Kara's Blog

AIKEN TRIPLE CROWN IS HERE!!   Part Two - The Second Leg

 
What:  SECOND LEG - Aiken Steeplechase   (this is my favorite!!)

         (the line you see in the top of the pic above is the finish line!!)
 
This event draws the largest crowd - about 30,000 for the day!!  In this event the jockeys take the horses over a series of jumps during a race.   

 
When:  Saturday, March 21, 2009

Where: Ford Conger Field

Gates open: 9:30am  ----Don't forget you hats, Ladies!!!    Why? For the hat contest of course!!

Village of Shops:  Open at 10am

Guarantor Tent Party:  11am

First Post Time:  1pm         SIX RACES ARE HELD!!    RAIN OR SHINE!!!

Carriage Parade:  1:45pm

 
TICKETS:  General Admission $10 in advance, $15 at the gate
General Admin tickets can be purchased at:  Aiken Drug, Aiken Saddlery, Floyd & Green, Ingate Pharmacy, Lominicks Pharmacy, Odell Weeks, Plum Pudding, Southern Bank & Trust, Stoplight Deli, Unique Expressions.
 
Tent Party:  Tickets $100.  ($50 for children ages 6-12).
Includes entrance to party in the tent near the finish line, buffet luncheon, open bar, entertainment and parking pass.     Contact the Aiken Steeplechase office at 803-648-9641 for Guarantor tickets.
 
More Info: 803.648.9641  or visit:  www.aikensteeplechase.com
 
If you can only make one leg of the Triple Crown - this is the one!!!    See you there :)

Have fun - enjoy the races,   I know I will :)

This year will be extra special!!! --  my niece Tracy is flying down from Jersey to see her first Steeplechase!!  I'm so excited for her visit - I can't wait!!  

SEE YOU AT THE RACES!!!!      Be sure to say 'hey' if you see me!       

SENIOR ADULT DAY TRIP
 
What:  Senior Adult Day Trip  (ages 50 and up)

Hosted By:  City of Aiken Parks, Rec & Tourism

Where to:   GARDENS TOUR - Bishopville, SC

When:  April 27, 2008  

Depart: 8am

Return:   5pm

Cost:  $40 per person - includes lunch

Call the Weeks Center for updated information 803.642.7631

REGISTRATION BEGINS MARCH 27TH:  Front Desk at Odell Weeks Center ,  Whiskey Road, Aiken - across from Home Depot.
 

Visit the following:   Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden,  the James House Camellia Gardens, the Cotton Museum and MORE!!    
 
Sounds like a great trip :) 

Have fun.   If you take any pictures I would love to share them here on my blog.  Give me a call or shoot me an email.   Thanks :)

What:  Senior Fitness Classes

Where:  Gregg park Civic Center, Graniteville

When:  Mondays and Wednesdays

Time:  9am - 10am

Instructor:  Sharon Dairon

Cost:  FREE  

More Info:  803.663.7552
 

I am happy to share this information with my readers!   I hope you are able to take advantage of this free fitness class :)

Make it a fun day!

Don't forget - give me a call if I can be of any assistance with your real estate needs.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

                      
 
What: Gardening Lecture Series

Where:  The Book Stall

Location:  413 Hayne Avenue, Downtown Aiken

More Info/Reserve A Seat:  803.644.0606

Cost:  FREE
 
Upcoming Lectures:
 
March 18,  3pm-5pm:  'The Southern Spring Garden' - presented by Master Gardner, Jacquelyn Rees
 
March 19, 3pm-5pm: 'Hydrangeas' - presented by Master Gardner, Ben Roden

                        
 
Space is limited to 20 people -please call to reserve a seat!
 

I'm happy to share this information with my readers!      I'd love to see a picture of your garden :)

 
That's right -  Aiken's own Triple Crown kicks off this weekend.
 
Three consecutive weekends of total fun!!
 
What:  FIRST LEG -  Aiken Trials.
 
 Come watch the horses race on a flat track.   This race has been held every year since 1942 - giving young thoroughbreds a chance to show their stuff!   Come on out and enjoy the races.  
 
When: Saturday, March 14, 2009

Where: Aiken Training Track

Gates Open: 10am

Carriage Parade: 1pm

Post Time:  2pm

Tickets:  General admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the gate.

General admin tickets can be purchased locally at:  Allstar Rents, Odell Weeks, Aiken Saddlery, Southern Saddlery, Womens' Echoes, and at  Boots, Bridles & Britches

Or....Buy Tickets:   803.278.4TIX   or visit:  www.tixonline.com

More Info:  www.theaikentrainingtrack.com

Have fun - enjoy the races!! 

It has been quiet next door since they poured the footers - until yesterday afternoon! 
 
I had the pleasure of meeting Tim Wright and Rav (didn't catch his last name) today at the Park Place site next door.
 
They are with CSRA Testing And Engineering Co., out of Augusta, Georgia - and can be reached at: 706.733.6960 if you are in need of their services.    The reason for their visit to the job site was to test the ground below the footers.  To be exact -  they were testing the load bearing values below the footers.
 
In laymens terms -  they wanted to be sure that the earth was prepared according to their specs prior to the footers being poured.    These are the guys that looked at the core samples that Jimmy took way back when, and determined how deep - how wide - how much crushed stone needed to be compacted below the footers - to support the weight of the building to be constructed.    I do believe that theirs is probably the MOST IMPORTANT job of this whole process.  
 
 
Here is Rav doing his thing:
 
 
 
 
And don't forget -  here is what will be built!!

 What:   Meet a Master Gardner

Where: Aiken County Farmers Market -  Corner of Richland & Williamsburg Aves - Downtown Aiken

When:  Saturday, March 14th

Time:  8:00am - Noon

The Master Gardener team will be available to answer your gardening questions.

Also available for sale will be a couple of great books:

-  Aiken County South Carolina Garden Almanac  (revised, third edition)

- A Collection of Favorite Recipes, Aiken Master Gardners in the Kitchen

While you are there - pick up some nice fresh produce (among other things!!)

Have a great weekend :)

As some of you are aware - the Aiken Board of Realtors took on a major project last year to build a 'Habitat for Humanity' house for a deserving member of our community.   

 We not only sell them - we build them too :)

It was a major undertaking  - but we (the Realtors)  were able to raise the required $60,000 to build the house.   Many a fundraiser was held!  Many thanks to our community for their generous support and donations!
                                           
Ground breaking was on October 15th and we had the dedication on Sunday the 8th!   Our new homeowner, Shemeco Butler, will be closing on her mortgage on the 12th.   That is less than 5 months from ground breaking to move-in!!   Amazing!

  
Did you realize that the Habitat homeowners HAVE A MORTAGE TO REPAY?  This is NOT a FREE house like so many people think.

It was such a great experience to help with the construction.  It warms your heart to give back to the community, it really does.   I just wish I could have helped out a little more - but with my gallbladder problem I couldn't help until after my surgery.  But as soon as I was healed - I was there every Saturday to do my share.   I really enjoyed the experience - and I would like to donate more of my time to help with another house.

Here is Shemeco, and her children - Dynisty, Shawn and DaShawna getting ready to cut the ribbon!

Shemeco is very deserving of this chance at homeownership.  A single mom of three young children - working full time , and going to college.   Wow - I'm tired just thinking about all of that!   She is so nice, too.  I have enjoyed getting to know her and the children and I'll definitely be keeping in touch with them.   

Shemeco and I arrived at the house about the same time on Sunday - after our 'hello hug' she showed me the scrapbook she made - documenting every step along the way in the building process.   Of course she had to point out the picture she had of me in there, lol.  I remember the weekend she took that pic - it was FREEEEEEZING....and we (me and Shemeco) were painting the interior doors.   

Ahhhh - memories :)

Have a great day everyone.  If you can - I suggest going out and volunteering for your local Habitat for Humanity.  It is a great experience.  If you can't do the physical labor - maybe you could bring lunch to the volunteers! 

If you are ready to buy a house in the Aiken area - give me a call :)   Be sure to let me know you saw my blog.

That's right - it's spring training time in Florida!!  My Broker-In-Charge (Charles...and yes - he is IN CHARGE!)  goes to St. Pete every year to watch the boys of summer do their thing :)  

Charles and his buddy Billy have been going down to Florida every spring for the past 10 years or so.   They have been friends since grade school ---- continued thru high school --- and even joined The Military together after that! (Air Force - for those who are wondering)

As soon as Billy retired they found it easier to get there every spring! (only one working schedule to deal with instead of both)

They will make the long drive on Monday - and catch the first game on Tuesday.....and watch them all the way through to Saturday.   Sunday they make the long drive back home.

Charles tells me that in all the years they have been going - only ONE game has been rained out!  That is pretty remarkable.   Sounds like those trainers know what they are doing - picking the right time of year...and the right locations!

I learned from Charles that there are only TWO states where the ballteams hold their spring training --  Florida (The Grapefruit League)  and Arizona (The Cactus League).

Oh - and of course 'the wives' go along for the trip!  While they don't go to the games -- they do take in some shopping, etc.        His daughter lives in the St. Pete area and she will join them for a game or two :)

Now.............. Play Ball!!

Have fun Charles -   safe trip there and back!   Enjoy watching The.... Phillies...Yankees...and Astros!

We are on the next step in the construction process!     Paul and his guys are setting up the forms for the support walls.  

Take a look!

Don't forget - here is what they are preparing for:

Give me a call for more info on these great downtown condo units.

Pre-construction prices won't last!!

2 Bedroom/2 Bath:  $429,000

3 Bedroom/2 Bath:  $489,000

You couldn't ask for a better location than this!  Perfectly Downtown :)        If you are thinking about a 'Southern get-away' ----  this would be ideal!     A place to get away to --   a place for family and friends to get-away to.....     You could even make a few bucks and rent it out for Master's week (if you weren't coming down for the tourny)

Give me a call!   My cell:  803-270-1024.   Be sure to let me know you saw my blog :)