I first started going to Carrie & Co. Hair Designers about six months ago because my friend with the best hair recommended it.  To be fair, her strawberry blond tresses with perfectly sunkissed highlights are something few of us can ever achieve. But she always has a great cut too and that is something we could all use. 

I’ve not been disappointed. Both Stacy and Carrie herself have given me great haircuts. So good, in fact, that I can “fix” my hair myself and make it look as good as the day I leave the salon.  (For those of you who know me personally, I acknowledge that I don’t make my hair salon perfect every day but I can when I really want to!)  Carrie & Co. is known for doing great cuts and color. Owner Carrie Leake explained, “One of the things that makes us different is that we truly customize color to the cut.  We charge clients on a per foil basis instead of just a half-head of color or full-head.  That way, I can give you just those couple of pops of highlights that will bring out your cut and suit your face and you’re not getting over charged.” 

Carrie & Co. has been open at W. Twincourt Trail (just in front of BP facing International Golf Parkway) for about a year-and-a-half and news has spread.  Now, Carrie is opening another location next to Starbuck’s in the Palencia shopping center.  The new boutique salon, called WOW! will focus on cut and color, and will open September 1^st.  Carrie will split her time between the two locations and Amy Jones, who was recently promoted to Senior Stylist, will be featured at WOW!

World Golf Village residents won’t want to miss Dr. Joseph Joyner, Superintendent of Schools for St. Johns County, discussing important education topics and the outlook for our schools. The event is part of Davidson Realty’s Davidson Speaker Series on Thursday, July 29th at 7:00 p.m. There will be tons of great information for our Jacksonville golf course community parents!

During Dr. Joyner’s tenure as Superintendent, the St. Johns County’s School System has earned recognition as one of the best in the country. The county’s schools are number 1 on the FCAT scores, graduation rates have risen to 90.8%, and, year-after-year, the district earns an A rating.  Joyner has been the recipient of the Superintendent of the Year award and has served as President of the Florida School Superintendent Association.

Dr. Joyner’s presentation, “What Parents Want,” addresses both the successes and challenges facing the school system, budget concerns and how the community can help support its students and local schools.

The Davidson Speaker Series is a monthly event started by Sherry Davidson, President of Davidson Realty, Inc. so that local professionals could share their expertise with the community. Wine and cheese are served and the event is free and open to the public. For more information call (904) 940-5000. We hope to see you on July 29th in the Davidson Realty building for a wonderful presentation!

Never have we been happier to hear the hammers, electric saws, beeping trucks and other sounds of new construction!  Once again our St. Augustine golf course community is abuzz with new home activity. More than 40 new homes are currently under construction in World Golf Village. The new construction projects are spread throughout a variety of the master-planned neighborhoods. Says Sherry Davidson, president of Davidson Realty, the leading real estate agency for World Golf Village and surrounding St. Johns County communities, “This new home building activity continues a forward trend in construction we started to see at the beginning of 2010, and we expect the St. Augustine and Jacksonville FL real estate markets will continue to improve this year.”

Currently there are 13 homes under construction in The Cascades, the active adult retirement community. Sixteen homes are underway in Laterra Links, the high-end enclave of coach homes, and another 10 homes are under construction in Heritage Landing, the amenity-packed family neighborhood.  Also under construction are two custom homes in Oakgrove Estates and The Crest, respectively.  Davidson added, “We started seeing a recovery to the real estate market in late 2009.  In January 2009, there was not a single new construction project on the horizon, but we kicked off January 2010 with several different projects and the building continues.”

It takes a Village to win a contest. Congratulations to the all-female crew of Village People who won the World Golf Village “My Neighbor is the Best!” Photo Contest. We love them for their chutzpah, creativity and cuteness.  And apparently so does everyone else.

The winners are neighbors in the Jacksonville golf course community and have become great friends. The photo is from Halloween last year when they showed 10-year-olds everywhere how trick-or-treating is really done.  The ladies will share World Golf Village Fun Packs and a $50 gift certificate to Caddyshack where we hope they will toast macho men and women alike.  Ladies, our hats are off to you, that includes hard hats, cowboy hats, camo caps, bandanas and feather warbonnets.

I am no stranger to Sherwin Williams. Truth is, I am practically a regular.  There are approximately nine paint swatches on my kitchen and breakfast area walls at this very moment.  All Sherwin Williams.  It’s hard to choose when they are each so lovely and the selection process is my favorite part.  Oh, the possibilities! 

Point is, I am so familiar with our local Sherwin Williams that I was surprised to hear that a lot of World Golf Village, Murabella, Kensington, Palencia and other nearby neighbors don’t know SW is right in our backyard.  Granted, its location is a little hidden – they are tucked just off International Golf Parkway behind Roots ‘n Wing Preschool in the office park near the Shell station.  It sure beats hauling to one of the huge big box retailers and I always get immediate and attentive service.  I figured out a while ago that their paint is better quality than any I had tried from the big stores. But hands down the best reason to use Sherwin Williams is for their fastidious electronic record keeping.  Store Manager Tore Isacsson said himself, “I’m a little fanatical about records!”  Thank goodness Tore can look up the last gallon I purchased and match it exactly.  It means one less thing to remember and we could all use that.

New Photo Contest Coming Soon to Your Hood

One of the best things about living in World Golf Village is the great neighbors.  We share laughs, trade stories, watch out for each others’ kids and look after each others’ pets.  That’s why we’re celebrating our neighbors.  Starting June 1st, send us a photo of you and your neighbor – make sure they know you’re snapping it for the contest:)  Show us why your neighbor is the best. Maybe he’s a master BBQ chef who grills steaks to order, or perhaps she has a crazy gardening get-up that makes you smile every Saturday, or maybe your kids have become fast friends.  We’re celebrating the wonderful neighbors of World Golf Village.  Watch for the official contest start on June 1st.  We’ll accept your photos from June 1st to 15th.  Voting is from June 15th to 30th so get your friends and family queued up to vote and you could win our grand prize: World Golf Village Fun Packs for 4 and a $50 gift card to Caddyshack so you can treat your neighbors.  The WGV Fun Packs offer a single day admission to the museum, one round on the putting course and admission to one IMAX film. Get ready to send your photos to Peyton Davidson starting June 1st at pdavidson@davidsonrealtyinc.com.

Breaking ground this Summer at Mill Creek Elementary School will be a new two-story building housing 16 new classrooms.  The state-of-the-art facility will feature the latest in classroom technology and a flexible design plan that allows for functional breakout spaces.  The building is slated for completion in Spring 2011.

The expansion comes just in time.  Enrollment at A-rated Mill Creek Elementary now tops 1,000 students. The school grew faster than any other in the St. Johns County School District this past school year.  Explains Mill Creek Elementary Principal Mary Ford, “Parents seek out St. Johns County for its top-rated schools and that includes Mill Creek. We expect growth to continue in the North St. Johns County area and we’re planning accordingly.” 

Both friends and colleagues have sung the praises of Dr. Ken Berry so I was looking forward to learning more about his practice.  Dr. Berry lives in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village with his wife Michelle and their two children Davis (8) and Ava (4).  He opened his practice, The Village Chiropractic Center of Florida, at the West Town Center in World Golf Village about two-and-a-half years ago.

I am a chiropractic neophyte.  I’ve never been to a chiropractor and, since I don’t suffer from back pain, I never thought I could benefit from a visit to the chiropractor.  That’s just one of the misconceptions dispelled last week when I visited with Dr. Berry and learned that chiropractic medicine may help manage my migraines.  The other misconception was that chiropractic medicine is a patient driven alternative therapy that the medical community all but ignores.  Actually, a large percentage of the patients at The Village Chiropractic Center are referred by their physicians, and Dr. Berry works closely with several orthopedic, neurological, and family practices in Northeast Florida. 

Watch out bunny.  There’s a sly cat trying to move in on your Easter gig.  Congratulations to Buckaroo the Cat and his owner Lynn Whitley for winning our Easter Photo Contest.  The handsome feline edged out cute kids and adorable dogs for the grand prize.  We think his mini necktie sealed the deal, although his girth is impressive too.  From the looks of it, he may or may not share his $100 gift certificate prize to Kilwin’s with his owner. 

Thanks to everyone who participated!  Our photo contests are gaining steam and another is on the way soon.  So sharpen your claws!