Bits & Pieces

Afraid of Radiation in Nevada County? Not Much Reason to Worry

By John J. O’Dell

Dr. Richard Besser explains the affects of radiation on the body (Video courtesy of ABC News)

The possibility of dangerous levels of radiation hitting Nevada County is on the order of zero to none. However, herb shops and vitamin stores are stocking up on adult doses of potassium iodide. This is a very serious drug to take which according to Dr. Time Jorgensen, an associate professor of radiation medicine at Georgetwon University, said that giving an adult dose of potassium iodide to an infant would be toxic. (Along with allergies to iodine, shellfish, thyroid problems and  heart problems)

Further “There is no increased risk of harmful levels of radiation exposure in the United States based on the situation to date at the nuclear power complex in Japan,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles’ Director of Public Health. “Residents who ingest potassium iodide out of concern of possible exposure from this situation are doing something which is not only ineffective, but could also cause side effects.”

Dan Sprau, who teaches radiation safety at East Carolina University, said, “Potassium can lead to heart problems.”

Radiation Realty Check from ABC News

From the California Department of Health

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. What’s the risk for California from the current nuclear power emergency in Japan?
    A. At present, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) indicates Japan’s nuclear emergency presents no danger to California.
  • Q. What is being done to test for radiation that might be coming or is present in the environment?
    A. Both Federal and State monitoring is ongoing and will be supplemented as needed.
  • Q. Does California have a plan in place to respond to a radiological emergency?
    A. CDPH has a plan for response to radiological emergencies, called the Nuclear Emergency Response Plan.
  • Q. Does California stockpile supplies for such an emergency?
    A. California does stockpile emergency supplies, including potassium iodide (KI) tablets. Potassium iodide tablets are not recommended at this time, and can present a danger to people with allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems. Potassium iodide tablets should not be taken unless directed by authorities.
  • Q. Why are potassium iodide tablets used during emergencies involving radiation exposure?
    A. Potassium iodide tablets may be recommended to individuals who are at risk for radiation exposure or have been exposed to excessive radiation to block the body’s absorption of radioactive iodine. Using potassium iodide when inappropriate could have potential serious side effects such as abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte abnormalities and bleeding.
  • Q. Should I be taking potassium iodide to protect myself?
    A. No. Potassium iodide tablets are not recommended at this time, and can present a danger to people with allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems.
  • Q. Should I purchase potassium iodide as a precaution?
    A. No. Potassium iodide is only appropriate within a very close proximity to a nuclear event. Using potassium iodide when inappropriate could have potential serious side effects such as abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte abnormalities and bleeding.
  • Q. Are there any protective measures I should currently take?
    A. The best thing anyone can do is to stay informed. CDPH and other state and federal partners are monitoring the situation. If circumstances change, officials will alert the public to appropriate precautionary procedures. But, again, at this time, the NRC reports Japan’s nuclear emergency presents no danger to California.

For all your real estate needs, call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty

(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

Bits & Pieces

Hands on iPad 2 Review

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_d6_gbb90I

I bought an iPad 2 on March 11 the first day they came out and at around 6 pm, one hour after they first went on sale.  Not knowing why I bought it, other then I’m a tech geek and have to have the latest and greatest toy that comes out, is the only excuse that I have. The iPad comes in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, with or without 3G. I bought the 16 GB iPad 2 without 3G.

So far, I’ve been really impressed with the tablet. For instance, I downloaded the Netflix app and it streams beautifully on a marginal wifi connection. I was able to watch the TV series “Bones” season five with no problems at all.

I was also able to download a Nook app, (I also have a color Nook tablet) and downloaded one of my books that I had started reading – Brian Greene’s “The Hidden Reality” and I also bought the book by Clive Sussler “The Jungle”  As an e-book reader, it’s wonderful, and I think it works better than the Kindle (yes, I have a Kindle also) and the Nook tablets. I downloaded the Kindle app but it does not work as well as the Nook app.

There is also an NPR app with which I can listen to prior programs or listen to KXJZ live.  Other apps that I like are Chess.com, Angry Birds,  Fruit Ninja,  PSExpress,  Yahoo Finance, Huffington Post,  Google Earth and my Spanish-English dictionary which I had on my Iphone . I noticed that some of the videos on CNN would not work since it needs Adobe Flash and the iPad does not support Flash.

Photo courtesy of My Gadget News. Showing benchmark speed iPad 1 compared to iPad 2.  Various other test results indicates that the iPad 2 performs 400 times faster than the iPad 1.

Related news:  Apple iPad 2 sells out – CNN

 

For all your real estate needs call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941

Real Estate

The Frustrations of Short Sales in Dealing With Banks

Photo courtesy of Around Hawaii

The California Association of REALTORS® has put full page ads in numerous papers throughout California regarding the frustration of dealing with banks in trying to do short sales with them. A short sale is a sale of real estate in which the sale proceeds fall short of the balance owed on the property’s. It often occurs when a borrower cannot pay the mortgage loan on their property, but the lender decides that selling the property at a moderate loss is better than pressing the borrower. Both parties consent to the short sale process, because it allows them to avoid foreclosure, which involves hefty fees for the bank and poorer credit report outcomes for the borrowers. This agreement, however, does not necessarily release the borrower from the obligation to pay the remaining balance of the loan, known as the deficiency

Having had numerous short sales fall through, I fully understand the frustration of buyers and sellers in trying to work with banks in doing short sales.  I don’t know what their problem is. They seem to be extremely great at finding ways to tack on fees for every dealing you do with them, but complete disregard for completing what should be a smooth sale of real estate property of which they have an interest in.

I have two short sales going right now that have been in the works since November of last year. One of the banks, after five months has finally reviewed all the paper work on one of the short sales,  (a simple offer to purchase property) and assigned a negotiator to deal with the purchase contract.  This by no means says that the bank will accept the offer that was made.  I’ve had banks come back after an offer was made and demand $30,000 more than the property was worth. This resulted in the property not being sold in a short sale, foreclosed and the banks losing thousands of dollars because they refused to go along with the short sale.

Here’s a press release from C.A.R. further explaining the frustrations of short sales:

Banks drag feet on short sales, survey finds
The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTOR® (C.A.R.) published its findings of a survey this week, which show that tedious lender requirements and poor communication hamper short sales.

  • Fewer than three of five short sales close in California, illustrating the complexity and difficulty of navigating lenders’ and servicers’ short sale procedures, according to C.A.R.’s survey, which gauged REALTORS®’ experience in working with short sale transactions – transactions in which the lender or lenders agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner.
  • Although not every homeowner or mortgage is eligible for a short sale, those who are able to finalize a short sale avoid a foreclosure on their credit record and can move on with their lives.
  • Banks are taking much longer to respond to short sale offers than those specified in government guidelines for banks.  Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said banks took longer than 60 days to respond to short sale offers.  Often, this results in buyers walking away from the transaction.
  • “Increasing the number of successful short sale transactions is one important way we can help California families avoid foreclosure and move our economy closer to recovery,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce.
  • C.A.R. is asking government agencies, such as the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, to force banks to complete all short sales following HAFA guidelines and to comply with the program’s time frames.

Read the full story

 

nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation to Host Crab Cioppino Feed

Photo Courtesy of Chezpim

Join the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation at its first annual Crab Cioppino Feed on Saturday, March 26 at 6 pm at Ponderosa Hall at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

For the event, Chef Arnie Romanello will create and serve his special 100-year-old recipe for all to enjoy. Dinner includes antipasto, all-you-can-eat Cioppino, salad, garlic bread and dessert. A no-host bar will also be available.

Tickets are $35 per person, and are available by visiting the Nevada County Fairgrounds office or calling the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217, calling a Foundation Board member at
(530) 271-3844, or by downloading an order form at www.NevadaCountyFair.com/Foundaton.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundations and its mission of supporting and improving the community’s Fairgrounds.

For more information, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call the (530) 273-6217.

 

Source: Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217

wsoaks@gmail.com

 

Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com
Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds

Nevada County Fair                          August 10 – 14, 2011
Draft Horse Classic                            September 22 – 25, 2011
Halloween at the Fairgrounds      October 29, 2011
Country Christmas Faire                  November 25 – 27, 2011

For all your real estate needs call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941

 

Grass Valley, Restaurants

Sergio’s Caffe in Downtown Grass Valley

Sergio Martignago
Sergio Martignago

By Sherri L. Reynolds

One of my favorite places to eat is Sergio’s Caffe, a charming and quaint eating establishment located in downtown Grass Valley. (Yes the name Sergio’s Caffe is spelled with two f’s)

It is owned and operated by Sergio and his wife Lena , eight years running now and serving up delicious food from salads, sandwiches, soups, grilled chicken, salmon, tri-tip, vegetarian and lasagna ( a homemade specialty) prepared by his head Chef, Troy. All food is freshly made daily and there are local wines, coffee, teas and assorted beverages. Save room for dessert, as there are a variety of melt in your mouth sweet treats to be had.

Left to right - Rene Medina, Jordyn Chapman, Sergio Martignago
Left to right - Rene Medina, Jordyn Chapman, Sergio Martignago

Sergio uses the finest high quality ingredients available, cooking without MSG, margarine and no hydrogenated oils. Lunch prices are reasonable.

This is one of the most welcoming and friendly places to sit and enjoy a good meal. There is always pleasant music in the background, anything from French, Italian, Russian, Spanish to Norah Jones. The tables are sweetly decorated with fresh flowers, soft light, and the service is always friendly and impeccable, Sergio employs two chefs, Troy and Renee (on occasion his wife Lena cooks too) and waiter Jordan and waitress Jordyn, whom are all very delightful. So, sit and relax under the beautiful green palm plant tree and have a pleasurable experience. As Sergio say’s ” Eat, Drink and Be Merry”…..

Bon Appetite…

” Sergio’s Caffe” a charming and quaint eating establishment is located downtown Grass Valley, Ca on 154 Mill St. ( across from the Del Oro movie theater). 530-274-2600, lunch: Monday-Saturday 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and dinner; Wednesday-Saturday 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sherri L. Reynolds

(Just one of the many regular patrons)


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For all your real estate needs call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091

Real Estate

Condominium Associations can Receive Assistance With Obtaining FHA Approval


Loans funded by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) account for a significant percentage of new mortgages, and with many of today’s buyers only able to purchase a home with an FHA loan, it is essential that REALTORS® understand which condominium and townhome properties are eligible for FHA loans.

Eligibility Check provides members with the only real-time source for checking condominium FHA loan eligibility and approval status by property address.  C.A.R. members receive up to a 25 percent discount off the standard Eligibility Check pricing.

Clarus FHA Approval™ also offers Approval Services to assist condominium associations in obtaining FHA approval.  Discounts are provided to condominium associations referred by a REALTOR®.  Failure to be approved for FHA loan eligibility will almost certainly impact the marketability of a condominium.  Encourage the condominium homeowners associations in your market area to seek approval for FHA loans now!

Approval Services is available by calling (818) 338-6588.

More info on Eligibility Check and Approval Services: www.clarusfhaapproval.com.

For all your real estate needs call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091

Grass Valley

The Ghost at the Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley, CA

1 Comment

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWjQB-6WNHs

I’ve moved my office into the Holbrook Hotel and I keep hearing about the ghost that resides in the hotel. Here is a video I found on Youtube describing the ghost.

For all your real estate needs, write or call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530( 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

Real Estate

Five Signs That Say Now is the Time to “Buy”


Home buyers sitting on the fence wondering if now is the right time to buy should consider five factors when making this decision: Jobs, recent sales activity, construction, mortgage availability, and anecdotal evidence.  Each of these issues can help consumers make the best choice for their situation and financial circumstance.

  • Jobs: Although many areas of the country were deeply impacted by the recession, some areas were less affected by job loss.  If employment stability is a concern, prospective buyers should review job-growth data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.  The data provided by the Bureau is approximately one month old and shows the direction of the local economy.
  • Recent Sales Activity: Housing inventory and sales volume should be taken into consideration while house hunting.  A large inventory of homes with few actual transactions can be a negative indicator.  On the other hand, if inventory is falling and transactions are rising, that is a good sign.  In January, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ Unsold Inventory Index stood at 6.7 months, up from 5 months in December 2010, but down from 5.7 months in January 2010.  The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.
  • Construction: Staying up-to-date on the number of building permits issued for local builders is useful for gauging builder sentiment and the future of housing activity.  The California Building Industry Association recently announced that California home builders pulled 2,920 total housing permits in January, registering a 5-percent decline compared with a year ago and a 56-percent decline compared with December.  However, the Construction Industry Research Board is projecting 62,000 total permits will be pulled in 2011, an increase of 38 percent compared with 2010’s total of 44,893 permits.
  • Mortgage Availability: Home buyers hoping to be approved for a mortgage should monitor local lending patterns.  Following the financial crisis, most national banks tightened lending standards; however, some local banks haven’t been impacted as much as large lenders and are more willing to lend, even for higher-priced homes.
  • Anecdotal Evidence: Although buyers can access home listings online, one of the best ways to monitor the local housing market is to work with a REALTOR® and gather intelligence using their expertise and guidance.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs write or call:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

Visit my other website www.johnodellrealty.com

DRE# 00669941

Bits & Pieces

Run, Walk, Just Don’t Sit Still!

by Lisa J. Lehr

Looking for the ideal exercise? Whether you’re still trying to make good on a New Year’s resolution, thinking about the upcoming swimsuit season, or looking for a way to add variety to your workout routine, walking and running rise to the top of the list of possible choices.

For overall fitness, nothing beats walking and running. You need no expensive equipment; you don’t have to join a club or travel to a special place; you can do it at pretty much any time of day or year.

But which is better? Well, it depends. Here are the pluses and minuses of both.

Running:

  • burns more calories than walking in the same amount of time—because you travel farther running than walking. Mile for mile, however, the calories burned are the same. That’s because carrying your weight over a given distance burns the same number of calories regardless of speed.
  • raises your heart rate more than walking.
  • strengthens your bones more than walking because of the strain it creates.
  • strengthens your muscles more than walking—but only if you’re actually running, not jogging. In that sense, power walking (walking as fast as you can without breaking into a jog) is actually more effective than slow running.
  • is more likely to cause injury. When running, you impact (hit the ground) with three times your body weight on each step. Especially for people who are overweight, out of shape, or pregnant, the strain on the knees, hips, and ankles can be a problem. If you’re going to begin a running program, start slowly and gradually increase your distance and/or frequency.

Walking:

  • may be better for fat burning. According to Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine at UC San Francisco: “When you run a mile, you’re burning mostly sugar, or carbohydrates, which is how your body gives you fast energy in bursts. When you walk a mile, it gives your metabolism time to switch from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.”
  • is easier on your joints. Walking causes an impact of only 1.5 times your body weight, yet is still a weight-bearing exercise that will prevent bone loss.
  • is easier to fit into many people’s schedules. You can do it on your lunch hour at work; you may need to change only your shoes and probably won’t need to shower afterward.
  • has a benefit if you live in the city and have to stop at traffic signals: the sudden stop from a running pace can be dangerous for your heart. It’s much safer to stop from a walk. If you have to stop at a light while running, try jogging in place.
  • allows you to enjoy the scenery more than running, which in turn may keep you from burning out as soon.

I’m going to add a reminder to vary your terrain to avoid one-sided leg pain, and try to disconnect from your iPod. We live in a friendly community full of natural beauty. Say hello to the neighbors you pass; listen to the frogs croak and the birds chirp; be alert to approaching cars.  So…walking or running? It’s really a matter of what works best for you. Walk, run, or do something else. Just do it.

 

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer, copywriter, and fitness enthusiast living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

—
Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
www.justrightcopy.com
Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

For all your real estate needs, call or e-mail
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941