Covington Living Today

Now you can bite into your 15 minutes of fame!

The CW Network's "Vampire Diaries" TV show has put out a call for paid extras as they continue to film the popular series in Covington.  The show held an open casting call last July in Covington, but is still looking for extras of all types and ages.

To bite into this opportunity, all you have to do is send an email to the extras casting director at vampirediariescasting@gmail.com.  Send along a recent photo, along with your name, age, height, weight, clothing size, and phone number

The pay?... $7.25 per hour, plus overtime if you work more than eight hours.  And I've noticed that the crew films all hours of the day and night.  I guess that's what it takes to be a good vampire.

The show's website says that "Vampire Diaries" was the best premiere ever for The CW network, and averages 4.5 million viewers, making it the network's most-watched show.

Ron Brown, a loan specialist from Puyallup, Washington wrote a great blog today titled "Are these words "offensive?"

It's about two things... (1) What we can and can't say in real estate advertising to avoid Fair Housing Law violations, and (2) the condition and requirement that has sneaked into our society of being "PC," politically correct.

It seems that, at the beginning of every new year, Ron's local Multiple Listing Service board sends out a list of words to be avoided in real estate advertising by all their members because they may be found "offensive."  The list is long, and includes such really nasty words as (dare I write them?):

• Adult
• American
• Church
• Couple
• Family
• Grandmas house
• Healthy
• Married
• Older person
• Retired
• Student
• Traditional
• Woman
• Working, and
  
• Young

At my last count, Ron's blog post had over 100 comments from my colleagues around the country, most of which included words to describe the list as "absolutely pathetic, sad, outrageous, downright stupid, ridiculous," and "extremism to the 'n'th degree."

One commenter said "There is nothing in our Constitution that says that we have the right to NOT be offended."  Another said, "We can't say 'America' without offending someone?  This is what I fought for in the Marine Corps for the last 14 years!"  And yet another pondered, "Let's see... Realtors can't use the word 'Negro' but the Speaker of the House of Representatives can."

I have to admit, I agree 100 percent with the sentiments and comments expressed by my colleagues.  I'm sick of being worried about  being "politically correct,"  the accompanying guilt trips associated with not being "politically correct," and even the term itself.  I realize that there are words in our lexicon that are offensive to some individuals and groups, and we shouldn't use them... in advertising, or anywhere else.  But, the reason we shouldn't use offensive words is out of respect for our fellow human beings and/or their condition, not because we're worried about being politically correct.

Come on people!  We need to stop being a nation of wimps.  If you're worried about calling someone, or offended by being called an "Adult American who takes the Family to Grandmas House after Church on Sunday," you need to pull up your big-girl panties and get a life!

Allegedly, there's an annual contest at a major Texas university which calls for entrants to write the most appropriate definition for a contemporary term.  Last years term was "Political Correctness."  The winning entry was:

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

My sentiments exactly!

Nine past citizens of Newton County “spoke” to visitors strolling through the historic Covington City Cemetery last Thursday evening during the Newton County Chamber of Commerce’s “Voices From The Past” tour.

Local residents dressed in period costumes portrayed notable past citizens of the county, providing vignettes of their lives and county history during the 1800s and early 1900s.  Each presented their story standing beside the grave of the resident they portrayed.

Residents represented in the portrayals included Mahala Pitts Clark, born into slavery who died at the age of 100; George Thompson, a gypsy killed at Clark’s Grove as a result of a gambling altercation; Reverend Toney Baker, first pastor of the African-American Bethel Baptist Church; Dr. Luke Robinson, one of the county’s first physicians; Julia A. Camp Porter whose husband founded Porterdale and its textile mill, and after whom the Julia A. Porter Memorial Methodist Church is named; Martha Hood Dorsett, a young frontierswoman who died at the age of 20, but whose descendants still reside in the area; Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt whose husband and three children all died within a short seven-year marriage; Reverend Andrew Hamill, a Methodist circuit-riding preacher who served the spiritual needs of Georgians from Brunswick to Blairsville, and; General James Phillip Simms, Confederate General and state legislator.

Local resident Louise Adams portrayed Mahala Pitts Clark.  Ernie Smith was the gypsy George Thompson.  The Reverend Hezekiah Benton, current pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, portrayed Reverend Toney Baker.  Chris Smith, descendant of Dr. Luke Robinson, portrayed his ancestor.  Cynthia Millsaps became Julia A. Camp Porter.  Amelia Thomaston, Oxford College student, portrayed Martha Hood Dorsett.  Sandi Schein tugged your heartstrings as Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt.  Reverend Brian Dale became circuit-rider Reverend Andrew Hamill.  And Will Alisberg played General James Phillip Simms.

Tour guides led groups from the sold-out event through the cemetery, pointing out distinctive monuments, inter-relating the cemetery and county history, and explaining the meaning and significance of symbols and markings on the memorials and grave stones.

The Covington City Cemetery consists of five separate sections:

• The Old Methodist, Northwest Section
• The Confederate, Northeast Section
• The African American, Eastern Central Section
• The Memorial Garden, West central Section, and
• The City Cemetery, The Central and largest Section

Within the city limits of Covington, ten other cemeteries have been identified, bringing the total cemeteries in Newton County to 270, identified so far.

The Tourism Division of the Newton Chamber, in cooperation with the Newton County Historical Society should be commended for staging this unique event.  "Voices From The Past" offered Covington residents a special opportunity to be both educated and entertained by our county’s history.

Valerie Jarrett, one of the president’s senior advisers told major media outlets this morning that President Obama will travel to Denmark to support Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.  He will leave this Thursday and join his wife Michelle in Copenhagen where they, along with a packed contingent from Chicago’s bid committee and the world of celebrity, will lobby the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the international event.

The IOC will decide the host city on Friday from among the final contenders, Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

What’s wrong with this picture?  I see two major problems.

First, let me say that there is no bigger supporter of the Olympic movement than me.  Before I became a realtor in Covington, I was a sports marketing consultant working primarily for worldwide corporate sponsors of the Olympic Movement for over 15 years.  I developed and implemented marketing programs to help sponsors leverage their sponsorships in Olympic Summer and Winter Games, regional competitions such as the Asian Games, and local trial competitions for National Olympic Committees in countries throughout the world.  I worked on Games and competitions in Europe, Asia, India, Australia and the U.S.  To me, there is no greater movement, nor one that elicits more national pride, emotion, history, or personal satisfaction than the Olympics.

My first issue with Obama traveling to Denmark is that the U.S. taxpayers will be springing for yet another presidential boondoggle and photo-op.  Not only is Obama going, but he is “meeting” Michelle there, and taking along Jarrett, Education Secretary Anne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to the AP.

And since Obama is going, it’s a good bet that taxpayers will also be liable for a good portion, if not all, of the Chicago contingent’s costs.  The Chicago group will include the city’s bid committee members, Obama crony Mayor Richard Daley, Ophra Winfrey, and 14 Olympic and two Paralympic gold medalists, including Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nadia Comaneci and Nastia Liukin.

There is no reason for the US President to lobby for the Games being held in the United States.  President George H.W. Bush did not make an appearance when Atlanta won the bid in 1989, nor has any other American president ever done so.  Obama will be the first U.S. president to actually appeal in person to the IOC for an Olympic event.  And in fact, it is likely that the IOC’s mind is already made up as to who will be the winning city.  Although no one will know until this Friday, IOC officials have been visiting potential cities, asking questions and receiving input from potential hosts for the past seven years.

But even more than Obama needlessly spending taxpayer money for this useless boondoggle, I’m concerned that Chicago even has a chance to win the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

If you thought there were improprieties in winning the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, which came close to destroying the Olympic movement, can you imagine the graft, corruption and quid pro quo that will be going on if Chicago is the chosen city?  Corruption and questionable dealings already exist throughout the city and state administrations, and will only be amplified by the lust after the billions of dollars of economic impact an Olympic event can bring to a city.  I can only hope that IOC members remember and have learned from the past what an ill-advised decision Chicago would be.

There’s nothing I would rather see than the Olympic Games back on U.S. soil.  But not at this time… and NOT in Chicago!

If you enjoy history or want to learn more about Covington's history and that of the people who have lived here, here's something you won't want to miss.

On Thursday evening, October 15, the Tourism Division of the Covington/Newton County Chamber of commerce is sponsoring a guided walking tour of the historic Covington City Cemetery.  The cemetery is located off Conyers and Church Streets just a couple of blocks off the historic square.

The tour will be conducted by people in period costumes representing several "residents" of the cemetery who will provide graveside commentary about their lives and history of Covington and the surrounding area.

For those unable to walk the route, golf carts will be provided.

The crisp fall weather, personal portrayals and rich history of Covington will make this an event not to be missed.

Tickets may be purchased at the Covington visitors center on Clark Street between now and the event.  No tickets will be sold at the cemetery.  Admission to the tour is $10 for adults and $5 for children.  All proceeds will go to the Newton County History Center, being developed in Covington's historic jail building, and to the construction of the Newton County Miracle Field.

Come out for an enjoyable evening.  Learn more about our history.  And support our local charities.

This week begins the autumn season, and Colonel Cob’s Corn Maze in Oxford is open again with an all-new maze and several new attractions.

The pathways through Colonel Cob’s 7-acre cornfield this year is in the shape of a giant pirate ship.  You should be able to navigate your way through the ship and safely back to the dock in about 30 minutes.  But for the “directionally challenged,” it could take much longer.  Co-owners Tommy and Emy Mitcham have also placed water-related trivia clues throughout the maze to help you navigate.  If you answer the trivia questions about uses of water, large bodies of water, etc. correctly, they’ll point you to the next clue and out of the maze.  Incorrect answers will send you in circles and ensure that you just wander about in the corn.

Other attractions at Colonel Cob’s include the traditional pumpkin patch, hayrides, bonfires, helicopter rides, pony rides, a corn cannon, inflatable slides and jumpers, a sand mountain full of treasure, and barbeque catered by Where There’s Smoke Barbeque and Catering from Mansfield.  The Mitchams also provide educational activities for children and school groups such as movies and audios about farming and farm life.

At Colonel Cob’s, tickets are $8 for the maze and $4 for the hayride through the farm.  Combined tickets are available.  Helicopter and pony rides cost extra.

Other corn mazes in the area include Corn Dawgs in Loganville, Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, Washington Farms in Watkinsville, Cagle’s Dairy Farm in Canton, and Uncle Shuck’s in Dawsonville.

Even as the leaves begin to change their color, Covington’s Clark’s Grove is "going greener.”

The Clark’s Grove Homeowner’s Association and several individual homeowners in the neighborhood are applying for a solar power grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Agency (GEFA).  GEFA will supply grants from a $4,000,000 pool provided by the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the “Stimulus Bill”) for alternate energy projects in the state.

The Homeowner’s Association portion of the grant would provide solar panels for power and hot water for the neighborhood swim club.  Individual homeowner grants would provide power for normal electrical service, solar thermal water heating, or a combination of the two. 

The grant, if approved, would provide 75% of the cost of each residential system, with the homeowner providing the remaining 25%.  Homes must have proper sun orientation and exposure to participate. 

Hannah Solar, who is submitting the grant on behalf of Clark’s Grove, says that the roof-mounted solar panels should cut electricity bills almost in half for the homeowners, providing a payback to the user in only two to three years.  After the payback, everything is “savings” for the consumer.  The system should be expected to operate without problems for at least 20 years.

Clark’s Grove is Covington’s premiere Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND).  TNDs are an emerging national trend in land use planning, smart development, and environmental stewardship.  Walkable communities where people live, work, shop and play, TND neighborhoods, such as Clark’s Grove, feature a town center, parks, plazas, commercial establishments, civic buildings, common green spaces, tree-lined sidewalks, narrow street grids, paths and trails throughout, and homes with front porches set close to the street on small lots.

Homes in Clark’s Grove are built to “EarthCraft” standards.  EarthCraft House is a green building program that specifies building standards resulting in healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.  The program is a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Southface Energy Institute, the government and industry partners whose aim is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship. 

Way!!

This morning, I saw the first flock of geese flying south over my house, foretelling a change of seasons for Covington.  Autumn is my favorite time of year, bringing clean, crisp air, beautiful colored leaves against the backdrop of white antebellum columns, SEC football, and vampires.  Vampires?!?!

Covington has again been chosen as the perfect site for the filming of a new television series, The Vampire Diaries.  When writers and location managers visited Covington and saw the historic square, it was exactly what they had in mind for the fictitious town of “Mystic Falls, Va,.”  setting fo the series.

The teen-oriented series will share similarities with the highly popular “Twilight” movie series about a high school student who becomes infatuated with a mysterious classmate who turns out to be a vampire.  The CW web site describes the series like this:

“Elena Gilbert has always been a star student: beautiful, popular and involved with school and friends.  As the fall semester begins, Elena becomes fascinated with the mysterious new boy in school, Stefan Salvatore, and she has no way of knowing he is a centuries-old vampire.  While Stefan struggles to live peacefully among humans, his brother Damon is the embodiment of violence and brutality.  Now these two vampire brothers – one good, one evil – are at war for Elena’s soul in the small town of Mystic falls, Virginia.”

In addition to Covington starring as Mystic Falls, the series will also star Nina Dobrev, currently in the CW series “Degrassi: The Next Generation;” Paul Wesley, recently on episodes of “24” and “Army Wives;” and Ian Somerhalder, who played Boone Carlyle on “Lost.”  The show began filming in Covington in late July, and will be shooting at various times until around April.

Producers are very pleased with the way the show has progressed, and hope it will be picked up for a second season.  Michael Walbrecht, vice president at Warner Bros. Entertainment, is so pleased with the series progress and Covington’s involvement; he recently notified the city that he could be sending a couple more shows our way, according to “The Covington News.”

If you’d like more information about “The Vampire Diaries,” including a trailer and still photos, take a look at The CW’s web site at cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries.

Other movies and television series filmed in Covington include “A Man Called Peter, My Cousin Vinnie, Six Pack, Halloween II, The Dukes of Hazard, and In the Heat of the Night.”   After a long hiatus, Covington may be regaining its title as “Hollywood of the South.”

Film crew trucks loaded with cameras, lights, props, wardrobe and dressing rooms line Covington's historic Floyd Street during filmin of the new CW network TV series "The Vampire Diaries"

Here's my dinner for this evening...

Grilled chicken breast slathered in my own secret recipe, home-made BBQ sauce

Baked potato dripping rich butter and chives

Sweet corn directly from my garden

Topped off with a crisp tossed salad full of my juicy, red, home-grown tomatoes

And garnished with herbs from my kitchen herb garden

Now, that's so good, it'll make you slap your Mama!