NEW Camera! Amazing Lake Murray Pictures Coming Soon

I just bought a new camera for my real estate business and websites that I own and operate.  It's the amazing Sony DSC-HX5V.  I got it at a great price (only $229) from Amazon.  This camera does wide angle really well (for my home interior shots) and an amazing job on automated sweep panoramas.  It also has many other cool features at an incredible price.

Check out my first sweep panorama - taken at our Lake Murray home:

Lake Murray - Panoramic Shot with Sony DSC-HX5V

Buy Your Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V 10.2MP CMOS Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle Zoom with Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 inch LCD


More cool pictures coming soon!

Public Parks at Dreher Shoals Dam Now Open

PUBLIC PARKS OPEN APRIL 1st 
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s public parks on the Lexington and Irmo sides of the dam at Lake Murray will open April 1 for the 2011 season. The boat-launching park on the Irmo side will remain open through Sept. 5 (Labor Day). The beach/recreation area on the Lexington side will remain open through Sept. 11.

Operating hours will be from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 3, after which the parks will stay open until 8 p.m. Weekend and holiday hours are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Lake Murray Fun!

Visitors to the park on the Lexington side of the dam are reminded that the beach will not be staffed with lifeguards. The beach is a swim-at-your-own-risk area.   The public boat launch has three ramps and is open 24 hours a day. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at both park sites. Restrooms and picnic facilities are also available at both park sites.

Parking fees are charged during normal operating hours to help offset the cost of maintenance, security and improvements at the parks. Fees for motorcycles are $2. Car and truck fees are $3. The fee for buses is $5. Season passes can be purchased for $45 per vehicle. There is no cost to park at the boat-launching site on the Irmo side after hours – before the park opens or after it closes.

Please play and boat safely on Lake Murray this year!

Mel Coker

RE/MAX Metro Associates

Lake Murray's Realtor - "I Live on the Lake!"

Lake Murray Website  |  Columbia, SC Real Estate
(803) 223-6214

Your Home: March 2011

A NEW monthly newsletter from Mel Coker!

CLICK HERE for YOUR HOME - March 2011
Smart Security, The Numbers Game (Home Values), Curb Appeal

Mel Coker

Columbia, SC Realtor

RE/MAX Metro Associates

(803) 388-8011

Springtime: Walk the Dam!

Warm Weather Brings out Dam Walkers!

One of the Columbia area’s most popular walking/jogging pathways is directly across the top of the Dreher Shoals Dam along S.C. Highway 6 at Lake Murray.  The distance is 1.7 miles each way for a total walk of 3.4 miles.

The pathway offers spectacular views of Lake Murray and even the downtown Columbia skyline 11 miles away. This pathway was completed after the construction of the new backup dam at Dreher Shoals Dam on Lake Murray (in 2005) and with the widening of S.C. Highway 6 across the top of the dam (in 2007).  Parking is available at either side of the Dreher Shoals Dam.  A small free parking lot is on the Lexington (South) side of the dam.

CLICK HERE to visit my Walk Across The Dam webpage with more information and pictures

Irmo Side of Dam

View towards 5 Towers & Lexington Side

Walk Across the Dam at Lake Murray website

Disaster in Japan

Disaster in Japan
The earthquake/tsunami of last week in Japan is a disaster of epic proportions.  The Japanese people need help.  I've made my donations last night to TWO of the best charitable organizations that I know of that are appropriate for this kind of disaster. 

Over 3,000 listed as dead as of March 15th (will increase significantly)
Over 15,000 unaccounted for
Over 550,000 displaced from homes

I would recommend the following if you choose to assist with a cash donation:

Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse Report - Catastrophe in Japan

American Red Cross

Thank you!

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
http://www.melcoker.com/

Taste of Lake Murray

2011 Taste of Lake Murray
March 24, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. - Radisson Hotel Columbia

Plan to attend this year's Taste of Lake Murray!

I've got my tickets to this great event... do you have yours?    Barbara and I are excited about attending this annual event which serves as the ONLY fundraiser for the big 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray.

Tickets are only $45 per person and includes: auction registration, food, beer, wine and Lake Murrayville beverages.   Additionally, you are helping support the 2011 July 4th Lake Murray fireworks spectacular (on July 2nd this year)!

6:00 pm: Auction tent opens: 6:30 pm Ballroom/Seating opens

Want your tickets to the 2011 Taste of Lake Murray?  Get them NOW... prices go up March 18th.  Call (803) 781-5940 ext. 0 or, CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Lake Murray YouTube Video

Mel Coker's "Lake Murray - An Overview" YouTube Video is approaching 4,000 views!
 Have you seen it?  If not, take a quick look (just over one minute of your valuable time).  You may also want to "LIKE" it.  Thank you.



Or, click on this link:
Lake Murray Overview Video


Mel Coker
Lake Murray's Technology Realtor!
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC  |  Call: (803) 388-8011