'Newspg5' by The Newscaster - Nature Coast News

PAGE 4 December 31, 2008

The Newscaster/Nature Coast News

“HiYaking”1800 MilesAround Florida

Real Estate Today

Matt Keene plans to be the first person to paddle the entire Florida Circumnavigational

A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond

Salt Water Paddling Trail that follows the entire Florida coastline from north of Jacksonville to

The Holidays

Pensacola and then to set another record as the first person to complete both when he

It is that time of the year. The cooler weather is here, along with the

continues on and hikes the Florida Trail, a National Scenic Trail, from Pensacola to Key West.

snow birds. There was a lovely community Christmas parade in Inglis "with

Jodi Eller left Ft Clinch with Matt on September 15 for the 6 month trip in their

many decorated pickup trucks", and we had the Inglis recreation board Christ-

handmade Chesapeake Light Craft kayaks they made in the 2 months prior to setting off on

mas Party. For the kids, we had the fabulous annual Food Ranch/Newscaster

this adventure. The couple's website http://sunshineexpedition.com/ calls it A Hiyak Adven-

Holiday window painting contest which seems to be getting bigger every year.

ture in Search of the Heart of Florida. Jodi left Inglis for 2 weeks to tend to some family matters

Then we have the various local boat parades.

back in their hometown of Merritt Island and will join Matt in Pensacola for the hike on the

With all of this rejoicing, we realize that our home may be worth a little

Florida Trail finishing the dual venture in Key West.

less than it was this time last year, but is still home sweet home. Is it really that important if our

The journey includes 1500 miles paddling and 1300 miles hiking the great state of

home is worth less "On paper"? Not really, in fact for the 90% of us that are not selling at this

Florida. The trip will include 20 National Parks, seashores, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries,

time, our home is still the roof over our head. Our home is the meeting place for everyone we

37 aquatic preserves and 47 state parks, alternating between the coastline and the intra coastal

know, and many consider their home as the pulse of the family. We should all be thank full for

waterway. This young couple have braved the elements and bring a message that the Sun-

our blessings, including our precious roof over our heads. Let’s all enjoy this holiday season,

shine Expedition will shine a light on the remote and vulnerable ecosystems of the southern-

and say a prayer in hoping for a better year in 2009 for everyone including our neighbors that

most state, bringing an increased awareness and commitment to protecting such an irreplace-

might be in financial trouble.

able environment.

I wish to remind my readers that history has clearly shown the real estate industry

Hope for the visually impaired

rebounding back time and time again after a period of a downward spiral. The last down turn

was right after Sept 2001 with many properties being put up for sale. The Orlando area was hit

expands to Citrus County!

hard after that incident, as many people did not fly for a year or so to go to Disney and the

other parks. During 2002, with many homes being put up for sale, it was tuff to explain to

The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired is now offering services to Citrus County

sellers that things would turn around. What happened was after January 2003 everybody got

Residents. When a person experiences vision loss, they must learn to use a variety of other

confident again, and prices rose even higher than before.

senses to build safe and independent living skills. Workshops will include learning skills

Folks, this real estate rebound even happened after the great depression and it is

such as managing medications, money identification, using adaptive equipment, home man-

bound to happen again. So let’s not worry so much and let’s make it a goal to go into this next

agement (safe cooking and house-keeping), use of magnification equipment for reading and

year with a positive attitude. I wish all of my faithful readers a Merry Christmas, and Happy

managing mail, and much more. All workshops are at no cost. If you are interested please call

New Year. Darryl, Vicki and Shirley are "The Diamond Team" We are the seasoned profes-

us toll free at 1-866-962-5254 or locally 352-527-8399 The workshops will be Held at the Center

sionals at Diamond Investments Inc., and we are available for all of your real estate needs 7

for Independent Living of North Central Florida located at 3774 West Gulf to Lake Hwy.

days a week. If you are a buyer, or know a buyer we want the opportunity to serve them.

Lecanto, Fl.(Across for Cowboy Junction) every Thursday from 10:00-2:00.

Please call us at 352-447-4442. I’ll see you around "The Campus"

Squawk Box - Continued from page 1

Specializing In Well & City Water Purification

Specializing In Well City Water Purification

wife and I have spent the last several New Years Eves at home. In fact we usually plan to

uncork a bottle of champagne at the stroke of twelve, but we &

almost always lay down at about

Ser

Sales

vice

We Service All Major Brands

eeWater

11 PM or so with the intention of getting up at midnight. We rarely make it. We wake up New

Years day with the champagne still in the refrigerator. We always buy the cheap stuff so there

is not much loss if the bottle goes unused for several months.

I do hear the New Year come in, however. I am always awakened at midnight by the

sound of firecrackers and gunshots in our neighborhood. Kathie sleeps through the commo-

Mreatment, Inc.

tion. She could sleep peacefully through the Normandy Invasion if she were in a bed on the

Reverse Osmosis

beach right in the middle of the action. I always shake her awake and say "Happy New Year

Congratulations

dear", when I hear the shooting begin.

Samantha Bass & Lori Raulerson

Winners of the

It is comforting to know that so many people in our neighborhood have guns. I don't

Reverse Osmosis Raffle

All Proceeds Went to RABAC

own a gun, but if I am ever under serious attack from a serious bad-guy, all I have to do is yell

of Inglis, FL

real loud and one of my neighbors will come running with a gun and blast the perpetrator to

Bacterial Testing & Water Sterilization

Iron, Sulfur, Tannin, Chlorine

smithereens. That's the hope anyway.

352-257-2597

& Sediment Removal

I guess a lot of my neighbors got guns for Christmas because the sound of gunfire

Serving Citrus,

was pretty loud. I hope nobody got a bazooka for Christmas this year. They might accidentally

Marion & Levy

blow the roof off our house. And yes, Kathie would sleep right through it.

Happy New Year!

14 U.S. Hwy. 19 N. (S. R. 55)

Happy New Year!

Happy

Inglis, Florida

352-447-6112

From our Family to Yours

Home of the Deep Fried Turkey

Shirley, Darryl

Happy New Year from Gobblers Eatery!!!

and Vicki,

Let us prepare your food for your New Year’s Eve

Year

“The Diamond Team”

Party or get-together - call 447-6112.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY, 10-15 lbs., serves 8 to 10, $40

TURKEY,

serves

DEEP

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY DINNER with all the fixin’s, 10 to 15

with

lb. Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans,Stuffing & Cran-

Turkey

Potatoes,

berry Sauce. A full meal for 8 to 10,,$80

$80

Open New Years Day - 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Diamond Investments, Inc.

Serving Full Breakfast & Limited Dinner Menu:

Darryl A. Diamond

352-447-4442

Turkey, Ham Steak & Prime Rib Dinners with Dessert

Licensed Real Estate Broker

$11.95

Real Estate Investment Consultant

Call Shirley at 352 400-0301

Darryl & Vicki Diamond & Shirley

We still have all our regular, daily, all-you-can-eat meal specials!

www.diamondhomesandland.com

“The Diamond Team”