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April 2009

It has been a long time since we updated our web site Newsletter (4 months). I sent out 3 newsletters direct to our mailing list and received very favorable comments from our guests. It is always a pleasure to hear from our past (and hopefully returning) guests. The winter was slower then usual, except for October and March, due to the decrease in travel by both U.S. and European tourists. The Inn experienced two hard freezes and is now in the Spring recovery stage. The Poor Man’s Orchad tree in the courtyard was badly damaged by the cold, but appears to be on the road to a full recovery.

The Inn is on the market as I need to spend more time at home with Helene and I am turning 61 in a couple of days. It is time to slow down. I am hoping the new owners will keep me on in an Innkeeper position, otherwise I will miss all the great friends I have made over the last five years.

Ed

 

November 1, 2008

As I am writing to you the weather is about 60 degrees. The skies are so blue and the air is crisp and cool with just a hint of wood burning from fireplaces near by. I just love it here, I find it so different then Palm Beach where I just came from, what a change!

We are still busy booking room reservations, and currently a seminar given by Gary Mascher is taking place, we are looking forward to our scheduled holiday parties and several weddings. There are some holiday party dates still available, so give us a call and let us design a menu and proposal for your office party or family gathering. We also take reservation of 8 or more for private dinner parties. If you like, we can tell you the historical story of Ann Stevens and arrange for a tour of her home. I am starting a recipe exchange club. If anyone is interested in sending me their personal or family recipes, I certainly would love it. I in turn will also include my most successful recipes as well, each month. Here is my personal e-mail:
thoff201@aol.com.

The Ann Stevens House wishes everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

October 1, 2008

September 1, 2008

Happy Almost Fall Everyone:

Boy it has been a hot summer this year and we are all looking forward to our fall weather to kick in. The Inn is breathtaking this time of year. As the weather starts to get a bit cooler your more energized to take walks on our historic paths and then sit on your very own private screened porch overlooking our lovely property. (All six rooms in our Carriage House have screened porches) Of course when it really gets cool we light our outdoor fire pits and our guests enjoy the fire, the smells, and a beverage from our very own Sherlock’s Pub. The pub is opened Wednesday through Saturday from 5:00 to 11:00. We have great drinks and a very nice pub selection of appetizers.

August was a very busy month for us. We had our First Friday event and it was great fun and in just 5 days, (September 5th) we will have our second. The benefit is for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Volusia County and the theme is Margaritaville, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. We are doing the whole Jimmy Buffet thing, Margarita’s, Great Food, Music, Dancing, Silent Auction and Door Prizes. For this event was have a Tiki Carver demonstrating his artistic talents and then we will auction his Tiki Carving in our silent auction.

This evening should prove to be great fun and a big help for the Boy and Girls Club.

We also had the BBC Television visiting our Inn. The BBC are doing a documentary on “Religion Across America”. They stayed at our Inn and filmed their experiences at Cassadaga. They spent three days with us and we really enjoyed their stay.
I have to say they were very polite, appreciative and a pleasure to take care of during their time with us.

Ed and I also attended a bridal show in Daytona Beach. We met wonderful Brides at our booth, with their Fiancee’, Girlfriends and some with their Mothers. I truly love showing pictures of our weddings we’ve done here and what we have to offer by being a Bed and Breakfast. I have been a Wedding Planner for over 12 years and I can say that the weddings here are very unique and beautiful. We can handle everything from the Rehearsal Dinners, Rooms, Officiator, Decorations, Great Wedding Reception Menus, Tents, Music and much, much more. There is nothing we cannot do to make your wedding memorable and different.

Well those are the highlights, I hope I didn’t forget anything. Ed, Helene and I are looking forward to the possibility of meeting you and showing you the Bed and Breakfast experience here at Lake Helen and the Ann Stevens House. Be sure to check out our packages and what’s happening this season.

Teresa Curry

 

August, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Time has really flown by this month. I looked at the calendar and realized I need to get started on my promise for a monthly newsletter. Okay, first the summer cleaning and maintenance is just about complete and we will be ready to show off our upgrades. Everything is in bloom, green and in just a few weeks we will start our busy season.

I am very excited to say that the Sherlock's Pub and Ann Stevens House will be hosting the "First Friday" Charity Events. The First Friday of the each month will have a different benefit to support. The tickets are $10.00 and with the ticket you get your first drink, great appetizers and a theme event with door prizes, silent auctions music and more. August 1st Polynesian Luau was for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. The turnout was really good and everyone had a great time. September is Margaritaville "It's Five O'clock Somewhere" for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Volusia County. We will have a tiki carving demonstration and then the artist will put his beautiful sculptor up for the silent auction. We will post a calendar for the year on our webs site. We encourage everyone to come and have fun while we support these agencies that need our help. If you have a donation, door prize or something for the silent auction and cannot attend please call us, we will be happy to accept via phone or mail your generous offer. Our Sarah is leaving again to go back to school August 13th but, she'll return in December. We are going to miss her a lot. She not only did the Inn's spring cleaning, she served meals, and learned to bartend. Talk about job security. Dan and I are finally settled in our new home. We are loving the area, the Inn, just everything is so calm, the guests are friendly, there's truly something magical here. You just couldn't ask for much more.

Salazaar and Eggdrop are still prowling the premises and demanding attention from all the guests.

Ed and Helene was on vacation for several weeks and Ed always one to find a way to extend a vacation, tripped over a paver while in Miami and fractured his ankle. So for now he's on light duty.

That's about it, keep up with the website we are adding things to it weekly. I hope to see you soon.

Teresa Curry

 

June 26, 2008

Hello everyone! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Teresa Curry and I am the new Executive Chef and Inn manager here at the Ann Stevens House. This is my first newsletter to you and I hope you enjoy it.

I would like to give you a little background about me. I have been an Executive Chef since 1995, owning a catering company specializing in corporate event planning and wedding coordinating for 11 years in Palm Beach, Florida, and now here at the Ann Stevens House since March. It hardly feels like work. Lake Helen is so quaint and beautiful. Before coming here to work, I was a guest for long weekends and vacations over a three year period. So, when the Gracy's asked me to join their family here, I could not resist the opportunity to experience a B&B career move.

I hope to meet you all very soon.

The Inn has gone through its spring cleaning and maintenance that we do each year. We have done lots of painting and refreshing and everything is so lovely. New staff and returning staff would be Teresa Curry, Inn Manager and Executive Chef. Janet is back and she is overseeing guest relations, housekeeping and assisting with event planning. Lori is our new Inn Housekeeper and she brings with her 5 years of past Inn experience. Todd and Mark have been heavily involved in the maintenance and upgrades to the Inn. Ed and Helene are well. What can I say? They ARE the Ann Stevens House. Ed is doing great. With all of this help, he is getting more rest and is able to take Helene on a vacation or two. Helene is happier as well. She still works hard on the linens and is ever so detailed; even down to the fresh linen spray she uses when she irons your sheets and pillowcases. I tried to take the linens away from her, but she loves it. They have their grandson, Ritchie, living with them now. He has jobs as well. He waters the Inn’s beautiful flowers and feeds Egg Drop, our cat that greets each guest as they arrive. He is a lovely young boy.

Sadly, Tina Coellette, long time friend, confidante and housekeeper extraordinaire, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Tina was with the Inn since 1995. She will be sorely missed. Godspeed, my friend.

The pub is now open Wednesday through Saturday. We designed a new pub menu with a special menu item that changes each day. We have open mic night with artists that sing and play guitar, etc. Its lots of fun and our guests and locals really enjoy it. On our deck, we light tiki torches and everyone enjoys the quiet nights and a sky full of stars. It’s heavenly.

There is a 4th of July BBQ scheduled here from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Lake Helen historic district will have fireworks on the lake again this year. Sounds like fun!

We are excited about hosting Mr. Cobbs (Night at the Museum) and catering for the production company while they film The Tennant here in Lake Helen.

The newsletter will be an end of the month column beginning July. Look for upcoming events and what’s happening at the Inn.

November 15, 2007

Candice, my daughter, has been getting rave reviews from our guests for her cooking and service. It looks like we might have scored another Janet when she was in her prime.

Tina has been back to work for a few months, so everything has been staying super clean. Heard from Sarah about a week ago, college is going good, she is learning Chinese. Helene has had a problem with an infection on her right lower leg that is now healing up nicely. All the kids we used during the summer are settled back in school. I am finally getting to a lot of the little outside tasks I have wanted to do. We are doing the New Year’s Eve Party again, and yes, it will be December 31st, 2007 from 8pm to 1am. We will have SHOWDOWN, the country/pop band, party favors, champagne toast, and light appetizers included in the $25.00 ticket price. Dinner will be available from Old Skool BBQ. As always, Sherlock’s Pub will be available for your adult beverages. All the events in October were successes, with the singing by Alvin Morse of the Coasters the highlight. November is Christmas decorating month, as we are on the home tour the first weekend of December.