Fall Activities in the Knoxville area!

If you’re looking for some fun Fall festivities in the Knoxville area, here is a list of upcoming events that will be enjoyable for the whole family!

-Head over to Cruze Farm, a family owned Jersey Dairy farm in Eastern Knoxville for a tour through their corn maze. After you’re done, head inside for a glass of fresh milk or a scoop of their home-made ice cream! The maze is open Saturdays from 10-6 and Sundays from 12-6 now through October 28^th. For more information, visit their website.
-Cheer on your University of Tennessee Volunteer football team as they take on Alabama this Saturday, October 20^th. Can’t make it to this game? Check out the rest of the team’s schedule here.

-Be a part of Knoxville’s largest Halloween Event taking place at Boo! at the Zoo at the Knoxville Zoo. The event will celebrate 12 nights of safe and not-too-scary Halloween fun on October 12-13, 18-21, 25-30, 2012 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. BOO! at the Zoo is a family event featuring devilishly good music and games, your favorite costumed characters throughout the zoo, and the only "haunted" carousel in East Tennessee, the Scary-Go-Round. And best of all, you can trick-or-treat down the BOO! trail for your favorite treats! Tickets are $6 per person, children under 2 get in for free. Parking is $5.
-A brand new event happening this year is the Cherokee Caverns first annual Trick or Treating in the Cave. This cavern will have face painting, hot dog vendors, and of course, candy! The path through the cave will be well lit and will be stroller and wheelchair accessible. Trick or Treating in the Cave will be open October 19th & 20th from 5:30pm-8:30pm and October 26th thru the 31st from 5:30pm-8:30pm.
 -Get out to the Market Square Farmers Market before it closes for the season! The Market Square Farmers’ Market is an open-air farmers’ market located on Market Square in the heart of downtown Knoxville. Everything at the MSFM is grown or made by the vendor in the East Tennessee region. You can visit the Market Square Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from 11a.m. to 2p.m. and Saturday from 9a.m. to 2p.m., May through November on historic Market Square. Free parking is available in the Market Square, Locust St. and State St. Garages, and at meters, on Saturdays. Parking is $1 per hour on Wednesdays in all three garages.

Ball Homes Night of Hope

Ball Homes is again looking forward to one of our newer annual traditions, the fourth annual Ball Homes Night of Hope. It takes place Thursday, November 15th at 7pm, at the Lexington Opera House. This year's event, which is a fund-raiser for the Hope Center, features a much-touted speaker with an incredible story to tell: Chef Jeff Henderson.

A well-known executive chef at Caesar's Palace, and at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, he has also hosted the Food Network hit, The Chef Jeff Project. His newest television show, Beat the Chefs, premieres this month. His memoir was a New York Times best-seller and his follow-up book, The Power of Potential, will be released in Spring of 2013.

Jeff Henderson’s background, however, is what makes his story so remarkable. Jeff grew up in a rough inner city L.A. neighborhood. He became a drug dealer and at 24, he was arrested. While in prison, Jeff matured, got an education, and found his life's calling. With persistence, dedication, and a can-do attitude, he rose through the ranks to become the person he is today.

For tickets for this anticipated event, log on to the Hope Center's website at www.hopectr.org.

Cleaning Your Granite Countertops

Granite has become one of the most popular types of countertops in kitchen décor. Granite countertops are gorgeous additions to a home, with each piece like a unique work of art. Because granite is available in so many colors, homeowners have many options to choose from. Granite is also very durable and resists heat. This makes it great for kneading dough, making roll-out cookies, and other tasks that need a cool countertop for best results.
 

There are many ways to clean granite counter tops and keep them looking shiny and brilliant. Just avoid using cleaners that are too harsh, they can damage the sealant and dull the finish. Here are some simple steps to clean your granite surfaces and restore their shine.

• Granite is a porous surface. This means that stains can quickly set in and become trapped if not immediately wiped away. Be diligent of splashes and spills to avoid deep stains as these can often be nearly impossible to remove. Avoid letting citrus or alcohol products sit on the granite surface as it can etch and dull it.
• To keep granite countertops clean, use a microfiber cloth to dust off the surface. Wipe down the granite countertop daily and as needed using water.
• If you’d like to use more natural cleaning supplies in your kitchen, use a mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a safer alternative to harsh chemicals. Using common all-purpose cleaner or ammonia can scratch and pit the surface of your countertops.
• Use coasters under all glasses to prevent stains on your granite surfaces. Keep hot items off of granite; always use a trivet or hot pad for protection.           

Although it may sound like an inconvenience, caring for your granite countertops is quite simple when made part of your regular routine. The better you exercise regular maintenance, the longer your countertops will remain pristine.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk

Ball Homes is a proud sponsor of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk going on this Saturday, October 6th at Masterson Station Park in Lexington.
 

NAMI Walks is the largest and most anticipated event of the year that raises public awareness around mental health issues. Since the NAMI Walks inception in 2005, over 9,300 Walkers have participated in this event. Funds generated from the Walk support education, outreach, support, and advocacy.

The Walk will kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is October 7th-13th. The special week was founded in 1990 as a way to generate awareness for mental illness, promote treatment, and help to eliminate the stigma imposed on it. 

Registration for the Walk begins at Masterson Station Park at 12:00pm and the Walk starts at 1:00pm. There will be a Kid Zone complete with giant inflatables, face painting, games, food, live entertainment, vendors, and health information. For more information, you can visit their organization’s website at www.nami.org.

Pictures found on organization's website

Buying is Cheaper Than Renting

Many factors go into deciding whether or not to purchase a home. But, if you are able to buy, it’s been proven to be the cheaper route. Trulia.com announced two weeks ago that in America’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, buying a home is more affordable than renting.  

Asking home prices have risen by 2.3% year over year, however, rents have risen more (4.7%). This means that home prices are lower relative to rents than they were a year ago.

Mortgage rates have also fallen. The best rates this summer have been around 3.5%, while last summer rates were closer to 4.5%. With rates that low, it makes home buying a powerful option.

There are several other factors to take into consideration when making these calculations, such as tax deductions and the length of time that you plan to remain in your home. You get the best savings by staying in your home seven years or longer. Seven years is the average amount of time a homeowner remains in their property, so for most people, this cost savings will be high.

The decision to rent or buy a home is very personal. There’s a strong emotional component: some people want the security of homeownership and others want the footloose freedom of renting. Affordability is at an all-time high and renting is no longer viable as the cheaper option. If you are able to buy a home, now is the time to do it!