Belinda Augustus, Realtor®, ABR®, e-PRO

This Bald Eagle, one of what is believed to be a nesting pair, was caught fishing in Lake Arrowhead. While guests must be accompanied by a member to utilize the amenities, an exception was made for this eagle and it's partner, believed to nest in Kessler Swamp.

Thanks to Sue Pyle for the photograph!

Bald Eagles don't develop the typical white head and tail feathers until they are 4-5 years of age. Until then, they remain solid dark brown. Their habitat stretches all across our country, save Hawaii, however they are usually found near large bodies of water. Bald Eagles mate for life, choosing another mate only if the first dies. Nests are used for many years in a row and can weigh several tons.

The bald eagle, adopted as our national symbol in 1782, has been declining in numbers until the 1940's when congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act. Despite the penalties for killing or possessing any part of a Bald Eagle, in 1963 there were only 487 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles left.

Thankfully, due to extensive work from the US Fish and Wildlife service, the Bald Eagle was removed from the list of endangered and threatened species on June 28, 2007.

Fun Eagle Fact: Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey as the national bird because the bald eagle was 'Of bad moral character'.

References:

US Fish and Wildlife Service

American Eagle Foundation

Photograph courtesy of Sue Pyle, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your camera's ready! Your photo could be featured on HAHBlog next!

On Saturday, September 13TH, 2008 Hide-A-Way Hills Members were treated to a free Carillon Concert! Members brought down their own chairs while being treated to a sample of wines and cheeses during the concert.

A carillon is a musical instrument composed of at least 23 carillon bells, arranged in chromatic sequence, so tuned as to produce concordant harmony when many bells are sounded together. It is played from a keyboard that allows expression through variation of touch. The keys are struck with the half-closed hand. In addition, the larger bells are connected to foot pedals.

Although bells were first made by man during the Bronze Age, it was not until the 15th century that Flemish bell founders discovered the process of accurately tuning bells. The art of making carillon bells almost died out by the 19th century. It is only in the 20th century that carillon bell founding was revived and has surpassed the quality and tuning of 15th century bells. The world's greatest concentration of carillons is still in the Low Countries of Europe (Belgium, The Netherlands, northern France and northwest Germany). The art of the carillon has spread world wide, however, with instruments on every continent except Antarctica. Nearly 200 exist in North America.

Bon Voyage Bells Mobile Millennium

Chime Master

A is for Association. Hide-A-Way Hills Club is the same as a Home Owner's Association.

B is for Beach. Hide-A-Way Hills Beach is open year round and serves as a nice spot to picnic with family and friends.

C is for Chapel in the Pines. Hide-A-Way Hills has its own outdoor chapel with services on Sunday morning from Memorial to Labor Day. All are invited to attend.

D is for Docks. All Members have the opportunity to sign up for the use of a Club dock.

E is for Eagles. Kessler's Swamp located across from Hide-A-Way Hills has been home to bald eagles in the past. Members keep an eye out for their return.

F is for Finches. Whether yellow or purple, both take up residence in Hide-A-Way Hills.

G is for Golf. Hide-A-Way Hills has its own private 9-hole Golf Course. Membership is automatic to land owners and does not require an additional expense to join.

H is for Horses. Hide-A-Way Hills Stables house private Member's horses in the community.

I is for Invitation Consider this your invitation to visit the area of Hide-A-Way Hills.

J is for Jam Hide-A-Way Hills Annual Dam Jam is one of the largest events in the Hills. Members gather together for food and music at the foot of the dam as the meet new Members and visit with the old.

K is for Kayaks and Canoes Kayaks and canoes can be spotted on various lakes in Hide-A-Way Hills. Currently, there are Canoe and Kayak racks located on Lake Eagle Claw and the Lake of Four Seasons. First Come, First Serve.

L is for Lakes. Hide-A-Way Hills contains 6 lakes and a farm pond.

M is for Microbrewery. Hide-A-Way Hills brews their own micro brew at the Lodge. Members may enjoy a glass at the Clubhouse, at the Lodge, or it is also available to take home by the jug.

N is for Night Being located outside of the city lights, night hours allow Members to enjoy the darkness of the forest and the ability to see the nighttime stars.

O is for Owls Living in the city, I never really saw an owl other than at a zoo. Hide-A-Way Hills is home to parliaments of owls.

P is for Pool Hide-A-Way Hills pool is open from Memorial to Labor Day and requires no extra charge for Members to use for the Summer.

Q is for Quad Track Hide-A-Way Hills has an all terrain vehicle track for mini-bikes, ATV, and the likes.

R is for Restaurants. Hide-A-Way Hills has 2 restaurants on the property, Hide-A-Way Hills Lodge, and the Golf Course Clubhouse.

S is for Security. Hide-A-Way Hills gated community has 24 hour Security Guards on staff.

T is for Tennis. Hide-A-Way Hills has 2 tennis courts with overhead lighting.

U is for You. The only thing missing from beginning your HAH memories is You!

V is for Volunteers Hide-A-Way Hills has the best volunteer crew a community could ever hope to have. As a result of their numerous volunteer hours, our community as accomplished many upgrades along with much needed maintenance to many of our facilities

W is for Wildlife. Animals as well as Members make Hide-A-Way Hills their home. A wide range of woodland animals can be found in the Hills along with flora which is unique to this area.

X is for X-Marks the Spot Hide-A-Way Hills Shooting Range allows marksman an opportunity for target practice and trap shoots.

Y is for Young Children at the Playground Through a generous donation, HAH children and guests can enjoy the newly updated playground at the front Hide-A-Way Hills gate.

Z is for Zero. As in the number of times you'll find yourself caught in a traffic jam in Hide-A-Way Hills.

15 homes were recorded as sold in the 3rd quarter of 2008 for Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio. These sales are one sale shy of reaching 4 times the number of homes sold in the 2nd quarter of this year along with reaching an 88% increase over the number of homes sold in the 3rd quarter of 2007.

Home prices ranged from $48,400 for a small 2BR/1BA cabin to $285,900 for a 3BR/2BA new log home. Average sales price was $111,554. This is an 11% decrease from the average sale in the 2nd quarter and a 36% decrease of average home sale in the 3rd quarter 2007. Median sales price was $108,000 which helps illuminate the reduction in average sales price. With the diveristy in HAH, one can not equate the reduction in average sale price necessarily to a reducation in value, but rather in the number of homes sold in a particular price range as noted with the current 3rd quarter median price.

Days on market ran from 17 to 664 days with an average of 149 days which is below last year's average of 166 days. My personal average for days on market for my 3rd quarter sales was 147 days.

This quarter saw a lakefront home sell at $240,000 on the Lake of Four Seasons for a 3BR/2BA. This home sold very quickly in 17 days to a current Member of Hide-A-Way Hills.

Two Hide-A-Way Hills home sales involved bank owned properties which equates to about 15% of the listed and sold market.

2 lot parcels were recorded as sold. Both were sold to new owners who owned homes on the lots next to them.

80% of all home transfered in Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio in the 3rd quarter involved myself, Belinda Augustus Real Living HER. I'd love an opportunity to work with you too.


Look at the Raw Numbers

Past Year of Hide-A-Way Hills Sales