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  Clarks Bridge Park is a great place to take morning pictures

As reported in Newsweek’s annual ranking of the top High Schools in the nation, South Forsyth High School ranked 199, just behind two other north Atlanta High Schools Walton and North Gwinnett .  There are 19 Georgia high schools in the top 500, with 13 of them being located in North Atlanta. I’ve highlighted those schools below among the list of Georgia High Schools in the top 500 nationally.

Public schools are ranked according to the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school and divided by the number of graduating seniors. All of the schools on the list have an index of at least 1.000; they are in the top 6 percent of public schools measured this way.

Note: Subs. Lunch % is the percentage of students receiving federally subsidized meals. E and E % stands for equity and excellence percentage: the portion of all graduating seniors at a school that had at least one passing grade on one AP or IB test.

** Includes IB. Nearly all other schools use just AP tests.

No, Hedgewood Homes has not been resurrected but some of the same principles from Hedgewood (and an investor) have purchased 50 lots in Vickery and currently have 2 spec homes going up. The lots break down to 14 townhomes and 36 single family lots, most of which are on slabs, with just a 4 basement lots.

What Will Be Built?

One big concern homeowners have when builders buy foreclosed lots and start building again is; what will the homes look like. How big will they be and how much will they sell for. Resident’s won’t need to be concerned with the product planned for Vickery. Homes will have the wood shingle roofs, detached garages and courtyards - much like the homes that currently exist in the community. The builders will be Randy and Brian Schiltz of T-Olive Properties.

The homes will range in price from $268,900 for the 2-bedroom Primrose Cottage up to $452,500 for the 4-bedroom Ridenour with double covered porches. Twelve models in all with the same timeless architecture that makes Vickery such a wonderfully unique community to live in. Interiors will feature open plans with 10′ beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, custom cabinetry and covered porches. Two items that are not included in the base packages, which used to be included, are hardwood floors in the bedrooms and an upgraded kitchen appliance package.

It Takes A Village

Personally I’m excited to know that building will be going on again in Vickery. The community has taken a hit during the downturn but this is a good opportunity for home buyers who want to live there and take advantage of great pricing. Vickery is a unique product that doesn’t exist in too many places outside the perimeter. Crabapple and Downtown Woodstock are the only other options. The 64-million dollar question is what will happen with the Village.

Wachovia took over the commercial property but has managed in the past to do a better job of running retail vendors off rather than pulling new stores in. A failed opportunity to sell last year to an investor was the turning point - but I’m told that it’s all been changed. A new team will be focusing on attracting new business.

There are still a few places to eat; Robin Hood Tavern, Tanners, Cinco’s and Sidney’s Pizza. Most of the stores are gone - but the The Flower Post  is still holding down the fort, much to the pleasure of locals who love the unique flower designs and vintage containers.

As more homes are built and sold that should become easier to do, but make no mistake, the success of the Village is the key to the success of the community. I don’t think it’s a question of if but when. I hope the new team can step up to the plate and make it happen sooner rather than later.

Let us know if you have questions about options, features, lot availability and floor plans. 678.608.2200 or info@thenorthgroup.com

The Lake Lanier Association has decided to postpone its Gubernatorial Political Forum originally scheduled for Monday, June 21 at 5:30 pm at Legacy Lodge, Lake Lanier Islands, Buford.

The association is now planning a Political Forum in October for federal and gubernatorial candidates as well as candidates for state house and senate in the districts surrounding Lake Lanier. During the event, the candidates will answer questions on their policies related to the protection of LakeLanier including the Tri-States negotiations, water supply, and reservoirs.

The October event will also take place at Legacy Lodge, Lake Lanier Islands, Buford, and we will announce the date as soon as possible.

Stop one morning on the way to work at any park

Take time to see the sun come up

A look at any park can surprise you by what you can see

A walk along the Lake can be relaxing

A sunrise can be the lift you need

Sometimes a swim can be just the thing to do

Even the head waters gives us time to reflect

Take time to look it is worth it

Sometime  look at the familiar in a new light

THE FISHING ISN'T BAD EITHER

 The night sky can be a sight to behold

Lake Lanier

Stop one morning on the way home from work at any park

Take time to see the sun come up

A look at any park can surprise you by what you can see

A walk along the Lake can be relaxing

A sunrise can be the lift you need

Sometimes a swim can be just the thing to do

Even the head waters gives us time to reflect

Take time to look it is worth it

Sometings look at the familiar in a new light

THE FISHING ISN'T BAD EITHER

Lake Lanier

Mornings and evenings at Lake Lanier

I stop on the way to work can give me time to relax before the start of the day

I quick look at a park close to the road can cause me to refelct on the day

Each park gives a different show

Take time to look, take time to actually see and appreciate this great lake

Coppermine

The fishing is good!  If you haven't allready dusted the yak off and got on the water now is the time! Below is what is working for Yakdawg and LAKE members on Lanier and surrounding waters over the past few weeks.
Bass:  The spots are up on top and will hit moving baits if you are at the right place at the right time!  The key to fishing the topwater bite in the kayak is patience.  If the fish go down before you are in casting distance continue to make several casts and retrieves in the area you saw fish surfacing.  Sometimes you will "call up" an aggressive magnum spot!  It is hard to beat humps and points this time of year for topwater action on Lanier.  The zara spook and chugbug are two great lures to throw.  I have also been doing well throwing a jig-head 3 inch grub at surfacing fish.  Jerkbaits and swimbaits will also get hit.    
Stripers:  The striper fishing remains good but be prepared to get "window shopped!"  Downlined blueback herring is the ticket for a sleighride this time of year.  I have been catching fish this week 20-30 feet down over a 40-60ft bottom on the south end of the lake.  The great news is that the stripers are really starting to bunch up, but just because you have found them does not mean that you will get bit!  Some tactics that will help trigger a strike:  power reeling (dropping the bait below the fish and reeling up fast).  Lighter leaders, try 12 or even 10 pound.  Paint your weights black.  Also have a bucktail jig ready to drop to the fish and even try cut-bait if nothing else works!  Seeing lots of fish on the sonar is a bad problem to have!  I would much rather figure out what they want then to spend all day looking for them!   
Crappie/Bream/Catfish:Bream and crappie are biting on smaller lakes in the North GA area and can be a blast on light tackle!  I have been catching a mixed bag of bull bream and crappie on micro jigs, sometimes tipped with a berkley crappie nibble.  For larger bream, stay off the banks and let the jig sink to the bottom before working it back to your yak!  Crickets are deadly on these big bream as well!  Just because the spawn is over doesn't mean you can't catch crappie!  I have been catching crappie around deep blowdowns and bridge pilings.  Use jigs or live minnows for the slabs!
Visit our online forum at www.lanierkayakfishing@proboards.com for fishing trips, reports and more information about the great sport of kayak fishing!  

Dockside Grill Café at Aqualand Marina offers open-water views of Lake Lanier in a casual outdoor cafe setting. The famous Docker hand-pattied burger comes with a variety of topping choices from bleu cheese to chili.

Other menu items include sandwiches, salads, and fresh seafood — grouper, tuna and mahi-mahi – plus munchies and grilled chicken.

Open seasonally May through October Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Boat parking at the Aqualand courtesy docks.

www.docksidegrill.com

Big Creek Tavern is open all year long. There’s a dock for boats back in Big Creek just beyond Lazy Days Marina; then walk up the hill to the restaurant. The atmosphere is a comfortable neighborhood restaurant and it’s a favorite with locals. Home-cooked blue-plate specials for weekday lunches compliment the full dinner menu that includes Black Angus beef, fresh seafood – flown in weekly – and fall-off-the-bone baby-back ribs.

           Lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. until midnight. Friday 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Sunday breakfast at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. full menu from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 8 p.m. Billiards, video games, beer, wine and liquor. Located at 3050 Big Creek Road, Buford.

           For information call 678-482-1662.

 

 

 

 

These beautiful photos were taken today at our Lake Lanier lot listing at 9035 Hayes Drive in Gainesville on Lake Lanier. This is an individually gated lot located amongst an exclusive group of homes in Cloister Cove. Please contact us for more details at 678-513-2014!

Crises management

To whoever is in charge be it B. P. Petroleum or some person who works for the government. 

I have a few suggestions to make about the crises in the Gulf of Mexico that may help.

1. Stop the blame game.  End Congressional hearings now and stop pointing fingers at B. P. Petroleum, George Bush, The republicans, the democrats, Bill Clinton, the Oil Companies, whoever or however we are drilling, our current President or any other person or institution.  This is counter productive, for now.  All of the energies both public and private  must be directed at correction and containment. 
2. Acknowledge publicly that this is a crises of undefined proportions that must be corrected.
3. Put one person in charge that has handled a complex crises before.  There is a person, he or she is out there.  Try Mayor Giuliani, Bill Gates or T. Boone Pickens as examples.  With this person’s assistance choose a “plug the hole” expert, a oil containment expert, and a clean up expert.  These responsibility heads must have proven experience in the area and they must be empowered. 
4. From there assign the Nobel Peace Prize scientists to the tasks at hand.  It is not reasonable to put a scientist in a place of handling management  when they should be figuring out the fix. 
5. Next pick a prominent public figure or good reputation to be the spokes person for this team.  Let all questions come through him or her  and be answered by him or her  to free up the people doing the fix to do their jobs. How about Condoleezza Rice?
6. Each area should work openly with state and local governments.  The State and local governments can work with local volunteers to do the many jobs that will need done .An open exchange between the local governments and the people in charge should be maintained at all times.  People do not like being excluded  from change either good or bad.  Include them in all things for information and input about what is  impacting their state or location,  This is very important.  Use existing resources of material, expertise or people.  Why put people together to clean beaches who have never done it before when every community already has people who do that job every day?
7. Use FIMA or a private group to look forward.  Bring in chambers of commerce, professional groups, or local governments to put together a list of possible worst case scenarios.  If the mouth of the Mississippi River is closed, what happens to business and industry?  Commerce, and environment must be considered here.  Then priorities must be set, agreed too, and communicated.  From this point forward no more public finger pointing as to why some priority must be put before another.  Plan for the worst in terms of environment and commerce.
8. It is time to acknowledge that B. P. Petroleum does not have enough money to pay for all of this.  Plans need to be made to cover how this will be paid for.
9. Plan globally for this disaster.  What if the oil gets into the gulf stream and heads to Europe?  How about oil on the beaches of the Caribbean Islands or the north coast of South America?  Contact those Governments and put them on alert. 

International relations will depend on our ability to communicate possible danger and what they can expect ion a worst case.

10. We need the oil and the jobs offshore drilling and production provides. Inspect the wells and rigs now.  Do not wait, clear them one at a time end bring them into production ASAP

I respectfully submit this short list that took all of five minutes to put together that speaks volumes more about crises management than, “plug the damn hole”,  “I want to kick somebody’s ass!” , or we have been on it since day one.  This Nation is looking for a leader and we had better find one, and soon.