Covington GA Living

KnowAtlanta magazine, the area's premiere relocation guide, reports in it's just-released Fall 2007 issue that "The South is rising again with the help of Atlanta's high rise condo market."  Well, not all condos in the area are in "high rises," nor are they all in downtown Atlanta!

It's true... new condos are scarce outside the Perimeter.  But if you would love the comfort, convenience and affordability of the condo lifestyle outside the Perimeter, now you can have it!

Pre-construction sales have begun on an exciting new condo project in Covington, Georgia, just a short walk from Covington's historic square.  These units, modeled after classic Paris flats, offer classical style with all the modern conveniences.

Each of the six 2-bedroom / 2-full bath units offer great open floorplans, beautiful kitchens with islands, large masters with walk-in closets, covered parking and your own 12X12 storage unit.  Third floor units may be expanded to two floors, almost doubling your square footage.

Offered well below downtown Atlanta's cost per square foot, these units are a great value at only $217,000.

For more information on these condos in Covington, contact me immediately.  The few units available will not last!  Email bill@CovingtonLivingHomes.com or call (770) 337-5262.

                                           (Special arrangements available for investors.)

A sleepy Sunday afternoon in Covington, Georgia was roused awake by a magnificent concert today, "A Festival for Three Organs.

Presented by the Newton County Arts Association and the First Presbyterian Church of Covington, "A Festival for Three Organs," featuring concert artists Dan Miller and our own Becky Ramsey and Alice Walker, offered over an hour of beautiful and stirring music performed on the Presbyterians Church's magnificent pipe organ and two Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece organs supplied and installed in the church's sanctuary by Chapel Music of Lithonia.

Mr. Miller not only performed, but arranged and scored all the selections for the three organs.

Jeremiah Clarke's stirring "Trumpet Voluntary" opened the program. Selections then progressed through classical pieces, such as Bach's familiar Toccata and Fugue in d minor, religious selections, show tunes, including a medley from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera," and concluded with patriotic pieces.

The finale, Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and the trio's encore "God Bless America" had the entire audience standing, clapping, singing and exiting the auditorium with smiles on their faces.

One of the most moving selections of the concert was "The Rejoicing for Danae," a wedding processional written by Dan Miller on the occasion of his daughter's marriage.  The piece was written for organ and orchestra based upon musical notes associated with the spelling of his daughter's name.   For this performance, since there was no orchestra available, Miller simulated percussion and other orchestral voices through a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) attached to his Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece instrument.  The resulting elegance and fanfare of the piece painted a perfect mental picture of a beautiful bride walking down the aisle on the arm of her father.

Dan Miller is an internationally renowned pianist, organist, harpsichordist and keyboardist, and has a fascination with computer music technology.  A church organist since the age of fifteen, Miller has served at several notable churches.  At Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, he presided over the world's thirteenth largest pipe organ.

Miller has recorded fifteen compact discs of organ music, several of which have been broadcast on National Public Radio's "Pipedreams."  His first CD, The Calvary Organ Dedication, was chosen as "The Organ CD to Die For" by Stereophile magazine in its February 1994 issue.

Mr. Miller is currently Product Manager for Rodgers Instruments LLC, one of the world's leading organ builders, in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Organist for St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Beaverton.

Becky Ramsey and Alice Walker are well known to Covington audiences and the community.  Residents of Covington, the identical twins have had a prolific career, beginning as child performers at the age of five.  They have appeared throughout the U.S. and in England, Mexico and Canada.

Following their graduation from Agnes Scott College, Becky and Alice earned the certifications of Colleague and Associate from the American Guild of Organists.  They were the first set of identical twins to receive this prestigious recognition of pipe organ proficiency in the history of the AGO in the United States.

Yes, this concert was truly a "Festival for Three Organs."  My brain was amazed at the artistry of the three performers.  My breath was taken away by the grandeur of the music.  And my heart was made proud that performances such as this are a regular part of the arts and culture of a small southern town like Covington, Georgia.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, corporations like RE/MAX, through its Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure sponsorship, and even individual communities are promoting awareness of this illness which strikes thousands of women - and men - each year.

Proudly, Covington is no exception. 

In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Main Street Covington and the Newton Medical Center Women's Diagnostic Center partnered this month to present "Portraits of Hope."  "Portraits of Hope" is perhaps one of the quietest, but most compelling and impactful "celebrations" I've witnessed.

"Portraits of Hope" features 26 local women who are cancer survivors from the diagnostic center's support group.  As a part of the program, Janette Facer, Merle Norman cosmetologist, applied makeup for the women.  Kim Brown, Covington freelance photographer, donated her talent to take individual portraits of the 26 women.

Wendi Martinez and Kay Goff, diagnostic center volunteers and cancer survivors themselves, arranged to have the portraits placed in the windows of downtown Covington businesses, along with short anecdotes of the women's personal experiences with the illness in their own words.

Tonight, October 18^th at 5:00pm, these 26 women will be honored at a reception at the Southern Heartland Art Gallery on Covington's town square.  The square has been "pink" all month with large pink bows around each streetlamp.  But tonight for the reception, it will also be lighted with pink luminaries dedicated to all those who have battled breast cancer.

The luminaries to be lighted all around the square tonight have been available for purchase this month in honor or in memory of a loved one.  Proceeds from sale of the luminaries will go to The Hope Boutique and for digital mammography equipment in The Women's Diagnostic Center at Newton Medical Center. 

Since the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985, mortality rates in the U.S. are over 24 percent lower due to public awareness and advancements in diagnostic and treatment tools.  And yet, according to the National Cancer Institute, 178,480 women and 2,030 men will be stricken with breast cancer this year.

If you can, attend the reception for our 26 survivors tonight at the Southern Heartland Gallery.  The public is invited.  But if you can't make that, at least stroll around the historic square this month, look at the lovely portraits in the store windows, and read these courageous women's inspiring words.  It will make you proud of our community and happy that we have these "Portraits of Hope" among us in Covington.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

There's a lot going on in Covington this week and throughout the rest of October.

The "Yellow River Jam" is scheduled for this coming Saturday, October 13^th.  It promises to be a lot of fun, but is also tied to an important event, the "Rivers Alive Cleanup."

The Rivers Alive Cleanup is sponsored by Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful, the local affiliate of Keep Georgia Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.  The clean-up efforts will target sections of the Yellow and Alcovy Rivers.  After the morning clean-up, workers - along with the general public - can grab some food and fun at the "Yellow River Jam."  The "Jam" runs from noon until 7:00 p.m. across from the Porterdale Mill Lofts.

The "Jam" will feature food vendors, arts and crafts for sale, children's' activities, a car show and live music.  Jimbo's Grill at the Mill will sponsor a street party with live music and food and drink specials starting at 5:00 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to give something back to our community, and have some fun at the same time.  Plans are being made to make the "Yellow River Jam" an annual event.

You might also want to plan your weekend around the Covington Lions Club's festival and BBQ cook-off, "Sherman's Last Burning."  The event is being held Friday and Saturday, the 12^th and 13^th, at Legion Field fairgrounds on Mill Street in Covington.  "Sherman's Last Burning" is KCBS (Kansas City Barbeque Society) sanctioned, and promises fun for the entire family.  In addition to some great "Q," the event will feature over 100 artisans and craftsmen and two stages of live entertainment.

On your way home, stop by the First Methodist Great Pumpkin Patch on Conyers Street and start getting ready for Halloween.  The patch opens today and continues through October 31.  Pumpkins of all sizes and shapes will be available for your fall decorating and Jack-O-Lanterns.

One final item... The Newton County High School Class of '58 has begun planning their 50^th Reunion, and are trying to contact all class members.  Class reunions are great events, and the 50^th is always special.  Anyone in the Class of 1958 can contact JoAnn Kitchens Hopkins at (770) 787-2467 or email olinpresley@hotmail.com.

Around the first of a new month and time for another look at the Real Estate market statistics for the month of September.  In Covington, Georgia and Newton County during the month of September, there were 2101 single family residences actively listed for sale.  The average Days On Market, or length of time these homes have been for sale, has reached 114 days.  During September, 107 homes were sold.  They had been on the market for an average of 98 days.

Here's a telling statistic:  The homes sold during September sold for only 87.8% of their listing price, indicating how much of a buyers' market still exists... and that more sellers are beginning to realize that fact.

In Covington and Newton County, as of the end of September, there was almost a 13 month supply of homes on the market.

Following are statistics for several individual price ranges:

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; Under $100,000 (Single Family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              120
• Average DOM:               91
• Sold Listings:                 21
• Average Sold DOM:      113

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $100,000 - $200,000 (Single Family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              1253
• Average DOM:                 99
• Sold Listings:                   58
• Average Sold DOM:         89

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $200,000 - $300,000 (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              418
• Average DOM:              145
• Sold Listings:                  15
• Average Sold DOM:      166

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $300,000 - $400,000 (Single Family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              165
• Average DOM:              138
• Sold Listings:                  6
• Average Sold DOM:      138

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $400,000 - $500,000 (Single Family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              69
• Average DOM:              137
• Sold Listings:                4
• Average Sold DOM:      55

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $500,000 - $600,000 (Single Family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              43
• Average DOM:              141
• Sold Listings:                  2
• Average Sold DOM:      122

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $600,000 - $700,000 (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              21
• Average DOM:              134
• Sold Listings:                0
• Average Sold DOM:      n/a

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $700,000 - $800,000 (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              6
• Average DOM:              124
• Sold Listings:                0
• Average Sold DOM:      n/a

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $800,000 - $900,000 (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              2
• Average DOM:              40
• Sold Listings:                0
• Average Sold DOM:      n/a

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $900,000 - $1,000,000 (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              2
• Average DOM:              72
• Sold Listings:                0
• Average Sold DOM:      n/a

Covington, Georgia and Newton County Real Estate For Sale; $1,000,000+ (Single family Homes Only)

• Active Listings:              2
• Average DOM:              211
• Sold Listings:                1
• Average Sold DOM:      90