Memorial Day 2009

Today, May 25, 2009 is Memorial Day.  Today is the day that honors those who fought for our freedom.  They died in defense of our country, never seeking fame or glory.

Roswell’s Memorial Day ceremony takes place today at City Hall.  The official program begins at 11:00 a.m.  The program includes the presentation of colors, the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, “Lest We Forget” POW-MIA, and Laying of the Wreath.  This year’s featured speaker is Colonel Benjamin H. Purcell.  Colonel Purcell spent five years as a Prisoner of War during Vietnam. 

Roswell’s 31st Annual Possum Trot 10K

The 31st annual Possum Trot is Saturday, May 20th.  A perfect qualifier for the famed Peachtree Road Race, the popular Possum Trot is also a great conditioning course.  The course is flat, fast and fun with scenic views along the Chattahoochee River.

The course starts and ends at the entrance of the Chattahoochee Nature Center located at 9135 Willeo Road in Roswell.  Parking is allowed at the Nature Center, but if you park there, plan on sticking around for post-race activities, as the road will be closed until at least 9:30.  There is additional parking at the St. Francis School on Willeo. 

Governor Perdue Signs Housing Tax Credit Bill

Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 261 earlier this week.  House Bill 261 provides a $1,800 tax credit for home purchases. The credit, which would be taken over three years, takes effect immediately and is meant to spur activity in the housing market.

The bill provides an income tax credit for the purchase of a single family residence during the next six months. The amount of the credit will be the lesser of $1,800 or 1.2 percent of the purchase price. A taxpayer may claim one-third of the credit available in each taxable year, and may carry forward unclaimed amounts.

Kitchen Trends 2009

Stainless steel appliances and Granite countertops. Not long ago, these were the hottest kitchen features. But now they’re expected and practically come standard. What are the next major trends to keep an eye on?

    According to a recent National Kitchen and Bath Association survey of more than 200 kitchen designers, cherry and maple cabinets, quartzite countertops and custom-paneled appliances are hot. Where oak cabinets were once the must-have, more than 75 percent of survey participants now report using cherry and maple, followed by paints and exotic woods. And although nearly all designers believe stainless steel is still the most popular appliance finish, 77 percent say that custom paneling on appliances is becoming more common. Granite is still the most frequently used countertop material, but 65 percent of designers report using more quartzite, another durable stone material.

Housing Stats on the Rise Across the U.S.

Reuters has just announced that pending sales of previously owned homes rose in March for a second straight month across the Nation.  Construction spending edged higher, according to reports on Monday that suggested a moderation in the housing slump. These reports boosted stock prices, and is the latest in a series of reports that support views that the recession, which entered its 17th month in May, was close to finding a bottom.  The collapse of the U.S. housing market and the resulting credit crisis pushed the economy into deep recession and analysts have watched home sales for signs of an end to the economic downturn.