Archive for March, 2009
Hydrogen station formally opens!
South Carolina’s first hydrogen refueling station was officially opened Monday in Aiken, along with the new South Carolina Hydrogen Highway.
Aiken and Edgefield dignitaries, along with many who work on hydrogen projects, gathered as the fuel pump and a sign to mark the highway were unveiled.
“What you’re seeing today in Aiken, and later in Columbia, is a landmark event for the state of South Carolina,” said John Troutman, chairman of the Economic Development Partnership.
Aiken County’s hydrogen fueling station sits at the Sage Mill Industrial Park.
More Details.
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Scammers Target Troubled Borrowers.
Scam artists are proliferating, attempting to make money off troubled borrowers interested in taking advantage of President Barack Obama’s foreclosure-prevention plan.
The firms charge fees for what they tell borrowers will be quick and effective negotiations with banks. In most cases, the firms take the home owners’ money – often more than $1,000 – and do nothing.
The Federal Reserve recently issued this advice for people seeking to modify their mortgages:
* Work only with HUD-approved nonprofit counselors. (See www.hud.gov)
* Don’t agree to pay a fee before you are provided with the promised service.
* Beware of people offering “guaranteed” results.
* Don’t sign blank forms or documents you haven’t read.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, James R. Hagerty (03/11/2009)
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Despite the doors it can open for first-time buyers, many consumers still don’t know about the $8,000 tax credit.
The first-time home buyer tax credit, which Congress in February increased to $8,000 from $7,500 and eliminated the repayment requirement, is an incentive you’d expect consumers to be clamoring about. But many practitioners are astounded to learn that buyers in their markets who are prime candidates for the credit aren’t even aware of it.
Ryan Gable, broker-owner of Starting Point Realty in Palatine, Ill., recently mentioned the credit to an architect who was attending one of his home buyer seminars. If anyone would know about the credit, Gable thought, it would be someone who’s involved in the building industry.
But he was wrong. “It was like she won the lottery when I told her,” says Gable, whose brokerage, which focuses on first-time buyers, has pulled out all the stops to market the credit as a too-good-to-miss opportunity. In addition to touting the credit at seminars, Gable showcases the incentive on the home page of his Web site and discussed it in an interview with a local NBC affiliate TV station. “It’s really unbelievable the number of people who don’t know about it,” Gable says. More details.
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How Will Foreclosure Affect Credit Scores?
The amount of damage to a credit score caused by foreclosure, deed in lieu or a short sale during 2008 and 2009 may be mitigated by the slower economic times, say some credit and legal experts.
FICO may have to adjust its credit scores to lessen the impact of a foreclosure in the last two years, says Todd J. Zywicki, a professor of law at George Mason University.
”It just seems obvious that a foreclosure in 2008 or 2009 doesn’t have as much information value as a foreclosure five years ago,” he says. ”To the extent that foreclosure doesn’t predict future behavior as much as it did in the past, you’d expect that the FICO algorithm would change to adjust for that.”
One of the country’s largest credit unions Golden 1 has already figured out a way to lend to people with a foreclosure on their record by offering a mortgage repair loan specifically for those who have lost a home to foreclosure and who want to buy a new one.
BECU, another large credit union based in Washington State, is about to present a program to fellow lenders, ”How to Lend to the Newly Credit Impaired.”
Source: The New York Times, Ron Lieber (03/14/2009)
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Making a home for the barred owl.
Three of us representing local stores – Ron Brenneman, of Birds & Butterflies, Roger Brock and Tom Hill, both of Aiken Outdoors – went into Hitchcock Woods on Sunday afternoon, March 8 to check our three owl nest boxes, clean them out, put in clean cedar chips and do any maintenance to the boxes as required.
It was a beautiful day as we hiked into the woods.
You never know what you will see in the Woods and that proved to be true on our visit. Shortly after we entered, we saw a baby feral pig cross the path, probably trying to catch up with its mother.
Hitchcock Woods is a perfect place for owl boxes with its nearly 2,000 acres of woods and trails for animals of all kinds.
Aiken Outdoors placed these three owl boxes in Hitchcock Woods in 2004 hoping to attract barred owls. Barred owls (Strix varia) are rather large owls with an average adult length of 17 inches and wingspan of 44 inches and the owl gets its name “barred” from the vertical and horizontal stripes or streaks on the chest and abdomen. More
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Riders brave rain to compete in rally.
More than 120 Pony Club members from 18 different pony clubs converged on Highfields Event Center this weekend for the Pony Club Show Jumping Rally.
The rain did little to affect the resolute and intrepid pony club members who competed despite the inclement weather.
“We have a lot of game kids out here this weekend, with all of the weather issues,” said Jim Geddes, Aiken County Pony Club district commissioner. “They’re working very hard to keep themselves together and get their horses through the jumps. I’m always proud of these kids when they work this hard. We’re looking forward once again to sending a group of kids to Nationals. This is a real test for them, with the weather the way it is.”
Some Pony Club members had to drive more than five hours to get to the rally, demonstrating their commitment and resolve.
“I’m very impressed with the attendance,” said Rick Cram, Progressive Show Jumping organizer and Highfields Event Center owner. Full Details.
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Annual drive offers scenic view.
JACKSON — The 2009 Audubon Coach and Carriage Drive at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary, which was held Friday, provided an opportunity to view indigenous flora and fauna while enjoying one of the area’s most idyllic backdrops.
The event was sponsored by the Aiken Driving Club and the Four-in-Hand Club. The day’s festivities featured a lunch presented by the Green Boundary Club, hosted by Jack Wetzel and Jacqueline Ohrstrom.
“This event is wonderful,” said Norman Brunswig, Audubon South Carolina executive director. “The best thing for Silver Bluff, Audubon and conservation is for people to value this place. This group of people have come to appreciate this place (the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary) not just as a wildlife resource and a beautiful aesthetic, but as a wonderful place to do the thing that they love most, which is to drive in natural settings. I think these sand roads and beautiful piney woods are evocative of the centuries when carriages were the means of transportation. We think it’s perfect. We’re delighted that they come and have a good time.”
Four-in-hands, pairs and singles took part in the carriage drive that went along the trail system that totals 8.8 miles.
“This is such a pretty venue, and I love supporting it because it’s such a great place to drive,” said Sandy Nicolaisen, who participated in the drive, is a member of the Aiken Driving Club and was accompanied by her Cairn Terrier Toby, who was the carriage dog. Full story.
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Ribbon cuttings to mark introduction of hydrogen fueling.
The next step in the move from petroleum to hydrogen is set to be revealed Monday.
The Economic Development Partnership and The Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR) will be cutting the ribbon on the Sage Mill Hydrogen Fueling Station and the South Carolina Hydrogen Freeway.
Located at 860 Bettis Academy Road in Graniteville, the station will be opened after Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, makes a keynote speech.
The event will give guests the first chance to watch a hydrogen-powered vehicle be fueled.
The sign that will be used on the new Hydrogen Freeway will also be unveiled.
A hydrogen-powered vehicle will be gassed up and driven to the State Capitol, arriving at the new Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station. Once it arrives, the Columbia station will be opened.
The ribbon cutting is the first event in a week devoted to hydrogen.
The nation’s largest gathering of hydrogen industry professionals will be at the National Hydrogen Association Conference and Hydrogen Expo Monday through Thursday in Columbia.
By MIKE GELLATLY
Staff writer
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Pacers & Polo postponed
The promise of thunderstorms convinced polo and USC Aiken officials to postpone the annual Pacers & Polo match until Sunday.
Gates at the Powderhouse Polo Field will open at noon Sunday. The match begins at 3 p.m.
The National Weather Service is calling for showers and thunderstorms today, with the possibility of a half-inch of rainfall today.
The rain should continue tonight, possibly dumping another half inch.
Sunday’s forecast has a slight chance of rain and should be cloudy and breezy.
The events at the polo match should continue as scheduled, such as the VIP Hospitality Tent.
Tickets at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
General admission parking is $5 and includes a program.
Check www.aikenstandard.com for any changes to the schedule.
New-Home Warranties: The Basics.
Your clients may have legal recourse if their newly constructed home is faulty.
New-home warranties fall into three categories:
1)Statutory
2)Implied
3)Express
For the full Story.…..
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Calling all artists, canine art wanted.
A tribute to canines comes to downtown Aiken, and your dog could be on display.
The Aiken Center for the Arts has issued a call to all artists to participate in its April exhibit called “Dogs Let Loose.”
The exhibition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. All artwork must be non-representational or loose in style and must feature a dog or dogs as the main subject.
“Let your creativity flow,” said Kristin Brown, executive director of the ACA. “The exhibition is open to members of the public. It will not be juried, and an artist’s statement is not required.”
The exhibition will be held at Aiken Center for the Arts in the Galleries, Gallery Store or Rear Foyer from April 15 until May 15. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition is being held in partnership with the Paws for Cancer Walk on May 2 at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center track. More Info.
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Number of road projects on slate.
Workers with the South Carolina Department of Transportation will be doing roadwork on I-20 next week, according to Jeff Terry, the resident construction engineer with SCDOT.
He said the concrete pavement patching will be done between exit 5 and the river, which will result in road closures overnight in both the east- and westbound lanes throughout the week.
The state recently kicked off its road paving work for this year with projects along parts of Silver Bluff Road, University Parkway and Hampton Street for much of this week. Terry said the state has plans for several road improvements in Aiken County through this summer.
A number of projects have already been scheduled to clean and seal cracks in the pavement, totalling $6.4 million. According to Terry, the roadwork will not be paid for with stimulus funds and was already scheduled to be done. More Details
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Rivals take to field in third leg of Triple Crown. Polo!
The third leg of the Aiken Triple Crown will be played this Saturday, and this year’s Pacers and Polo game will be as intense as it has been in previous years.
The rivalry between Burger King and Biddle Realty will be revisited at the Powderhouse Fields, and Burger King is looking to avenge last year’s loss to their rival. Biddle Realty claimed victory as the result of a coin toss ending four years of frustration.More Details.
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February new home sales rise unexpectedly!
but despite this surprising data, it’s still the second-worst on record.
WASHINGTON – The government says new home sales rebounded unexpectedly last month, but were still the second-worst on record and remained well below last year’s levels.
The Commerce Department says sales rose 4.7 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 337,000 from an upwardly revised January figure of 322,000. Even after the revision to January’s sales results, the month remained the worst on records dating back to 1963.
Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected February sales to fall to a pace of 300,000 units.
Sales were down more than 40 percent from February 2008.
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Simple Tips for Better Home Showings!
1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too. 2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help [...]
Despite the doors it can open for first-time buyers, many consumers still don’t know about the $8,000 tax credit.
The first-time home buyer tax credit, which Congress in February increased to $8,000 from $7,500 and eliminated the repayment requirement, is an incentive you’d expect consumers to be clamoring about. But many practitioners are astounded to learn that buyers in their markets who are prime candidates for the credit aren’t even aware of it. Ryan [...]
County looks to use stimulus for other road projects.
Aiken County Council wants state transportation officials to see it their way and decide to not give valuable federal stimulus money to resurfacing projects on some roads that have just been widened or otherwise improved.
Council approved unanimously Tuesday a resolution asking that the South Carolina Department of Transportation be more “judicious” with the County’s share of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act slated for road resurfacing, Councilman Scott Singer said.
Using the federal money for three of those projects would be a waste, he added, because widening and other improvement plans for the roads are already in the works.
It does not make sense to tear up a road and resurface it if it was torn up and widened just a short time before.
“Let’s shift funding to other projects,” Singer said. More Details.
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Mortgage fraud reports up 26 percent!
WASHINGTON – The mortgage industry, applying far more scrutiny after a tidal wave of defaults, reported a record number of mortgage fraud incidents last year, with Rhode Island making its first appearance as the nation’s top fraud hot spot.
The number of mortgage fraud reports among loans made last year grew 26 percent from a year earlier, according to a study released Monday by the Mortgage Asset Research Institute.
The increase came as lenders dramatically tightened their standards, making it more difficult for borrowers to qualify for home loans without large down payments, solid credit and proof of their incomes. With credit far tighter, about $1.4 trillion in home loans were made last year, down about a third from a year earlier, according to trade publication Inside Mortgage Finance.
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Stocks surge on bank plan, rise in home sales.
NEW YORK — Wall Street got the news it wanted on the economy’s biggest problems – banks and housing – and responded with a rally that hurtled the Dow Jones industrials up nearly 500 points.
Investors added rocket fuel Monday to a two-week-old advance, cheering the government’s plan to help banks remove bad assets from their books and also welcoming a report showing a surprising increase in home sales. Major stock indicators surged more than 6 percent, including the Dow.
The Treasury Department’s bad asset cleanup program would tap money from the government’s $700 billion financial rescue fund and involve help from the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the participation of private investors.
The government’s announcement was what the market had waited weeks to hear. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had announced an outline of the program last month but provided few details then about how it would work, leading to a plunge on Wall Street that sliced 380 points from the Dow. More Details.
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Administration seeks to free frozen credit markets.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration launched a new effort Monday to end a paralysis in lending, saying it will team with investors with the goal of buying up to a trillion dollars of bad assets from banks that have been reluctant to make loans to consumers and companies. In announcing the program, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pleaded for patience, saying that work to rehabilitate an industry with such systemic problems must go forward despite “deep anger and outrage” over executive bonus payments. Geithner’s performance in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet has come under heavy criticism from some in Congress. The secretary announced the initiative in a Treasury Department room with no cameras allowed. He was with Obama later in the morning, however, when the president spoke briefly, saying he was “very confident” the latest plan will succeed. Obama called it “one more critical element” in a multipronged effort to revive the economy and said the depressed housing market is beginning to show glimmers of hope. Sales of previously occupied homes jumped unexpectedly in February by the largest amount in nearly six years, a spike attributed to first-time buyers taking advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures and other distressed properties. Full Story.
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Aiken hotel ranked in National Geographic list!
National Geographic Traveler has named the Carriage House Inn of Aiken as one of its 129 Hotels We Love.
The Carriage House Inn puts Aiken on the map, as it is one of only two in the state and among a handful in the Southeast on the list, bringing national attention to the area.
“The hotels on our Stay List 2009 don’t just reflect their surroundings; they help define them. What they all have in common is a transcendent vision that goes beyond traditional hotelkeeping. This mindset is what gives these hotels their special sense of place. … After your stay, you’ll leave with the kind of insight only soulful places can provide,” states the article.
“This is a huge honor for us,” said Elizabeth Smith. Smith’s mother and father, Anne and Bill Thomasson, established the hotel located on the main street in historic downtown Aiken 10 years ago. The Carriage House Inn is a family-owned and operated establishment whose primary focus is on the city of Aiken.Full Details.
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Homeowners opt to refinance and save.
The reasons to refinance your home, or buy a new one, just keep getting better.
This week, the Federal Reserve announced it will spend up to $300 billion over the next six months to buy long-term government bonds, a new step aimed at lifting the country out of recession by lowering rates on mortgages and other consumer debt. It also left the short-term bank lending rate at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent.
Those announcements have the phones ringing at local banks with people now locking into rates.
“If you can save a point on your mortgage, it’s time to do it,” said Andrew Siders, president of Vista Bank. “Things are moving.”
The anticipation of lower interest rates, coupled with a better week on the stock market, is raising optimism, Siders said. “As government gets more positive, the consumer is going to get more positive.” Full Story.
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First-time homebuyers now have $8K tax credit available to them!
First-time home buyers who purchase a home this year need to be made aware of a $8,000 tax credit available to them in the recently approved stimulus package, Nick Kremydas, CEO of the South Carolina Association of Realtors, said Tuesday.
Kremydas addressed local Realtors during the Aiken Board of Realtors luncheon at Houndslake.
“We’ve got to get the word out to the public that this credit is available,” he said. “If it moves just one buyer in your business in the next couple of months, then it’s worth it.”
Kremydas said the credit does not have to be repaid. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit, according to information provided by the National Association of Home Builders. More Details.
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S.C. tax reassessment cap is a constitutional issue.
The Sunday, Jan. 4 editorial page of the Aiken Standard ran part of an article credited to the (Spartanburg) Herald Journal titled “S.C. property reassessment bill” in which the author stated, “Lawmakers created some problems when they capped reassessments at 15 percent.” This misinformation must be corrected. State lawmakers did not cap reassessment at 15 percent; they simply made a way for the voters to do so, by passing a joint resolution (H. 4450).
Appearing on the Nov. 7, 2006, General Election ballot was an amendment to Article III and Article X of the Constitution of South Carolina to limit increases in the value of real property, for the purposes of imposing property tax, to no more than 15 percent every five years. Many voters took this to mean that their property tax would be capped, but that simply isn’t true; it capped reassessment at 15 percent. There’s a big difference which taxpayer advocates and numerous newspapers in South Carolina pointed out.
During the Aiken County Taxpayers Association meeting on Oct. 5, 2006, I stated that researchers at Clemson University evaluated the impact of the proposed 15 percent cap on property values in Beaufort County. They estimated the fiscal impact of a 15 percent cap on reassessment and addressed this question: “Would all categories of property owners be affected equally after adoption of a 15 percent cap on the growth in assessed property value at reassessment?”
The study found, among other things, that “The answer is no. All categories of property owners would not be affected equally after adoption of a 15 percent reassessment cap, and neither would individual property owners within the same property classification. Why not?
Because imposition of a reassessment cap in any amount changes the relationship between property taxation and property value. With a reassessment cap, some property owners would subsidize the property taxes of others.” This means that those who benefit from the cap (generally, the wealthy) pay less taxes than they ordinarily would while those who do not benefit (generally, the low and middle income earners) pay more taxes than they ordinarily would to make up the difference.
Lawmakers cannot correct this issue by passing a state law. The only way for the constitutional amendment capping reassessment to be reversed is by the same method used to pass it. Since about 69 percent of voters statewide and 74.4 percent of voters in Aiken County voted in favor of the amendment, there will need to be a great deal of education and understanding before a reversal can occur. Note that the reassessment cap did not affect just owner-occupied residential homes but all classes of property in South Carolina. More Details.
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Couple keeps coming back to see Steeplechase, Aiken
There is nothing like the thundering of horses’ hooves on a Steeplechase Saturday.
It is a deep love for the races that brings Jim and Natalie Pierce back to Aiken from North Carolina for the 26th year to view the Spring Steeplechase. They began traveling here in 1983 and haven’t missed a year since.
“We love the races, first of all,” Natalie said. “We love the town; the town is wonderful.”
She said it can take visitors back to a different time with its historic mansions, dirt roads and old Southern charm.
And the couple has made a lot of friends here over the years that they can’t wait to see at every Steeplechase. Full Story.
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Workshops geared toward those who suffer financially.
MAU Inc. plans a series of Career Transition Workshops to help those hit hard by the current economic downturn take positive action.
The Augusta, Ga.-based human resources and staffing company’s Career Transition Workshops will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, at Greenville Technical College in Greenville; from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 1, at the Marion Hatcher Center at 519 Greene St., Augusta; and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, at the North Charleston Embassy Suites in Charleston.
The workshops are free and open to the public, though advance registration is required, according to MAU president Randall W. Hatcher
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New-Home Warranties: The Basics.
Your clients may have legal recourse if their newly constructed home is faulty. New-home warranties fall into three categories: 1. Statutory. These are warranties specifically required by law. Some states, including Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia, have passed new-home warranty acts that require builders to provide protections to home [...]
Mortgage-Help Site, Call-in Number Goes Live
The U.S. Treasury Department went live on March 19 with its Making Home Affordable program, which aims to help home owners refinance or modify their mortgages.
The campaign includes a Web site at makinghomeaffordable.gov as well as a telephone hotline number at (888) 995-4673.
The federal government is targeting 9 million home owners whose loans are held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Source: Indianapolis Star (03/19/09)
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One reason you can’t get a mortgage. Residential sales are cratering,
which is making it more difficult to appraise homes. And that is making mortgages more difficult to obtain.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — For real estate appraisers, determining what a house is worth has become increasingly difficult, which is making it even harder for buyers to purchase homes or for homeowners to refinance.
The main tool in the appraiser’s kit is the sale prices of homes in the area. If they can find similar houses nearby in similar condition that sold recently for, say, $300,000, they can assume that the home they are appraising is worth a comparable amount.
But with sales volume falling, there are fewer homes with which to compare. In fact, sales of new homes crashed in January to the lowest level in 45 years, and existing home sales fell to a 12-year low.
And even when there are recent sales figures, they often don’t hold up as a reliable baseline. Appraisals are estimates of market value at a given time, and with prices in free fall, values “age” quickly. Full Story.
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Appropriations for forests equal a fantastic investment.
Budget deliberations are a seasonal tradition in state government and are a huge challenge for agencies, legislators and the governor. So, funding sources are getting a lot of attention these days, as well as the destination of those funds. The Forestry Commission is best known for using its state appropriated funds for fighting wildfires, but it is also mandated to develop the forest resource as an economic engine and sound investment as well.
To understand the Forestry Commission budget it helps to understand where the money comes from and where it goes. Currently, the agency receives $14.3 million in state-appropriated funds, down 21 percent from $18 million last year. This money pays salaries, benefits and operating costs. $200,000 of that total is directly distributed to private landowners as Forest Renewal Program (FRP) dollars. In addition, this money is matched by the forest industry’s wood consuming mills at a ratio of 4:1. So when the state provides us $200,000, industry matches it with $800,000. These funds are then distributed to forest landowners as an incentive for them to invest in site preparation, tree planting and other forest treatments. More Info
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Housing starts unexpectedly surge!
Government report shows construction of new homes jumped 22% in February.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Initial construction of U.S. homes unexpectedly surged in February, after falling for seven months, according to a government report released Tuesday.
Housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 583,000 last month, up 22% from a revised 477,000 in January, according to the Commerce Department. It was the first time housing starts increased since June, when they rose 11%.
Economists were expecting housing starts to decline to 450,000, according to consensus estimates compiled by Briefing.com. Still, starts are down more than 47% from February 2008, when over 1.1 million new homes broke ground. More Details.
Expect changes at Steeplechase.
There will be some changes to this Saturday’s Aiken Spring Steeplechase. The modifications to this year’s races include reducing the number of fences from 13 to nine and shortening the length of the races from 2¬º miles to 2 miles.
The reason the changes were made is because of the number of falls that had occurred over the last fence, in particular last spring, that created legitimate concerns and caused the National Steeplechase Association’s racing committee to reassess the number of national fences, not only at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase, but also at some of the other race courses, said Barry Watson, NSA safety inspector.
“We decided to reduce the distance to 2 miles, letting the horses have a break early in the year. It’s too early to go 2¬º miles,” said Watson. “The racing committee had further concerns about the perception of the fan base (because of the number of falls last spring). Full Story
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New artists on display at the ACA.
The Aiken Center for the Arts will hold an opening reception on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. for all of the new exhibitions in the galleries.
Main Galleries – March 18 through April 10 – Hickman, Adamick & Steppe Exhibitions
Harrison Hickman – Edgefield
“My work takes advantage of memory within the clay. My purpose, my goals, my vision, my practice and my discipline bring focus to my inspiration as I create new and exciting forms. Clay has memory and preserves what has occurred during its making. How an object is made, the mechanical working of moist, malleable and fluid clay leaves forever instilled in a vessel the mark of the potter’s hands. The process of pushing clay outward in a rhythmic manner around a pot’s surface to create convex impressions leaves the viewer with questions and answers,” said Hickman in his artist’s statement. More Details
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Not every dog can get a ride to Mass.
The hard truth of the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s transfer agreement with a no-kill shelter in Massachusetts is that not every dog gets to go.
The new program with the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass., is working very well, but there are no promises that every dog surrendered to or picked up by the County shelter will make the trip up north. The number of dogs to make the journey is agreed upon ahead of time, and though the transfers have been averaging two a month, that may not always be the case.
“People are calling and they’re automatically assuming their animal is going to get transferred,” said Bobby Arthurs, chief law enforcement officer with Aiken County Animal Control. “We have an over-abundance of animals and I can’t make any promises. We’re always over-crowded.”
But, even with that in mind, shelter staff can’t help but be overjoyed with the progress made so far. Full Story.
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Tips for the first time do-it-yourselfer
As if they weren’t already growing in popularity, do-it-yourself home improvement projects are likely to become even more popular as homeowners continue to cope with the sagging economy.
While it’s tempting and perfectly understandable for homeowners to seek ways to save while simultaneously looking to improve their homes, a DIY project can prove more work than expected for first-timers or even veterans. Those thinking of tackling projects themselves should consider the following tips. More Details.
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Aiken stands to gain from Masters.
It’s not looking good for Augusta during the Masters Tournament this year. The annual financial windfall from the thousands of money-spending visitors is slipping away this year – another victim of the sagging economy.
Many of the corporations that in the past spent tens of thousands of dollars to rent homes, hire drivers and caterers, and party in the restaurants and bars where the prices are tripled just for that week, are staying away this year.
But so far it appears that Aiken’s financial benefits from the tournament will continue, say local hospitality industry owners and managers. It’s a little slower, but it’s looking OK.
“We’re fine. We’re looking forward to a good year,” said Janny Bijas, owner of Up Your Alley restaurant.
Hotel Aiken is sold out as usual during the tournament, said manager Peggy Greer-Buyers. “We have one room over the bar with a single bed and it will go.” Full Story.
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Banksia gardeners reach out!
A group of local horticulture enthusiasts has banded together to help Banksia’s garden grow.
The Gardeners for Banksia group takes care of the landscaping of the historic Winter Colony home Banksia on Newberry Street, which now houses the Aiken County Historical Museum.
The group’s current project is the installation of the Savannah River Cancer Foundation Memorial Garden on the grounds, according to member Jacque Rees.
“Lil Dickey, Pam Glokowski and I are designing and planting this garden,” Rees said. “We have about 37 members, and we’re getting volunteers from the community – we’re talking to the garden clubs, and the Girl Scouts are going to be helping. They’ll be making us stained glass stepping stones in the colors of cancer awareness ribbons.”
The ground has been tilled for the memorial garden, and a few plants have already gone in – magnolia trees, a hibiscus, a vilex plant and bulbs are already planted. Full Story.
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Foundation poured for depot, welcome center.
A foundation is being placed for the Aiken Railroad Depot.
Workers spent last week pouring the concrete ground work for the depot, which is currently undergoing the first phase of construction, according to Tim Simmons, chairman of the All Aboard! Campaign.
“We just started construction on the main building and we plan to be finished by the end of the year,” he said.
Work began on the $3 million project last month after the group gained approval from the City Planning Commission to construct the two-story building north of Park Avenue, on the Union Street right-of-way.
Simmons said once the foundation is placed, the walls will go up and soon the roof of the depot, too. Full Story.
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World famous quintet’s style ranges from classical, jazz, contemporary.
The world famous Canadian Brass will perform at USC Aiken Convocation Center on Monday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.
The quintet that started in Toronto, Ontario, in 1970 has produced more than 60 recordings that include works by Purcell, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, Pachelbel, Beethoven and Wagner and are especially drawn to the works of J.S. Bach.
Canadian Brass presents works not only in the classical repertoire, but they take daring leaps into jazz, contemporary concert music and popular songs.
Their music, published mostly by Hal Leonard, is the inspiration and musical staple of students and brass ensembles in North America and Europe.
The group is dedicated to education and interested in training the next generation of players. Full Story.
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Habitat completes 73rd Aiken home!
Shameco Butler had cut the ribbon to her new Habitat for Humanity home Last Sunday.
She had formally received the keys to the residence in the Kennedy Kolony area of Aiken and had accepted a Bible as a gift.
It was her turn to speak to a cheering crowd of family, friends and volunteers, but Butler was immediately overcome by tears. She could only express her gratitude to Habitat, the sponsoring Aiken Board of Realtors, the Realtor Habitat Committee chair, Lyvia May, Kay and Joe Buggy and St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church.
A few minutes later, Butler would describe how she had become so worried about the neighborhood where she had once lived with her three young children – Dystiny Lawrence, 9, Dashawna Hicks, 8, and Shawn Hicks, 6. She moved in with family members and dreamed about her own home. She applied for Habitat and was accepted. Full Story.
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Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce:Helping in Tough Times
In response to our recent membership survey, the 2009 Spring Business Academy Series will focus on our members’ #1 need — increasing customer traffic.
“Finding Opportunities Amidst the Chaos”
- Wednesday, March 25th — Session #1 – Back to the Basics, will be led by Kevin Hanville, National Speaker and Business Consultant [www.quadrantgroup.biz <http://www.quadrantgroup.biz/> ]
- Wednesday, April 29th — Session #2 – Customer Service, How “You” Doin’ presented by a “Global Spectrum Executive”
- Wednesday, May 27 — Session #3 – Building Your Hometown Business Network led by a panel of local business leaders
These presentations clearly offer fundamentals that can be applied to any business.
Business Academy Sponsors:
Carolina First Bank
Dunkin’ Donuts
Eden Gardens, A Sunrise Assisted Living Community
Smith Tax Advisory Group
USCA Convocation Center, a Global Spectrum Managed Facility
Veracity Payment Solutions, Inc.
Act Today
The total cost of the three-part series is $50 and includes Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee, networking and presentation at each session.
Companies may purchase multiple series seats at $50 each and send different employees to different sessions or the same person to all.
All sessions will be held in the USCA Convocation Center VIP room. Sessions will begin at 7:45 AM and end at 9 AM.
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To make this as simple as possible for you, just hit reply and tell me how many seats to hold for your company, and I’ll send you an invoice. Please provide me the names and email addresses of all registrants. [The last two Business Academy Series were sellouts --- so don't delay.]
In 2009, the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Means Business.
Those who would like more information can contact The Chamber
or Contact Victoria Foulkes-Pyle,(Ambassador) @ 803 599 1014.
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Figurative art exhibit opens Friday.
More than 100 pieces of artwork will be on display this week as many artists have come together to present “Exposition De Nus Artistiques.”
The 5-day exhibit will open to the public Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and is located at No. 10 Downing, 241 Laurens St.
The event will continue Saturday, Thursday, March 19, Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21.
Carolyn Miller, one of the artists with work being featured in the show, said the exhibition will showcase figurative art – art created from real objects.
Miller said artists from Savannah, Atlanta, Aiken and Augusta have contributed work to the exhibition.
Several types of art will be on display during “Exposition De Nus Artistiques” including, graphite, pastel, acrylics, oils, mixed mediums, ink and sculpture. Some of the work being featured also includes nude art. Full Story.
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Aikenites get set for Trials.
It’s an annual rite of passage for Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts and interested spectators. The 67th edition of the Aiken Trials will be held Saturday.
The Aiken Trials will benefit the Aiken Land Conservancy, the Aiken Jaycees and the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. This year’s race card will feature a polo pony race. The polo ponies will race from a standing start, and will run the length of a polo field, approximately 300 yards. There will also be a short polo demonstration by the Aiken Polo Club. More Details
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Events of the Triple Crown.
The festivities begin Thursday with the Breakfast at the Gallops, a fund-raiser for the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, held at the Aiken Training Track’s clockers stand. Learn more about the sport of Thoroughbred racing as trainers based at the training facility discuss the sport and answer questions. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The event will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. For more information call 642-7650.
The Starting Gate Party is Thursday on the infield of the Aiken Training Track and will feature music by Anybody’s Guess. The dinner will be catered by Papa Russ’s Catering by Jennifer, and the meal will have a barbecue theme with a varied menu. Tickets to the Starting Gate Party are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. More Info.
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Key provisions of Obama’s economic stimulus package.
The bill that President Obama signed into law on Feb. 17 contains a number of important provisions that pertain to our personal finances.
Regarding tax relief, a ton of Americans will benefit. For example, all working folks will qualify for a tax credit of up to $400 for single filers and up to $800 for married persons filing jointly, provided that singles earn less than $75,000 annually, and married persons less than $150,000.
There are no credits for dependents. Most retired individuals will receive a one-time, $250 payment. And, for those of us who face the Alternative Minimum Tax issue every year, this law provides another one-year fix to protect millions from having to pay AMT. Full Story.
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Bookstore, groups join to help area gardeners.
The Aiken Master Gardeners, The Book Stall and the Garden Gate Cafe have teamed up to help Aiken residents brighten their homes with the colors of spring.
The bookstore and cafe at 413 Hayne Ave. will host two lectures by the Master Gardeners in mid-March. Jacquelyn Rees will speak on “The Southern Spring Garden” from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at the shop; Ben Roden will speak from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at the shop on “Hydrangeas.”
Space is limited to 20 people for each lecture, and advance registration is required; if demand is great enough, the lectures may be repeated in a second session another day, according to Rees. More Info.
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Tips for the first time do-it-yourselfer.
As if they weren’t already growing in popularity, do-it-yourself home improvement projects are likely to become even more popular as homeowners continue to cope with the sagging economy. While it’s tempting and perfectly understandable for homeowners to seek ways to save while simultaneously looking to improve their homes, a DIY project can prove more work [...]
Hopelands Gardens, Rye Patch continue improvements.
Members of the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch Inc., have put together a long range plan of renovations and improvements to be made at Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch over the next 10 years.
The plan was announced at the group’s annual meeting, which was held at Rye Patch on Sunday afternoon.
“This is more of a 10-year look to the future,” Dr. Joe Spencer, president of Friends, said in his description on the plan. “Hopelands and Rye Patch are a very important asset to our city.”
Spencer said most of the components of the plan will require work with the City to develop a timeline for the projects. Full Story.
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‘Produce the note’ has not had big local impact.
It’s almost one of those things that’s too easy to be true – staving off home foreclosure by simply demanding that your lender produce the original note.
As the economy goes down foreclosures go up. Hard-working people are finding themselves being forced out of their home when they can’t make their mortgage payments. But one simple request to a lender has in many cases slowed down the foreclosure process and given some homeowners a little breathing room.
It’s a little trick that goes back to the heart of how this whole banking mess got started.
During the real estate frenzy of the past decade, mortgages were sold and resold, bundled into securities and peddled to investors. In many cases, the original note signed by the homeowner was lost, stored away in a distant warehouse or destroyed, according to the Associated Press. Full Story.
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Downtown Seasonal Rental.
Wonderful 2 bedroom 2 bath cottage on York st,10ft fence keeps this gem totally private. Automatic gates, clear blue pool! Perfect for short term lease with pets!! Call 803 644 4444 today for more details.
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Rose Hill Seasonal Rental
Furnished Cottage has 3 bedrooms,2 king, 1 queen, 3 sleeper sofas, 2 courtyards and large kitchen. Rose Hill is an ideal retreat for individuals and groups, providing the perfect place to start an exploration of the charming downtown and surrounding area. Call 803 644 4444 for more details.
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Renowned pianist to play at festival!
The Juilliard In Aiken Festival will present pianist Elizabeth Joy Roe in concert on Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. at Banksia, at the Aiken County Historical Museum.
This concert will be one of the highlights of the week’s schedule of performances and educational outreach, as Roe has been hailed as “brilliant” and “electrifying” by both The New York Times and The Dallas Morning News.
Since being featured in the cover story of Symphony Magazine as one of the classical music world’s “Six On The Rise: Young Artists To Watch In 2008″ Elizabeth Joy Roe has earned universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike for her appearances as recitalist, orchestral soloist and chamber musician. Full Story.
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Lottery held for prime Steeplechase seats.
The excitement of Thoroughbred racing over national fences will once again return to Ford Conger Field at the Aiken Horse Park with the 43rd renewal of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on March 21, the first sanctioned meet on the National Steeplechase Association circuit.
There was a strong turnout Saturday morning as Thoroughbred racing fans hoped to improve and upgrade their seating assignments for the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. A lottery was held at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center for four general admission railside spots, four subscriber railside spots and four second row spots.
The Aiken Spring Steeplechase is the most well-attended one day sporting event in Aiken, and it gives spectators and racing enthusiasts the opportunity to see some of the nation’s premier Thoroughbred trainers, jockeys and horses. Full Story.
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Free tickets available for family concert.
Due to the Generosity of a local music lover, 200 free tickets are available for the “Kids Bop” Family Jazz Concert at the USC Aiken Etherredge Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Those interested must call. All seats must be reserved. To reserve seats, call the Etherredge Center box office at 641-3305. Tickets will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
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Free Thoroughbred talk coming Monday!
Barry Doss, who has bred, trained and owned Thoroughbred horses for more than 20 years, will give a talk about the basics of Thoroughbred racing on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum.
This is a free event. Registration is required and space is limited to the first 25 people to register. Those interested may register by calling 642-7650 or by e-mail at halloffame@cityofaikensc.gov.
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