Apartment Blog

In 2008, Site Selection Magazine ranked Dayton the #1 medium sized metropolitan area in the nation for growth and expansion. This in important to know, because you surely want to move to a place city that is growing, but will also help you grow along with it!  Whether you are single, newlywed, or a family you will find Dayton to be an exciting and safe place to live. Dayton has a rich history of invention and innovation . Dayton is also known for its many patents, inventions, and inventors that have come from the area, most notably with the Wright Brothers’ invention of powered flight.

Imagine your kids growing up in an area known to encourage imagination and propel dreams to full fruition. They may grow up to take care of you one day with the money they make from one of their inventions or patents.  However, it doesn’t have to be just your kid’s dreams and goals, it could be the fulfillment of your own.    The environment in Dayton and the constant reminder of past achievements will serve as a natural motivational tool to help you continue on your path to greatness. This is a perfect location to call home!

Get more information and search tips on Dayton Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Dayton, OH.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio

The importance of Earth Day has evolved dramatically from its origins in April 1970. This movement began in the U.S., but grew into a world-wide event in 1990. The now global movement was spearheaded by Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who began advocating the importance of preserving the environment in 1962. Interestingly enough, during its infancy, industrial pollution was not a top priority for Earth Day observers. It was to stop the deterioration of the environment. But soon, groups fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife realized they shared common principles.  And that marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement that is today.

There are many ways to participate in improving the environment. We all know the three key elements, reduce, reuse and recycle. I received this interesting email yesterday about buying and recycling appliances. Many companies and vendors are offering new and innovative ways to clean our earth. For example, Best Buy has a wide variety of Energy Star appliances; appliances that meet firm energy efficient guidelines. Some of these appliances include washers, air conditioners, TVs, laptops and more. These types of appliances are located in apartments around the nation and can be modified to help the environment.

Best Buy also offers a recycling program where people can drop off most old electronics. Free removal and recycling are included with the purchase and delivery of a new product. There is even a company within the Hampton Roads area in Virginia that does this: E-cycling Central. But if you’re in the market for an upgrade or if you just want to add some style to your apartment, Best Buy would be a good place to start! Save the world and set apartment trends at the same time!

Source: Wikipedia.com

It’s a tradition with my family year after year. We always pile up in our car and drive around to look at Christmas lights. There is one house in particular we always stop and see. We call it the ‘NOEL House’ as it has the ‘NOEL’ saying prominently displayed on its rooftop. We also make it a point to go to see the Holiday lights at Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There is something grand about looking at the holiday light displays across our city. I look in amazement at the creativity and the excitement that I feel. I feel like a child again, anxiously waiting for the big day!

Accumulated by americasbestonline.net, here is a list of the best holiday light displays in cities across the nation. Look who turned up number 11! J If you are near one of the areas, make sure you go out and look at the wonderful lights displayed.

1. Silver Dollar City- Branson, MO
Millions of Christmas lights cover the whole park. Plus, the entire city is transformed into a holiday wonderland each evening at 5:30 p.m. as guests join together on the Square for the lighting of the dazzling, five-story Special Effects Christmas Tree. Adorned with over 250,000 lights coordinated to blaze to the musical movements of Christmas songs, this unique Special Effects Christmas Tree presents classics such as “Carol of the Bells” and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” in a spectacular light and sound show.
  
2. Oglebay Festival of Lights- Wheeling, WV
In 1985 a holiday tradition began at Oglebay and spread throughout the city of Wheeling. That tradition is the Winter Festival of Lights celebration. The first year, displays and landscape lighting covered about 125 acres over a three-mile drive throughout the resort. Since then, the show has grown into one of the nation’s largest Christmas light shows, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort. 
 

3. Fantasy of Lights- Pine Mountain, GA
A 5 mile drive by car or trolley takes visitors past 13 holiday scenes with more than 8 million  Christmas lights.  Since 1992, this outdoor light and sound show has glittered with holiday magic for millions of people. Families from across the Southeast have added Fantasy In Lights to their list of memorable holiday traditions. This year, experience the 15th annual Fantasy In Lights with its eight million lights creating more than a dozen beautiful scenes, and you’ll see why this is the brightest holiday light show in the South! 
 

4. Smoky Mountain Winterfest- Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, TN. 
Smoky Mountain Winterfest is a magical celebration that begins in late fall.  Ride the Trolley Tour of Lights around Pigeon Forge and claim a spot on the sidewalk  for Gatlinburg’s “Fantasy of Lights” Christmas Parade, featuring lighted floats, marching bands and giant helium balloons.  This event combines 3 Tennessee cities: Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. These neighboring Smoky Mountain towns are ablaze with 5 million lights thru February. 
 

5. Trail of Lights - Austin, TX
The  Trail of Lights is a mile long display of 42 lighted scenes, US Post Office, Santa’s House, the Yule Log, and an entertainment stage. The festival begins with the lighting of the Zilker Tree, a 155 feet tall, 180 feet diameter lighted tree consisting of 3,309 bulbs on 39 streamers strung from Austin’s historical Moonlight Tower. Since 1987 the honor of lighting the tree has been bestowed upon the winner of the city-wide children’s tree coloring contest. The tree lighting ceremony takes place on the first Sunday of December. 

6. Magical Nights of Lights - Lake Lanier, GA
Rekindle an old tradition or create a new one at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s 16th annual Magical Nights of Lights holiday celebration. Known as the world’s largest animated light extravaganza, the fun kicks off November 22 through December 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. nightly! Bring the whole family a drive through tour of over six miles of twinkling, holiday light displays and a live nativity scene complete with live actors and animals!

7. Holiday Festival of Lights, Charleston, S.C.
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission created the Holiday Festival of Lights to bring families and friends together and to raise support for the Charleston county park system. With over 600 individual displays located throughout the park in 132 power locations, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a magical sight to see! 
  
8. Enchanted Garden of Lights, Chattanooga, TN
See Rock City! The gardens’ natural beauty is complemented by more than 25 holiday scenes as half a million lights illuminate rock formations along the Enchanted Trail. 

 9. Southern Lights - Lexington, Ky.
The annual Southern Lights event is the largest fundraiser held for The Kentucky Horse Park. Over 25,927 vehicles passed through the electrical wonderland in 2006 alone! Everything from petting zoos, model railways, arts, crafts, and Santa Claus fill the Indoor Attractions section free of charge to guests.

 10. Mission Inn - Riverside, CA
This magnificent hotel and grounds have over two million Christmas lights!  Enjoy the sounds of the holiday season as our Dickens’ Carolers stroll throughout the hotel every Thursday through Sunday, beginning November 25, 2005, or enjoy a romantic carriage ride around the grounds - to take in the lights of the holiday season.
 
11. 100 Miles of Lights - Virginia Beach, VA
Come share the glow of the season and experience millions of lights and hundreds of events from Virginia’s capital city to the Atlantic Ocean. The region will glitter and glow, sparkle and shine with lights, lights and more lights. 100 Miles of Lights features holiday events and activities in Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

Drive-through and walk-through light shows will dazzle and shine with more than two million lights, providing a colorful backdrop to the wide range of events and activities for the young and young-at-heart. Lighted boat parades, city illuminations, festivals, parades, living history re-enactments, caroling, dining events, music and dance are among the many activities occurring throughout the region from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
12. Bright Nights at Forest Park - Springfield, MA
New England’s most popular holiday destination and largest drive-through lighting display. Two and a half miles of Forest Park are illuminated with more than 500,000 twinkling lights, bringing the magic of the holiday season to life for people of all ages, in dozens of dramatic scenes such as “Poinsettia Fantasy,” “Seuss Land,” “Toy Land,” and “Victorian Village.” Plans are in place this year for bright new displays, and special celebrations to commemorate the holiday traditions of the many cultures that make up the region.

Source:
http://www.americasbestonline.net/christmas.htm

Former vice president and general manager transitions into his new role as president

NORFOLK, Va.-(December 5, 2008)-For Rent Media Solutions, a leading apartment resource for searching apartments nationwide, and a division of Dominion Enterprises, is proud to announce Terry Slattery’s promotion to president of For Rent Media Solutions. This change is in recognition of Slattery’s contributions to both For Rent Media Solutions and the multi-housing industry.

“I have had the fortune of working with Terry for eight years now,” said Jack Ross,  president of Dominion Enterprises apartment and employment businesses. “His impact on For Rent Media Solutions and the industry has been substantial. He continues to show his dedication to multi-housing through his membership in organizations like the National Apartment Association, where he was recently recognized as a recipient of a Paragon Award. I am confident For Rent Media Solutions will continue to grow under his leadership.”

Slattery entered the multi-housing industry in 1993, when he joined the For Rent Magazine^® office in Las Vegas as an account executive. Since then, he has held several positions within the company, including national marketing director, vice president of marketing, and vice president of national sales and marketing. He assisted with the execution of LEADS^TM, the original tracking service in the multi-family housing business, now considered the standard in the industry. He is also credited for heading up the group that created ForRent.com^®, one of the nation’s leading apartment Internet Listing Services.

“I am honored to step into the role of president of For Rent Media Solutions,” said Slattery. “I am proud of the success our company continues to experience and look forward to finding more innovative ways to promote our clients through a combination of print and Internet services.”

Slattery is very active in the multi-housing industry, attending many industry conferences and serving as a board member for the National Apartment Association. In 2007, he was appointed chairman of the National Supplier’s Council. In this position, he co-chaired the NAA Education Conference and Convention in Las Vegas and oversaw the development of the National Suppliers Council. This is the highest level that a supplier can rise to in the multi-family industry.

In his last role as the vice president and general manager of For Rent Media Solutions, Slattery brought innovation to the industry through new initiatives such as online video and mobile technology. As president, he will oversee all aspects of print, Internet, production and operations for all For Rent Media Solutions publications and Web sites, including: For Rent Magazine^®, ForRent.com, Apartamentos Para Rentar^®, CorporateHousing.com and After 55^TM Housing and Resource Guide.

If someone were to say Thanksgiving Day Parade, what would you think of? The most recognized Thanksgiving Day Parade is in fact the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which takes place in New York City.  This parade has become a staple in American culture ever since the movie Miracle on 34^th Street which showed real footage of the festivities.  Of course national coverage by NBC every year has helped. Just thinking of the movie gives me all sorts of warm fuzziness and the merriment of the parade only reinforces those feelings for me. But did you know this annual parade started in 1924 in Newark, New Jersey? Yup, employees of Macy’s marched from the flagship store on 34^th Street dressed in costumes with floats, professional bands and live animals following them (in 1927 live animals were replaced by balloons). At the end of the parade Santa Clause is welcomed into Herald Square.  According to Wikipedia, the first parade had an audience of over a quarter of a million people! It was viewed as a huge success, which is why Macy’s declared it an annual event.

There are actually many Thanksgiving Day Parades all over the US. The nation’s oldest Thanksgiving parade, the Gimbels Parade or now known as 6ABC IKEA Parade, was first held in Philadelphia, PA. There is also the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade of Chicago, IL, the Parade Spectacular that is run in Stamford, Connecticut and others in Seattle, WA, Houston, TX, Detroit, MI, etc.

Returning for just a second to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an interesting fact to note-the balloons in the parade are designed with safety valves so they can float for a few days. Address labels were sewn into them, so that whoever found and mailed back the discarded balloon would receive a gift from Macy’s[1]. How cool is that??

Anyways, the point is we hope whatever celebrations you are taking part in this Thanksgiving you have a great time! Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and be with those that mean the most during the Holiday season!

San Jose is the 3^rd largest city in California, located in the San Andreas Fault-a major source of earthquake activity. The city is approximately 50 miles from San Francisco in the Silicon Valley area.  As you may or may not know, the Silicon Valley is primarily known for the technological/computer oriented businesses, which could explain the employment growth predicted for 2008. According to research from the National Multi Housing Council, 38% of the San Jose market is renter-occupied housing and the median gross rent is $1,123 per month.

Did You Know?

San Jose is a Mecca of professional sports teams. They have the Major League Soccer team the San Jose Earthquakes, the National Hockey League teams the San Jose Sharks and an arena football team named the San Jose SaberCats.

The San Jose apartment market is going very strong. It has rose eight places in the National Apartment Index which was boosted by forecasts for low and declining vacancy and strong rent growth. A majority of the metro’s residential places will be in the form of for-sale projects, but given only 20% of metro households can afford the median priced entry level home; it offers very little competition to apartments.[1] Search for Apartments in San Jose, CA or close by on ForRent.com.

Colleges & Universities:

San Jose houses many higher education institutions. San Jose State University being the most well known, but in addition to the Spartans are: National Hispanic University, Lincoln Law School of San Jose, San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College.  If you don’t see your University or College listed, you can always visit ForRent.com to search for apartments near colleges/universities in California.

 Get more information and search tips on San Jose Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in San Jose, CA