We would like to extend our gratitude to the $500 Davidson Cares sponsors for the 2013-2014 school year! Last year’s sponsors enabled us to donate $11,300 to several local St. Johns County schools, which include Mill Creek Elementary, Wards Creek Elementary, Palencia Elementary and Pacetti Bay Middle School.  This year is looking even better and we are aiming to double that amount with the help of local businesses that serve as partners in our mission to help local schools. Our sincere gratitude goes out to the following $500 Davidson Cares sponsors:

  • Arthur Rutenberg Homes: Offering luxury custom-built homes in Northeast Florida, Arthur Rutenberg Homes invites the public to stop by and check out its exquisite model home in Palencia! The company is also building in Glen Kernan, Pablo Creek Reserve, Queen’s Harbor, The Plantation at Ponte Vedra and World Golf Village.
  • The Salameh Group: In addition to working with the top rated insurance carriers in Florida, The Salameh Group is committed to offering its clients the best insurance plans possible and providing top-notch customer service.

    read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Many thanks to our $500 Davidson Cares Sponsors!  

Ready to begin your next house hunting adventure? Great! Before you hit the pavement, Troy Silhan of Bank of England has some sage advice: Be certain you understand your pre-approval!  It is vital that home buyers recognize what a pre-approval is – and isn’t – as well as the differences between the various pre-approval processes and documents.

We recently caught up with Troy to discuss pre-approvals and clear up some lingering misconceptions about this important step in the purchasing process.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Bank of England’s Troy Silhan Answers Common Pre-Approval Questions  

Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson and I recently met up with Chris Wood, Vice President of Riverside Homes, to learn how his newly-formed company came to be and check out all of Riverside Homes’ new construction happening in Durbin Crossing.  Chris and his business partner Matt Roberts jumped at the chance to build in one of St. Johns County’s fastest growing communities located in the high-performing school district of St. Johns County. Durbin Crossing even has a K-8 school currently under construction scheduled to open for the 2014 school year.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Riverside Homes: Build with Confidence in Durbin Crossing  
Aug
 
16
 

For Tasha Peters and her husband Marshall, presenting beautiful, mouth-watering cuisine with personalized service is of the utmost importance. In fact, it’s the cornerstone of By Design Catering, the business that the couple owns and operates in St. Augustine.

The evolution of By Design Catering, which provides catering and personal chef services, began with a passion shared by the couple. Both graduates of Johnson & Wales University, the Peters’ bring a strong restaurant background, impeccably planned menus, delectable dishes, and a natural attention to customer service that sets the company apart from competitors.

Having grown up in a southern household, Tasha began cooking from a young age and developed a passion for creating great food experiences for guests that parallels her joy in making the business work. “As a chef and caterer, the smile on clients’ faces when we have exceeded their expectations is wonderful,” says Tasha with a smile.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Business Spotlight: By Design Catering  

From the moment you enter New York Pizza Company, a quaint little pizza shop in Palencia Village, you are greeted with warmth by the employees and the smell of pies baking. You can see the cook slinging dough and throwing it in the air, while you enjoy one (or a few) of the many scrumptious appetizers on their menu. Not only is the restaurant’s charming staff prompt and pleasant, they also serve great New York style pizza and other delectable Italian dishes!

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on A Variety of Deliciousness Served Up at New York Pizza Company in Palencia Village  

Two of my favorite restaurants to visit by sea or land are Cap’s on the Water and The Conch House Restaurant. Cap’s offers new coastal cuisine in an old Florida setting, while The Conch House is known for delectable Caribbean style cooking. Regardless which style you prefer, they both deliver fresh Florida seafood and outstanding service.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on St. Augustine’s Waterfront Gems – Cap’s on the Water and The Conch House Restaurant  

One thing that is true for most start up businesses and real estate projects is that timing is everything. The real estate business is known for it’s cyclical nature and fortunately in the case of WGV, the project actually hit the cycle just about perfect. Don’t get me wrong! With the wildfires just after the Grand Opening, the initial perceived remoteness of the site, and the almost immediate shift of the project residential market from resort/second home to primary housing; we encountered an enormous amount of challenges in the first few years of project sales and operations. Fortunately for the project, each issue was addressed successfully.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on The History of World Golf Village – Part X – “The Rest of the Story…”  

World Golf Village residents boast a variety of backgrounds and interests, but there is one trait they share: our residents love to get involved and contribute to our warm sense of community!

A great way to get involved is through our smorgasbord of activities and groups – accessible right in our backyards. Here is just sampling of diverse activities that WGV newcomers can utilize to meet their neighbors, learn new skills, and have some fun!

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on World Golf Village Makes it fun and Easy for new Residents to get Involved!  

Education is a top priority for the area’s parents and educators in St. Johns County Schools. A great example of this commitment is found in Mill Creek Elementary Principal Amanda Riedl. We recently caught up with Amanda to learn more about her background and her dedication to providing the best in academic excellence to local students.

Having grown up in the panhandle’s Okaloosa County, Amanda is a Floridian through and through. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, she and her husband relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to learning to live and drive in snow for the first time, Amanda pursued her passion for education with the North Kansas City School District.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Community Spotlight: Amanda Riedl, Mill Creek Elementary Principal  

When it comes to top quality craft brews, great times with friends, and live local music in St. Augustine, Mile Marker Brewing has truly made a name for itself.

As the only full-scale commercial brewery in America’s oldest city, Mile Marker and its micro-brewed beers have earned a reputation for unwavering quality.  In fact, earlier this year, brewery owners attended the 2013 Best Florida Beer Championships in Tampa, and brought home a gold medal for Mile Marker Zero Blonde Ale, silver medal for Mile Marker 1565 Ancient City Red Ale®, and bronze medal for Mile Marker 70 Palm Beach Coconut Porter .

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Business Spotlight: Mile Marker Brewing