Habitat for Humanity will host a homeownership orientation on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 10:30 am at the Habitat office located at 7 Hopkins Street, St. Augustine.  If you or someone you know has a need for safe, decent, affordable housing, has lived or worked in St. Johns County for at least one year, has the ability to pay an affordable monthly mortgage payment, and is willing to partner with Habitat, including fulfilling 400 hours of sweat equity building Habitat homes, then you may be eligible for a 0% interest mortgage on a new Habitat for Humanity home.  Please RSVP to Kathy Dougherty, Habitat’s Family Services Coordinator, at 826-3252 ext. 2005 or kdoughertyhabitat@bellsouth.net if you are interested in attending this homeownership orientation. 

In honor of Spay Day, the St. Augustine Humane Society is offering a special discount on spaying and neutering cats. The promotion is held in conjunction with the annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats.

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. -- The phones were ringing non-stop today at Coastal Realty.

Employees could barely finish one conversation before another line would light up. "It's snowbird season," one woman explained to a caller.

Devon Sherno, Coastal Realty rental manager, said many people wanted to check-in early or extend their vacations because of the constant barrage of snowstorms in the Northeast and Midwest.

The company had some vacancies left, but many of its vacation units were booked well in advance. "The Feb. 1 check-ins were scrambling to get down here early," Sherno said.

"As soon as the snow flies up there, the phones start ringing, 'Oh, what do you have? I gotta get down there. I gotta get out of the snow,'" said Sherno.

Visitors Boris and Pat Homenock extended their vacation today after learning conditions between St. Augustine and their home in Illinois were not ideal for a return trip.