httpv://youtu.be/XgbORHvveTY
Curves add beauty to a straw bale house
For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE#00669941
By Sherri L.Reynolds
This eating establishment provides and serves Mediterranean cuisine with an atmosphere of soft lights, colorful decor and the painted murals on the walls give you a feel for Italy. I especially like the colored flags of different countries in the main dining room. It allows one to imagine and to enjoy a meal, specially prepared from the Cirino family kitchen, to experience being somewhere else in the world.
The food here is carefully made from their time honored recipes. From “The Old World Butcher Shop” menus, which consist of Sicilian pork rostini with orange thyme sauce or wild plum sauce to Aldo’s char-grilled steak a’la gorgonzola ( locals love this) it’s a dish and recipe from Jerry’s father’s family in Napoli, Italy.
There are appetizers, soups, sandwiches and salads to generously choose from. The grilled Greek pita bread appetizer with spinach/artichoke dip is a wonderful choice to begin your festival of foods with. My salad favorite is the Tunisian Chicken salad, layered with grilled teriyaki chicken breast, fresh baby green lettuce, buckwheat, noodles, snow peas, tomatoes, cashews and tossed with a spicy North African dressing. The taste is amazing !
They also serve pastas, grains and delicious risotto dishes. I generally lean towards the risotto with fresh rosemary, red flame grapes and brie cheese. It’s a melt in your mouth meal to savor and to enjoy each and every bite. The complimentary bread basket is an aroma of fresh baked bread right out of the oven. Nice and warm.
Other dishes to explore are Tucher’s stuffed polenta, filled with fresh basil, marinated artichoke hearts, saute’ed red peppers, mozzarella, Italian Parmesans cheese set in a bed of red marinara sauce, also the rigatoni prosciutto balsamella, a soft creamy and comfort food at its best.
There is a wide range of wines and beer to pair with all the dishes and Jerry gives suggestions on his menu list to choose from. They also have a bar where you can sit and enjoy some great food and spirits. Plus, live satellite TV for the avid sport fan to watch.
Jerry and Tucker also have a kid’s menu to accommodate the younger appetite, so they too, can experience the value of fine dining.
Most importantly, are the friendly waiters and waitresses who provide impeccable service to help suggest and provide a pleasurable eating adventure. From my experience, after having a wonderful meal here, I always leave with a smile on my face.
“Enjoy life and the taste for it”
Bon appétit,
Sherri L.Reynolds
sreynoldsjb@yahoo.com
freelance/poet/creative writer
For all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530-263-1091
Email Email John>/a>
DRE# 00669941
The median price for an existing, single-family home in California rose 1.6 percent in March compared with the year before, marking the first year-over-year increase in 16 months, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® reported Monday.
For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE#00669941
Fire is a Fact of Life in the Sierra Nevada Foothills
California is home to some of the most scenic vistas in the world. The natural beauty and mild, Mediterranean climate [Sunset Magazine Zone 7, USDA Zone 8] have attracted millions to settle in the foothills. Living in Nevada County means learning to live with fire. That’s because our scenic vistas are fire-dependent. Fire cracks seed casings, allowing our native plants to thrive. And it clears out dead brush that can choke living plants and cut off food for wildlife.
Work with nature and choose plants that are climate and soil adapted. Incorporating fire safe concepts into the residential landscape is one of the most important ways you can help your home survive a wildfire. Creating an area of defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt around your home. Through proper planning, you can have both a beautiful landscape and a fire safe home.
Vegetation Arrangement
The general concept is that trees should be kept furthest from your home, shrubs and trees may be closer and bedding plants and lawns may be nearest to the structure. From a wildfire fuel perspective, vegetation is often described in terms of its vertical and horizontal arrangement. The vertical fuel continuity is also referred to as “ladder fuels.” Laddering arrangements of fuels enables fire to climb neighboring vegetation like a ladder. Reduce the chance of fire climbing into trees by removing the lower tree limbs from 6-10 feet from the ground (or the lower third of branches on smaller trees.)
Fire spreads on the ground from plant to plant and then onto your home. To reduce the chance of fire spreading horizontally, space or group plants in clumps for visual screening while providing enough space between plants to reduce the fire spreading. Individual spacing needs depends on the height and width of the plant, but generally a three times height for vertical separation is a good rule of thumb.
Vegetation Zones
The home defense zone is within 30 feet of the house. The reduced fuel zone lies beyond the home defense zone and extends out to 100 feet from the house or the property boundary. Greater defense zone widths are necessary when your home is sited on a steep slope or in a windswept exposure. The most intensive vegetation management lies within the home defense zone. Objectives for the home defense zone include:
Where to Plant
Avoid putting plants in the following locations to minimize the movement of fire from the vegetation to the home: immediately adjacent to the siding; underneath vents or eaves; tree limbs over the roof; and underneath or near the deck.
Mulching
Mulch conserves moisture, but also burns. Carefully choose the location of plants or garden beds that will need mulch. Mulches greater than 2 inches deep tend to smolder and are difficult to extinguish. Do not use wood or bark mulches within 3-5 feet of the house. Instead consider colored rock, pea gravel or other less flammable materials. Having a “hardscape” immediately adjacent to your home will help harden the structure from flying ember intrusion.
Maintenance
Maintenance is critical to fire safety. Over time, plants grow both vertically and horizontally, mulches dry out, leaves and needles accumulate within and around landscape vegetation. All of these fuels may help feed a fire. Remember to conduct annual cleanup of your established vegetation to ensure a fire safe condition during wildfire season.
Remember that no plant is completely resistant to fire. Plants with low fuel content can be the difference between safety and destruction. You will find that a fire safe landscape can increase your property value, provide wildlife habitat and conserve water while beautifying your home.
Download your Copy of the Firewise Plants for Western Nevada County Plant Guide complied by: Lynn Lorenson, Landscape Consultant & Master Gardner; Karen Callahan, CA Native Plant Society; and the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County.
Visit the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County’s Firewise Landscaping webpage for additional information.
For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE #00669941
Rising rents, coupled with slumping home prices and interest rates near record-lows, are boosting demand for homes at entry-level prices.
Making sense of the story
Ready to buy or sell?
For all your real estate needs call
John J. O’Dell
Broker/Owner
O’Dell Real Estate
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE# 00996641
Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce
By Judy J. Pinegar
The first established settlement in Rough and Ready was made in the fall of 1849 by a mining company from Wisconsin known as the Rough and Ready Company. Their leader, Captain A. A. Townsend, named the company after General Zachary Taylor (nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready”) who had recently been elected the 12th President of the United States. Captain Townsend had served under “Old Rough and Ready” during the U.S.-Mexican War.
Gold was easy pickings, and by the late 1840s, the population of the town of Rough and Ready had exploded to over 3,000. The town had plenty of uncontrolled lawlessness and a growing resentment of the government which had imposed a Mining Tax on all claims. On April 7th, 1850, a mass meeting was called to propose seceding from the Union.
The Great Republic of Rough and Ready was formed that day as a free and independent republic. The townspeople elected Col. E.F. Brundage as President, and Justice of the Peace Hans Q. Roberts as Secretary of State, who then signed a constitution similar to that of the United States.
The Republic of Rough and Ready lasted only three months as the world’s smallest nation. It came to a halt when preparing for a fourth of July celebration, it was realized as an independent country it had no reason to celebrate. A popular vote restored the new Republic to the United States followed by the most riotous Fourth celebration ever held anywhere. An alternate story for the reason Rough and Ready rejoined the union is that Nevada City refused to sell the “foreign” miners liquor!
In 1859, a devastating fire destroyed most of Rough and Ready as shown in the photo.
Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce
Rough and Ready is located west of Grass Valley, California, on State Route 20 at the junction of State Route 49, approximately 62 miles (100 km) from Sacramento. The post office at Rough and Ready was established in February 1851. Among the oldest buildings are the blacksmith shop (1850s), the Grange (1850’s), the Odd Fellows Hall (1854), and the Old Toll House. The population was 963 at the 2010 census.
The Rough and Ready Calendar of Events includes the following. It is a great place to visit on a weekend…come for a drive!
Weekly
Every Sunday
The Fruit Jar Pickers
10am to Noon at the Grange in downtown Rough and Ready
Monthly
Every 2nd Saturday
Breakfast at the Grange
8am to 10 am at the Grange Hall. Great food and entertainment for $5.00
Annually
Last Sunday in June
Secession Days in downtown Rough and Ready. 7am to 3pm.
Annually
Last Sunday in September
Chili Cook-off in downtown Rough and Ready. 10am to 3pm.
Additional information about Rough and Ready and these events may be obtained from the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce webpage
Judy J. Pinegar is a writer and her articles have appeared in many publications
For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE#00669941
Pending home sales in California gained ground for the second consecutive month in February, while the share of equity sales posted higher after two months of decline, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.
Pending home sales:
C.A.R.’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* rose from a revised 102.3 in January to 127.8 in February, based on signed contracts. The index also was up from the 111.8 index recorded in February 2011, marking the tenth consecutive month that pending sales were higher than the previous year. Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, providing information on the future direction of the market.
Distressed housing market data:
“A lack of inventory in the bank-owned (REO) and short sale market was a contributing factor to the decline in share of distressed sales in February,” said C.A.R. President LeFrancis Arnold. “In fact, REO inventory declined 24 percent in February from the previous year, while short sale inventory dropped 17 percent during the same period.”
• After declining for two straight months, equity sales increased in February, making up 51.1 percent of home sales in February. Equity sales made up 49.9 and 44.8 percent of all sales in January 2012 and February 2011, respectively.
• Meanwhile, the total share of all distressed property types sold statewide decreased in February to 48.9 percent, down from January’s 50.1 percent and from 55.2 percent in February 2011.
• The share of short sales dipped slightly in February. Of the distressed properties sold statewide in January, 23 percent were short sales, down from the previous month’s share of 23.8 percent but up from last February’s share of 22.9 percent.
• The share of REO sales also edged down in February to 25.2 percent, down from January’s 25.9 percent and down from the 31.9 percent recorded in February 2011.
For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE #00669941
By Ed Pandofino
Living in fire-prone landscapes in California requires some modification of the areas around your home to protect it from fire. While there is no doubt that these modifications alter habitats used by wildlife, you can minimize the negative impacts on birds by paying attention to the timing of your activities.
In our area birds begin nesting in March and many still have dependent young as late as August. Since destruction of active bird nests is both against the law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act) and avoidable, the simplest approach is to conduct all clearing activities outside this period. This means doing the work in the cooler months, which is also easier on those doing this difficult work. Keep in mind that birds do NOT just nest in trees. Many birds nest on or near the ground in brushy areas (e.g., California Quail, Bewick’s Wren, California Towhees, etc.). Just because you are NOT removing trees doesn’t mean you are not disturbing nests. Also, keep in mind that disturbance is most damaging early in the season when birds are on eggs or have young still in the nest. In general, the most sensitive period is likely to be mid-March through July. It is best to avoid all disturbance during this period.
Ed Pandolfino
Sierra Foothills Audubon Society
For more information visit:
For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE#00669941
When her husband slumped over in the pilot’s seat, non-pilot Helen Collins, 80, found herself at the controls of a twin-engine plane that was low on fuel. “You better get me in there pretty soon,” she radioed the tower
For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE #00669941
httpv://youtu.be/YRCh8yh5Oys
The Center for the Arts presents Kansas with Lorraine Gervais (Women of Rock) unplugged opening, Thursday April 12 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 255 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA.
Originally formed in Topeka, Kansas during 1973, the group became one of the decade’s most popular rock bands, on the strength of such all-time classic albums as 1976’s four-times platinum ‘Leftoverture’ and 1977’s five-times platinum ‘Point of Know Return’ – which spawned the aforementioned mega hit singles. Despite a few line- up changes throughout the years, Kansas remains immensely popular to this day, and continues to put on amazing shows. Case in point, ‘There’s Know Place Like Home.’ Filmed on February 7, 2009 in their home state (at Washburn University’s White Concert Hall), the concert was certainly not your average affair. For this show, the group was united with former members Kerry Livgren (guitar/keyboards) and Steve Morse (guitar), as well as the 50-piece Washburn University Orchestra.
For tickets and to read more: The Center for the Arts
For all your real estate needs
Call today or email
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Broker/Owner
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com
DRE# 00669941
