Whenever I am at a World Golf Village resident event or walking through Davidson Realty at World Golf Village, I ask people about the places and people that they find interesting so I can share them with you. The other day I was at Davidson Realty talking to Ashley Wood, one of their Realtors. She asked me why I hadn’t written about the St. Augustine Community Orchestra. I didn’t even know we had an orchestra here! Isn’t St. Augustine full of surprises? She told me she plays one of the three trumpets in the orchestra and that their first of four concerts for the 2009 – 2010 season is coming up! I can’t wait to see them on either October 30 or November 1 when they perform “A Little Fright Music” at the Lightner Museum.

For over 40 years, this group has provided a venue for volunteer musicians to perform light and varied programs. Right now, the full orchestra consists of around 50 musicians. They say their purpose is twofold. First, they want to contribute positively to the musical environment of the community by providing entertaining and educational concerts for the general public and special events. And, second, they want to provide opportunities for its members to learn orchestral literature and further develop both individual and ensemble musicianship and performance skills in a traditional orchestral setting. Doesn’t that sound like a fabulous organization?

For those of us less musically inclined, but that still love music and want to get involved, the orchestra is also looking for Guild members. If you simply want to support the organization by attending a concert, they will perform on October 30 and November 1, as well as, December 4 and 6, March 5 and 7, and May 1 and 2. The orchestra also performs four encore performances. Visit their web site for more details!

The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village successfully kicked off its Sneak Peek Saturdays in October featuring open houses in the Turnberry, Royal Pines and St. Andrews neighborhoods. The event, which is held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the first Saturday of every month, will return on November 7. This time we will showcase homes throughout the King & Bear neighborhoods. Whether you are looking for a St. Augustine golf home around 2,000 square feet or a grand estate closer to 5,000 square feet, you will find something wonderful! Or, perhaps you want to come visit to see which paint colors or appliances are popular right now. Regardless of your reasons, we are happy to share what it’s like to live in our community with you!

With the holidays fast approaching, we encourage you to bring a can of food to help those less fortunate than ourselves. We will be collecting them at each home and donating them to the St. Francis House. If you decide to donate a food item, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Publix – just in time for Thanksgiving! And in the holiday spirit, we will be serving light refreshments at one of the homes on tour to everyone who visits!

From I-95, take exit 323. Go west for just over 3 miles. Turn right at the King & Bear entrance, which is just past SR 16. Maps will be available at the Gate House. If you have any questions, please call Davidson Realty at 904.940.5000. Hope to see you there!

Every time I hear someone mention John Unkefer or his company, Legacy Builders (one of the builders at World Golf Village), it is positive. The comments are about how much his clients love him, or how high his integrity is, or how knowledgeable he is. So, I decided to talk to him to find out what sets him apart from other builders and how he maintains such an impressive reputation in a difficult real estate market.

The first thing he mentioned that sets him apart is that John personally works with all of his clients. He starts out by meeting with them to understand what they want. Sometimes clients know exactly what they want and the Legacy Builders team helps them realize their dream. Other times, the clients only have pictures from a magazine to start with. Either way, the clients and John work together to create the design and architecture the client wants. John describes new home construction as a team sport – and the clients are on the team!

He also has multiple walk-thrus during the construction process – during framing, electrical, finishing, etc. – to make sure the clients’ expectations are met and managed. John emphasized the high level of open communication Legacy Builders has with each client is key to their success.

The other day I was visiting my friend, Cindy, in Turnberry – a neighborhood in World Golf Village. I was struck by how much unspoiled nature surrounded the neighborhood here. I sat on Cindy’s lanai and loved looking at the preserve behind her home. In just an hour or two, I saw all kinds of birds, including a turkey! Cindy told me about her morning walks through the Village. Yesterday she saw a doe with her yearling beside one of the Village’s lakes. She said she gets to see the sunrise above the green of the Slammer & Squire golf course and illuminate the Hall of Fame Tower. This is her life and I want it!

Not only do Turnberry neighbors enjoy nature preserves, the neighborhood also has a swimming pool, basketball court and gathering room. Cindy mentioned the neighbors get together for cookouts and swim parties. There are always children riding bikes through the neighborhood and people catching up in the streets. Whenever I drive through Turnberry, someone always greets me with a friendly wave.

Although I could think of many reasons, I asked Cindy why she bought in Turnberry. She said it just felt like home. She loves how her backyard is her own little garden right next to a nature preserve. She said it’s private, yet still feels connected and friendly. She also likes how each home is unique, which adds to the welcoming feel of the neighborhood. One day, I might just be Cindy’s neighbor!

Homes in Turnberry start in the $200s.

A comfortable drive through The Neighborhoods of the World Golf Village reveals that homeowners have embraced the landscape theme of their community and have eagerly spent time, resources and energy towards expanding and beautifying the landscape of their homes. Today, the value of ones home is not simply a result of the latest in kitchen, bath and entertainment amenities. More and more, home values improve and climb when the home is graced with a well-designed, beautiful landscape.

According to “Smart Money”, the Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Business, a home’s landscaping (or re-landscaping, as the case may be) can immediately add at least 15% to the value of the residence. To put that in perspective, for a $500,000 home, on which you spend $25,000 to spruce up the landscape, even a modest gain of only 7.5% would put $12,500 of straight profit in your pocket upon sale. A 15% gain would mean a profit of $50,000 – an amazing result based on some weekend sweat equity coupled with some professional landscape contracting.

World Golf Village celebrates the recent opening of the 1,000th store for Publix grocers, a 54,000 square foot, beautifully crafted, state-of-the-art grocery store at the Shoppes of Murabella. Publix also continues to operate its first WGV store at West Town Center, making for the ultimate in shopping convenience. The full-service CVS Pharmacy and the Walgreens Pharmacy recently opened and offer care centers and drive-through prescription pick-up. Convenience foods and sundries are provided at the Shell Gas Station and BP Gas Station, both of which have drive-through car washes. Not to be overlooked is the brand-new, Publix-branded Wine and Liquor Store.

Prospective homebuyers, real estate agents and neighbors are invited to join The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village team on Oct. 3rd, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., for the first “Sneak Peek Saturday” at the St. Johns County master-planned, golf course community. Sneak Peek Saturdays are open houses that will be hosted by The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village staff the first Saturday of every month. The events will be held in different model, inventory and resale homes each month. A seasonal edible treat will be served in one home, registration for prizes will be held in another home and attendees will be able to meet The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village staff, ask questions and get more information about the St. Augustine golf homes and the community in a relaxed and informal setting.

Sneak Peek Saturdays will give area new home shoppers an up-close look at the beautiful homes available at The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village, which are built by some of the region’s finest and most well-respected home builders. Over twenty neighborhoods, designed to meet the needs of any buyer, are available, from elegant estate homes to resort style condominiums to active adult homes.

Pick up a map of the Sneak Peek Saturday open houses at the Davidson Realty office, which is at the main entrance to World Golf Village, or at the Gate House, which is at the entrance to King & Bear, three miles west of the main World Golf Village entrance.

See you there!

Did you know that there is an award-winning garden just minutes from World Golf Village? The Arboretum at St. Johns County Agricultural Center is planted and maintained by Master Gardeners with emphasis on seasonal displays of color. The Master Gardeners’ efforts were rewarded this year at the International Master Gardeners Conference in Las Vegas with the “Search for Excellence Award” for demonstration gardens. The University of Florida presented St. Johns County Master Gardeners with first-place awards for the “best” Demonstration and Educational gardens in Florida in 2008 and 2007.

Come get “Drunkin’ fer a Cause” on September 11th to help raise money for charity. Trust me, you have never seen anything like this before! Probably because St. Augustine’s “In Garb Pub Crawl” is the world’s only monthly costumed-period garbed pub crawl and it happens to be right in your backyard. The fun starts at 7 PM and lasts ’til 11 PM.

Dress up and enjoy some history on the second Friday of each month. Only $5 if ye dress in 16th to 19th century period clothing. The group will travel to four different watering holes in the area, starting at Pirate Portraits N’ Treasures on St. George Street, where you can buy yar costumes o’ tickets by 6 PM. No weapons or swords allowed! Arrggh!

Each month, the St. Augustine event benefits a different cause. This proceeds from this week’s pub crawl will go to Diamond in the Rough Farm.

Camaraderie, games, storytelling and more – even bad jokes are allowed as long as you participate!