Saw a great cartoon in the paper this morning that March came in like a Lion but went out like a polar bear. It has been a long cold winter this year. I did enjoy the long bloom on the rhododendrons this year due to the cooler than normal weather. As tomorrow is April 1, I have attached a history of April fools day. I am not a big fan as a lot of the "harmless" pranks are not. What are your experiences of April Fools Day? The other, much more fun thing going on is SPRING BREAK. Are you doing something special with your family this week?
Not much to report on the home front. James won his tournament yesterday. It was with their local club here in town. They are growing. They started with 6 members and are up to 14. They need 6 more to really be able to integrate into the main tournament groups. If you are interested, give James a call at 717-542-8156. Otherwise, we found a new shoe store down in Fernandina (Mythic Shoes) where John found a great new pair of walking shoes. We will definitely use them again. Have a repair person coming to look at mom's LG frig where the water dispenser will not turn off. Our repair person said there is a recall. Our MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) Kingsbay chapter has started their biannual raffle ticket sale. The Kingsbay Chapter supports a veterans lounge at the Camden County Community College, JROTC at HS, Tunnel to Towers, Navy-Marine Relief, St Marys Submarine Museum, Honor Flights) It is a limited sale in there are only 2000 tickets. We are raffling off a 1911 Colt revolving in a case (donated by a member). Tickets are $5 or 5 for $20 if you are interested. I will have tickets at work : BHHS Hodnett Cooper Real Estate; 2353 Village Dr, Kingsland, GA.
If you are looking for some FUN THINGS GOING ON:
Event by St. Marys Public Library
100 Herb Bauer Drive, St. Marys, GA, United States, Georgia 31558
Bike Walk Golden Isles will be at the St. Marys Public Library for a fun morning of bike riding!
This program is best for children ages 5 up to 14 year olds.
We will have a safety lesson first and then an obstacle course the kids can ride through. Please bring your own bikes
Event by Camden's Best Summer Camp & After School Program
887 Kings Bay Rd, St. Marys, GA, United States, Georgia 31558
Tickets: sparkpages.io
We want your child to make new friends, set and achieve goals, and have a BLAST!
Our program provides a safe, clean, and fun environment where your child can enjoy the best day or week off school!
Structured activities run daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with complimentary extended care available from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
Questions? Please call (912) 882-5425 for more information.
1410 GA Highway 40 E, Kingsland, GA, United States, Georgia 31548
Wednesday Story Time will resume April 2nd! Join us every Wednesday morning in April from 10-12pm for stories, music and fun! Please call the library with any questions (912)729-3741.
Babies & Toddlers (Birth-36 Months) 10-10:45am
Preschool (Ages 3-5) 11:00-12:00pm
Event by Coastal Camden Art League
2006 Osborne Rd, St. Marys, GA
Join us for our First Friday Artist Reception in honor of photographer Terri King on Friday, April 4th from 5pm-8pm. Refreshments will be served and Amanda Mood Music will be performing on the front porch.
Event by Southern Saint Boutique and Hello Mary Gifts & More
708 Osborne Street Suite 102, St. Marys, GA
Join Southern Saint + Hello Mary for Our Spring Social!
Shop | Sip | Play | Socialize
Celebrate the season with us—enjoy exclusive giveaways, sip & shop, fun discount games, and browse all our fresh spring arrivals!
Don’t miss out on the ultimate spring shopping experience!
Event by Fernandina Beach Pride
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Join us in Burns Hall for a light complimentary dinner followed by a moderated panel discussion with family members of transgender and gender nonbinary individuals. All are welcome and encouraged to attend
101 E Weed Street Unit A, St. Marys, GA, United States, Georgia 31558
Join us for First Friday! We are open to the public and offer: 6-10pm
- Wine by the glass or by the bottle
- Charcuterie and cheese boards
- In-house artisan dessert options
Event by Grimsley's Fighting Arts
St. Marys Waterfront Park
Tickets: sparkpages.io
Grimsley's Fighting Arts and Camden's Best Summer Camp & After School Program along with the St. Marys Main Street Downtown Development Authority
will be hosting our annual Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Extravaganza on April 5, 2025 at Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park in St. Mary's, GA from 5pm - 9pm.
This is A FREE Community Event for the whole family. Online registration is REQUIRED to save your child's spot!! Questions? Please call (912) 882-5425 for more information.
Event by Culture Driven and 912 Auto Spa
St. Marys Waterfront Park 9AM - 2PM
Tickets: tickets.thefoat.com/CultureDrivenEvents/The+Waterfront+Auto+Show/tickets/id-IWDaDDsWXvYS
Register your vehicle at www.culturedrivenco.com
Culture Driven presents The Waterfront Auto Show 2025
Join us for the biggest automotive event to start the season at the St. Mary's Waterfront Park on April 5th! We're bringing together vehicles from every era—from classic gems to the latest models—for a full day of car culture, live music, food trucks, and more!
Award Categories
Best in Show
Best Exotic
Best Paint
Top 3 Wheels
Top 3 American
Top 3 JDM
Top 3 Euro
Event Details:
9 AM - 2 PM
St. Mary's Waterfront Park, St Marys, GA
Whether you're a car enthusiast, foodie, or music lover, there's something for everyone at this can't-miss event. Register online now and be part of Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida's biggest automotive season opener!
Food Trucks
Merch Vendors
Music
Activities
Amelia Island Kayak Excursions
Wednesday 10am - 3:30pm
Step back in time - Join the AIKE team on our extended Cumberland Island National Seashore kayak adventure – a wonderful mix of maritime forests, miles of sand dunes, and rich history. Discover Cumberland via kayak. (inquire about other available dates and times)
Join us on an approximate 5-hour guided kayak trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore! What a special way to experience this barrier island. It is a rich jewel with undeveloped beaches that add to its allure.
Paddling options include a waterfront view of Amelia Island’s historic Forth Clinch, then on to Cumberland Island National Seashore, where guests can experience the beautiful coastal atmosphere that this island has to offer. Not only will kayak guests be able to explore the beautiful coastline and interior waterways, but they will also spend time on the Island having an up close view of the grounds of the historic ruins where wild horses often can be seen.
Reservations required. Call at 904-557-5307 for reservations, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have in planning your kayak adventure. We look forward to kayaking with you. ~ The Bullington Family
https://www.ameliaislandkayak.com/our.../cumberland-island/
Event by Emmanuel Empowerment Temple
102 S Grove Blvd, Kingsland, GA
April Showers Revival - a month filled with uplifting worship, breakthroughs, healing, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Join us for powerful guest speakers and a time of worship, renewal, and revival! Every Tuesday in April at 7 pm. Can't make it in person? Join us LIVE on Facebook.
Event by Northern Exposure Band and Cumberland Breeze Bar & Bites
Cumberland Breeze Bar & Bites Friday 9pm
Get ready for an awesome night of music with Northern Exposure Band! We're back at Cumberland Breeze for another fun time from 9 PM to Midnight. Whether you're a longtime fan or a first-timer, this night promises to be packed with high-energy tunes, classic hits, and some of our best jams yet. We've played here before, and each time it just gets better—so don’t miss out! Grab your friends, bring your dancing shoes, and let’s make this a night to remember. We’ll see you there!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"April Fool" and "Fool's Day" redirect here. For other uses, see April Fool (disambiguation), April Fool's Day (disambiguation), and Fool's Day (disambiguation).
For April Fool's Day activities on Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:April Fool's Day.
April Fools' Day
An April Fools' Day prank marking the construction of the Copenhagen Metro in 2001
Also called: April Fool's Day
Type: Cultural, Western
Significance: Practical jokes, pranks
Observances: Comedy
Date: 1 April
Next time:1 April 2025
Frequency: Annual
An 1857 ticket to "Washing the Lions" at the Tower of London. No such event ever took place.
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day[1] is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools!" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved with these pranks, which may be revealed as such the following day. The custom of setting aside a day for playing harmless pranks upon one's neighbour has been relatively common in the world historically.[2]
Origins
[edit]
Although many theories have been proposed, the exact origin of April Fools' Day is not exactly known.
A disputed association between 1 April and foolishness is in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (1392).[3] In the "Nun's Priest's Tale", a vain cock, Chauntecleer, is tricked by a fox "Since March began, full thirty days and two,"[4][5] i.e. the 32nd day from 1 March, which is 1 April.[6] However, it is not clear that Chaucer was referencing 1 April since the text of the "Nun's Priest's Tale" also states that the story takes place on the day when the sun is "in the sign of Taurus had y-rune Twenty degrees and one," which would not be 1 April. Modern scholars believe that there is a copying error in the extant manuscripts and that Chaucer actually wrote, "Syn March was gon".[7] If so, the passage would have originally meant 32 days after March, i.e. 2 May.[8]
In 1508, French poet Eloy d'Amerval referred to a poisson d'avril (April fool, literally "April's fish"), possibly the first reference to the celebration in France.[9] Some historians suggest that April Fools' originated because, in the Middle Ages, New Year's Day was celebrated on 25 March in most European towns,[10] with a holiday that in some areas of France, specifically, ended on 1 April,[11][12] and those who celebrated New Year's Day on 1 January made fun of those who celebrated on other dates by the invention of April Fools' Day.[13] The use of 1 January as New Year's Day became common in France only in the mid-16th century,[8] and that date was not adopted officially until 1564, by the Edict of Roussillon, as called for during the Council of Trent in 1563.[14] However, there are issues with this theory because there is an unambiguous reference to April Fools' Day in a 1561 poem by Flemish poet Eduard de Dene of a nobleman who sent his servant on foolish errands on 1 April, predating the change.[8] April Fools' Day was also an established tradition in Great Britain before 1 January was established as the start of the calendar year.[15][16]
In 1686, John Aubrey referred to the celebration as "Fooles holy day", the first British reference. On 1 April 1698, several people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to "see the Lions washed".[8]
Although no biblical scholar or historian is known to have mentioned a relationship, some have expressed the belief that the origins of April Fools' Day may go back to the Genesis flood narrative. In The Complete Compendium of Universal Knowledge of 1895, writer William Ralston Balch wrote:
All Fools' Day is traced through every country of Europe to the Hindoos. The "Public Advertiser" for April 13, 1789, contains the following paragraph:
"Humorous Jewish Origin of the Custom of Making Fools on the First of April.—This is said to have begun from the mistake of Noah in sending the Dove out of the Ark before the water had abated, on the first day of the month among the Hebrews, which answers to the 1st of April; and to perpetuate the memory of this deliverance it was thought proper, who ever forgot so remarkable a circumstance, to punish them by sending them upon some sleeveless errand similar to that ineffectual message upon which the bird was sent by the Patriarch. The custom appears to be of great antiquity, and to have been derived by the Romans from some of the Eastern nations."
— William Ralston Balch (1895)[17]
April 2025
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Brought to you by Cathy Holman
Licensed in Florida and Georgia.
How to Sell Your Home Fast Without Undercutting Your Price
While the average time on the market varies significantly by region, homes take about 2 to 2.5 months to sell. However, by following these key steps, you can shorten that timeline while still getting top dollar.
Price It Right from the Start
Overpricing can drive buyers away, while underpricing leaves money on the table. The key is finding the right balance to attract serious buyers without deterring them.
Why It Matters: Homes priced correctly from the start tend to sell faster and closer to the asking price than those that require price cuts later.
How to Get It Right: A competitive, data-driven price based on local market trends and buyer demand ensures strong interest without the need for later reductions.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
Buyers form their first impression within seconds of seeing a home. A well-maintained exterior signals that the property is worth its price tag.
Quick Fixes for Big Impact:Fresh paint on the front door and trim
Neatly trimmed landscaping and a clean walkway
Updated house numbers and outdoor lighting
Studies show that improving curb appeal can increase perceived home value by up to 7%.
Stage Your Home to Sell
Staging helps buyers visualize how they’d live in the space, making them more likely to fall in love with your home.
Easy Staging Wins:
Declutter and remove personal items
Rearrange furniture to highlight space and flow
Use neutral colors and soft lighting for a welcoming atmosphere
Research shows that professionally staged homes can sell significantly faster – sometimes up to 30 times quicker – and for up to 20% more than unstaged ones.
Use Professional Photography and Marketing
Most buyers start their home search online, making high-quality listing photos essential.
What Works Best:
Well-lit, professional photos that showcase your home’s best features
A well-written listing that highlights key selling points
A virtual tour or video walkthrough to attract remote buyers
Be Flexible with Showings
The more buyers who see your home, the better your chances of a quick sale. Accommodating evening and weekend showings can significantly boost interest.
Pro Tip: Keeping your home “show-ready” by tidying up daily makes last-minute requests less stressful.
Offer Buyer Incentives (Instead of Lowering Price)
If buyers are on the fence, small incentives can make your home stand out without reducing your price.
Popular Incentives:
Covering part of the closing costs
Offering a home warranty
Including appliances in the sale
Highlight Energy Efficiency and Upgrades
Today’s buyers value energy efficiency and move-in-ready features. If your home has:
Smart thermostats or appliances
Energy-efficient windows or solar panels
New flooring, roofing, or HVAC updates
Make sure to highlight these in your listing, as they can justify a stronger asking price.
Selling fast at the best possible price isn’t just about luck – it’s about using the right pricing, marketing, and negotiation strategies. Every home and market is different, and having the right plan in place can make all the difference.
As an experienced real estate professional, I can help you implement these strategies, plus other proven techniques, to get your home sold quickly and for top dollar. If you're thinking about selling, let’s connect – I’d love to help you make the most of your sale.
Spring Cleaning Shortcuts: Refresh Your Home Fast
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home, but cleaning doesn’t have to take all day. These quick shortcuts will have your space looking its best in no time!
15-Minute Cleanups
Set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on one area. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in a short time!
Kitchen: Wipe down counters, declutter the fridge, and take out the trash.
Bathroom: Clean the mirror, wipe surfaces, and replace old towels.
Living Room: Fluff pillows, wipe down surfaces, and vacuum high-traffic areas.
Declutter in 5 Minutes
The “Toss or Keep” Method: Grab a laundry basket and do a fast sweep of each room. Toss in anything that doesn’t belong – mail, clothes, random items – then put things back where they go.
One-Year Rule: If you haven’t used it in a year, donate or toss it.
Storage Bins: Use labeled bins for seasonal items, kids’ toys, or pet supplies to keep things organized.
Shortcut Tip: Place a donation box by the door so you can drop in unwanted items as you go.
Freshen Up the Air Instantly
A home that smells clean feels clean. Try these easy air-refreshing tricks:
Open windows for 10 minutes to let in fresh air.
Simmer lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, and cloves for a natural, inviting scent.
Use essential oil diffusers or lightly spray linens with lavender water.
Speed-Clean Floors and Carpets
No need to deep-clean the whole house – focus on high-traffic areas.
Hard Floors: Microfiber mop for a quick shine.
Carpets and Rugs: Sprinkle baking soda, let sit, then vacuum.
Entryway Hack: Keep a shoe tray by the door to reduce dirt.
Quick Kitchen Makeover
The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in a home – make it sparkle fast:
Shiny Sink Trick: Sprinkle baking soda, scrub, and rinse with hot water.
Fridge Refresh: Wipe spills with a damp cloth, and place an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.
Microwave Hack: Heat a bowl of water with lemon slices for 3 minutes, then wipe down the inside for an easy clean.
Brighten Up Your Space
Bringing in light and greenery can instantly make your home feel fresh and inviting:Wash Windows Fast: Wipe with a vinegar-water mix for a streak-free shine.
Add Plants: Low-maintenance plants like succulents or snake plants improve air quality and add a touch of nature.
Swap Bulbs: Use daylight LED bulbs to make rooms feel brighter and more open.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be exhausting! A few quick changes can make a big difference in refreshing your space. Whether you’re sprucing up for guests, preparing to list your home, or just looking for a seasonal reset, these shortcuts will have your home looking and feeling great in no time.
QUESTIONS? VISIT HolmanSellHomes.com
Cathy Holman Home Stagging Expert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper RE
717-801-5900
912-673-7373
cathy@holmansellhomes.com
HolmanSellHomes.com
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