Steve and I took a four day weekend this year instead of our normal 3 days. We had company from out of state and this way we could spend some time with them during the day. Thursday, March 6th was beautiful as far as the weather went. Once again we headed to the Broken Spoke to see Big Mike and Ms. Em and listened to a set of some fin Biker Blues.          Big Mike was celebrating the release of his new documentary, Iron City Blues. Its about a town in TN with "No Law" "No Order". He went to Iron City to find out more about it and brought a film crew with him. It's an award winner and a pretty good short film. I've watched it twice :) Go to Ironcityblues.com for more info                                             After we left the Broken Spoke we headed south to our local hangout with... 03/12/2008

Things are back to normal around Volusisa County after a semi decent Bike Week. Hotels didn't do so well I hear, they weren't booked to capacity this year. I heard stories that folks just couldn't afford to come down due to the cost of heating oil up north and high gas prices. Steve and aren't the type of people that like crowds so we stay away from Main Street, our out town guests did spend some time down there tho, and they had a great time.My first day of Bike Week I spent at the Broken Spoke with Big Mike Griffin, his lady Ms. Em and the band. I really enjoyed myself, the weather was great and it was neat watching his fans interact with him. Fun was had by all!          Big Mike with one of his long time fans                   You don't have to look far to find some Coyote Ugly Styl... 03/11/2008

Jeff Healey, self taught guitaist, singer, and blues icon was stricken with Retinoblastoma at the age of 1 and lost his eyesight.  He lost his fight to this cancer over the weekend. He is already missed by his fans and friends he has made around the music industry.The Jeff Healey Band had a huge hit back in the 80s with Angel Eyesand Jeff also appeard as Cody in the movie "Road House"with Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara and Sam Elliot. What does that have to do with a post on Localism or Active Rain? As some of you know I belong to the Mickey Jones Bikes And Blues Committe to benefit St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Retinoblastoma is one of the many childhood cancers the good folks at St Jude are trying to cure. Retinoblastoma represents only about 2% of the malignant childhood cancers... 03/04/2008

THE Ormond Beach Real Estate & Community Events blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!" Daytona Beach real estate is finally going green! Well, actually, it’s Ormond Beach.ICI Homes has a “green” community on Granada Blvd., (aka Hwy 40) in Ormond Beach that is now in phase 2. It’s Chelsea Place. The sales staff was nice enough to take me on a tour and show me a video of how these homes are different than homes of the past. Yes, I’m saying “homes of the past” because it won’t be much longer, that buyer’s are willing to settle for the old way of doing things. And why should they buy real estate that doesn’t come with an Energy Star® Rating in one of these green, or as ICI is calling, “E Factor” homes, is coming with a guarantee from Florida Power and Light (FPL) that if their heating ... 03/03/2008

Some of you know that I am a committee member for the Bikes And Blues With Mickey Jones events that benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Big Mike Griffin is also one of our members!  Being on the Bikes and Blues committee is how I got to meet Big Mike and his lady Miss Emilie last year. I then got to spend a little time with them last Biketoberfest, but not near enough as I would have liked because they were in South Daytona. I'm so excited that they will be in the northern part of the county this year! This year we are trying something new with our bike event, we are pre-registering riders. I will be at Big Mike's merchandise table on Sunday, March 2nd pre-registering anyone that prefers to pay in person. (I will also be assisting with Big Mike's merchandise sales)The fir... 02/18/2008

My buddy Big Mike Griffin is headed back to the Volusia County area for Bike Week 2008 but will be playing at different venue this year. This year you will be able to find Big Mike at the Broken Spoke Saloon on US 1 in Ormond Beach on Sunday March 2nd 1PM-7PM, Wednesday March 5th 1PM -7PM, Thursday March 6th 7PM-12PM and Saturday March 8th 1PM-7PM. Big Mike and his band will also be playing at the Iron Horse Saloon on Monday, the 3rd from 11PM - 2AM. You will be able to purchase advanced copies of Big Mikes award-winning documentary, Iron City Blues at each of his shows. I know I'll be picking up an autographed copy!   Just a little tease about Iron City Blues:"Urban legends tell of an isolated Southern town where the residents ran-off their police department and outsiders fear to tread... 02/15/2008

I celebrated the Presidential Primary today by voting of course and then going to an Open House in Breakaway Trails, a very upscale gated community in Ormond Beach, Florida.  So, What can you buy in my Real Estate Stomping grounds for a cool million, give or take a several hundred thousand dollars?  Oh..........You can buy The Mayor of Ormond Beach's Home!  Here is the Daytona Beach Multiple Listing Description for this one of a kind Upscale Resale Estate Home. Elegant Estate Home in  GATED UPSCALE COMMUNITY. Very private setting on almost 1 acre parcel. Tremendous curb appeal with port-cochere and circular driveway. Heated screened pool area is set up like a resort with summer kitchen, jacuzzi, fountain & large covered patio area. Gourmet kitchen has everything, including granite count... 01/29/2008

Just completed in Oct 2007. This 4 bedroom, 2 bath home features cinder block construction with stucco cover, tilt in windows for easy cleaning, cathedral ceilings and laminate flooring in common areas. Split bedrooms are carpeted. Relax on the back deck and enjoy the view of this larger-sized lot. Great central location is close to schools, shopping and medical. Fully furnished. Total area does not include unfinished basement with dirt floor that buyer can later pump in concrete flooring for additional storage. Listing REALTOR has an interest in property.  $234,750 01/25/2008

New Construction - To be Built. Live on the Tomoka River and just step out to your boat and take a pleasant ride out to the Intracoastal Waterway and then to - who knows? Home will sit on a beautiful canal lot with canals on two sides. Room for boats up to 28` or possibly larger. Home set to include a workshop, exercise room, and a separate guest suite that opens to the lanai/pool area. Work with builder to determine your selections. A boat slip and boat lift will be included. This lot is also available as a vacant lot. See MLS#457760 for those details. $599,900 01/25/2008

Joy Mitchelldesigned this home  for Dan Stratton, a Self Made Builder who lived in Great Falls, Virginia and who had a deep love for Building Beautiful Homes. He actually became the contractor of his own home when the builder he had hired did not put the knee wall in correctly at the garage wing, making it impossible to have a large enough attic room. I'm very specific when detailing soffits and heights and locations of walls to get the look I want.  When Joe Gibbs previewed this home he called my Studio.  I answered the phone.........when he called.  He said "This Is Joe Gibbs, I just saw one of your homes can I come by to talk to you." "Yes of course you can" I said.  I hung up the phone and realized I had just spoken to the Redskins Coach.  Sorry Joe, I'm one of those girls who likes... 01/22/2008

                                                                 Interest Rates are coming Down,                                                              Land and Home Prices are Dropping,                Craftsmen & Tradesman are giving discounts and the best have more time to work for you.                              JOY MITCHELL LUXURY RESIDENTIAL DESIGNER                          CAN REPRODUCE ANY1920's HARDESTY HISTORIC SPANISH HOUSE                                              BUILT IN THE DAYTONA BEACH , FLORIDA AREA                                                                    TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONSwww.ThisIsDaytonaBeach.comJoy Mitchell's Daytona Beach, Florida Information Resource Web Site                                                                                D... 01/21/2008

   Joy Mitchell's www.ThisIsDaytonaBeach.comI'm happy I did not get the listing................I'm actually proud of myself. This morning I woke up and looked at the new listings in the mls and saw a new house for sale on the same street that reinforced what I told the couple.  If you don't have to sell now don't do it. They saw the logic of the facts and now are going to find a way to build an addition for the new 2nd baby that is on the way.  They saw the house I saw in the MLS, it was only a couple houses down from their house and about 5 other houses for sale by owner and for sale by broker on their street for 30,000 less than they wanted to list for.  What a relief they got it!  I have finally got it too.  I will never feel pressured into taking a listing that is too high again.  6... 01/18/2008

This is my 5th post in my 2007 real estate year in review series for the Daytona Beach area. This one is about Ormond by the Sea. If you're not familiar with the Daytona Beach area and how the cities are laid out, click here on Ormond by the Sea to view a map.Prior to this post we've coveredDaytona BeachDaytona Beach ShoresPort OrangeOrmond BeachAs I did in my other posts, I'm going to insert a little excerpt from my Daytona Beach post here. "It was at the beginning of 2006 that some real estate agents in east Volusia County, where the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS is located, began to report slower sales. I can't speak for everyone, but I personally saw no change in my sales until July of 2006. In fact, by June of 2006 I had already beat my 2005 year-to-date sales and was ... 01/17/2008

I just finished giving annual real estate updates for the year 2007 forDaytona BeachDaytona Beach ShoresPort OrangeAs I stated in a couple of those posts, my motto for this year is Real Estate is Great in 2008! I came up with that motto with good reason. Just read my post titled Good News for Central Florida Real Estate in 2008. But this post is about what happened in real estate for the year 2007 for the city of Ormond Beach Florida. This is the year-in-review market report.Let me start by quoting from my Daytona Beach real estate 2007 year-in-review post. "Over the last month or so, I noticed an interesting trend. The residential real estate listing base in the Daytona Beach Area Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which includes all of East Volusia County plus some crossover listings fro... 01/16/2008

It's not that often we have a hard freeze here in the Daytona Beach area..Maybe a couple times a year in the 5 years (almost to the day) I've lived here.It's even less often one sees snow in the Daytona Beach area.. Yes, you read rightSNOW... Here is my birdbath this morning, I went and had a look while I was waiting for my car to warm up. (I don't think I've warmed up my car since leaving Upstate NY!)  See the small white things on top of my frozen solid birdbath? That is Florida Snow!           Granted this is nothing, a couple little granules of frozen precip. But it is exciting to those of us who never see it anymore.        This is my buddies birdbath, he lives just west of us, it appears he got more snow then me. Or, more precip. fell after I left for work.       Right now the tem... 01/03/2008

Saturday was a busy day at the Iron Horse in Ormond BeachBesides having Big Engine rocking a great crowdAnd part two of Pee Wee's Poker Run (the raffle)There was also a small presentation ceremony! Pam Hobbs, Development Officer for The Children's Advocacy Center was on hand to personally thank both Pee Wee and Rock Hartley for their work to put on a Toy Run that benefited the Children's Advocacy Center's of Volusia and Flagler Counties on December 1 of this year.Pictured Left to Right ~ Pee Wee's Son in Law, CJ, Pam Hobbs, Rock Hartley Pee Wee and Radio Bob BarryBoth men were given a Certificate of Appreciation for their services and support along with a Letter of Gratitude from the Center. I was able to obtain a copy of both Pee Wee's & Rock Hartley's certificates via email when I tol... 12/10/2007

A couple weeks ago I told you that we were having a poker run for a friend ours, Pee Wee, that needed our help. The poker run to raise money for him that ended up being held in two parts (that doesn't happen often).  We had the raffle yesterday at the Iron Horse during the Big Engine show and it was a lot of fun. Big Engine really rocks! I had never heard them before.  Thanks guys for letting us be part of your show!    Before I tell you how much we raised I want to tell you why we did it...Pee Wee, who had been riding safe for 30 years, was riding between his home and his daughter and son in laws down a neighborhood street when a woman talking on a cell phone "t-boned" him. The accident took his right leg above the knee. (The woman who hit him had minimal insurance.) The horrible part ... 12/09/2007

This years parade will be honoring the Ford Model T owned by John White. Mr. White brought this same car to the very first show 50 years ago and will be bringing it back this year! The Gaslight Parade begins at 7:00PM and leaves from the Casements (former home of John Rockefeller) on Granada Blvd. travels east to A1A then heads south on A1A to Harvard Drive where it then turns right onto Riverside Drive to head back north to the Casements for the Block Party. There are a few simple rules to follow if you want to bring your classic car and participate in the parade.. The cars must be pre 1980 vehicles only. No Customs No Modifieds No Hotrods Oh, and this year the participants are not allowed to throw candy from the cars... We attended the parade last year and it was so much fun seeing fo... 11/23/2007

Gaslight Gala  Don't miss the second annual Gaslight Gala celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Gaslight Parade.  This great event will be held at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building at 42 N. Beach St. in Ormond Beach this Saturday, November 24th from 6p.m. until 10 p.m.  The cost is $50 to attend.  Enjoy dancing under an original gaslight chandelier to the Sal Ronci Quartet, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction gift baskets, Great Gatsby photo opportunity and food and cocktails.  Wine is provided by Ormond Wine Co. and Daytona-Ormond Real Estate.  Hors d' oeuvres offered by Hull's Seafood and Restaurant.  Buffet entree offered by Gryphon's Lark.  Dessert offered by LuLu's Restaurant.  We hope to see you there. Livin' By The Beach....It's a good life!Ian Anderson - Daytona Ormond Beach Rea... 11/19/2007

I'm continuing with my report of real estate listings and sales for the Daytona Beach area, this post will cover Ormond by the Sea. If you're not familiar with the layout of the cities in East Volusia County, view this map of the Daytona Beach area. You'll see Ormond by the Sea on the far north end of the map.  As a  sales comparison, read my post with the real estate sales and listing data for Daytona Beach.(I have posts covering the other cities in this area as well.)As of November 17, 2007, there were 196 active residential real estate listings in Ormond by the Sea, according to the MLS for the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS®.  Here is the breakdown for those 196 MLS listings...Single Family Houses 122Condos 73Single Family Attached Homes 1For the month of October, there ... 11/18/2007