School started, finally!  After a wonderfully hectic summer, my girls are back in middle school.  I was looking forward to a regular schedule, when I learned about their Community Service requirements.

I have to admit that I was not comfortable dropping them off at the homeless shelter, animal shelter or any kind of shelter for that matter. I wondered – Would their community service become MY community service?  Blimey, I thought!  If I have to organize and cheer- lead, it’s going to be something interesting.  I sought out the advice of my colleagues…

Amanda French, Realtor at Davidson Realty, Inc. came up with some great ideas for me to consider; reading to younger children at school, writing letters to soldiers who are serving in the military or to children who are hospitalized, and trash pick up at the beach to name a few.  I also received some other great ideas from various Davidson Company Realtors and Staff; Nursing home volunteering, community gardening, church projects, helping at the library and washing dogs at the animal shelter – hmm I’d probably end up bringing one or two dogs home!  Matt Davidson told me that volunteering at the elementary school was something he did as a Middle School student and he quite enjoyed it.

BINGO – a fantastic idea!  I contacted the school and now both daughters are having a great time helping out in the Media Center and grading papers at their previous elementary school, Otis A. Mason.  In fact, they are enjoying it so much that they have decided to do two hours a week instead of one.

During my almost 10 year employment with Davidson Development, I have come to understand the importance and dynamics of growth and I’ve seen and experienced the spectrum of it in that short time. We all know that the last few years have resulted in a slow down of growth in our area, which has affected a multitude of services. 

There is however some positive signs on the horizon that things may be picking up.  For instance, just across the street from the King & Bear, there is a new McDonalds under construction.  In the same shopping center, a Chiropractor has leased retail space, another tenant is expanding their space and the shopping center owners tell me that more contracts are in the works. 

It is exciting to see a new elementary school under construction at Palencia, to add to the portfolio of the best schools in Florida.  The school is due to be ready for the school year 2012-2013.  In addition, a new fire station recently opened there, reducing insurance rates for thousands of residents.

Home construction is also on the rise.  St. Johns County recently reported that the number of commercial permits has doubled those of last year and residential home permits are up almost 10 percent.  I can report that here at World Golf Village, we have  approved a total of 77 residential units for construction so far this year.

Growth brings jobs, services and improves our quality of life and I for one support that! Enjoy the Growth video blog!

I really like talking about the St. Johns County schools and how they continue to receive such great accolades year after year.  I am a proud parent, cheering on my girls as they get a great St. Johns County school education. It comes as no surprise to read in last weeks’ Newsweek Magazine that three St. Johns County schools made it in their top 1,000 best schools in America.

Nease High School, just down the road and the zoned high school for our St. Augustine golf course community, ranked at #208, followed by Creekside High at #237 and Bartram Trail High School at #292. 

This year, Newsweek revamped it’s testing criteria by concentrating on six components; Graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%) and AP tests per graduated (25%), plus average SAT/ACT score (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%) and AP courses per graduate (5%).

Once again, St. Johns County students ranked first or second in the state in the grade-level categories of reading, math and science.  These accomplishments are testament to the fact that many people come and live here, not just for our fabulous weather and lifestyle, but for our amazing schools.

On the home front, the Davidson Companies know that our schools’ top rankings are not just pure luck –  It’s all about our wonderful teachers.  Jim Davidson’s daughter, Kristen Calhoun, created a unique program for recognizing and appreciating our local World Golf Village school teachers.  The program, named “Davidson Appreciates Teachers”, recognizes teachers who are examples of the County’s Character Counts Program.  Kristen uses Social Media and other sources to collect community wide nominations.  She tallies voting and compares comments, to determine the recognition rewards.  The program has been a great success and will continue through teachers of all grade levels.

I know that you have heard that now is absolutely the best time to buy and that’s a fact,  but did you also know that now is absolutely the best time to build your dream home?  Here in our St. Augustine golf course community, we have been experiencing a positive upswing in homesite purchases and new construction. 

Two of our four featured homesites at World Golf Village were sold just this past month.  They were remarkable properties and the remaining featured lots are equally beautiful.  Now, we are excited to share another great one with you.

Lot 10 in Windmill Estates is a large, almost ½ acre lot situated along Conservation Lands, offering an abundance of privacy.  You can have your own little Sherwood Forest in your back garden, as you grill your hamburgers and relax as the sun goes down. Open the front door of your new home and right across the street, your vista is the King & Bear golf course.  Let’s face it, whether you love golf or whether you’re impartial  – it’s a magnificent sight, like living in the peaceful countryside.  Take an evening stroll with the dog or even a bike ride along the neighborhood sidewalks. It is thoroughly enjoyable to weave though the neighborhoods of the King and Bear or go to the Swim & Tennis Center and Fitness Cottage just down the street. 

There’s a sign just past the gate into the King & Bear neighborhood that reads  “Welcome Home”.  You’ll be so glad you are.

For more information contact Davidson Realty Agent Suzy Evans at (904) 940-5000 and to see our other specially priced homesites please visit  http://www.worldgolfrealestate.com/index.php/featured_homesites. Enjoy the homesite video!

After being closed for almost a month for extensive renovation and upgrades, the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX theater re-opened at the end of January.  We are now proud to say that our St. Augustine golf course community is home to the largest IMAX Digital 3D screen in the Southeastern United States.  The WGV IMAX is also one of only five institutional theaters in the World, with this level of IMAX Digital technology.  In addition to a new digital 3D projection system, the new IMAX boasts a state of the art sound system and a new 60ft x 80 ft wide screen – that’s about six stories high!  I for one can’t wait to adorn myself with those polarized 3D glasses (that are made only for IMAX) and see one of the 3D movies.  I hear the glasses are most comfortable and they make you look smart – I need all the help I can get in that department!  All of this sounds rather technical – well it does to me anyway, but here’s the real deal; The WGV’s IMAX will now be able to run both 2D and 3D movies, including first run Hollywood Movies.  Harry Potter, here I come! My colleague, who has had the opportunity to see “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D” tells me – that (except for the fact that his pants were dry) he almost felt the waves were crashing down in his lap! 

Of course, all of this great technology does have it’s downside –Motion sickness!  I’ve been on those 3D rides at Disney – it’s great to feel like you are really there but my stomach doesn’t think so! After having said that, I absolutely love a thrill and I’ll be there the first opportunity I get!

Along with the renovation comes a great new IMAX website, which is absolutely first class.  To find out more information about film schedules and book tickets online, go to www.WorldGolfIMAX.com

For all of those people who have had enough of winter, put down your snow shovels and take a look at this homesite in the prestigious King & Bear neighborhood in our St. Augustine golf course community.  I have to tell you, this is the first time I’ve done a short video (well that I know anyway!) and the more I talked about its wonderful features – the more I realized – how much of a gem it really is! 

The pie shaped size for one thing (almost a full half acre in size) allows so much flexibility in the type of house that can be built and how it can be oriented to take in those beautiful views of the King & Bear fairways.  Imagine yourself with a nice glass of wine or a cold beer sitting on your upstairs balcony, in front of the exquisite oval landscaped cul-de-sac  watching the sun go down over the last remaining golfers of the day;  or sitting in your private and secure back garden with your guests,  surrounded by a full 220 feet of conservation along the rear.  Either scenario is one of the reasons why the lucky person who buys this lot is going to enjoy year round outdoor activities and be the envy of their friends!  So put those Uggs away for good and come and experience how you can live life to the fullest with your new home on a St. Augustine golf course lot.

This spectacular lot is priced at $119,000. Check out the St. Augustine homesite video!

I am very proud to be a member of the Davidson Team in so many ways.  One of those is how we give back to the community, in terms of supporting charitable events such as quarterly blood drives, the St. Francis House, St. Johns Housing Partnership  and March For Babies,  to name a few.  There are many other charities out there, that’s for sure, but those that the Davidson Companies have chosen to support are ones that we feel are the most in need of support.  This year is no exception.  Our agents have worked with and helped many families who have either lost their jobs, their homes are in distress, or they may be facing foreclosure.   It has given us all a very humbling reminder that it could happen to any one of us. 

Now that the weather is getting cooler and November is here, we are beginning to think about the holidays.  More importantly we are thinking about those families whose gatherings, giving and holiday celebrations will be compromised for whatever reasons.    Often times, family hardship has its most impact on the children who deserve a joyous and happy season.

We can all make a difference in the lives of our community children by supporting the annual toy drive of the Sertoma Club. Each year, the Sertoma Club volunteers work tirelessly to collect toys and distribute them to families in St. Johns County.  That’s right – they stay right here in our community. 

Time is flying by and the first month of school has almost passed.  As a parent of one elementary and one middle school student, I have to stop and be grateful for the blessing of living in St. Johns County. 

It’s a fact that many people move here because of our highly rated schools.  With that said, St. Johns County residents couldn’t be more proud to hear that for the second year running, the Florida Department of Education has ranked us the No.1 school district in the entire state of Florida.   That is quite an honor.  It is comforting  to learn that 81% of elementary schools and 100% of middle schools in St. Johns County were rated an “A” school by the Florida Department of Education.  This compares to 44% of elementary schools in neighboring Duval County and 39% middle schools receiving an “A” grade.  Although, high school grades are still pending at this time,   it’s worth remembering that in 2008, Newsweek printed an article on the best high schools in the country with three St. Johns County schools being in the top 500: (Nease High School, 91st;  Bartram High School, 327th; and St. Augustine  High School 421st).  That is certainly something to celebrate.

You may also be interested to know that the letter grades also mean additional money for schools.  If a school  receives either an “A” rating or improves by one letter grade, the school  receives an additional $75 per student for education funding.  We all know that with the recent budget constraints, that extra “achievement” money is vitally important to each and every school.    There is a great interactive map at www.fcatmap.com that depicts the data of the overall scores for each school in addition to the reading, writing, math and science scores.

Many years ago, before World Golf Village was even imagined, much of the land here was either pine plantations or dairy pasture.  The pastures were adorned with majestic Live Oak trees.  The trees, livestock and wildlife co-existed and the trees thrived in their native habitat.

All too often some of our most beautiful trees are sacrificed by the development around us.  There are many special preserved trees in World Golf Village, but the most famous of them all, a prestigious Southern Live Oak stands in Heritage Park, in the King & Bear neighborhood.  In pre-design and development plans for our St. Augustine master-planned community, the tree, known as The Heritage Oak, stood right in the path of a planned major thoroughfare, Oakgrove Avenue.  Through intrinsic design and environmental sensitivity, Oakgrove Avenue was re-designed to preserve the tree and make it a neighborhood landmark.  This was a major accomplishment and a testament to the commitment to excellence by Davidson Development.