Want to own some of late Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice's stuff? Here's how.
Over the course of his career, the late Ron Rice amassed a vast collection of unusual one-of-kind items such as the hand-carved mermaid chair that adorned the great room of his oceanfront Ormond Beach mansion. Now you can purchase individual pieces from the Hawaiian Tropic founder's estate. The first of several planned online auctions is currently underway. Bids are now being accepted through 7 p.m. Sept. 12 for "Ron Rice Estate Founder-Hawaiian Tropic Part 1" at dunnsattic.com. "We're talking about literally thousands of items, so much that you can't put them all in one auction." said Wes Dunn, the owner of Dunn's Attic in downtown Ormond Beach. Dunn expects to hold online auctions for Rice's estate through early November. Items will be added daily. "We're still pulling stuff out of his house," he said. "This is the biggest collection we've ever handled. It's a very large and very noted estate." How the online auction works The online auction allows people to place opening bids as well as set an upper limit to how much they would be willing to spend. "Even if your initial bid is only $5, it will automatically increase your bid incrementally to the maximum amount you choose," said Dunn. Items will also be available for in-person viewing Auction items will be available for viewing in person at the warehouse for Dunn's Attic at 140 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning Aug. 15. Who is Ron Rice? Rice was a high school chemistry teacher in the 1960s when he developed his own suntan lotion to sell to beachgoers in the Daytona area. His Hawaiian Tropic business grew into an international multimillion-dollar empire also known for its Miss Hawaiian Tropic beauty pageants. He hosted lavish parties at his home whose guests included celebrities and swimsuit models. Rice sold his company in 2007 to Playtex Corp., maker of the rival Banana Boat sun care brand. Playtex was in turn acquired that same year by Energizer. The Hawaiian Tropic plant on North U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach is now part of an Energizer spin-off called Edgewell Personal Care. Late entrepreneur's mansion is still on the market Rice died in May 2022 at age 81. His mansion at 175 Ocean Shore Blvd. was put up for sale on Thanksgiving Day. Listing agent Bill Navarra of Realty Pros Assured recently lowered the asking price to $4.75 million, down from the original $6 million. "We have two prospects that have a strong interest in the property, but neither wanted the possessions. They asked for the house to be cleared out," he said. 'Chance to own a piece of history' Dunn said he is excited to auction off Rice's collection. "There's some large sculptures and hand-carved furniture and a ton of Cuban art," he said. "There's also a grand piano and a hand-carved billiard table. This is a chance to own a piece of history, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
HUD and VA Say ‘Boot Camps’ Will Help Vets
A series of workshops – called Boot Camps – will help public agencies and VA medical centers help homeless veterans more quickly move to permanent housing. WASHINGTON – The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a co-branded initiative to more quickly move homeless vets into permanent housing. It calls the series of workshops “Boot Camps.” The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) “Boot Camps” will help Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) work together more efficiently. HUD-VASH combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with the VA’s case management and clinical services. On April 10, HUD announced the availability of approximately $94.4 million for HUD-VASH. It says the funding will support up to11,000 new HUD-VASH vouchers to help homeless veterans and their families access affordable housing, along with an array of supportive services. Public Housing Agencies that registered interest and were deemed eligible will receive invitation letters this week. “These Boot Camps will help us get veterans out of homelessness and into good homes – where they belong – as quickly as possible,” says VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “Every veteran deserves a safe, stable home in this country they fought to defend, and we will stop at nothing to make that goal a reality.”
Hometown Heroes: $20M Applications in Week 1
Hometown Heroes: $20M Applications in Week 1 By Kerry Smith The Hometown Heroes Program strongly backed by Florida Realtors received applications requesting $11M the first day the updated program went into effect. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Hometown Heroes down payment assistance program reached $20 million in applications within the first week of launching the program’s second year of funding, which includes $11 million in applications on the first day alone, according to a release from Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida Realtors strongly backed the program when it was initially created and again during the 2023 session of the Florida Legislature when it was updated and received new funding. The updated allows a broader category of Floridians to qualify for the assistance when purchasing their first home in the communities they serve. Last year, the program provided more than $100 million for Florida’s hometown heroes. This year, the Hometown Heroes Program was included as part of broad real estate bill also backed by Florida Realtors, the Live Local Act, which DeSantis signed in March. “In its first year of funding, the Hometown Heroes Program helped more than 6,700 first responders, veterans, nurses and educators purchase homes in the communities they serve,” says DeSantis. “The Hometown Heroes program has quickly become Florida Housing’s most popular homeownership assistance program,” adds Mike DiNapoli, executive director of Florida Housing Finance Corporation. “Down payments and closing costs are one of the biggest barriers to homeownership for a lot of families and with these updated guidelines we are already seeing an increase in interest as more hardworking individuals are now eligible for this assistance.” The program is now available to all Florida hometown workers in any occupation who earn less than 150% of their county’s area median income (AMI). Additionally, hometown heroes can now apply for a maximum down payment assistance amount of $35,000. To be eligible for the Hometown Heroes program, homebuyers must have a minimum credit score of 640, be a first-time homebuyer and earn less than 150% AMI according to their local county data. To get started, buyers must connect with one of Florida Housing’s participating loan officers. For more information on the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program or to connect with a loan officer in your area, visit floridahousing.org/hometownheroes. © 2023 Florida Realtors®
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