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1.    AMP UP CURB APPEAL:  Does the outside of your home make them want to see the inside?  The first thing the buyer sees is the outside of your home.  Make it as appealing as possible.  Maintain the yard, a clean driveway and an inviting porch.  Drawing the buyer in wanting to see more, it is a good start.  Touch-up or repaint exterior.  Plant fresh annual flowers, keep porches swept, and gutters clean.  Showing that the exterior of your home is well kept will lead buyers to the assumption that the home is well kept in general.

2.    SIMPLIFY, CLEAN, and DE-CLUTTER:  Do a deep clean or hire a professional cleaning service to make sure your home looks its best.  Keep beds made and carpets vacuumed.  Rooms will look larger by removing clutter. Over stuffed…

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Texting while driving is viewed by most people to be dangerous and in 40 states, it is illegal.  Florida will be the 41st state to ban texting and driving.  Governor Rick Scott is set to ban the act.  In a statement, the Governor said that texting while driving concerns him as a father and grandfather.  He also said state officials must do everything they can do to keep the roads safe, particularly during the 100 days summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Those days are the deadliest days for teenagers on the road.

Florida’s Governor signed the ban Tuesday afternoon on texting while driving. The restriction takes effect October 1 and is a secondary offense.  A secondary offense means offenders can only be ticketed if stopped for another violation.  A…

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This Memorial Day please take a moment to commemorate all the men and women who have died while in military service for the United States of America.

This noble holiday started as an event to honor Union and Confederate soldiers who had died during the Civil War. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who had died in any war or military action.  It was originally known as “Decoration Day” and fell on May 30, regardless of the day of the week on which it fell.  In 1968, a bill, known as the Uniform Holidays Bill passed, and Memorial Day became officially observed on the last Monday in May as a national holiday.

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veteran’s Day.  Memorial Day is a day of remembering those who died while serving in…

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Canadian snowbirds may soon be able to spend two extra months nesting in their favorite spot, the sunshine state!  Each year Canadian snowbirds find their way to sunny south Florida. Currently, Canadians, aged 55 and older have a 182 day annual limit to stay in the U.S. without a visa. Winding its way through Congress is a provision that would extend that limit to 240 days – about eight months total.

Canadians represent a major boost to the economy in the U.S., particularly southern states such as Florida.  Florida recently dropped the requirement of an international drivers permit after strong objections from the Canadian Lobby.  Canadians are flocking to the sugary sand beaches of the Jupiter and Tequesta areas.   The surrounding areas are well known for…

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About 2,400 homes were damaged in the Oklahoma cities of Moore and Oklahoma City.  Some 10,000 people were directly impacted by the nearly 1.3-mile wide tornado, leveling homes and leaving a high number dead, many children.  Governor Mary Fallin said the tornado was “one of the most horrific storms and disasters that this state has ever faced.”  Oklahoma “will get through this and overcome.  We will rebuild. We will regain our strength,” she said.

The preliminary rating of damage created by the tornado is at least EF4 (winds 166 – 200 mph) – the second most severe classification on a scale from zero to five – according to the National Weather Service.  Approximately 34,000 residents of the Oklahoma City area remain without power after the powerful storm. …

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After months of discussion and debate, the governing bodies of golf have finally announced the decision to ban the anchored putting stroke. The USGA and R&A, golf’s governing bodies, announced Tuesday morning the addition of Rule 14-1b to the official rules of golf.

anchored_putt_ban_776The new rule will take effect on January 1, 2016 when the next edition of the Rules of Golf is published. The new rule states that players competing under the USGA or R&A rules will no longer be allowed to “anchor” the putter to their bodies in any way. The longer putters will not be banned but once the new rule takes effect, they will not allowed to anchored on any part of the golfer’s body.

Over the next two and a half years, golfers off all skill levels will have the opportunity to adapt…

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There is nothing better than a day at the beach!  Fresh air, sun and the surf.  The ocean is powerful and unpredictable, and without proper safety precautions and lifeguards, our local Jupiter, Juno, and Singer Island area beaches can be uncertain. With summer and beach season approaching it is important to refresh the basic safety tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable day at the beach.

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation use a colored flag system to identify beach warnings.  Green Flag: Low hazard. Conditions are calm; normal care and caution should be exercised. Yellow Flag: Medium hazard. Moderate surf currents present. (i.e.: rip current,dropofff,rocks) Red Flag: High hazard. Very hazardous rough surf and/or strong currents; swimming for experienced…

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Trader Joe's, a privately held California based specialty chain of grocery stores, will open its first Palm Beach County store in the PGA Plaza and Prosperity Farms Road in Palm Beach Gardens sometime in 2014.  Trader Joe’s will be located in the southwest corner of the plaza, just west of the Marshall’s department store. The structure will be demolished and rebuilt to accommodate the 12,500 square foot market.        

 

People unfamiliar with Trader Joe’s will enjoy the laid-back vibe, cedar planked walls and Hawaiian shirts worn by employees.  The name “trader” reflects the company’s search for quirky and unique items that are good values.  They understand the importance of covering a range of options for the consumer when it comes to grocery…

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Photo Courtesty of Juno Town Council

The Juno Beach Town Council are in the initial planning stages to erect a 9/11 memorial.  An estimated $50,000 will be required to accomplish the task.  Well-known West Palm Beach sculpture/artist Mark Fuller has been selected by the Juno Beach Town Council to create the memorial sculpture.
 
Fuller is an industrial designer and has many pieces of his art on display.    The “Butterfly”, at PGA Commons on PGA Boulevard, is a very prominent and beautiful piece.   He has created 16 pieces of art for the city of Palm Beach Gardens through an ordinance passed in 1989 that requires developers of non-residential projects with construction costs of at least $1million to contribute 1 percent of the project cost to install city…

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The eighth annual Golf for Wildlife golf tournament will be held at The Fox Club in Palm City on Friday, May 24. The event, hosted by the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center is among the most exclusive tournaments in the area.

The tournament will be hosted by long time supporter Glen Hess and the Vicki Hess Foundation and will benefit the wildlife center's misson to rehabilitate and return sick and injured wild animals to their natural environment.

golf2-1_282_06The Treausre Coast Wildlife Center treats thousands of sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals each year and serves Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach Counties. Funds raised by the tournament will be used to support critical operational needs such as food and medical services for the…

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