Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Beach Blast Off is a great family fun event highlighting the best of St. Augustine located on St. Augustine Beach. This year was the 4^th annual Fire & Ice Competition with local restaurants participating in a chili contest. There are vendors providing games for children, food and New Year’s Eve party favors, all topped off with awesome fireworks. The event is located at the local Pier at the Atlantic’s edge. The fireworks are displayed over the ocean from the far end of the pier.

We live in a magical place with miles of awesome beaches, centuries of history and oodles of diverse heritage. This event brings the magic close to the heart with the fireworks bursting out over the ocean’s crashing waves. The fireworks were choreographed to stirring music and all were inspired to ohhh and awe.

This year was a little challenging. Between the full moon and the high tide, there was no room for public viewing on the beach. The crowds watched from the dunes, the beach walk and the public park. Dogs were barking, children had their face painted, and lovers were holding hands.

All week long, rain had been predicted. Even the morning of the event, all indications were rain by noon to continue throughout the day. By 4:00, the start of the event, not a drop had been felt and even the full moon parted the clouds and the event went off without a weather hitch.

The Beach Blast Off is a fund raising event with the money raised going back to make this a greater community. We have helped with splash park, the Veteran’s Memorial, and now the pier grounds also. Come see for your self in 2010 or even better, plan to move here and be able to routinely experience all that we have to offer in St. Augustine.

An Marshall, REALTOR

Prudential Network Realty

Extremely Full Service

www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.com
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email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com

Serenata Beach Club is a private club located on the Atlantic Ocean in South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach.

I enjoy many social events here including Tuesday Trivia, live music on many Sundays during the summer, Ladies Luncheon, the Book Club, the Artist Series, dining, happy hour, the hot tub and the adults-only pool. I also appreciate that they don't have a meal minimum and there is a full exercise facility with many classes at no charge. I keep meaning to exercise and I do my best to avoid Kim Miller, the on-site personal trainer. Kim e-mails me and other members weekly with health information. See how I took the picture below outside of the room---too scared to even enter!

Some of the classes held include Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Intervals, Fitness Circuits, and Aqua Aerobics.

When I was inducted as the 2007 President of the St. Augustine Regional chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR), the installation was held atSerenata Beach Club. I think all the members remember the installation as during my "acceptance" speech an endangered Right Whale jumped out of the water. Yes, I lost all control of the meeting---gladly. It was so exciting! I guess she wanted to be part of the action. Cordel Crowley made sure all the arrangements were done to perfection for our lunch installation. He is assisting us with WCR's fundraiser in October to benefit WCR's education programs and breast cancer. The event is called Bratini and combines decorative bras sold at auction and modeled by men and Martini's. The event will be Oct. 23. More to come on that in another blog.

There are many activities planned for August. Hopefully this member's only link will work for you so you can view the August newsletter. Please leave me comments if it doesn't work and I will find a workaround.

There is golfing at Marsh Creek Country Club for Serenata Beach Golf Club (SBGC) members and guests on August 14th which reminds me that the club has established a golf club that competes in area tournaments. Additionally, members of Serenata have reciprocal rights with Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for golf, tennis, dining, swimming, and fitness.

The August drink special is Malibu Punch which I had on Sunday---very sweet, but very good. Fantasy Football "education" will be this month, too so one will be prepared. Prime Rib Dinner Buffet will be August 14th, while on August 27th there will be Grill Out Under the Stars. The Ladies Luncheonthis month will feature fall fashions by ETCETERA. The Book Club will meet on August 11th and will discuss Dissolution by C.J. Samson.

Do you like physical challenges? On August 15th members will compete on the Jump Rope Competition. Additionally for ages 12 & up will be Kayaking (August 4th), Hiking (August 11th), and Biking (August 18th).

Serenata does so many special things for kids. On August 13th there will be the 3rd Annual Family Talent Show. August 20th members can go on a field trip to Sea World. There is also a Surf Camp and Serenata Kids Camp (ages 3-12) with fun events including a field trip to the Museum of Science & History (MOSH). I had a photo of the kid's activities room with Kelli Lojacono (she heads up the programs) and General Manager Steve Harrison, but the photo was not great so I thought I would like to keep them as friends.

Now, the picture of Sean, who made me a great strawberry/banana smoothie for this morning's Agent-to-Agent Breakfast, came out great.

The Agent-to-Agent Breakfast is held the first Wednesday of every month and is open to real estate professionals and site agents in northeast Florida (Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine). It is a great opportunity to share one property with the group. It has been very beneficial for my business and it is nice of Serenata to provide this event at a nominal charge. The attendees do not need to be members of Serenata.

Steve Harrison told me that one of the company's values is giving back to the community. He is on the board for the Council on Aging(COA). COA is also Serenata's charity. They sponsor a golf tournament and gala each year and raise about $50,000. Carol Hutnan, a Serenata staff member, teaches Brain Gym at COA. The entry fee for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting is a can of food that is donated to COA.

In addition to the Agent-to-Agent meeting there are other community events at Serenata that are open to non-members. The Economic Development Council(EDC) meets the second Thursday of each month. There is a church serviceat 9 a.m. every Sunday. Also, Serenata is where I (and obviously others!) go to vote. Serenata also is a sponsor of the WCR's golf tournament each year.

Serenata is a lot like Cheers: Everyone knows your name. It is a fun, relaxing beach club and I urge you to check it out. There is not a dress code. I usually take my customers here for lunch to break up the day. It gives you a great feel for the lifestyle of our area.

Membership information can be found on their website.

Directions:From Ponte Vedra take Scenic & Historic A1A(aka 3rd Street) south past Sawgrass and Guana Research Reserve to 3175 S. Ponte Vedra. From St. Augustine, go over the Vilano Bridge, take a left on A1A and go a little over 3 miles to 3175 S. Ponte Vedra.

3175 South Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

904-823-3368

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Marjorie Taylor is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine and Watson Realty Corp. She is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augustine Beach, Florida.

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The Player's Championship is back for this week, 5/4-5/10/09. This awesome event features top golfers from all over the world and is held in Ponte Vedra. Tickets are still available for this event (visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r011/ to purchase tickets), or you can watch the golf on TV. TV times are also on this website.

Please keep in mind we have many tourists visiting our local area this week, so restaurants may have longer than usual waiting times, and we'll have more traffic. The primary traffic will be on A1A heading to the and from the tournament, so early in the morning and in the afternoon, you will want to budget extra time to get around.

Have a great TPC week!

Carol Zingone is a Broker Associate with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Rating in Jacksonville Beach, FL with Prudential Network Realty. She helps buyers and sellers throughout the Beaches, Intracoastal West and Greater Jacksonville, FL areas. She can be reached at 904/993-9048 or via email at carolzingone@clearwire.net

John Foley, the General Manager of Seaboard, called me this afternoon to inform me that garbage pickup for the South Ponte Vedra area will be moved to Mondays starting May 25th, 2009. They will mail a letter to the impacted residents and also place information on their front door to alert them to this change. Recycling and yard trash pickups remain on Wednesday. This change impacts properties from 3rd Street (the castle and the way to Cap's) north.

This is a welcomed change and one that Friends of A1A championed. The residents on A1A in South Ponte Vedra have complained for years about trash blowing on A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, as garbage pick up has been on Thursday. As there are many vacation rentals in the area, many didn't put their trash out until Saturday or Sunday when they were leaving and the trash would sit out for days. An active letter writing campaign by the residents was beneficial to this requested change.

We thank John Foley and Seaboard for their willingness to work with the residents and listen to their concerns to make this happen.