Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog: November 2008

Fifteen of Forsyth County's 30 schools are among 279 across the state being recognized by Gov. Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent Kathy Cox for improvement and achievement during the 2007-08 school year. Together, these Forsyth County schools earned a total of 17 awards.

The schools are being recognized under Georgia's Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS), which awards schools based on their performance on state curriculum exams and Adequate Yearly Progress status.

The schools are awarded on four levels – Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze – in two categories:

• Greatest gains: Schools that showed the greatest improvement in scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) or the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT)

• Highest performance: Schools that demonstrated the highest achievement on the CRCT or GHSGT

Forsyth County Schools earning awards are:

Greatest Gains

North Forsyth MS – Platinum

Otwell MS – Platinum

Sawnee ES – Platinum

South Forsyth MS – Platinum

Highest Performance

Big Creek ES – Platinum

Chattahoochee ES – Bronze

Daves Creek ES – Gold

Johns Creek ES – Bronze

Mashburn ES – Gold

North Forsyth MS – Bronze

Riverwatch MS – Gold

Settles Bridge ES – Silver

Sharon ES – Platinum

South Forsyth HS – Silver

South Forsyth MS – Silver

Vickery Creek ES – Gold

West Forsyth HS – Bronze

Two schools – North Forsyth and South Forsyth Middle schools – received two awards, one in each category. Both North Forsyth and South Forsyth MS were among the 17 Forsyth County schools earning a total of 19 awards for 2006-07.

For more information click on the following links:

2007-2008 K-12 Report Card

Full SSAS Awards Criteria

About Georgia's Education Scoreboard

Forsyth County Schools

Jeffrey Humphreys published November 2008 in Georgia Trend Magazine

Georgia's prolonged and severe housing downturn has nearly run its course. Sales of new homes will bottom out in the final quarter of 2008, and sales of existing homes will bottom in the first quarter of 2009. New home sales will lead the turnaround because builders have been quicker to cut prices than homeowners. Spending on new residential construction will rise in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2009.

In 2009, the number of single-family home permits authorized for new construction should increase by 10 percent, and homebuilding will cease to be a drag on Georgia's economy. That's a positive development, but a 10 percent upturn in new home permits pales in comparison to the 74 percent peak-to-trough plunge in activity that occurred since building permits peaked in the first quarter of 2006.

Georgia's single-family housing starts are at their lowest level since 1981, when the state's population was only 5.6 million - the 2008 population is 9.8 million. At the national level, single family housing starts have hit their lowest level in 63 years.

Existing home values will not begin to appreciate until late 2009 or early 2010. Home price depreciation will continue to weigh heavily on the psyches of the consumers and on their ability to spend.

An important difference between Georgia's housing recession and those that are still playing out in other states is that there was no investor driven home price bubble to burst. For example, investors' share of mortgage originations peaked at only 8.5 percent in the Atlanta metropolitan area in 2005, nearly equal to their 8.2 percent share in 2000. The end result is that homes remained affordable. In 2008, the median house price divided by the median family income ratio was 2.4 in the Atlanta MSA compared to 3.5 for the nation.

Georgia's large homebuilding industry, a seemingly inexhaustible supply of land suitable for new residential development, plus relatively few restrictions imposed by local governments on new home construction helped to ensure that home prices never really got too far out of line with household income levels and replacement costs. Home price bubbles did not develop in Georgia. That's fairly amazing given the fast-paced population growth that Georgia enjoyed.

Consequently, selling prices of existing single-family homes have not fallen too much even as buying activity plunged and inventories of unsold and bankrupt properties accumulated. One factor that limited depreciation was the steep 74 percent drop in the number of single-family home building permits. Because Georgia's home builders pulled back swiftly and sharply, new home inventories did not soar too much.

Since Georgia did not develop any speculative housing bubbles, home price depreciation has been and will remain modest compared to the nation as a whole. Single-family home prices in Georgia did not begin to decline until the second quarter of 2008, and the quarterly drop was only 0.7 percent. U.S. existing home prices began to decline - in the third quarter of 2007.

One factor driving down home prices is the elevated number of properties in foreclosure, which are priced by banks to sell rapidly. Consequently, existing home prices have not been as sticky as they typically are during a mild recession. In Georgia, existing home prices will decline the most in the outlying suburbs - places characterized by a lot of new neighborhoods and long commutes - and in areas where mortgage fraud was ubiquitous.

A number of forces will support the recovery of Georgia's housing industry. On the demand side, the temporary $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers included in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 will help to strengthen the starter home segment of Georgia's housing market. Since first-time homebuyers do not have to sell a home before they buy a home, the tax credit, which expires on July 1, 2009, will help to take excess inventory off the market. By the time the tax credit expires, statewide employment and personal income growth are predicted to resume, giving more people the confidence and the wherewithal to buy homes.

Demographic trends will provide ongoing stimulus to Georgia's housing industry. The state's total population will grow at 1.8 percent - twice the national average. Georgia will attract retirees in greater numbers than ever before.

Jeffrey Humphreys published November 2008 in Georgia Trend Magazine.

Labels: georgia, housing, new homes, resales

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Rates
30 Year Fixed = 5.50%
15 Year Fixed = 5.25%

Jumbo Rates
30 Year Fixed = 7.25%
5/1 ARM = 6.00%
7/1 ARM = 6.25%

FHA Rates
30 Year Fixed = Range 5.50%- 6.50%

*based on pricing as of 11/26/08. Subject to errors and omissions.

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, covenant mortgage, FHA, mortgage rates, vanderhoff real estate

If you are looking for ways to help others during the upcoming holiday season, consider giving through Aerial’s House toy collection sponsored by the Forsyth County Fire Department or the Holiday Meal Certificate Program and Sponsor-a-Senior Program sponsored by Forsyth County Senior Services. These programs provide opportunities to spread holiday cheer throughout the community.

Aerial’s House
The Forsyth County Fire Department is organizing the sixth annual Aerial’s House toy collection to help brighten the holidays for children in need. New, unwrapped toys for Aerial’s House may be dropped off now at any Forsyth County Fire Station or Fire Department Headquarters, or under the Christmas tree in the County Administration Building lobby beginning in late November. To receive details regarding the distribution of toys collected through Aerial’s House, call The Place of Forsyth at 770.887.1098.

Holiday Meal Certificate Program
Give the gift of a meal to home-bound senior citizens in Forsyth County. Purchase a holiday meal certificate through Forsyth County Senior Services, and meals will be delivered to home-bound senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels program.

You can provide a meal for one day or meals for an entire week or month. The cost of one meal is $3.33. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Checks should be payable to Forsyth County Senior Services, Holiday Meal Certificate Program and should be mailed or delivered to the following address:

Forsyth County Senior Services
595 Dahlonega Highway
Cumming, GA 30040

Holiday Meal Certificates will be available through December 31. To receive additional information, call 770.781.2178.

Sponsor-a-Senior
Let local senior citizens know someone is thinking about them during the holidays by participating in the annual Sponsor-a-Senior program. Sponsor-a-Senior gift request tags will be available beginning November 24 at Forsyth County Senior Services Center at Charles Place. Each numbered tag contains the name of a local senior citizen as well as one or two gift ideas for him/her. Please deliver the gift boxed and unwrapped, and with the tag (or another tag with their number and name) attached to Forsyth County Senior Services before or on December 15. The gifts will be delivered to seniors by volunteers before Christmas. Center hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Center at Charles Place is located at 595 Dahlonega Highway. To receive additional information, call 770.781.2178.

Labels: aerial's house, charity, forsyth county, forsyth county fire department, holiday meal certificate, senior center, senior services, sponsor a senior, volunteer

Moving to Forsyth County, Georgia? Click here and take advantage of this great source of information for those moving into the area. This information is provided by the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

Labels: chamber of commerce, emergency, forsyth county, georgia, information, newcomer, utilities

The City of Milton Presents Christmas in Crabapple, Saturday, Dec. 6th. Here are a few of the highlights of this year's event:

• Live reindeer
• Toasting s'mores at bonfires
• Drawing for prizes
• Visit with Santa Claus
• Horse-drawn carriage rides
• Goddard school children singing and signing Christmas carols
• Milton High School Choir singing Christmas carols

Click here for more information!

Labels: Alpharetta, christmas in crabapple, city of milton

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Rates
30-yr Fixed = 5.75%
15-yr Fixed = 5.5%
5/1 ARM = 5.5%

Jumbo Rates
5/1 ARM = 6.00%
7/1 ARM =6.25%

FHA Rates
30-yr Fixed = Range 5.875%- 6.5%

*based on pricing as of 11/20/08. Subject to errors and omissions.

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: 30 year fixed, covenant mortgage, FHA, mortgage rates, vanderhoff real estate

The holidays are almost upon us. That means it is time to prepare for all the year-end festivities including buying your holiday cards.

Holiday cards are a great way to say hello to family and friends, near and far, and to wish them a healthy and prosperous New Year. Milton decided to have a holiday card for the first time this year. Inspired by a video shot by Melinda Gray Crider, the card displays a still image of horses galloping in Georgia snow on New Year’s Day 2002.

The cards are available for purchase in packages of 12 cards and 12 envelopes at Flowers From Us in the Crabapple area of Milton and Scottsdale Farms in the Birmingham area.

Also, make sure to enter the Photo Contest for next year's card! As Milton rolls out the first edition of cards for the 2008 holiday season, they are also announcing an amateur photographer contest for next year’s card and also for use on the City's Web site. The City is looking for photographs that reflect the rural scenes throughout Milton. The theme for ’09 is “in the eye of the photographer.” If you are interested in having your name and photo on the City’s next holiday card or Web site, please submit your photo along with the entry form to City Hall. A panel of professional photographers will judge the photos and will choose a winner. Click Here for guidelines.

Labels: christmas cards, city of milton, holiday cards, photo contest

For the second straight year, Forsyth County was named the safest large school district in the nation when it comes to student Internet searches.

The Educational Safe Search Index was administered by Thinkronize, a leader in the digital delivery of K-12 educational resources and developers of netTrekker d.i., a K-12 educational search tool.

The Index named the top 100 national ranking of school districts indicating which districts keep students safest when searching on the Internet.

Forsyth County Schools, the top district overall, will be awarded with the equivalent of a $5000 prize package, including two days of professional development integration workshops, online training, and assorted netTrekkey,d.i. premium items.

"Forsyth County Schools is proud to receive this recognition for the second year in a row."

"We attribute our increased usage – as well as the new levels of teacher creativity – in part to the exceptional Integration Workshop which Thinkronize provided as a part of our prize package," said Forsyth County Schools Director of Instructional Technology Jill Hobson.

Labels: forsyth county schools, internet, safest

Forsyth County’s Central Park is gearing up to host the Fourth Annual “Christmas in Central Park” on Saturday, November 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 23 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

This exciting event is sponsored by Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Dept. & Sawnee Artists Association and will feature unique arts and crafts and items for the holidays, food booths, children's activities, music and entertainment. And best of all, admission is free! Entertainment will be ongoing throughout both days and Saturday evening will end with the “Lighting of the Tree” at 5:30 p.m.

Pictures with Santa will be available from 10:30 – 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and Mrs. Clause will be there too.

“New” last year the Silent Tree Auction sponsored by the Sawnee Women’s Club will be back with beautifully decorated trees ready for you to take home!

Wayne’s Train the “Dahlonega,” will be providing exciting train rides throughout the festival hours.

Dan Yackel will be offering “Hay Rides” through the woods with an Antique Tractor and Wagons! Wonderful treat for all!

Country Gourmet will be providing a variety of breakfast treats and lunch specials in the “Sugar Plum Café.”

All vendors will be selling a variety of unique handcrafted items such as stained glass, hand made scarves, purses, dichroic fused glass and hand made jewelry, pottery, candles, soaps, lotions, hand turned wood artwork, Greek pastries, photography, bark baskets, acrylics, oils and watercolors, warm glass, holiday ornaments, quilts, fiber arts, wood carving and much more.

For more information call Paula Chambers at 678-455-8540 or e-mail pwchambers@forsythco.com.

Labels: christmas in central park, forsyth county, forsyth county parks and recreation

Forsyth County voters wishing to cast their ballot early for the December 2 General Election Runoff can do so beginning November 17. Early Voting will be available for registered voters from Monday, November 17 through Wednesday, November 26. Early Voting is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Forsyth County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming. Any registered Forsyth County voter can vote early at the Administration Building during this time, regardless of their designated voting precinct.

On November 24, four additional voting sites will be available for voters to take part in Advance Voting. These four additional sites are the Forsyth County Public Safety Complex, Midway Park, Cumming Public Library and Sharon Forks Public Library. All four of these Advance Voting sites will be open Monday, November 24 through Wednesday, November 26 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any registered Forsyth County voter can vote at any of the Advance Voting locations during this time, regardless of their designated voting precinct.

On Tuesday, December 2, all Forsyth County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All registered voters are eligible to vote in the December 2 Runoff even if they did not vote in the November General Election. Click here to confirm your voter registration status and voting precinct or to view your sample ballot online. Call 770.781.2118 to receive additional information.

Labels: advance voting, early voting, election, forsyth county, general election, runoff, voting

Bring your old electronic equipment to be recycled at Keep Forsyth County Beautiful’s Electronics Recycling Event. This event will be held Saturday, November 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in parking lot 3 at the city of Cumming Fairgrounds on Castleberry Road.

You can drop off computers, printers, cameras, cell phones and more. The minimum donation per carload drop-off will be $5. An additional $10 fee will apply for all acceptable televisions. Large wooden console and projection televisions will not be accepted.

“We recycled over 54,000 pounds of electronics during KFCB’s recycling event in April 2008,” Environmental Program Manager Tammy Wright said. “This will be our eighth event held exclusively for recycling electronics in Forsyth County. Now is a great time to help the environment by cleaning out the old electronics stored in your garage or closet.”

To receive additional details, call 770.205.4573.

Labels: america recycles day, electronics, forsyth county, keep forsyth county beautiful, recycling

A grassroots effort to reform current management practices of Lake Sidney Lanier was announced in the way of the 1071 Coalition. Named for the feet above sea level at which Lake Lanier should be in the summer recreation season, the coalition is comprised of community leaders, business owners, chambers of commerce, residents and other citizens in the Lake Lanier area concerned with the preservation of the lake’s water levels and its impact on the region’s economy.

“Three and a half million people and businesses depend on Lake Lanier for water supply and their livelihoods,” said Grier Todd, COO, Lake Lanier Islands Resort and President of the 1071 Coalition. “Millions more depend on the lake for recreation. Recent water management practices are hurting Lanier’s ability to meet our water supply and recreation needs,” he said.

The Coalition has set out to reverse the management practices of the lake through three initiatives:

1. Commission a study on the impact of Lake Lanier on the area economy. This data will be used to counter information disseminated by other states and bolster Georgia’s case.

2. Urge our federal and state officials to give this issue their highest priority and take action in the best interests of Georgians, including the commissioning of studies that determine the actual needs of endangered species and minimal flow requirements throughout the system.

3. Serve as a voice in the public relations fight between the states, armed with data and experts.

“Businesses are hurting – even closing, and residents are losing property values,” said Kit Dunlap, President and CEO, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the 1071 Coalition. “Local governments have implemented appropriate conservation measures and emergency operating measures. Business and local governments are doing our part, because we are feeling first-hand the devastating impact of the lake’s low levels.”

Through proper management, Lake Lanier would not be in its present state of historically low levels, according to the coalition. “This lake lost a great deal of storage in October and November of last year,” said Alex Laidlaw, Vice President, Operations of Westrec Marinas and Coalition Board member. “Excessive releases were seven times greater than the natural in-flow; those releases could have supplied metro Atlanta’s water needs for well over a year.”

Part of the public relations battle in which the Coalition hopes to gain ground is debunking the myths regarding Atlanta’s water consumption and how reducing flows from the lake will impact other interests downstream. “Our neighboring states are incorrect when trying to lay blame on Atlanta’s population growth,” said Wilton Rooks, Vice President, Technical Programs with the Lake Lanier Association and Coalition Board member. “Metro Atlanta consumes just one to two percent of the water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) basin above the Florida line.”

Ninth District Congressman Nathan Deal, a supporter of the 1071 Coalition, believes the flows can be reduced without threatening downstream users. “Many diverse stakeholders within the basin are in agreement that there is sufficient water in the ACF basin to meet reasonable needs without causing harm to the environment or to the various users,” said Congressman Deal. “We must push for alternative operating plans to manage our waters more effectively.”

The 1071 Coalition plans to be an active participant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers update to Lanier’s water control plan. “The water control plan needs to maximize the ability of the lake to refill to provide a cushion in times of drought, which have become much more frequent and severe in recent years,” said Rooks. “Considering Lake Lanier has a small watershed and is slow to fill, the Corps needs to conserve as much storage as possible at the top of the ACF system.”

The 1071 Coalition will hold its kick-off reception and membership drive on December 9, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at Legacy Lodge and Conference Center on Lake Lanier Islands. For more information, please visit www.1071Coalition.org.

Labels: 1071 coalition, grassroots, lake lanier, preservation. water level, water supply

Don't forget Thursday night's (11/13/08) redistricting meeting - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Milton High School Milton Center.

Check out this website: www.fultonschools.org/redistricting. It gives information about the 1st school redistricting meeting (Round 1) and there is a video explaining the process.

Round Two - November 13th
Staff will present alternative proposals for new attendance zones.
Community members will offer comments on strengths and weaknesses of each plan in facilitated small-group discussions.
Prior to the next community forum, staff will condense the number of attendance zone alternatives based on public input.

Round Three - December 10th
Community members will review and provide input on revised attendance zone draft plans in facilitated small-group discussions.
Staff will use comments to develop a final attendance zone recommendation for Board consideration.

The Fulton County Board of Education will be reviewing the new attendance zone recommendations during their meetings. Final action is planned for February 2009. Changes in the attendance zones will go into effect in August 2009 with the opening of the new elementary school.

Labels: attendance zones, fulton county schools, milton high school, redistricting

In yet another effort to prevent more foreclosures, Fannie Mae (FNM: 0.67, -0.05, -6.95%), Freddie Mac (FRE: 0.83, -0.05, -5.69%) in conjunction with U.S. government officials, are speeding up the modification of home loans held by financial companies.

Sources told FOX Business Network that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and U.S. government officials will announce later Tuesday that they will hasten efforts to modify hundreds of thousands of loans that are past due. The goal is to bring the ratio of household debt to income for the borrowers down to 38%. U.S. government officials also plan to encourage large banks that hold loans to take similar steps.

The program will be an extension of HOPE NOW alliance, which was announced last year and is designed to prevent foreclosures by reworking the terms of mortgages.

The Wall Street Journal reported the announcement will come at a 2:00 p.m. press conference at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Financial industry sources told FOX Business Network that the White House rejected the FDIC’s proposal to prevent foreclosures for up to 3 million home owners. That more ambitious proposal would have provided some type of loan guaranteed for hundreds of billions of restructured mortgages.

Labels: fannie mae, foreclosure, freddie mac, home loans, mortgage

In an attempt to create a culture of universal accessibility for all residents, the City of Milton has partnered with disabilities expert Marie Latta to help guide all facets of its planning, development and operations.

Latta will consult with the City on compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. It is an opportunity to “start from scratch” and build a foundation for accessibility that is sustainable into the future, she said. Her goal is to create usable access to full community participation for all residents and visitors alike.

ADA review for accessibility pertains to individuals with physical/mobility, cognitive and communication disabilities.

For nearly 17 years Latta has based her work on ADA compliance requirements in federal, state and local governments. She has worked with such clients as Stone Mountain Park, DeKalb County, Fulton County and State of Georgia residential hospitals as well as Philips Arena and Gwinnett Center Arena. She currently works with the state Department of Community Affairs Affordable Housing Division and the Georgia Tech Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access.

Latta, who holds a B.S.E. (Bachelor of Science in Education) from the University of Arkansas and an M.Ed. (Masters in Special Education) from Georgia State University, has been a wheelchair user for the past 15 years. This has reinforced her belief of making every aspect of a city accessible to all people.

“Based on Milton’s positive, proactive approach to accessibility and inclusion of people with all disabilities, I believe the City has the potential to, from the ground up, become a model city for creating a universally accessible environment in which people with disabilities can live, work, play, do business and worship,” she said.

Labels: ADA, city of milton, disabilities

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) plans to test the county’s new outdoor severe weather sirens on Wednesday, November 12 at noon, weather permitting. During this siren system test, both the warning alert tone and the test tone will be heard.

Forsyth County recently installed 12 new weather sirens (11 new locations, one replacement) throughout the county to notify residents who are outdoors that severe weather is in the area. In the event Forsyth County is placed under a tornado warning, the sirens will be activated.

“The sirens are designed to provide notice of impending severe weather to those who are outdoors,” Fire Chief and EMA Director Danny Bowman said. “When the siren sounds, residents need to seek shelter immediately.”

The sound residents will hear on November 12, however, will only be a test.

“If the test is successful, the outdoor weather sirens will be deemed in-service,” EMA Coordinator Lorraine Morris said. “At that point, regular monthly testing will take place.”

Monthly testing of the audible siren will take place at noon on the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting. The test tone produces the Westminster Chimes sound.

Labels: EMA, forsyth county, test, tornado, warning

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Loans: Loan amounts $417,000 & under*
30-yr Fixed = 5.875%
15-yr Fixed = 5.75%

FHA Rates*
30-yr Fixed = Range 6.00%- 6.625%

*based on pricing as of 11/7/08. Subject to errors and omissions.

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, covenant mortgage, FHA, mortgage rates, vanderhoff real estate

Forsyth County property taxes are due November 15, 2008. Since the due date falls on a Saturday, payments will be accepted without penalty through the close of business on Monday, November 17.

Payments can be made at the following locations:

Tax Commissioner’s Main Office
1092 Tribble Gap Road
Cumming, GA 30040
770.781.2110

Tax Commissioner’s Branch Office
Sharon Springs Park
1950 Sharon Springs Road
Cumming, GA 30041
770.781.2110

Payment can be made by cash, check or debit. For added convenience, drive-up payments will be accepted at both locations November 13, 14 and 17.

Labels: forsyth county, property tax, tax commissioner

With winter just around the corner, Stone Mountain Park prepares to celebrate the holidays with more than 2 million lights and lots of snow. The Atlanta attraction, commemorating its 50th anniversary, unveils its popular holiday event, Stone Mountain Christmas Nov. 7 to Dec. 30 and opens Atlanta’s first snow park, Snow Mountain Dec. 31. Featuring three football fields of deep snow including a 400 foot tubing hill and a 30,000 square foot play area, Snow Mountain opens New Year’s Eve and continues weekends through March 1.

“For the past seven years, Stone Mountain Christmas has offered Atlantans a spectacle of lights, parades, entertainment, shopping and foods where families delight in the holiday spirit,” said Gerald Rakestraw, vice president and general manager of Stone Mountain Park. “With the addition of Snow Mountain, a first-of-its-kind snow park in Atlanta and the Southeast, Stone Mountain Park stays true to its mission of bringing families together in the great outdoors.”

Stone Mountain Christmas light display illuminates Crossroads® village at the base of Stone Mountain. Guests can board The Polar Express 4D Experience, where the scent of hot chocolate fills the Theatre. Enjoy the many sounds of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols during two musical reviews: A Hometown Holiday and Kickin’ Up Christmas. Each evening, parents and kids can gather to welcome Santa Claus during the nightly parade featuring five lighted floats and favorite holiday characters. End the night with Stone Mountain Christmas’s own Snow Angel. New for 2008, the Snow Angel flies high in the sky over Crossroads waving her magic wand creating snow and fireworks. Additional entertainment includes the holiday favorites, A Crossroads Christmas Carol and the Christmas Story performed during the five-mile train ride around the base of the mountain. An array of unique shopping is also available for guests looking to purchase the perfect gift.

Beginning New Year’s Eve, Atlantans will be able to play in guaranteed, real snow. Snow Mountain is Atlanta’s first snow park and allows the young and young at heart to connect with their inner child. Situated on what is commonly known as the “laser lawn,” the family snow park includes 11 tubing runs, special places to make the ultimate snow men and snow angels, a snowball making zone and a play area for younger kids. In addition, the snow park has various sites from which to view the activities including an observation area, a group of warming chalets and bonfires for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.

To create the attraction, Stone Mountain Park will use a closed loop system that borrows water from Stone Mountain Lake and will not tap into city water.

“Research indicated our guests enthusiastically welcomed Snow Mountain particularly if it’s created in an environmentally friendly way,” Rakestraw said. “Nearly 40 percent of Atlantans have never experienced snow as a family unit, and nearly 70 percent of Atlanta kids have never seen significant snow. This is a great way for families to take a winter vacation without driving far from home.”

The two winter attractions will round out the holiday season at Stone Mountain Park. Stone Mountain Christmas is open weekends Nov. 8-Dec. 14 and nightly Dec. 19-Dec. 30 and will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. The holiday attraction will also be open Thanksgiving week beginning Nov. 25. Tickets for Stone Mountain Christmas are $20 (plus tax) for adults and $17 (plus tax) for kids 3-11. For more information on Stone Mountain Christmas, visit stonemountainpark.com.

Snow Mountain tickets go on sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. but advanced ticket offers are available by registering at snowmountainpark.com. Tickets are $25 for adults and kids 3 through 11 and are for timed entry. The snow park is open to all ages. To tube, guests must be 42 inches or taller. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended. Snow Mountain opens New Year’s Eve and weekends through March 1. For information on the new attraction, visit snowmoutainpark.com.

Listed in Frommer’s 500 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up and cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of “35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See…,” Stone Mountain Park is located just 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta. To get to the park, take I-285 to Exit 39B, Hwy 78 East. Stone Mountain Park is Exit 8 on Hwy. 78.
www.stonemountainpark.com .

Labels: atlanta, christmas, snow mountain, Stone Mountain Park

Advanced voting ended on Friday, so your last chance to cast your vote for the General Election will take place Tuesday, November 4 at all voting precincts throughout the county. All precincts will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to verify your voting precinct or to view your sample ballot. Call 770.781.2118 to receive additional information.

Election Results will be Televised Live:
Tune in to TV Forsyth, Comcast channel 23, on Tuesday, November 4 for General Election results. Coverage begins at 7 p.m.

Precinct-by-precinct results will also be available at www.forsythco.com.

Labels: forsyth county, general election, november 4, voting