Registered voters in the City of Pensacola will be voting on a new charter that will spell out how city government is organized and operated.

            The city government is presently set up as a Council-Manager form of government, comprised of a 10-member City Council and a professional City Manager.

            Under the proposed new charter, the government would switch to a strong mayor form of government where the mayor would serve as the top political leader and administrator.

            City voters will be able to vote on the charter change by mail when ballots are mailed to registered voters in early November.

              Many Pensacolians will be glad to hear that the former Bailey’s Farmers Market on Davis Highway is back in business as Bailey’s Market. For years, the Market—which was originally located on Fairfield Drive—provided fresh vegetables, fruits, plants, Christmas trees and other produce to large, loyal following.

But, about a year ago, business at its new location slowed and the owner developed some health issues and the Market shut down. Now, another family member, Don Bailey, has taken over and reopened the Market. They have not yet reopened the deli, but there has been a steady flow of regular, returning loyal customers.

Check them out, just north of Fairfield Dr. on Davis Highway.

   Congress has approved an extension and expansion of the home buyer's tax credit. Both the House and the Senate have approved an extension and an expansion and now the bill should go to the White House by the end of this week (Oct. 7.) The bill provide a credit of up to $8,000 for first time home buyers and $6,500 for all primary home buyers as well as loosen the income requirements. Homes would have to be under contract by April 30 and close b y June 30, 2010.

Have you gotten caught in the swing to a “green” environment? Have you been buying and installing those cork-screw light bulbs called compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to save energy and money?

Here is one situation where you probably don’t want to use a CFL—in your garage door opener. There are warnings out because most garage door openers use electronic switching similar to a dimmer switch to operate the light bulbs. This electronic switching apparently is not compatible with CFLs, even CFLs that are supposed to be "ruggedized" or dimmable.

This switching incompatibility coupled with the inherent vibration of a garage door opener can damage the electronic circuits and can cause the electric motor to overheat to a potentially dangerous level.

According to industry sources, neither the Genie Company, a company which makes door openers (call them at 800-354-3643), nor GE, a CFL manufacturer, recommend the use of CFLs in garage door openers.

     Is this the perfect storm? The perfect time to buy a home? Many of us think there will not be a better time to invest in a home than the present. Mortgage interest rates continue near all time lows, home prices are down and declining and as much as $8.000 awaits you as a tax rebate.
    Low mortgage rates mean lower payments that build equity, and more home for your buck. Low home prices mean you get more value for your dollar in your new home. And the $8,000 tax rebate means you have more money to spend on your new home.
    The tax rebate is due to expire at the end of November, so there is precious little time to find a home. Don't lose out on this great deal. Feel free to contact me for more information.

If you, or someone you know, is planning to buy a home and take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, you need to act fast! The deadline for closing on a home and getting the first time home buyer's tax rebate is Nov. 30, 2009. And more and more, it is taking longer to close on a home purchase. We are recommending you plan on 30-60 days for closing, and that means you need to find your new home soon. The National Association of Realtors and other groups are pushing Congress to widen and extend the tax credit, but I would not look for that to happen before the current deadline...and it may not happen at all. Congress is being asked to increase the tax credit to $15,000 for any home buyer and to drop the present, generous income requirements. If you need some help with a first time home purchase, please feel free to contact me for more information....but whatever you do, don't wait!

    USA Today says Pensacola is one of the top five cities in the country for retirement!
    The newspaper’s July 24, 2009 USA Weekend MoneySmart section listed Pensacola as the number two spot for affordable retirement for young retirees, ages 55-59. The paper said cities were ranked in order, based on recreation, weather, health resources, crime and cost of living. In all five towns, the cost of living was below the national average.
    About Pensacola, the survey said the “sun always shines on its white beaches, it's super-safe (the crime rate is well below the national average), and the American Association baseball team boosts hometown spirit.”
And housing is affordable. The median home price is $137,200.
    At the top of the list was Helena, Montana, where it gets very cold in the winter.
Rounding out the top five list were the towns of Creve Coeur, Mo., Traverse City Mich. and Butte-Silver Bow, Mont.

Work is progressing on a new Audiology Clinic being built by the Pensacola Sertoma Club of Pensacola. This 2,000 square foot clinic will provide audiology services to Escambia County children who have permanent hearing disabilities or need to have hearing tests. The state-of-the-art clinic, which is also a “green” building, will house two full time audiologists and three support personnel. Original cost estimates for the building were more than $400,000, but that has been cut half thanks to donations of cash, labor and materials. But the Sertoma Club is still about $50,000 shy of its construction budget. Project coordinator Dennis Evans said they have implemented an “Engraved Paver” program to help raise funds. For donations of $50 or more, supporters can buy a paver engraved with their names for prominent display in front of the building. If you would like more information on this, please send me an email here or contact Dennis at dennisevans@cox.net.

If you're a tenant, there is some good news for you. A new federal law now protects tenants from being kicked out of their homes if their landlord has gone into foreclosure. The new law says it the tenant has a valid lease, the foreclosing bank must honor the term of the lease. If there is no lease, the bank must give the tenant 90 days notice to vacate. Before, some tenants who had been faithfully paying their rent found themselves being evicted because the landlord did not pay the mortgage.

   

            

             Work is finally underway to convert the old Albertson’s supermarket to a new Publix store on North Ninth Ave. in Pensacola.

            The Albertson’s store next door to Toys R Us was one of 49 stores in Florida that the Publix chain bought from Albertson’s last year.

            The Ninth Ave. store is the last of the Pensacola stores to be remodeled.

            A former Albertson’s manager says he understands the Ninth Ave. Store will be the “Taj Mahal” of the Publix markets in Northwest Florida.

            Construction workers have completely gutted the building and it appears to be due for a complete overhaul.

            The new Publix is expected to open late this year.