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The Washington Post reported…
Under the housing program, people seeking to own a home for the first time in three years would receive an $8,000 tax credit if they sign a contract by April 30...
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Woodstock Downtown to Host Neighborhood Open House Sunday, Nov. 8th, 2pm-5pm
Related posts:First Annual Art and Wine Festival Comes to Downtown Woodstock Some of the Southeast's premier artists,...
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Rain clouds and long lines did little to dissuade local residents from coming out to experience their favorite Canton restaurant fare at last week’s Taste of Canton. With an unprecedented turnout, the large crowd shocked the event’s organizers and sent the participating vendors scrambling for more food to accommodate the increased demand. Goin’ Coastal, voted as best food at the event, doled out a hundred pounds of shrimp in less than two hours and sustained lines that spanned over forty-five minutes at some points in the evening. And for those craving something sweet, Jill’s Cakes and Bakesand Canton’s tea room Sugar Plums were both on hand with a special selection of desserts. Other highlights of the event included a live DJ with dancing in the park and a dunk tank filled with city officials, the latter of whom were pretty good sports about the whole ordeal. The proceeds of the Taste in Canton will contribute to the upcoming Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival on October 31.
The Downtown Kitchen crew serves up just rewards for their waiting fans.
The fall in real estate prices across Georgia means you should review the assessment of the value your county assessor has placed on of your real estate. If you appeal your real estate taxes to the board of equalization the property assessment is frozen for the tax year in question as well as the following two years (O.C.G.A 48-5-299(c). If you appeal, the BOE can raise it but in my experience that rarely happens. If you however, make improvements to your property the freeze will not apply to property with the improvements.
Your trusted resource for practical legal advice.
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The following is a letter sent yesterday to parents of students attending Cherokee County Schools. [Very proud]
Education Today For A Better Tomorrow
October 13, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians:
The Cherokee County School District is committed to attracting, retaining and
training the best teachers, principals and support staff possible. Despite
unprecedented growth in student population, combined with a national teacher
shortage, the School District and community consistently meet this commitment by
offering employees a quality of life and work experience that cannot be found in
other areas.
As of the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, the Cherokee County School District
reports that over 99.8% of its teachers, in all subject areas and at all grade levels,
are considered “highly qualified” by state and federal standards. By
comparison, the statewide average is 98.3% of teachers considered highly qualified,
according to the most recent data available. The Cherokee County School District
has in place a comprehensive plan to assure that 100% of our teachers meet this
requirement of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
To continue our long-standing commitment to providing parents with timely and
important information, the Cherokee County School District informs parents that you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s
teacher(s). These qualifications include:
1. Whether the teacher has met the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
requirements for certification for the grade level and subject areas in which the
teacher provides instruction;
2. Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status
through which Georgia qualifications or certification criteria have been waived;
3. The college major and any graduate certification or degree held by the teacher,
and;
4. Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their
qualifications.
If you wish to request information concerning the qualifications of your child’s
teacher(s), please contact the Principal.
Sincerely,
Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo
Superintendent of Schools
FRP/CDC/KO
cc: Superintendent’s Cabinet
All Principals
JANET READ
CHAIRMAN
DEBI RADCLIFF
VICE CHAIRMAN
STEPHEN BENTLEY
MIKE CHAPMAN
KIM COCHRAN
GARY PUCKETT
RICK STEINER
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Building Real Relationships In Real Life at the Atlanta Bloggers Meetup
“You have probably heard that content is king,” says Chad Rothschild, founder and facilitator of the Atlanta Bloggers Meetup. “But anyone who has been blogging over a year knows the difficulty of keeping the quality level of content up. Come learn from the Atlanta Bloggers Community what they do so you can incorporate it into your blog.” The topic “Creating Killer Content” has officially been set for the Bloggers Meetup at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant on November 4th at 6 p.m., and bloggers from all over the Atlanta Metro are rushing to sign up. Not only do these local meetups provide valuable tips from speakers who know what they’re talking about, they also provide time for networking with some of the most astute bloggers in the area. What’s more, the meetings drive you toward the ultimate goal of new media: getting offline once in a while to build real relationships in real life in real time with faces you’ve only seen in avatars.
The Atlanta Bloggers Meetup sign-in sheet often reads like a “who’s-who list” when it comes to social media. Secret Sidenote: People who show up there don’t just write blogs. They read blogs, and then they share the ones with interesting, relevent content. Just sayin’.
Atlanta Bloggers Meetup Info:
Where: Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (Valet Parking is provided, so clean the fast food wrappers off your floorboard if that sort of thing embarasses you as it does me.)
When: November 4th, 6 p.m-8:30 p.m., with time allotted afterward for networking and social cavorting.
Why: Getting tips about propelling your blog to its utmost potential, networking with like-minded techy souls, and beer on tap (The last of which is optional but highly recommended. Of course, and as always, blog and imbibe responsibly.)
Bloggers Chad Rothschild (@chadrothschild) and Sean Nelson (@SeanENelson) network at the October Atlanta Bloggers Meet-Up. Sean was the featured speaker during October’s meeting and hosted a lively discussion on how to incorporate LinkedIn into your social media strategy for small businesses.
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This morning, @bnix and I were standing in-line ordering coffee; I was searching for the BOGO coupon, and we both were accessing the free wifi at Carribou. As I ordered my Medium “Coffee of the Day” and noticed that the menu overhead was much easier to read than Starbuck’s, the idea of comparing Real Estate Agents to Coffee Houses came to me.
I asked, “What kind of agent am I?” Do my clients see me as straightforward and no frills; or is it that I provide a great value and creative/comfortable service; or is it because I am the Big Brand of success, imperfections and all. I admit, the answer to my question is of little or no national importance but it does beg the question: What kind of agent do you want to be? Clients: What type of agent are you looking for?
Client: “I’ll take a Medium Coffee and a Cake Donut.”
Agent: “That’ll be $2.50, please.”
Client: “Thanks. Do you have Wifi here?”
Agent: “No. In order to keep our prices as low as possible, we need to make it up in volume. Can’t have folks sitting around here for hours takin’ up the booths. You understand, right?”
Client: “I’ll have a Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte Skinny with Sugar-Free Syrup and a Marionberry Scone.”
Agent: “That’ll be a Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte Skinny with Sugar-Free Syrup and a Marionberry Scone?”
Client: “Yes. Thank You. Do you have free Wifi in the store?”
Agent: “Well that depends. We have Complimentary Wi-Fi for Starbucks customers…when you register your Starbucks Card and use it at least once a month…you’ll receive two consecutive hours a day of complimentary Wi-Fi, courtesy of AT&T; Or, complimentary Wi-Fi for AT&T DSL customers because AT&Ts more than 12 million DSL customers already qualify for free Wi-Fi at their neighborhood Starbucks; Or, all other customers can receive two consecutive hours of Wi-Fi access for $3.99. Either way, you can use any of our couches, loungers, or cushy chairs to conduct business at you leisure, either inside or on the patio.
Oh, by the way. You can download music through a free Wifi sponsored by iTunes. Normal song prices apply. Unless you purchase the song of the week by using the promo code on this card.”
Client: “Uhh…OK…Uhh…Sounds Great! I think. Not sure what just happened but my head hurts, must need caffeine. How much do I owe you?”
Agent: “My apologies sir. That will be $6.84. Thank You for visiting Starbuck’s.”
Just for Fun
I am “Not” knocking any particular agents, brokers, or brands; just having some fun with expectations and delivery. After all, if your home sells quickly and at a price you are satisfied with, comparatively speaking, almost any coffee and carbs will do, right?
Best regards, I. B. Carribou
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Here is my challenge to all readers of the Maxsell Blog. (and anyone else you can think of. **Please Forward)
After you have enjoyed exploring Jennifer Carter’s fun things to do this weekend, run into your local Home Depot and purchase a pack of $5.81 (or 2) of EcoSmart Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. Then, as your old 60 watt incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with the CFL’s. These bulbs have improved drastically in both functionality and effectiveness. And, Oh yeah, they will save you money, too. **See Below
Now you are not required to purchase this particular CFL but the Oct 09 Edition of Consumer Reports showcases this particular Brand/Model combination as their #1 choice. If you are like me though, you may want to pick and choose, on site, so here are some things to consider during your purchase:
Don’t Set Yourself Up for Disappointment
When replacing a 60 Watt bulb, it should usually be replaced with a 14 watt CFL. Note: It is sometimes necessary to replace with a 20 Watt CFL; especially, if the room was slightly darker than preferred with a 60 Watt incandescent.
Pick the Right Color.
On the package, the color of the light will be described in kelvins.
2700K is comparable to a yellowish/soft white incandescent that are preferred in decorator lamps, wall sconces, and other secondary or mood lighting sources.
3500K, it is more like a cool/bright white that is used primarily in kitchens and baths where a task is being completed so brightness is off absolute importance.
5000k rating and higher is typically used for reading lamps and is an extremely bright light that makes words jump off of pages. However, realize that the whiter the lamp, the less pleasing the look when used to light a room.
**Promise Me to Get it Done This Weekend
I am serious. Send me your receipt and I will multiply whatever you spent by 100 and take that amount off of your commissions due when I negotiate the sale or purchase of your next home. (Well…at least up to $1162)
See! Compact Fluorescent Bulbs will save you more money than expected.
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I am so proud to see that my hometown of Marietta, GA made CNNMoney.com’s list of the best US towns. Coming in at #15, Glover Park aka the Marietta Square is one of the main reasons for the recognition. The “Square” hosts a number of great social events in an environment that embrace new social interests while mixing them with the old square heritage.
In the article, Eric Baker from Marietta sent CNNmoney.com a picture of the beautiful Marietta Square and wrote about what sets Marietta apart from thousands of cities across the country.
Check out any one of the upcoming social events held at the square. You and your family will have a great time.
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Related posts:
Marietta, Georgia Just a stone's throw from both the bustling city streets...
Both family-friendly and date-worthy, the Cagle’s Corn Maize in Hickory Flat invites you to “get lost” on more than three miles of its corn-bound trails. (There are two paths to choose from, one being shorter and a little more conducive to walking with children.) If you’d like to make a whole day of it, Cagle’s also offers a farm tour, a hayride, a bonfire, and a jumpee pillow for the kids to expend some energy. If you’re one of the braver meanderers, you can also try the maze after dark, for which flashlights are provided.
The Earl Smith Strand Theatre opens its roof top Cobb Terrace this Friday and Saturday night to enjoy the view over Glover Park and the charming Marietta Square after dark. Admission is free and there will be a cash bar with offerings of beer, wine, and mixed drinks. If you’re more in the mood for a theater production, this weekend’s feature is Pass it Down, an original stage play based on the lives of four generations of women. (And if you haven’t seen the inside of the Strand since their major renovations, prepare to be dazzled.)
Know of anything else going on this weekend in North Georgia? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook fan page!
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Brad Nix loves technology, plain and simple. Just test him. Ask him a tech-related question, whether about real estate or not, and watch him transcend into a deep, geek-like ecstasy. And on the very rare occasion that he doesn’t know the answer (which troubles him to no end), he’ll say, “Let me research that for you.” Then, as if a man on a mission, he contacts his legion of other geeky-knowers and actually gets back to you with a solution. How’s that for great tech-support? The truth about Brad is this: not only is he technologically-savvy, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge with anyone who is willing to listen. That is exactly why it was such an honor when he was recently named as a finalist for the 2009 REALTOR(R) Technology Spotlight Award in the “Advocate” category by the Center for REALTOR Technology.
Reaching Across ‘Brokerage Boundaries’
According the award’s criteria, candidates must “go above and beyond their call of duty to reach out and engage people with the information and knowledge they have about technology. All of them do it with no regard to compensation, and for the most part, have reached across ‘brokerage’ boundaries to help and instruct. These are the individuals that are making changes in the industry one person at a time.” And Brad, most certainly, takes up this proverbial call to arms. Acting locally, Brad has opened up Maxsell Real Estate’s “Tech Thursdays” to local businesses who want to learn about integrating social media into their marketing strategies. What’s more, he has teamed up with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce to offer tech instruction at local business expos. On a much larger scale, Brad organizes the momentous annual tech conferences of both real-estated REtech South and the more universally-oriented New Media Atlanta. Anyone who has ever actually attended one of these events knows what a tireless advocate Brad can be to his cause. Whether he’s bringing the best minds in the industry to center stage or ironing out all the details (of which there are many) backstage, Brad is living proof that you can indeed do what you love and love what you do. And to be singled out for his efforts by the CRT is an accolade he takes very seriously. When asked how he manages to do all of this and still find time for family and friends, he answered; “I’m blessed with a very understanding wife. In fact, I couldn’t do it all without her. My family and friends are also wonderful supporters and motivators. Oh and… Nerds Rule!”
New York Times Bestselling Author Chris Brogan signs a copy of his book Trust Agents for Ilyice Glink at last week’s New Media Atlanta Conference.
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A Time To Celebrate Art, Wine, and Music in Downtown Woodstock
Some of the Southeast’s premier artists, art lovers, and wine connoisseurs will be mingling this weekend at Woodstock’s first annual Art and Wine Festival. This two-day, family friendly event will include a children’s area where kids can create art of their own as well as overflowing booths where adults can discover paintings, photographs, pottery, and sculpture. Live musicians will also be on hand to serenade you once you’ve finished with wine tasting, so be sure to bring a blanket. Entrance to the festival is free and wrist-bands for the wine-tasting can be purchased for $25.
Roomscapes Gallery, a sponsor of the festival, is one of the crown jewels of the burgeoning art scene in downtown Woodstock. For more information about their gallery, art selections, or classes, please contact them at 77–517-7404.
Woodstock Art and Wine Festival Information
Location: Downtown Woodstock, on Main Street Behind the Right Wing Tavern
Date and Time: Saturday, September 26 10 a.m – 7 p.m and Sunday, September 27, 10 a.m – 5 p.m.
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Weekend revelers, clutching frothy tequila cocktails on the roof-top bar and handing their keys off to the only restaurant valets in downtown Woodstock, descended onPure Taqueria’sGrand Opening this month. Main Street’s newest addition comes to us from franchise partners Charlie Stephenson and Steve Wright, who enjoyed a full house on their Labor Day debut. As the sun set over the railroad tracks, bottomless baskets of chips and salsa were forthcoming and margaritas flowed freely, signalling a worthy beginning for this new local hangout. For long-time fans of Pure’s other two Atlanta locations in Alpharetta and Inman Park, this opening was a much anticipated night to get a taste of their favorite dishes a little closer to home.
Pure Taqueria Information
405 Chambers Street
Woodstock, GA 30188
828-735-0486
woodstock@puretaqueria.com
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Are you dipping your toe in, doing a cannonball, or just keeping your head in the sand?
TheNew Media Atlanta Conference is designed to advise you, in both concrete and visionary ways, how to get your name, brand, and business philosophy known on the internet. In his New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Trust Agents*, the NMATL key presenter Chris Brogan stresses how imperative it is to “dip your toe in [to social media]. And more.Maybe even do a cannonball. The water might be cold sometimes, sure, but you’ll get used to the cold while your competitors will still be scared. And you’ll be floating.” And as Chris points out, a business’s ability to establish trust with potential clients makes all the difference between surviving and thriving in this new media era. Social media sites provide the perfect platform for you to put yourself out there, be authentic, and show the world what you’re passionate about, thereby attracting the kind of people who want to do business with you. ”This is what evolves naturally,” says Chris. “If you act like a good citizen, and you feel like One of Us, the benefits arise without much thought. It’s not the negative interaction of quid pro quo, but instead the positive concept of ‘good things happen to good people.’” Now, that’s a refreshing concept.
What You Should Know About New Media Atlanta
When: Friday, September 25, 2009
Where: Georgia Tech Research Institute
250 14th St NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 407-6017
Why:
1. To Answer the Burning Question: How can Social Media Give MY business an advantage?
2. Speakers who Really Know What They’re Blogging (and Tweeting, Facebooking, etc.) About
3. Bowling and Brewskies: A rockin’ After-Party in Atlantic Station
Highlighted below are the results of how Cherokee and Cobb County Schools scored above the State and National Averages in the SAT Scores.
Cherokee County School District
Cherokee County students averaged 1560 on the SAT. This is a 100 points higher than the Georgia Average (1460) and 51 points higher than the National Average (1509). These are the breakdowns of the SAT Categories:
CRITICAL READING
CHEROKEE 520 GEORGIA 490 NATIONAL 501
MATH
CHEROKEE 530 GEORGIA 491 NATIONAL 515
WRITING
CHEROKEE 510 GEORGIA 479 NATIONAL 493
Cobb County School District
Cobb County students averaged 1534 on the SAT. This is 74 points above the Georgia average (1460) and 25 points above the National average (1509). These are unofficial results because the County is awaiting more test results.
These are the breakdowns of the SAT Categories:
CRITICAL READING
COBB 515 GEORGIA 490 NATIONAL 501
MATH
COBB 519 GEORGIA 491 NATIONAL 515
WRITING
Cobb 500 GEORGIA 479 NATIONAL 493
Congratulations to both Cherokee and Cobb Students, teachers, and faculty.
Thanks to State Senator Chip Rogers Monthly Newsletter Dated 9/11/2009 for the above information.
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Maxsell Real Estate would like to give a big welcome the newest additions to our real estate family: Bob Strader and Karen Sannes. Together with Maxsell agent Sydney Ray they form The North Group. These 3 real estate rock stars came to us from Keller Williams Realty and are the authors of the popular real estate blog, LiveInAlpharetta.com (Ranked #1 by Google for Alpharetta Real Estate).
The Maxsell culture is to bring real estate, technology, and community together and The North Group is a shining example of all three. We are honored to have them representing Maxsell Real Estate.
Bob and Karen, welcome!
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Subleasing is very popular during a down economy. You can find great space at a reasonable price. Subleasing, however, during this economy, can be fraught with peril. If the company from whom you are leasing defaults under its lease, the landlord has the right to terminate the master lease along with your sublease. This problem can arise when the main tenant is paying 20 dollars a square foot and the subtenant is paying 15 per square foot. If the main tenant’s business is struggling and they cannot make up the $5 per square foot and defaults under the main lease, the landlord may or may not want to honor the sublease. You should think twice about a sublease at a lower rate as opposed to a straight lease at a higher rate given this potential scenario.
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A recent article in Outside Magazine confirms what us “Hotlantans” already know! This is a great town to be active in.
The magazine graded over a 100 US Cities including marks for unemployment, cost of living, night life, drive time, and access to parks and other green spaces. We should be proud after coming in 3rd place just behind Seattle(1) and Colorado Springs(2).
Among other things, Atlanta earned high marks for Piedmont Park, “the big city’s green jewel,” affordable home prices, and music venues like The Earl. Atlanta lies less than 90 minutes from the start of the Appalachian Trail, the magazine noted.
“While commuting by car is a legitimate gripe, the recently launched Beltline Initiative will help ease some congestion,” the magazine said. “A 22-mile-long ‘live-work-play’ corridor—including parks, trails, and green space—it’s one of the most progressive urban-planning projects in the country.” –Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Here is the magazine’s Top 10:
1. Colorado Springs
2. Seattle
3. Atlanta 4. Austin
5. Boston
6. Albuquerque
7. Portland
8. Minneapolis
9. Cincinnati
10. Charlotte
Brad Nix stands with wife Rachel at the 2009 REtechSouth Conference
Recently nominated by the Georgia Association of Realtors to compete for the Realtor of the Year Award , Maxsell Real Estate’s own Brad Nix feels “honored to be one of the final thirty one for the whole state.” But for those who work closely and conduct business with Brad, this nomination comes as little surprise (and for reasons that might have nothing to do with his success at selling real estate).
While he still continues to produce mutli-million dollars in sales per year and manages a growing a real estate brokerage, Brad’s other great passions lie in building real relationships within his community and sharing his tech-savvy social media skills. In an innovative gesture to reach out to local residents , Brad recently hired a Community Advocate to liaison directly with small businesses and blog about community events. He also co-founded REtechSouth, the largest annual real estate technology conference in the Southeast. This conference provides invaluable guidance from the most enlightened practitioners in the industry and reinforces the message that connecting to people on a human, personal level is still the best way to do business. At the more local level, Brad has recently invited the public to join in his “Tech Thursdays,” meetings where he teaches both Maxsell agents and business owners how to implement social media techniques into their professional pursuits.
Brad Nix makes a social media presentation to local business at the Cherokee County Business Expo.
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Allyson Wesley, barn manager of the TLEC, stands with her horse after a ride around the ring.
TLE Club Offers Kids and Adults Therapy on Horseback
“Sometimes you just have to take it to the dirt,” says Towne Lake Equestrian Club owner Ita Dore. Ita has learned, after fifteen years as a counselor and mental health professional, that there are words that come out in the horse pasture that her clients can’t bring themselves to say back on the therapist’s couch. Up there on horseback, there’s a certain “catching off guard” that occurs that allows grown men to cry, dysfunctional couples to communicate, bullies to become humbled, and bullied introverts to finally learn the skills to stand up for themselves. Sometimes coming of their own own volition, her patients more often are therapy cases mandated by the court—damaged children from the foster care system and angry adults ripping each other to shreds during messy divorces. “You can’t lie to a horse,” says Ita. “They react honestly and give very genuine responses to your behavior. It’s almost if the horses read people’s case files before they come in.”
Healing the Hurt For Both Horse and Rider
If you ever get the chance to run your hand down the face of Patch, a favorite horse at TLEC for both riding lessons and therapy, you’ll feel his dented snout where his previous owner landed a fisted punch. Fortunately, the healing and rescuing at the club isn’t confined to people. They also rescue horses from the Department of Agriculture’s impound program that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or starved. Together, both horse and rider learn to trust again in the safe environment that Ita and her husband Kirk have created there. Pointing out a stunning horse in a stall across from Patch, Ita says, “That one was actuallyon the truck on its way to be euthanized, but we saved him.” Looking at that beautiful animal standing there, now with coat gleaming and offering an affectionate nudge, only then can you fully appreciate the magnitude of daily good that comes from this place, these people, and these animals.
Towne Lake Equestrian Club Information
409 Old Boring Lane
Woodstock, GA. 30189
Telephone: 770-778-1146
TLEquestrian@bellsouth.net
Besides offering experiential therapy, the Towne Lake Equestrian Club also offers a range of other services including lessons, membership, leasing, and boarding. They also hold monthly Barn Bashes to benefit the Department of Agriculture and TLEC Hope for the Horses Campaign.
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This morning, 
