northern part was not affected as much. That’s no surprise.”

The work completed by DeKalb assessors over the past 30 days has sliced the county’s tax digest by more than $1 billion and means local governments across DeKalb will be forced to account for lower values in setting their tax rates for 2009-10.

Also, the new values will land this week in the hands of wary residents, some of whom got notices last month they felt didn’t go far enough and more whose property values didn’t get lowered but felt they should have.

“I’m concerned and skeptical,” said Trey Glover, who lives in East Atlanta. “I really don’t think they are going to be sending me anything. But they should. If they don’t send me a notice, I’m going to be overpaying.”

Glover did not get a notice from DeKalb when assessors mailed out about 28,000 notices for 2009 last month. The county has his home valued at $350,100. Glover said he’s been trying to refinance, and banks say it’s worth about $50,000 less. He has no right to challenge the value unless he gets a notice in this round.

“The banks obviously think the values have come down,” Glover said.

For those who do get notices, they next must decide whether DeKalb assessors accurately reflected the market as of Jan. 1 or failed to lower taxable values enough. Those who don’t likely will appeal and challenge the county to lower values even more. Appeals must be filed by June 19.

Ruffin noted the new mailing includes no reappraisals increasing values unless the property was changed. The first batch included several thousand increases despite another state law banning such changes until 2012.

Everyone who got a notice the first time will get a notice this time, Ruffin added. Those who have already appealed the first notice can drop their appeal after getting the new notice or continue to fight, Ruffin said.

The new mailing puts DeKalb much more in line with Georgia’s other major counties. DeKalb, Gwinnett, Fulton and Clayton have now sent out, or soon will, more than 70,000 notices dropping the values.

Cobb plans to mail out more than 20,000 notices lowering values on Friday. Phil Hogsed, chief appraiser, could not be reached to explain why the county’s numbers were so different than its neighbors. However, he had previously said Cobb would consider foreclosure activity in its 2009 notices.

Labels: dekalb county, Georgia, lower assessment, tax assessment

Check out what you can save by installing new stuff in your home - you can earn a Tax Credit of 30% of the cost, up to $1500.

Products: Exterior Doors, Roofs (Metal or Asphalt), Insulation, Central Air Conditioner and Air Source Heat Pumps, Water Heaters and Natural Gas Furnances.

For complete details go to: www.energysta.gov/taxcredits

Labels: energy star, Georgia, tax credit

More than 15,000 retired Georgia teachers or their beneficiaries will receive a lump sum of retirement payments they should have been receiving all along from the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia.

The agreement between TRS Georgia and the lead plaintiffs, Larrie Grant Plymel and Connie D. Monroe, brings the 5-year-old class-action lawsuit to a close, following a hearing Monday in Fulton County Superior Court.

How much the retirees or their beneficiaries will receive is unclear.

It could take 60 days to calculate the amount each person will receive.

“We’re gratified that the ruling will result in a substantial recovery for the vast majority of class members,” said David Forehand, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

At the crux of the lawsuit is the contention that TRS Georgia, which has about $42 billion in retirement funds, did not correctly calculate retirement benefits.

Because of those miscalculations, the plaintiffs argued, some retirees were underpaid for years.

TRS Georgia, which has two other similar lawsuits pending, will give payouts to those school employees who retired between Aug. 1, 1983, and Feb. 3, 2003.

The back payments cover the six-year period of April 1998 to April 2004 before the filing of the lawsuit.

Labels: 000, back pay 15, retirement, teachers retirement system of georgia

The 2008 housing report held a surprise for those looking for all gloom and doom. More than two dozen zip codes across 20 counties, with 10 or more home sales, experienced increases in sales prices. Even more surprising than that, there were a handful of zip codes that saw sales volume and price increases.

Metro-wide, fewer new and resale homes and condos sold, causing a 27 percent drop in sales volume in 2008 from 2007. Additionally the price of homes and condos sold in 2008 slid 13 percent from 2007, in the metro area. There were significant variations in many of the counties when sales volume and price were factored out by zip code.

The largest price drop was in Clayton County, 43 percent, twice the decline of the next lowest county, Rockdale, which saw a 20 percent decrease.

Fulton County had the fourth largest drop of 18 percent, just behind Douglas County, which declined 19 percent.

Labels: 2008, Atlanta, Georgia, home sales report

Georgia’s biotech industry expects to soon grow healthier.

Four of Atlanta’s leading health care and research organizations will announce Tuesday the creation of a medical research “innovation center” to speed to market medical devices.

Georgia Tech, St. Joseph’s Translational Research Institute, Piedmont Healthcare and the Georgia Research Alliance will each put up $100,000 to launch the Global Center for Medical Innovation. The center will be housed at Technology Enterprise Park, alongside Georgia Tech.

Gov. Sonny Perdue will formally unveil the research and business incubator this afternoon at the huge — and hugely important to Georgia — 2009 BIO International Convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. The conference is expected to draw 15,000, beginning Tuesday.

Emory University also will share some news: the establishment of a “new drug discovery institute” to be located on campus. In addition, the school will form a partnership with Australia’s Queensland Institute of Medical Research to develop vaccines, said David Stephens, vice president of research in the Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory.

Research and hospital officials talked excitedly Monday of the “innovation center,” which will initially focus on bringing cardiologic, orthopedic and pediatric devices and technologies to the marketplace.

The not-for-profit business incubator, which they label the first in the Southeastern United States, is expected to attract investors and medical-device companies — and keep Georgia-based inventors from taking their business, jobs and profits elsewhere.

“This will move us to the application stage of development, beyond the laboratory and the invention stage,” Michael Cassidy, president of the Georgia Research Alliance, said Monday. “We’ll be developing the ideas and ability to really scale up capacity so that [the inventions] will be attractive to industry.”

The initial $400,000 investment will be used to establish the center’s business plan. Investors are expected to pony up “several million dollars” later this year, Cassidy said, to create a “prototyping center” where medical devices will be test-driven.

Dr. Jay Yadav, chairman of the Piedmont Healthcare Center for Medical Innovation, said the public-private research and development center will pair doctors — who invent 80 percent of all medical devices — with engineers.

Doctors “are on the front line of taking care of the patient,” said Yadav, a cardiologist and CEO of a medical device company. “They understand the key problems and solutions. What’s missing is the engineering help, however, to turn these ideas into devices.”

Georgia is not synonymous with biotechnology, the use of biology to create products for medicine, food and the environment. California, Massachusetts and North Carolina all count more biotech investment, companies and prestige.

Georgia’s industry consists of mainly smaller, early-stage companies that haven’t registered as many biotech breakthroughs as the competition. Venture capitalists, the main financial source for startups, don’t typically invest in Georgia either.

Yet biotech and ancillary businesses are among the state’s fastest-growing industries, with more than 60,000 jobs responsible for billions of payroll and tax dollars, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Yadav, citing Atlanta’s renowned universities, hospitals and airport, said the innovation center should stamp Georgia firmly on the world’s biotech consciousness. “There’s no reason companies from Europe and all over the world can’t come to utilize this setup,” he said.

Labels: Atlanta, biotech research center, Georgia, Georgia Tech, piedmont healthcare, st. joseephs translational research institute

Health officials have confirmed two cases of H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Fulton County. One case involves a 6-year-old girl from Roswell. The child attends kindergarten at Amana Academy, a Fulton County Public Charter School. The child was not hospitalized. The second case involves a 54-year-old male from Roswell with a travel history that includes Mexico. He was not hospitalized. Both cases are mild and unrelated to one another and both individuals have already recovered.

“We want to assure the public that we are well prepared and the public’s health is well protected,” said Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams. “The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness has been diligent in their education efforts in the community and has been working closely with the state and the CDC throughout this matter.”

Currently, Fulton County Health Department officials are confirming there are no more probable cases of H1N1 in Fulton County at this time. Additionally, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness is continuously in communication with the Georgia Division of Public Health and the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to identify any new cases, and advise healthcare providers and the public regarding potential cases in Fulton County.

Fulton County health officials are recommending that residents take the following proactive measures to protect themselves and their families from H1N1:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Discard the tissue after you use it.
If you do not have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your elbow and not your hand. This can help prevent germs from spreading.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

For more information, please call the Fulton County H1N1 Hotline at 404-730-6522 or 404-730-1211 or 404-730-1279.

Labels: Alpharetta, Fulton County, Roswell, swine flu

One of the last big, corner lots on Ga. 92 will go forward with development after the Roswell City Council approved a plan that places just 20 percent of the land on impervious surfaces.

The 20.5-acre tract on the northeast corner of Ga. 92 and Hardscrabble Road faced some opposition due to the 30 townhomes approved on 6.8 acres on the north side of the project. Coro Development LLC argued successfully that in the changing real estate market, single-family homes — especially upscale homes in the $1 million range — can no longer sell next to retail and office development.

Other townhouse properties nearby had higher home density per acre than Coro asked. The townhouses will sell at a price point somewhere in the high $400,000s to low $500,000s.

The project had gone through several evolutions and several owners. A private lake on the property caused some development problems — as did a creek — and rendered half the property unusable. On the northwest corner is a Target shopping center that generates a lot of traffic.

The plan calls for 43,000 square feet of office and retail along Ga. 92. Turning up Hardscrabble, an 80,000-square-foot assisted living community with 100 units is planned, followed by the townhouses.

Those townhouses were the main sticking point. The rezoning to allow the 30 townhouses had a recommendation for denial by staff, and the Planning Commission also recommended denying them as first presented for 48 units.

Michael Gould, representing the Brookfield West Civic Affairs Committee, spoke for the residents who did not want townhouses.

"The plan looks good on paper, but the residents of Brookfield West believe the best way to preserve the neighborhood look of Hardscrabble is keep single-family homes on the street," Gould said.

Mayor Jere Wood and Councilman Kent Igleheart agreed. They both supported denial of the townhouses.

"The Parkway Village zoning overlay was created with 175 feet of buffer between the commercial development and the residential behind it. That has worked well for the last 14 or 15 years. I don't see any reason to change it. I think it's a big mistake," Wood said.

But the council evidently thought the plusses outweighed the minuses in the case of this difficult piece of property. It is a high-end development with a company, Coro, that is well-thought of in the development community.

And as one observer put it, "They aren't likely to see a better plan at such a density."

Coro will have to provide a 360-foot median on Hardscrabble to deter left-turns into and out of the Target. However, Coro will receive a tax credit for three-fourths of the cost of building it, the need for the median was deemed a "system improvement."

System improvements are either made by the city or borne by all of the developers in the area affected. Project improvements such as turn lanes and traffic signals are usually paid by the developer.

In other business, the City Council allowed the deferral of a 140-foot cell tower application at 10930 Crabapple Road. The City deferred the application a second time to June 8. The mayor said the deferral was to allow the applicant more time to find another location.

Labels: development, Hardscrabble Road, Hwy 92, Roswell, townhomes

As General Motors and Chrysler prepare to shutter thousands of dealerships, car dealers from Georgia and across the nation are turning to Congress and the White House help them stay in business.

“We’re planning on visiting members of Congress, senators and essentially anybody who’s willing to listen to our message that dealers are absolutely critical to the viability of automakers,” said Bailey Wood, spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association. “Closing dealerships does not make GM or Chrysler any more viable.”

GM and Chrysler are expected to announce Thursday that they’re canceling contracts with as many as 3,400 car dealers nationwide as the automakers struggle to survive. The companies say cutthroat competition between too many dealerships is one reason they’re losing money.

Minority-owned dealerships could be hit the hardest, said Atlanta-area dealer Greg Baranco, whose Baranco Buick Pontiac GMC in Lilburn has suffered a 70 percent drop in sales over the last year.

“Minority dealerships are the most vulnerable because they’re the newest dealers and often in the least-attractive markets,” said Baranco.

“Their capitalization isn’t as strong because they’re first generation whereas majority dealerships are second and third generation,” he said. “We fear it’s a matter of last in, first out.”

Baranco is among 150 car dealers converging on Washington to lobby Congress. Representatives of the group are scheduled to meet with President Obama’s auto task force overseeing government investments in the car companies.

The auto dealers group says more than 180,000 salesmen, mechanics and others could lose jobs if as many dealerships are closed as expected. “And it’s not like those people are going to be able to go to the dealership down the street to get a new job, because they’re already laying people off too,” Wood said.

Labels: auto dealers, chrysler, closings, general motors, Georgia

Just three line items totaling less than $2 million in the 2010 state budget met with Gov. Sonny Perdue’s displeasure.

Perdue on Wednesday signed the $18.6 billion spending plan, but unlike past years, he found little to quibble with in doing so.

The budget that now becomes law for the year beginning July 1 is $2.5 billion less than the budget passed during the 2008 session of the General Assembly.

“Cutting the budget has forced a number of difficult decisions, but we have managed the state in a thoughtful, conservative way to ensure Georgians are receiving value for their tax dollars,” Perdue said in a statement.

The budget includes $23 million for trauma funding and more than $1.3 billion in federal stimulus money for Medicaid and other programs. It avoids new health insurance premium increases for 225,000 teachers and state employees, but no raises.

The budget features more than $1 billion in year-to-year cuts as well as $1.2 billion in borrowing for construction projects, mostly for schools and libraries.

“It looks like we’re all pretty much in agreement,” House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) said.

Harbin did say that the limited number of vetoes were a — pleasant — surprise.

“We’ve dealt with so many things in the past, this is kind of a signal that the governor and Legislature worked together in tough economic times,” Harbin said.

Harbin’s counterpart in the Senate, Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), was likewise pleased, but not terribly surprised. Perdue didn’t have much choice, he said.

“There’s no spending in it much, so it really is just a lot of pain,” Hill said. “Frankly, this year, because we’re operating under such duress and all the pressure of cutting, the House and Senate worked together better than we have. There really weren’t many options anyway.”

Here are the items vetoed:

» $25,000 in general funds for the Georgia State Games Commission. The commission operates the state’s annual Olympic-style championship.

» $250,000 in bonds for the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center in Savannah to design and construct a covered biofuels testing facility through the sale of bonds. The state already issued $2 million in bonds for the center, of which $900,000 remains unspent.

» $1.6 million in bonds for the University System of Georgia to acquire a museum. Lawmakers approved the bond sale for Darton College in Albany to purchase a local museum of art. The only problem: the museum isn’t for sale.

Labels: 2010 state budget, Budget, Georgia, governor sonny perdue, vetoes

The 3rd Annual Taste of Sandy Springs will be held Saturday, May 30th on Sandy Springs Circle at Sandy Springs Place. This year’s Taste of Sandy Springs will offer patrons the chance to enjoy food from 30+ restaurants. The event’s new Gourmet Market is a culinary inspired fine arts and crafts market with unique handcrafted items and gourmet food products for the kitchen and home. The event offers kids an activity village with interactive games and culinary inspired art projects. Taste of Sandy Springs will also feature live music from great Atlanta area performers.
Admission into the event is $5 and kids 10 and under will be admitted into the event free of charge. Patrons can elect to purchase a special $15 advance ticket package with includes event admission and 10 taste tickets redeemable for food items. Receive 5 BONUS FREE Food ticket when advance purchase is made prior to May 22nd! Purchase advance tickets at www.tasteofsandysprings.org or via phone at 877-725-8849. Additional food tickets will be sold on site for $1 per ticket available in 10 or 20 ticket packages. Food items will be offered by participating restaurants for 1, 2 or 3 taste tickets.

Event sponsors include Yuengling, Comcast, 94.9 The BULL, WSB 750AM, WGKA, WNIV, The Sunday Paper, Piedmont Review, Atlanta’s Finest Dining, Where Magazine, Sandy Springs reporter and Sandy Springs Neighbor. For information on hotel availability please contact Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism at www.visitsandysprings.org or 866-511-7742

For more information on Taste of Sandy Springs, visit www.tasteofsandysprings.org

Labels: may 30th, sandy springs circle, sandy springs place, taste of sandy springs

Sat, 5/16 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Perimeter Mall
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Atlanta GA

In its eighth year, the Dunwoody Beer Festival hosts a combination of over 150 beers, malt beverages, and liquors from countries all over the world.

The party runs from 2 pm to 7 pm.

Sponsored by the Dunwoody Restaurant Group. Benefits Camp Twin Lakes.

Your admission includes great live entertainment and all the beer and cocktails you can safely consume.

Cost: $35: $30 advance @ Xorbia.com

Labels: ashford dunwoody road, beerfest, camp twim lakes, dunwoody, dunwoody restaurant group, perimeter mall

Sat, 5/16 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Mustang Ranch
2420 Batesville Road
Canton

Food, music, childrens' games (egg toss, jumping castle, paint gun, water balloons) and prizes, as well as horse rides. The event is to raise awareness about the Atlanta-area Mustang and Wild Horse Rescue of Georgia, which rescues and cares for horses.

Labels: batesville road, Canton, mustang rescue spring festival, the mustang racnh

Schedule
Fri, 5/15 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Sat, 5/16 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sun, 5/17 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Where
On the grounds of the Holy Transfiguration
Greek Orthodox Church
3431 Trickum Road
Marietta, Georgia 30066
770.924.8080

Food, live music, dancing, shopping, children's activities, church tours and cultural exhibits.

New for 2009...
KIDS EAT FREE (12 and under)
from our Kid's Menu
Friday, May 15th from 3PM to 6PM

Cooking Demonstrations
Located in the Agora Marketplace West lobby
Various times Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Check for times posted in the lobby.

Iconography Demonstrations
Located in the Agora Marketplace East Lobby
Friday and Saturday - Come see how icons are made by a professional Iconographer, Father Anthony Salzman

Labels: greek orthodox church, marietta, marietta greek festival, trickum road

Schedule
Fri, 5/15 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sat, 5/16 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun, 5/17 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Artist Market with Over 60 Exhibitors
• Food for All - Cotton Candy, Popcorn, BBQ etc.
• All Ages Play Area.....Batting Cage, Inflatable Jumpers and More
• Camp Imagine .....Hands on Art Activities for Children
• Entertainment All Day
• Free Concert Friday Night in City Park
• 45 minutes from Atlanta
• 20 minutes from Alpharetta or Marietta
• Free Parking Convenient

This annual fine arts festival will include artists, musical entertainment, exceptional food, a youth art exhibit and a hands-on area for children.

Just 45 minutes from downtown Atlanta, Canton offers the charm of a historic river town with a view of the north Georgia mountains. The new festival location is in Canton’s newly revitalized historic downtown district.

All funds raised at the festival benefit the Cherokee County Arts Center and the Canton Lions Club. The Arts Center goal is to enrich the lives of area residents by promoting, developing, and coordinating excellence in the arts. Funding from the festival allows the Arts Center to host a wide variety of arts programming including classes and youth art camps. The Canton Lions Club creates and fosters a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation. Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, drug abuse prevention and diabetes awareness.

Labels: Canton, canton festival of the arts 2009, canton lions club, cherokee county arts center, Georgia

Schedule
Fri, 5/15 12 Noon - 10:00 pm
Sat, 5/16 6:00 am, 5:00 pm
Sun, 5/17 6:00 am, 5:00 pm

Launch includes 10 balloons, plus special shape balloon the "Purple People Eater," carnival, vendors, live music and tethered balloon rides.

Where: Menlo Georgia Tillotson Field HWY 48

Benefit: Menlo Recreation Department, Chattooga County Tourism Board, Best Glove Silver Club Scholorship Fund, City of Menlo Fire Department

Hours: Friday, Saturday 9AM to Close. Sunday 12-Close

Cost: FREE!

Labels: northwest georgia balloon festival 2009

Schedule
Fri, 5/15 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat, 5/16 12 Noon - 10:15 pm

Bands include Pure & Simple, The East Dixie Boys, Broad River, Honey Creek Boys, Packway Handle Band, Nottaway Bluegrass, Exception to the Rule, Bluegrass Echoes, Just Us, Out of the Blue, Mountain Top Travelers and Potter's Clay. Camping available (770-528-8875).

Location
Jim R. Miller Park
2245 Callaway Road
Marietta GA

Labels: Georgia, marietta, marietta bluegrass festival

With distressed sales accounting for half of all home sales, many home sellers are finding that traditional sales are competing with discounted prices offered by foreclosed properties and short sales in their local area. To help home sellers attract buyers and compete against the discounted prices offered by distressed properties.

Price the Home Correctly: Home sellers need to price their home according to today’s market and not based on the high price that a neighbor might have received a few years ago. Using a combination of an online appraisal and a licensed home appraiser will help today’s seller price the home accurately based on recent sales activity.

Market the Home More Effectively: Traditional home sellers have access to more marketing channels than distressed properties, since not all distressed properties are found on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), or by popular websites like Realtor.com. Traditional home sellers, including for sale by owner sellers, can market their properties with these resources to reach a larger audience of buyers than financially distressed homes.

Keep the Home in Top Condition: Foreclosed homes are typically in disrepair and are in need of some repair or renovation after having been left vacant. It can easily cost a new owner tens of thousands of dollars and months of work to get the home back in shape. A home seller should stage their home to give it the appearance of being in “move-in” condition. The house, as well as all closets, should be kept clean and free of clutter to create the appearance of a more spacious home. Sellers can make their home stand out by doing things like landscaping the front yard to improve curb appeal, replacing worn-out carpets and old appliances, applying new paint in key interior rooms, and tackling other minor home improvement projects.

Offer a Quick Closing: An advantage of being a conventional home seller is being able to offer a quick closing, often an advantage for buyers who wish to move quickly. Distressed properties can take many months to reach a closing date. Sellers should be prepared to offer a 30-day closing date to attract buyers who want to move quickly.

Qualify Interested Buyers: Nothing is more discouraging than spending weeks with a prospective buyer, only to learn that he or she is unable to obtain a mortgage. To avoid such situations, make sure that your buyer is pre-approved for the loan amount necessary to finance the purchase of your home.

Labels: competing against foreclosures, foreclosed homes, short sales

As part of an innovative partnership aimed at job creation and easing the pressures on the housing market, the Department of the Treasury and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) jointly announced programs that will provide billions of dollars in recovery funds to spur the development of thousands of affordable housing units in states around the country. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (The Recovery Act), the programs together will provide approximately $5 billion for states to finance the acquisition and construction of affordable housing for working families.

Through the Recovery Act, the Treasury Department will now for the first time provide state housing agencies resources from which they will in turn provide cash assistance to developers of qualified affordable housing developments to fill the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LITC) gap. The program will increase the supply of newly constructed or recently renovated affordable housing units for families - affordable housing that otherwise may not have come to market due to current economic conditions.

“Affordable housing is key to every American’s economic security,” said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. “As the recession has worsened, unemployment has risen, and working families have suffered a loss of income, which has caused a downward economic spiral for too many American families and made it more difficult for those families to find affordable housing. With this new program, we are not only creating new jobs through new construction, we are ensuring the availability of affordable housing, which is good for the nation’s economic stability and the economic security of millions of American families.”

The economic and financial crises have presented significant challenges for the construction industry, particularly residential construction. Housing starts have fallen 80% from the peak level seen at the beginning of 2006. Houses currently under construction are at a 12-year low, down 60% from the peak in the first quarter of 2006. This collapse has led to severe job losses in the residential building and specialty trades sector related to housing, with employment down by nearly one-third - a loss of close to 1 million jobs. Such losses not only indicate the significant problems in the residential construction sector, but also suggest that the need for affordable housing has risen markedly during the recession.

In addition to Treasury’s new program, HUD will be awarding $2.25 billion in grants to state housing credit agencies through the Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) to complete construction of qualified housing developments. The TCAP program will ultimately provide affordable housing to an estimated 35,000 low-income households.

“The intended purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to jumpstart the nation’s ailing economy, with a primary focus on creating and saving jobs in the near term,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “These programs are an important step in achieving the goal of putting American people back to work while at the same time providing quality, affordable housing options for low-income families. We are proud of the collaboration between Treasury and HUD that enabled us to announce these programs together.”

One of the by-products of the economic crisis has been the freezing of the investment in Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the federal government’s program for the development of affordable rental housing. Tax credits provide an incentive for investors to participate in the program, which in turn provides equity to developers to build multi-family rental housing for moderate and low income families across the nation. Developers depend on the equity generated as a result of the incentive provided by the tax credits to fill project financing gaps. In the current financial crisis, credit is tight, and as a number of traditional equity investors have left the market, the value of tax credits have plummeted. The result is that as many as 1,000 projects containing nearly 150,000 units across the country are on hold.

The Treasury and HUD programs will help jumpstart the market for construction of affordable housing by providing these combined $5 billion in funds for states to finance the acquisition and construction of buildings for affordable housing, which will create thousands of jobs in the construction and specialty trades sectors, from laborers to architects and engineers around the country. The funds will also provide housing for a broad cross section of individuals and families affected by the downturn of the housing market.

For more information, visit www.treasury.gov or www.hud.gov.

Labels: american recovery and reinvestmanet act, Georgia, grant, hud, the recovery act

Federal regulators released the final results of their bank stress tests and ordered 10 of the nation’s 19 largest banks to raise a total $75 billion in new capital to ensure their survival should the economic downturn worsen.

The tests on the companies, which together represent two-thirds of the banking sector and each with assets of more than $100 billion, measured how their loans and investments might perform if the economy took a much more serious turn for the worse. The tests projected that the banks would suffer up to $600 billion in new losses through 2010 under the most adverse conditions.

Based on this information, regulators decided which banks needed to raise more capital for worse conditions. Those companies, and the amounts they must raise, are as follows:

-Bank of America $33.9 billion
-Wells Fargo $13.7 billion
-GMAC $11.5 billion
-Citigroup $5.5 billion
-Regions Financial $2.5 billion
-SunTrust Banks $2.2 billion
-KeyCorp $1.8 billion
-Morgan Stanley $1.8 billion
-Fifth Third Bancorp $1.1 billion
-PNC Financial Services $600 million

Companies in the clear, freed from having to raise more capital, include Goldman Sachs, Bank of New York Mellon, J.P. Morgan Chase, BB&T, State Street, U.S. Bancorp, insurer MetLife, and credit card companies American Express and Capital One Financial.

“The results should provide considerable comfort to investors and the public,” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said.

“We hope banks are going to go back to the business of banking,” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said.

Banks deemed to need more capital can sell more stock, seek equity partners, sell assets such as their stakes in foreign banks or nonessential businesses, and convert preferred shares of stock into common stock. Absent all else they can convert taxpayer bailout money into shares of stock owned by the federal government.

Shortly before the results were made public, Wells Fargo announced that it would seek $6 billion in new stock to work toward its newly ordered buffer. And Morgan Stanley said it would seek to raise $2 billion in a stock offering and later raise another $3 billion in senior debt notes.

For consumers, the results could mean it will be even harder to borrow during the next 18 months. Banks must boost their balance sheets, and in the short run that generally means less lending to consumers and businesses.

“We expect for some time demand from consumers to be weak,” Bernanke said, adding that regulators don’t “want the banks to be making bad loans.”

Over a longer period, however, regulators think that banks will be better positioned to lend when the economy recovers.

For regulators, results point to a glass half full. The fact that the 19 banks must raise only a combined $75 billion as a buffer against potentially greater losses suggests that they’re relatively well capitalized.

Critical analysts, however, see a glass half empty in the stress-test results.

“It’s a very educated guess, based on a lot of information, but they can’t see the future,” said Douglas Elliott, a financial analyst at the Brookings Institution, a center-left research center. “If they were off by just 3 percent in 2010, that’s $300 billion in additional capital (needed). I give them a lot of credit and it’s a useful exercise, but prediction is extremely difficult.”

Elliott projected capital needs from $100 billion to $200 billion, and wonders how accurate the regulators’ projections are for losses that are expected on commercial and industrial loans and defaults on commercial mortgages.

“At least with residential (mortgages) the bad things that have happened are already in the numbers. These loans to businesses, we’re just starting to see them, so there is a fair amount of uncertainty,” he said.

Offering a grimmer projection, the International Monetary Fund in its April Global Financial Stability Report said that U.S. banks needed $275 billion in additional capital as of the end of 2008 and projected that $2.7 trillion in write-downs on U.S.-originated assets will be needed through the end of 2010. Under worse scenarios, the IMF said, losses could top $4 trillion, two-thirds of them borne by global banks.

The stress tests are as much about politics as they are about economics. They bought the Treasury Department roughly three months to put off tough political decisions such as how to conduct the auction of toxic assets through a public-private partnership now expected to begin in June.

During the past three months, economic indicators have begun to show the first signs of a possible turnaround, relieving some of the worry about the banks. The stress tests worse-conditions scenario envisioned a 3.3% economic contraction this year, followed by no growth next year and unemployment peaking at 10.3%.

The stress-test exercise also deflected attention from the problem that hasn’t gone away: how to value the trillions in toxic assets that are polluting bank balance sheets.

“They’ve got no reason to make significant losses going forward, but it doesn’t tell you the losses that could be incurred (by banks) when they recognize their previous mistakes,” said Vincent Reinhart, a former top economist on the Fed’s rate-setting Open Market Committee.

In other words, the results signal a profitable future but paper over the present. “In that sense, they are doing it in part to build confidence, because if markets are more confident about banks, markets and the economy will do better. And if markets and the economy do better, banks do better,” said Reinhart, now a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

The tests, he added, are “designed to build up market confidence and create the most favorable response as possible. I think they are trying to manage the media.”

Labels: Banks, federal regulators, Georgia, new capital, treasury secretary timothy geithner

Attention homeowners: Your property assessment cannot increase until after January 2011.

Legislation Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law on Wednesday makes sure of that. House Bill 233, sponsored by Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), prevents local governments from increasing the assessments used to calculate property taxes for three years, ending with the 2012 tax year.

Of course, assessments may be lowered, a distinction that is important as counties deal with the effects of another new law that requires assessors to consider foreclosures and other distressed properties when setting property values. That has led to thousands of homes seeing assessed values fall.

Some counties have needed a little extra push to convince them to do that, however.

Labels: freeze property assessment, Georgia, governor sonny perdue, Property Taxes

It’s not even 3 years old, but Johns Creek has been ranked the wealthiest city in Georgia and the 95th wealthiest city in the nation.

Using census data, the company Bizjournals compared income level, home size and value, number of cars owned, education and other factors to rank Georgia cities.

Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker said he was proud but not surprised by the ranking for the bedroom community of about 70,000 people. “It’s a nice acknowledgement of the great things we’ve got going in Johns Creek,” he said Monday.

The median household income in Johns Creek is $108,416 and the average home price is $335,900. Bizjournals said almost 40 percent of the homes have nine or more rooms and

5 percent of the city’s households have four or more cars.

Arlington, Va., was ranked the wealthiest city in the nation and Brownsville, Texas, the poorest.

Labels: city of johns creek, Georgia, wealthiest city

The Alpharetta City Council started discussing a simple grant application Monday night but ended up debating a bigger subject: the philosophy of taking federal stimulus money.

In the end, the council voted 5-2 to apply for a $276,702 federal grant that would equip a civilian crime scene technician and pay his or her salary for two years. The city doesn’t have a crime scene technician of its own.

Council members John Monson and David Belle Isle voted no, saying they support the police all the way but not President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan.

Belle Isle said the stimulus package was a bad financial idea, akin to using a credit card to invest in the stock market, that will hurt the country in the long run. If the city accepts stimulus money, Belle Isle said, it would be like a thief caught red-handed saying, “If I didn’t take it, somebody else would.”

Belle Isle also said future generations will really be the ones paying for stimulus projects, including the crime scene technician.

Council member Douglas DeRito said he considered those arguments but decided the city needed to get something out of the stimulus package.

“Our children and grandchildren and we are going to pay this debt,” he said. “It’s going to happen whether we pass this or not. People in Washington have decided that for us.”

Monson complained the city will have to start paying for the crime scene technician when the grant runs out.

“This is no longer stimulative,” Monson said. “The net creation of a job is zero.”

But Council member D.C. Aiken noted the police department asked the council to apply for the grant.

“That tells me it’s a gotta-have,” Aiken said, “not a wanna-have.”

If the city receives the grant, it would pay two years of salary and buy about $88,000 in equipment, including a crime scene van. City Public Safety Director Gary D. George said the city often has to wait months to have evidence processed because it’s sent to the GBI lab, which has a backlog.

Labels: Alpharetta, City Council, stimulus money

Our mothers have done so much for us, and there’s no way we can repay them with just one day a year. We can give it our best shot, though, and this Sunday is the day. If you plan to take mom to a Mother’s Day brunch, check out the Best of the Big A’s list of favorite mom-friendly brunch spots chosen by readers and our staff.If you’re looking for other ways to entertain mom, try these events.

Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and James Fortune. Some of gospel music’s most formidable talents join forces for a Mother’s Day weekend celebration. 8 p.m. May 8. $43.50-$48.50. Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-523-6275, www.atlantaciviccenter.com.

Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure 2009. Includes a 5K run/walk and one-mile walk, breast cancer survivor recognition ceremony and an expo of race sponsors. Benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliates. 6:45 a.m. registration; 7:45 a.m. one-mile family walk; 8:30 5K; 9:15 a.m. survivor ceremony. May 9. $35; $30-25 advance. Additional fund-raising encouraged through Web site. Atlantic Station, 171 17th St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-459-8700, www.komenatlanta.org.

25th Annual Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour. Twelve gardens are featured on the tour. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 9-10. $30; $20 advance. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Build a Birdhouse With Mom. 10 a.m. May 9. $5 per house. Scottsdale Farms Garden Center, 15639 Birmingham Highway, Alpharetta. 770-777-5875, www.scottsdalefarms.com.

Colors Festival of Arts. This annual festival — now in its 19th year — takes place every Mother’s Day weekend and includes original crafts, performing arts, children’s activities and festival foods. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9-10. Free. Historic Roswell, Canton Street at Norcross Street. 770-640-3253, www.cvb.roswell.ga.us.

Mother’s Day Crafts. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 9. $8; reservations required. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Alpharetta. 770-360-8844, www.autreymill.org.

20th Annual Indian Festival and Pow Wow. Celebration of mothers and Mother Nature includes American Indian dance competition, warriors on horseback, buffalo show, primitive skills demonstrations, living tipi village, reptile show and arts and crafts vendors. Native cuisine includes gator tail, buffalo, Indian fry bread and pima wraps. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 9; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. May 10. $9; $5 children; ages 5 and younger free. Boling Park, 1162 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-720-7674, www.rthunder.com.

“Simon Kidgits Super Duper Mini Chefs.” Hands-on activities include food-related arts and crafts projects, prize giveaways and a local food drive. 2-4 p.m. May 9. $5. Gwinnett Place Mall, 2100 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. 770-476-5160, www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=205.

Homemade Spa Gifts for Mother’s Day. Easy to make gifts to pamper mom include bath fizzies, herbal bath teas, and salt scrub - made with natural ingredients such as oatmeal, herbs, salt, and pure essential oils. 3-5 p.m. May 9. $20. Oakhurst Community Garden Project, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur. 678-642-4977, www.oakhurstgarden.org.

Mother’s Day High Tea. Also, free admission to Bulloch Hall, Barrington Hall and Smith Plantation Home. 4 p.m. May 9. $35. Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. 770-992-1731, www.bullochhall.org.

“Mozart for Motorheads” Vintage Car Show 2009. Certainly one of the more unusual ways to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend, this event combines a Mother’s Day arts and crafts fest with classic cars and music from the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra. Picnics and blankets encouraged. 4-8:30 p.m. May 9. Free. Stone Mountain Village, Main Street, Stone Mountain. 770-498-7334, www.stonemountainvillage.com.

Mother’s Day “Walk to Empower.” A 5K walk around the golf course. Meet at Blue lot (corner of Powers Ferry Road and Stella). Benefits Breast Cancer Network of Strength. 6:30 a.m. registration; 8 a.m. walk. May 10. Participants are encouraged to fund-raise through the website (minimum $100 for T-shirt) . Chastain Park, 135 West Wieuca Road N.W., Atlanta. 1-877-963-7223, https://walk.networkofstrength.org.

Mother’s Day High Tea. Teas and delectables. Reservations required. 11 a.m., 1, 3 p.m. May 10. $50; includes garden admission. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-5859, 404-370-0856, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Historic Home Tours. Bulloch Hall, Barrington Hall and Smith Plantation Home offer free tours for Mother’s Day. 1-3 p.m. May 10. Free. Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. 770-992-1731, www.bullochhall.org.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: How the Gimquat Found Her Song. A Mother’s Day special in which an imaginary creature explores musical history from Gregorian chants to jazz. Platypus Theatre joins conductor Jere Flint and the orchestra for this family concert. 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. May 10. $15-$20. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, www.atlantasymphony.org.

Mother’s Day Gospel Concert. With Swanee Quintet, Lil Dave and the Soulful Knights. 5 p.m. May 10. $15; $12 advance. College Park City Auditorium, 3631 Main St., College Park. 404-669-3773, www.collegeparkga.com.

Bobby Womack, Charlie Wilson and Joe. Three R&B greats come together to serenade Atlanta’s moms. Womack is a legend of soul who was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wilson is the former lead singer of the Gap Band, now a solo artist. Columbus-born Joe is an R&B balladeer of more recent vintage who is probably best known for his No. 1 duet with Mariah Carey, “Thank God I Found You.” 8 p.m. May 10. $66-$76. Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-523-6275, www.atlantaciviccenter.com.

Labels: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Cumming, Events, Georgia, mothers day, Roswell, Woodstock

Old Milton Parkway at Wills Park
Thursday, May 14, 2009 5:00 PM

The largest “Taste of” event in the South celebrates its 19th year in 2009! Dine at over 60 restaurants in one unforgettable night that’s become an annual tradition for 50,000 families, foodies and festival-goers. Sample delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts, experience chef’s competition, cooking demonstrations and exhibits. Bring a blanket to competitions at the NEW Culinary Arts and Music Stage. Play at the Fun Zone and party with metro radio stations. Time Frame: 5-10pm. Free admission, parking and shuttles.

For more information call (678) 297- 6000, ext. 1006.

Labels: Alpharetta, old milton parkway, Taste of Alpharetta, Wills Park

Saturdays from April 18 to mid-October

8am - 12:30pm

The Alpharetta Farmers Market has taken root downtown in the Alpharetta Historic District. Bring the whole family to shop for local produce, herbs, honey and more. Have a relaxing morning by eating at local restaurants and shopping downtown.

Mission: Provide fresh, local items directly from farmers and producers.

Dates and Hours: Every Saturday from April 18 through October from 8am to 12:30pm. Note: The market may be temporarily displaced Saturday, August 1 due to the 57th Annual Old Soldiers Day Parade.

Location: The market takes place on Old Roswell Street in Downtown Alpharetta. Take Highway 9 west on Old Milton Parkway (right if heading South on Hwy 9 or left if heading North on Hwy 9), right on Roswell Street and then right on Old Roswell Street. Free downtown parking on your left.

Weather: We’re open rain or shine!

Want to join the market, or meet our vendors: Go to www.alpharettafarmersmarket.com.

Labels: alpharetta farmers market, city of alpharetta, Downtown Alpharetta

Please join us for the Milton Public Safety Fair on the weekend of May 15 - May 17 from 11 a.m. 'til 3 p.m. each day at Fry's Electronics on Highway 9. This event, which is being held in conjunction with Fry's Anniversary Sale, will benefit the Milton Public Safety Fund. The full-blown MPS Fair will take place on Saturday, May 16.

During the three-day long event, Milton's Public Safety officials will be selling hotdogs, chips and cold drinks. On Saturday, the department has a series of special treats for Milton adults and youth alike.

Here is a list of some activities to be held on Saturday, May 16:
Fire Safety House – A large, modified trailer used to teach critical fire safety education to children in North Fulton, this "house" can simulate fire, smoke and heat in a home to teach safety and fire escape techniques. The house includes: a smoke machine that provides realistic although non-hazardous smoke; a training component, including a tornado simulator, that teaches proper response when confronted with severe weather conditions; and a non-functional stove that teaches vital safety lessons associated with the kitchen area.
Life Flight - A look at a helicopter used to provide critical care transportation to sick or injured people.
K-9 Demonstration
Fire Extinguisher Demonstration
Car Seat Check
The Milton firefighters also will be kicking off their annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Boot Drive on Saturday, May 16. Please check back for details.

Labels: city of milton, Georgia, public safety fair

It’s time to bring the joy of music back into our lives and joy is even better when it’s free. The City of Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department will host “Sundays on the Square” at Roswell Town Square beginning May 17 from 3-4:30 p.m. This free series will feature music to lighten your soul.

Including an eclectic range of musical selections, this series will take you on a ride from Jazz to Classical music with a little Celtic sound thrown in for good measure. All of the performers are Georgia locals, with a few coming directly from Roswell.

Concert dates and performances include:

May 17: Milkshake Quartet

May 24: Riverside Chamber Players

May 31: Michael O’Neal Chamber Singers

June 7: Keltic Kudzu

June 14: Nicole Chillemi

June 21: Gentlemen of Swing

Last year, “Sundays on the Square” featured four incredibly successful performances that were loved by the community. This year, funding for the series has increased and two more performances have been added. Funding for the series is the result of a $10,800 grant provided by the Fulton County Commission through the Fulton County Arts Council and a cash match provided by the City of Roswell.

For more information, contact the Historic and Cultural Affairs Division at 770.641.3705.

Labels: City of Roswell, free concert series, sundays on the square

Celebrate Mothers Day with “Mothers Feeding Others” at Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation on Sunday, May 10 from 1-3 p.m. The homes will be open for free tours and a suggested donation of can food or toiletry item will benefit North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC).

NFCC was incorporated in 1983 to provide food, clothing and emergency financial assistance to people in need in North Fulton County. Local churches, synagogues, business and civic groups helped to develop NFCC as the primary source of emergency assistance for residents in Roswell/Alpharetta.

“In 2007, we helped 4201 families and 12,655 individuals including 6,074 children,” explains Karen Rupp, Volunteer Coordinator for NFCC. “On average, we help about 100 families a day.”

NFCC primarily has a need for food, but also welcomes toiletry items, cleaning supplies and paper products. The food bank helps people in need with food every 10 days and gives out a total of two and a half to three tons a week.

While donations usually come from varied sources such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, corporations and churches, Rupp says, “Mothers Feeding Others” comes at a critical time for NFCC. Donations usually decline this time of year when school is out, scouting stops, and people go on vacation.

For more information, please call 770.640.3855.

Labels: Barrington Hall, bulloch hall, City of Roswell, Georgia, mothers day, mothers feeding others, smith plantation

Emory Johns Creek Hospital will host a Community Health Festival on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the Hospital's campus.

The festival is an expansion of the health fair programs the hospital has offered in the area since 2006, even before it opened in February of 2007.

"We are so proud to host a community-wide event that incorporates free screenings with participation from so many community organizations," said Beverly Miller, director of Community Relations for the bospital.

Banks and Shane will perform for the crowd, there will be plenty of activities for children (including face painting, tattoos and a bouncy house) in addition to the many screenings that will be offered.

Physicians, including primary care, specialists and surgeons will be on hand to provide free screenings and information, including: vision, glucose, BMI Measurement, blood pressure, ABI (Ankle Brachial Index), asthma screening, oxygen level, skin cancer screening, pulmonary function tests, foot screenings, free AHA Friends & Family CPR Class

Talk with physicians and get information about urology, allergies, colon health, joint replacement, Bariatric surgery, OB/GYN topics, cardiac health, medication interactions, mammogram information and scheduling, UFE information.

In addition to the wide range of health related topics, many community organizations will participate, including: Johns Creek Fire Department, Johns Creek Police Department – K9 Unit Demonstrations, LifeSouth Blood Drive, Rural Metro Ambulance, Johns Creek Women's Society, Boy Scout Troop 3143, face painting, tattoos, graffiti and spin art for children.

For more information, please visit emoryjohnscreek.com

Labels: city of johns creek, community health festival, emory johns creek hospital, free screenings, Georgia, health festival, may 16

The 10th Annual Colt's Cup 5K and 1 Mile Run is this Saturday morning, May 9 at Freemanville Road near Milton High School.

The free race will only be open to the first 400 runners of all ages, and all runners must register. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m.

The 5K begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 1-mile race at 8:45 a.m. Both races will end in the Milton High School Stadium.

The Colt's Cup supports Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Northwestern Middle School and Milton High School. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded in several categories. There will be food, drinks and an inflatable jump house.

A race T-shirt can be purchased for $15.

Freemanville Road between Mayfield and Crabapple Hill, as well as School Road will be closed beginning around 7:30 a.m. Freemanville Road will be reopened on a staggered basis as soon as possible. School Road will reopen by 9:30 a.m. Birmingham Highway will not be affected.

Labels: city of milton, Colt's Cup, Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Freemanville Road, Georgia, Milton High School

Two schools in Decatur were placed on lockdown after police apprehended several teenagers who attempted to gain entry to Decatur High School.

The incident happened at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee said about 30 teens were involved. He said officers detained eight of the would-be intruders, including one who had ammunition in his pockets.

The others, according to Lee, ran from police.

A nearby middle school was also put on lockdown as a precaution.

No one was hurt.

Police have not determined why the teens tried to enter the high school.

Labels: decatur, Georgia, lockdown, Police, School, Teen

A mother accused of covering up her daughter's role in a car accident that killed five people has walked out of jail.

Sheila Michael posted $50,000 bond late Thursday night while her daughter remains behind bars.

With her husband at her side -- Sheila Michael walked free from the Fulton County jail.

She's accused of helping her daughter Aimee cover-up a fiery Easter Sunday hit-and-run crash that claimed the lives of five -- including three children.

Wednesday, victims' family members unsuccessfully asked the judge to keep the mother and daughter locked up.

Aimee Michael -- 22-years-old -- was granted a $150,000 and placed under a 24-hour a day curfew with a monitoring bracelet to track her moves.

Investigators said the Aimee Michael triggered the chain reaction wreck and then fled the scene.

Prosecutors said her mother helped her cover-up the crime -- even spending $1,500 to repair the family car.

Prosecutors said Aimee Michael's driving record includes four speeding tickets, two of them picked on the same day.

Leaving jail just before midnight neither Sheila Michael nor her husband had anything to say.

Labels: Mother accused in crash, mother covers up for daughter

Wal-Mart agreed Wednesday to pay nearly $2 million and improve safety at its 92 New York stores as part of a deal with prosecutors that avoids criminal charges in the trampling death of a temporary worker.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, who began a criminal investigation shortly after last November's customer stampede at Wal-Mart's Valley Stream store, said that if she had brought criminal charges against the retailer in the worker's death, the company would have been subject to only a $10,000 fine if convicted. Rice declined to say what charges were considered against Wal-Mart, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings.

Instead, she said, the company has agreed to implement an improved crowd-management plan for post-Thanksgiving Day sales, set up a $400,000 victims' compensation and remuneration fund, and give a $1.5 million grant to Nassau County social services programs and nonprofit groups.

The agreement included no admission of guilt by Wal-Mart.

"Rather than bringing the world's largest retailer to court and imposing a small fine against them, I felt it was important to require significant safety changes that will affect the whole state," Rice said. "Our goal is for the protocols that are set up to be the gold standard for crowd management in this industry."

Wal-Mart vice president Hank Mullany said, "The crowd management plan we are announcing today was developed by a team of experts whose experience includes NFL Super Bowls, Olympic games, concerts and national political conventions."

Jdimytai Damour, a temporary employee, had been on the job for about a week and had no training in security or crowd control when a crowd estimated at 2,000 broke down the Valley Stream store's doors, trapping him in a vestibule.

Built like an NFL linebacker at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, the 34-year-old Queens man died of asphyxiation. Eleven others, including a pregnant woman, were injured.

Earlier this year, Damour's family announced plans to sue the county, retailer and others. The family's attorney did not immediately comment on Wednesday's announcement.

Any victims who accept payment from the Wal-Mart compensation fund will be required to waive their right to a separate civil suit against Wal-Mart, Rice said. Also, she said, Wal-Mart has agreed to advertise the compensation fund in the daily and weekly newspapers that cover Valley Stream and its surrounding neighborhoods.

"Facilitating the compensation is one of the main goals of this settlement," she said.

The company also agreed to an independent review of its procedures for post-Thanksgiving Day sales. The prosecutor said her office will oversee compliance.

"We are hoping that this safety plan becomes the nationally recognized model for crowd management among all retailers and becomes an industrywide best practice," she said.

The community grant money includes $1.2 million for Nassau County's Youth Board, which helps nonprofit agencies provide career development, employment training and other opportunities. The retailer also will donate $300,000 to the United Way of Long Island's Youth Build Program in Nassau County. The deal also calls for Wal-Mart to hire 50 high school students annually to work in its five stores in the county.

Labels: Alpharetta, fine, sue, Walmart