How to Protect Your Pets From Predators

February 18, 2011 jd

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFW4w-61hic
This is a video of a coyote “playing” with a family dog. Notice that the coyote keeps running into the bushes. Coyotes travel in packs and will play with a dog, luring the dog into the bushes where the rest of the pack is. Once in the bushes, the coyotes will kill and devour the dog.

by Lisa J. Lehr

Most of us living in Nevada County moved here because we like the rural environment. Rural environments include wildlife, and that, for the most part, is a plus; however, most of us also share our lives with beloved pets, and clashes between wildlife and pets often end in heartache for the pet owner.

Coyotes are a particularly ubiquitous wild critter here in Nevada County, and pets falling prey to coyotes is a far too common occurrence. The consolation—if there is any—is that, compared to a car accident, dog attack, or abduction by a person with evil intentions, death by coyote is quick and, as far as we know, relatively suffering-free. Coyotes kill to eat, and they do it efficiently.

Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a cherished pet, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

Coyotes are difficult to eradicate. They are becoming alarmingly unafraid of humans, with daytime sightings becoming more frequent. Trapping and relocating coyotes is not as good an idea as it may sound, as any young coyotes orphaned by this process will seek easy prey—e.g., our pets.

They can be frightened, so if you see one, try shaking a noisemaker (like a can full of hardware) or throwing things at it. Fire a Super Soaker (high-powered toy water gun) filled with water or vinegar.

More often, though, we don’t see them lurking around our property, as they are naturally nocturnal. The key to keeping coyotes away from your home (and your pets, your children, and you) is to eliminate all that attracts coyotes—mainly food. Coyotes are generalists, meaning they’ll eat just about anything.

With that in mind:

Keep your cats and small dogs indoors at night; your medium and large dogs, too. Coyotes hunting in packs can take down a fairly big animal.

Rabbits, chickens, etc. that are kept outdoors need protection: strong fencing with a top, and/or a small enclosure inside it that they can hide in.

Don’t let your pets’ food become coyote bait. Cats are best fed indoors, and dogs should be fed only what they will eat all at once, with no leftovers.

Be careful with your bird feeders. Place them close to your house, and clean up spills. Do not feed squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. Any naturalist will tell you that birds are the only wild critters we should feed.

Put garden compost in enclosed bins, and gather your ripe fruits and vegetables immediately.

If your cats wear bells on their collars, take them off. The same bells that supposedly alert birds to your cats’ presence also betray their whereabouts to coyotes. (Once you’ve cleaned up the birdseed, you’ll have fewer birds within your cats’ reach, anyway.) One final consideration: cats who wear bells learn to be stealthier hunters, which leaves us with no reason that cats should ever wear bells.

Besides food, coyotes are attracted to potential partners. An unneutered male dog will be attracted to a female coyote; a male coyote will be attracted to an unspayed female dog; both scenarios spell trouble. Spay and neuter your pets.

Mothballs and ammonia around your property may repel coyotes, as will a motion-sensitive light.

Consider a fence. The type of fencing will need to be one that deters climbing and is in accordance with the CC&Rs of your neighborhood; at least six feet tall and extending six inches below ground. Some clever person has invented a “roll fence”; it has a rolling piece at the top, which keeps your cats from climbing out, or any uninvited guests from climbing in. As they try to grasp the top bar, it rolls. Wild critters stay out, tame ones in, and you and your pets live happily ever after.

Coyotes will always be among us, but we don’t have to live in fear for our pets’ lives. Our best bet is to make them feel so unwelcome in civilization that they’ll pack up their families and move back to the wilderness.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover 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.

animals

There’s a Bear Living Under My House!

February 17, 2011 jd

Picture taken by Jeff Toff’s cousin in Lake Tahoe

A friend of mine has a cousin who lives in Lake Tahoe. This winter a black bear decided to use the cousin’s space under his house to live in. Making it nice and cozy for the bear, the bear dislodged the heating ducts so he could stay warm during the winter. Being warm, the bear did not want to come out, but he got spooked when humans came around and he run up a tree as you can see in the picture.

A little information on the black bear which is also known as the American black bear, they’re the smallest and most common species of bear. They’re omnivores, eating whatever is in season and with a wide variety of food, making them a survivor over other bear species that have become extinct. However, it’s said that 85% of their diet is vegetarian. It’s estimated that there are twice as many black bears as all other species of bears.

They range in size from 125 to 550 pounds, can run at speeds from 25 to 30 mph. However, compared to brown bear attacks, violent encounters with black bears rarely lead to serious injury. But the majority of black bear attacks tend to be motivated more by hunger rather than territoriality, and thus victims have a higher probability of surviving by fighting back rather than submitting

By the way, the bear’s OK, he came down and went on his way looking for another warm place to camp out. Hopefully with forced air heat.

Source for information on black bears: Wikipedia
Source for story Jeff Toff

For all your real estate needs Call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 006689941

nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairgrounds’ CEO to Serve as Vice President on Western Fairs Association’s Board of Directors

February 16, 2011 jd

Sandy Woods, Chief Executive Officer of the Nevada County Fairgrounds, has been elected as Vice President of the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) Board of Directors. Woods was recently recognized at the association’s annual conference in Reno.

Woods will serve a one year term as Vice President, and will then become President of the WFA Board of Directors in 2012. All WFA directors are elected by their peers.

As a member of the Board, Woods will represent the more than 800 WFA members and will work on their behalf for legislative advocacy, as well as govern the activities and policies of the association.

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada. WFA serves fair-related businesses, fair management, fair board directors, festivals, and industry associations.

The 2011 Nevada County Fair is August 10 – 14.

By: Wendy Oak
Publicist,
Nevada County Fairgrounds

(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com

Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com

Business

Former Bank Officer and City Councilman Plead Guilty to Embezzling $3.7 Million Over 10 Years

February 15, 2011 jd

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Stephen Marich, 43, of Ely, Nevada, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson in federal court in Las Vegas to embezzling at least $3.7 million from the First National Bank of Ely over about 10 years.

Upon discovering Marich’s activity, the Bank of Ely promptly reported it to law enforcement and followed up with a thorough internal investigation.

The case was extensively investigated by the FBI. They have determined that Marich acted alone. This case is being prosecuted by Eastern District of California Assistant United States Attorney Matthew D. Segal.

According to the plea agreement, from the mid-1990s until about December 7, 2009, Marich was an employee of the First National Bank of Ely, most recently as a vice president. Marich admitted using his control over a treasury bill account to steal at least $3.7. He used the funds for his personal benefit and also to make transfers to offshore online gambling enterprises. According to public accounts, Marich was an Ely city councilman until he resigned during this investigation.

Marich is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. The maximum statutory penalty for an embezzlement of more than $1 million by a bank employee is 30 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Source: FBI

Business

How Local Business People Are Becoming Stronger Leaders

February 13, 2011 jd

by Lisa J. Lehr

Would you like to have more communicative employees—or be one? Have a more effective sales force, or be a trainer with phenomenal presentation skills? Be a more confident, competent leader? Be persuasive, inspirational, and/or entertaining?

That’s what 235,000 people around the world are doing right now, and it’s called Toastmasters International.

This might sound like a shameless plug for Toastmasters…and perhaps it is, because I’ve been a member of Toastmasters for over 10 months now, and I love it, and so do my fellow Toastmasters, and we’d love to have more company!

Toastmasters is an international organization that provides training in speaking and leadership that is on a par with expensive and extensive professional training programs, yet at a fraction of the cost and time commitment.

Nevada County is lucky to have four different Toastmasters Clubs—unusual for a community of our size. Mother Lode Toastmasters meets Monday evenings; Early Risers Toastmasters, Tuesday mornings; Penn Valley Club, Wednesday evenings; and the club I belong to, Empire Toastmasters, meets every Friday at noon at Trolley Junction Restaurant (at the Northern Queen Hotel) in Nevada City.

We’re a small, friendly, supportive group dedicated to helping each other improve at a comfortable pace, wherever we each currently are with our speaking and leadership skills. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Come as a guest; you’ll be invited (but not required!) to participate in Table Topics, in which participants each speak impromptu for about a minute on a given theme. It’s often the highlight of the meeting, and almost always provides the most laughs. Lunch is $14 and reservations are not required.

My fellow Toastmasters and I are available to do a presentation for your business or organization that will explain the program in much greater detail. My own personal and professional growth through Toastmasters has been nothing short of astonishing in less than a year, and my fellow club members have similar stories to tell about being “the shyest person who ever lived”—but no more, thanks to Toastmasters!

Visit this link for more information about the local clubs:

http://www.toastmastersnevadacounty.org/

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter 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.

Real Estate

Online Mortgage Shopping Made Easier

February 11, 2011 jd

The vast amount of information available online about mortgages – such as interest rates, loan benchmarks, prepayment penalties, and the like – can cause home buyers to feel confused and overwhelmed when shopping for a mortgage. Most surprisingly, a recent survey found that only 61 percent of homeowners surveyed said they comparison shopped for a mortgage, and 39 percent said they took out a home loan based on just one quote.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY

Resulting from consumer feedback about lending Web sites being unhelpful or difficult to navigate, some of the nation’s leading mortgage sites have responded by working to become more consumer-friendly. The revamped sites allow borrowers to not only browse lender rates and terms, but also learn about market trends and read comments from other loan shoppers.
One of the challenges borrowers have, according to Keith T. Gumbinger, the vice president of HSH Association, is that while there is plenty of mortgage information available, consumers often have difficulty understanding the technical aspects of a mortgage, such as when an adjustable rate mortgage actually adjusts, and when a prepayment penalty applies.
One site, LendingTree, allows consumers to browse quotes from various lenders, read an array of industry articles, use research tools and calculators, and peruse consumer-generated ratings and reviews of lenders. In December, the company created an online feature in which borrowers can post a mortgage-related question to be answered by a LendingTree loan specialist.
Online direct lender, Quicken Loans, offers an expanding number of customer-written reviews on buying and refinancing. Beginning in March, consumers can download Quicken Loan’s iPhone app and track when appraisals come in, closing dates are set, and when other time-sensitive hurdles in the home-buying process are reached.
Some major lenders also are making changes, including Bank of America, which offers articles and tools specifically for first-time buyers, and another set for more experienced borrowers.
Of course, borrowers also can forgo the online aspect of mortgage shopping, and instead work with an experienced mortgage broker who can help guide the buyer through the process, including locking in the best rates available for their situation.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs Call

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

DRE# 00669941

Bits & Pieces

Tibetan Monks in Roseville Februrary 4th to 13th

February 7, 2011 jd

By John J. O’Dell

Sunday I visited the Tibetan Monks who are in Roseville. They are there making a mandala, which if you haven’t seen one, is truly a work of art. Made entirely out of colored sand, the mandala is made one grain of sand at a time!

Mandalas created from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect purification and healing. Typically, a great teacher chooses the specific mandala to be created. The monks assigned to make the mandala construct the mandala completely from memory, including the color of sand for each line!

This completed mandala was made by the monks when they visisted Grass Valley

Over a period of days, the design is filled in with millions of grains of sand. At its completion, the mandala is consecrated. The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.

According to Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them. While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities’ healing blessings.

A mandala’s healing power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing the mandala’s blessings with all.

Tibetan Monks will be in Roseville from February 4th – 13th, 2011 at The Children’s Art Center 190 Park Drive, Roseville, CA. Viewing hours are 10 am to 6 pm.

Real Estate

5 Unexpected Foreclosure Hotspots

February 6, 2011 jd

One of the lakes in Grouse Ridge, Nevada County, CA

While Las Vegas boasts the worst foreclosure rate in the country, several other cities are creeping up with the fastest growing rates of foreclosures — and they’re in some unexpected places.

These cities mostly have one thing in common: They’re all battling a growing number of job losses among their residents that are leading more home owners to default on their mortgages.

Here are five cities with some of the fastest-growing foreclosure rates in the country:

1. Spartanburg, S.C.
Foreclosure rate: 1 in 60 homes

This city in upstate South Carolina faced a 228 percent increase in foreclosure filings in 2010 — making it the nation’s fastest-growing foreclosure rate. In 2009, the city’s unemployment rate hit 12.7 percent in 2009, dropping to 10.9 percent in 2010, yet still well above the national average.

2. Albuquerque, N.M.
Foreclosure rate: 1 in 46 homes

Albuquerque had a 60 percent increase in foreclosures in 2010. This city has had one of the fastest-growing metro areas over the past decade, attracting young professionals and retirees, but its economy was hard hit by the recession.

3. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Foreclosure rate: 2.25 percent

Myrtle Beach had a 44 percent increase in foreclosures in 2010. Once a big draw for vacation-home buyers, the city’s second-home market was crushed by the recession when tourism dropped and unemployment increased.

4. Savannah, Ga.
Foreclosure rate: 1 in 40 homes

Savannah had a 37 percent increase in foreclosure filings in 2010. Its unemployment rate is still on the rise; in November it rose to 8.9 percent. Many of the foreclosures in the city are in its Historic District or The Landings, popular areas where home prices rose quickly during the housing boom days.

5. Charlotte, N.C.
Foreclosure rate: 1 in 50 homes

Charlotte also had a 37 percent increase in foreclosure filings in 2010. Its unemployment rate is dropping; it was 10 percent in November. Charlotte has become the 33rd largest metro area in the country, growing by more than 30 percent in the past 10 years.

For all your real estate needs Call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091

DRE# 00669941

Real Estate

Fees For Home Mortgages Increase

February 5, 2011 jd

For the first time since 2009, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are raising risk fees charged to lenders on loans they buy for resale to investors. Fannie and Freddie also are adding risk fees to more loans offered to borrowers with exemplary credit. Although lenders could absorb the cost, most are expected to add the fees to loan costs.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY

To avoid a fee or to receive a discount, most borrowers will need FICO scores of 740 or better and down payments of at least 25 percent.
The fee increases likely will affect most loans with terms longer than 15 years that are sent to Freddie beginning March 1, and to Fannie beginning April 1.
The most notable aspect of the fee increase is that the fees are being added to more loans to borrowers with higher credit scores. With few exceptions, risk fees previously hadn’t applied to borrowers with FICO scores of 740 or higher.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs Call

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

DRE# 00669941

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Real Estate

Countrywide Financial Executives Settles With State of California for $6.5 Million

February 4, 2011 jd

Sunset over Scotts Flat Lake from my deck 2/3/11 In the background is the Coast Range

By John J. O’Dell

Finally some justice against Countrywide Financial Corporation for all of their shady lending practices.. They created mortgage loans which were bound to be foreclosed on. Here’s a press release from the office of the Attorney General of California explaining what they did:

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today (February 2, 201) announced a $6.5 million settlement of a predatory lending case against Angelo Mozilo and David Sambol, former officers of Countrywide Financial Corporation. Attorney General Harris announced the settlement money will be used to establish an innovative statewide California Foreclosure Crisis Relief Fund to combat the effects of California’s high rates of foreclosure and mortgage delinquency.

“Our prior settlement with Countrywide provided restitution for foreclosed homeowners and set in motion loan modification programs that have helped tens of thousands of consumers,” Attorney General Harris said. “We will use the current settlement to help Californians affected by the mortgage crisis by providing grants to agencies that help homeowners facing foreclosure with relocation assistance and providing money to state and local agencies to prosecute mortgage fraud.”

This settlement concludes litigation filed by Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. in June 2008 against Countrywide Financial Corp., Countrywide Home Loans and Full Spectrum Lending, as well as Mozilo and Sambol. The financial relief provided under the current settlement augments the Attorney General’s October 2008 settlement with Countrywide to provide loan modifications and other foreclosure relief valued at $8.68 billion nationwide, with $3.5 billion provided to California borrowers.

According to the lawsuit, leading up to the mortgage crisis, Countrywide lured borrowers with low “teaser” rates often as low as 1 percent adjustable rate loans. Its loan officers obscured the downsides of these loans, which included rapidly rising rates after teaser rates expired, big prepayment penalties, and negative amortization in which a borrower’s total loan costs rose even as additional payments were made. Countrywide also loosened its mortgage standards and verification procedures in order to write more loans.

As a result of these practices, tens of thousands of homeowners with Countrywide loans ended up in default and foreclosure. The Attorney General’s lawsuit alleged that Mozilo and Sambol knew of these practices and allowed them to continue.

The complaint alleged that Countrywide sought to increase its share of the nationwide mortgage market to 30 percent through a deceptive scheme to mass produce loans – with little concern about borrowers’ long-term ability to afford them. It then would sell the loans on the secondary market to earn the highest possible premiums.

The settlement with Mozilo, the CEO of Countrywide, and Sambol, its president, was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court. Mozilo and Sambol left Countrywide when it was purchased by Bank of America in July 2008.”

Source: Attorney General’s Office

So what do you think?

For all your real estate needs Call

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

DRE# 00669941