After you have enjoyed exploring Jennifer Carter’s fun things to do this weekend, run into your local Home Depot and purchase a pack of $5.81 (or 2) of EcoSmart Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. Then, as your old 60 watt incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with the CFL’s. These bulbs have improved drastically in both functionality and effectiveness. And, Oh yeah, they will save you money, too. **See Below

Now you are not required to purchase this particular CFL but the Oct 09 Edition of Consumer Reports showcases this particular Brand/Model combination as their #1 choice. If you are like me though, you may want to pick and choose, on site, so here are some things to consider during your purchase:

Don’t Set Yourself Up for Disappointment
When replacing a 60 Watt bulb, it should usually be replaced with a 14 watt CFL. Note: It is sometimes necessary to replace with a 20 Watt CFL; especially, if the room was slightly darker than preferred with a 60 Watt incandescent.

Pick the Right Color.
On the package, the color of the light will be described in kelvins.

2700K is comparable to a yellowish/soft white incandescent that are preferred in decorator lamps, wall sconces, and other secondary or mood lighting sources.

3500K, it is more like a cool/bright white that is used primarily in kitchens and baths where a task is being completed so brightness is off absolute importance.

5000k rating and higher is typically used for reading lamps and is an extremely bright light that makes words jump off of pages. However, realize that the whiter the lamp, the less pleasing the look when used to light a room.

**Promise Me to Get it Done This Weekend
I am serious. Send me your receipt and I will multiply whatever you spent by 100 and take that amount off of your commissions due when I negotiate the sale or purchase of your next home. (Well…at least up to $1162)

See! Compact Fluorescent Bulbs will save you more money than expected.

Calling all Earth Keepers.  Saturday- April 19th.  Join DEMA (Downtown Ellijay Merchants Association) for their 10th Annual Earth Day Celebration.  Come buy (or sell) at the Earth Day Yard Sale.  If you don’t feel like buying or selling, come volunteer for one of the scheduled Earth Day Road Clean Up Projects:

Blackberry Mountain-Mulkey Road
Litter pick up around Gilmer County Roadways
DNR Cartecay Tract
Cherry Log
Cartecay River

Projects include planting trees, restoration, clean-up, and other miscellaneous projects.  Head out Saturday morning and give back to our Ellijay Community.  Enjoy a free lunch and an afternoon full of entertainment.  We have the opportunity to live and enjoy this beautiful city, lets keep it clean and green. 

Sassafras Mountain at Cartecay is a planned 170-acre estate lot community with majestic views of the north Georgia mountains. With a minimum of 3 acres per lot, every site ensures privacy and your own unique view of the surroundings. The community sits atop the Highest Peak in the heart of the Cartecay Valley of Gilmer County.

“It is our hope that newcomers to the area will come because they appreciate the natural beauty of our landscapes and enjoy the comforts of a slower pace lifestyle.” - Tim Mosley, Managing Member, Sassafras Developers, LLC.

Few areas offer as many recreational opportunities as the north Georgia mountains. Within minutes of Sassafras Mountain at Cartecay are whitewater rafting, boating and fishing on several lakes and rivers, hiking and camping on national forest lands, including the Appalachian Trail, and shopping, restaurants and seasonal festivals in the commercial districts of Ellijay and Blue Ridge.

Watch video preview for Sassafras Mountain.

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Ellijay was the site of an Indian village and bears an Indian name meaning "earth green there." Cherokee Indians lived in this area until their removal in 1838 to Oklahoma via the "Trail of Tears."

Nearly half the territory of Gilmer County is within the Chattahoochee National Forest and is protected from development by the Federal Government.

Carters Lake provides a major recreational area in the county. Carters Lake is formed from the Coosawatee River, which is formed from the Cartecay and Ellijay Rivers. The rivers were formerly used for timber operations in the area.

Gilmer County boast to be the "Apple Capital of Georgia". Over 600,000 bushels of apples in 25 varieties are produced annually and sold at numerous roadside stands throughout the county.

Some of the local festivals include the Georgia Apple Festival, the Cherry Log Festival, the Apple Classic Auto Show, and the Gilmer County Fair.

Homes For Sale in Ellijay GA

Ellijay, just 80 miles north of Atlanta and 65 miles south of Chattanooga, is a quaint little town that is rapidly growing but has not lost that small town feeling! There is still time for a friendly smile and greeting from the friendly people of Ellijay.

Known as the apple capital of Georgia, and host of the annual Georgia Apple Festival, there’s much more to the area than apples. There are the most beautiful mountains and rivers in North Georgia for boating, fishing, fly fishing, water skiing, hiking, cycling, kayaking, picnicking, hunting and camping.

Gilmer County is beautiful any season of the year. In the winter, you can expect a light dusting of snow. In the spring, you won’t want to miss the dogwoods, mountain laurels, wild azaleas and rhododendron. In the summer, it’s the perfect time to hit the lakes and rivers. In the fall, there’s the gorgeous color of the autumn leaves, the apple festival, fried apple pies and boiled peanuts. Okay, so you gain a few pounds, you can diet when you get home.

Historic downtown Ellijay, known for antiquing, has brick lined sidewalks, romantic light posts, a fountain in the center of town, parades and more shops and restaurants than you could possible visit. No franchise restaurants here – just good down home cooking with lots of variety. There is even a wine tasting room where you may sample the wines of North Georgia.

Something about Ellijay and the North Georgia Mountains evokes a sense of peace in every visitor. There’s a real sense of Southern hospitality here with the old rocking chair front porches, the smell of wood burning in the fireplaces and the cheerful greetings from friends and strangers alike. Although there is an ongoing debate about what the name “Ellijay” means, we are pretty sure it just means “HOME”.

North Georgia Medical Center will build a new, state-of-the-art, $30-million dollar hospital that will house all private rooms and include the latest in hi-tech medical care. The hospital will be located on Hwy 515, south of the Highlands Shopping Center and sport views of Lake Talona and Talona Mountain.