Community Events, nevada county fair

Contests, Costumes and a Cupcake Walk at the Nevada County Fair

The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation is hosting a scarecrow contest and a costume contest at its Halloween event on Saturday, October 30, from 2 – 5 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

If you’re interested in entering the scarecrow contest, your scarecrow should be dropped off at the Main Exhibit Building at the Fairgrounds between 10 am – noon on Saturday, October 30. Winners will be announced at 4 pm.  Additionally, a costume parade and contest will take place at 4 pm at the Main Exhibit Building.

There will be games and treats for kids and even a cupcake walk! A live and silent auction will be happening throughout the day. We’ll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs and there will be toe-tapping live entertainment for all to enjoy. Additionally, Empire Carriage Company will provide wagon rides around the Fairgrounds.

Grass Valley Rotary Club’s annual community “Ball Drop” will take place at 5 pm. For only $5/ticket, you get the chance to win $1,000!  Rotary will be selling tickets at the entrance to the Halloween event and also at the Ball Drop area.

This family-friendly Halloween event is hosted by the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, in partnership with the Nevada County Ag Youth Boosters and Grass Valley Rotary Club. All three organizations have come together to support improvement projects for our community Fairgrounds, as well as to support youth programs in Nevada County.  This event is sponsored by Extreme Roofing.

It’s all happening, rain or shine, on Saturday, October 30 from 2 – 5 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The cost is only $5 per person and includes food, treats, games and entertainment!  Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, at the Grass Valley and Combie Road Citizen’s Bank branches, or at The Book Seller in Grass Valley. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event at the Fairgrounds.  Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information or call (530) 273-6217.

Real Estate

A Little Known Loan Program for Fixer-Uppers


Home buyers thinking of purchasing a distressed property in need of repair, but who are concerned that the cost of the repairs could drain their savings account may qualify for the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203(k) rehabilitation program.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

  • The FHA’s 203(k) rehabilitation program provides loans for covering renovation costs as well as the purchase price of the primary residence.  Investors are not eligible for this program.  Additionally, similar to traditional FHA loan programs, the rehab program allows for a down payment of as little as 3.5 percent.
  • A common misperception about the program is that the house needs to be unlivable.  Realistically, the property just needs to be outdated, according to a lender familiar with the program.  The property “just has to appraise below market value and then at market value with the repairs.”
  • Improvements deemed “luxury” are ineligible; however, the program has a wide range of definitions for “repairs” and “modernization.”  Covered repairs include items such as a new roof or heating system, as well as decorative changes, like replacing vinyl with ceramic tile on the kitchen floor or painting the interior.
  • In addition to putting down at least 3.5 percent of the current value of the property, buyers also must use a HUD-approved lender, appraiser, and a contractor approved by the lender for the repairs.  One list of approved businesses can be found at 203kcontractors.com.
  • Borrowers considering the FHA rehab loan program should be aware that loan rates typically run around a percentage point higher than conventional loans, and come in 15- to 30-year terms, either fixed or adjustable.  Additional paperwork for inspection, appraisal, title updating, and the like can increase closing costs by $1,000 or more higher than the average.
  • For additional information about the FHA 203(k) rehabilitation program, please visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kabou.cfm

Read the full story.

Buying or selling?

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

Community Events, nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairground’s 26th Annual Christmas Faire

Country Christmas Faire, November 26, 27 & 28, 2010

GRASS VALLEY – Mark your calendar for the 26th annual Country Christmas Faire at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley on November 26, 27, and 28. Rated as one of the top handcrafted shows in Northern California, this year’s Country Christmas Faire will feature unique gifts and crafts from top artisans from across the state.

Five exhibit buildings will be filled during the Thanksgiving weekend, giving shoppers a chance to start their holiday shopping with quality hand-made holiday items, ornaments, jewelry, wooden crafts, soaps and lotions, hand-woven baskets, stained glass, candles, beadwork, and dozens of other unique gifts.

Visitors to the Faire will enjoy strolling live entertainment, festival foods, the magical Gingerbread House exhibit, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, errand elves, and a community bon-fire. Wagon rides around the Fairgrounds will be offered; and Victorian singers, the bell ringing RiverBells, and the Sierra Symphony quartet will perform throughout the event.

Free babysitting will be offered by local Girl Scouts, so parents can drop off their children while they enjoy holiday shopping.

The Country Christmas Faire begins Friday, November 26, and runs through Sunday,

November 28. Admission is $4 for adults and children 12 and under are free. The hours are 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49. For more information, to visit the Fair’s web site at Click Here or call (530) 273-6217.

By: Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com

Center for the Arts, Community Events

Billy Bragg Folk-Rock Singer Song Writer Coming to the Center for the Arts

Billy Bragg is coming to the  Center for the Arts in Grass Valley on October 30 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $30.00

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jphA05ka6E

Billy Bragg has been described by The Times in London as a “national treasure.” Finding inspiration in the socially conscious folk tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, Bragg has spent over two decades making an indelible mark on the conscience of British music that has carried over to the US and Canada. He has released consistently celebrated solo records as well as two Grammy nominated albums with Wilco – Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue, Volume II. Bragg’s most recent CD Mr. Love and Justice blends social justice with the power of personal relationships.

He was born Steven William Bragg in Essex, England. He has worked alongside British parliamentarians, unskilled unemployed workers, members of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, young music hopefuls, unsung buskers in the street, incarcerated convicts, newly liberated refugees, punk rockers and striking dockers.

Billy Bragg has recorded hit singles, composed Top Ten albums, penned political anthems sung at rallies, kept alive traditional English folk songs, put his own spin on America’s greatest folk catalog and sung his heart out doing so. He has appeared on both MTV and late night talk shows. He’s written essays for many daily newspapers and several notable weekly journals.

In 2006 he authored his first book, The Progressive Patriot, an eloquent protest against the extremist British National Party electing twelve councilors in his east London hometown.

Bragg was awarded the Classic Songwriter award by Q magazine. One of the first in the audience to shake his hand in congratulations during that warm moment was Sir Paul McCartney. Typically Bragg used the attention of the record industry audience to make a plea for contributions to his program to supply guitars to prison inmates. The name of this program is Jail Guitar Doors, a name Billy chose in honor of his early heroes, The Clash, who had a song by that name.

Tickets at:

The Center Box Office – 314 W. Main St, Grass Valley, 530-274-8384 ext 14
Box Office hours: noon to 5:00PM, Wednesday through Saturday

BriarPatch Co-op – 530-272-5333

After the Gold Rush Records – 530-265-3090

Cherry Records – 530-823-2147

Community Events, nevada county fair

Halloween Fun at the Nevada County Fairgrounds


Halloween Event Planned for Saturday, October 30, from 2 – 5 pm

Bring your family and friends to the Nevada County Fairgrounds for some Halloween fun on Saturday, October 30, from 2 – 5 pm. Rain or shine, in costume or in street clothes, we have fall festivities and activities for all to enjoy.

Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served, and “Running for Cover” will provide live musical entertainment. There will be treats for the kids, a live and silent auction, a cupcake walk, and lots of games. Plus, you don’t want to miss the costume and scarecrow contests and a chance to win some great prizes!

This family-friendly Halloween event is hosted by the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, in partnership with the Nevada County Ag Youth Boosters and Grass Valley Rotary Club. All three organizations have come together to support improvement projects for our community Fairgrounds, as well as to support youth programs in Nevada County.

Nevada County Ag Youth Boosters, which supports youth in agriculture, will provide games at the event, as well as host a silent auction.  Grass Valley Rotary Club will be hosting its annual community “Ball Drop,” which raises funds for local youth and senior organizations. For only $5/ticket, you get the chance to win $1,000! For tickets for the “ball drop,” contact any Grass Valley Rotary Club member or call/e-mail Larry at (530) 271-5544 or fallerl@aol.com.

The cost for the Halloween event at the Fairgrounds is only $5 per person and includes food, treats, games, and entertainment! Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, at the Grass Valley and Combie Road Citizen’s Bank branches, or at The Book Seller in Grass Valley. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event at the Fairgrounds.  Visit Nevada County Fair for information or call (530) 273-6217.

Real Estate

Another Craiglist Real Estate Scam

A crook with a computer has stolen an online listing from an Ames real estate company and is posting it on Craigslist as a rental, asking people to wire hundreds of dollars overseas, according to local and state sources.

Hunziker & Associates agent Tabitha Zesch said the property — a single family home priced at $129,900 — has been posted as a rental on Craigslist.

The scam artist put a story on the web page, “saying that the owners had been transferred overseas, that the property rents for $700 a month and that if anyone wanted, they could wire a deposit to hold the property,” Zesch said.

Zesch said her company became aware of the fraud only because a potential renter got suspicious, tracked down Hunziker as the listing agency and e-mailed her office.

She said her company notified state and federal authorities and alerted Craigslist, but that the listing was still there late Tuesday afternoon.

Bill Brauch, director of the consumer protection division for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, said scams like this one “are fairly common.”

“If you’re selling a home or some real estate online, (the crooks will) duplicate the ad and set up a scam of their own,” he said.

Source Ames Tribune

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Call John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
530-263-1091
DRE #00669941

Entertainment, Nevada County Information

Touring Nevada County Local Music Scene

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvTsc6J7DLE

Following in the footsteps of harpist Joanna Newsom, local bands in and around Nevada City and Grass Valley are creating a vibrant indie music scene. Now the scene’s success is being furthered by a new record label featuring local bands, Grass Roots Record Co. Take a mini-tour of the Nevada County music scene with Dan Elkan of the band “Them Hills.”

Real Estate

Improve Your Credit Score Before Searching for a Home

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, October 16, 2010–Many prospective homeowners find out the hard way the importance of a good credit score when they apply for a home mortgage, especially after the subprime loan crisis. If you are considering buying a home in the near future, it is a good idea to give your credit score a check-up and then take positive steps to improve your credit score if you find problems. Ideally, it is best to begin working on improving your credit score at least six months before you plan to start shopping for a home.

According to the experts at Buy-and-Sell-House-Fast.com, the following tips will help you improve your credit and should be taken before you begin your home search.

The first critical step in taking care of your credit is to check your credit report. Unfortunately, many people fail to take this all important first step. Instead, they wait until they have applied for a mortgage loan to find out from the lender that there are problems with their credit scores.

By checking your credit score before you apply for a mortgage loan, you gain the opportunity to find out if there are problems which you can correct and discrepancies that need to be removed. When you check your credit report, make sure you check all three of the national credit reporting agencies: Experian, Trans-Union and EquiFax.

Review your credit report carefully for items that may be erroneous. If you believe that an item on your credit report is reported in error, you have the right to contest it. To do so, you will need to contact the credit reporting agency and explain why you believe the item is inaccurate. Supporting documentation such as receipts and cancelled checks can help your claim. Alternatively, you can engage a credit report repair services firm to fix your credit report.

To read the full story Click Here

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Real Estate Broker
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Center for the Arts

Grass Valley Taiko Celebrates 10 Years Drumming at Center for the Arts

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I85V-1Mz9Ow

Grass Valley Taiko will celebrate 10 years of Japanese drumming in our community Saturday October 23, 2010 at the Center for the Arts at 8:00 pm in Grass Valley.

Under the leadership of Mitzi Garnett of Grass Valley Taiko.  Featuring  the “Father of North American Taiko,” Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, and members of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, the largest and oldest group in the western world.

Both Grand Master and Mitzi Garnett have much in common rooted in taiko drumming.  Both had a vision, fueled by their passion.

In the late-1960’s, while enjoying a Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco’s Japantown, a youthful Seiichi Tanaka observed that it was odd that there were no taiko drummers in the celebration.  Taiko drummers always graced Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan.  When he returned to Japan, he took up taiko drumming, studying under Grand Master Daihachi Oguchi of Osawa, Japan.  He ultimately returned to the States after a couple of years and became the lone drummer at the Cherry Blossom Festival!

Needless to say, steadily over the years, taiko drumming had become an integral part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco.  Grand Master subsequently founded the San Francisco Taiko Dojo where he continues to this day teaching this centuries old art form to adults and children.

In addition, Grand Master and his group are often seen at many Asian-influenced events, parades, schools, concerts, and even movies!  Many teachers of taiko throughout the United States are direct descendants of, or have been influenced by, Grand Master’s teachings over the years.

For tickets, please visit the Center Box Office (530-274-8384) at 314 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, or at Briar Patch (530-272-5333).