Barbara-Jo & Bill -'s Blog

Amendment 5 Still On The November Ballot In Florida

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:36:21 -0500

Amendment 5 is still on the November ballot in Florida. While a lower court wanted it removed, the state appealed and until the Supreme Court decides, it will remain on the ballot - regardless of what the media may be inaccurately reporting!

The Florida Supreme Court will have oral arguments on this topic on September 8th in Tallahassee - we will see what they decide.

Many are saying that this is the way to go - lower property taxes by 25% to 40% through Amendment 5 - BUT WHAT IS THE COST???????????????? PUBLIC EDUCATION - AGAIN!!!!!!!!! IT SHOULD BE THE LAST THING to be touched!!!! Our students are the future of the state and nation! Already the counties are having problems with education budget cuts - teachers are leaving the state in record numbers because of the cuts!!! Pay freezes, increased classroom size, reducing elective classes - is this what we want for our schools???????????

Here in Florida we pay less taxes than most states in our nation! We have no state income tax and still we complain about each and every tax increase!!! Folks, this is not the 50's anymore, where everyone comes to Florida to live cheap because everything, including taxes, are well below the national average - this is the 21st Century and Florida's taxes have increased and finally caught up to the rest of the nation! If you were living in Europe, you would be paying a heck of a lot more on ALL of your taxes!

Having schools funded on your homeowner taxes is the only way we are going to get the money we need for our schools. If anything, we should ADD a 1 cent state sales tax that would ALSO go specifically toward funding public education!!!!

I grew up here in the Tampa Bay Area and half of my education was in private schools - my folks still paid taxes toward funding the public school system! As a former teacher, I am appalled at the thought that people are so against paying for educating each and every student in our state! It is one of the rights of each and every individual - the right for an education - and it is the duty of all citizens and residents to fund it in their taxes.

That is my opinion, for what it is worth and I would love to hear what you have to say!!!!!

Palm Harbor - Florida Living At It's Best!

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:48:01 -0500

Palm Harbor is one of the nicest areas in Pinellas County! Lake Tarpon sits in the middle of Palm Harbor. In addition to that, Palm Harbor is right on the Gulf of Mexico! Really a lovely location!

The homes are spacious and the yards well manicured! The perfect setting for your family!!!

If you are considering buying or selling in the Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Clearwater area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today!!!!

Alexander Solzhenitsyn died today!

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:32:07 -0500

Alexander Solzhenitsyn passed on today outside of Moscow! This is a great loss to the literary world! I have read most of his books and have always enjoyed his writing!!! He was 89 years old and had lived the last years of his life back in his native Russia after spending many years here in the US.

Exiled from his native Russia on February 13th (my father's birthday) 1974 for his literary works that infuriated the Soviet government, he lived in Vermont where he continued writing. In 1994, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he returned to the Russia that he so loved. There he spent his final years, still writing.

This man is and was one of the greatest literary geniuses of our time! May his soul have a good journey!

Aubrey's New Dora The Explorer Shoes

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:29:50 -0500

Being a Grandma means getting those special things for the baby.....such as the new shoes we bought today for Aubrey! She is in love with Dora the Explorer on Noggin. So now that she has grown (again) we had to get toddler size 6 shoes...................here they are................

We also saved the box for her, since I am sure she will want that too..................

Our little angel sure is growing like a weed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just had to share with all my fellow Rainers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cobb's Landing In Palm Harbor

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:19:21 -0500

Cobb's Landing in Palm Harbor has some really beautiful homes! Located on the west side of Lake Tarpon

this is a lovely community. Convenient to shopping, theaters and the sparkling Gulf Beaches, Cobb's Landing is a fantastic place to bring up the kids!

Remember, if you are considering purchasing or selling in the Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Clearwater area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!!!

Call Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 or Bill at 727-916-0138 today!!!!

My Daughter - First Year Teacher!!!!

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:09:22 -0500

My daughter is going to be a first year teacher this year and I am extremely proud of her! She got her BA in Psychology and intends to eventually go on for her PhD, but right now has to concentrate on supporting her 20 month old baby girl. So she is following in her mother's footsteps and going into teaching!

Since she obtained her BA she worked as a counselor for Phoenix House, working with addicted teens, and as a paraprofessional in the Behavior Management Room at her school. This year she will officially go on board as a high school teacher in the same school she has been working in for the last year!

My baby girl is sure growing up and I am proud of her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pinellas County Teacher's Return To School

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:53:49 -0500

Pinellas County Teachers are returning to school in another week! You know what that means! It is almost time for the students to follow!!!!!

There are so many questions parents have with the new regulations on zoning, grandfathering students into the same school their siblings are attending and all of the other information needed prior to that first day of school.

If you are wondering how to obtain the information you need go to www.pcsb.org for the Pinellas County School Board's new and improved web site! It is full of useful information!!!!!

If you are considering purchasing or selling here in north Pinellas County, give us a call. With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 or Bill at 727-916-0138 today!!!

Palm Harbor's Cobbs Landing On Lake Tarpon

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:44:54 -0500

Palm Harbor's Cobbs Landing neighborhood on the west side of Lake Tarpon is a wonderful place to live!

Most of the homes here are well over 2000 sq ft and have caged pools - after all, we do live in the Sunshine State!

With top rated schools in the area, this is the ideal place to raise a family!!!! If you are considering the Cobb's Landing area of Palm Harbor, be sure to give us a call today!!! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 or Bill at 727-916-0138 today!!!!

The Active Rain Gods Are Playing With Us Again!!!!!

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:28:35 -0500

It seems the Active Rain Gods are playing with us again!!!! For the last several days we have not had to type in that strange little word at the bottom to get our comments and blogs posted....now it is suddenly back!!! Waz Up Boys??? We did not miss those strange little words!!!! Are you playing with us again????

I would love to see a ton of comments here that everyone agrees life was better when those strange little words were gone!!!!!!!!! We love the Rain, but let's make it user friendly again.... :-)

I would say you are driving me crazy, but Bill likes to say I can walk there......

Once Again, ActiveRain Produces More Leads

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:39:55 -0500

Once again, ActiveRain is producing more leads for us!!! I cannot stress the importance of blogging enough to all of you Newbies out there in the industry!!! Blogging and listing your properties in as many sites as possible!

Link your personal web site to ActiveRain and all the places you post listings and blog!!! It takes time, but it does pay off!!! And read as much as you can on SEO!! There are so many places right here in ActiveRain to get an education on how Google finds you and how to improve your ratings!!! READ READ READ - it pays off eventually!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again, ACTIVERAIN!!!!!!

Safety Harbor Neighborhoods

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:29:28 -0500

Safety Harbor neighborhoods are warm, inviting and just look like the perfect place to raise a family!!!

Well kept yards, mature trees providing plenty of shade, flowers everywhere! Safety Harbor is a wonderful place to call home!

No matter what your housing needs may be, you are sure to find just the right place here in Safety Harbor!

Remember, if you are considering purchasing or selling in the Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Clearwater area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today! Your Safety Harbor, East Lake Woodlands, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!

East Lake Woodlands - So Many Individual Communities

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:25:52 -0500

East Lake Woodlands has so many individual communities within it's gates! Many, such as the Enclave, are gated communities within this gated community!

Whatever level of security and privacy you desire, East Lake Woodlands has it all! A beautiful setting in North Pinellas County, East Lake Woodlands is well worth checking out when you are ready for a new home!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the East Lake, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Safety Harbor area give us a call. With years of experience, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today! Your East Lake, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!

East Lake Woodlands - Your New Home

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:15:22 -0500

East Lake Woodlands - Your New Home! You will be glad you made this choice! Not only is the entire area breathtakingly beautiful, it is convenient to the Gulf beaches and numerous parks.

The area is dotted with ponds, lakes and a magnificent golf course! Various townhome and condo communities have their own pools and most of the individual homes have pools! True Florida living!

Naturally, as with all of Florida, there are alligators and raccoons everywhere! If there is a body of water, there is a chance that there is an alligator near by! Raccoons live in the trees and in this beautiful community surrounded by preserves and parks, there are abundant deer, wild turkey and other fantastic wildlife - - including an occasional Florida panther.

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the East Lake, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910! Your East Lake Woodlands, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!

East Lake Woodlands Homes

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:03:32 -0500

East Lake Woodlands has every type of home you could want! Looking for a townhome? East Lake Woodlands has them!

Want a magnificent single family home? This is the place to start and finish your search!!!! Whether a 2 or 3 bedroom home or an 8 bedroom home, East Lake Woodlands has the home you are looking for!!!!

Every conceivable style, tucked away among the lush Florida landscape, make East Lake Woodlands your next home!!!!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the East Lake Woodlands, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today!!!! Your East Lake Woodlands, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!!

East Lake Woodlands - Your Florida Home

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:51:24 -0500

East Lake Woodlands - Your Florida Home! Indeed, it is one of the nicest areas in North Pinellas County and a great place to raise your children!

Tucked away among the thousands of trees and numerous ponds and lakes, this lovely community is a place you should indeed consider when you are looking for your next home! Minutes from the Gulf of Mexico and convenient to both Tampa and Clearwater, East Lake Woodlands has so much to offer!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the East Lake, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910. Your East Lake Woodlands, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!

East Lake Woodlands Area Homes

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:41:35 -0500

East Lake Woodlands area homes are indeed a cut above the rest! This wonderful gated community has a wonderful Club House that overlooks a magnificent golf course!

The East Lake Woodlands Country Club is the perfect place to hold those special events in life such as wedding receptions, high school graduation celebrations, silver anniversary parties. You can also reserve a room for that special business meeting in the Club House.

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the East Lake Woodlands, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater area, give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today! Your East Lake Woodlands, Clearwater Countryside area experts!!!

East Lake Woodlands - So Much To Offer!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:31:28 -0500

East Lake Woodlands has so much to offer! From the wonderful schools here in North Pinellas County to the 36 champion holes of golf within the gates of East Lake Woodlands, it is the perfect place to call home!

Tennis your game? No problem, East Lake Woodlands has 14 clay and 3 hard tennis courts! The Racquet Club has programs for adults and juniors!

There are also 3 swimming pools (one is heated)!!! And if it is the beach that is calling you, you are minutes from the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico!!! This includes Honeymoon Island State Park, known as one of America's most beautiful beaches!!!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the Palm Harbor, Clearwater, East Lake, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the area, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910. Your East Lake Woodlands and Countryside area experts!!!!

East Lake Woodlands...A Wonderful Place To Call Home!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:03:56 -0500

East Lake Woodlands is a wonderful place to call home! I lived here with my own two children all through their middle and high school years! After re-marrying I moved out of here with my new hubbie. My kids were half through college by then - but they still consider East Lake Woodlands home!

It is a wonderful community, convenient to both Tampa and Clearwater, yet far enough removed that we often had deer and wild turkey right on our street during the early morning hours!

There are many wonderful communities within the gates of East Lake Woodlands!!!! With several gated entrances, two of which have guards and are accessible to those who are visiting, it is a place you should consider when thinking about that new home!

There are bike and pedestrian paths throughout East Lake Woodlands! And a great playground with a ball field for the kids!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, East Lake, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the area, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 or Bill at 727-916-0138 today!!!! Your East Lake Woodlands, Countryside area experts!!!

Sea Sea Riders Restaurant In Dunedin!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:45:05 -0500

Sea Sea Riders Restaurant in beautiful Dunedin is one more reason to visit the area! Located across from the public park and municipal marina, the food is fantastic! Whether steak or seafood, you will not be disappointed!!!!!

Dunedin has so many wonderful places to dine and shop! It is a wonderful waterfront community that may become your next vacation destination or home!!!!

If you are considering purchasing or selling in the Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater area, give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910!

Girls And Their Heels!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:34:27 -0500

This one is so cute that I had to share! It is my granddaughter putting her mama's heels on!!! She is starting early !!!!!!!!!!!!

Mama also painted her toe nails pink for the very first time! Aubrey thought it was COOL!

Remember, if you are considering purchasing or selling in the Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor area, give us a call!!!! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910!!!

International Rescue Committee - Ever Heard Of It?????

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:16:29 -0500

The International Rescue Committee is something I had never heard of until Bill gave me a call this evening and told me to check out their web site:

http://www.theirc.org/about/

While many organizations give 50% or more to various causes, the IRC gives 90% to each and every cause that it collects for! That in and of itself is excellent!

In 1933 Albert Einstein suggested that the International Rescue Association begin an America branch to aid those that had suffered under Adlof Hitler. At the end of World War II the IRC assisted in refugee resettlement efforts - and the organization has been going strong ever since!

It is indeed a web site worth checking out!!! We are both going to do what we can and we wanted to spread the word!

Remember, if you are considering purchasing or selling in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!!!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today!!!!!

Silver Star Post - A Long Road With Lots Of New Friends!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:50:58 -0500

Well, this should have been done about 34,000 points ago, but it is better late than never !!! The road to the Silver Star Post has been a lot of fun! I have made some wonderful new friends here in the Rain and learned a lot - not only about real estate related topics but life in general!

I would like to thank each and every one of you here in the Rain for making ActiveRain what it is! This is not only a place to blog about real estate, get referrals and get the message that we exist out to clients, but a wonderful community of like-minded individuals. Over the past year plus that I have been posting here I have spoken to many of you on the phone and met many in person! It is always such a treat to meet a fellow Rainer at a convention or just over a cup of coffee while we happen to be in the same town!

This place has meant a lot to me! There were times when life's little ups and downs were a bit much, but I always knew I could turn to my friends here in ActiveRain! Thank you to each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart! These are connections that I hope last a lifetime!!!

To those of you that are new to ActiveRain, there is so much to learn here!!! Share your frustrations as well as your successes and joys with us! We are all here to support each other!

And to our 'FOUNDING FATHERS', you guys are the tops! Thanks not only for giving us this wonderful place in cyberspace to connect, but to answering each of our e-mails and constantly improving this site!!!!

ActiveRain has turned out to be my favorite spot on the internet!!!!! Hugs to all of you!!!!!

Buy Handmade Soaps Made In Tarpon Springs!!!!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:51:50 -0500

Buy your handmade soaps, sponges and gift baskets right here in Tarpon Springs! Check out www.limnos.comfor a complete line of both goats milk and extra virgin olive oil handmade soaps!!! They have all the fragrances you could possibly want and also fragrance free soaps!!!

In addition to that they have gift baskets and a line of sponges - sponges from our own waters here in the Gulf of Mexico!!! Buy not only American made, but made right here in Pinellas County!!!

Check out there web site and price list! You can also go directly to their company which is family owned and operated at 331 N. Safford Avenue in Tarpon Springs!!! What a great gift idea!

And if you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in the Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Clearwater area give us a call!With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910!!!

Aubrey Is Already 20 Months Old!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:37:23 -0500

Many of you here in the Rain are familiar with my granddaughter, Aubrey!!! Well in two more days she will be exactly 20 months old!!!!!!!! I cannot believe how time is flying by!!! She talks non-stop now, feeds herself and is the perfect little girl! I had forgotten how quickly they grow!!!

Today she got all dressed up to attend a wedding with her Mama!! I had to share this photo of Aubrey with Elmo! She took Elmo and her baby doll to the wedding with her!!!!

Living with them is such a joy! Watching not only the little one grow so quickly, but to watch my daughter mature and develop in her role as a mother! Life can indeed be a blessing!!!

Hope everyone out there in the Rain is having a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Remember, if you are considering buying or selling in the Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor areas give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910. Give us a call today!!!!!!!!!

From Opa Locka to Chattahoochee . . . Only In Florida!!!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:48:16 -0500

While I am dishing out Florida trivia, here are a few more unusual names:

Opa Locka is located just outside Miami - in Muskogee it means 'big swamp' - I think that is self explanatory!

Chattahoochee is up in Gadsden County - in Muskogee it means 'marked rock' - Chattahoochee is the name of a town in Florida AND the name of the State Mental Hospital that was the cause of so much controversy over the tactics used to treat patients.

I remember as a kid we used to say things like "better be good or they are going to send you to Chattahoochee"!!!!! Perhaps the hospital's poor reputation was the reason for such comments!

Chattahoochee Hospital began 'life' as a US Arsenal built in 1834 and used as an arms depot during the Second Seminole War. In 1868 it became the first State Penitentiary and remained such until 1876, when the penitentiary was moved to Raiford (where it remains to this day).

In1876 Chattahoochee became the State Mental Hospital! At one time it had over 5000 patients and less than 250 attendees!!!!!!!! I think those figures speak for themselves about the type of care patients received!!!!

In 1975 there was a US Supreme Court decision concerning the involuntary containment of Kenneth Donaldson for 15 years in Chattahoochee. In O'Connor vs Donaldson the US Supreme Court said that citizens cannot be forced into institutions unless they are a danger to themselves.

Even Hollywood got into the act in 1989 with the movie 'Chattahoochee' which depicted horrid conditions. When I think of Chattahoochee, I think of old black and white films of the 1950's that used to depict such horrid places with forced electric shocks and water baths to 'calm' patients. Many of the 'patients' were simply there because family members did not want them around anymore and that included rich husbands 'depositing' their wives there...........something that Hollywood impressed upon my young mind!

Currently the hospital has two sections:

The Civil Portion has approximately 500 adult and elderly patients with severe mental disorders.

The Florida Department of Corrections' forensic wing is in the other section of the hospital with approximately 700 forensic residents who are either incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Chattahoochee is a name that I will always associate with a dark secret past because of all of those years in the 19th and 20th centuries where mental patients were subject to deplorable conditions and inhumane treatment. That was the case of all mental institutions of old. Thank heaven times have changed!!!

And with that I will conclude this chapter in my History/Trivia Lesson of the Sunshine State - Florida!!!

If you are considering buying or selling in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor area give us a call! With years of experience in the local market, we are here for all of your real estate needs!!!

Call Bill at 727-916-0138 or Barbara-Jo at 727-512-0910 today!!!! You might even get a few historical facts thrown in with your tour of the area!!!!