Next Saturday, November 8th is the Fall Festival/Chili cook-off at Heritage Park. If you think you have an exceptional chili recipe then you need to get your registration form in ASAP because the space is limited to only 35! The entry fee to be included in the competition is $20, but it’s definitely worth it because there are some substantial prizes at stake. Those selected as the best chili will receive gift certificates for downtown McDonough on the square in the increments of $400 for 1st, $300 for 2nd, $200 for 3rd and $100 for 4th. Now, if you don’t have a stellar chili recipe, but enjoy eating it, then you should make plans to attend and sample all of these recipes that will be on display. It’s only $5 to get a wrist band (children under 12 are free) for sample tasting and they are sold at the entrances to the park area. With a wristband you can sample as many chili’s as you want. As a sampler, you are given tokens that will be used to determine who has the best chili (more…)

D.R. Horton is continuing to build new homes in Heron Bay as they have contracted to purchase 43 single family home sites at The Villas neighborhood in Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, increasing their involvement with Heron Bay to five neighborhoods. D.R. Horton is a national leader in the residential homebuilding industry, who is currently the featured home builder for Heron Bay. Homes in The Villas will be available for presale in November 2008 with initial homes available in early 2009.  The ranch style and master on main new homes in Locust Grove will be priced from the high $100,000s.

D.R. Horton plans to offer low maintenance, ranch style and master on main floorplans offering livable, open spaces and innovative home design. The highly detailed interiors include gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and raised panel cabinets, wood flooring in the kitchen and breakfast areas, and spacious owner’s suites. Exceptional exteriors feature professional landscaping and carriage style garage doors. (more…)

There were several students from Bethlehem Elementary School in Locust Grove that have earned the title “October Student of the Month”. Among those students several of them are residents of Heron Bay Golf & Country Club.

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Alexander Mackey—1st Grade
Katy Mae Elder—1st Grade
Wade Parham—2nd Grade
Jamie Lagabed—3rd Grade
Hope Dockweiler—4th Grade

The Heron Bay Community Liaison Committee is asking all households in Heron Bay to share donations that will benefit In His Name, Inc., food bank source for Henry county and Family & Child Services in Spalding county. In His Name recently suffered a horrible robbery of many food items. Nicole Ragland, CLC Chair and the Community Assoiciation is asking residents to support many families in the local community that are in need during these difficult economic times.

Residents are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items, basic toiletries/hygiene products and gift cards to the Heron Bay Lodge from October 27 through November 21. Grand Kick-Off for the fund raiser will be Wednesday, November 5. Thank you for all of your help!

The Community Liaison Committee was formed by the Community Association to offer charitable support to the local community and non-profit agencies, being Henry county, Spalding county and Locust Grove. The committee collected donations earlier this year for Noah’s Ark, an animal rehabilitation center and children’s home in Locust Grove.

It’s the week of Halloween and one of the holiday’s favorite past times is experiencing terrifying and frightening endeavors. Heron Bay residents are in luck because with only a short drive to McDonough you can encounter the Curse of the Scarecrow, which is easily the most spooky and scary Halloween experience in Henry County. This is so much more than a haunted house as you are taken on an outdoor trail full of oversized spiders, strange whispers, an evil scarecrow and more. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to discover what it is that has cursed Heritage Hill. The attraction is only open for three more days, so be sure to make it to Heritage Park by Thursday night.

Unique attractions like the Curse of the Scarecrow help add to the appeal of Henry County. Located on the South side of Atlanta, you will be hard pressed to find another Atlanta suburb that has as much Southern charm as McDonough and Locust Grove. While Heron Bay Golf & County Club hosts many community events for the residents, it’s also a big plus knowing that the surrounding cities promote a sense of community as well. If this sounds like the lifestyle you have always been looking for, check out the Henry County new homes at Heron Bay.

I am sure you may have heard enough about the Goblin Gallop, but we just wanted to remind you that it is not too late to become a sponsor for the 6K race taking place on Saturday. The sponsors are crucial to the success of the event, and we have high hopes for this year’s event. Because of the generosity of sponsors, we are able to cover all of the necessary up-front costs for the event as well as raise funds to benefit the Hands of Hope Clinic. We have a sponsorship goal this year of $25,000 and are so very close to it. So, encourage your boss and your company to lend a helping hand to the Goblin Gallop so that we can meet this high goal. For more information about sponsorship, call 770-507-1344 or visit the Hands of Hope Clinic website.

Various levels of sponsorship from the $20 Ghost Runner level to the $2,000 Great Pumpkin level are available. All sponsors will be recognized during the event for their participation. The event, a 6K run, 1mile Run/Walk and Tot Trot, is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2008. (more…)

Tanger Outlet Center in Locust Grove, Georgia and nationwide are asking patrons to help save lives in the battle against breast cancer. For just a $1 donation, shoppers receive a 25 percent discount at participating Tanger stores across the nation. The 25 Percent Pink Cards are available for purchase through Sunday, October 19. All proceeds will remain in the community and benefit the Georgia Cancer Foundation.

All money raised by Locust Grove’s Tanger Outlet will be donated through the Stanley K. Tanger Breast Cancer Fund. Not only are funds being raised for breast cancer but also lung, colon and prostate cancer. A Tanger “Cure Card” can be purchased through December 31 and 10 percent of the purchase price will be donated to help in the fight against these deadly diseases.

Heron Bay residents are able to enjoy discount shopping while giving back to the area at the same time. Tanger Outlet Mall is just a short drive from the award winning master planned community in Henry County.

Henry County Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring The Heritage Fall Festival this Saturday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Heritage Park in McDonough, Georgia. The family oriented event is in it’s fifth year and has something for everyone. Trick-or-treating for the kids, a costume contest, food, entertainment and shopping are all available during the festival.

This year’s event highlight is a pumpkin carving contest where everyone is invited to bring a pre-carved pumpkin. The pumpkins will be judged and awarded based on silliest, spookiest and most creative. For more information visit www.hcprd.org or call the Henry Parks & Recreation Department at 770.288.7300.

With Henry County community events nearly every weekend and even frequent events for residents at Heron Bay, an Atlanta golf community, it is easy to see why families are moving to Locust Grove in Henry County.

With only about 10 days left before the big event, it’s time to get serious about registering for the Goblin Gallop. The event, a 6K run, 1mile Run/Walk and Tot Trot, is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2008. Pre-registration is beneficial to you as it saves you money and time on the day of the race. Pre-registration is now being accepted, just visit the Heron Bay Golf and Country Club website and click on the Goblin Gallop icon. The cost is as follows: 6K Run - $15, Pre-registration, $20 at the door; 1 Mile Run/Walk - $10 Pre-registration, $15 at the door and “Tot Trot” ages 5 and under, 60 yards – no charge.

Now that registration is taken care of, it’s time to focus on that costume of yours. Remember, the more creative the better! Prizes will be awarded for the best costume, so don’t hesitate to go all out for this one. This is a family fun event, so people of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes and spend an evening taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather. (more…)

Since the opening of Kohl’s and JCPenney nearly a year ago, not much progress has been made to the South Point retail area. But Jim Baker, managing partner of South Point Retail Partners development says 2009 will be the year much progress is made for this shopping area for south metro Atlanta. He also says there will be close to 200 additional retail jobs available. Construction is planned to begin in January next year and the stores scheduled to open in summer 2009 include a Rooms To Go, Toys R’ Us, Babies R’ Us, Haverty’s furniture store, and Hobby Lobby. In addition to 600,000 square feet of retail space; restaurants, office space and possibly a multi-purpose arena are also being planned. Currently a four-story, 110 room Hilton Hotel is under construction.

The South Point development is located on Hwy 20 in McDonough just off I-75. The retail stores here will provide a great convenience to Heron Bay residents which are about a 7 mile drive from the development. Henry County, in particular south Henry County where Heron Bay is located, is expected to grow tremendously over the next 20 - 30 years. This centrally located shopping area will not only be convenient to Heron Bay residents but to all Henry County residents.