Friday, February 19, 2010
Milton named "Tree City USA"
MILTON, GA., Feb. 19, 2010 - Milton is one of the few municipalities in Georgia to be named a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation, an honor City Council celebrated at its Feb. 17 regularly scheduled meeting. The honor comes as a result of the hard work of the Milton Tree Preservation Committee and city Arborist Mark Law.
The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs.
Milton is one of only 130 cities is the state to be awarded the distinction, and one of only 3,400 nationwide. As part of the honor, Law traveled to the Gold Dome Feb. 18 to watch Gov. Sonny Perdue sign his Arbor Day Proclamation.
Incorporated on December 1, 2006, the City of Milton is a distinctive community that embraces small-town life and heritage while preserving and enhancing the city's rural character. The City of Milton is committed to maintaining the unique quality of life for its constituents while efficiently delivering essential services to residents and businesses in an interactive community environment. For more information, visitwww.cityofmiltonga.us, or call 678-242-2500.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
--- Labels: city of milton, Georgia, milton
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:57 AM
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Foreclosure Listings Atlanta, Bank Owned, REO
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
--- Labels: Bank Owned, foreclosed homes, Foreclosures, REO
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:39 AM
U.S. Supports New Nuclear Reactors in Georgia
WASHINGTON — President Obama, speaking to an enthusiastic audience of union officials in Lanham, Md., on Tuesday, underscored his embrace of nuclear power as a clean energy source, announcing that the Energy Department had approved financial help for the construction of two nuclear reactors in Georgia.
 Does the need for new sources of energy outweigh the risks associated with nuclear power? 
A blog about energy, the environment and the bottom line.
The announcement of the loan guarantee — $8.3 billion to help the Southern Company and two partners build twin reactors in Burke County — comes as the administration is courting Republican support for its climate and energy policies. With climate legislation stalled in the Senate and its prospects for success dim, Democrats are seeking new incentives to spur clean energy development and create jobs.
At the same time, the president’s embrace of nuclear energyhas drawn the ire of environmental groups that have long opposed any return to a reliance on nuclear power.
In his speech, Mr. Obama portrayed the decision as part of a broad strategy to increase employment and the generation of clean power. But he also made clear that the move was a bid to gain Republican support for a broader energy bill.
“Those who have long advocated for nuclear power — including many Republicans — have to recognize that we will not achieve a big boost in nuclear capacity unless we also create a system of incentives to make clean energy profitable,” Mr. Obama said.
Some Republicans, however, said that the announcement would have little effect on their votes.
Don Stewart, a spokesman for the Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, said that Mr. McConnell had repeatedly praised Mr. Obama for favoring additional loan guarantees for nuclear power plants. But, he said, this would not translate into support for a cap on carbon dioxide emissions.
“It won’t cause Republicans to support the national energy tax,” Mr. Stewart said.
He added that Republican and Democratic ideas on energy policy overlapped in some areas, but that much of Mr. Obama’s energy program did not fall into those areas.
Robert Dillon, a spokesman for Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, said that she thought nuclear power was “a core component of a comprehensive energy plan,” but that she would vote on an energy bill as a whole.
“One or two provisions aren’t going to offset bad provisions,” he said.
The announcement of the loan guarantees, which had been signaled in advance, drew immediate praise from the nuclear industry and criticism from some environmental groups.
David M. Ratcliffe, the chairman and chief executive of the Southern Company, said that a nuclear renaissance was in the wings and that “we will get on with that at a more rapid pace now that we’ve made this first step.”
Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, however, said that nuclear power was not the fastest or cheapest way to reduce the greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
“The loan guarantees announced today may ease the politics around comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, but we do not believe that they are the best policy,” he said.
Despite the financing, the reactors are far from a done deal: their design has not yet been fully approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, whose staff has raised questions about whether changes made to harden the plant against aircraft attack had made it more vulnerable to earthquakes.
The builders hope to have a license to build and run the plant by the end of next year, under a revised process that is supposed to eliminate problems that caused huge cost overruns in the 1970s and 1980s, when regulatory changes during construction added billions to costs. About 100 reactors were abandoned during construction in that era.
The Southern Company applied two years ago to the commission for permission to build and operate the reactors, adjacent to its Vogtle 1 and 2 reactors.
The loan guarantees were authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. If the reactors are built and operate profitably, the borrowers will repay the banks and pay a fee to the federal government in exchange for the guarantee; if the borrowers default, the federal government will repay the banks. Critics have argued that the chance of default is high, and the loans have been delayed by protracted negotiations over what the fee should be.
The money for the reactors is the first award from $18.5 billion in loan guarantees provided for under the 2005 act. But Mr. Obama proposed this month to triple that amount. The guarantees can cover up to 80 percent of the estimated project cost, although some builders may ask for less. Southern asked for 70 percent, but the project may also be eligible for loan guarantees from the Japanese government; the reactors were designed by Westinghouse, a unit of Toshiba.
The Energy Department is negotiating with potential borrowers for three other projects, two of which could win guarantees soon. The Scana Corporation and Santee Cooper want to build a nuclear plant near Jenkinsville, S.C., and UniStar is planning a reactor in southern Maryland, adjacent to the Calvert Cliffs reactors. A third project, in Texas, is in some doubt because of rising cost estimates and a lawsuit filed by the municipal utility serving San Antonio against its partner in the project, NRG of Princeton, N.J.
The United States has 104 operating power reactors, but all the reactors ordered after 1973 were canceled.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
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Labels: Georgia, nuclear, Nuclear plant
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:30 AM
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Atlanta homeowners and potential homeowners need to make their way to the Gwinnett Center this weekend, February 12th, 13th and 14th for the 13th Annual Georgia Home & Garden Show. The show floor will feature over 135 exhibitors representing many different home-related industries, including home building, remodeling, interior design, gardening, landscaping and more. Basically, this trade show is your one-stop shop to learn everything you need to know about maintaining, decorating and renovating your home. Even better than perusing all of the new products on the show floor, you can attend a variety of educational seminars on many different topics. Some of the presentations include: - “I’m Eating What! Understanding Food Labels”
- “Beginning Beekeeping”
- “Wonderful Water Gardening”
- “Pruning Trees, Shrubs & Groundcovers”
- “Container Gardening”
- “Composting in a Cup” – this is a children’s workshop!
These are only a few of the multitude of seminars taking place throughout the three day event. For a full speaker schedule and list of exhibitors, be sure to visit www.atlantahomeshow.com. It is only $7 for adult tickets, $6 for seniors and children 12 and under are free. The Georgia Home & Garden Show offers something inexpensive and fun for the entire family to do this Valentine’s Day weekend. Plus, it never hurts to learn new ways to add more value to your home. So head to the Gwinnett Center sometime this weekend for the 13th Annual Georgia Home & Garden Show.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
--- Labels: 13th annual georgia home garden show, atlanta home show
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:32 AM
Introducing Aperture 3
Apple yesterday introduced Aperture 3, the next major release of its powerful photo editing and management software. Aperture 3 offers more than 200 new features including Faces, Places, and Brushes. A 30-day trial is now available for download.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
--- Labels: Aperture, Apple
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:29 AM
2010 has brought many changes to the Atlanta real estate industry. New builders are moving in, communities are selling out and home buyers are back in action, all looking to take advantage of their homebuyer tax credit. Everywhere you look there are signs of hope and in the Henry County master-planned community of Heron Bay, signs of new life are all around. Builder, D.R. Horton Homes has begun construction at Heron Bay again. Known for innovative floorplans, with great features and amenities, D.R. Horton will be building new floorplans in 3 different Heron Bay neighborhoods: The Summit at Heron Bay, Northridge at Heron Bay and the Villas at Heron Bay. The Summit offers buyers the choice of ranch plans or two-story single family homes. With floorplans ranging from three to seven bedrooms, families of any size won’t have any problems finding the perfect home in this community. Prices start in the $170s. Northridge at Heron Bay features D.R. Horton’s Estate series. With prices beginning in the $220s, these gracious ranch style and two-story single family homes are perfect for a family. Spacious owners suites and gourmet kitchens are just the beginning of what makes these homes ideal. The Villas at Heron Bay are perfect for any active adult looking for a golf course community in Atlanta. This community features a collection of both ranch floorplans and master on the main designs. Beginning in the $180s, the Villas really are a steal. The community sits on the 18th fairway of Heron Bay Golf Course. Spacious rooms with large windows provide excellent views of the course. For more information about any of the new D.R. Horton floorplans, or any of the Heron Bay neighborhoods, call 770.957.5633. You can also use this number to schedule a tour of Heron Bay or visit the Sales & Information Center seven days a week.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff
North Fulton County REALTORS
Vanderhoff Real Estate
(770) 888-9269
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Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale
--- Labels: builders, D.R. Horton, heron bay golf and county club
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:27 AM
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