Real Estate on the NW Florida Beaches

Celebrating America's Freedom on July 4th!

2008-07-03T08:24:05Z

Wishing you all a fun-filled "Fourth of July" weekend! Keep it safe enjoying friends and family, and don't forget to think about the freedom we share in the United States ... freedom to celebrate who we are, what we do, when we work and play, where we worship, why we are a nation of free people, and how we protect the gift of freedom.

This is a beautiful, moving music video of a song about a son who became an American Soldier. It tells the story from his mother's view point of her son's service to his country. It is a tribute to all Americans who have served in the military and to their families who prayed for them while waiting for their safe return home.

This music video is so worth watching! Surprise happy ending! Celebrating America's Freedom. Enjoy!

"Letters from War by Mark Schultz"

Do you want to know the secrets to success on Active Rain?

2008-06-24T10:04:30Z

I've never really been good at keeping secrets! I confess. Maybe it's a character flaw ... maybe it's just my kind of personality! I've always been a "tell all" sort of person.

If something is so good, so much fun, so successful, so worth talking about ... I say why keep it a secret? Maybe some people say if the secret is so good they don't want to share it with everyone else.

They may want to keep it all for themselves and let everyone else figure it out the hard way. I'm just not like that ... It's so much fun to tell good secrets! Look at those cute little girls giggling and whispering about their happy secrets! Friendships are formed and lifelong bonds are made when we share our good secrets.

I'm not talking about gossip or telling something someone shared in confidence. It's not good when we share other people's secrets. I'm talking about sharing something you and I have learned that has made our journey easier, better, more fun, and we naturally want to share it with our friends!

I've discovered the SECRETS TO SUCCESS ON ACTIVE RAIN and I want to share them with you ... all 90,000+ of you or at least the 4,000+ of you who are online now!

NEWBIES sign up for Active Rain every day ... and some of them never get any farther than entering in the required information .... some never even post a profile photo of themselves or at least their business logo.

I don't get it! Why don't you want to post your image on your profile?

The first day I discovered Active Rain I spent a couple of hours setting up my profile, loading up a photo, and filling in the blanks. It seemed pretty clear to me that I needed to take some of the content from my current real estate website, copy and paste it into my new Active Rain PROFILE PAGE.

YOUR ACTIVE RAIN PROFILE PAGE IS THE NUMBER ONE SECRET TO SUCCESS ON ACTIVE RAIN!!

If you don't know what to say about YOU ... then I promise you that no one else does either. If you aren't interested enough in YOU to talk about you... guess what ... no one else is either. If you don't have an image to share ... create one. Better yet, use your business card photo or the most recent picture that was taken of you when you were having fun!

When you begin filling in the blanks on your profile page, please tell us where you are ... where do you live? Where do you work? Where is your area of expertise? Name that city where you are a Local Expert! And then tell us what you know about your area of expertise. Tell us about your recent successes, your motivation to do what you do, what makes you unique in your market, and what makes you a specialist in your field.

The second best person to talk about you is a satisfied customer or client. Testimonials are very important and they can help you see yourself the way others really see you. They also help your future prospective customers see you through the eyes of someone who believes in you and cared enough to write a few words about you.

Most of us felt the same way about getting those first Testimonials ... unsure of how to ask for them. One of the best things I've ever done in my career was learning to ask for a testimonial. You have the perfect opportunity to ask for them now.

"Mr. Customer, I have to post a brief testimonial on my new business profile. Could you help me by writing a few words about our recent transaction that would help other people get to know me, so that I can help them like I was fortunate enough to help you? I really appeciate it! Thank you."

Post those testimonials! You will be humbled and amazed by the nice things people are willing to say about you when you give them the chance by asking for a brief testimonial.

THE SECOND SECRET TO SUCCESS IS JOINING SEVERAL GROUPS ON ACTIVE RAIN!

On the menu bar at the top of the AR page, you see GROUPS, and when you click on it you see a very intimidating list of groups in the drop-down box. If you begin to read about all these groups... well, it can be overwhelming! So, start with those featured groups in the right column. Those have the most members and posts. All that activity is good and all those members in those groups are the ones who will read your blog when you post to these groups. When you find blogs that "speak" to you, look at the groups they are posted to and join those groups. Chances are you will find "like minded professionals" in these groups.

One of my favorites is the IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM (THEMTHEM) GROUP. I recently became one of the moderators for this group, and I have to say the posts to this group are some of the best on AR. That's because they are about others ... bloggers have written these posts to shine the light on some one else's success or to thank someone special. We always gain the most when we give credit to someone else's efforts. Feel the love when you join this group and write your own ThemThem about someone today!

MAKING POSITIVE COMMENTS IS SUCCESS TIP #3 ON ACTIVE RAIN!

When you give more than you receive you can't go wrong! If you read, read, read lots of posts on Active Rain some really great things will begin to happen for you.

You will learn a lot of great new stuff ... real estate and technology stuff ... interesting information about people and places all over the world ... and you might even learn something about yourself.
You will begin to make new friendships when you read about the experiences of other AR members, and when you comment in a positive way on their posts, you will create new relationships.
You will find that your new RAIN-FRIENDS will begin to read and comment on the posts you write!

When you read a lot of posts, you learn what to write about. Posts that get lots of comments usually are written about the things that are happening to other people in our industry or in a local market. You'll find that you have lots of things in common with other real estate professionals. You will learn more about SEO, technology, marketing, staging, mortgages, taxes, contracts, real estate law, and The Code here on AR than anywhere else on the web. It's all in one place, but it's not just one person's opinion ... it's 90,000+ opinions!

Now that you know the TOP 3 SECRETS to ACTIVE RAIN SUCCES ... tell everyone! Don't be a secret agent, tell everyone about your success, and reach out to encourage others in the ACTIVE RAIN NETWORK!

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

Who's #1 Who's #1 Panama City Beach, FL Is #1

2008-06-03T20:29:20Z

We all love a winner! Whether it's AMERICAN IDOL's TOP 5, or David Letterman's TOP 10 REASONS WHY, we all want to see, hear, and be aligned with the winner!

Panama City Beach, FL has been named as the #1 "place" to own a summer home, according to an article called TOP FIVE PLACES TO OWN A SUMMER HOME on AOL's Money and Finance. Kelli B. Grant, a reporter for SmartMoney.com, named the "Top 5" and offered the reasoning behind the poll.

1. PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL

2. POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA

3. THE CRYSTAL COAST, NC

4. LAKE TAHOE, CA

5. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TN

If you've read many of my posts on this Active Rain blog, you already know that my 2 most favorite places on this earth are the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Panama City Beach, FL. It's pretty cool to have 2 faves in the TOP 5!

(My son, Lee, and daughter, Candi, in the Great Smoky Mountains, TN)

According to the article, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL has "something for everyone" on the Gulf of Mexico. The 6 Championship Golf Course that I blogged about in AWARD WINNING GOLF COURSES IN BAY COUNTY FL,

and the fantastic restaurants and nightlife that I blogged about in WONDERING WHERE TO GET A GREAT SEAFOOD DINNER? were mentioned in the article as 2 of the main reasons to choose Panama City Beach for your summer home destination.

Did you realize that you can buy a gulf front condo for under $100,000 on PC Beach? Prices have adjusted back to normal from the inflated prices of just a couple of years ago.

Touted as the main reason to buy NOW is the NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT currently under construction that I blogged about in QUIETING THE NAYSAYERS-BAY COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RELOCATION PROJECT. I don't want to say "I told you so...." however, do you see a pattern developing here? With the opening of this monumental airport, weekend travel in and out of Panama City Beach should be a snap!

I am certain there are many Active Rain members who live in PA, NC, or CA who are planning to brag on these Top 5 winners! And I know my East Tennessee friends on Active Rain will be writing lots of Localism posts about The Great Smoky Mountains! Congratulations to everyone in all of the TOP 5 PLACES TO OWN A SUMMER HOME!

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

The American Flag Through the Eyes of a Veteran - In Honor of Memorial Day

2008-05-26T08:28:41Z

Memorial Day 2008 gives us an opportunity to pause to remember those brave American men and women who have served this country under the banner of The American Flag. Today, in honor of Memorial Day, I am re-posting a story I wrote called "The American Flag Through the Eyes of a Veteran." ##

THE FLAG THROUGH THE EYES OF A VETERAN

The phone call had surprised me. Jerry's brother, Claude, Jr, was saying that he was passing through town on the way to his weekend Guard duty. Could he come by and visit with us? "Sure, that would be fine, but Jerry is out of town, gone to training for his new job," I answered. He said he would still like to come by to see the kids. I answered the knock at the door and thought how much more he looked like his dad. Usually he looked so much more like Jerry, but age was favoring his dad now that he was over 40.

Claude Jr was the oldest of seven brothers and sisters. Jerry was in the middle somewhere. The kids were clinging to his pants legs and he carried Gloria riding on his foot as he made his way to the sofa. He hadn't been able to get here for Jerry's retirement from the base. No one in the family had made it. It had just been the guys in the squadron and me. We wisely chose not to bring the girls and baby, Lee.

Jerry's commander and I had tried to talk him out of retirement and back into another tour of duty. A recent promotion had come with orders for another tour of duty overseas. Jerry was the most committed family man I had ever known, and he was not going to leave his family. I knew that I was not going to the island of Guam with a newborn and two little girls. Retirement was Jerry's only option in his way of thinking. The only thing I remember from the ceremony was fighting back tears of regret for the shortened military career of a man who never planned to retire less than a Chief Master Sergeant.

I vaguely remember seeing him receive the American Flag that had flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C., which had been provided by our state representative. We sort of knew him because his "right-hand-man" was an active member of our church orchestra.

"Oh, I want to show you Jerry's flag," I exclaimed as I rushed down the hall to get it from the bedroom where it was mounted in a triangular display case. I took it out and said, "It flew over the Capitol, you know."

As I turned to face Claude Jr, he stood to his full height and reached his arms forward to receive the American Flag. As I walked across the room to him, there was a hollow ringing sound in my ears. I heard my voice as if it was very far away. I didn't have time to think about what I was saying. My eyes locked with those of my brother-in-law and the world blurred into slow motion. I watched his face as the flag slowly passed from my hands into his. I saw his eyes drop from my face to the stripes of red and white, and I knew that I would never see this man again.

He was beaming with pride and his eyes glistened as he looked at this precious symbol of the freedom he had fought for in Viet Nam.

I swallowed hard as I forced the dark, bitter-strong thought from my mind. I felt faint and nausea was rising in my throat as the brown carpet swirled at my feet.

Jerry came home that night. I made my voice sound light and unconcerned as I told him how Claude Jr had played with the children, and that I hoped he didn't mind that I had taken the flag out of the case to show it to his brother. When the phone call came from their sister three days later, I wasn't even surprised. I drove out to the base, and wept as I told Jerry that his big brother had died. He didn't seem to understand what I had said at first and then he put his hand on his forehead and sank back in the chair at his desk. I never told him of the slow-motion premonition. I don't recall ever telling anyone at all.

We drove to the family's hometown in North Alabama. It didn't occur to us to drive over to the base where Claude Jr had been serving his weekend Guard duty, although it was only a couple of hours from our house. When we arrived with children-in-tow, Grandpa's house was already full of family. We sat in the kitchen with the rest of the family trying to comfort their daddy. He was a man of very few words and there were no words at all for this day. Someone finally said that he wanted his oldest boy brought home and that it just wasn't fair to have to wait a week for the funeral service.

I didn't fully understand but I knew that something wasn't happening the way it should be. Why would they wait a week to have the service? The sisters put together an explanation about the confusion that was delaying the body from being shipped home. "See, Claude Jr was in the Army Guard, but they sent his troop to work at the Air Force Base in Florida," the sisters explained. "The Army has no control over when the Air Force will release the body," they continued, "and Daddy is upset about it." I walked to the phone and said, "I need to make a few calls, okay?" Our church office had the phone number for our state representative's "right-hand-man." After thanking him for sending Jerry's flag, I told him about the circumstances we were facing. I explained that Jerry's brother's body was being held at Eglin and the Air Force wouldn't release it.

"Do you know where I am?" this friend of our family asked. "And do you know who is right here with me?" he continued. I had no idea that he and our state representative were at that very moment at Eglin Air Force Base. The number given to me by the church secretary had been forwarded to a meeting room directly across the street from the office where the decision would be made to release the body of my husband's brother that same afternoon. How marvelous are His ways! We all acknowledged that God had intervened to unravel the red tape on our behalf.

This is an excerpt from the manuscript of a future book called The Widows Walk. This book will be about people who have survived grief experiences written to encourage those who are struggling with grief issues.

Written by Jan Evett, Broker Associate, Century 21 Ryan Realty, Panama City Beach, FL

UPDATED: A friend sent this link to me today for Memorial Day:

A TRIBUTE TO THE VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR AND WORLD WAR II

Bay County Florida Parade of Homes Week- Panama City Beach

2008-05-13T14:20:04Z

It's PARADE OF HOMES WEEK sponsored by The National Home Builders Association in Bay County, Florida! The area includes Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Southport, and surrounding communities. This year there are 47 new homes in The Parade.

Right now I am hostessing OPEN HOUSE at one of the Parade Homes in the beautiful waterfront community of Martinique on Panama City Beach, FL.

My brokerage, Century 21 Ryan Realty, has the exclusive listing on the Martinique Model Home, where I am right now. We also have a brand new construction home just completed in time for the annual Parade, which we also have open to show today. And, we have an owner occupied home listed for resale next door to the new one. I had the pleasure of hostessing an Open House there on Sunday.

3405 MARTINIQUE LANE $599,000

This Parade home features 3 bedrooms, with a downstairs Master suite and full bath, plus 2 full baths upstairs with each bedroom, and a half bath downstairs off the main living area. The approximate 2700 square feet have a bright open feel with oak hardwood floors. The family room has a built-in entertainment center surrounding the gas fireplace, and the open inviting kitchen has a gas stove, lots of cabinets, and open natural wood shelving. One of my favorite features is a built-in reading nook. The Master suite has a high ceiling and a luxurious Master bath with walk-in separate shower, claw-foot tub, and double sinks. There is a huge walk-in closet, plus a side patio that opens from the Master and living area.

Martinique is a charming gated waterfront community designed with distinctive "Old Florida" coastal charm. The community offers nature trails for walking, a community pool and other desirable amenities with an emphasis on protecting and preserving nature.

This is the Gazebo in the Common area which is the center of the community. On Sunday, there was a cookout in this area sponsored by one of our great lenders in Panama City Beach, Regions Bank.

The Builder is John Spillars Construction, Inc., a well-known area builder who specializes in custom homes with disctinctive architectural detail.

John focuses on a stress-free experience for the home buyer, and builds in both Bay and Walton Counties in Northwest Florida.

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

Armed Forces Day Celebration in Panama City Florida

2008-05-12T19:53:03Z

Show your love, respect, admiration, dedication, and pride in the United States Armed Forces!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

10:00 am - Meet the Main Street Striders at the Visual Arts Center, corner of 4th St and Harrison Avenue

11:00 am - Enjoy Patriotic Music by Margo Anderson at the Panama City Marina

ARMED FORCES DAY is May 17, 2008.

This is a nation-wide celebration to honor the US military men and women who have served or are now serving our country. President Harry Truman led the way to establish a holiday honoring the military to commemorate the unification of the brances of the armed forces under the Department of Defense. In 1949, Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, announced the creation of Armed Forces Day.

Join the Main Street Striders on a walk through

Downtown Panama City, Florida and

music by Margo Anderson at the

Downtown Marina as Panama City celebrates

The United States Armed Forces!

Sponsored by Tyndall Federal Credit Union and

The Downtown Improvement Board.

Active Rain-ferral Just Listed!

2008-05-04T14:23:34Z

"Active Rain-ferral"(noun): ACTIVE RAIN + REFERRAL = JUST LISTED!!!

Look at this great new home I "Just Listed" on Panama City Beach, Florida! This is an above average home located on the West End of Panama City Beach at 124 South Wells Street. List price: $369,900

It really is so nice, so neat - absolutely immaculate actually - with a beautifully landscaped lawn. There is a sprinkler system on a shallow well that helps to keep the plush lawn green and the magnolia tree blooming.

This home has a new standing seam metal roof and the high-grade stucco exterior is protected by "Rhino Shield" coating making it virtually maintenance free and in great condition.

Inside the home is a great open floor plan with a vaulted ceiling throughout the living area. The kitchen has lots of cabinets and new solid surface quartz counter tops that sparkle! The island workstation has a smooth surface cook top stove and oven. The lighting is more than efficient ... it's also beautiful.

The laundry room is off the kitchen "eat-in" area and so is the garage, which has peg board walls for easy organizing of your tools and lawn equipment.

This is a view from the great room facing the kitchen. There is a built in desk on the left and breakfast bar on the right. The high ceiling and large windows provide a light, open atmosphere for the main living area.

The home has a transferable termite bond with Orkin, and the seller is offering an American Home Shield Warranty for the buyer at closing.

The home has ceramic tile throughout the main living areas and bedrooms, which is great for Florida living ... helps to keep all that sand under control.

This home has a split bedroom floor plan with the Master Suite on one side and the other two bedrooms and full bath on the opposite side. Every bedroom has at least one window looking out on the beautiful landscaping.

View of the great room from the kitchen

Bedrooms have chair railing and crown molding.

The Florida Room was built under roof during the construction of the 2300 square foot home in 1995.

There are french doors opening to the Florida room from the Master bedroom and from the great room.

The great room overlooks the back yard and opens to the screened enclosed patio room.

This is a view of the back of the home showing all those Florida room windows. Every window has roll down hurricane shutters (electric) and the back yard is beautifully landscaped.

The screened enclosed patio room is bright, breezy, and very comfortable! Outdoor living at its best any time of the year ... no bugs in here! Just plenty of cool breezes making for a great place for a short nap!

The private fenced back yard includes a wooden deck. The landscaping is designed to provide minimal maintenance while offering a pleasant view.

And... the sellers of this home were referred to me by one of my favorite ACTIVE RAIN real estate agents in the Central Florida area! The owners are considering relocating to be closer to family members, who purchased their home from this agent. She called me after searching through the Active Rain Network! I am so grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to meet the owners, present a marketing analysis for their home, and list their home!

ENJOY THIS MUSICAL VIDEO TOUR OF THIS LOVELY ACTIVE RAIN-FERRAL!

Meet one of my new best friends, Nicole Stolberger! Check out Nicole's Active Rain Profile!

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073

Email: RealEstate@JanEvett.com

Search Homes for Sale: www.JanEvett.com

The Pledge of Allegiance from the heart of a P. O. W.

2008-04-02T21:49:06Z

Someone sent the story below to me in an email today (I added the photos). Then Steve Dalton - Northwest Indiana of the ActiveRain group: Real Estate Professionals for John McCain also sent an email today asking for members to post more to the group.

So........... here we go:

John McCain's remarks about the Pledge of Allegiance:

'The Pledge of Allegiance' - by Senator John McCain

'As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.

This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.

One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.

Mike came from a small town near Selma , Alabama . He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.

As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.

Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt.

Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.

That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.

The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.

As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.'

'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'

So, now that you've read this inspirational message........

VOTE....

However you decide to vote is your right. And that right, that freedom was given to you by brave men like John McCain and Mike Christian and the other 30-40 men who shared a living hell that most of us have never had to face. They faced it for their Country, for their American Flag, for their Pledge of Allegiance, for their brothers and sisters in service to their country ... and they faced it for you and for me.

So......

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073

Email: RealEstate@JanEvett.com

Search Homes for Sale: www.JanEvett.com

Spring Farmer's Market, Downtown Panama City, FL

2008-03-23T22:12:57Z

This is one of the best ideas I've heard about in a long, long time! With all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in our local area in the spring and summer, this event is going to be a success! This is a great idea for local families and for visitors to our warm climate.

Panama City's Downtown Improvement Board is sponsoring a Farmer's Market starting April 12 at McKenzie Park!

WHEN: Saturday, April 12, 2008

TIME: 8:00am-12:00pm

WHERE: 3rd Court at McKenzie Park

The Farmers Market will be held on the Second Saturday each month.

More information about this event is available from the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board on their website: www.pcdib.com

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073

Email: RealEstate@JanEvett.com

Search Homes for Sale: www.JanEvett.com

Coastal Systems Station Relocation Guide

2008-03-22T02:33:40Z

Congratulations! "You have been selected!" You just got the dream assignment ... whether you are active duty military or a civilian contractor... it's a great assignment!

Welcome to the Coastal Systems Station on Panama City Beach, FL!

The first thing you'll notice is all the water ... St Andrews Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the IntraCoastal Waterway! Of course the waterfront access is the very reason why CSS is located on "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches." CSS is home to military families associated with the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. CSS is also a major employer for civilian support for the military. Engineers and contractors abound! Many of the more than 3000 retirees in the area were once employed at the CSS. It's a huge part of the economy and lifestyle of Panama City Beach.

Yeah, you get to go to the beach ... the sugar white sands are just about half a mile down the road from the Coastal Systems Station.

This dream assignment can be really sweet, but it's still another relocation to a new town, new job, new school, new church, new shopping centers, new restaurants, new doctors, new day care, new babysitters, new everything!

Have you ever had to do something new for the first time that you've never had to do before, and wished that someone had written a guide or book or manual to help you do it?

Like parenting, how many times have you heard some one say that kids don't come with an owner's manual?

How many times have you wondered how to add something to your post on Active Rain and found that someone (usually Brad Andersohn) had already written a post giving detailed instructions on how to do that very thing?

Instruction manuals are good, but they are only good if you know about them or know where to find them. And they are only as good as the information they contain. Guess what military families ... there is a Guide to Military Installations 6^th Edition by Dan Cragg published 2001 by Stackpole Books.

Maybe you already know about this book, certainly it has been around a while, but if you haven't heard of it, you must "Google" it! This guide tells you the basics on ALL the military installations... everything you wanted to know about approximately 300 Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard Installations all over the world.

It's easy to understand and full of great information. Here is a direct quote from the guide about CSS:

"Established originally in 1942 as a naval section base, the Panama City Coastal Systems Station (CSS) has been involved with surface warfare research and development since it became a mine countermeasures station in 1945. Today it is a major activity under the Naval Surface Warfare Center with an active-duty complement of 750 military personnel and a civilian workforce of over 1,100 persons."

CSS is a place where important research, development, testing, training, and studies are done in engineering and scientific expertise for the military.

CSS also offers support missions for Mine, Amphibious, and Special Warfare operations and training. The deep waters of the Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are perfect arenas for the Navy and Coast Guard exercises and training maneuvers.

Of course there's always swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, sunbathing, volleyball, jogging, and Spring Break!

Did someone say "Spring Break" on Panama City Beach?

Okay, guys, let's get back to business... here's a quote from the Department of Defense describing in detailed acronyms the purpose of CSS.

"The Naval Sea Systems command is an integral component of the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Dahlgren Division. CSS is on the Navy's major RDT&E laboratories with a wide base of expertise in science, technology, engineering, modeling, simulation, and T&E. The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) and Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC)-CSS provides the nucleus for all Department of Defense diving efforts."

Focus....... I bet I lost you in all those capital letters above, didn't I?.......

In addition to being located on Panama City Beach, (CSS) has a lot to offer those who are lucky enough (or smart enough) to be stationed here. There is a Navy exchange and mini-mall, plus a nice bowling facility, full library, recreation center, excellent gym, and auto hobby center. In the surrounding area there are multiple opportunities for golf, fishing, camping, swimming, tennis, and a multitude of outdoor activities, and great seafood restaurants.

However there is one thing CSS doesn't have a lot of... and that is on-base housing. There are approximately 65 family housing units for active duty. Obviously, most personnel and all civilians live away from CSS. There is a large variety of housing options available from single family homes and townhouses to condominiums in Panama City Beach. You're going to need an experienced real estate agent! (It would be my pleasure to share my experience with you!)

There are also plenty of educational opportunities available for children from day care facilities, pre-school, elementary, middle and high schools, as well as college courses for adults through Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University's Panama City Campus, both located on beautiful St Andrews Bay.

There are a lot of new opportunities and developments in Panama City Beach that you will want to explore. This sleepy little Southern coastal community has come alive in recent months with the development of Pier Park, a retail shopping and dining extravaganza on Panama City Beach. In the town of Panama City which is just over the Hathaway Bridge, Bay County is building a new state-of-the-art Library. And the big news in development opportunity for all of Northwest Florida is the Bay County International Airport relocation to Panama City Beach.

To sum it all up ... you're going to love living here. I'm proud to be your military relocation Guide to CSS!

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073

Email: RealEstate@JanEvett.com

Search Homes for Sale: www.JanEvett.com

Beginning Today ... Your Life Will Never Be the Same.

2008-03-17T22:47:59Z

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again." - Og Mandino

I first remember hearing about Og Mandino (Born December 12, 1923 - Died September 3, 1996) in the first Zig Ziglar book that I read. I was about 23 years old, and just realizing that a sales career was in my future. Every word in that book rang true with me, and I've had that experience many times again when reading books by Ziglar and Mandino.

Og Mandino got the nickname "Og" from his full name Augustine Mandino, a family name... he was named after his grandfather. His family immigrated to the US from Italy. He knew the value of hard work, but more importantly he knew the value of people. He didn't let work or things effect the way he treated people. He learned what he lived by being an avid reader.

These are some of Og Mandino's favorite books:

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin

Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, by W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill

The Power of Faith, by Louis Binstock

Your Greatest Power, by J. Martin Kohe

I Dare You, by William Danforth

Acres of Diamonds, by Russell H. Conwell

The Ability to Love, by Dr. Allan Fromme

How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success In Selling, by Frank Bettger

The Magic Power of Emotional Appeal, by Roy Garn

As a Man Thinketh, by James E. Allen

The Holy Bible

When a person becomes an avid reader, something else wonderful can also happen. He can become an avid writer. Not only was Og considered to be "the world's greatest salesman" but he wrote some good books, too.

Books Written By Og Mandino

U.S.A. in a Nutshell
Cycles
The Greatest Salesman In The World
The Greatest Secret In The World
The Greatest Miracle In The World
The Gift Of Acabar (with Buddy Kaye)
The Choice
The Christ Commission
Mission: Success!
The God Memorandum
The Greatest Salesman In The World Part II: The End Of The Story
The Ten Ancient Scrolls For Success: From The Greatest Salesman In The World
He Is Tough
University of Success (Compilation from other works)
A Better Way To Live
The Return Of The Ragpicker
The Twelfth Angel
Spellbinder's Gift
The Greatest Mystery In The World
Secrets For Success And Happiness
The Greatest Success In The World
A Treasury Of Success Unlimited

Not only does an avid reader become a writer, but usually he becomes a better person. And that better person learns how to treat others around him like they are better people, too.

Og's Words and My Thoughts

"Beginning today..." It's never too late to raise your standards.

"... treat everyone you meet ..." Meet new people.

"... as if they are going to be dead by midnight ..." You never know how long you'll have the people you love.

" ... Extend to them ..." Reach out to others... extend a hand to someone who needs your support.

" ... all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster." Muster means you have to work at it.

" ... and do so with no thought of any reward." That's the hard part, isn't it? Be unselfish, not self-centered.

" ... Your life will never be the same again." Life will have more meaning. You and your life will be better.

One of the great things about loving to read and loving music is when they come together it can be amazing! If you're satisfied with your status quo, then you may not know what I mean. But if you sometimes long to be a better person, more than you already are, then you might really enjoy this song.

I Will Never Be the Same Again!

Australia Hillsongs

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk apart, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The Glory of God fills my life,
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep aways the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073
Email: jevett@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/janevett
HometownBayCounty.com

Precious Easter Tea for Little Girls

2008-03-17T01:38:37Z

One of my favorite Rainers commented this week that she remembers dressing up and enjoying chocolate candy eggs ... her childhood Easter memories. Those are some of my favorite Easter memories, too... Easters with my little girls. My favorite Easter picture was Gloria (age 3) stealing Easter eggs from Candi's (age 5) Easter basket while I was taking a photo of them... talk about getting caught with your hand in the Easter basket!

Unfortunately, since my girls are now 22 and 25 years old, there were no digital cameras to make posting that photo easy ... it's somewhere in a picture album.

I loved dressing them in the frilly white ankle socks and white patent leather shoes, and the pastel lacey dresses with white gloves which were always chocolate stained before we got home from church.

Easter baskets, bunnies, and chocolates are as much a part of Easter to me as the real meaning of Easter, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christian meaning does not keep me from enjoying a fun Easter Tea Party. Part of the celebration for me is the excitement of precious little girls in all their frills and bows, hats, gloves, and baskets ... sparkling eyes and beautiful smiles, and chocolate eggs.

This weekend I was honored to participate in an Easter Tea sponsored by the GFWC Woman's Club of Panama City held at the Clubhouse in The Cove area downtown. A special event ... for some very special little girls.

The tea party guests enjoyed finger sandwiches made with egg salad, chicken salad, and peanut butter and jelly, along with fresh strawberries and scones, cookies, cupcakes, milk, lemonade, and tea prepared and served by the Club members.

These delights were served on beautifully decorated tables with china tea cups, plates, and tea pots, linen napkins, ribbon bows, flowers, and baskets full of candy and toy baby chicks.

Pictured here is a precious little girl with her grandmother. This is her second year to be a guest at the Easter Tea, and doesn't that smile say it all? She was such a sweet little lady with her white rose purse. She loved helping Grandmother pour from the china tea pot.

She was one of the first to be seated while many of the other girls were still working on the paper Easter bonnets and beaded jewelry at the arts and craft tables. The girls also each made an Easter wreath decorated with crosses and sunrises to take home.

It was amazing to see how much little girl energy can suddenly turn into the most dainty manners imaginable when china dishes and tea sets are involved! Every one of the young ladies was extremely polite and gracious to each other as they enjoyed the sandwiches and desserts.

Some of the girls, ages 4 to 12, were daughters or granddaughters of club members and friends. However most of the girls who were invited to be our guests are not living with their own families right now. Some of these girls have never been invited to a tea before, and their pretty dresses were most likely donated. Three of these girls were given "matching" dresses, and they were thrilled and grateful to wear them.

Some of these young ladies might not have had an Easter dress or a reason to wear one without this special annual Easter Tea.

All of these little girls were delightful as they crossed the stage in their Easter dresses, stopping to twirl and receive heartfelt applause as the Club's Sunshine Singers sang "In Your Easter Bonnet."

The Easter Bunny made a surprise early arrival as everyone joined in singing "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" -making the entire day just divine!

The Easter Bunny and each girl had photos made in the clubhouse gardens as they were leaving.

The annual Easter Tea is a community service project of the Public Affairs Department of the *GFWC Woman's Club of Panama City, Florida.

*GFWC stands for The General Federation of Woman's Clubs, which is a nation-wide service organization.

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073
Email: jevett@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/janevett
HometownBayCounty.com

Easter - A Chance to Give A Gift of Spring Blessings

2008-03-04T23:14:06Z

Easter Sunday will be "early" this year! I'm sure you've already realized this if you've looked ahead at your monthly calendar for March, 2008. But... do you know why it's early this year? A friend sent an email to me this week explaining "why" ... answering some interesting questions about Easter.

First, it's always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). The Easter date is based on the lunar calendar used by the Hebrew people to identify Passover. Based on all the information above, this year Easter will be March 23.

The amazing fact that you might not realize is that this Easter is the earliest that any of us will ever see for the rest of our lives. Really. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). Another amazing fact is that only folks who are 95 years old or older have ever seen Easter this early. The last time it was this early in the year was in 1913... so if you are 95 years old (plus), you are one of the few who were around for that Easter. The last time that Easter was earlier than that was in 1818 ... and I don't think any of us were around for that one!

Easter has a lot of cultural and religious significance especially to those who celebrate the Christian faith. But for some people Easter is just another sad day without enough food, money, and no place to live. Even in our beautiful coastal Panama City, there are homeless people. Most of them will find their way to the Rescue Mission in downtown Panama City. And if we didn't have the Rescue Mission, many men, women, and children would have no place to stay while trying to get back on their "feet."

The people who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances need some help and hope. The Easter season offers the hope of redemption to those who believe. When you help the Rescue Mission, you also offer hope to those who have no place else to turn. The following paragraph is from an email that I received today from the Rescue Mission... it tells how you can give "hope and a new beginning" to people who need some help.

"It only costs $1.92 to provide a warm Easter meal to a hungry, homeless person. Please consider a special gift of $19.20 to feed 10 people… $38.40 to feed 20 people… or $192 to feed 100 of Panama City’s homeless. And whatever you give this Spring. . . in March and April . . . will be matched by our generous friends at the Feinstein Foundation to help end hunger! After all, Easter should not be just another day of sad existence for anyone."

Easter, 2008, can be your chance to give the gift of a Spring blessing to someone who needs help and hope!

Volunteer Opportunities

Easter Egg Hunt- March 22. Needy families will hear the Resurrection story, hunt for 1,000 eggs, enjoy a picnic lunch, and receive Easter baskets.
Easter Dinner- March 23, 2008

Panama City Rescue Mission, P. O. Box 2359, Panama City, FL 32402

Panama City Bargain Center

401 E 6th St

Panama City, FL 32401

Tel (850) 215-5778

panamacitybc1@pcrmission.org

4th Street Emporium

Household appliances repaired and re-sold.

Tel (850) 215-3720

Donation Center/Production

1801 E 11th St

Panama City, Fl 32401

for pick-up: 850-769-5777

donationcenter@pcrmission.org

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-527-9819
Email: jevett@gmail.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/janevett
HometownBayCounty.com

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Main Street "Striders" Event Saturday, March 8, Downtown Panama City, FL

2008-03-04T22:06:38Z

Main Street "Striders" event on Saturday, March 8!

Each month on a Saturday morning you can enjoy a fun event with your friends, family and pets. All you have to do is put on your walking shoes and "stride" through Historic Downtown Panama City!

This Saturday, March 8, beginning at the Visual Arts Center at 10:00 am, you can join "The Main Street Striders" - a group of walkers and joggers . This is NOT a race, so you can set you own pace, window shopping is allowed, and you can bring your friends and meet new friends, too. There are 1-mile to 4-mile courses marked along the way. This is a pet-friendly event, so bring your leash and your pets.

It begins at The Visual Arts Center parking lot on the corner of 4th Street and Harrison Avenue. You can also enjoy refreshments afterwards from many of the downtown shops and restaurants. There is a one-time $10 sign-up fee that includes a “Main Street Striders” t-shirt and a beverage. All proceeds from the event go to the Downtown Improvement Board for revitalization of downtown Panama City.

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-258-3998
Email: jevett@gmail.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/janevett
HometownBayCounty.com

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Chautauqua Wine Tasting Event, Downtown Panama City, FL

2008-03-04T20:45:57Z

Downtown Events in Panama City, Florida are always a lot of fun for locals and the many tourists who vacation in our beautiful waterfront communities. In the past few years, the Downtown Improvement Board has improved the appearance of our downtown community and they have drawn many wonderful new businesses to the traditional "Main Street" downtown area.

One of the most interesting events planned for March is the Chautauqua Wine Tasting set for Friday evening, March 28, 6:00-9:00 pm at beautiful McKenzie Park on Harrison Avenue. The downtown stores will be open and several restaurants will serve special menu items and wine-complimenting appetizers.

"Chautauqua" - what is it, you ask? Writers will appreciate the old text below ... modern writing cannot compare to this paragraph copied from The Complete Chautauquan entitled "Chautauqua in Florida" By Jeffrey Scott Maxwell (copyright 2000)

1885, First Assembly [Vincent, 41] "The Florida Chautauqua, located in Western Florida, on the Pensacola and Atlantic Railway, about eighty miles from Tallahassee, and about the same distance from Pensacola. It is on a high ridge of land, three hundred feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico, which is twenty-four miles away. Two hundred and eight acres surround a beautiful lake, a mile in circumference, and sixty feet in depth, the water being clear and pure, and the beach of hard white sand. The Southern pine, oak, magnolia, and bay grow on the grounds. There is a tabernacle which will seat twenty-five hundred persons. There are also buildings for cooking-school, kindergarten, and young people's headquarters, and a large two-story building with assembly-room and class-rooms. The 'Hotel Chautauqua' is a large and comfortable house.

One of the best sources of information on Chautauqua activities in local communities is The Chautauquan monthly magazine which was published from 1880 to 1914.

The Chautauqua Vineyards is located just north of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Both the vineyards and the winery are owned by Kate and Paul Owens who planted them in 1979. DeFuniak Springs is the county seat for Walton County, immediately west of Bay County _ Panama City Beach.

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-258-3998
Email: jevett@gmail.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/janevett
HometownBayCounty.com

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Bay County Florida Relocation Package

2008-02-27T09:45:56Z

A RELOCATION PACKAGE PROJECT: Making your Move Enjoyable, Easier, and Effortless!

Relocating to a new area ... whether it's a new state, new city, or new neighborhood can be a challenge. If you are moving for the first time, it can be traumatic! If you are military, you've probably moved many times already! Whether it's your first move or your final destination, here are some articles that I have written to help make the transition smoother for you.

Time Saving Tips for Relocating Families

This article gives practical advice for anyone planning a move. These tips should help you think ahead to avoid problems, delays, and mishaps. My goal is to make your moving experience a positive one for everyone!

Bay County School Board Relocation Information

Families need specific information about area schools in order to choose the right neighborhood for their new home. Every child, every family, every school --- each one is different in some way. All are important in making the right choice when it comes to buying a new home. This article gives detailed information about area schools.

Wondering where to get a great seafood dinner on Panama City Beach?

Relocating to a new area doesn't have to be all work and no play! Whether you are a family moving to Bay County Florida or someone looking for your dream vacation home, this guide to local restaurants will help you find some great meals and entertainment. As a local expert in the Bay County area, I just have to pass along this important information to you! You'll need to know about these local "hot spots" when all your friends and family come to visit for Spring Break!

Pier Park Retail Shopping

Congratulations on relocating to Bay County! You are making a great choice when you buy property in the Bay County area. While other areas of the country may be seeing a declining market, we are experiencing unprecedented growth and development on the coast of Northwest Florida. The future expansion of the Bay County International Airport has brought new residential and retail development. One of the newest projects on the beach is Pier Park. This article lists many of the retail stores opening on Panama City Beach in 2008!

Award-Winning Golf Courses in Bay County, Florida

One of the benefits of relocating to the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico is the fantastic weather. We have sunshine and clear skies most of the year. Even our winter months are mild compared to the rest of the United States. You will want to spend time enjoying the beautiful weather, and there are several great golf courses available for your enjoyment. This article offers information about Bay County golf courses.

Relocating to Florida? NW FL? Bay County? Panama City or Panama City Beach?

If you have answered "yes" to relocating to any of these areas in Northwest Florida, then you will enjoy this article. It is a virtual potpourri of information about the area including everything from utility companies to florists. If you have a question about moving to Bay County Florida, it is my goal to find the answer for you!