Thoughts For Today

While doing some reading, I came across this interesting quote and thought of the day and thought I'd share it on my blog. Thanks for visiting and please visit my website at www.joycebarnwell.com for a look at all the properties that are for sale and listed in our Multiple Listing Service, (MLS).


Quote of the Day
"Every man is enthusiastic at times. One man has enthusiasm for thirty minutes, another man has it for thirty days. But it is a man who has it for thirty years who makes a success in life."
~Edward B. Butler

Thought For Today
"When you have a powerful, long-term vision for something, even against all odds and adversity, you will continue to make progress and people will want to get on board. Why? Because everybody wants to be a part of something great."
~Robin Crow
Rock Solid Leadership

Pleasure Island Events

American Legion Fish Fry Today – Since it’s the first Friday of the month that means that the American Legion will be hosting their monthly fish fry. Today from 11-7, $8.00 will get you a plate with Fresh Fried Fish, Hushpuppies, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob, Ice Tea & Coffee. Desserts will be sold by the Ladies of the auxiliary starting at 5:00 p.m. The American Legion Hall is located at 1500 Bridge Barrier Road, just south of the Post Office in Carolina Beach.

Cheer on your Team during the Super Bowl at Tangerine Caribbean Grill – On February 7th, Tangerine will be offering Super Bowl Specials as you cheer your on your team in their quest for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Specials include Chili Bowls, Blackened Ribeye Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, $.40 wings, Personal Pan Pizzas, Nachos, Quesadillas, Burgers, Seafood Tacos and Classic Fish Fry Platters. All of these items are also available to go along with their full menu. Additionally, Tangerine’s will be offering a variety of drink specials. Tangerine Caribbean Grill is located at 300 N. Lake Park Boulevard in Carolina Beach. www.tangerinegrille.com

Lazy Pirate Gears Up for Super Bowl – Celebrate the Super Bowl at The Lazy Pirate as they host the 1st Annual Super Bowl Pig Pickin’ Party. The Lazy Pirate will offer free food and prizes and an appearance will be made by the Miller Girls. The Lazy Pirate also offers the largest flat screen televisions on the Island. They are located at 701 N. Lake Park Boulevard next to the Drifter’s Reef Motel. For more information contact them at (910) 458-5414 ext. 505.

Linda’s Fashion “Super Sale on Super Bowl Sunday” – James Allen, proprietor of Linda’s Fashions, would like to invite everyone to his Super Sale on Super Bowl Sunday. Please join James and the staff at Linda’s Fashions for wine and cheese and be sure to take advantage of 50% off the entire store. This discount includes all sale and bargain room items and the new spring merchandise. This is a one day only sale on Sunday, February 7th from noon until 6:00 p.m. All sales are final and prior sales are excluded. www.lindasfashionscbnc.com

Make this Valentine’s Day Special with a Gift From the Fudgeboat – The Fudgeboat wants to remind everyone that their chocolate dipped strawberries sell out fast for Valentine’s Day. Be sure to pre-order at fudgeboat@bellsouth.net or (910) 617-9793. Instead of a mall kiosk, they will have hours at the beach this year! Store hours for the weekend will be Feb. 11th from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m., Feb. 12th 1:00 – 8:00 p.m., Feb. 13th from noon to 8:00 p.m., and February 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. www.fudgeboat.com

Special Olympics Gears up for their Annual Polar Plunge – This year’s Special Olympics Polar Plunge will be held on Saturday, February 20th at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk next to the Courtyard Marriott. Come take a chilling plunge into the Atlantic Ocean to support the Special Olympics of New Hanover County. Join them for an afternoon of live music, art, food, a silent auction, classic car show and much, much more. In order to plunge, you must raise a minimum of $50.00 (or $30 for students with proper ID). To request a brochure or for more information please email to polarplunge@plungenhc.com or call (910) 341-5876.

On-Line registration is available for this year’s Lo-Tide Run – This year’s 6th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Day Lo-Tide Run is scheduled for March 13th at 9:00 a.m. On-line registration is now available through the website at www.lotiderun.org. While on-line registration is preferred, mail-in registration forms will be available for download on the website as well as distributed to local businesses.

14th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook Off Applicants and Sponsorships being Accepted – On April 17th, chefs from restaurants on Pleasure Island and surrounding communities gather on Pleasure Island for our famous Chowder Cook Off. This wonderful, daylong event includes live music, fun for the kids and, of course, great food. If your business is interested in competing in this year’s Cook Off, please contact the Chamber offices for an application or visit our website at www.pleasureislandnc.org. The Chamber is also accepting sponsorships for this event. This is a wildly popular event attracting thousands of people and is the perfect opportunity for your business to receive added exposure.

Real Estate Supply & Demand

Below is a good article written by our (Intracoastal Realty) VP of Sales. It was written for the Lumina News

Supply and Demand

by Chris Livengood
Thursday, December 31, 2009

The real estate market like other markets is driven by the economic principle of supply and demand. The data shared weekly in this section of Lumina News provides a simple measure of this economic principle in action with absorption rates.
Simply put, the absorption rate is the measure of today’s housing, or demand, versus how many months will it take to absorb the current supply of inventory.
The formula uses the past 12 months of unit sales to establish how many houses are selling each month on average, divided into the existing inventory to calculate the months of supply available.

In real estate it is generally thought to be a balanced market when there are 5-6 months of inventory on the market. A key point to keep in mind: fewer months of supply result in a seller’s market and puts pressure on prices to increase. Higher months of supply result in a buyer’s market and puts pressure on prices to fall.

A seller’s market was evident locally, in the period of 2000-2006 as demand was high and supply was low. During this period of time the New Hanover County market was operating as a seller’s market with 1-2 months of supply at its peak which occurred in the first quarter 2006. By late 2006-2007, inventories rose to seven months of supply, or a balanced market; and since 2008 the market has become a buyer’s market with current inventories running around a 16 month supply.

Within New Hanover County the absorption rate varies by location. In the Ogden/Porters Neck, Castle Hayne and Myrtle Grove/Monkey Junction areas housing inventory is turning more quickly based in part on the lower average price points and the positive effect that the first time home buyers tax credits had in 2008. Other areas like Wrightsville Beach, Pleasure Island and parts of downtown Wilmington show a higher inventory based in part on the higher average price points of those locations which at present are turning slower.
The positive effect of the tax credits continues into 2010. The first time home buyers will benefit from the $8,000 tax credit on their purchases that most affect the $280,000 and lower purchase price points. Additionally in 2010 existing homeowners can benefit for tax credits up to $6,500 on purchases at price points of $800,000 or less. (Contact your Realtor to understand how these benefits may affect your purchase decisions.)
　
Buyers are coming back to the market attracted by an abundant selection, value and historically low interest rates.
With current levels of inventory, selection has never been better.
Values are wonderful. Value is determined by condition, price and location of product. As always, the properties that sell the quickest are those that are the best value to buyers.
Interest rates are at historical lows and yes, banks and mortgage companies are lending money. Generally today’s lending market requires that you put some money down and qualifying has been tightened to eliminate the aggressive hybrid sub prime lending of the past few years which included an abundance of 100 percent loans and low documentation requirements. Today’s interest rates are being artificially held low by the current policies of the federal government. It is generally believed that these rates can not last long term and there is much more pressure for rates to increase than stay at these low levels.
The effect of interest rates has a bigger effect on a buyer’s purchase decision than purchase price. A quarter of a percent increase in interest rates can eat up quickly a reduction in purchase price.

Based on all these factors, now is an excellent time to buy. I think we have all had an experience personally or had someone close to us experience a situation in which the memory is, "I could have purchased that property in _____ for only $_____." Some will be talking about 2010 in that way 10 years from now.
　
Today’s sellers are divided into two groups:
Group one is those individuals that want or need to move and will price their homes aggressively to sell while taking advantage of this same buyer’s market to purchase their next home. As long as you are staying in the market, there is very little reason to not be in the home you want or need.

The second group of sellers will be those that stay in a location and wait for the market to return to the peaks of 2005-2006. Increasingly financial resources are calling for a slow but steady recovery. The forecasted recovery for North Carolina ranges in time from 2014-2017. Several national sources expect the recovery to take twice the length of time as the decline. If we bottom out in mid 2010 then the projected recovery fits the range cited above.

Just as so many other financial decisions, too many purchasers miss an opportunity by trying to time the absolute bottom of the market. Real estate is best considered as a long term investment and on the North Carolina coast the future looks bright. Last year, Senator Richard Burr shared with local Wilmington business leaders that as the federal government looked at the long term need of infrastructure by state, that population growth predictions called for a 50-plus percent growth in the population of North Carolina by the early 2020s.

The growth in North Carolina comes from the recognized superior quality of life factors that North Carolina offers such as climate and cost of living.

Another significant factor for North Carolina growth comes from the strength of secondary education in North Carolina’s universities, colleges and community college system. North Carolina is second only to California in the number of graduates each year. The students that come to the state often don’t want to leave, creating an intellectual capital that attracts business and industry.

All said and done, the recent events in the real estate market seem to be short term in nature, while the long term future looks bright.

The Best Time Of Year To Sell A Home

Below is an article I found on Forbes.com by Francesca Levy regarding when is the best time to put your house on the market. It's a good read!

Putting a home on the market in this grim real-estate climate might seem like lunacy considering how heavily the market favors buyers. Home prices are down 28% from their national peak in the second quarter of 2006, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, which tracks sales in 20 major housing markets. Still, listing a home during certain months can improve a seller's odds.
Late spring and summer are usually thought of as the best times to put a home on the market because buyer demand builds steadily through spring. Sales then peak during the warmest months, when it's easiest for families to move without uprooting their children from school. But this year, experts predict that the selling boom, which normally starts in spring, will hit at a different time than it has in the past. Sellers with flexibility should market their homes earlier in the year.

According to data from Zillow.com, an online real-estate database, the volume of home sales was highest in June, July or August every year since 2000. This year, however, an $8,000 credit for those buying their first home--that expires on June 30, 2010 and requires buyers to have closed on a home by April 30, 2010--will force buyers to speed up their decisions. Historically low interest rates also suggest that sellers will face a busier market as early as February.
“This year, we're anticipating sales will peak earlier,” says Nicole Hall, editor in chief of Lendingtree.com, an online mortgage comparison service. “The best time to get your house on the market will be February or early March, and maybe even earlier if you want to avoid competition.”
The Economy Upsets Seasonal Trends House hunting may have traditionally sped up after March, but nothing about the last few years in real estate has been traditional. In 2008, sales failed to pick up with their usual gusto in late winter because the financial crisis cast a shadow of fear over buyers, and lending seized up.

“Between the fall of 2008 and March of 2009, there was a long dead period in real estate,” says Ken Shuman, spokesman for the real estate Web site Trulia.com. “You don't want to buy a house if you don't have job security, and a lot of people had jobs but didn't feel too secure about them.”
2009 didn't follow typical trends, either. Fall, when sales usually plummet, saw more sales activity than usual this year because of the introduction of the government's tax credit, which was initially set to expire on Nov. 30, 2009.
Improving the Odds Granted, some sellers have no choice but to sell at a slow time of year. Job relocation and the need to free up assets are facts of life that can deprive families of the luxury of waiting until the peonies bloom to put their homes on the market.
But Hall says that there are ways to improve your chances of a sale if you have to list your home late in the year, like playing up holiday decorations and shoveling walkways to maximize curb appeal. She adds that selling at this point in the cycle isn't always the worst fate.
“Look at how you can turn it to your advantage. Maybe because you're forced to sell at a different time, there will be less competition,” she says. “Also, be realistic about your price. If you know you're selling at a tough time, it can be a tough call, but you might have to drop that price a little.”
Shuman and Hall agree that the season shouldn't be the only factor homeowners consider when getting ready to sell. Paying attention to the vagaries of the local real-estate market, where inventory and prices can fluctuate week to week, will offer more guidance to sellers than simple seasonal trends.

“Check out your local inventory,” says Hall. “Read the housing-market blogs, follow the local market really carefully, and look at the unemployment rate. That will make a big difference.”
For smart sellers, Shuman and Hall agree, taking a chance and starting the sale process earlier will reap distinct benefits in 2010.
“The beginning of the year is going to be make-it-or-break-it,” says Shuman. “If you're a seller, get your property listed as early in the year as you can.”

November 2009 MLS Report

As the year winds down we are closing out what could be considered the start of our recovery, we have now seen 3 months of growth in sold units over the same time frame from a year ago. From October to December of 2008 we saw the bottom of our sold units, (see chart) while our median sold price seemed to bottom out around Jan to Mar of 09’. Our pending sales index shows its lowest point around Jan 2009. We have struggled thru the year, losing value on our average sales price a drop of 9.5% from last year this time. November saw an increase of 74% over last year this time. We have heard everyone say that the primary reason for such a large increase was due to the possible ending of the $8,000 Tax credit. On November 6th the President signed the extension of the $8,000 Tax credit for First Time Home Buyers. This took a lot of pressure off getting that property closed by November 30, 2009. I believe we will see some carry over into December. As the holidays slow down some buyers, I believe the other buyers are getting ready for Spring 2010. The $8,000 tax credit goes till April 30th with properties closings up to June 30th. If you look at our listing inventory (chart) you will see that we usually have an increase in listing inventory in the spring. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke has indicated that the Fed plans to maintain the fed funds rate at extremely low levels for an extended period of time. This is based on the feds belief that inflation will remain low for the next couple of years. Last week’s 30 year fixed rate mortgage averaged 4.81% with a .70% origination fee ending 12/10/09. Are you ready for an active spring?

In the month of November we saw a decrease of 186 homes in our listing inventory, we have 5,113 homes on the market; this continues to put us in a strong buyer’s market with a listing inventory of over a 13.1 month supply. Our listing inventory has remained consistent for almost a year now. The last time we had inventory below 5,000 was January 2007. Our average list price has dropped to $379,092. For November we saw another increase in our seller concessions, it jumped to 26.7%. Our average days on the market have dropped to the 120’s, it decreased about 15 days from last month. The list to sold ratio is 94.4% up .5% from last month; we want this number to be going up. The number of homes that sold in 15 days or less continues to remain very low, 19.5% of November sold homes, same number as last month. On a rolling 12 month our sold units are down by 10.5% and improvement of 8% from last month. Our average list price has dipped below the $400,000 range for three months; we have to go back to April 2005 to find an average list price below $400,000, for November 09 it was $379,092.
Despite all the media comments about our markets we are still lending money for residential mortgages. If a client has income and credit and some sort of down payment; they can get a mortgage. It goes to the basic three C’s – Capacity, Collateral and Character.

Listing Inventory
In November we saw a decrease in listing inventory of 186 units, mainly due to the high number of sales and the fact that November is not known to be a strong month for listings. We are about 381 units down from December 2008. We have 5,113 single family homes for sale in our MLS. The average list price of $379,092 is down by $3,242 from last month. The average list price has decreased by .08% from Oct 2009.

Monthly Average Sold Price
Our monthly average sold price is down by 4.0% from last month and down 9.5% from November 2008. A lot of sellers seemed to have negotiated with buyers in Oct and early November thinking that the tax credit was going away and worried that there buyer would go away also, which is why we also have a high seller concession ratio this month. We are down $9,535 from last month. November average sold price ($226,494) shows a decrease of just 11.7% from year end 2008.

Monthly Sold Units
The number of sold homes is down 13.7% from last month and up 74.9% from November 2008. November saw a increase of 167 sold homes over November 2008. This is our third monthly increase in year over year sold homes since September 2005. Our monthly sold units continue to lag behind the last couple of years by as much as 9.5%. We have now had the last 7 months in 2009 with over 375 units sold compare that with 2008 and we had 8 months with 375+ units sold. You can notice that all of our big dips seem to occur on or about December. I believe we will continue to see the next couple of months with unit sales over and above the previous year. No doubt in my mind the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit has contributed to this increase in sales units and I would anticipate it to continue over the next several months as we approach the new potential extended deadline of April 30, 2010 (more on this later).

Market Absorption rate – The number of homes sold in November, 390 divided by the current listing inventory, 5,113 gives us a 13.1 month supply of single family homes (we had a 1.0 month increase from last month). The increase in sales units for November affects this calculation. This just means that we have plenty of homes to sell. With rates where they are and plenty of inventory we can get this number down.

List to Sold price ratio – the average list price of the sold properties is $239,838 and the average sold price is $226,494 for November which gives us a 94.4% list to sold price ratio – a increase of .4% from last month. We have now managed to stay under 95% for a year.

Seller Concessions – We had 26.7% of sold properties report a sales concession for November, an increase of 1.8%. I think we saw a lot of concessions as people were anxious to sell to buyers trying to meet the tax credit deadline. We want this number to go lower. The average concession for the month was $3,688.

Days on Market – The average days on market for the sold properties is now at 125 for November. That is almost 5 + months to keep a property on the market. Only 19.5% of the properties were placed under contract in less than 15 days for the month of November, no real change from last month.

Carolina & Kure Beach

There are currently 465 single family homes for sale and this represents a 20 unit decrease over November 2009 and 9.1% of our total WRAR inventory. The average list price is $445,268 a slight decrease of about $5,000 from October. In November there were 22 homes sold, divide that by the homes available and you have a 21.1 monthly supply of homes in Carolina and Kure Beach (we just added about 7 months). The average sold price for the month of November was $283,364 and is up from last month. In November 2008 we had 10 home sales at an average $278,152. When we look at our year to date we see that we are ahead in units by 38 and our average sold price has dipped from $372,215 (first eleven months of 2008) to a current $298,174 a decrease of 19.9%.

This data was pulled on December 14, 2009, based on information from the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS Incorporated, for the period Jan. 1, 2005 through November 30, 2009.

I want to thank David Flory NMLS #91592, of Cunningham Mortgage for much of the information in this report.

PLEASURE ISLAND HAPPENINGS!

For One Stop Fitness, Visit Muscleworx New Studio – Muscleworx has expanded to a 3000 square foot fully equipped membership fitness center with a 1200 square foot fully equipped private personal training studio. Certified fitness professionals are always on staff during business hours. And, if you join by December 1st, it’s only $19.00 a month. For more information call (910) 458-9950 or visit www.muscleworx.com

Havana’s Now Offers Sunday Brunch – One of the Island’s newest and most elegant restaurants is now offering Sunday Brunch. Their "Bottomless Buffet" is available from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Adults are $12.95 and Kids are $6.95. For more information please call (910) 458-2822 or visit www.havanasrestaurant.com

Get Ready to Yell "BINGO" – The Katie B. Hines Senior Center will be hosting a Bingo Marathon on Saturday, November 21, 2009. There will be 25 games with all cash prizes for $300, $400 and $500 games. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the games start at 11:00. There will be free coffee and popcorn. All games are included for just $35.00. Seating is limited so call (910) 458-6609 to reserve your space.

Special Announcement from Squigley’s – Squigley’s wants to thank everyone for a great year. Sunday, during the "Holiday Walk" from noon to 6:00 p.m., they will be offering free ice cream because it’s their closing day for 2009. Just bring in a donation for "Toys For Tots" or spend $10.00 or more at the Gift Gallery and you can indulge yourself with your favorite Squigley sweet treat. The offer is good until the ice cream is gone. See you in the Spring. www.squigleysicecream.com

Special Opportunity for Your Business – The Fudgeboat is modifying its advertising strategy for the next year and has decided to not renew the billboard in the Pleasure Island Medical Center Area. It is a great space and Duke would be more than happy to put any interested business owners directly in touch with the billboard owner. Contact Duke at (910) 617-9792.

Business Hour Changes at the Fudgeboat and Krazy Kones – The Fudgeboat is open Friday from 5-8 pm, Saturday from 1-8 pm & Sunday from 1-5 pm. The Fudgeboat is already accepting holiday orders and has added Bailey’s Irish Cream, Eggnog and Candy Cane flavors to the traditional line up. Krazy Kones is open on Saturday from 1-8 pm & Sunday from 1-5 pm. Seasonal soft serve flavors have been added which include pumpkin pie, caramel apple and coffee & cream. www.fudgeboat.com and www.krazykones.com

The Holidays are Coming So Get Your Pet Ready – Coastal K-9 Bakery is offering Photos with "Santa Paws". Bring your pet in for this unique opportunity. Santa visits take place on November 29th, December 6th and December 13th from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. One pet is $10 – 2 pets is $20 and 3 or more is $25.00. All proceeds will be donated to the Ruffian Foundation and its feral cat shelter. I, personally have taken my dog there and I can tell you it was a blast. www.coastalk9bakery.com

Let Plaza Hair Design Spoil You this Holiday Season – Just in time for the Holidays, Plaza Hair Design offers a full menu of services that meet your unique needs. And, receive $10 off by combining any 2 services. They offer Color ($45), Hi/Lo Lights (starting at $75), Perms (Starting at $75), Haircut/style ($25), Men’s Cut and Shampoo ($22) or just a Men’s Cut ($17). Plaza Hair Design is located at 1009 Lake Park Boulevard, Suite 3A. Call Erin today for an appointment at (910) 458-6117 or (775) 293-2299.

Let Thyme Savor make your Holidays Easier – Thyme Savor is offering three different Holiday Dinners to Go. Each package includes Turkey, Potatoes and Gravy, Vegetables, Cranberry Chutney, Chestnut Stuffing & Dessert. The small package serves 4-8 people; the medium package serves 10-14 people & the large package serves 18-24 people. Prices range from $69.99 to $179.99. Additional side items can be purchased for $4.99 per quart. To place an order, please call 910-465-9668 or email to thymesavor@hotmail.com. Please visit their website at www.thymesavorcatering.com for more information.

Christmas Trees – Premium Fraser Firs, the Best on the Island (3’ to 10’ trees) not what you will normally find at stores that wilt away in weeks. They will also be offering wreaths (from 12-24"), Cinco stands and fresh cut garland. So come get warm by the fire pit, listen to the music and watch your favorite Christmas movies while you check out their beautiful trees from our own North Carolina Mountains. Best of all, FREE DELIVERY of your tree and end of season recycle pickup. But even better, a portion of the proceeds will benefit OUR Carolina Beach Elementary School. So come join the crew at Pleasure Island Rentals at their winter wonderland and pick from the best trees around for your Holiday Season.

PLEASURE ISLAND HAPPENINGS!

American Legion Fish Fry Today – Since it’s the first Friday of the month that means that the American Legion will be hosting their monthly fish fry. Today from 11-7 $8.00 will get you a
plate with Fresh Fried Fish, Hushpuppies, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob, Ice Tea &
Coffee. Desserts will be sold by the Ladies of the auxiliary starting at 5:00 p.m. The American
Legion Hall is located at 1500 Bridge Barrier Road, just south of the Post Office in Carolina
Beach.

Katie B. Hines Senior Center to hold Pancake Breakfast – Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00, the Senior Center will be offering their monthly pancake breakfast which includes Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, Fruit, Coffee or Tea and Juice. Adults are $6.00 and Children over 8 are $4.00. The Katie B. Hines Senior Center is located at 308 Cape Fear Boulevard in Carolina Beach.

Let Thyme Savor make your Holidays Easier – Let Thyme Savor cook for you and you can take the credit. Thyme Savor is offering three different Holiday Dinners to Go. Each package
includes Turkey, Potatoes and Gravy, Vegetables, Cranberry Chutney, Chestnut Stuffing and
Dessert. The small package serves 4-8 people. The medium package serves 10-14 people and
the large package serves 18-24 people. Prices range from $69.99 to $179.99. Additional side
items can be purchased for $4.99 per quart. If you place your order by November 16, 2009 you
can receive either 2 additional side items or 1 additional desert pie. To place an order, please call
910-465-9668 or email to thymesavor@hotmail.com. Please visit their website at
www.thymesavorcatering.com for more information.

Kure Beach Christmas Fantasy Show is Coming – On December 11th and 12th in downtown Kure Beach, come join the fun of singing, dancing and Characters Galore as we celebrate the holidays with the Christmas Fantasy Show. This event is free and open to the public but remember to dress warmly as it always snows at the show!

Staples in Monkey Junction Allows You to Save the Easy Way – For a limited time only earn 50% back in Staples Rewards on all copies. This includes all color and black and white copies on all paper types and sizes. Staples offers both full service and self service. Orders can be
submitted in the store or online at www.staples.com/copyandprint

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays with C&J’s Cleaning Service – Are you busy decorating,
shopping, wrapping gifts or busy with Holiday parties? If so, let C&J’s Cleaning Service help
you. Mention this ad and receive $25.00 off cleaning services. Please call 622-1072 or 799-
1960 for more information.

This Week’s Specials at Tuscan Grill – This week, Tuscan Grill is offering the Tuscan
Vegetable, Pasta and Chicken Bowl for $8; Shrimp, Chicken or Filet Hibachi Bowl for $8; Pasta
of the Day for $9.95; Sicilian Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes for $9.95 and so much more.
Don’t forget to check on their 10 for Under 10 Bar Food Menu and Daily Drink Specials.
Tuscan Grill is open Monday through Thursday from 5:00 – 9:00 and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 – 9:30. Please visit their website at www.tuscangrill.us for more information.

Checkered Church to host Open House – The Checkered Church Gift Shop will hold their 13th
Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday, November 13th and 14th from noon until
4:00 p.m. Come see their Mermaid themed tree, sample their gourmet foods from Goodness
Gracies, Gullah Gourmet, Maggie & Mary’s and more. Refreshments will be available and every
sale will be eligible for their “