September 5, 2008

It has been dry this week, so most of us are watching the tropical storm activity in the hopes that we will get a little rain from one of the systems that's roaming around down there. It doesn't look good for getting anything out of Hanna, but at this point Ike looks like a better bet. Hopefully, it will just be rain and not damaging winds for anybody here or on the coast.

The Labor Day Barbecue was a success, and a lot of people told me they enjoyed their lunch. The fall festival season is still a few weeks away, but there will be lots of things to do when it gets here. For your reference, here are a few dates to remember for the rest of September.

September 13, Mountain Music Festival, Vogel State Park (south of Blairsville)

September 14-October 2, Oktoberfest, Helen

September 19-20, Bluegrass Festival, Historic Courthouse, Blairsville

September 27, Family Fishing Festival, Fish Hatchery, Suches

Construction has started on the gatehouse and the four holes along the river out at the Blue Ridge Golf and River Club. As I've said before, this will be a unique development for Blue Ridge, and one of the premier golf communities in the country. The course has been designed by Dave Axland and Dan Proctor, who are famous as the architects who designed Wild Horse in Gothenburg, Nebraska. There's over a mile of river frontage with what's probably the best trout fishing in the mountains, and the views over the Cohuttas at the top of the property are dramatic. Lots start at $236,000 and cottages at $480,000. The cottages can be placed in the rental program for the conference center, which will be a nice option for those who want to leverage their investment. I have the revised site plan for the community ready to email to prospective buyers, and it probably gives the best idea of what we are planning for this beautiful piece of property. We expect to have 40-50 lots closed by the end of September, so the community is off to a good start. Call or email me, and I'll be glad to get you the details.

August 28, 2008

We got a significant amount of rain over the course of the storm last week. It was probably enough to keep everything in the woods alive until the end of the growing season, except for the things that are already gone. At least, I hope so. We got about 5 inches at our place, but people in the office have reported everything from 3 to 5 inches. I talked to Eddie Ayers, our extension agent, and he said that he had heard reports of up to 12 inches over in Towns County, a couple of counties to the east of us.

Our Town is playing at the Blue Ridge Community Theater, August 29 through September 21. That's 706.632.9223.

The Labor Day Barbecue is scheduled for Monday in the downtown Blue Ridge Park. The event is kicked off by a Community Worship Service Sunday evening at 6:00 PM, followed by a traditional Ice Cream Social. The barbecue is served on Monday from 11:30 to 6 PM, assuming it lasts that long. This is a rain or shine event, and it is very popular. It is safe to assume that lines will be fairly long at peak times. The menu is usually a choice of chicken or ribs, with beans, cole slaw, and homemade dessert. Last year, there was also a BBQ sandwich offering. This is a 28-year tradition to benefit the Good Samaritans of Fannin County. It's usually very good, and I never miss it!

The music schedule is:

11:15 Blue Ridge Dulcimer Players

11:25 Blessing of the Meal

12:00 Hogsed Brothers (Old Fashioned Southern Gospel)

12:45 River Park Band (Bluegrass & Bluegrass Gospel)

1:30 Emily Carey (12 year old singer from Blue Ridge)

1:40 Looking Up (Contemporary & Southern Gospel)

2:30 Tom Morgan & Lynne Hass (Traditional Appalachian & Celtic)

3:15 Vicki Brice (Contemporary & Southern Gospel)

3:45 Caylor Family (Southern Gospel)

4:15 John Sabia (Folk)

4:30 End of the Road Band (Old Time Mountain Music)

5:15 TBA (Bluegrass)

I should be working at the Blue Ridge Golf & River Club Sales Office in the old downtown for most of the day, so stop in and say hello if you're in town!

August 22, 2008

It's continued dry, and we're hoping for some rain from what's left of Fay. We need it, because things are starting to die in the woods again. There is a red oak in the downtown park that's probably over 200 years old that recently died. I think that's partly because they foolishly built a playground over its roots, but it might have survived that if we'd had normal rainfall. A lot of the old boys in town have said that they remember playing under it when they were kids, and that it was a big tree then.

The City of Blue Ridge is holding another hearing on the beer and wine situation on Monday, August 25 at 10 AM at City Hall. The new city hall is located in an old bank building across West 1st Street from the Post Office. This is an important meeting for the future of Blue Ridge, and I urge you to attend if you have an interest in this issue.

There's been a male osprey perching in a dead tree just upstream of the 515 bridge over the Toccoa. He's easily visible from the bridge, and he's been there a lot lately. I know why, because the other day I saw three very young kids and their dad take eight trout from a spot right under where he's perched. Of course, he's not there when they are releasing from the dam, which they've been doing every afternoon. He's a nice addition to the kingfishers I usually see in Tammin Park.

August 15, 2008

We had a delightful cold spell last weekend, but our weather has bounced back hot and dry. Once again, I'm beginning to worry about how dry the woods are, and I've had to water our plantings twice - a week apart - since the last good rain. I think the southern and western parts of the county have had some rain, but it missed our location (southeast of Mineral Bluff).

We're still swimming in the lake, but there's no doubt that they're running the water out at a pretty rapid rate. We'll be swimming in it until October, at least, but everybody dislikes these early draw downs.

I've seen lots of young critters lately. Every year, we have a Carolina wren nest somewhere on our property. She usually chooses a spot just outside our front porch screen, on a beam that's sheltered by the overhang. It's a pretty good place for a nest. A couple of days ago, we were lucky to see the chicks leaving the nest early in the morning, running around on the ground and learning how to fly. The other day, I saw a doe and a little spotted fawn. The fawn was just a day or two past being able to walk, but was able to easily jump one of those decorative "horse and rider" fences that we have in our development. I would have thought it was too late in the year for fawns, but evidently it's not.

The best deal of the summer? It's probably my little cabin on Flat Creek Crossing, MLS 168380. We've dropped the price $25,000, because my sellers want it gone. Those of you who have done some serious looking know that there aren't very many cabins that are any good for around $200,000 - especially if they're all wood, no sheet rock. We've got this one priced at $209,999, and it's a beautiful little place. It's log-sided, nicely maintained, two bedrooms and two baths with a bonus loft. It's very nicely furnished, and has real charm. The setting is fairly secluded, even though it is just off Aska Road. There are only a few other cabins in the vicinity, and the cabin sits beneath huge hemlocks on a little creek. The screened porch and hot tub look out over the creek, and you can hear it running. From the screened porch, you can see one other cabin, and it's a ways away. In addition - and this really is the icing on the cake - there is deeded river access to the "beach area" on the Toccoa River. This is on Flat Creek River Road, and it provides a perfect place to dunk in the swimming hole, access the river for fishing, or put in a tube or kayak. You also get all the advantages of being in the Aska Adventure Area, with its famous restaurant and hiking trails. It's never been rented, but it would probably make a good rental cabin. You can get all the details by entering the MLS number - 168380 - in the "MLS Search" on my homepage. If you like what you see, email me and I'll send along a link to all the photos.

That's a good example of why I continue to think that now is the best time to buy mountain property. Our listing inventory is beginning to level off, and interest rates are starting to rise. (We're expecting a 2% increase in mortgage rates over the next six months to a year.) I believe that most segments of the market have seen about a 25% price correction over our peak market prices in 2005. The best deals are probably in new construction over $300,000, but there has also been a lot of pressure on all sellers to "take the fat out" in response to market conditions. When the existing inventory is absorbed, it stands to reason that replacement inventory will be priced sharply higher, because the cost of building materials has continued to rise with the gas crisis, and builder licensing is now in effect, which will raise costs due to the requirement for builders to provide workman's comp. It seems obvious that the best deals for some time to come will be on purchases made in the period before the market begins to recover and new construction resumes.

By the way, although we handle foreclosures, I've yet to see any big advantage in buying them, because they have usually been neglected (and often aren't completely finished). In most cases, I think there are better deals on conventional sales and resales.

We're getting lots of inquiries on the Blue Ridge Golf and River Club, on which we have an exclusive listing. This will be a bigger deal for Blue Ridge than the Brasstown Valley Resort is for Young Harris. It will put Fannin County in a completely different category, with the first real conference facilities we've ever had in the county. The fact that the cottages can be placed in the club's rental program will provide a way for members to leverage their investment, and you just can't beat the combination of golf and fishing opportunities on the same property. No residences will be built between the golf course and the river, so the mile of river frontage will remain greenspace for the entire community. The state liquor license, which has already been approved by the county, will also set this community apart. All things considered, it will be the premier destination in the mountains for people who are seeking the recreational and social amenities the club will offer. With lot prices starting at $236,000 (including a membership) and nearly $50 million in improvements slated for the property, the club promises to be an excellent investment opportunity as well. Please call or email me for more information and a tour of the property.

August 8, 2008

It has been hot and dry this week, with high humidity by our mountain standards. There was a thunderstorm last night that I think brought some rain to the west and north side of the county, but it didn't reach us at our place, east of Mineral Bluff.

I toured the Blue Ridge Golf and River Club yesterday, and I was quite impressed with what's been done so far. The sewage treatment plant is under construction, and the roads have been improved. Work has begun on the four holes on the river (there are no riverfront home sites, in order that the space near the river remain open and accessible to all members.) The clubhouse and driving range will be at the top elevation, and have beautiful views. The course will play down to the river from the clubhouse. Many of the lots have dramatic mountain views. The onsite construction crew specializes in golf courses, and work seems to be going very well.

The first building to be constructed will be the gatehouse, followed by the first cottage, which will serve as the temporary sales center. It is available for turnkey purchase, with a $5,000/month lease-back for two years, and has a beautiful view of the river and two of the fairways. It is good to know that this important project is finally going forward, as it is very important to the future of Fannin County. As I mentioned before, we have an exclusive listing on this property (see details below), so please do contact me for showings, or to answer any questions.

In Gilmer County, Mark Chastain defeated Jerry Farist for Chairman, 1,421 to 1,378. Will Beattie defeated Leon Watkins for Post 1, 1,421 to 1,386. Both are unopposed in November. In November, Gerald Davis will face J.C. Sanford for Post 2. Turnout was a little better than in Fannin, with 3,170 votes out of a registered 14,612, or 21.69%.

For those of you who are interested in the market, I've just posted the numbers for July and for the first six months of 2008. These are on the links at the top of my home page to my articles on Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Ellijay. The market analysis is at the bottom of each article.

August 6, 2008

Fannin County Runoff Election Results and Vote Totals

Garnett Webb defeated Tommy Vannoy for Post 1 Commissioner, 1105 to 725. He will face Tommy Ledford in November. Lewis DeWeese defeated Vickie Rhodes for Board of Education, 1113 to 680. He is unopposed in November.

That's 1,830 votes in the Post 1 race and 1,793 in the Board of Education race. There were 4,393 votes cast in the primary, so turnout was less than half than in the primary election, or about 13% of registered voters vs. 31.5% in the primary.

August 4, 2008

Tomorrow is the run-off election. The local races are a runoff between Tommy Vannoy and Garnett Webb for Post 1 Commissioner and Lewis DeWeese and Vickie Rhodes for Board of Education.You can read the details in my posting for July 16.

August 1, 2008

We had about 2-1/2 inches of rain at our place in the past week. I think the part of the county that's west of Mineral Bluff got even more. At present, my place is a mycologist's paradise. There are more varieties of mushroom poking up out of the ground than I've ever seen before. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than 100 species present.

The wonderful news from Blue Ridge is that the Blue Ridge Golf and River Club has secured adequate funding and has cleared the necessary environmental and permitting hurdles. The project is now on track, and it will take Fannin County to a completely new level. It is, quite simply, the most important thing that's happened in Fannin County for quite some time. The club has a mile of river frontage in one of the best areas for trout fishing on the Toccoa, and will include a number and level of amenities unheard of previously in the county. The club is expected to obtain a liquor license from the state, in the same way that the Brasstown Valley Resort obtained theirs. The county commission has already signed off on the application, and the project appears to qualify strongly for the program.

Pete Bailey, the lead developer, has extensive experience, including the Cuscowilla development on Lake Oconee. The overall concept of the Golf and River Club resembles Cuscowilla, with the architectural concept being more northwestern lodge than our traditional log cabin. The plans call for about 100 cottages, which can be placed in a rental program to aid with accommodations for the club's conference facilities. Full maintenance will be available, inside and out. The golf course is being designed by Bunker Hill Golf, whose partners have contributed to many Top 100 golf courses, including Old Sandwich and Wild Horse. Approximately 150 at-large memberships are contemplated.

Lots start at a very reasonable $236,000 to the 400,000s, with completed cottages falling between $500,000 and $1,000,000. Most of the lots have views, and the course itself will have stunning views out over the Cohuttas, with dramatic elevation changes. The buyers of the first lots will stand to make the most on their investment, as some $48 million in improvements are slated for the property. The club will have its own on-site sewage system, which will allow for recycling of gray water for irrigation, making the project a model of environmental sensitivity. Construction is beginning soon on the first four holes and the gatehouse, and nine holes are slated for play by fall of 2009 or spring of 2010. Our office, Coldwell Banker High County, has an exclusive agreement for marketing and sales of the property. Contract me by email or phone, and I will get you the details. We are ready now to show property, and sell lots.

For all of you who are waiting for the market to go even lower before you decide to buy, I have a simple message: Interest rates are beginning to climb. We heard a presentation from a very well regarded economist the other day, John Tucillo, and his projection was for interest rates to climb 2 points by early 2009. We have some really incredible deals now, and - by the way - it's awfully nice here this summer. You can keep delaying your purchase in the hopes that prices will go lower instead of recover, but you are probably going to be facing a significantly higher interest rate, and you're also missing out on all the fun you could be having right now. I haven't seen lower prices since at least 2002, and to my mind, it's time to buy.

July 25, 2008

We had a thunderstorm last Tuesday, when all the weather was coming through Georgia. It brought us a little over an inch of rain, which was much appreciated. The woods were getting awfully dry again, and folks were beginning to be concerned. The weather has been a bit cooler this week, and the katydids have been in full song every night.

One of my neighbors has a native wildflower I've never seen before, a Green Dragon. It's related to Jack in the Pulpit, and it's now in fruit, a tight cluster of mostly red berries at the end of a long stalk. If any of you have seen these in the county, I'd appreciate hearing from you with the general location and details.

Jerry Proctor's petition was certified by the election commission, so he will face Bill Simonds for County Chairman in the fall as an Independent.

You can read about the details of the county runoff election below. It will be held August 5.

The Fannin Board of Education has tentatively approved a millage increase that will result in a 9.82% tax increase. A public hearing will be held August 1, 8 AM at the Board of Education Office (in front of the High School at 2290 East 1st Street).

July 16, 2008

Fannin County Primary Election Results and Vote Totals

All of the (three) Democrats running for county office in the primary were unopposed. In the Republican primary, Bill Simonds defeated Howie Bruce for County Chairman, 2,273 to 1,402. For Post 1 Commissioner, Garnett Webb got 1,564 votes to Tommy Vannoy's 1,006 and Steve Seabolt's 998. Dane Kirby defeated Johnny Scearce for Sheriff, 2,010 to 1,767. For Board of Education, the totals were Vickie Rhodes 996, Lewis DeWeese 965, Greg Hampton, 921, and Brian Sanford 731.

In Georgia, candidates must receive at least 50% - plus one vote - to win. So Webb will face Vannoy in a runoff for Post 1 and Rhodes will face DeWeese in a runoff for Board of Education. The runoff will be held on August 5, with early voting from July 28 to August 2. You can vote in the runoff even if you didn't vote in the primary, but if you did vote in the primary, you have to vote on the same ticket. Thus, people who voted in the Democratic primary will not be eligible to vote in the runoff, which is between Republicans. You must show a photo ID to vote.

Precinct-by-precinct totals are available on the News Observer website, www.thenewsobserver.com.

Bill Simonds will face Jerry Proctor for Chairman in November, if Proctor's petition is certified. The winner of the Post 1 runoff - Garnett Webb or Tommy Vannoy will face incumbent Tommy Ledford. These are four year terms. Steve Morris, the Post 2 Commissioner, has two years left on his term. (Terms were staggered in the last county election, with Chairman and Post 1 being elected for two years.) Dane Kirby will face incumbent George Ensley for Sheriff.

For those who like to look a little deeper: In terms of turnout, the total number of votes cast was 4,393, or 31.5% of all registered voters. This compares to about 7,201 total votes in the great alcohol referendum of 2007 and 7,135 in the county election of November 2006.

Thus endeth "the Bruce Administration," as Howie likes to call it. The fact that Bill Simonds soundly defeated Howie - the incumbent - shows that disaffection with his administration ran very deep. I was writing a little tongue-in-cheek when I said that I thought it would be close, but the margin of victory was greater than I expected. According to the seasoned political observers I consulted, that disaffection comes from two sources.

Let's talk about the "progressives" first, for want of a better term. These are the people who are disinclined to believe that "growth will take care of itself," in Randy Collins' immortal phrase. They are inclined to think that we ought to do something to plan for growth, or we are likely to kill the goose that laid the golden egg - by destroying the beauty of the county. These people favor things like landscaping along the 515 corridor, extension of mountaintop protection, and lighting ordinances. They may also be inclined to favor - horror of horrors - zoning. Some of these people also think that we ought to have beer and wine by the drink in our restaurants, so over half of our visitors don't go down to East Ellijay to eat dinner and risk deciding that - all things considered - they'll stay there next time. These people tend to view the signal accomplishment of the Bruce Administration - the killing of the Fannin Future initiative - with grave misgivings. They are also inclined view the current commission's endless playing off of issues like zoning - which has now been studied by at least a half dozen committees, study groups, and commissions - as a cynical and dishonest tactic.

But, as Tommy Vannoy's poor showing against Garnett Webb indicates, these people did not decide this election. For one thing, it remains to be seen whether Simonds differs significantly with Howie on these issues. (One of the wonderful features of our county elections is that candidates generally refuse to say what they will do if elected, contenting themselves with straightforward stands against activists in the federal judiciary and people who hate America.) But in order to have defeated Howie so crushingly, Simonds must have received many votes from people who believe that Howie simply did not do the day-to-day job he was elected to do. According to several people I talked to, Howie succeeded in doing something well nigh impossible, which was to make lots of people who actively disliked Dr. Vollrath - our previous County Chairman - actually nostalgic for him. Whether you loved Doc or hated him, you could usually walk in to the Chairman's office and see him. If you had to leave him a message, his voicemail wasn't full, and he would call you back. He was a straight shooter. He would make a decision and stick to it. These are simple virtues, but they tend to mean a lot to someone who has a problem.

So ... we'll chalk this one up to a disconnect between the job to be done and the resources brought to bear on actually doing it.

Most of the seasoned political observers I spoke to attributed Tommy Vannoy's poor showing to the fact that he simply didn't work hard enough. Garnett Webb, while he undoubtedly won some points with folks by voting against raising the school millage rate, simply worked harder and longer than Vannoy did. Too many people in the county still do not know who he is, and he did not do a good job of getting his people out to vote for him. On the theory that he should have received most of the 3,330 "yes" voters in the great alcohol referendum, he fell about 2,000 votes short of reaching his potential. He has a rocky, uphill road in the runoff, because there were many more votes cast for the two "local" candidates, who received 2,562 votes to his 1,006. With the smaller turnout likely in the runoff, he probably still has a shot, but only if he can deliver his people to the polls.

I'm inclined to attribute Dane Kirby's victory in the sheriff's election to the fact that he is a fresh, young face in Fannin County politics, because Johnny Scearce is quite popular in his own right.

I'm not sure what to say about the ascendancy of Vickie Rhodes in the Board of Election contest. She is the former school bus driver who was terminated by the system for allegedly allowing older students to bully a younger student on her bus. She ran unsuccessfully in 2006. Voters apparently accepted her assertion that she does not have a vendetta against the administration, but is simply interested in education. I'd say that she probably faces an uphill battle against Lewis DeWeese, who served on the Board of Education for many years, simply because there were about three times as many votes cast for other candidates as for her.

July 10, 2008

We've had about 2-1/2 inches of rain at our place this past week, and it's been much appreciated. There are still some rhododendron (mountain laurel) in bloom around the creeks in the county, and the blackberries are approaching harvest time. The wild cherries have come, but only the squirrels get excited over them.

Our 10-Day Sale continues through Monday, July 14! To qualify for the sale, our sellers have agreed to lower their asking price 5%, and over 250 of them have done so. Stop by our offices or get the details online at www.cbHighCountry.com.

Tuesday, July 15 is the primary election for some state and local offices. In Georgia, you can choose which ballot you want to vote, and most people in Fannin County will be choosing the Republican ballot, as the only candidates with opposition on the Democratic ballot are running for US Senate and the for Public Service Commission. Unless you have a strong opinion about those two races, you might as well vote in the Republican primary. All Democratic candidates for county office are running unopposed. Actually, the only candidates for county office on the Democratic ticket are the incumbent Sheriff, Coroner, and Post 1 County Commissioner. The Democrats, given their perennial sorry state in Fannin County, were unable to prevail upon anyone to "take one for the team" by running for Commission Chairman.

The Republican primary election is essentially the election, as the Republican candidates almost always win in Fannin County - especially in a general election year.

Turning to the Republican ballot, incumbent County Commission Chairman Howie Bruce is opposed by the Fannin County Republican Party Chairman, Bill Simonds. That's obviously an interesting situation, with the party chair running against his own party's incumbent. Neither candidate can be described as progressive. The choice here will likely come down to whether the voters are inclined to think Howie has done a good job and deserves a second term. Some of our chronic malcontents seem to feel that he has refused to act on a number of worthwhile initiatives and has made it very difficult for people to contact him for everyday problem resolution. These people will likely vote for Simonds. On the other hand, our beloved good old boy element, pleased as they are with the status quo and inalterably opposed to zoning, outsiders, animal rights activists, alcoholics, astronomers, downtown merchants and other undesirables who favor change - will likely vote for Howie. My fearless prediction is that it will be close.

By the way, we learned from a recent Letter to the Editor of the News Observer that it was the cowardly alcoholics who secretly removed the replica of the Statue of Liberty from the Veteran's Memorial in the downtown park, but that's another story.

The winner of the Republican primary election for Commission Chairman will be opposed by Independent candidate Jerry Proctor in the fall election, assuming that the Board of Elections certifies his petition. Proctor is a newcomer to Fannin County politics - he previously operated Appalachian Waste Systems - but the feeling seems to be that he is the more progressive candidate.

Steve Seabolt, Tommy Vannoy, and Garnett Webb are running for Post 1 Commissioner. Seabolt and Webb have been on the Board of Education. Vannoy is a retired builder who was involved in the late, lamented Fannin Future organization. Webb is favored by folks for whom taxes are the most important issue (he recently voted against raising the school millage rate). Vannoy is favored by the progressive element.

For County Sheriff, Dane Kirby -a former Georgia State Trooper - is running against Johnny Scearce, the current Blue Ridge Police Chief. The winner will face incumbent George Ensley in the election.

Steve Morris, the Republican incumbent Post 2 Commissioner, is not up for reelection this year.

July 2, 2008

We've had a little over an inch rain at our place over the last week. The weather has been a little more seasonal, with mornings a bit below 60 and afternoons around 80.

Our office is hosting a huge 10-Day 4th of July Sale! We have over 250 sellers who have agreed to reduce their asking price at least 5% for this event. Some have reduced their price even more. After this special event, prices will return to what they were before the event, in most cases. You can get details online at cbHighcountry.com, or stop in the office and pick up the information. The sale begins July 4 and runs through the 13th.

It's still a little early for the blackberries, although I have seen a few bushes with enough berries to make it worth the picking. And, if I don't publish the famous recipe soon enough, I'll get about 50 emails reminding me, so here it is! I hear it’s great, although we’ve never tested it ourselves, of course.

THE FAMOUS BLACKBERRY MARGARITA RECIPE

2 cups berries
2 cups ice cubes
½ cup fresh lime juice
¾ cup white tequila
¼ cup sugar

It's best to wash the berries ahead of time and then put them in the freezer until they are almost frozen. It also helps if the tequila is in the freezer. Buzz the berries in the blender. Strain the seeds, if you care about these things (they tend to fall to the bottom of the glass, anyway). Add the other ingredients. Either buzz it again with the ice or serve it on the rocks. If it isn't cold enough, you may want to refrigerate the mixture for a bit. Yes, it does need all that lime to taste like a margarita. Enjoy!

Here's the rundown on 4th of July celebrations and fireworks.

July 3 - Fireworks in McCaysville/Copperhill on Tater Hill. Festivities begin at 7 PM. Fireworks at dark.

July 4 - Old Fashioned 4th of July in Epworth. Begins at 8 AM with pancake breakfast. Then cake sales and country fair type events like the dunking pool, hay ride and so forth. A patriotic program is held at noon.

July 4 - Barbecue and Fireworks on Lake Blue Ridge. North Georgia Shrine Club will have barbecue at the marina starting at 2 PM. The barbecue is usually quite good. The music starts at 4 PM and fireworks at dark. If you aren't interested in barbecue you can also watch the fireworks from Morganton Point, which is just across the lake from the marina.

July 4 - Miner's Homecoming in Ducktown. The Barker Brothers - excellent bluegrass - start things off at 4 PM at the Hoist House (Ducktown Basin Museum).

July 5 - Parade starts in downtown Blue Ridge at 10 AM.

July 5 - Miner's Homecoming starts again with breakfast at the Hoist House at 8 AM. There is a new video production that will be screening on local history. The Duck Race begins at 2 PM and there will be a car show at 4 PM. Music at 7:30.

Have a great 4th of July, and don't forget to celebrate our freedom!

June 24, 2008

Apologies to my regular readers. We've had a family emergency and are behind in a lot of things. Just time for a quick note. The unseasonably warm weather has moderated. We even had one morning last week when the temperatures out in Dial were as low as 50. This week, morning temperatures have been around 60 and afternoon temperatures have been a little above 80, except in downtown Blue Ridge, where it's always warmer.

Our mountain laurel is still in bloom, and we've had a few small rain showers - about 3/10" at most. The blackberries still seem to be a couple of weeks away from perfection.

June 12, 2008

It has continued to be unseasonably warm. I'll never call anything else hot after my time in Tucson, but it has been warm. The farmers have finally been able to get some hay in, which is a very good thing. Last year, there really wasn't any hay until a lot later in the summer, and a lot of people either had to sell their stock or travel to purchase hay.

I've seen the first mountain laurel (rhododendron) in bloom. I expect it will be blooming throughout the county in the coming week or so. If you've got a favorite spot down by the creek that has some, it's a good time to visit and take your camera along. There are few "Kodak moments" that compare to a shot of blooming mountain laurel beside a flowing stream.

Several people saw Charles Seabrook's piece in the AJC's Sunday Living section about the Cooper Creek Scenic Area and have asked for directions. This area is known for the beauty of the area, the creek, and the exceptionally large first-growth trees. It's one of the few places I know, aside from the Joyce Kilmer area near Robbinsville, NC, where you can easily see the giants. It would also be a good place to look for mountain laurel along the creek.

From Blue Ridge, you would go north/east on Hwy 515 (the four lane) to a right on Hwy 60 south. Turn left at the T onto the old highway. Just after the post office in Morganton, turn right on Hwy 60 south (which you have been following since you left 515). About ten or fifteen miles down 60, you will come to the Cooper Creek Store on the right, at the place where Cooper Creek flows into the river. You can turn left here on Cooper Creek Road and follow the signs to the campgrounds. Follow forest service road 236 through the campgrounds, and it will take you around the western edge of the scenic area. There's a trail head and parking area just past the second campground. If you continue on this road, you'll eventually come out on the second Cooper Creek Road, near the Corinth Church. You would turn right and after a short distance turn right on Hwy 60 to return to Blue Ridge. The river is right there in front of you at this point.

One advantage of this route is that you can make the side trip to Sea Creek Falls, just before the first campground. There's a sign there now, on the left just before you cross Sea Creek. If you miss that sign, there's a real estate sign on the right just past the creek advertising "Double Creek."

You can also do this loop the other way by continuing south on Hwy 60 until you come to the second Cooper Creek Road. The first left, on forest service 236, takes you back along the loop I describe above, traveling the other way.

You can also continue out to the end of the second Cooper Creek Road, which turns into forest service road 33. If you follow that around long enough and don't get lost, you'll come out on 180 near Lake Winfield Scott. You would then turn right to go back to Hwy 60 at Suches and then turn right to head back to Blue Ridge on 60, or turn left and follow 180 north to Hwy 19/129 at Vogel State Park, and turn north on 19/129 toward Blairsville. If you go that way, you can also turn right at 19/129 and travel the short distance to Neel's Gap and check out the hiking store where the Appalachian Trail crosses. It was built by the CCC and is a beautiful building. There are some nice views there. The store serves for the first point of resupply for the through hikers traveling north on the AT.

I think its the most fun just to bang around out there, but you can find some specific instructions to getting to certain tree areas by Googling "Sherpa Guides Georgia Cooper Creek Scenic Area." These directions will be a little hard to follow, however, unless you know the area and have the forest service map of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Now that they've closed our forest service office, you can find that at the Blairsville Forest Service office, which is on the left on 515 just before you come into Blairsville from Blue Ridge. If you get to the technical college on the left, you've gone too far.

The instructions for getting to the area Seabrook visited are to go out the second Cooper Creek Road to a gate on an old road on the left side of Cooper Creek Road, about .4 miles past Grady Grizzle Road. I haven't done this walk, so I can't vouch for the directions.

The Army trains in that area, so if you think guys jumping out of planes and stuff like that might disturb your hike, you can call Camp Merrill in Dahlonega at 706.864.3367 to see if anything like that will be happening. I've been startled more than once when I've been back in there, but only in the winter.

June 7, 2008

We've had about two inches of rain at our place this week, but 3/4" of that was a thunderstorm last night that I think was fairly localized. It doesn't seem to have rained in Blue Ridge.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election for county officials is June 16. The primary is on July 15. In Fannin County, the primary election is really the election, because the Republican candidates for local office almost always win, especially in a general election year. With the presidential election, turnout will be heavy, and many local voters will vote straight Republican. There are actually two Republican candidates for county commission chairman, Howie Bruce and Bill Simonds. That the Republican county chairman would challenge the incumbent Republican for the top county office must say something about how things have been going lately. The Democrats were unable to prevail upon anyone to "take one for the team." Jerry Proctor has announced plans to run as an Independent, but he has not yet qualified (his petition has not been presented yet) and he will not appear on the primary ballot. In any case, if you want to have some say in who runs the county, you should vote in the primary election. The Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a candidate forum Thursday, June 26, from 6-9:00 PM at the Fannin High School's Performing Arts Center.

The tax revolt in Ellijay is heating up, with huge countywide increases in assessments. In Fannin County, there were some shocking percentages, but mostly in subdivisions that have not been reassessed for up to ten years. I've heard some grumbling in Fannin, but people in Gilmer County are outraged. We've compiled some information that may be helpful to people who want to appeal their assessment in Gilmer County. Just contact me by email and I'll forward it to you.

In Fannin County, people who hold homestead exemptions continue to be reassessed normally, but do not actually pay the increased tax rate. In effect, their taxes are frozen until the home is sold. This was enacted to give some security and relief to people on fixed incomes who live, for instance, out on the lake. The thinking is that it is unfair to these people to tax them out of their homes just because their neighbors sold and cashed in big. As far as I know, Gilmer does not have this exemption.

May 29, 2008

We've reached a point I'd call summer in the mountains. Most of the blooming is done, although I've seen a few native azaleas hanging on in places sheltered from the sun. I haven't seen the mountain laurel (rhododendron) in bloom yet, but most of the blooming things have come and gone. The next thing to look forward to is the ripening of the blackberries, and it looks like a good year from them. We've been having much more rain than last year, and things look nicely green. It all looks a lot more like the "temperate rain forest" that it used to be than it has for quite a while. The rain gauge shows about two inches of rain at our place in the last week.

The biggest local story is undoubtedly the massive increases in tax assessments in Fannin and Gilmer counties. Many, many people received a reassessment notice nearly doubling their taxes, so if you received one, you are not alone. In some cases, these properties have not been reassessed in years, and are still assessed below fair market value. In other cases, I've seen reassessments far above fair market value, especially in our current market. Either way, the percentage increase has been shocking.

It is not difficult to understand the circumstances that led to these reassessments. Both counties have stubbornly refused to allow beer and wine by the drink, meaning that East Ellijay continues to have a monopoly on restaurant development and continues to enjoy the benefit of the associated shopping trips. Also, in the current real estate market, the county government is not receiving anywhere near the same level of income from building and septic permits. Gas prices have doubled. The schools continue to demand more money, and new residents continue to want new services. Naturally, the local politicians are playing the game of "not raising taxes" by keeping the millage rate the same, so the only available source of additional income is through raising assessments. The politicians will disclaim all responsibility for this, of course, and try to hide behind the idea that the tax assessor's office is "independent of the county commission."

Nonetheless, I expect these issues to play into the upcoming local elections. The deadline for registration for the local primary in Fannin County is June 16. It will be my regrettable duty to report on the campaign when the time comes, but suffice it to say that here in Fannin County, the existing commission has shown very little vision and initiative. For the most part, they have limited their actual actions to approving a long list of dubious variance requests. The "tough calls" have not been on the agenda, but instead have been ducked or referred to an endless series of committees and study groups.

Needless to say, the burden of paying these property tax increases will fall disproportionately on the second home owners, which is either wonderful or not, depending on your status.

May 16, 2008

We had about 6/10" of rain yesterday. At this point in the year, we're in what I would describe as "late spring." The laurel - not the rhododendron or mountain laurel - bloomed last week. There are still a few native azaleas holding on, and there have been lots of reports of native wildflowers in the coves. In general, everything green is doing a whole lot better than last year. For instance, I've got grass growing in my gravel drive, which really wasn't a problem last year, and the lake is at or over full pool. No doubt we're still behind in rain, but at least we have had some this spring.

The fabulous news from Blue Ridge is that we have a new German bakery, Meyer's Breads and Bagels. It's on the old highway, up above the downtown, near Angelina's and the Fannin Sentinel. It is owned by a couple from Germany. Christiana does the baking and Siegfried does the front of the store. I haven't visited yet, but I have tasted the product, and it's very good. The word is to go early or they are sold out. 706.632.0220.

The big event over the Memorial Day Weekend is Arts in the Park, May 24-25 in the downtown Blue Ridge Park. 706.632.2144.

There is also a Classic Cars "Cruise In" at the Home Depot, 6 PM to dark, May 24. 706.632.3656.

May 9, 2008

We had about 4/10" of rain at our place last night. It was needed, but it wasn't the gully-washer I had been hoping for to send the rest of the pollen downstream to Muscle Shoals. We've reached late spring, with most of the the dogwoods done and the flame azaleas beginning to fade in most locations. It seemed to be a better year than usual for the native azalea, but I didn't see the usual number of lady slippers. The blackberries set their flowers about the middle of the week, and it looks like a better year for them than last year. There are some broods of young turkey running around, about the size of a softball, and I heard the first Whip-poor-will calling the other night. I think the spring migration is almost over, but we're still seeing some interesting migrants coming through the county.

Tom Striker of Blue Ridge Bird Seed is holding a "Peak Migration Bird Walk" in Cashes Valley on Saturday, May 10. Participants will meet at the store (611 East Main Street, next to Great Eats) at 7:45 AM. Call 706.258.2473 for more information.

This Saturday is also the Georgia Mountain Classics Car Show in downtown Blue Ridge. This is always a good time, and there are always some interesting cars. It's amazing how many antique autos there are in the county - maybe aided by Ted Weaver's body shop, which usually has some interesting projects going on.

There is also a Flute and Drum Circle at the Arts Association in downtown Blue Ridge at 7 PM. This is scheduled for every second Saturday of the month.

On May 13, the Blue Mountain Jam is scheduled for the Kiwanis Fairground. They advise calling 706.258.2736 to make sure it will take place.

Also, Pickin' in the Park is now up and running every Thursday night at the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park, off the River Road (just upstream from McCaysville off Hwy 60). It starts about 6 PM and runs until dusk. Lawn chair and picnic dinner is suggested.

Finally, for your chance to win a million dollars, here's the press release for the Rotary's Triple Crown Golf Tournament, May 14:

The Rotary Club of Blue Ridge would like to invite you to participate in the inaugural Triple Crown Golf Tournament. The tournament will be a three man format with the top three teams in each category earning cash prizes. Butternut Creek Golf Course in Blairsville Georgia will be hosting the tournament starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14th. Proceeds will help to fund the many community efforts that the local Rotary Club is involved in, including adult literacy, water quality, the Ferst Foundation, and many more. The cost to participate in the tournament is $75 per player or $225 per team. Hole sponsorships can be purchased for $100.

Jason Farmer of Rotary said “Rotary’s Triple Crown Tournament will be the definitive tournament in North Georgia,” Farmer Goes on to say “Whoever holds the Triple Crown Trophy at the end of the day will hold bragging rights for the entire year.” Rotary will also be providing the opportunity to win $1,000,000 in a format that has not been seen in North Georgia. The three players who are closest to the pin on a pre-selected hole will have the opportunity at the end of the tournament to take one shot on the selected hole. A hole-in-one will earn the player $1,000,000. Rob Kaser, president of the Rotary Club, said “How many opportunities are there to pay $75, get to play golf, spend time with good friends, and also have the chance to win one million dollars.”

If you would like to participate in this exciting community event, please visit www.rotarytriplecrown.com or call Jason Farmer at 706-633-0000.

The Rotary Club of Blue Ridge meets every Tuesday at noon in the Community Room of The Appalachian Community Bank located on Orvin Lance Connector in Blue Ridge.

April 30, 2008

We're having a bit of "dogwood winter" this week, but it has been very beautiful. We had about an inch and a half of rain at our place over the weekend, and it was much appreciated. The native azalea (flame azalea) has started to bloom, and I've seen the first Lady Slippers (native lilies). I think the rain made the lilies bloom, as they were a little late this year. The dogwoods have peaked in most areas of the county, and if you haven't been up yet to enjoy the mountain spring, you probably should come this weekend. I think it will be the beginning of the end for most of the flowering natives.

Most of the leaves are on the trees, and the lake is at or near full pool. The pollen is still fairly thick, but I believe that it is on the decline.

I promised a report on the Mennonite Farmer's Market in Delano, TN. We visited last Saturday, after the Polk Ramp Festival. They are open six days (closed Sunday) and had a good selection of early produce including several varieties of lettuce, scallions, green tomatoes, beets, white radishes, collards, cucumbers, and strawberries. We probably missed some other things because we were there fairly late in the day. Of course, they had their sorghum, preserves, and baked goods. And they had beautiful tomato plants, in many different varieties, and various fruit trees. The live animal market, which is held on the last Saturday of the month, was in session and was very interesting. There was also a gentleman there selling grass-fed beef from a trailer. Directions are in my column below for 9/13/07.

April 22, 2008

We had about 6/10" rain at our place Saturday, but I think it rained harder down toward Ellijay. Since then, the weather has been absolutely beautiful, except for the pollen. We seem to be at or near the peak of pollen at this point.

In our part of the county, the dogwoods are almost all in bloom. Ellijay seems to be ahead of Blue Ridge, but I was surprised to see that in Cashes Valley, at least along the creek, there weren't many in bloom last weekend. I think this weekend will probably mark the peak for the dogwoods in most of the county. And, yes, my wild crabapples are finally in bloom.

We attended the Turtletown Ramp Festival last Saturday. The Polk County Ramp Festival is this coming Saturday. I believe that the Robbinsville Ramp Festival is also this coming Saturday. The Polk Festival is 50 years old, and there will be a special Friday evening event with music. The main festival is still Saturday morning. Full directions can be found in the archives for 4/21/03, but the event is held at the 4-H camp on Route 30, which runs off the Old Copper Road (Hwy 64) up toward Reliance. The turnoff for Route 30 is in the vicinity of Parksville Lake.

I've received a hot tip that the Mennonite Farmer's Market in Delano, TN is open. I hope to get there after the Polk Ramp Festival, so I should have a report next week. Directions are below, in the column for 9/13/07.

The first Pickin' in the Park is scheduled for Thursday,May 1st at 6 PM in the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park. It goes rain or shine each Thursday until September. This is a favorite local institution in a beautiful setting. Take a lawn chair and a little picnic dinner, or plan to do a little fishing in the river while listening to the music. The Ron Henry Park is on the Toccoa. From McCaysville, you would go south on Hwy 60 and turn right just before the tracks onto River Road. The park is a few miles along, on the right.

The 12th Annual Georgia Mountain Classics Car Show is scheduled for May 10 in downtown Blue Ridge.

April 17, 2008

After the little cold snap, the weather has been absolutely beautiful for the past couple of days, with highs around 72. Some of the dogwoods are in bloom, and others seem poised to bloom soon. Oddly, my wild crabapples haven't blossomed, the first time I can remember that happening in twenty years.

This weekend Springfest - an arts and crafts festival - is at the Farmer's Market, which is located on the old highway in Blue Ridge, almost next door to the Swan, our local drive-in theater.

April 10, 2008

The last three days have been over 70, and I actually saw 75 on the porch yesterday afternoon. Mornings have continued cool, and it looks as though we may have a bit of rain over the next few days. The sarvis has pretty much peaked, the red buds look wonderful, and one or two dogwood are beginning to bloom on our property. I haven't seen any native lilies yet, but chances are that they are out there, or soon to come. I was walking property in Ellijay a day or so ago, and I noticed that Gilmer County seems to be a bit further along than Fannin County, in terms of the progress of spring.

The big news from Blue Ridge is that the Blue Ridge City Council voted to allow wine to be served at special functions, by special permit. The Arts Association had requested this as part of their efforts to build the Arts Association into one of the best in the state. The Blue Ridge Business Association had also requested that the city consider pouring permits for restaurants, but this step was not approved.

I've heard from three or four people lately who said that while they aren't in the market for real estate, they do enjoy reading my columns. I appreciate the feedback. Remember, everyone everyone is welcome to ask questions. I'll be glad to answer them as best I can.

I keep getting requests for fearless predictions - not about the election, thank goodness - but about the real estate market. Here's what I think at this point. We've yet to see the total number of listings in the MLS start to drop, so we can't say objectively that we're in recovery yet. But we have seen more normal traffic this spring than we've seen a a while, and we're starting to see a fair number of transactions in the the office. My best guess is that 2008 will bring some happiness, with 2009 being more of a normal year than the past several. (By normal I do not mean 2005, which was an abnormally good year.)

There is still a lot of interest in our area, but demand is somewhat pent-up at this point, with many prospective buyers in Florida still waiting for their markets to turn around, and other buyers waiting to see if that prices will go any lower.

At the moment, interest rates are still very low, and I believe that cabin prices have probably gone as low as they will. (There are still a lot of very stubborn and/or out of touch people out there who refuse to lower their prices, but that's not what I mean. What I mean is that there is a good inventory of property priced considerably lower than it was in 2005, as much as 25% lower in the case of a number of cabins in the $300,000-$400,000 range.) If interest rates were to rise, I think it could trigger a very serious setback, but as long as interest rates stay relatively low, I'm expecting a gradual recovery. In other words, I'm really not expecting cabin prices to go any lower.

It will take a while to absorb the existing inventory, especially in the $400,000-$500,000 range, where we are overbuilt in new construction. However, when that inventory is absorbed, I expect that the price of new construction will rise sharply. With builder licensing finally slated to take effect in June, the number of builders will surely decline, meaning less competition. (In my opinion, this is probably good, because many of these people weren't really builders, just people like you and me who built a few cabins with subcontracted labor.) But along with builder licensing will come significantly increased costs due to the mandate to provide workers' comp. This is not much of an expense for office workers, but construction workers get injured a lot, and for this population, it is a considerable expense. Taking these two factors together, I can't see how construction costs can fail to rise, especially when the cost of building materials continues to increase as well. This all says to me that we will see a meaningful price increase when existing inventory is finally absorbed.

"Lots and land" is in greater oversupply than cabins and developers are not buying much of it, so it stands to reason that this market will take longer to recover.

For details on the Adventure Race this Saturday and the upcoming Polk Ramp Fest, see the columns below. By the way, security has been tight, and I haven't been able to uncover any hints about the route of this year's Adventure Race. Chances are, it will start at the Shallowford Bridge, but I have not been able to confirm even that much.

April 4, 2008

We've had a little rain over the past few days, and everything has greened up very nicely. The sarvis is still about the only wild plant in bloom, but I expect that the dogwood and the native azalea will be here soon, followed by the native lilies. We beginning to see a lot of migrating songbirds and waterfowl, and I'm still hearing turkey talk around the cabin.

I just noticed that I failed to give the date for the Adventure Race in my last column. I hope I didn't inconvenience anyone. It is set for Saturday, April 12. See the column below for details.

March 29, 2008

We're having a pretty good rain this morning, so it looks as though the opening day of trout will be pretty much a rainout. At least the river and creeks have returned to near-normal water levels. It was genuinely scary how low they were before we got a little rain this spring. They had actually stopped stocking a lot of streams last summer because they were too low and warm, so the tailrace of the river got more than its share of trout last year. By the way, that's the best place to be when the creeks are stained, so long as they aren't generating electricity. The schedule is on the TVA web site, if you like planning ahead. Or on their automated phone server. That's 800.238.2264. They should have the information on the next day's releases by 6 PM on the previous evening.

Spring is advancing nicely. I've seen nesting woodcock, and my sarvis (serviceberry or juneberry to you city folk) is just starting to bloom (as of yesterday). Looking back to last year, it bloomed the first week in April, so indications continue to be that we're on about the same schedule as last year.

I continue to hear a lot of turkey talk around the cabin, so I imagine that turkey season is going well.

I'm going to say this again, in an attempt to inoculate myself against all the people who are going to reproach me because "I didn't tell them." As far as I can tell, we've reached the perfect intersection of interest rates and cabin prices. I understand that some people have even heard something like that on the news. Yes, there are some foreclosures out there - we've even added a foreclosure section to our company web site, so we're glad to help with that - but you can get as good a deal on a lot of plain old resales, and they're probably in better condition with better selection. Anything can happen, but I just don't see things getting any better for our buyers in the foreseeable future. Please don't say I didn't tell you, although I know that you will.

The 11th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race begins at 8 AM April 12th at the Toccoa Valley Campground on Aska Road. (We also have the honor of hosting the national race in November!) Once again, the Natti Love Joys will be providing entertainment in the downtown park from noon until about 5 PM. (The Natti Love Joys are an internationally acclaimed reggae band, based - believe it or not - in nearby Isabella, TN. They're one of my favorite local bands.) The first finishers are expected in the park around 2:00 PM. I understand that volunteers are still needed. If you'd like to volunteer, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 706.632.5680.

The last Saturday night race is scheduled for tonight at the Sugar Creek Raceway, although it would have to stop raining to have it. (They declared a rainout, so racing is scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 PM! Next week is the first points race, with the racing reverting to the usual Friday night. There's a new promoter this year, and he seems to have a lot of energy and good ideas. Among other things, I understand that he's halved the admission fee, from $20 to $10, to encourage attendance. I'll be participating again this year, by helping to sponsor the #20 S&S Collision Dirt Devil, owned by David Stewart and driven by his son, Devin Stewart. The car runs in Modified Hobby, and Devin finished 7th and 4th in previous races this spring. (David is an excellent body man, by the way. He does all my body work, and he's a genius with matching paint and panels. He also does a nice job on old pickup trucks.) Devin is a student at the famous Nashville Auto Diesel College. I'm jealous. I always wanted to go there as a kid, until I got sidetracked into the philosophy of religion.

March 23, 2008

It's been a beautiful Easter weekend, a bit chilly in the morning, but warming up nicely in the afternoon. It's especially nice in contrast with the late freeze we had last Easter, which killed a lot of trees in the county, including my year-old persimmons. The moon has been lighting up the woods like a searchlight at night, and it's been very pretty out.

The tree pollen has started to be noticeable, but I haven't seen sarvis in bloom yet. The meadows are nicely greened up, and I think I saw the first Mourning Cloak butterfly yesterday (rather later than usual).

Turkey season came in on Saturday, and I've heard a whole lot of turkey talk around the cabin. They've been talking back to the geese who are trading back and forth from the old quarry out on Cutcane Road.

I want to correct something I said in an earlier column, which is that I heard that Nature's Estates had obtained a liquor license from the state. I was told this by someone who was in a position to know, but it is apparently not the case. At this point, apparently the only entity in the county to have obtained a license from the state is the marina, although the county commission voted to assist the golf course in obtaining one last year.

Winter Pickin' - the winter version of Pickin' in the Park - continues at the Arts Center, March 27 and April 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Also, Ole Time Gospel Music, April 18, 6:30. The Arts Center is in the old courthouse, in downtown Blue Ridge.

The Blue Ridge Writers' Conference is March 28-29. Call 706.632.7785 for more information.

Mark your calendars for one of my favorite events, the Polk County Ramp Festival, April 23-26. Note that the ramp digging day has been moved to Wednesday. The main event is still on Saturday, at the 4-H Camp on the Greasy Creek Road (Route 30, a few miles from Parksville Lake, off the Old Copper Road).

I've been reading The Old Home Place, a reprinted version of "The History of the Ocoee Ranger District" by Thurman Parish. It's available from the Polk County News, over in Benton, TN. There's some amazing local history there, including something I was completely ignorant of, which is that there was a utopian community in the vicinity of the Sylco Creek Campground in the 1850s known as the Dutch Community or Vineland. I've often remarked that it's a very interesting area, where it's obvious there was an old settlement, but I never knew the history. It was populated primarily by immigrants from New York. The "Vineland" part is from the fact that they made a prize-winning wine there.

March 17, 2008

We had a total of two inches of rain Friday and Saturday at our place. For the first time in a long time, it rained about as hard as it can rain and did some damage to the roads. The front had already passed through from north to south when the tornados started to form along the line of the front, so we were spared that drama.

Spring seems pretty well advanced. The pastures have greened up nicely, and the domestic pear trees are just starting to blossom. I haven't seen any sarvis in bloom yet. I've heard a lot of turkey talk in the past few days, so it seems that opening day will be happening for turkey hunting this year. If you need a little brush-up on Woodcraft 101, I talk a little about turkey hunting in my column for 3/16/2003 (in the archives). The main thing to remember, if you're out in the woods, is that if you hear owl calls, crow calls, or turkey calls - and especially if they sound real bogus - you're probably hearing a turkey hunter. They make these sounds in the hopes of getting a gobbler to respond, revealing his position.

I seem to have survived the third week of GRI training, the final week. Thanks to all of you who asked about how it was going. It'is pretty intense stuff. You have to be in your seat by 8:15 - a minute late earns an hour detention - and you can't leave class to go to the men's room unless you turn in your cell phone. If you cell phone actually rings during class, it costs you at least $25. It's a grind, but it is our highest educational experience. Most of the classes are head and shoulders above the usual continuing education offerings, and there's a pretty stiff test at the end. I'm glad to be finally finished with the whole program. No doubt I'll feel even better about it if I actually get caught up with my work this week.

March 7, 2008

We've had a little rain, and things are beginning to green up. Earlier in the week, we had a little over and inch and a half at our place, and we had a half inch last night. There's snow in the forecast for tonight and Saturday morning, with the possibility of some accumulation.

I heard the peepers for the first time Wednesday evening. Looking back at my calendar, I see that I heard them for the first time last spring on March 1, so we seem to be on about the same schedule as last year. The buffleheads are still lingering on Mercier's holding ponds, but I expect them to move on before too long. With the rain, the streams and ponds are finally getting back to a more normal level, and I'm hoping for normal spring rainfall.

I'll be locked down for training all of next week, so I'll probably be a little slower to respond to email than usual. This is the third of three weeks of Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) training, our highest educational program. It's a grind, but it is worthwhile, because the quality of the instruction is above what we normally have for continuing education, which is mandated by the state.

The racing season has already started at Sugar Creek Raceway, the little Friday night dirt track in Blue Ridge. Last year, they didn't run a full schedule, but they have a new promoter this year, and it looks like he has some good ideas. For one thing, he's halfed the admission fee, which is now $10. If you are a race fan, or just wonder what it's about, this is a good opportunity to visit a local track.

"Lend Me a Tenor!" is on at the Blue Ridge Community Theater.

February 27, 2008

We had about and inch and a half of snow at our place last night and this morning. It started a little before midnight, and came in pretty fast. It was a bit of a challenge getting down from the ridgetop, but Hwy 60 north was already salted, and 515 was pretty good down to Blue Ridge. There seems to have been more snow over toward Blairsville, and I understand the roads are worse. Highway 60 south was bad this morning, but is reportedly being salted. Aska Road is apparently passable. There was only a dusting of snow down toward Ellijay. It's going to refreeze tonight, so those of us on top of the ridge will need to get in before that happens. It was twenty this morning, with a brisk wind.

February 26, 2008

We've had about an inch of rain so far, this morning and afternoon. Yesterday was a beautiful spring day, up in the sixties. I was out walking property, and for the first time, I was bothered by insects. I suppose that's progress. (If you are not a regular reader of this column, I should perhaps mention that if there's 50 people at a picnic, I'm the one who slaps first.) There's been some migratory bird activity, and it seems we're well on the way to spring. One step forward, two steps back: It's nasty today, and there's a threat of snow after midnight. But things are greening up, and I saw lots of daffodils yesterday, around Gates Chapel in Ellijay.

I realize that the "things to do" part of the column has been a little skinny lately. I think it's a great time to get out in the woods - all hunting seasons will be over by the end of the month, and it's just a nice time to get out.

For those of you who love bluegrass, the Arts Association has announced "Winter Pickin'" (a winter version of Pickin' in the Park) from 6-9:00 February 28, March 6, 13, 20, and 27. That's at the old courthouse, 410 West Main, in the old downtown. 706.632.2144.

Just so none of you can say I didn't tell you: Now is the time to buy property. We're seeing buyer activity pick up, interest rates are still very low, and we have a very good inventory of cabins, lots, and land. I don't expect to see any better deals than are available right now. You can literally buy a cabin that would have cost $400,000 in 2005 for $300,000, and have you choice of quite a few of them, too. There are even better deals in new construction between $400,000-$600,000. Optimism springs eternal in the seller's breast, and with the coming of spring, I expect prices to firm up to some extent. By the time the newspapers figure all this out, it will be too late, so my advice is to come up and have a look now, while the pickings are still good. That way, you won't have to blame me for not telling you ....

February 18, 2008

We had about 1-3/10" of rain at our place on Sunday. The wind was strong, and it looked like a day that could bring heavy weather, but it never reached us. I haven't seen any damage out in the county, although it is possible there was some. Weather is very local in the mountains.

February 14, 2008

We had a cold front come in fast and hard yesterday morning, and it snowed lightly off and on all day. The ground was pretty warm, so there weren't many travel difficulties. But the porch steps were pretty slick, and it was a freezing cold day with a brisk wind. Today is sunny and more hospitable.

If you've been following the real estate market, you should know that interest rates just hit a four-year low.

I went to an interesting meeting last week concerning the proposed four-lane road from Asheville to Cleveland, Tennessee, which is known as Corridor K. The route through our part of the world would probably pass either directly through the Ocoee Gorge, past the Olympic Whitewater Venue, or along the route of the Kimsey Mountain Highway, through the Little Frog Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. Both are difficult for people who care about the environment to accept. There's good information on Corridor K and on I-3, the proposed interstate from Savannah to Oak Ridge/Knoxville, on www.stopi-3.org.

February 6, 2008

The tornado warning that was on for Fannin and Gilmer until 11 AM this morning was allowed to expire. At our place, we had some high winds, but no real damage.

Fannin County Primary Election Results and Vote Totals

Here are the results of yesterday's presidential preference primary as reported last night by the election commission. They are "unofficial and incomplete."

With 92.86% of the precincts reporting (13 of 14), there were 5804 votes cast out of 13,564 registered voters. That represents 42.79% participation.

Republican voters totaled 3900, Democratic voters 1892 (roughly half).

Guiliani, 25; Huckabee, 1819, Hunter, 4; Keyes, 6; McCain 1198; Paul 130; Romney 695; Tancredo 0, Thompson 23.

Biden, 12; Clinton, 1264; Dodd, 3; Edwards, 95; Gravel, 2; Kucinich, 6; Obama, 504; Richardson, 6.

I'll give a call to Flint Davis, who managed Clinton's campaign in Fannin County. In this, which he says will be his last election, he again delivered Fannin County for his candidate.

The total of 5804 votes represents the committed core of Fannin County voters. Experienced political observers will recall that there were 7,201 votes cast in the alcohol referendum, and 7,135 votes cast in the last race for county chairman (when Howie Bruce defeated Richard Vollrath).

Obviously, the county remains solidly Republican. On the strength of the Baptist vote, Huckabee solidly defeated McCain. Obama did not do well with Democratic voters in the county. It's difficult to tell whether the votes for candidates no longer in the running were "protest votes" or simply an expression of being "a little out of touch."

And, finally, for those who like to look a little deeper: The election commission reported 178 absentee ballots cast in the primary. As you may recall, there were 552 absentee ballots cast in the alcohol referendum, 287 no, 265 yes. That's a net loss of 374 absentee voters in several months time.

February 4, 2008

I can't give rainfall amounts, because my rain gauge died, but we did have significant rain Thursday night. Judging from the fact that Hemptown Creek was running fairly high, I'd say we had at least an inch. It's kind of drizzling today, the way it has been, and the forecast for the rest of the week looks wet.

The past couple of days felt a lot like spring, and this morning we had some of that classic mountain weather - high forties and very foggy. It felt so much like spring that I couldn't resist getting the dogs and going for a little hike before work. I'm sure it will get cold and chilly again, but when we reach this point in the cycle, I look for signs that the year has turned, and I think we reached that point this weekend. I'm sure the critters are happy, because it's been pretty slim pickings in the woods with the drought. I watched six does - two mature, and the rest yearlings - forage in my yard early Sunday morning, and all they were finding to eat was an occasional acorn. Anything green out there seems to be long gone. I've seen some Buffleheads on Mercier's holding tanks, and I hear the geese trading back and forth from the old quarry on Cutcane Road, so it seems that some of the migration has begun.

We're waiting for the January numbers, but our seat of the pants feeling is that we're doing a little better this year in the real estate business. Our projections are for this year to bring us recovery and for us to get back to normal in 2009. Interest rates are still very low, and we're continuing to see good price reductions on desirable cabins. I think it's fair to say that you can buy cabins today for $300,000 that would have cost $400,000 in 2005. That's purely a function of supply and demand, and my advice to everyone would be that it's time to get off the fence if you're interested in cabins. Lots and land may still go somewhat lower, but I don't expect cabins to go much lower. At this point in the cycle, there is still good inventory, and prices are definitely better than they have been in a number of years.

I'll give a call to the very nice three bedroom, three bath cabin that I have listed up on Thunder Mountain. It has one of the best views I've ever seen in Fannin County, and you actually can see Brasstown Bald from the porch. It's in move in condition, and we've just reduced the price to $299,900. You can see the listing on the real estate part of my web site, MLS 164220.

January 28, 2008

Although it has continued cold, the late forecast of freezing rain and sleet Friday night did not materialize. There may have been some patches of sleet, but I have not heard of any in our area.

This tends to be a slow time of year in the mountains, with density - both of rentals and part-time residents - at its lowest point of the year. Over the past twenty years, I've seen the first spring-like day many times on February 1st, but I don't expect that to happen this year. My guess is that we'll have a more normal runup to spring, with the warmer temperatures and greener landscapes coming closer to the first of March.

January 17, 2008

We had a little wet snow last night, about two inches. It came in pretty fast, but the termperature rose above the freeze by 1 AM and it started to rain. The main roads are fine, although there might be a little difficulty getting up and down from the ridgetops. At this point, I'm not expecting any more difficulties.

January 15, 2008

The weather has bounced back very cold, and we have wintry mix and/or freezing rain in the forecast for Wednesday night. In the end, we got a little over an inch and a half of rain out of the front that moved through late last week.

People are always emailing me and asking about the local market, so this is an alert for all you buyers out there who are waiting to see what happens so you can pick the perfect time to buy. Mortgage rates just went to a two-year low. They were very low, historically, already. The mortgage market has been pretty volatile lately. Not long ago, we got a "red alert" from Coldwell Banker Mortgage, saying that rates were expected to rise sharply. Instead, the opposite has happened. Bank of America's purchase of Countrywide will probably stabilize the market - they have the resources, because as a traditional bank, they have deposits to rely on, which Countrywide didn't - but in the long run, less competition probably means higher rates, as the smaller lenders are forced out of the marketplace. Right now, though, we're in a sweet spot.

We track the overall number of listings very carefully, because there is objective evidence that the buyer's market is ending and recovery is beginning when the overall number of listings starts to drop, instead of rise. We did see an overall drop in the MLS in December. This may be a seasonal phenomenon, but it may also be reality setting in for buyers who still want a 2005 price for their property. Our fundamental analysis, as well as my experience as a realtor in this market, tells me that this winter will be the best time to buy in some years. That message seems to be getting around, because we are seeing good buyer activity for this time of year.

In local political news, the liquor and alcohol referendums in Murphy both passed. The total number of votes cast was about 500, and - if memory serves - liquor passed by about eight votes, beer by a somewhat bigger margin. Murphy already allowed restaurants to serve wine. The off premise sales situation in Murphy is a bit complicated. There is a state liquor store on the strip - ABC for "Alcoholic Beverage Control - but if you ask them for beer, they point up the road and say, "Tennessee state line is that way." I think they're trying to keep the working man sober, and of course we working men are grateful. I'm not certain, but I think the referendum was only for restaurant consumption.

January 10, 2008

As you know, the weather bounced back very warm this past week. At this point, the forecast is for rain, but it really hasn't amounted to much more than a light drizzle this morning.

This time of year is very skinny for festivals and events, but the Arts Association is having an ARTrageous Friday Sock Hop on January 18th. For more information, 706.632.2144.

This is probably the most quiet time in the mountains and the woods. With deer season over, most of the hunters have departed the woods, and it is a good time to spend time outdoors. With the leaves off, you can see the views, and the cooler weather is ideal for climbing. Grouse, quail, and rabbit are in until February 28, so there may still be the occasional hunter in the woods. I recommend a blaze orange hat in the woods at all times of year for safety, and I wear one myself when I'm walking property or hiking in the mountains.

I was told this past week that Nature's Estates, a new "fractional ownership" development in Fannin County, has obtained a liquor license from the state. This makes the second such "resort" in Fannin to have obtained a state liquor license, so this seems to be the new route of choice for circumventing the local alcohol restrictions. These new real estate developments make the county commission's determination to keep Fannin County dry laughable, especially since they voted themselves to to allow one of these outfits to obtain their license. If I were a mean-spirited sort of person, I'd point out that the logic of their position is clearly that it's OK for resort buyers to have bars and OK for the big developers to make money off them, just not anyone else.

January 4, 2008

The weather has been the big news lately. We got a total of about an inch and a half last week. Late New Year's Day, it snowed like crazy - hard and fast. A lot of people were surprised when they woke up on Wednesday morning. There were some travel difficulties for those of us who live on the top of the ridge, but conditions had markedly improved by late afternoon. There is still some snow here and there in the outlying areas, but for the most part it is gone. Along with the cold front came very low temperatures. The temperatures on our porch for the past three days were 14°, 10°, and 20°. Wednesday, there was a killer wind, which created the coldest day we've had for a long time ... I almost said, "the coldest day of the year."

The real estate market has been decent lately, with almost a normal amount of seasonal activity. Overall, we are seeing about a third of the transactions we saw in 2005. The good news in that is that we are still seeing a significant number of transactions, and we expect that to continue so long as interest rates remain historically low. The bad news is that there are many more agents than transactions, and there has been some real pain in the agent community. Many agents have had to go on to other jobs on at least a part-time basis, and we expect that a significant number will choose not to renew their board memberships for the coming year. It has been, in other words, a rather severe "shake out" so far as the agent community is concerned.

I will not have the December numbers until Tuesday, but essentially, we have a three year inventory of cabins and a twelve year inventory of land at the current absorption rates. The bottom line is that 2005 is gone, and sellers who want 2005 prices for their property would be well advised to simply take it off the market, which would be a favor for all concerned. For sellers, the best available news is that we are still able to sell a significant number of properties at realistic prices.

For buyers, the news is much better. There are a very large number of listings to choose from, and prices this winter will be better than we have seen for many years. My best wisdom, based on both our fundamental analysis and my experience, is that the time to buy is now. We are expecting 2008 to be a year of recovery, with 2009 returning to normal (not 2005). These projections are based both on local and national trends. By far, the best values are to be found in new construction, particularly in the higher price ranges.

In closing, I hope that you all survived the festivities. Best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2008!

December 29, 2007

We got just a bit of sleet - the kind the ski bums call grapple - on Christmas day. That was it as far as hopes of snow on Christmas were concerned. Yesterday, we had a bit more than an inch of rain, which was very welcome, even though it was one of those basically miserable days that we get from time to time. The overall trend lately has been to have rainy days, but these are rainy days of drizzle, not rain. It's an odd situation, because the clouds are obviously laden with moisture, but it doesn't really rain. I'm beginning to incline toward the theory that the only rational explanation is that someone in Blue Ridge has offended the gods, and I have a likely candidate.

The Fannin County Election Commission has been reprimanded by the state for irregularities in the 2006 election cycle, mostly related to absentee ballots. For one thing, the Election Commission did not match up signatures on absentee ballots with the voter registration rolls, to determine whether absentee ballot voters were actually registered to vote. There is also an ongoing investigation, which is apparently related to the the liquor referendum held last November. If this also involves absentee ballots, it may be focused on the fact that Election Commission officials allegedly handed out absentee ballots at "Vote No" rallies. As I pointed out at the time, the absentee ballot totals looked suspicious to me, because I expected far more "yes" than "no" absentee votes. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution pointed out this week that it's odd that Secretary of State Karen Handel continues to focus on the voter ID issue, when it is clear that absentee ballots - which require no ID - are much riper for abuse. Judging from the numerous mailings I received from the Sonny Perdue campaign in 2006 urging me to vote absentee - and enclosing actual absentee ballots - this appears to be the new frontier of election strategy.

In case you don't know, the place to be on New Year's Eve is the Possum Drop in Brasstown, North Carolina. You can catch up on this foolishness at www.clayscorner.com, but basically ... this is the one for country fun. You can get to Brasstown through Murphy, but from Blue Ridge, it's much easier to follow the directions on my "Local Info" button. After you get to the Local Info page, select "Day Trips" and follow the directions to the John C. Campbell Folk School. Once you get to the Folk School, just keep going straight for another half mile or so. The festivities are at the gas station - Clay's Corner - on the right.

December 19, 2007

We got about 7/10" of rain at our place on Saturday, and we actually did get a few flurries last Sunday. The weather has been very cold for most of the week - lows in the 20s - but today is warmer with a scant rain.

This is a quiet time of the year for events, but the last Holiday Lights Night Train is December 21. See the details in my column below for December 7.

The deadline is January 4 for the 2008 Leadership Fannin Class. This program, which was developed in conjunction with the Fanning Leadership Institute at the University of Georgia, is a kind of crash course on Fannin County - government, development challenges, healthcare needs, etc. The program meets on alternate Wednesdays for a total of ten or twelve meetings. One of the aims of the program is to facilitate networking among classmates to develop leadership potential and respond to challenges facing the county. It is an excellent introduction to the community both for newcomers and people who have been here for a while and want to get involved. There is a nominal fee for the course, but scholarships are available. I'm a 2006 graduate, and I found the program very worthwhile. Contact Jan Hackett at the Chamber of Commerce, 706.632.5680, for more information.

December 14, 2007

After the absurdly warm temperatures last week, it's a little more seasonal today, and the cold trend is supposed to continue through this weekend, with the first threat of flurries in the forecast.

There isn't a lot going on at this time of year, in terms of events, but the Mineral Bluff Depot will be open tomorrow, December 15, from noon until 4 PM. The model trains will be running and refreshments will be served by the Tri-State Model Railroaders. The depot is in Mineral Bluff, on Railroad Avenue. From Blue Ridge, you would turn north on Hwy 60, and left on Railroad Avenue, just before Hemptown Creek.

December 7, 2007

It's been dry, and unseasonably cold, although we're supposed to see very warm weather this weekend, along with a few possible showers.

This is the time of year when those of us who live here tend to kick back and relax a little bit and enjoy the lower density in our developments. In the old days, the mountain season ended after Thanksgiving and didn't crank back up again until the opening day of trout at the end of March. Blue Ridge reverted to being a sleepy mountain town, where everyone knew everyone else. Those days are gone, of course, but there is still a good bit less activity in the winter, which means it's still a good time to enjoy the peace and quiet and take some long walks in the woods.

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is running the "Holiday Lights Night Train" tomorrow, December 8 at 6:30. It will also run December 15 and December 21. The cost is $20 plus tax, and reservations are recommended. That's 1-800.934.1898 or 706.632.9833.

November 30, 2007

The weather has been cool in the mornings, and nicely warmer in the afternoons. Highs have been near sixty. Whether it feels warm or not depends a lot on whether you are in the sun or out of the wind.

There were a zillion people in town for Light Up Blue Ridge. Some estimates were as high as 6,000 people. It's really become a big event. Tonight is the Light Up the Basin festival. See the column below for details.

It's time to order tree seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission. In Fannin, the state forest service office is located on Old 76 in Lakewood - from Blue Ridge, you would go east toward Blairsville on the four lane, turn right on Hwy 60 south, then left at the "T" with the old highway, toward Morganton. The forest service office is right there, on the right. The way it works is that you fill out the order form, and send it with your check. If they have stock available, you will be notified when they have been delivered to the forest service office during the window you pick. Prices are very good. Ten select dogwoods or persimmons have been $20, for instance. Large quantities of pines can be bought very reasonably. The best time to plant here is during January and February, so it is the right time to order. You will probably have to water them through the first year, unless we have an unusually wet spring.

November 23, 2007

We had about 1-5/8" rain Wednesday night, and the temperatures - which were in the high 60s or low 70s - have dropped again. Today, it is quite cool, with a chilly wind stirring.

Light up Blue Ridge is tomorrow, Saturday November 24. Festivities begin at 11 Am with "Tuba Christmas." Santa arrives at 12:45. There are musical events all day, including the Gopher Broke Band at 1:30 and the Barker Brothers (excellent bluegrass) at 4:20. The Father Christmas Processional begins at 6:00 at the Blue Ridge United Methodist Church and the Lighting of the Tree is 7:00 - 8:00. The downtown shops will be open.

The Light up the Basin festival is next Friday, November 30, starting at 5:45 PM at the United Community Bank in McCaysville. Santa will arrive at the River Crossing Mall at 6:30 for free pictures, and shops will be open until 8 PM.

The Copperhill Kiwanis will begin their annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1, at 2 PM.

November 15, 2007

We've had about 1-1/2" of rain in the past few days. I think other areas of the county may have had more. It was needed. I have yet to talk to anyone who remembers the creeks and ponds being any lower, or even coming close to being as low as they are now.

The weather has bounced back warm, but the cold snap finally put some color into most of the oaks, and the woods look very pretty. The dominant shades are yellow and gold, but there are a few reds mixed in from the maples and the remaining sourwoods. If it doesn't rain too hard tonight, I think this weekend will be very pretty for the leaves.

The county commission has held two of the three land use forums, "land use" being a code word for "zoning" in a county where the old guard thinks zoning is a communist plot to take away their property rights. The county commission decided to have these meetings because they did not like the results of the town hall meetings held by Fannin's Future. There were too many communists making comments, apparently. Or, as the commissioners would have it, the "Fannin County Natives" and/or "long term property owners" were not adequately represented, so it is important to give them another chance to tell us all that growth will take care of itself and a man has a right to do anything he wants on his own property.

The first meeting was poorly attended, but the second meeting, in Morganton, drew about sixty participants. The third and final meeting will be held at Monday 11/19, 7:00 PM at Appalachian Community Bank. The bank is located on 515, across from the entrance to the Ingles Shopping Center. People who attend the meeting are asked to fill out a form listing their top five concerns about land use. The same form is available on the Fannin County website, www.fannincountyga.org for electronic submission. If you have an opinion you would like to express, you should do it immediately, as the comment period closes soon.

November 6, 2007

We had the first hard freeze last night. At our place, it was 30° on the porch this morning, and there does seem to be more color in the woods than there was last night.

Fannin County Election / Referendum Results and Vote Tot