Spring Time Is Here!

Hey there everyone!

I hope you all are having a a great week so far and enjoying this beautiful weather we've been having. Spring time is definitely here and everything is starting to bloom!

I would like to say CONGRATS to our $100 VISA gift card winner, Cindy of Mebane, NC! Her name was randomly drawn from a group of people who logged into the "Property Search" section my website www.wendyinwilmington.com
Thanks to everyone who signed in for the contest!

I would also like to THANK Kendee Blake of Alpha Mortgage for sponsoring the $100 VISA gift card! Please contact Kendee for any of your mortgage needs!

An important issue that I would like everyone to take a few minutes to look at involves an article written by the NC Association of Realtors about the NC Home Tax and Taxing the Equity in Your Home...Please Read below for more information:

"Don't Allow Lawmakers to Tax the Equity in Your Home!"

"Owning a home is the result of hard work, personal responsibility, and sacrifices. Homeownership is one of the best ways to build wealth and is part of the American Dream.

Some state lawmakers want to tax the equity in your home. The same equity that you plan to use for your next home, to send your children to college or for your retirement.

Bills now being considered in the North Carolina General Assembly would force the sellers of new or existing homes to pay a 1% sales tax. For example, if you own a $200, 000 home, you would be forced to pay $2,000 to the government when you sold your home."

"Your home is your single largest investment. Adding a new tax to your home will tax your nest egg and YOUR success!" By increasing the cost of homeownership, new homeowners, working families and senior citizens will be impacted the most.

The fact is, you won't be able to vote on this legislation, so that's why it's important for you to call your legislators to let them know that you oppose new taxes on homeownership.

Taxing the equity in your home is like taxing the American Dream. It's a BAD idea."

For more information on how you can STOP the NC Home Tax, visit the website at www.itsabadidea.org


Don't forget about The 60th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival being held April 11-15, 2007 in the greater Wilmington area. The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

"Since its inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its four (4) major sponsors: GE-Wilmington; Neuwirth Chrysler-Jeep; Progress Energy; and Wachovia Bank."

"For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you're invited! There's something for everyone among our community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture. Come join us!"

For more information visit the website at http://www.ncazaleafestival.org/

It will surely be a great time, and hopefully the weather will cooperate too!

The Yahweh Center

I would like to introduce those of you who don't already know about it to the Yahweh Center. I am a new board member at the Yahweh Center Children's Village and I wanted to send out this wish list so if you had anything on it I would be more than happy to come pick it up and take it there for you. If you are not familiar with the Yahweh center below is a quick description.

The Yahweh Center is a regional residential treatment program and child-placing agency for abused, neglected and at risk children under the age of 12 years. The Center offers residential treatment, work with attachment disorder , psychiatric services outpatient play therapy, therapeutic foster care, and adoption services. Our program philosophy is Christ-centered and operates within an environment of unconditional love that is geared towards optimum child development.

The Center provides comprehensive treatment to the parents and families of children in a structured family intervention methodology. We believe that all children should grow up in the family system to which they belong. However, when family reunification is not an option other alternatives are sought to ensure emotional security and permanence for the child. The Center has 90% permanent placement outcomes.

The Yahweh Center is a Christian 501 3-(c) non-profit organization with a rotating board of directors. Financial support comes from private individuals, churches, businesses, civic groups, and fundraising events.
The Center also works with foundations and contracts for clinical fee for service. We depend a great deal on the generosity of the Cape Fear Region.

They are in need of:

Gift Cards in any amount for spring clothes (ex Target, Old Navy, Gap, JC Penny etc)

Coasters

Sod for the psychiatric treatment center

Twin Sheets and bedspreads (kid friendly)

New Towels and Pillows (flame retardant preferred)

Puzzles

Plastic Containers for storage

special funds for changing out broken locks in the psychiatric treatment center

and any other financial donations you would like to make.

Thanks again for all your time and I would appreciate any and all help we can get. Please feel free to call or email me anytime if you have any questions or ideas.


Now it's time for Wendy's Helpful Hint of the Week!

Spring “to-do” list: Spring Garden Maintenance

Every season brings a different set of chores in the garden. Spring is an exciting time for gardeners as preparations are made for the bounty and beauty of the garden as it awakes from winter hibernation. It can also, however, be a bit overwhelming to know how to prioritize your gardening time at this time of year. Here is a helpful list of chores that should be tended to in the spring.

Pruning

For early blooming shrubs such as forsythia and viburnum, prune them as soon as blooms have passed. Early spring is also an ideal time to prune your roses.

Deadheading

Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant as is for the time being.

Weeding

Pull weeds from your beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread.

Composting

Tend to your compost if it has been neglected over the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, spring is a great time to start one.

Tools

Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the oncoming gardening season and to make any necessary repairs or new purchases. You will be happy you have done so when summer sets in.

Plant

Spring is a great time to add new plants to your garden. Be sure, however, that all threat of frost has past. Plant such things trees, shrubs, hardy annuals, and summer blooming bulbs.

Fertilize & Mulch

Fertilize and mulch beds and borders. Spring is also a good time to fertilize fruit trees. If you applied heavy winter mulch for protection from the cold, you will need to clear it away.

Staking

Stake plants that may be prone to wind damage during the unpredictable spring weather.

Lawn Care

Spring is the best time to start a new lawn from seed. For established lawns, you should start mowing in the spring, but don’t initially cut the grass very short for the first few times.

Of course, whether you start these chores in early, mid, or late spring depends on the climate where you live, taking in to account such factors as when the threat of frost has past or when the ground is thawed enough to dig. I hope these tips will give you a good idea as to where to focus your attention in your garden this spring. Enjoy!

Happy Gardening!

**information courtesy of www.thehelpfulgardener.com**

I hope you have a great rest of the week, weekend and best wishes for a very Happy Easter!