Nevada Irrigation District (NID) water originates in the snow pack of a 70,000-acre watershed in the high mountains of Sierra and Nevada counties. The district’s Mountain Division reservoirs include Jackson Meadows, Milton, French, Faucherie, Sawmill and Bowman. Water from these reservoirs flows to PG&E’s Lake Spaulding via the Bowman-Spaulding Canal.
From Spaulding, NID water flows down the South Yuba Canal to the Cascade Canal system which carries water into western Nevada County service areas. Water from Spaulding also flows down the Bear River watershed through PG&E’s Drum Hydroelectric Project and NID’s Yuba-Bear Power Project. This water supplies NID service areas in southern Nevada County and Placer County.
In addition to its seven mountain reservoirs, NID owns and operates three Foothill Division reservoirs, Scotts Flat, Rollins and Combie. The district operates and maintains 400 miles of canals and 300 miles of pipelines.
The highest point on NID watershed is 8373-foot English Mountain, which rises just south of Jackson Meadows. The lowest elevation NID water service is 100 miles to the southwest, at the 150-foot elevation, near Lincoln, Placer County.
Source: Waterways, a publication of NID
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“A Taste of the Gold,” a fun food and wine fest that features a selection of local and regional wines, fine foods and delectable sweets and treats, is part of the festivities planned during the Draft Horse Classic at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
By Wendy Oaks
“TASTE OF THE GOLD” AND RIB COOK-OFF PART OF THE FESTIVITIES AT THE DRAFT HORSE CLASSIC
“Taste” event is held on Saturday, September 24; Rib Cook-Off held on Sunday, September 25
In between Draft Horse performances at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, September 22 – 25, take time to visit two community events happening on the grounds during the weekend.
On Saturday, September 24, visit “A Taste of the Gold,” a fun food and wine fest that features a selection of local and regional wines, fine foods and delectable sweets and treats from some of the Gold Country’s finest restaurants and vintners. This fabulously fun and tasty event takes place on Saturday from 1 – 4 pm. Find your favorite wine, and with glass in hand, nibble your way through more restaurants than you could possibly visit in a long weekend.
Tickets for “A Taste of the Gold” are $30 in advance or $40 at the door, and the price includes five food tastings, unlimited wine tasting, and a commemorative wine glass. For tickets, visit www.SierraVintners.com, call the Grass Valley Downtown Association at (530) 272-8315, or purchase them at the door. This event is presented by the Grass Valley Downtown Association and the Sierra Vintners.
On Sunday of the Classic, enjoy the Classic Rib Cook-Off from 1:30 – 4 pm. Whether you want to watch BBQ experts show off their cooking skills or simply join the fun and taste the treats—the Rib Cook-Off is the place to be! Tasting tickets will be available at the event at 5 for $10. There will be live entertainment provided by The Dyin’ Breed Band, beverages for sale, and even a free cooking class.
As part of the Rib Cook-Off, a free Cooking Class, BBQ 101, is being offered on Sunday, September 25, at 3 pm. Watch and learn as BBQ PitMasters prepare chicken, pork, ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket, showing you some of their tips so that you can become a BBQ Pitmaster. When the class is complete, head over to the stage and see who will be crowned the Classic Rib Cook-Off Champion.
The Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair runs September 22 – 25 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. There are six performances featuring the magnificent Draft Horses – Thursday and Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 10 am and 6:30 pm, and Sunday at 10 am and 4 pm.
In addition to the Draft Horse performances, the Harvest Fair is bustling with activities during the four-day event. Live entertainment, Art at the Classic, Treat Street goodies, a clogging jamboree, and visits to the barns make for a family fun day at the Harvest Fair.
For Draft Horse performance tickets or information about entering a Harvest Fair exhibit, call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com
Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fair
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The magnificent six-up competition is always a crowd favorite at the Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
By Wendy Oaks
Get behind-the-scenes and meet the stars of the Classic – the beautiful Draft Horses
Guided Barn Tours will be offered to visitors to this year’s Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair – giving them an up close and personal visit with the magnificent Gentle Giant Draft Horses. The behind-the-scenes Guided Barn Tours, led by teamster Eleanor Roberts, are another way for visitors to be able to meet and talk with Draft Horse exhibitors, as well as meet the stars of the Classic.
Barn tours will be held on Friday, September 23, at 4 pm and Saturday, September 24, at 2 pm. Advance reservations are recommended, as there are a limited number of openings for each tour. The cost for the tour is $10 per person, and advance reservations can be made by calling the Fair Office at 530-273-6217. If there is still availability, tickets may also be purchased the day of the event at the Arena box office.
Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes and will include meeting the exhibitors and learning about how they got involved with Draft Horses; discussing and seeing the different Draft Horse breeds; a show-and-tell of Draft Horse equipment, and a discussion about the training of Draft Horses and what it takes to put a team together. You’ll also get to roam to the various barns on the Fairgrounds to meet the beautiful Draft Horses!
The 25th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair starts Thursday, September 22 and runs Sunday, September 25 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. The Draft Horse Classic features six stunning performances in the arena. If you can’t make it to a guided barn tour, the barns are always open for viewing the horses throughout the event in between performances. Additionally, live entertainment at the Pine Tree Stage, a world class art show, Treat Street goodies, vendors with western wear and items, a clogging jamboree, and a live horse shoeing competition are all part of the Harvest Fair, which takes place at the Fairgrounds during all four days of the Classic.
For tickets to the Draft Horse performances or tickets to the Barn Tours, call the office at 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information about Draft Horse Classic.
Nevada County Fair August 8 – 12, 2012
Draft Horse Classic September 22 – 25, 2011
Halloween at the Fairgrounds October 29, 2011
Country Christmas Faire November 25 – 27, 2011
Since the real estate market took a downturn, some people have complained they couldn’t buy, sell, or refinance a home because an appraiser used bank-owned (REO) or short-sold homes as comparables in the valuation process, which dragged down the value of their home. While using REO and short-sold properties can lower the value of a home, some homeowners are upset that their county assessor will not use these properties as comps for their property taxes.
In California, some assessors will consider distressed sales when looking at comps, but it varies widely by county, neighborhood, and house. In general, assessors will always look at non-distressed sales first and if there are enough, disregard REO and short sales. However, if there are not enough standard sales, or the home is in an area dominated by distressed sales, the assessor likely will take these properties into account.
Under Proposition 13, property is assessed upon a change in ownership at its fair market value. That is usually the same as the sale price. However, with distressed property, the sale price may not equal fair market value.
Between changes of ownership, assessors can raise values only by an inflation rate, not to exceed 2 percent per year, plus the value of major improvements or additions.
Under Prop. 8, owners who think the market value of their property has fallen below its assessed value can ask for a temporary reduction to the fair market value.
Homeowners who think their homes are worth less than the assessed value can usually ask their assessor for an informal review. If they are still not satisfied, they can file a formal appeal with their county’s assessment appeals board by Sept. 15 or Nov. 30, depending on the county.
It’s free and all exhibitors will receive free tickets to a Draft Horse Classic performance
Entries are now being accepted for the Harvest Fair, which takes place during the Draft Horse Classic, September 22 – 25, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The deadline for Nevada County residents to turn in entry forms to enter exhibits is 5 pm on Friday, September 16. It’s free to enter, and all exhibitors will receive complimentary tickets to the Friday evening performance of the Draft Horse Classic.
Entry forms are now being accepted at the Fair Office and on-line at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. There are more than 100 different categories to choose from, including fruits and vegetables, cobblers, harvest pies, scarecrows, a garden photo contest, jams, honey, cut flowers, produce characters, and birdhouses. There’s even a “Nature’s Oddities” category for any garden produce that shows an odd shape, color or other quality that makes it an oddity. So many fun categories to choose from!
There’s a division for youth and teens, which includes categories like apple face dolls, decoupage, Halloween masks, painted pumpkins, wreaths, table settings, and ceramics. Plus, there’s a Special People’s division for those interested in showing of their talents at the Harvest Fair.
Exhibitors must either submit paper entry forms at the Fair office or enter online at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. There is no entry fee for those who enter an exhibit in the Harvest Fair.
Complete descriptions of all Harvest Fair divisions and categories are available online at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, at the Fair’s Office on McCourtney Road, or by calling the Fairgrounds Office at (530) 273-6217.
The Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair runs September 22 – 25 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. There are six performances featuring the magnificent Draft Horses – Thursday and Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 10 am and 6:30 pm, and Sunday at 10 am and 4 pm.
In addition to the Draft Horse performances, the Harvest Fair is bustling with activities during the four-day event. Live entertainment, Art at the Classic, Treat Street goodies, a clogging jamboree, and visits to the barns and breed pavilion make for a family fun day at the Harvest Fair. Plus, we’ve got the “Taste of the Gold” tasting event on Saturday and a Classic Rib Cook-Off on Sunday.
For Draft Horse performance tickets or information about entering a Harvest Fair exhibit, call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com.
Wendy Oaks
Publicist Nevada County Fair
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After the financial market downturn in 2008, getting approved for a mortgage loan became even more difficult. Combine that with the fledgling economy, which left many people turning to freelance work, and the challenges involved in qualifying for a home mortgage increase exponentially. However, with a little extra work, home buyers using freelance work as proof of income still can qualify for a new lo
Borrowers who earn most of their income on 1099s should be prepared for extra preparation, paperwork, and discussion of their financial standing when applying for a mortgage.
It’s important that independent contractors show that their income is stable and increasing. For some, that may mean declaring all their income on their tax returns, and not, say, carrying anything over to the next year, even if it means paying more taxes.
Consistency in income is key, so those applying for a mortgage this fall or winter should be prepared to provide proof for year-to-date income.
To increase the chances of getting a mortgage approval, borrowers should pay off other debts, including balances on credit cards.
Pinpointing the source of the down payment also is helpful. If the down payment will be a gift from a relative, borrowers are advised to submit an account statement showing the funds are available and awaiting the home purchase. Same goes for borrowing from a 401(k).
Freelancers also should be prepared for a more in-depth analysis of their ability to repay the debt. Submitting tax returns from the last three years and explaining any significant differences in income is advised.
Some foreclosed home owners are taking out their anger on the homes they are forced to leave behind, smashing holes in the walls, scribbling graffiti everywhere, leaving piles of trash, and ripping out appliances.
More banks — facing a growing problem from trashed foreclosures — are opting to offer homes at big discounts rather than fix the repairs, which can send surrounding home values in the neighborhood spiraling down, experts say.
Real estate pro Nick Davis with RE/MAX Premier Group told the Tampa Tribune that he has seen some home values greatly diminish from foreclosed home owners who have trashed it. For example, he recalls one home that would have fetched $250,000 back in 2006 during the housing boom that would now sell for about $75,000 because it was trashed by the former owners.
“It looks like someone took revenge,” Davis says about the home, which had holes in the wall, appliances ripped out, and piles of trash. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing more of this. We’ve seen cement in the plumbing systems, the air conditioners ripped out from the outside, wiring being removed.”
Some real estate professionals and lenders are even blaming the high number of real estate deals falling apart due to more homes being left in poor condition by the original owners.
Buyers “look at these homes and say, ‘If this is the damage I can see, what else did the home owner do to this place that I can’t see?’ ” Davis says.
Some home owners facing foreclosure place the blame on banks for their woes so they leave behind a mess for the bank. But trashing a home can backfire. Some banks are saying they may even start taking steps to sue home owners for the cost of repairs, and law enforcement officials say home owners can be charged with vandalism as well as theft if they remove items that don’t belong to them from the home.
“Anything that came with the house needs to stay with the house,” says Larry McKinnon, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. “You may think you’re getting back at the bank. But the bank may have the last laugh.”
Despite home prices in major urban centers decreasing 31 percent between 2005 and 2009, property taxes across the U.S. increased by nearly 20 percent. There is good news, however; homeowners can fight back.
Homeowners should keep in mind that property taxes do not always correspond with home values, because local governments typically don’t measure values every year and some have limits on annual property-tax increases.
As a result, current property taxes might reflect the home’s value when the market was healthier. According to the Congressional Budget Office, property-tax adjustments lag behind changes in home prices by an average of three years.
Although homeowners cannot change their property-tax rate, which is set by the local government, homeowners can get their assessment lowered if they appeal to their local assessor.
One key to a successful appeal is fact checking the assessor’s work. About half of all successful appeals come from homeowners pointing out an error in the assessor’s description of the home, according to one property tax expert.
During the appeal process, which is similar to a less-formal court hearing, homeowners may present their case to several local officials or representatives. The simplest way to convince officials that a property has been incorrectly valued is to provide evidence of the sales price of homes that are comparable to the property being discussed. This should include square footage, amenities, and neighborhood characteristics. Sale documents and photos of the property in question, as well as the comparable properties also should be brought in.
Homeowners who have made improvements or substantial changes to the property should be cautious about appealing an assessment though, as it could have negative effects and actually increase the property’s value and, in turn, the property taxes.
The State of California will collect an annual “fire prevention fee” from property owners in wildland areas where the state has responsibility for providing fire protection. A fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) will be charged on each structure intended for human habitation in this State Responsibility Area (“SRA”), commencing with the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
The fee is established in Assembly Bill 29 by Bob Blumenfield (D-Van Nuys), which was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on July 7, 2011 (as ABX1 29).
Not a “firefighting fee”The bill is very clear about the fee’s intended purpose. The moneys collected will create an “SRA Fire Prevention Fund”, which will be used for specified “fire prevention” activities that will benefit the owners within the SRA who are required to pay the fee. The bill does not earmark any portion of the fee for firefighting services.
Examples of specified fire prevention activities include grants to municipalities to fund public education programs in the SRA, grants to qualified conservation groups and nonprofit organizations for fire prevention projects in the SRA such as brush clearance, and CalFire services in the SRA such as defensible space compliance inspections and fire severity and fire hazard mapping.
The law is being challenged by opponents who see it as diverting CalFire’s funding to fire prevention and away from the department’s critical firefighting budget. Republican lawmakers and local fire officials are contesting the law, some calling the fee a double tax on SRA property owners already taxed for fire protection services, and are seeking its repeal. The Governor, in his signing letter, has already called for the language to be revised to ensure that revenues projected from the fee are realized.
Canned Food Drive, Junior Livestock Auction, Ag Mechanics Auction, and Treat Street all Benefit Nevada County
Beautiful weather, a successful canned food drive, more than $380,000 raised for Nevada County youth, and several community partnerships made the 2011 Nevada County Fair a success. Below are some fun Fair facts.
On the Tuesday before the Fair, BloodSource and the Fair hosted a community blood drive at the Fairgrounds. As a result of this partnership, 78 pints of life saving blood were collected.
At Sunday’s canned food drive, 1,000 pounds of food were collected for the Food Bank of Nevada County – enough to feed more than 100 families.
Two hundred and thirty two animals were auctioned at this year’s Junior Livestock Auction, raising more than $350,381 for the youth of Nevada County. Funds raised from the auction go directly to these students and many use the money for college education or vocational training.
This year’s Ag Mechanics Auction, featuring 48 custom projects handmade by FFA students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools, raised more than $32,835 for these students.
Proceeds raised from the local non-profit organizations that sell food on Treat Street will allow these organizations to provide vital services to our community.
The Fair featured nearly 8,000 community exhibits. A complete list of exhibit winners is posted on the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.
Wednesday evening’s Idol Competition was won by Chelsea Kirksey, who received $767 for her charity of choice – African Ministries (through Gold Country Chapel).
Saturday’s Locks of Love event had 18 individuals donate hair to help provide a hairpiece to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. The Designer’s Hair Salon assisted with the hair donation process, and cut and styled hair for free.
