Recently a Rosemont Middle School teacher was selected by internet users as a grand prize winner in a national essay contest.  The teacher is Lillie Lindsay.  The contest is the first Dove Self-Esteem Contest for the most inspiring story of a woman building the self-esteem of herself or others.  The $5,000 prize will be donated in Lindsay's name to the mentorship program.  http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google denise allen  04/22/2008

What do female vets and Charlie Falk have in common?  Probably a few vets have bought cars from his dealership in the Norfolk area but mostly he features them in car ads.  Not real vets but bad portrayls of military women.  Two retired Navy women have been trying to get the commercials off the air.  Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va offices has even been contacted for help.  The Judge Advocates office has sent a letter to Charlie Falk to ask him to take the ads off the air.  The ads have supposedly run their course but there have been sightings of the half hour infomercial on late night tv.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and o... 04/19/2008

Two investors claim that a failed real estate company's president repeatedly broke the law in his dealings with them.  Cary McEntee repeatedly kited checks to make it look like the company had money coming in and to keep investors happy.  Multiple code violations on many properties were also hidden from view.  It seemed to be kind of a pyramid scheme where an investor would purchase a fix up home, sell it to another investor and so on.  Eventually the the system collapsed under its own weight and the market slowdown.  The investors are suing to try and relief from the bankruptcy court.  If they do, McEntee would have to pay them back despite the bankruptcy.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampto... 04/07/2008

It looks like Norfolk will have a higher tax assessment this year as will all the cities in the surrounding area.  Norfolk's overall tax increase will be 3.6%.  This is the smallest increase in years and the city is scrambling to deal with the fallout from a smaller tax increase.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google denise allen 04/04/2008

Once the main attraction downtown, Waterside is a victim of redevelopment.  This used to be the only safe place to go downtown.  Now there is MacArthur Mall, upscale restaurants and entertainment spots to go to.  The mall is still full of business's but the people aren't coming like they used to.  The mall has been reinvented several times and looks like it may be reinvented one more time.   http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google denise allen  03/30/2008

Norfolk killed its ban on smoking in resturarnts.  Citing concerns about lawsuits and loss of business the council decided not to ban smoking.  I guess money wins over peoples health.  http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 03/29/2008

The eagles are finally back together at Norfolk Botanical Garden.  For a while an interloper had bewitched the couple and at least one egg was lost.  Now it looks the the couple that has been together for a few years are back at and have at least one egg in the nest.  Here is something even cooler, click on this EAGLE and be taken to the eagle cam where you can watch the babies grow up.  Of course you have to watch the time of day you are there.  I just went there and it was of course dark.  Silly me.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 03/27/2008

HRT is proposing charging .50 cents for riding the Norfolk NET.  Up to this point the ride had been free.  Norfolk officials were caught off guard and want to see the NET stay free.  They need to study the proposal and see if there is any way to keep it that way.  The NET is designed for commuters who park in the outlying lots to get to work easily and also to get around the rest of downtown without a car.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 03/19/2008

Why is it so hard to be rid of sunk or half sunk boats.  I am guessing cost is a big part of it.  If the cities take care of the boat they bear the cost so they go through a lot to see if the owners can be tracked down.  I guess they don't have VIN numbers like cars but they should.  The boats are everywhere and often times a hindrance to good motoring and an environmental hazard.  The Virginia Marine Resources Commission needs money from the legislators to provide grant money to Norfolk for removal of the sunken boats.  Let's hope the legislature helps out.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vi... 03/18/2008

Ghent Station, a $30 million bank and retail complex recently won city approval.  This will add 127,000 of commercial development ah the eastern end of 21st in historic Ghent.  The city will sell about 3 1/2 acres to the developer.  There will be about 96,000 sq ft of class A office space and nearly 400 garage spaces.  The city is subsidizing about $2 million in funding.  The city wanted to make sure there were enough parking spaces and that is what the developer is doing.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google deniseallen 03/16/2008

I have been following the saga of the eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden on the Eagle cam.  Apparently an intruder has been trying to claim the nest and upsetting the nesting pair. Well the intruder has won and the resident female is out of the nest.  There were two eggs in the nest but they were not taken care of.  The eggs were taken out of the nest in hopes that the new nesting pair will be able to mate.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google deniseallen 03/12/2008

I hadn't seen this before so I thought I would put it out here.  You can do GPS real estate searches from your phone.  It is a service from Smarter Agent that provides rental information and guides you to the rental.  There are plans to roll out recently sold homes and MLS service.  You might want to take a look see.  http://www.smarteragent.com/http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 03/12/2008

David Wright of the New York Mets recently purchased a condo at Harbour Heights.  One day you may catch him shopping at "The Market at Harbor Heights".  Of course his condo needs to be competed first.  The project is off to a good start with 59 of the 99 units under contract.  He probably asked for privacy so you won't see any big party when he moves in.  Would have been good for business.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 02/29/2008

No Hampton Roads city has a strong mayor.  The cities have mayors but the day to day running is done by a city manager.  The city manager is a full time businessman and his only job is run the city.  With the strong mayor system  you could end up with someone who is very charismatic but short on business skills.  He may also not pay attention to low income areas of the city instead concentrating on more affluent areas (read voters).  This is not to say the system doesn't have merit but is seems like it has more liabilities then it does merit. http://www.denise.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home s... 02/29/2008

How can you tell the difference between mold and mildew?  Well mildew is almost never inside your house unless it is on your plants.  Mold can usually be detected by smell if you want to get close.  If you suspect you have mold, paint it with a bit of household bleach.  If it changes color or disappears it was mold.  You can kill it with a weak solution of 1/3 bleach and 2/3 water.  Let it sit for 15 minutes or so and then flush with water.  To keep the mold from coming back, you need to find the source of moisture and eliminate it.  Sometimes changing the surface will help.  People often caulk around tubs and mold seems to love caulk.  http://www.gene.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is up... 02/27/2008

Now the police will be armed with Tasers just like the criminals.  The difference is the police are trained in using the device and know what it can do.  Before the device is used, the officers must go through training.  Some of them even get to experience the painful bolt of electricity delivered from the two probes shot from the Taser.  The devices are supposed to be for combative and aggresive people as well as some armed criminals.  http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google geneallen 02/25/2008

I have heard of lot of things that cause house fires but this was a new one for me.  A chiminea left burning on a deck ignited a fire that burnt Skip Stiles and Margie Mulholland's home.  It took but one ember that popped out of the chiminea and found some cedar shingles on the home's exterior.  The flames then fed on a propane gas grill and went from there.  Luckily the four people inside the home made it out safe.  So please take care no matter what type of fire you are dealing with and make sure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital... 02/25/2008

Superintendent Stephen C. Jones annual "State fo the Schools" speech was streamed on-line for the first time last week.  You could have seen it at http://www.npsk12.com/, Norfolk's' official school website.  More video feeds are planned for the future.  If you don't have web access but have Cox Cable, you watch channel 47 also.  You still won't be able to watch school board meetings on-line however.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google geneallen 02/20/2008

Where do people with chronic back pain or heart failure go who don't have medical insurance.  If you live in Norfolk you can go to Park Place Medical Center for care.  The center is affiliated with the federally funded Portsmouth Community Heath Center and Bon Secours.  The idea is to eventually have life coaches work with patients to assess their whole condition.  For instance, if a diabetic isn't purchasing their needed medicine the life coach would try to find out why and then see if that need could be filled.  Usually the patient has to pay the electric bill and that comes before medicine.  The life coaches will be licensed practical nurses that should come from The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project.  The idea of all this is to try and keep the chronically ill from using th... 02/18/2008

ODU's Real Estate Foundation is finding buying real estate around its University Village is more expensive then in the past.  Despite the downturn in real estate, the Norfolk area is rising in value.   This means the money available to purchase homes and properties doesn't go as far.  It also means that plans for new apartments and stores must be put on hold until more money becomes available to purchase property.  I am sure that what ODU is doing in the area has had a positive impact on the area and has probably caused the prices to stay higher then they should be in this type of market.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, ... 02/16/2008