Scenes of LaFayette Ridge

The Owens' new roof

The Sharp's lush front yard

The Wozniak's mailbox is surrounded by beautiful flowers.

A turtle crossing the blogger's driveway after a recent rain storm.

Taylor's Welcome Rescued Pooch

Doug and Maria Taylor, along with daughters Olivia and Christina, recently welcomed home Roscoe, a one-year-old purebred Beagle. Roscoe is a welcome addition to the myriad of pets that call LaFayette Ridge home.

Roscoe Taylor

Congratulations Class of 2009

Congratulations to LaFayette Ridge's Tyler Whaley, son of Dexter and Janet, who recently graduated from Loganville High School as part of the Class of 2009.

We wish you the best of luck, Tyler!

Loganville Couple Attacked

Elderly couple attacked in Loganville robbery
Taken from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Loganville police are looking for three suspects in a brutal Thursday afternoon robbery that left an elderly Walton County couple hospitalized.

The attack happened about 1 p.m. in the couple’s home

on Covington Street in downtown Loganville.

Loganville police Chief Mike McHugh told WSB-TV that two black men approached C.F. Ewing and his wife, posing as potential buyers of Ewing’s pickup truck.

Once inside the couple’s home, the suspects severely beat Ewing and his wife and stole his wallet before fleeing in a late-model dark blue or black Chevrolet or Oldsmobile sedan driven by a third suspect.

Ewing was in serious condition at Gwinnett Medical Center. His wife, identified as F.C. Ewing, was in critical but stable condition at Atlanta Medical Center.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI are assisting in the investigation.

Update: Sketches of the 2 men are located here: http://www.wsbtv.com/slideshow/news/19532611/detail.html

Update 2: The Loganville CVS was robbed Friday evening at 11:30 p.m. Loganville Police said that this robbery is not connected to the Ewing robbery.

Update 3: All three suspects in the beating of the Ewing's have been arrested.

Nearby Real Estate Prices

This blog post doesn't really cover La Fayette Ridge, but it does shed some light on nearby real estate prices and the current state of the market.

Less than 2 years ago, the grey stucco home on Johnson Road was highlighted in the local news after the renters were identified as training and breeding dogs for fighting. The home has sat empty since then and it has now been listed for sale. The asking price is $279,900 and the home sits on 6 acres of land.

Here's more information on this home: http://www.georgiamls.com/search/propDetail.cfm?LN=2668251

Like La Fayette Ridge, Barrington Manor has one foreclosure. The home is listed at $219,000.

More information on this home is located here: http://www.georgiamls.com/search/propDetail.cfm?LN=2646714

A 5-acre track of land nearby on Johnson Road has been listed for $175,000.

Another home on La Fayette Lane has been listed for $157,900. Here's more information on this home: http://www.georgiamls.com/search/propDetail.cfm?LN=2674866

New Neighbors Moving In

LaFayette Ridge will welcome new neighbors - Mark and Connie - on July 1. A family of 5, with 3 girls ages 6, 16 and 19 (respectively), will call 1497 LaFayette Court home. They also have a 20-year-old son who lives independently in Atlanta.

The family saw the house during the LaFayette Ridge neighborhood yard sale and inquired immediately about renting the home. They have signed a two year lease (with the option to purchase) and will be moving in shortly.

Let's welcome our new neighbors.

Tax Assessments Out

LaFayette Ridge homeowners received tax assessments from Walton County on Saturday. Home values were down, around 13% on average, resulting in an expected lowered property tax to be released in the near future (assuming the millage rate remains the same).

The lowered values are disappointing, but were anticipated given the state of the current housing market. The resulting lowered property tax bill will be greatly appreciated to many in the neighborhood and in Walton county overall.

Update: The rumor around Walton County is that the millage rate will indeed go up. Our hopes of lowered property tax bills may not be the case after all.

Neighborhood Yard Sale a Success

Fun, friends and good food, along with an eclectic mixture of bargain hunters, made for a wonderful afternoon. Several neighbors of LaFayette Ridge joined forces and put on a great yard sale on Friday and Saturday. We shopped each other's sales, wheeled-and-dealed, met some interesting folks and had a great time.

Joan (Linda's sister-in-law), Linda, Lauren and

Emma show off some of the merchandise

Lauren, Emma and Linda take a break after

visiting with 60+ yard-sale buyers

New Park Opens in Loganville

LaFayette Ridge neighbors have access to a new park within a short driving distance from the subdivision.

Destination Park, located near the intersection of Old Loganville and Tuck Roads, features a state-of-the-art playground and new facility that is welcoming to children of all ages.

The park was built with funds generated by Gwinnett County's SPLOST.

Happy Mother's Day

We hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday. Here are a few memorable quotes about Mom:

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. - Abraham Lincoln

It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it. - From the television show, The Golden Girls

The tie which links mother and child is of such pure and immaculate strength as to be never violated. - Washington Irving

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. - Jewish Proverb

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all. - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Part 3

The neighborhood handymen, Alvin and John (better known as Juan and Julio) were at it again this week. They worked so hard in stretching and tightening the existing fence and installing a new walk-through gate on the Patty's side fence.

Thanks to Alvin and John for their hard work and dedication to our neighborhood!

Juan and Julio work on the Patty's fence