Sherry Mills

I had the best time today at the Christmas Parade for Statesville. The Realtors of Tarheel Realty II met this morning bright and early to put together our float for the parade. Most of us did not realize this would be an all day event, but had the best time anyway. We spent the next hour and a half decorating, re-decorating, tweaking and finally putting together a very attractive display.

The theme to our float was to raise awareness for the first time home buyers of the $7,500 tax credit given by the government. We expressed this by have a huge check made out to the First Time Home Buyer for $7,500 and a home centered theme on the float with a fireplace and chair, Christmas tree and parents and children. We also handed out literature to the spectatures along with bags of candy. The float was full of people as well as having many of our Realtors making direct contact with the audience.

We often are faced with helping buyers find lending before they start looking for a home. With the many changes in the lending market and many people no longer being able to produce a downpayment for their home, we felt that this would be a good way to make the public aware of what is available to them. I am not sure the general public fully understands the implications of the tax creit. We are there to help and wanted to express this in a fun way that hopefully will make buyers comfortable with coming to us when they have questions.

Anyway, we still had a lot of fun greeting the bystanders with a "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" and wish you the same.

What is the best thing to do on a weekend in Statesville when it is so cold outside. If it is early in the morning go to IHOP at the mall. They have great service and really good food! I love their whole grain pancakes, yummm! Or even better their fruit crepes, they only place I have found where they are better is downtown Charleston. Not crazy about IHOP? Go to Cracker Barrell at the Wal-Mart Shopping Center. They have really good breakfast there, which pecan pancakes, crisp bacon, eggs to your specs., fluffy biscuits with gravy and the best hashbrown casserole. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Do some shopping while you are there. I always find something I think I need when I walk into the store. Done eating? go to Wal-Mart Super Center and walk off your breakfast, watch the local's and have fun! When you are done with that be sure to visit the downtown local shops. I love going into the clock shop and looking at all the antique clocks they have sitting around. Then visit the antique stores, they have everything you can imagine in there. And they clerks are very helpful and friendly. Next, walk down Broad Street to Harry & Jeanie West Fine Musical Instruments store. They will greet you with stories about their musical experiences that will keep you there all day if you aren't careful, but you will have the time of your life.

Before you know it the morning is gone and it's time for lunch. You have a couple of really good options here on main street or Center Street. Mezzaluna's Italian Restaurant which I spoke of in a recent blog, or Maestros. They are both wonderful and you will love the food! After lunch spend the afternoon driving around the residential area of downtown. Be sure to go north on Broad and see Mitchell Community College, it is truly worth veiwing and notice the beautiful Churches on your way. You will love viewing the historical homes that have been renovated and you will want to see Tower House. You can find more information on all these things by visiting www.visitstatesville.com. Need more information about moving to Statesville? visit www.SherryMills.net

If there is one thing we have plenty of here in Statesville, that is places to eat. But there is one little restaurant downtown that opened up not long ago that I had the pleasure of visiting with a friend, that I really enjoyed. The minute I walked in the owner was there to greet us, the hostess offered to seat us immediately and the wait staff wasted absolutely no time serving us. Now that is what I want in a restaurant.

This is by far one of the best Italian restaurants we have here in town. Easy to get to also. Just minutes from I 40 by taking Hwy 115 south. When you walk in you are overwhelmed with the most wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. If you do have to wait for a table you can enjoy the view of downtown and the old court house. The food is just absolutely wonderful. They have a wide varity of dishes to choose from as well as the customary salads for the lighter dishes, in case you are watching your weight. But don't just read this then forget it. Visit! Eat! Enjoy! I promise you will want to go back. Put this restaurant on your list to visit when you are in town looking for a home to buy. If you need more information visit www.SherryMills.net.

Swann Crossing Homes in Statesville, North Carolina

These are great First Time Home Buyers homes in East Statesville and the Cool Springs Elementary School and East Middle School district. These two particular homes are finished and waiting for an owner. They can be seen on SwannCrossing.com with the floor plans. The two story home has the master on the main floor, open floor plan and beautiful backyard. The ranch home is quite large with open floor plan and large master, with two car garage. Financing is available thru the builder and lease/purchase options are acceptable.

Swann Crossing is conveniently located on Swann Road, just off Highway 64 East. It can be accessed from exit 153, 154 and 162 off Interstate 40. Minutes from shopping in Statesville and the I77/I40 interchange. Only 40 minutes from Winston-Salem and 30 minutes from Mooresville. Swann Crossing is set in the beautiful country of East Statesville surrounded by immaculate farmland. There are several lots still available.

What a great run! Saturday, November 8, 2008, our company held its first timed 5k (and fun run for those who were just out for the day)! We had over 70 people come out on a beautiful sunny day in 60 degree weather to run and raise money for East Iredell Elementary School's Child Nutrition Department. Queen City Timing were there to set up for the timing and chips. WSIC was there to play music and Butts A'runnin Enterprises were there for the announcements and awards ceremony.

The Realtors at Tarheel Realty II decided last year that we wanted to support a local group that doesn't get national recognition. We decided that the needy children in the school systems could benefit from our help. So we contacted Susie Wiberg of Iredell Statesville Schools and she helped us to partner with East Elementary. Each year there are children's whose parents don't sign them up for the free and reduced lunch program even though applications are always sent home with each child. Many children fall thru the cracks. The Child Nutrition Department recognizes the need for every child to be fed and sees that lunches are always provided for these children. But every year there is a deficit, so we decided to help meet that need and all our proceeds will be given to the Child Nutrition Department.

We had lots of sponsors help support our event. A big thank you to each and every sponsor who were there for us. Thanks to the volunteers we had that day we were able to man the water stations, set-up the drinks and food, and the stations that are so important for a race. Everyone seemed to have a great time and plan on coming back next year.