Nesting Black Skimmers Prefer Daytona Beach

On Tuesday morning, a pair of the federally and state-protected birds was discovered with an egg in a nest on the beach in front of the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.

Jennifer Winters, who oversees Volusia County's beach habitat conservation program, suspects it's the same pair of skimmers that nested here the past two years. The county had mounted a concerted effort with 14 wooden decoys to attract the birds to undeveloped dunes in Ponce Inlet, but the birds had other plans. Typically this bird nests in large colonies or groups throughout Florida and many other coastal states from New York to Texas.

The first year the birds nested in a vacant lot at Sun Splash Park in Daytona Beach, Winters said. Since the birds had moved south last year, Winters and a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alex Kropp, had hoped to entice them a little farther south this year. Instead, the birds moved more northward, and settled again in Daytona Beach.

Winters is rounding up volunteers to help protect the nest and pass out educational fliers to teach people about the skimmers. Volunteers will be needed for about six weeks. It takes up to 25 days for an egg to hatch and up to another 30 days for a chick to be able to fly on its own. According to David Hartgrove, president of the Halifax River Audubon chapter, black skimmers are not always good parents, and usually use large colonies as a form of protection for the chicks to be sheltered by the sheer numbers of birds in one area.

Environmental Management staff has cordoned off the area around the nest and will be monitoring the situation daily. They also are coordinating with state and federal wildlife officials as required by the county’s federally approved HCP which governs how the county protects sea turtles, piping plovers, nesting shorebirds, and other coastal wildlife and habitat.

Visitors to Volusia County beaches near the nest can expect to observe the parents in the vicinity of the nest, taking turns protecting the egg and skimming the water to feed on fish. If the birds appear agitated, there may be another type of bird preying nearby. People crowding too close also can disturb the birds and delay the incubation time. Onlookers should remember to keep their distance if they visit the nest area.

Resource: Volusia.org. For information about Volusia County’s Habitat Conservation Plan and efforts, visit www.volusiaseaturtles.org.

For updated beach information, please call (386) 239-SURF (7873).

We have such a variety of wildlife and beautiful habitat here in Daytona Beach, it's really a pleasure to live here. Contact me for a Daytona Beach Relocation Package so I can share our lifestyle with you, and use this link to search the Daytona Beach MLS.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachflhome.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Home for Sale in LPGA Community of Daytona Beach

I wrote earlier about the beautiful LPGA community in Daytona. Here is an example of a home for sale in the Centennial section of LPGA on the golf course, on Zaharias Circle, priced at $339,900. It is 3 bedrooms/2 baths, 2008 sq ft, has a screened pool with salt system, patio, solar heat, central air, with a formal dining room, large master with sitting area, and stucco/concrete construction. Appliances included are dishwasher, microwave, range, and refrigerator.

You can see the quality and architecture typical of golf course homes in the LPGA in the slideshow below. If you are a golf enthusiast, LPGA is the community for you. HOA is $100/quarter.

Contact me for a private showing, and visit the LPGA page on my web site for more details.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.daytonabeachflhome.com/

Team wants to Broaden Reach of Marine Center in Ponce Inlet of Daytona Beach

Kent Sharples, president of Daytona State College, and Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen want to construct a second building on the Ponce Inlet Marine Center campus, where some of the center's functions could be moved and a new college environmental science program could be housed.

Their vision is to expand access to environmental learning in the area, to form a partnership that could attract more people to Volusia as students and eco-tourists, and create green jobs for the County.

Their current plan is to use a nearby location, the eight acres west of Sailfish Drive and south of Beach Street known as the Pacetta Preserve. The County Council placed the acquisition on its agenda for the June 18 meeting.

For the college, which hopes to establish an environmental science bachelor's degree by 2011, the site would give students and professors access to saltwater, brackish water and freshwater environs, as it has deep-water access to the Intracoastal Waterway, convenient for ocean-going vessels.

Sharples said he envisions forming partnerships with landlocked colleges and universities, such as Vanderbilt and Ohio State universities, where their students might spend summers doing marine science research at Daytona State College.

Contact your City Council representative to express an opinion.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.daytonabeachflhome.com/

http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

The LPGA Community of Daytona Beach

One of the most varied and spectacular communities in Daytona Beach is the LPGA, a premier upscale residential community in Daytona Beach that serves as the home of the LPGA. Actually 12 neighborhoods are built around the LPGA Golf Club, also home to the Florida Tennis Center, United States Tennis Assn, and 2 world-class golf courses.

For the avid golfer there are two 18-hole golf courses—the Champions by Rees Jones (the 1st course in the history of golf designed for women) and the Legends by Arthur Hills, plus the LPGA Golf Academy and the LPGAs National Headquarters office building. Nature trails and preserves wind around the courses.

June is Women's Golf month. There will be programs throughout the month to promote women playing golf, and the LPGA website lists the specials for ladies. Play Golf America Program is a 5 day program which will introduce new players to the game. There are summer golf lessons, leagues, a Junior Golf Summer Camp, Champion's Club, and special events eery month.

LPGA offers a state-of-the-art practice academy, 5 putting greens and chipping areas, bunkers, and a driving range. Both golf and social memberships are available, for residents to also enjoy the clubhouse and community pool.

Lionspaw is the newest community, and the only gated one. Homes range from $630,000 to over $700,000, with pools and golf course or lake frontage. HOA fees are about $160 quarterly. Some neighborhoods, such as Acclaim at Lionspaw, offer new construction, where top builders present affordable upscale homes. Others, like Lionspaw Grand, is a neighborhood where the perfectly manicured landscaping of gorgeous mansions line the fairways.

Names of other communities evoke the beauties of Florida: Opal Hill, Gray Hawk, Master Glen. Older single family houses are available starting in the $270,000s. A new home will be close to $600,000 with a pool on the golf course. Most are one story, and maintenance fees vary widely, from $90 to $420, depending on size of lot and location.

Townhomes and single family attached dwellings are also available here, priced in the low to mid-$200,000s. LPGA has it all - a home for your budget, and a style to match your life. Use the widget below to search for LPGA homes for sale, and visit the LPGA page on my web site for more information.

I can help you preview or investigate any property you find in LPGA. This is my community, my neighborhood.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.daytonabeachflhome.com/
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

Worried about Mold in Daytona Beach after our Heavy Rains?

Daytona Beach was deluged by rain last week, some 21+ inches, and even the International Speedway was flooded to waist level. This makes me worry about mold, because it can be dangerous for residents, can be hard to get rid of, and is a disclosure item if a seller knows the home has a mold problem.

Realtor.org has excellent information on Everything You've Always Wanted to Know about Mold, from What is It to How to Get Rid of It. Here are some hints.

"What causes mold to develop?

Mold requires nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. Nutrients for mold are present in dead organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives. Mold requires moisture, although some mold species can obtain that moisture from moist air when the relative humidity is above 70 per cent. Many molds thrive at normal indoor temperatures; few if any molds are able to grow below 40 F or above 100 F. Outside this range molds may remain dormant or inactive; they may begin to grow again when the temperature is more favorable. Temperatures well above 100 F will kill mold and mold spores, but the exact temperature required to kill specific species is not well established.

How much mold exposure is harmful?

No one knows the answer to this question for several reasons. Individuals are very different with respect to the amount of mold exposure they can tolerate. Children under the age of one year may be more susceptible to the effects of some molds than older individuals. Measuring or estimating “exposure” levels is very difficult. “Exposure” means the amount of mold (microscopic spores and mold fragments) that gets into a person usually by breathing, but also by eating or absorption through the skin. For example, a building may have a lot of mold in the walls but very little of that mold is getting into the air stream. In that case the people working or living in that building would have little mold exposure.

If mold is present, what’s the best way to get rid of it?

The answer depends on how much mold is present and where it is located. If the mold is on furnishings or boxes simply discard the materials. Moldy materials are not considered hazardous waste; they can be sent to a regular landfill. However, it is smart to seal the mold material in heavy plastic to protect the people who handle it in transit and prevent spreading large amounts of the mold into the building as you carry the material out of it.If the mold is on a hard surface but occupies less than 10 square feet wash the area with soapy water (scrubbing with a brush may be necessary), rinse and allow the area to dry before repainting. If you have asthma, severe allergies and a weaken immune system get someone else to do the clean up.Larger areas (greater than 10 square feet in area) should be cleaned by someone with experience in doing this type of work. Remember, determine what caused the moisture problem and correct that problem. Otherwise, mold is likely to recur.

Where can I get more information about mold?

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html Environmental Protection Agency’s information of Mold/Moisture/Mildew

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/ Center for Disease Control’s information on Mold under Air Pollution and Respiratory Health

http://nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html - New York City Department of Health “Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments”

Author: Dr. Nathan Yost, MD is a Principal with the Building Science Corporation, a building and construction consulting firm."

There is more information on the Realtor.org site if you are concerned you may now have a mold problem. Don't let it go - in our climate, mold will not go away by itself!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachflhome.com

Pelican Bay in Daytona Beach

Pelican Bay is one of Daytona Beach's premier gated communities, featuring 2 championship golf courses that wind around waterways and lush foliage. Other amenities include a driving range, putting area, and short game practice area, swimming pool, 9 lighted tennis courts - 6 hard court, 3 clay, 3 clubhouses, golf and tennis pro shops, golf and tennis professionals, 2 restaurants, and loads of golf and social activities. Social as well as golf memberships are available, and many residents use the interlocking canals for fishing.

Pelican Bay, like LPGA, actually includes several communities within its gates. The master HOA fees are $575/year, and each neighborhood has its own maintenance fees.

Single family residences are divided by community or neighborhood, but more by frontage, whether north or south golf course, or canalfront, or lakefront. The architecture is as varied as the surroundings - colonial, cape cod, tuscan, bungalow, contemporary - you get the idea, and many custom homes are available for resale.

Housing prices range from condos under $200,000, single family attached homes from $145,000 - $329,000, and single family houses from $168,900 - $765,000. You can live and play in Pelican Bay in a modest townhome or purchase a luxurious custom house.

Visit my web page on Pelican Bay in Daytona Beach, and request a Relocation Package. Also watch the slideshow of Pelican Bay photos on my Active Rain blog. It's a beautiful community with plenty of choices for your home needs. Use the widget below to search homes for sale in Pelican Bay, and sign up for email alerts of new properties.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/
http://www.daytonabeachflhome.com/

Daytona Beach Pier to be Restored

The Daytona Beach pier has a rich history and is an important part of the consciousness of the city. Orignally, the pier was constructed in 1900 by Thomas Keating, and called the Keating Pier. In 1919, it burned down, and was rebuilt. In 1924, T.J. Wright bought the pier for $27,000, tore it down, and rebuilt from scratch.

In 1925, the 1,000' pier opened with a casino and room for 2,000 dancers. In the 1930's to 1950's, there was a skating rink and stairway to an upstairs garden, dance bands and bathing beauty contests, charity balls, and a maritime museum. Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey played there; Sally Rand and Gypsy Rose Lee entertained there. In 1966, Harry Doan bought the pier and sold helicopter rides, and built the Sky Lift and Space Needle. In 2004, Theresa Doan deeded the pier to the city which has leased the concessions to private businesses.

Now the city of Daytona Beach and private investors want to make some changes, long-needed repairs, and create a possible addition to replace footage lost in hurricanes, especially Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

According to News-Journal Online, "The city's support services director, J. Paul Wetzel, is in the middle of surveying other Florida cities to see how their piers are run. He plans to report his findings to the Pier Committee in about a month, and after that city commissioners expect to decide whether they want to stick with the current lease or solicit proposals from other businesses seeking to run the pier."

Assistant City Manager Paul McKitrick said, "Officials would like to see the pier better maintained, and have discussed pouring $2 million into repairs and upgrades such as hurricane windows and doors for the historic casino building. The city would like to keep the sky ride, use part of the restaurant building for receptions and parties, and attract a large chain restaurant like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co."

McKitrick added that "If a second pier is built, the city envisions a modern, concrete structure with rides that could be a tourist destination in and of itself. But the second pier is not permitted, and any private developer who would pursue those permits could be in for a challenge."

Many local residents would like the pier to be restored to the "glory" of its bygone days. Regardless of how long you have lived here and used the pier, or if you remember what it used to be, the structure remains an important landmark in Daytona Beach and a gathering place.

Learn about our other places and lifestyle, and consider investing in real estate in the Daytona Beach Area. It's a buyer's market - the best conditions in a generation to buy real estate. Contact me for a Free Relocation Package to Daytona Beach.



Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

First Friday Daytona Beach Festival - Be Ready for June

The Daytona Beach Downtown First Friday Festival, presented by the Daytona Beach Partnership Association, the Art Promenade and Concert in the Park series, is a downtown revival that transforms the Beach Street shopping strip into a series of galleries for local artists to exhibit work. Folks can talk shop, wander and watch artist demonstrations and listen to local bands play at Riverfront Park.

First Fridays showcase existing businesses and available retail locations that lend out display space. It also makes art more accessible to everyday people by providing space for artists to show their work.

If you missed yesterday's fun, it included paintings and sculptures from the Art League of Daytona Beach, works from the Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Southeast Museum of Photography from Daytona State College, and music by the Halifax Contraband, a folksy swamp music band that weaves tales of Florida history into song.

The festival attracts all ages, but more in their 20's and 30's, who are learning about the local arts scene. Plan on attending June 3 - here's the information from News-Journal Online:

WHAT: Downtown First Friday Festival Art Promenade and Concert in the Park
WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Downtown Daytona Beach, Beach Street area from International Speedway Boulevard to Orange Avenue
INFO: Free. Meander through galleries and check out live music. Some food and drink offered at select locations. 386-258-8150.

Daytona Beach offers a vibrant lifestyle full of recreational opportunities, active residents, and plenty of fun activities. That's why folks are coming here, and taking advantage of our low real estate prices. As a Relocation Specialist for Daytona Beach, I've helped many folks relocate to our central Florida area, and can guide you into a Daytona Beach home which will suit your needs. Give me a call or email -

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
www.sherryarmstrong.com
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
386-679-3191

Daytona Beach to get Skate Park

In a few months, a new skate park in Daytona should be open for use. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Thursday in Bethune Point Park, and construction should wrap up by the middle or end of this summer, said Percy Williamson, the city's leisure services director.

Skateboarders, BMX bikers and in-line skaters of all skill levels will be welcome at the roughly 30,000-square-foot skate park on East Bellevue Avenue, Williamson said. Street scenes, ramps and a bowl will be some of the features at the park. There will be no charge to skaters and bikers.

The $800,000 park is being funded by a $400,000 Volusia County ECHO grant and another $400,000 in leisure services impact fees.

(source: News-Journal Online)

Bethune Point Park is on the inland waterway half way between Daytona and Daytona Beach Shores.

Curious to see what real estate is around the park? The widget below is set for 3 miles from Bethune Point Park, single family homes, in zip code 32114. Contact me if you see a home you'd like to preview.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachflhome.com
386-679-3191

Your Finances can be Green Too in Daytona Beach

The celebration of Earth Day yesterday made me think through all the ways we, in our own lives, can help the environment and be greener, and here are some small ways we can make changes to become more earth-friendly.

1. Donate your time or money to Green causes: buy from green-friendly stores, like Ben & Jerry's or Patagonia, that give part of their sales to earth-friendly causes, buy gifts from companies that use organic products such as coffee or chocolate, or volunteer in your neighborhood or the greater Daytona Beach area to save plants or beach habitat.

2. If you are fortunate to still have enough money left over to invest, consider the many Green mutual funds available. As reported in RisMedia, "The GreenMoney Journal recently released its new Top 10 list of mutual funds that invest in companies devoted to alternative energy, clean water, organic products and those that avoid alcohol, tobacco, gambling or weapons. The annual list is a mix of new funds and those that have changed or enhanced their investment mix to be more environmentally conscious, said Cliff Feigenbaum, founder and president of the Green Money Journal, based in Santa Fe, N.M. 'The funds represent different ways people can align their money with their values,' said Feigenbaum, who has published the journal since 1992. 'Our goal is to make money and make a difference.'”

3. In your personal finances, use estatements, ebanking, ebilling, PayPal - there are many options. PayItGreen is a coalition of financial services companies that promotes electronic billing. According to the coalition, if the average U.S. household switched to electronic payments, it would annually:
-Save 6.6 pounds of paper.-Save 0.079 trees.
-Eliminate 4.5 gallons of gasoline (consumed by mailing and delivering all those paper payments).
-Prevent 63 gallons of wastewater released.
-Eliminate 171 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions (the equivalent of 169 miles of driving or conserving 24 square feet of forestland).

4. Have plastic cards around the house unused or out of date (those gift cards, phone cards, etc. you never used)? Mail to Earthworks System in Solon, Ohio. The company "gathers up millions of pounds a year of scrap PVC card plastic and reprocesses it into '100 percent recycled sheets' that are sold back to credit card manufacturers. Most of the material comes from 'skeletons, overruns and obsolete' stock left over from plastic card manufacturers. Other contributors are retailers like Rite-Aid, GAP, Applebee’s and Whole Foods, as well as movie theaters, hotel chains, even universities that ship him leftover student IDs."

This is just a short list - watch your habits for a day or two, and you'll see many ways you can become more earth-friendly.

As Relocation Expert for Daytona Beach, I help folks moving here become aware of our resources and the beauty of our area. We all need to help keep it a great place to live by doing our share to protect and value our Daytona Beach real estate.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

New Park Proposed for Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach city commissioners have voted to purchase a vacant piece of land along the eastern bank of the Halifax River and create a park. They would write a grant proposal for more than half of the $2.7million asking price.

The city is working with The Trust for Public Land on the grant and the purchase of the land located just south of Main Street at 42 S. Halifax Ave. The plan is for the trust to buy the 1.58-acre parcel, and then the city would buy the land from the trust. Currently, the Trust already is under contract to purchase the land.

According to News-Journal Online, the city may consider adding a boat dock. "Commissioner Shiela McKay-Vaughan said the park would be 'a good kick-start for the area' and improve property values, and Commissioner Pam Woods said it could become an important tourist attraction."

Daytona Beach real estate has been hard hit by the economic downturn, but it's a Buyer's Market. Contact me for ideas on how and where to buy in areas that have the best future appreciation potential.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachflhome.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Bike Week, Spring Break, and now Hypnosis Week in Daytona Beach

Hypno-Expo will be held Memorial Day weekend at the Daytona Beach Hilton, May 20-26. This year's event highlights lectures, workshops and courses from every aspect of the educational spectrum, collectively offering over 115 choices in hypnosis, hypnotherapy, NLP, scientific research, business practices, legal issues and marketing strategies for hypnotists, hypnotherapists and complementary healthcare professionals.

The expert faculty will speak on subjects that include adult education, alcoholism, anchoring, birthing, body language, clinical interviews, coaching, codependency, infertility, marketing, medical hypnosis, sexuality, smoking, spirituality, sports and practice building. International educators from Canada, Taiwan, Singapore and the United Kingdom round out the eclectic and diverse faculty of speakers. Several best selling authors are participating in the event.

If you are interested in attending the 3rd Hypno-Expo, registration information can be viewed or downloaded at www.imdha.com or www.iact.org. Call 570.869.1021 to request a catalog.

It's all part of our great Daytona Beach lifestyle!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

(source: PR Web)

Daytona Beach International Festival

Thursday starts the Daytona Beach International Festival, which runs through May 2. More than a dozen artists and music groups will present nearly 100 performances in various area venues.

Read the full schedule of events at the News-Journal Online. Here's a sampling:

Lalo Schifrin with the London Symphony. April 30, Peabody Auditorium.

Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti playing Miles Davis, digital duo with Dean Martin, and pop. April 16, Peabody Auditorium.

Tiempo Libre, a Miami band composed of Cuban immigrants, playing Latin sounds. April 23, Athens Theatre, April 24, Plaza Resort & spa.

London Symphony, "Firebird Suite" and "Carmina Burana." May 2, Peabody Auditorium.

Giant puppets in a stage production of "Hansel and Gretel" by the troupe Theatre Sans Fil. April 25-26, News-Journal Center.

Mozart's Letters - a Musica Voyage by chamber quartet of London Symphony musicians on flute, violin, viola, and cello. April 28, Athens Theatre.

There's so much - read the full schedule on News-Journal and plan to attend something, anything - enjoy the arts in Daytona and these great talents offered to us in our home town.

This is our life here in Daytona Beach - come join us.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachflhome.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com