Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

If you’re looking for screams and thrills this Halloween, visit the latest addition of Roswell’s spine-chilling and bloodcurdling adventures at The Manor Haunted House, sponsored by Roswell Recreation and Parks Department. The Manor will be open October 23-31 (closed on Sunday, October 25) beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Manor is located at 9100 Fouts Road in Roswell. Tickets are $10 per person.


The story of The Manor goes like this: In 1939, the Crawford family began a dream of a warm, welcoming Bed & Breakfast on the outskirts of a historic town in Georgia. Then, four years later, something happened, something went terribly, horrifyingly, grotesquely wrong. The family, their guest, their dream was never the same. Today, some of the Crawford family tries to continue the family business, but the spirits of the past lives.....on.

For the little ones, or those less brave, there will be a much less scary experience held from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. Tickets are $7 per person.

The Manor is currently looking for volunteers and individuals to work the event. Opportunities include actors, set designers, set decorators and general assistants. If you are interested in working, please contact Lauren Clowney at 770.594.6134 or lclowney@roswellgov.com.

Tickets are available at the door or pre-registration is accepted online at www.roswellgov.com. For online registration, please allow 24-hours for processing new households. Program numbers for online registration are 12014-01 for the regular admission and 12014-02 for the October 24, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. admission.

For more details, visit www.roswellgov.com/themanorhauntedhouse, or call 770.641.3705.

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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: 42nd annual roswell, City of Roswell, downtown roswell, Halloween

The City of Roswell Public Works Department is working towards collecting all flood damaged items by Sunday, October 11. Residents should have any items damaged because of the flood placed at the curb for crews to pick up. Crews are working overtime and will be covering the entire city. Residents should call either 770.641.3715 or 770.641.3961 and give their address to ensure collection. Please remember that these phone numbers are manned Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. This service is available to current Roswell Sanitation customers only.


To ensure pick up, please read and understand the following guidelines:

This special pick up will not include any garbage or food-containing waste and will only involve carpeting and other items damaged by the recent rains and flooding.

These materials should be set out for pick up should be clearly separated from normal garbage, yard waste and recycling.

Flood damaged materials that are mingled with garbage will be picked up on standard garbage collection days, subject to normal quantity limitations.

The City of Roswell does not regulate and is not responsible for individual subdivision restrictive covenants regarding placement of garbage at the curb.

Residents who have already paid for “large item” pick up involving flood-damaged materials may submit their receipts for a credit to their account. Please contact the Public Works main line at 770.641.3715 or Sanitation Customer Service line at 770.641.3961 for details and/or questions.

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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: City of Roswell, flood damage, flooding, Hazardous Waste Collection. roswell residents

As the mayoral race continues to heat up in Roswell, a pending lawsuit against the City of Roswell and others may add a crucial twist to the mix of already contentious issues...

As the mayoral race continues to heat up in Roswell, a pending lawsuit against the City of Roswell and others may add a crucial twist to the mix of already contentious issues. It stems from a house fire that occurred last year. The home was razed to mere ashes in a “keystone cops” ordeal where hydrants didn’t work, hoses didn’t pump and fire trucks crashed into each other at the scene.


WHO’S ON FIRST?


Questions linger. Was the dry hydrant actually tested? Has the City properly inspected and maintained water supply lines that feed hydrants within the City? Does the City have proper insurance to cover liability for failing to maintain these basic public services?


These are the many questions that Robert and Lori Cloaninger will be contemplating this election especially after they watched in horror as their home burned to the ground in February of 2008 even though a fire hydrant was directly located in their front yard. Why? The hydrant and water mains below did not produce water.


Despite efforts to resolve the matter, the City has taken no apparent steps to assist the Cloaningers or to facilitate their now transient life style through temporary housing. Why? “Sovereign Immunity.” The City has taken the position that they are immune from responsibility based on a recent Court of Appeals decision of April 6, 2009. The Court held that a municipality is absolutely protected from liability under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, for any actions or omissions of firefighters during an emergency or for the inoperability of hydrants during a fire, as a matter of “public policy.” As a result, all legal theories of any kind brought by an injured party are barred in this context.


COURTS ABSOLVE CITIES


Such a broad interpretation has not stopped the Cloaningers from bringing suit. Their lawsuit, filed by attorney Kurt R. Hilbert, Esq., seeks to challenge the Court of Appeals ruling and distinguish its applicability. The lawsuit asserts that if this principle is applied in all cases, it “provides no process for obtaining just compensation and provides no remedy to Plaintiffs.” In essence, the lawsuit argues that the Court of Appeals decision allows a municipality to create and enforce a “policy and custom of conscious indifference to a known risk of harm to all inhabitants of the City of Roswell” without any checks and balances or remedy. The lawsuit argues that citizens, who contractually pay for such public utility services and for the comfort of knowing that the services are being performed and that insurance exists to cover defects in their utility products, should have a remedy. The lawsuit further seeks to have the City of Roswell’s policy and custom scrutinized under federal law – as this issue is one that affects all inhabitants of cities like Roswell.


THE HEART OF THE MATTER


At the heart of the issue, and which may surface as an election topic, is whether the City can or should escape responsibility for its alleged failure to inspect and maintain water utility products within the City, and whether the City has or should have proper insurance coverage for injured citizens in such events. “What happens if a life was lost?” Hilbert asks. “The Court of Appeal’s decision says the City has no responsibility. This cannot be a correct statement of the law nor public policy in this State and should scare every resident in this state. Simply put, how do you know that water is in your hydrant and that you are safe?”


Such public policy and insurance issues may make their way on the agenda for the next debate.

Labels: City of Roswell, Mayor, Roswell, Roswell City Council

Show your patriotism by celebrating our Country’s Independence Day in Roswell with entertainment and a breathtaking fireworks display. This year’s July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza will take place at Roswell High School, located on King Road off of SR 92.

Entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes the following performances:

3 Way Street at 5:30 p.m.
Back Trax at 6:30 p.m.
Banks & Shane at 7:30 p.m.
Moby, a popular local radio personality, will emcee the event and there will be activities for the children. At dark, a beautiful 40-minute fireworks display will be the highlight of the evening.

Bring your chairs, blankets and picnics for an old fashion family outing. Concessions will be available.

For more information, call 770.641.3705. Roswell High School is a drug, alcohol and tobacco free zone.

Labels: 10th annual fireworks, 4th of july, City of Roswell

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

The City of Roswell, Keep Roswell Beautiful (KRB) and the City of Alpharetta will hold Bulky Trash Amnesty Day on Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Public Works facility at 11810 Hembree Road. The event is free for residents and proof of residency will be required (utility bills or window decals are acceptable.)

Items accepted include: tables, sofas, chairs, refrigerators, washers/dryers, computers, televisions, deactivated cell phones, other appliances, toys and tires (limit of four per vehicle, automotive tires only, must be off the rims.)

Items not accepted include: any and all liquids including paint, constructions and demolition materials, household batteries, yard waste, motor oil, anti-freeze and any hazardous waste.

For proper disposal of the items not accepted please contact one of the following:

Roswell Recycling Center - 770.442.8822 (motor oil, anti-freeze)
The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division - www.p2ad.org/hhwguide.html
Chadwick Landfill - 770.475.9868 (construction and demolition materials)
Materials will only be accepted at the site on the day of the event and only during the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please note that the line will be cut off at 2 p.m.

For more information on the event please contact one of the following:

Roswell residents should contact Janet Liberman at 770.641.3715 or jliberman@roswellgov.com. Alpharetta and Milton residents should contact Terry Porter at 678.297.6200 or tporter@alpharetta.ga.us.

*Residents of Johns Creek and Sandy Springs should contact Keep North Fulton Beautiful at 770.551.7766 for information on an event in your area.

For more information please check the City of Roswell website at www.roswellgov.com, KRB’s website at www.keeproswellbeautiful.org and The City of Alpharetta website at www.alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: bulky trash amnesty day, city of alpharetta, City of Roswell, public works, saturday april 18

The City of Roswell will hold a Mansell Road Extension public meeting on Wednesday, December 3 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Bank of North Georgia, 10446 Alpharetta Highway. This meeting is open to the public.

The meeting will allow business owners, landowners and residents in the area the opportunity to give the City their input on the future extension of Mansell Road and the possible redevelopment of the area. The City hopes this potential project will allow better traffic circulation by giving motorists an alternate route around the Alpharetta Highway/Holcomb Bridge Road intersection, as well as drafting a redevelopment plan for the area.

The format of the meeting is an open house and attendees are encouraged to drop by as their schedules allow. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 770.641.3780.

Labels: City of Roswell, mansell road, Meeting, road extension

Taste of Roswell
Saturday, Oct. 18,
Noon to 5:30
Roswell Historic Town Square
Food tickets: $.50 each, 3 ticket max

Roswell's festive fall event for the taste buds is just around the corner this Saturday. Along with the sampling of food from some of Roswell's finest restaurants, there will be banjo plucking and guitar strumming bluegrass music galore.

While you enjoy great food, listen to the sounds of Cajun, Old-Time, Country and Bluegrass music performed by Old Enough to Know Better, Gold Rush, and Hair of the Dog.

Old Enough to Know Better

This group is known for singing a wide variety of styles, all with rich, close harmonies - pop, folk and rock 'n' roll.

Gold Rush

A 5- and sometimes 6-piece baSome traditional Cajun elements drive the music performed by this band. Impassioned vocal delivery and strong Balfa-style fiddling are prominent.

Some Participating Restaurants:

Aqua Blue, Belle's at Doubletree Hotel, Boneheads, Broadway Bagels, Brookwood Grill, Cena, Cookies by Design, Curbside Café, Edible Arrangements, El Pollo Loco, Gourmet Candy Shoppe, Honey Baked Ham, Land of 1000 Hills Coffee, Moe's Southwest Grill, Nirvana Café & Grille, Relish, Fickle Pickle, Shane's Rib Shack, Spiced Right Ribhouse, Sugo, Taco Mac, The Counter.
nd featuring toe-tapping traditional bluegrass music. Their sparkling instrumentals and heartfelt singing have made them a favorite throughout North Georgia.

Hair Of The Dog

Labels: City of Roswell, october 18, roswell historic town square, taste of roswell

Step back in time and learn what it was like to live, work and play in Roswell in the mid-1800s. Roswell’s Historic Museum Home, Smith Plantation, is celebrating Fall Farm Days on Saturday Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities and exhibits will be available for the whole family and include living history, blacksmithing, chair caning, weaving, rug hooking and open hearth cooking. You can even learn how to square dance. The Wheels Around Square Dancers, complete with a caller, will perform and offer instruction for anyone who wants to learn.

Kids can play period games, enjoy the Barnyard Friends Petting Zoo, and take a wagon ride. They can even pan for gold! Gold and gem panning will be available for $5 and participants will be able to take their treasures home!

The Roswell Garden Club will also be providing games, crafts and will show visitors how to build a scarecrow.

If you have never attended Fall Farm Days, make it a priority this year! There is something for everyone. You and your family are sure to have a fun and educational experience. Fall Farm Days at Smith Plantation is free to the public.

To learn more about the Smith Plantation, visit www.archibaldsmithplantation.org.

Labels: City of Roswell, fall farm days, roswells historic museum, smith plantation

Bundle up your family in their favorite sweats, grab a reusable grocery bag (for candy catching, of course) and head to Historic Canton Street in Downtown Roswell for the 58th Annual Frances McGahee Youth Day Parade on Saturday, October 11 at 10 a.m.

A long-standing tradition in Roswell, Youth Day was started in 1950 by a group of concerned parents and has become one of the most successful events in City history. The City of Roswell celebrates Youth Day annually on the second Saturday of October with a parade and festival. This event gives local youth organizations, such as scout troops, schools, dance and performing arts students, the opportunity to be recognized for their accomplishments. Each year, the event grows with even more floats, marching bands and spectators.

This year’s theme is “Go Green” and promises to showcase some exceptional environmental messages. So come out with your family, bring a blanket and enjoy this truly unique event!

Don’t head home after the parade! Stop at Roswell Area Park football field where children 15 & under may receive a free lunch courtesy of StarTime Entertainment while supplies last. Kids will also enjoy activities including inflatable slides and
moonwalk, pony rides, a climbing wall, entertain-ment and much more.

If you or your group would like to participate in the Youth Day Parade, call the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department at 770.641.3705 for an application.

Labels: 58th annual frances mcgahee youth day parade, City of Roswell, downtown roswell, Georgia, historic canton street, youth day parade

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood knows good barbecue. At the annual Mayor’s BBQ Ball, a fundraiser for local causes, there’s always plenty of good ‘cue for guests.

This year, there will be even more of it.

A friendly competition between teams of pitmasters will produce prodigious amounts of succulent fare and “decide the best barbecue in Roswell,” according to Wood.

“We’ll have the mayor’s team, a firefighters team and restaurants like Swallow at the Hollow, Spiced Right, Slope’s, Dreamland, Shane’s and Talk of the Town catering,” he said.

The sauce starts to fly at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 on the grounds of the mayor’s compound at 10850 Stroup Road, Roswell, and continues until 10 p.m.

Wood said longtime friend and barbecuemeister Jay Barnet will be the point man on the mayor’s team. Barnet, who grew up in Roswell and was once mayor of Mountain Park, “continues to perfect his art.”

The two have been barbecuing together since about 1976.

“But in this one I’ll be there for just moral support. The last time he gave me some responsibility, I burned the meat,” Wood said with a laugh,

Tickets are $25 per guest, with the proceeds benefiting the Roswell-based Foster Care Support Foundation.

Information: Laura Sidelinger at (770) 641-3721.

Labels: barbecue, best bbq, City of Roswell, dreamland, foster care support foundation, mayor jere wood, mayors bbq ball, shanes, slopes, spiced right, swallow at the hallow, talk of the town

The City of Roswell’s Transportation Department (RDOT) will present proposed improvements for Hardscrabble Road at King Road at a public open house on October 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Roswell High School Media Center, 11595 King Road. RDOT staff will be available to answer any questions and explain the impacts on the area.

Hardscrabble Road at the intersections of King Road has significant traffic flows in almost every approach/direction during rush hour periods. This meeting will provide options based on feedback provided by citizens and previous public meetings.

For more information call 770.594.6420 or visit our web site at www.roswellgov.com.

Labels: City of Roswell, hardscrabble road improvements, public meeting, Transportation Department

Free of Charge
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Roswell’s Historic Town Square
Intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 120
Some activities held in the Roswell Visitors Center
617 Atlanta Street
Roswell, GA 30075

Presented by:
Roswell Visitors Bureau
Roswell Recreation & Parks Dept.
North Fulton Regional Hospital
Roswell Beauty Council
Salon Arcaro
Soda Salon
Voila, A Salon
Bank of North Georgia
Redken

10:00am-4:00pm

· HEALTH SCREENINGS - provided by North Fulton Regional Hospital

· Bone Density

· Glucose

· Total Cholesterol

· Blood Pressure

· Nutrition and other health information

Along with the screenings, North Fulton Regional Hospital will also provide the opportunity to “Talk to a Physician”

11:00am-5:00pm

Ø MAKE UP & HAIR CARE TIPS - provided by Salon Arcaro, Soda Salon, and Voila, A Salon and Redken

Ø Fitness programs and demonstrations

Ø Accessories and Items of interest to women of all ages

Ø Fashion Show

Ø Ballroom Dancing Exhibition

Ø Georgia Child Identification Program (GACHIP) provided free by Roswell Masons

Ø Yaarib Shriners Clowns

Ø Music and Entertainment throughout the day

Ø Information that’s helpful to The Roswell Woman and her family

This year, along with Health and Beauty tips, there will be entertainment for the children and the opportunity to record the Child Identification Information that is necessary and helpful when there is an Amber Alert need.

GACHIP provides a valuable tool to parents or guardians. Full color digital photos, complete set of digital fingerprints, information including distinguishing features such as hair and eye color, scars, birthmarks, etc. This information can be circulated by the police in the case of abduction and can be used in the Amber Alert Program. All of the identifying information is given to the child’s family. The GACHIP program retains only the permission slip that must be signed prior to participation. All other data is erased after the document is prepared. Privacy is the number one criteria. www.gachip.org

Entertainment:

Ø Fashion Show

Ø Ballroom Dancing demonstration

Ø Performance by Tolbert-Yilmaz School of Dance

Ø Karate demonstration by DoJo Karate

Ø Performance by Roswell City Dance

Contact for the Public to utilize: For additional information call 770-640-3253 or www.visitroswellga.com

Labels: City of Roswell, expo, roswell woman

Harrys Farmers Market in Roswell, September 20, 10am to 4pm
They will have vendors, demos and sale items. There will even be face painting for the kids from 11am to 2pm. Enjoy recipes, cooking demonstrations, and more.

Labels: City of Roswell, equinox Party, Harrys farmers market, september 20

Within weeks, Roswell plans to open a small water park along the Chattahoochee River for children.

The “spray-ground” will include streaming jets of water, triggered by motion detectors. It will occupy a spot in Riverside Park near an existing play structure.

Constructed with $237,000 in private donations, the spray area should be finished by mid-September, said Jeff Pruitt, Roswell’s administrator of park services.

The jet sprays will be computerized to coincide with regular park hours. The water will be recycled and filtered and will meet state and local health standards, he said.

Some of the water sprays will be gentle and low, designed for toddlers. Others will be more elaborate. One of the elements will feature an arched stream of water overhead.

It sounded fine to Lisa Prentner, a Woodstock mother who regularly takes her 5-year-old son, Dylan, to the city’s riverfront parks. On Monday, she took her 2-year-old granddaughter, Ava Jade, to Riverside Park for a bike ride.

“I can’t wait,” Prentner said. “We don’t even live in Roswell, but we spend almost every weekend in the Roswell parks.”

The spray park is being built with funds provided by the Roswell Recreation Association, a community group that annually produces the Roswell Arts Festival.

Once it’s open, children and adults will be welcome. Dogs, probably not, said Pruitt. “I’m sure that will come up,” he said.

Labels: City of Roswell, Riverside Park, Roswell, roswell recreation, Water Park

Roswell, GA-ACE USA, in a partnership with the City of Roswell is hosting the 3rd Annual Roswell Rise ‘n Run. This 5K/1K walk event supports North Fulton Community Charities while providing a fun-filled morning for participants of all ages. The race will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 7:30 AM starting at Hembree Springs Elementary School located at 815 Hembree Road, Roswell, GA 30076. The course winds through beautiful Hembree Park with festivities afterwards, including prizes for all ages.

Participants can opt to run or walk and we encourage the young and old, the weekend road warrior, the elite runner, all track, civic, and church groups, and those individuals who want to feel the wind beneath their feet. Come out and enjoy the common bond of man versus gravel, and make a difference in the lives of your neighbors who need your help. Pancakes will be served to all race participants by The Original Pancake House.

If you would like more information on sponsorship, participation, or NFCC please contact Vonda Malbrough at 770.640.0399 x215 or vmalbrough@nfcchelp.org or visit www.nfcchelp.org.

Labels: City of Roswell, ga-ace usa, race for hunger

When Roswell and the Fulton County Extension Office took a flyer on opening a farmers market on city parkland at Riverside Drive, no one really knew if it would catch on. Now we know.

Eight tents went up that first weekend in June, now 30 vendors are happy to pay for a space to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade crafts and honey. There are other wares, but these are what dominate.

And why are the vendors happy. Because the customers love everything they have to sell. North Fulton Extention agent Louise Estabrook is the honcho of Roswell Farmers Market. She rings the bell in the morning to open the Saturday market and she rings the noon bell to close it.

She says the market has succeeded remarkably, and it is doing precisely what it was designed to do.

"We wanted to bring locally grown produce to the people of the area, and support local growers. That is why we enforce strictly the rule that produce most be grown within a 100-mile radius of Roswell," Estabrook said. "We want to give people food that is fresh from the field."

When Estabrook approached Roswell Historic and Cultural Affairs Director Morgan Timmis about the possibility of starting a market in Roswell, Timmis jumped at the chance.
"We have had discussions with merchants and our Cultural Arts Board about starting a market, so when Ms. Estabrook asked about starting a market, without hesitation I said yes," said Timmis.

Timmis suggested several sites in Roswell, but she and Estabrook quickly agreed Riverside Park with its parking, proximity to the road and bathroom facilities made it the perfect choice.

Roswell resident Rhonda Scott loves coming down to the river to buy corn, tomatoes, beans, squash and whatever else she can find.

"I like fresh grown vegetables, and I really like the fact that I don't have to travel far to get them," she said.

But why do growers like Bill Jackson come from Villa Rica, make the trek to Roswell with gasoline above the $4 a gallon mark? Jackson sells corn, tomatoes, honey, bee pollen (great protection against allergies) and his handmade wooden bowls.

"I like to grow it one county and sell it in another. I like showing people my vegetables, and my honey and my bowls. I like to meet people," Jackson said.

Retired after 20 years with the AJC, Jackson raises all his produce on his farm. He says he really likes the customers at the Roswell Market.

"They really appreciate what you do. They're just really glad to see you and talk to you – and buy what you have," he said.

Leslie Foley, a Fulton County master gardener who volunteers at the market, said many growers say the same thing.

"One man brings free-range eggs up here from Rockdale County. Twenty minutes after we ring the bell he's sold out. People love his eggs, and he doesn't have to come this far to sell them. But he just likes the people," she said.

Husband and wife Russ and Tana Flanagan are growers from Lithia Springs who split their time coming to Roswell on Saturdays, the Dunwoody-Spruill Market on Wednesdays and the Powder Springs Market on Thursdays.

They have 1,200 tomato plants and pick 700 pounds to 800 pounds a week. That's not bad for Russ who got his degree in agricultural economics at UGA to sell commodities. Now self-employed, he and his wife go to these markets under their banner "Hobbies Gone Wild."

"I've always gardened, but now we're borderline farming. We like it because it lets us spend time together," Russ said. "This was a huge experiment for us. We didn't know how we'd do it. But these markets allow us to do it."

Roswell resident Linda Dixon is a shopper at the Roswell Market, but she likes it for another reason. She works for Fulton Commissioner Tom Lowe. She says Lowe is a great supporter of the County Extension Office and the work it does.

"This market hooks up small growers and consumers without the middle man," Dixon said.

Labels: City of Roswell, Georgia, Riverside Farmers Market, Riverside Park, roswell farmers market

The City of Roswell is making great strides in its efforts to “go green” by changing its vehicle policy to include the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Roswell Mayor and Council approved the update to the policy during their July 21 meeting.

Under the new policy, when a vehicle is ready to be replaced a hybrid vehicle will be purchased when it meets the following criteria:

A hybrid vehicle will not diminish the specific function or intended use of the vehicle. For example the City would not use hybrid vehicles for our sanitation trucks, police pursuit vehicles or trucks that must haul heavy equipment.
The total life-cycle cost of the hybrid vehicle does not exceed the total expense of the least expensive alternative by more than 10 percent.
"It's important for Roswell to set an example by using new green technology and in moving toward more sustainable operations,” explains Councilman Kent Igleheart. “As gas prices continue to increase the payback periods on these vehicles will be even shorter and we should see not only environmental benefits but also economic returns.”

The City is currently reviewing sustainability efforts including an energy audit on facilities, buying more environmentally friendly paper products and increasing recycling services.

“This is another step in our continuing work to make Roswell one of the greenest cities in the country,” Igleheart continues. “We are also working on energy and water conservation measures throughout city operations and we are implementing those over time."

The City expects to purchase the first hybrid vehicle some time in the new fiscal year.

Labels: City of Roswell, hybrid, hybrid vehicles, Roswell

Some builders offer newly constructed homes available for immediate delivery. These homes are usually ready to move into within 30 days. That means some builders are eager to sell- but don’t expect them to say so.

Immediate-delivery homes often are available for various reasons:
• The community is nearly complete so the builder went ahead and had the on-site contractors build “spec” homes on the last lots, or the model home is for sale.
• The contract fell through.
• Builders purposely build homes for immediate delivery for buyers who are relocating or who have sold their old home and need to move quickly.

An immediate-delivery home may be specifically priced, although builders sometimes add financing incentives or free options rather than dropping the price. Recent buyers understandably don’t want the last homes o the street to sell for less than they paid for their home.

If you need to move quickly, or prefer seeing and walking through what you’re buying before you sign a contract, and immediate-delivery home could be the right choice for you.

Labels: Alpharetta, buying advantages, city of milton, City of Roswell, Cobb, Cumming, duluth, Fulton, Georgia, New Homes, wood