Journal

December 22, 2011

Standard Pacific Homes to Break Ground on New Homes in GroveWood

Posted by Caryn Best in Builders, News

kingfisherIn November, national homebuilder Standard Pacific Homes closed on 16 homesites in the neighborhood of GroveWood in our St. Augustine golf course community.   Standard Pacific Homes will soon break ground on four spec homes on the GroveWood lots, ranging from about 2,500 to 3,500 square feet.  Pricing will start in high $200,000s.  The featured floor plans include the Kingfisher (2,469 square feet), Cambridge (3,051 square feet), Belmont (3,536 square feet), Carisbrooke (3,226 square feet) and the Palladium (2,912 square feet). An extensive list of upgrades come standard on all the homes. Davidson Realty’s Mirtha Barzaga was the Realtor for the transaction.

Founded in 1965, Standard Pacific Homes has built 113,000 houses nationwide over nearly five decades. As they have grown, Standard Pacific Homes has remained faithful to our original vision: to build thoughtfully designed homes, well-crafted to provide quality of life for the families who live in them and complement the neighborhoods they share. (more…)

December 13, 2011

World Golf Village Holiday Lighting Contest Underway Now – Vote For Your Favorite!

house1For young and old alike, touring the neighborhood to view holiday light decorations is one of the purest pleasures of the seasons.  There’s plenty of twinkle to ogle in our beautiful St. Augustine golf course community.  In fact, there’s a contest around holiday lighting going on right now in World Golf Village.  It’s not too late to enter your home and show off your holiday decorating prowess, or enter a World Golf Village neighbor.   Then view all the leaders and vote for your favorite holiday lighting display online.
 
house2The World Golf Village Holiday Lighting Contest is now in its 5th year.  Starting in 2007 with just seven homes entered, it has grown to nearly 50 homes vying for the top prize and garnering thousands of votes.  The current leader board for this year’s contest includes festive homes throughout the Neighborhoods of World Golf Village, including Kingsbury, Bearsford, Waterbury, Turnberry, Grovewood, Tuscan Wood and Windmill Estates. View the homes currently on the leader board here: www.wgvsocial.com/leaders.htm(more…)

November 30, 2011

The 2011 Festival of Trees Debuts Friday at the St. Johns County Convention Center at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village

163790_10150370345470385_243700390384_16182321_6591327_nThe Festival of Trees with its amazing variety of beautifully decorated trees never fails to spark my creative energy.  Browsing the more than 60 decked-out Christmas trees and wreaths provides inspiration and fresh ideas for tackling my own holiday decorating.  The event is free and open to the public at the St. Johns County Convention Center at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village from this Friday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 11th.

The Festival of Trees started back in 2005 and has become a well-loved tradition in World Golf Village and throughout Jacksonville and St. Augustine.  It provides much needed support for needy families right here in St. Johns County with proceeds benefiting The United Way of St. Johns County and The Empty Stocking Fund. You can simply admire the trees, or you can “vote” for your favorite creations with a $1 donation which goes to charity, or you can even take a tree or wreath home with you by bidding through the silent auction. (more…)

November 21, 2011

Local Events to Celebrate the Season

NightofLightsWhen you live in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, the holiday season is not signaled by a nip in the air but rather by something much more magical and festive.  Something that lights up the night and tickles the fancy. Something that draws neighbors from Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Julington Creek and other places both near and far.  It’s the Nights of Lights of course, which turned on the switch this past weekend and set historic downtown St. Augustine a twinkle just like it has for the past 17 years.  In fact its the mild winter evenings in St. Augustine that make the Nights of Lights so inviting.  Strolling downtown’s cobbled streets, walking along the Matanzas Riverfront near the Bridge of Lions, browsing boutiques and enjoying the cafes under a canopy of sparkling white lights is sure to put anyone in the holiday spirit.  Nights of Lights shines on St. Augustine every evening until January 31, 2012 and is a great evening outing for family and friends visiting from out of town. 

383772_10150920825590385_243700390384_21425414_220831415_nHere are some other festive events happening in and around our St. Augustine golf course community: (more…)

October 28, 2011

Warm Climate, Medical Care and Convenience are Most Important Considerations for Boomers Deciding Where to Retire

old-coupleAccording to a new Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com poll, most baby boomers would like to retire somewhere close to family, medical care, a warmer climate and convenient to services and amenities. However, the economy has waylaid their plans. In fact, 60 percent of boomers said they lost money during the recession as a result of workplace retirement plans, personal investments and real estate all taking a hit. Many baby boomers reported they expect to stay where they are given the economy. Seventy-three percent said they planned to keep working into their retirement years, up from 67 percent in a March poll.

A population some 77 million-strong, baby boomers are comprised of the generation born between 1946 and 1964.  Boomers who plan to or want to move when they retire seek the following: a smaller place (40%), be closer to medical offices or hospitals (39%), live in a different/warmer climate (30%) or switch to a more affordable house (25%). Fifteen percent said they planned to move to be closer to family, and 10 percent wanted a city with more services. (more…)

October 6, 2011

WGV Resident Profile Tavi Sport: Help Fight Children’s Cancer

taviTavi Sport will celebrate his 4th birthday aboard the St. Augustine pirate ship Black Raven.  No doubt the young World Golf Village resident will don head-to-toe pirate gear for the event. “Tavi has been fascinated with pirates for about two years now,” says his Mom, Paula Sport.  “In fact, he wears something ‘pirate-like’ every day,” she added. Tavi Sport will turn four on November 28th.  His special pirate-ship birthday party was organized by the non-profit organization Dreams Comes True because Tavi has been fighting Leukemia for about a year.  His fondness for pirates is just one of the things that makes Tavi special.  He also has a joyous, delightful personality that puts a smile on faces wherever he goes. 

The Sport family moved to Grovewood in our St. Augustine golf course community five years ago when Tavi’s Dad, Lewis Sport, was transferred with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. “My husband is a golfer,” says Paula. “We love the beautiful drive back to Grovewood and seeing what kinds of animals we can spot.  Our favorite is the fox squirrel.”  The Sport family also includes Tavi’s 12-year-old brother Tanner who attends Pacetti Bay Middle School and pets, Bandit and JT (Jack Russell Terriers) and Rex and Scooby (Yellow Bellied Slider Turtles). (more…)

September 27, 2011

Business Spotlight: Trusted Tranzitions Specializes in Senior Moving Management

TTLogo_BlkRed_TagRick Hollabaugh started Trusted Tranzitions about four years ago when a personal experience left him thinking there was a need for personalized senior moving and downsizing services.  “My wife and I were living in California and my Mother-in-Law who was in Florida passed away suddenly. In addition to dealing with her grief, my wife had to stay in South Florida several months dealing with her Mother’s estate, a long tedious process.”  Hollabaugh added, “Very soon after, we relocated to Ponte Vedra from California and moving cross country even as healthy pre-retirees was a daunting task.”  Both experiences spurred Hollabaugh, an experienced entrepreneur, to start Trusted Tranzitions.

Rick and his wife Bobbie started Trusted Tranzitions with a focus on senior moving . Whether  across town or across country, Trusted Tranzitions helps retirees relocating to Florida, seniors moving into independent living and assisted living facilities and seniors downsizing from larger homes.  “We make the process stress-free,” says Hollabaugh. As their business grew, so did their menu of services. Today, in addition to senior move management, Trusted Tranzitions also provides reliable more expansive estate administrative services and reliable referrals for reputable trust, estate and wealth management professionals.  Says Hollabaugh, “We can provide a nearly A to Z approach for clients – from helping them manage the move into an assisted care facility like Glenmoor at World Golf Village, to helping them sort through and downsize their belongings at a bigger home, to providing trusted referrals for estate sales, handymen or other help getting their home on the market, and then handling all the hassle of packing and moving so they can smoothly make the transition into their new home.” (more…)

September 15, 2011

Turnberry Resident Welcomes 100th Birthday

petrarca2On September 17, our World Golf Village neighbor Francoise Marquis will celebrate her 100th birthday.   The day might end with Mrs. Marquis playing cards with her family – a favorite pastime – which she  usually wins. Mrs. Marquis lives with her daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Louis Petrarca in Turnberry. “She joins us just about everywhere we go during the day. Her energy level is amazing,” said her daughter Michelle.  Turnberry neighbors may spot Mrs. Marquis puttering around the yard or taking a stroll when the weather gets a bit cooler.

Petrarca explains her Mom spends her mornings watching Mass on TV, followed by breakfast and a routine of simple chores. She does crossword puzzles daily to keep her mind sharp as a tack. She’s healthy and takes no medications, just a few vitamins.  Says Petrarca, “Mom will tell you that she is not ready for the rocking chair yet.”  She still washes dishes by hand and does her own laundry.  “Her bedroom and bathroom look like a model home with everything in its proper place,” says Petrarca. (more…)

August 29, 2011

Resident Spotlight: Michelle Crownover

photoFor The Meadows resident Michelle Crownover, living in our St. Augustine golf community has been a family affair.  Michelle first moved in with her sister, Dianna, in The Meadows in fall of 2006.  From the start, the sisters loved the neighborhood’s mix of young professionals, families and retirees.  “There’s a real sense of community in The Meadows. Neighbors are friendly and the mix of generations gives The Meadows a warm and inviting energy,” said Michelle.

In early 2009, Michelle’s family grew.  She and her new husband, Jason, decided to buy a home of their own across the street from her sister in The Meadows. Their World Golf Village wedding was on July 4th.  Wedding guests stayed at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village where the ceremony was held. “It was so beautiful,” says Michelle. The reception was at The Slammer & Squire club.  Says Michelle, “Our guests loved the Village feel!  They also enjoyed nearby downtown St. Augustine and of course golfing at The Slammer & Squire. The whole experience was a hit.”  She added, “To top it off, World Golf Village provided some amazing settings and beautiful backgrounds for our wedding photos.”

Michelle works in the St. Augustine area too.  She serves as Customer Relations Manager at Galaxy Aviation at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport.  “We take care of all the needs of corporate aviation and general aviation,” says Michelle.  Her and Jason are enjoying calling World Golf Village home. “We love to bike ride around the community. We also entertain at home a lot, and love having neighbors over for cookouts, birthdays, and any reason to celebrate,” says Michelle.  “And The Meadows is so dog-friendly.  I think everyone knows me as Blue’s Aunt!  He’s my sister’s Neapolitan Mastiff who I walk around the ‘hood. Everyone loves petting him.”

August 11, 2011

Bozard Ford Lincoln Mercury: A Good Neighbor

12743_167008018930_45775688930_2872046_2630927_nThe thing that struck me about talking with Letti Bozard of Bozard Ford Lincoln Mercury was that, despite her family’s legacy of owning and operating the successful St. Augustine dealership for generations, Letti was focused on all the great things Bozard is doing now.  From the new Quick Lane Service Center to the numerous ways the company supports area schools, Bozard is not a company to rest on its laurels.12743_167008038930_45775688930_2872050_2620039_n

Its laurels are plentiful by the way.  The company was founded in St. Augustine over 60 years ago and three generations of the Bozard family have operated the local institution.  Today Letti Bozard, Vice President of Community Involvement & Customer Strategy, and her brother Bo Bozard, Controller, are following in the family business.  Jeff King serves as General Manager. The dealership has received numerous awards over the years, including 14 Ford Motor Company President’s Awards, Ford’s highest honor in customer satisfaction. And just last month, Bozard was #1 in sales volume among area Ford Lincoln Mercury dealerships throughout Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties. “It was especially great to see the strong rebound in truck sales last month,” says Bozard.  “July 2011 was the biggest month of F150 Ford Trucks sales ever in our history.” (more…)

« Newer PostsOlder Posts »