SONDRA'S BLOG

Fox News Story - Wreaths Across America

December 5th, 2009 2:31 AM

I read this article from Fox News and it touched my heart and I'd like to share it with you.

Wreaths Across America Program to Adorn 151,000 Veteran Graves

Friday, December 04, 2009
By Joshua Rhett Miller

Morrill Worcester, center, with Andrea Shea King at Arlington National Cemetery in December 2007.
For Morrill Worcester, this time of year is all about remembering the heroes who died protecting the United States, one wreath at a time.

Worcester, owner of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, will be escorted on Sunday by Maine State Police, volunteers, veterans and Patriot Guard Riders for the 18th annual Wreaths Across America program, which will lay more than 151,000 20-inch wreaths on headstones of veterans at Arlington National Cemetery, more than 400 state and national cemeteries nationwide, and 24 cemeteries on foreign soil on Dec. 12.

What began as one man's way to honor veterans with 5,000 wreaths in 1992 has blossomed into a national nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 wreaths sponsored by individuals, businesses and community groups from Maine to Alaska.

Worcester's family-run business will donate more than 25,000 wreaths, with another 16,000 supplied by Wal-Mart, including decorations for a "mile of memories" display at New York City's Battery Park to honor 9/11 victims and veterans from New York, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, Fayetteville National Cemetery in Arkansas, and the site of the Flight 93 crash in Pennsylvania.

"It really should be awesome when they're all laid out," Worcester said of the wreaths commemorating the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. "It's really going to be nice and I'm very proud to see it blossom the way it has."

Worcester's caravan of wreath-stuffed trucks will leave Sunday from Harrington, Maine, and make 20-plus stops en route to Virginia, including visits to schools, town squares, veteran hospitals, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts and a memorial for Gen. George Patton in Hamilton, Mass., where the military hero once lived.

"When we leave Harrington and go to Arlington, it literally is a parade from one end to the other," Worcester told FoxNews.com. "It's just incredible how many people are now involved."

Worcester, 59, said just 12 people were part of the program in 1992, when 16,000 wreaths were laid at grave sites in Arlington. Now, more than 32 trucking companies volunteer their services for the cause and the U.S. Senate voted last year to make the second Saturday in December National Wreaths Across America Day.

"That's how much it's grown," Worcester said. "It's been heartwarming to say the least, it really has. I think it's helped a lot of people, really."

Worcester said he's inspired by dozens of YouTube videos of wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, including events from Houston to Richmond, Va., to Keokuk, Iowa.

Andrea Shea King, who participated in the program in 2007, said the program was the highlight of her holiday season.

"It was absolutely the most meaningful thing that I've done and it brough home to me the enormity of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made," King told FoxNews.com. "It says something good about a country that remembers its fallen at Christmas time."

Senate voted last year to make the second Saturday in December National Wreaths Across America Day.

"That's how much it's grown," Worcester said. "It's been heartwarming to say the least, it really has. I think it's helped a lot of people, really."

Worcester said he's inspired by dozens of YouTube videos of wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, including events from Houston to Richmond, Va., to Keokuk, Iowa.

Andrea Shea King, who participated in the program in 2007, said the program was the highlight of her holiday season.

"It was absolutely the most meaningful thing that I've done and it brough home to me the enormity of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made," King told FoxNews.com. "It says something good about a country that remembers its fallen at Christmas time."

Posted by Sondra McDonald on December 5th, 2009 2:31 AMPost a Comment (0)

TURKEY DAY 2009

November 24th, 2009 12:19 PM

Click to play this Smilebox greeting: Turkey Day

Make a Smilebox greeting

Posted by Sondra McDonald on November 24th, 2009 12:19 PMPost a Comment (0)

FANTASTIC FLORIDA WEATHER

October 15th, 2009 12:35 AM

It's finally beginning to feel a little like Fall Detailed Local Forecast 10/15/09

Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Humid. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Tomorrow: Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. Humid. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Humid. Low 72F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Friday: Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Humid. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Saturday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 60s.
Sunday: Morning showers. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 50s.

Posted by Sondra McDonald on October 15th, 2009 12:35 AMPost a Comment (0)

SPACE SHUTTLE RETURNS TO FLORIDA

September 21st, 2009 3:55 AM

Space Shuttle Discovery Begins Flight To Florida

Posted: 9:44 am EDT September 20, 2009Updated: 12:36 pm EDT September 20, 2009

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The space shuttle

Discovery is on a cross-country flight to Florida after landing from space earlier this month in Southern California.

The Discovery departed from Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles at about 6:20 a.m. Sunday. It is being ferried atop a modified 747 aircraft, known as a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

NASA says the shuttle should reach Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday. Shuttle managers plan to make at least one fueling stop at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo, Texas, Sunday afternoon, as well as an overnight stop at Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La.

The Discovery landed at Edwards on Sept. 11 after completing a two-week, 5.7-million mile mission to the international space station

Posted by Sondra McDonald on September 21st, 2009 3:55 AMPost a Comment (0)

SHUTTLE LAUNCH

July 11th, 2009 2:28 PM

One of the great things about living in my area of Florida is that we get to see the fantastic, breathtaking, absolutely magnificent SHUTTLE LAUNCHES. If the weather blesses us tomorrow, no lightning strikes nearby, we'll see another Launch. We had too many strikes yesterday and the Shuttle must be checked out again before the next Launch. I've been fortunate enough to see most of the Launches from my house and I've actually gone to the Space Center to see two of them, one in the daytime and one at night. If you ever have the opportunity to visit our area at least visit the Space Center.

Shuttle Launch

Just think, their are actually astronauts sitting on the tip of that stream of fire. Can you imagine the exhilaration they must feel. It's just amazing....

Posted by Sondra McDonald on July 11th, 2009 2:28 PMPost a Comment (0)

$8,000 Tax Credit Downpayment - From Fl. Assn. of Realtors

July 8th, 2009 11:56 PM

$8K tax credit downpayment challenges Florida officials

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 8, 2009 – Trying to get the $8,000 tax credit downpayment loan to help a homebuyer? Local officials charged with administering the SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) program and, by extension, the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program’s (FLHOP) $8,000 tax credit bridge loan peppered state officials with questions yesterday in a conference call.

On the positive side, Florida lawmakers decided to offer a bridge loan to first-time homebuyers eligible for the federal government’s $8,000 tax credit through an existing state program. That gives the loan program an existing framework and avoids setting up a new system for disbursing money. On the negative side, the FLHOP program rules differ from SHIP rules, and local SHIP officials voiced a number of legal and pragmatic concerns over the new loan program.

In reality, the program likely kicks off on Aug. 1. It became effective July 1, but the funding mechanism for the loans also started July 1 without any money and must rely on current home sales’ doc stamp taxes to build the reserve.

In addition, some local SHIP officials may not have everything ready by the Aug. 1 date as they struggle to formalize rules and regulations. Since the Florida program operates as a type of mortgage loan, it comes with rules and caveats like many found in first or second mortgages. While up to $8,000 is advanced without interest or penalties if paid within the first 18 months, for example, loan docs must also address potential problems.

“Some (local SHIP officials) are really on top of this and are ready to go,” says Stan Fitterman, a member of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC). “Others are very leery to start until the check is in the bank.”

In yesterday’s conference call, many local SHIP officials voiced frustration and confusion. While some of their questions were answered, it became clear that most of the policy decisions must be implemented on the local level.

As a result, Realtors who have questions must contact their local SHIP office. To find your local SHIP office, go to: http://apps.floridahousing.org/StandAlone/FHFC_ECM/AppPage_SHIPLGContacts.aspx

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation, which oversees local SHIP officials, released a FAQ list about the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program in conjunction with yesterday’s conference call. While directed to local SHIP officials, the FAQ provides some answers being asked by Florida Realtors. The complete FAQ can be found on the FHFC website at: http://www.floridahousing.org/Home/HousingPartners/LocalGovernments/FL_HOP.htm.

For additional tax credit info, videos, radio ads, an IRS form, posters, flyers, downpayment programs and REO resources, visit FAR’s Homebuyer Center at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/homebuyercenter/index.cfm.

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Posted by Sondra McDonald on July 8th, 2009 11:56 PMPost a Comment (0)

DAYTONA BEACH PIER

June 24th, 2009 10:55 AM

Daytona leaders consider buyout of pier lease

JUNE 24, 2009

By EILEEN ZAFFIRO
Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH -- For the first time in its 84-year history, the Daytona Beach Pier could be owned and operated by the city.

On Tuesday a citizen committee that's been discussing the pier for the past year asked City Manager Jim Chisholm to start talking to the leaseholder that operates the pier about a possible buyout.

After talking to the partners of Diland Corp., which took over the operational lease of the pier in 2004, Chisholm plans to report back to the committee with either a negotiable figure or a rejection of the idea.

Members of Diland Corp. could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

"I think the city should have full control of it," said committee member Theresa Doan, whose late husband bought the pier in 1966. "I think you really need to buy them out and have a clean slate."

Doan argued that the pier's value has increased since a new beachfront park was built nearby and the new ramp entrance to the pier was improved. She said the value would shoot up more if another parking garage is built in the area and the city builds a second adjacent pier.

With property values still low, now is the time to talk, she said. Another motivation is the city would be able to pursue grants, she said.

Chisholm said he recently learned of millions of dollars in federal grants the city could apply for if it had control of the pier. The grants could be used for improvements, and the city's community redevelopment funds could be used for the lease purchase.

No one discussed a precise number they want Chisholm to start with in negotiations, but most numbers tossed around at Tuesday's meeting ranged from below $1 million to closer to $2 million.

One committee member, Paul Zimmerman, seemed hesitant to pursue a buyout.

"This just feels like a bailout to me and I'm uncomfortable using taxpayer dollars for a bailout," Zimmerman said at the beginning of the meeting.

Zimmerman said it might be in the city's best interest to evict Diland if the company doesn't make improvements by a determined date. But that could prove costly, take a long time and be problematic, other committee members said.

A city buyout would be a way out of the current lease that some say is defective. That lease started in 2004, when Diland took over pier operations. That same year Doan deeded the pier structure itself to the city.

Some community members and city officials have been unhappy with Diland's operation and improvements to the pier and started calling for change about a year ago.

The question over the past several months had been whether to stick with the current lease, or put out requests for proposals from other businesses seeking to run the pier. Diland also could have bid and remained the tenant under a new lease with the city.

Daytona Beach 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.

"In the end we've got to get this cleaned up so we can get back to business," Chisholm said.

eileen.zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

Posted by Sondra McDonald on June 24th, 2009 10:55 AMPost a Comment (0)

Volusia County Taxes from Daytona New Journal

June 2nd, 2009 12:19 AM

June 1, 2009

Property values plunge, could mean huge tax increases for some homeowners

By JAMES MILLER
Staff Writer

Taxable property values in Volusia County will tumble by double digits this year for the first time in memory, according to early projections released on today by the Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath.

The taxable values, which reflect the 2008 market, are projected to drop 18 percent, according to Gilreath.

The steep decline sets the stage for difficult budget negotiations for cities, counties and other local taxing authorities.

Some local officials say cutting spending by the same percentage as the decline in values would be disastrous for the services local governments provide.

But to offset the property devaluation and keep spending at 2008-09 levels, taxing authorities would have to adopt double-digit percentage tax rate increases. While they could do that without meeting the legal definition of a tax increase, the rate hikes nonetheless would result in higher taxes for some property owners.

Gilreath said the property owners most vulnerable to tax increases would be those who have accumulated the greatest benefits under the state’s Save Our Homes cap on annual assessment increases to homestead properties, which are those claimed as primary residences by their owners.

That’s because the taxable values for some of those properties essentially will hold steady rather than drop.

The numbers released today are a prelude to the preliminary tax roll numbers that will be released July 1. They’re intended to help local governments as they prepare for the coming year’s budgets.

The cities facing the biggest projected drops are Deltona and Ponce Inlet, at 23.6 percent and 23.8 percent respectively.

Posted by Sondra McDonald on June 2nd, 2009 12:19 AMPost a Comment (0)

Existing-Home Sales Jump

June 1st, 2009 11:55 PM

From the National Association of Realtors

NAR: Existing-Home Sales Jump
Existing-home sales rose in April with strong buyer activity in lower price ranges, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Existing-home sales — including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — increased 2.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rateof 4.68 million units in April from a downwardly revised pace of 4.55 million units in March. Yet, home sales were 3.5 percent below the 4.85 million-unit level in April 2008, according to NAR.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says first-time buyers continue to influence the market but there also is a seasonal rise of repeat buyers.

“Most of the sales are taking place in lower price ranges and activity is beginning to pickup in the midprice ranges, but high-end home sales remain sluggish,” he says. “The Federal Reserve needs to help restore liquidity for the jumbo mortgage market by buying these loans under the TALF program.”

Buyers Once Again Emerge

An NAR practitioner survey in April showed first-time buyers declined to 40 percent of transactions, implying more repeat buyers are entering the traditional spring home-buying season. It also showed the number of buyers looking at homes has increased 14 percentage points from a year ago.

“This is consistent with our forecast for home sales in the latter part of the year to be 10 to 20 percent higher than the second half of 2008,” Yun says.

It's critical that distressed homes be quickly cleared from the market, Yun says.

“Fortunately, home buyers are being attracted to deeply discounted prices and are bidding up many foreclosed listings, particularly in California, Nevada, and Florida — this will set the stage for healthy market conditions going forward,” Yun says.

NAR President Charles McMillan says conditions are optimal for buyers with good jobs and long-term plans.

“We have record low mortgage interest rates, a wide selection of homes and affordable prices in most areas,” he says. “When you add the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit, it’s hard to imagine a better time to make an investment in your future through homeownership.”

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 4.81 percent in April from 5.00 percent in March; the rate was 5.92 percent in April 2008; data collection began in 1971.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

National median existing-home price: for all housing types, was $170,200 in April, which is 15.4 percent below 2008. Distressed properties, which accounted for 45 percent of all sales in April, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes.

Total housing inventory: at the end of April, rose 8.8 percent to 3.97 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 10.2-month supply at the current sales pace, compared with a 9.6-month supply in March. “The gain in inventory is largely seasonal from sellers entering the spring market," Yun says. "Even with the rise, inventory over the past few months has remained consistently lower in comparison with a year earlier."

Single-family home sales: rose 2.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.18 million in April from a level of 4.08 million in March, but are 2.8 percent below the 4.30 million-unit pace in March 2008. The median existing single-family home price was $169,800 in April, which is 14.9 percent below a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales: increased 6.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 500,000 units in April from 470,000 in March, but are 9.4 percent lower than the 552,000-unit pace a year ago. The median existing condo price was $173,900 in April, down 18.5 percent from April 2008.

By Region

NAR reported the following with existing-home sales across the country:

Northeast: jumped 11.6 percent to an annual pace of 770,000 in April, but are 10.5 percent below April 2008. Median price: $237,400, which is 9.6 percent lower than a year ago.
Midwest: slipped 2 percent in April to a level of 1.00 million and are 9.9 percent lower than a year ago. Median price: $138,800, down 11.7 percent from April 2008.
South: increased 1.8 percent to an annual pace of 1.74 million in April but are 8.9 percent lower than April 2008. Median price: $148,000, which is 12.8 percent below a year ago.
West: rose 3.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.17 million in April and are 19.4 percent higher than a year ago. Median price: $222,600, down 21.8 percent from April 2008.

Posted by Sondra McDonald on June 1st, 2009 11:55 PMPost a Comment (0)

Today Was A Beautiful Sunday

April 12th, 2009 11:47 PM

We started our day with a Sunrise Service at Flagler Beach.

We then had a wonderful breadfast at a fairly new restaurant in Flagler Beach "Chicken at the Beach". The walnut-banana pancakes were delicious and my daughter shared her Greek Omelet also delicious.

After a quick nap at home, we drove up the coast, through St. Augustine, where they were having their annual Easter Parade. What a joy to see so many people out, having fun, and it was free.

This is a great area to live in because you are so close to everything, but far enough away for peace and quiet.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend also.

Posted by Sondra McDonald on April 12th, 2009 11:47 PMPost a Comment (0)