Zepplin Visits Medford Airport August 14 - 17, Rides!

PRESS RELEASE
For more information contact:
Bern Case, Airport Director
Kim Stearns, PIO
(541) 776-7222
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rogue Valley International-Medford First Oregon Airport to Host Zeppelin Visit
MEDFORD, OR – August 11, 2010 – The Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport
(MFR) will be the first touch-down spot in the State of Oregon for the Farmers Airship, Zeppelin which is on a five-city tour of the Pacific Northwest.

This will be the first visit from the Zepplin,Eureka, in the region. The Airship will be landing at the airport during the morning of August 14, 2010, and will remain for several days offering rides to passengers through August 17, 2010.
Owned and operated by Airship Ventures, individuals will have the extraordinary opportunity to book passage and sail over the Rogue River Valley, on the largest airship to touch down in Medford’s aviation history. “We believe this will be the largest aircraft per cubic foot to land at the airport,” stated Bern
Case, Airport Director. “We had to go out and mark off the perimeter just to make sure there would be enough room for the ship to fit!”

Tethered to a single mast, the Zeppelin will be a sight to behold. The aircraft will be moored at the end of runway nine (9) near Biddle Road. Medford Air Service will be the fixed base operator involved with the event. Would be passengers must book
tickets by calling 1-650-969-8100, ext. 111. Press rides will be available, but must be arranged in advance through that number.

The overall size of the aircraft is impressive at 246 feet in length. It bypasses a Boeing 747 by 50 feet. Not to be confused with a blimp, zeppelins (named after the inventor German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin), are rich in history, and were built using metal frames, enabling the airships to maneuver over longer distances. They were used strategically in the 1920’s as both transport craft and aerial scouts during World War 1.

This Zeppelin Airship serves a much friendlier purpose. Flown with the Farmers® Insurance logo, the Zeppelin, Eureka, will be providing rides to passengers throughout its Pacific Northwest tour. Additional information can be found at www.airshipventures.com/tracking.

Monopoly Maps

(This story was contributed by Jack Brooks of Lake Shastina)

INTERESTING STORY ABOUT WW II
Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the authorities were casting-about for ways and means to facilitate their escape. Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing not only where-stuff-was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses', where a POW on-the-loose could go for food and shelter. Paper maps had some real drawbacks: They make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear-out rapidly and if they get wet, they turn into mush.

Someone in MI-5 got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads, and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise what-so-ever. At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd.
When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort. By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K. Licensee for the popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a category item qualified for insertion into 'CARE packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross, to prisoners of war.
Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps were located (Red Cross packages were delivered to prisoners in accordance with that same regional system). When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.
As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add:
1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass,
2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together.
3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money!
British and American air-crews were advised, before taking off on their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set by means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking square! Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an
estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets.
Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy Indefinitely, since the British Government might want to use this highly successful use in still another, future war.
The story wasn't de-classified until 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the firm itself, were finally honoured in a public ceremony. Anyway, it's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of Jail Free' card.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/monopoly-game.htm




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Killing Squirrels in Lake Shastina

As we were walking the dogs the other day we passed a neighbor's house which has always had a remarkably neat yard. Never a pine needle or leaf on the lawn, all needles raked to bare dirt, etc.

So as we approach I noticed the owner standing in the yard in an odd pose: arms at his side with one slightly behind. He was staring upward, toward the top of a pine tree in the yard and the only thought that occured to me at the moment was why I could not see both of his hands if he was standing like that.

Then I saw the butt of a rifle in his right hand extending beyond his body, as if he was hiding it. A few paces later I heard a pop and a squirrel fell out of the tree and was flailing around on the ground. The man walked quickly over to the squirrel and put the rifle to its head and I heard another pop.

Evidently the squirrel was eating a pine cone and dropping the shards or whatever you call them, onto the lawn and damaging the man's idea of a clean lawn. I had seen the cone's 'leaves' for lack of the proper word scattered around the tree as we passed.

So it's okay to shoot them in our subdivision? I mean, it's odd enough that somebody would have to shoot a squirrel because it's making a 'mess'. But do I want bullets flying around the 'hood?

True, it may have been a pellet gun, or even a B-B gun. But they break windows and put out eyes too. Are there any CC&R's about this?

Recycling Newsletter

Sunday August 1, 2010

Wayout recycling has made progress in its quest to become the first privately owned curbside recycling company in California. At the Weds. night LSCSD meeting, the board approved a motion to enter into a franchise agreement with Wayout Recycling. This will allow us to get certified by CalRecycle, the state agency governing recycling programs. CalRecycle certification means that Wayout recycling can recycle more materials (we’re presently limited to CRV items). Certification will also qualify us for state funding grants to be used to improve our service, i.e. purchase of better pickup equipment, rental of storage/property to sort, possibly the purchase of recycling containers for the community. Remember, this is a community-based business, so put the word out to your neighbors. Have them call or e-mail us. Thank you for your support. Coming soon: Wayout Recycling will be on the web. Look for details in future e-mails.

Jason Robinson
Wayout Recycling
938-9967
wayoutrecycling@att.net

Have You Heard of This Man?

The date is 1946 and the man in the photo is Jens Hopen, father of Lt. Roy Hopen who was killed in the crash of his Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter near the Altoona Mine just across the county line in Trinity County. The date of the accident was Nov. 14, 1945 and our aircraft archaeology group has located and documented the site. The pilots remains were recovered the following year by the Navy and rest now in the Arlington National Cemetary.

But the father, Jens Hopen did not know this in June of 1946 and, overcome with grief, withdrew his entire life savings of $900 and drove across the country from New Jersey, leaving his wife at home, to try and find his son.

On June 12 he arrived in Weed and spent the next two days flying back and forth over the mountains looking for the wreck. On the 14th he hired two local guides and began a 30 day camp-out on Eddy Creek, searching China Mountain, Scott Mountain, Mount Eddy, Cory Peak, and others. He rented horses and at one point he made his own skiis to cross snow fields to range over the terrain eight hours every single day.

But in the end he failed. Money gone, he told his guides he simply could no longer pay to feed the horses or buy supplies for themselves and he returned home hollow-eyed with loss.

No local news stories have surfaced about this quiet desperate visit. No accounts have appeared anywhere that we can find so the question is did he leave a trail here? Has anyone heard about this man?

It is more relevant now because some Hopen relatives are planning to come to the Montague Airport on August 21 for the annual Aviation Day where our archaeology group will display artifacts from the Hellcat site. On hand will also be the brother of the B-24 co-pilot so this will be a family reunion of sorts.

Please call or write if you know of anyone who has information on this sad story that we can share with family members who are still looking for closure.

Bruce Batchelder 530-938-0385 bruce@realestatelakeshastina.com

PS: for a more readable copy of the clipping go to our website and click on Aviation, www.realestatelakeshastina.com.

A Community Perspective

By Will Bullington, CACM
CC&R Compliance Officer

August 2010

Bark Beetles, High Weeds and Abandoned Properties

Have you noticed that the bark beetles are active in Lake Shastina? We are experiencing groups of trees being infected in various parts of our community and, while we are in no way at an epidemic level, we have noticed an increase in their activity. This continues to be a statewide program and much of what I am writing I learned from an article written by a compliance officer for the Pine Mountain Lakes Home Owner’s Association outside of Yosemite.

There are over 20 invasive species of bark beetles and the and the most prevalent is the engraver beetle which goes after the tops of pine trees and the red turpentine beetle attacks the lower portion of the trunk. Bark beetles have a keen sense to recognize trees that are stressed or weakened in some fashion. Recent years of drought have created stress in many trees. A lack of water adds to a trees inability to produce pitch to stop the beetles. Trees compete for water from shrubs, new ornamental trees for landscaping and of course the Juniper tree drinks up to 150 gallons of water a day!

What can you do? Thin out competing vegetation that is fighting for sunlight and water. Prune and removing dead limbs increases a trees health too. There is some chemical control available to prevent the beetles and I would advise visiting www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7421.html for further information. Needless to say a dead 50 to 100 foot pine tree is a threat to life and property. It is your responsibility to prevent such trees from falling down in a good wind storm. Act quickly to cut down and remove the infected tree and all its limbs and wood.

The other area of concern for fire danger is the extremely high weeds due to the late winter and spring storms. Many of these weeds are seen on properties that are abandoned and “waiting” to be taken over by a bank and sold. Sometimes this happens very quickly but most times the bank does not want the property in their bad debt inventory and the property will sit with the water shut off (yep, they don’t pay their water bill too) and the landscaping dies.

It can be very aggravating for a homeowner that lives here and maintains their own property to look next door at a lot full of weeds. We are working with real estate agents and the Board to address these issues. The Board will send a 30 day courtesy notice and then after that must schedule a hearing with the owner. The Board may rule to hire a contractor to go in and abate the nuisance and charge owner. If it is bank owned and there are already numerous liens for taxes, bad credit and home owner’s dues it may not be a good business decision to do this. Each property has to be researched and then weighed as to what is best for the community. Sometimes the property is listed with a real estate agent and a simple phone call will get the weeds mowed down, the water turned back on and the property made more presentable. (Why we need to explain curb appeal to real estate agents floors me). It seems the further away from Lake Shastina the agent is the less concerned they are for how a property looks. “Looks good from where I’m at….”

Just for information our own fire fuel abatement program of mowing unimproved lots is on hold due to the high fire danger. We do not want the mowers to send a spark and start a fire so all tractor work by LSPOA will have to wait for the fall weather to begin.

(Editor's note; "curb appeal" is a basic concept every Realtor knows, what may not be appreciated is that an owner who is upside down on the home has no motivation whatever to take care of it any more. Agents hate brown lawns as much as neighbors do and we realize more than you might expect what that does to value.

I also do not believe that if an agent's office is out of town they are more likely to ignore the condition of a property. If an agent specializes in REO's for example which are homes repossessed by lenders the banks are even less motivated than an upside down owner. We are struggling with an REO sale right now because the bank won't pay overdue LSPOA dues so we can turn the water on just to inspect the home, not to mention green up the lawn and mow the weeds!

In our property management business we have cajoled owner after owner into spending money on bark, mowing, and watering, all for "curb appeal" __ to attract tenants who in turn are required to maintain landscaping in their lease. Most property managers do this very same thing as well, it's just good business.

We will continue to work with the LSPOA in an effort to make our properties strong and attractive members of the Lake Shastina community.)

Aviation Day __ Sat. Aug. 21 Rohrer Field, Montague

Pancake breakfast starts at 8 and if schedules hold together an F-15 from Kingsly will do a low pass shortly after breakfast is over. Cal Fire, CHP, and the Forest Service all plan static displays of their helicopters with a possible rappelling demonstration and other fire fighting tactics.

Every year at this event, sponsored by the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, custom and home-built airplanes from surrounding areas fly in and spend the day too, so there will be some gorgeous aircraft for everybody to see.

Terry Weathers who is the former owner-operator of Rohrer Field will be set up in a hanger with an impressive display of old photographs and historic memorabilia. He does this every year and this time around Terry extended an invitation to our B24 and Hellcat recovery group to display our artifacts and research.

It could not have been at a more opportune moment because the brother of one of the B24 crew is flying out from Florida to visit the crash site and share memories at our table. His name is Stacy Churchwell and it is a rare chance for people to connect with a World War II event that happened exactly 67 years ago this past June 11th.

The warbird recovery group is working on plans to display the B24 artifacts and items from their later discovery of an F6F Hellcat in the Trinity Mountains to honor our veterans. The hope is to build display cases for viewing in the Armory at the fairgrounds so there will be a donation jar on their table, too.

Natural Deer Repellent Recipe

(Courtesy of Carol Cupp, High Desert Gardening Club)
In the spring as soon as the buds start coming out use this spray weekly. The deer won't touch the roses.  But in the fall quit spraying and the deer come in and do the trimming for you.
                         
                    Mix in a blender:
            1 cup water
            3 eggs
            1/3 cup tabasco sauce
            1/3 cup liquid dishwashing soap
 
                    Pour into a gallon sprayer and fill with water.
               Spray thoroughly once a week.
 
 
            You can also add a cube of beef bouillon but you may not need it. Recommend you wear gloves and goggles when spraying because the tabasco sauce can be painful. 

The Champagne Connection

As you can see have never done this and would probably never have thought of it but our daughters did and they bought this treat for us as our anniversary gift. That's Ed Steele, owner of Shasta Valley Balloons (.com, to see his website) who has been doing this over 15 years and you will be amazed at his flying skill. We of course were at the whim of the wind at all times but the pilot controls altitude and if he's good enough like Ed there are times when the basket can be just inches above the pasture grasses.

This is what the balloon looks like inside as it's being inflated. More accurately a fan (in the distance to the right of the basket) is fluffing up the envelope so that when Ed fires up the propane heaters they won't be anywhere near the nylon fabric. Sally took this shot from the air vent that the pilot opens when he wants to let out the hot air and descend.

This is Rohr Field from about 1,000 feet I think, directly after liftoff. You can see the flight activity in progress. Today was Young Eagle Day where the local chapeter of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes kids on rides. There were an awful lot of happy children down there when we landed who had never before been in the air.
And this is the top of a willow tree about 40 feet off the ground. From about 4 feet away.... Ed is so good we never touched it. Just after this we coasted across a pasture with the basket brushing the grass tops and never the ground. He's that good.

Oh, and before I forget there is a champagne brunch following. Strawberries (that you dip in sour cream and then in brown sugar), crackers and brie cheese, quiche, and of course, the bubbly (with orange juice if you prefer mimosa). Coming full circle, Ed explained that ballooning began in France in 1783 when they simply started a fire in the basket and hoped the silk envelope didn't catch on fire.

The problems however got worse when peasants in the countryside where the balloonists tried to land became hostile, thinking they were English invaders. Being creative, the balloonists knew that there was nothing more French than champagne and so they began dangling a bottle beneath the basket to assure the natives that they too were French.

Voila.

Don't wait 50 years to do this folks, it's something you'll never forget.

Not a Good Thing to See When You Come Home

That's our driveway on the left just in front of the green Forest Service pumper. We'd been off on a hot air balloon ride with Ed Steele early that morning to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, a gift from our two daughters, and this was the scene when we drove in.

We'd known it was a wildfire drill as had the whole neighborhood but it was a bit of a surprise nonetheless. They were right smack in front of MY HOUSE and well, what would anybody think with such a sight?

They're gone, even moments later as I write this, suffering what is forecast to be in the 90's today in their yellow fire resistant outfits to protect us in case of another wildfire like the Hoy Fire a couple years back. That one was such a close call that we got ordered by our home insurer Allstate to clean up the pine needles. This is what it looks like now:

For a free Cal Fire inspection of your home (before you get a call from your insurance company) call Suzi Brady at 842-3518 or email her at suzanne.brady@fire.ca.gov. I found her to be very knowledgeable and reasonable, too. For instance if needles or bark are less than 2" deep she will allow them to remain (and your insurance company should too).

More on the balloon ride shortly.

The Leap to Cheap

The graphic pretty much says it all. Consumer spending is a frightenly large part of our economy. When we slow our buying Wall Street shudders.

So the producers of consumer goods hire expert marketing firms to press every one of our buying buttons. It's scary how well these companies know us. What aromas, what slogans, what colors, what graphics seem to trigger our spending.

It's an art form, really. And mega-companies are born and die on consumer whims, the vagaries that are generated and nurtured by the marketing and advertising firms who plumb our psyches.

But there is a revolt afoot. It is fueled by the simple lack of money in our wallets and it is worrying the marketing people. Frugal is in and the tide seems to be going out. This is not good for marketing people and sadly, perhaps a wake-up call for our country as well.

Maybe we should be based on making things and creating ideas instead of building Hummers or importing Gucci purses. Maybe we should try to return to being exporters and not importers. You know, kind of like China is.

PS: sorry for the lapse in articles. We've had problems with Blogspot and are changing to a new format so this doesn't happen again.

How to Find Lost Things ___ Guaranteed

This is such an easy thing to write because the answer is only three words ___ Buy a Replacement. Feel free to test this hypothesis by simply laying aside your sunglasses as I did (the clip-on type with sturdy steel case) and wait an hour or two until you reach for them.

Not there, right? Pat, pat, pat. Okay. Not in the usual pocket. Grub under the car seat. Rifle the glove box. Double check wife's purse. Feel head (I'm embarassed to recall finding my glasses there once).

But nada. Feeling the urgent need to have sunglasses you rush down to the nearest Walgreens and put out twenty for a new pair. Sans steel case but with a convenient crush-guaranteed plastic holder.

Strut home with your new set. Polarized, unlike the old pair.

Greet wife at front door who has a glowing smile. "Guess what I found!"

End of story.

People Selling Magazines in Lake Shastina

SUMMER TIME SCAM BEWARE
By Officer Rusty R. Owens
Lake Shastina Police Department

Chief of Police
Rick Alves

“Our organization was founded to give kids like me summer jobs so we can stay off the streets and avoid gangs and drugs. Can you help us by buying our product?”

“I’m selling magazine subscriptions to earn a college scholarship. For each magazine I sell, the group I work for provides scholarship funds for my education, or I win a trip.”

Sound familiar? Every year crews of teenagers and young adults travel to towns across the country peddling magazines, cleaning products or other items. They show up on your doorstep with stories such as how you can help them avoid inner-city troubles by buying their product. The cause sounds admirable, they appear to be hard working, so why not help out?

Before making a decision, The Lake Shastina Police Department and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises you to consider the following: The National Consumers League estimates that 50,000 children nationwide are involved in traveling sales crews selling consumer items door-to-door and on city street corners. The youth groups are transported hundreds of miles from their homes, often across state lines. Unfortunately, many of these young people are victims. The League has consistently ranked traveling crews among the worst jobs available for youth and indicates that they can also constitute a dangerous environment

Employing the young plays on your sympathy, it may also violate state wage and employment laws. Various news media have reported abusive treatment of young sales crews. Minors report having been sexually harassed and physically assaulted some have been left stranded with no means of transportation home. In addition, the young people are typically expected to work long hours with little rest and it is not uncommon for them to be exposed to illegal drugs or underage drinking. Parents often discover too late the perils to which their children have been exposed.

Certainly, there are legitimate youth fundraisers. In addition, yes, they may come knocking. However, the next time a youth sales crew appears on your doorstep, it may be wise not to assume that it represents a local school or youth group. Ask for the name of the organization and other details. You may also want to inquire about the welfare of the young worker. Siskiyou County requires licensing for door-to-door sales, so do inquire and verify that aspect of any door-to-door sales presentation.
Sunday, June 21, 2010: The Lake Shastina Police in an ongoing investigation of door-to-door salespersons complaints, charged one man for selling items without permits and obtaining money by false pretenses. He had extensive criminal backgrounds; there were also active warrants out California for him, one for $25, 000.00 and another for $10,000.00. for soliciting with no permits or business license. During the on going investigation, officers contacted several Lake Shastina and Weed residents who said that the man gave different names, and stories to why he was selling the magazines.
Some included 1) Helping the military soldiers in Iraq
2) Just graduated from Mt. Shasta High School
Options: If you have been contacted by one of these sales person by federal law you have 3 business days to cancel the order with the company. You can cancel your check or credit card transaction by calling your bank or credit card company.
If you have any questions or concerns please call or e-mail investigating Officer Rusty Owens at the Lake Shastina Police Department, 530-938-2226, rusty@lakeshastina.com.
Information contained in this bulletin has been taken from Lake Shastina Police Department, Better Business Bureau, California Attorneys Generals Office and the Federal Trade Commission websites and news articles.

The Brooklyn

This pub in Seattle is your classic oyster bar / steak house. The bank of ice behind the lady shows the days oyster, clam, and mussel specials and at any given time the Brooklyn offers a minimum of a dozen different species of oyster.

I realize many people either cannot or prefer not to think about oysters. They are after all best appreciated raw, on the half-shell. Accompanied by vinagrette, shaved horseradish, and sauce as pictured below. I think those are glasses of Chardonnay behind which is suggested but they may be candles, I'm not sure.

We ordered the appetizer mixed dozen and each type was listed in the menu with the same fruity descriptions they use with wine . . . "briney, with a buttery aftertaste" and so on. My favorite was the Rainier from Hood Canal. Large, salty, and fullsome.

Now I'm from the East Coast where they invented oysters. My dad taught me that TRUE oyster lovers do not even chew them, that would be gouche. The favorite in Boston was the Blue Point oyster and they are small, best enjoyed with a dip in butter. I still remember the glaze in Dad's eyes when he had a plate of them.

So, but, the Rainier would likely choke you it enjoyed in this manner and besides if I tried to claim oyster prescedence based on the ole blue blood clambake thing I might not have left the Brooklyn in one piece.

So anyway, since I cannot find a single oyster bar in Northern California except in Eureka on the coast, the Brooklyn is a fond memory that I shall cherish for some time.

Killer Whales and a $250 Breakfast

Our daughter Ami lives with her husband Paul in Seattle and they invited us to sit their home last week while they vacationed on the coast so we made the ten hour drive up and celebrated Sally's 70th and Father's Day by 'doing the town' as they say.

And what a town. For starters we did brunch at Salty's in West Seattle which was on their way to the coast. It's a very famous place and our friends Ted & Nancy Pfeiffer who used to live in Tacoma raved about it so we thought we would treat Ami and Paul in thanks for the kindness they were showing us. Salty's is a two-story affair on Alki Beach, right on the water, with outdoor dining when the weather is nice which it was that day (we'd brought it with us).

But the food! Both floors were taken up almost entirely with buffet tables spilling over with everything from eggs and pancakes to oysters and crab legs. The spread was just mind boggling. Each floor was nearly the size of your average basketball court. They must surely employ dozens of chefs who start Saturday morning and work through the night. The choices were endless and world-class. Even Paul who is an EMT and noted for his big appetite only made one refill.

So, with four of their equally renown Bloody Marys and tip we dropped two and a half bills. The most we've ever spent on any meal, anywhere, anytime. But unforgettable.

Anyway we also did an overnight on San Juan Island, famous home to the Orca or killer whale pods that reside in the San Juan de Fuca Strait. San Juan is one of four large islands in the group served by the Washington State Ferry system so we drove north to Anacortes where the ferry terminal is and caught an early one on Wednesday, Sally's birthday.

It's incredibly lush on the island and we immediately started out on the loop road that encircles it just looking to explore. We spotted cars pulled over with people pointing and shooting cameras and without realizing what it was all about we just fell into an amazing scene ___ the arrival of a pod of killer whales. Not having my wits about me I only took still shots rather than video but at least I can share them more easily. We were on a bluff overlooking the water and shooting downward. We could not have been more fortunate or close, even the whale watching tour boats farther out by law cannot approach these animals.

The island is a millionaire's retreat, yachts and private aircraft clog the many harbors including famous Roches Harbor where rooms go for $400+ per night. We had fish tacos and crab quesadilla for lunch there and Sally bought alpaca yarn at Krystal Acres, the huge luxurious alpaca ranch in the photo. There were several thoroughbred horse and alpaca operations on the island all worthy of a Hollywood movie. A local bragged that San Juan had more pilots per capita than most places in the world.

This is getting long, best quit while I'm ahead.

Lost and Found ___ Collins the cat

I'm having some trouble with the classified section this week so until I figure out how to enable (or disable, I'm not sure) cookies and find out what a cache is and how to empty it I'll put here what I started there under Pets__Lost, Found, Adoption.

This is Collins and he belongs to Larry Hood on Indian Island. He was last seen June 3 outside their home at 5085 Indian Island Road. If you see this animal please call him day or night at 938-1772 or Lake Shastina Animal Control 938-2226 and report.

If you have a lost, found, or pet for adoption just email me and if I can't get the classified section to work, I'll run a story like this for you. Please enclose a photo if you have one.

"Short" Sale __ The Ultimate Oxymoron

We are on the verge of closing a short sale escrow and how they came up with this term is a wonder. I realize it technically means that the bank agrees to accept less than the seller owes, that's fine. But "short" certainly does not mean short "time".

For example take our short sale from hell. We opened the escrow in October last year. We have been going round and round with them, let's call them bank X, ever since. In another week that will make 8 months.

First it was the asset management company that X hired to clean out these problem mortgages. That experience was agony. Our 'rep' was a bill collector. He harangued, belittled, yelled, and threatened just as if we had defaulted on a car payment. For weeks on end something extra had to be performed before they would agree to close ___ some new form, a "missing" doc (which had been sent three or four times), a new rule the bank had implemented. Everything was our fault, or the buyer, or the seller, or the buyers agent. The asset management rep never erred. This went on for months.

Finally, I gave up screaming at him and called bank X directly.

Despite the encouraging sign of actually speaking to a pleasant human being this did not turn out well. Each person who answered was apparently transferred the next day to a different desk because not only were no calls returned but "that person no longer works here" and "no, I do not know where he/she is now". It even got to the point where, if I got demanding, the person would give out a phone number that when dialed, yielded "we're sorry, the number you dialed is no longer in service."

At the last, just this week, I finally landed a "team leader" at bank X who assured us she had not only the power but the desire to wrap this up. When I asked for her phone number (my caller ID showed 972-526-0000) she explained she was training people and had no assigned desk or phone. And when I called the main number nobody knew where she was or how to leave a message. I did eventually have someone else call us to say that she was out on vacation and that he would be happy to finish what she had begun. Unfortunately however he had reviewed the file and discovered many and several errors in it that prevented him from signing off on it. The entire deal would have to be done over again from the top down.

This is a dark, black hole. Living things get sucked into this and are not seen again, at least in their normal, healthy state of mind. We in the business have heard horror stories about short sales and now we are come to believe them. My hope is that is was just this particular bank in our case. That other banks are organized and actually motivated to sell a home that is in distress.

There is no explanation I can offer to explain why a bank or asset company would intentionally stall and prevaricate as they both did with us. I can imagine the asset rep being on commission and trying to glean every nickle out of the deal but why purposefully delay every single step? It did indeed seem premeditated and to the detriment of every one ___ the sellers, the buyers, the agents, even the bank. I keep seeing our billions in bailout money floating in and out of their windows and wondering why they can be training and no one is learning anything.

Recycling Pickup, Monday June 7

25 May 2010

Your support is appreciated. Thanks to all of you this company can grow. We now have better hauling capacity, and since this service has grown, I made the goal to expand by purchasing a trailer. Thanks to your support that goal has been achieved! So now we can grow bigger! The support has been wonderful, but we need more to get this really working. I will be in the community in the next week (weather permitting) handing out flyers. So if I come knocking it will just be to shake your hand and say thank you personally.

We have grown from the first pick-up of 2 houses to having 45 houses recycling on the sixth pick-up WOW! We need as many people as possible to participate and I encourage you to tell your neighbors. We can make this a true curbside recycling program that all can use.

I have to report all recycled material to the state which goes on the yearly report of GREEN communities to live in. So let’s show the country how green we can be. Soon with your support I will be able to accept more types of reusable items, like the paper, cardboard, etc. So once again thank you all for your support. Also remember that we pick-up the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month so there won’t be any pick-up this coming Monday. The next pick-up will be June 7th, 2010. We accept all aluminum, plastic, and glass. Please rinse food from containers.

Thank you,
Jason Robinson
530-938-9967
wayoutrecycling@yahoo.com
wayoutrecycling@att.net

Day Two. Of Two.

We said goodbye to our son along with 50 or more of his friends on Thursday and now it is done. Some of his ashes will go under the flowering crabapple tree that we planted in our yard in his memory and we will enjoy looking at that for a long, long time.

Sympathy cards are coming in the mail and we are touched. People from all over are taking the trouble to say how sorry they are. Some never even knew Pete but their tenderness and caring warms us.

I still cry a little, like when I write stuff like this, and I don't trust my voice right now. He was such a happy part of our lives, especially when he was at the top of his game. He was a natural __ smooth, conversational, always ready with a good joke. His smile in fact is one of the great memories we and others have of him.

Sally and I feel transformed. Each day feels different now. This may sound stupid but even the colors and smells are new. The "pressing" stuff doesn't seem nearly as urgent somehow and the little beauties seem much more noticeable. We heard from several parents during this experience who had also lost a child and now we feel close to them. There simply does not seem to be anything as sad.

Signing off on this now. He would want us to go on and love the life we have left.

So typical of him.

Writing an Epitaph for a Son

Sometimes parents lose a child . . . war, auto accident, drugs. I don't know if it matters how but if they leave suddenly or violently it simply feels wrong for a child to die at all. Unjust somehow, because parents like everybody else, age and die in their time. It's the natural course of things. But not before our kids. THEY still have years left. Adventures to have, loves to cherish, children to treasure.

Sally's mom for example is 100 years old and needs to die. She has lived a full and exciting life outlasting two husbands and one of her own children yet she lingers on, no longer in command of her body or her mind. If she actually realized the quality of her life right now she would be embarrased and sad, but the dementia and senility prevent that and so she just goes on living because she has no choice.

But we lost our son last week and like all parents who suffer this, we are changed forever by the sudden loss. Pete was 48 years old and had battled depression for the last two or three years (like his wife Pamela we didn't spot it at first, it took time to reveal itself). Before, Pete had a productive and exciting 16 year sales career and he was on top of the world . . . traveling to trade shows, going to high-end training classes in far-away places, golfing with business associates, and of course, fishing.

Pete loved to fish. He even owed a Bayliner at one point but even near the end of his sales career he would go out on Lake Siskiyou almost every day after work. He would bring fresh trout or bass home and he was a master at the barbeque, his specialty being brined chicken or turkey.

But then an old neck injury raised up from his past and serious pain became a part of Pete's daily life. At the same time pressures from new work responsibilities suddenly grew hard to the point where his work career began to turn from fulfilling and challenging to overwhelming and impossible. That's when his emotional health began sliding downhill. He grew distant and troubled, often missing family events and showing increased signs of unhappiness. And his physical health deteriorated at the same time . . . the neck pain grew steadily harder to endure, he was diagnosed with mild emphysema, and even contracted MRSA.

The demons in his mind created unbearable anxiety and fear to the point where he became a danger to himself and he went three times to the mental health floor at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Each was a frantic drive to Medford which probably saved his life at the time. Electro-shock treatments, psychotropic drugs, intense psychiatric therapy, even acupuncture. He tried them all.

I honestly do not believe that the system failed Pete, though many think that when it comes to a loved one who did not respond to treatment. The doctors did what they could but the fact is that medical science still cannot define the true causes of depression and anxiety disorder and therefore they are limited in how it can be treated.

In the end nothing worked. None of the anti-depressants, the therapy, the family support. It now seems inevitable but none of us wanted to admit that possibility. How could we? He was our son.

But he did. He left a note asking our forgiveness and explaining that he just could not continue the suffering anymore.

If you knew Pete or share a loss like this you are warmly invited to a celebration of his life beginning at 12 noon Thursday May 20 at our home at 5225 Muskrat Road in Lake Shastina.

Getting Antsy About This

Most of us here have ants and
there is probably widespread agreement that they are challenging adversaries. Some of them seem to be attracted to the sugar water that is in the hummingbird feeders as you can see in this photo and the feeder soon becomes overrun to the point where the humbirds just don't frequent the place anymore. How hard can it be to avoid this? They're ants for godsake.

So here they are trying to climb down the chain we use to hang the humbird feeder. The red cup-like device is full of water and intended to be a moat. Ants can't swim so therefore the path to the food is broken. The concept is simple and involves no chemicals. What could be easier?

Until it freezes at night. I spotted the little eskimos creeping across the circular ice field and down to the bonanza the next frozen morning. So out with the ice, refill the cup and wait for the next move like you do in chess.

Note the tiny raft of dead ants to the left side of the moat. The next development was that a mat of drowned ants forms and the living ones cross the moat to savage the sugar water again. This is not going to be as easy as I thought. Maybe I should take up chess.

Beginning to feel a little like the gopher-obsessed caddy in Caddy Shack I figure I will divert the deadly swarm BEFORE they reach the chain by parking a cap full of liquid Terro (poison they drink and carry back to the nest WHICH IS IN OUR ROOF !) and kill all the young. Here is what this clever idea looks like in action:
Note the pine needle connecting the chain to the CUP OF DEATH. This needle was soaked with Terro and intended to do just what you see . . . the little devils are going to drink their way to eternity!

Later I noticed a trail of ants moseying along our lawn border wood. They were coming from the house and the trail ended at a pine tree in our yard. So there is another colony in a different part of the house because right below where they enter there is a small accumulation of debris that appeared to be ground-up insulation. After a little checking it seems that they might be a velvet tree ant which either nests in the tree and vacations inside the walls of the house or vice-versa.

But once again the trail is the key so when I followed it to the tree it was a simple thing to encircle it with ant powder. Ortho, Terro and others all make it and the idea is that it clings to the ant and when they rub antenna to greet eachother and share directions to the food, it contaminates the rubee as well and the two spread the good news until everybody is feeling poorly. There was in fact a pile of bodies right where I had dusted before but the stuff must wear off and allowed more to come in.

Standard treatment is to sprinkle all around the perimeter of a home and if you find a trail to a tree, encircle the tree as well.

Barbie Rehab

We bought our barbeque in 2002 for $200 on sale. I thought it was a good deal too, because we had gone through others and I knew what to look for. The cooking grill was porcelain-coated cast iron, not chrome steel which can rust, for example. There was a cast iron cooking pot for beans and the like, a vented cast iron box to put wood chips in for smoking, a cast iron burner unit (these guys were big on cast iron), as well as a wok and a cover for the whole thing. Pretty good deal we thought at the time, especially when you look at what you can spend on the stainless hot rods that are popular now (see photo).

Of course we cleaned it from time to time and covered it when not in use but winter this year seemed like a longer one than usual so I decided to strip it down and give it a good look. The round cooking grill was pretty caked-up on the underside so it got a few coats of that spray stuff that warns you to wear a mask, gloves, and a HEPA suit. Then I spent an hour or so painstakingly scraping off what was left with a screwdriver. Turned out just about new, you can't do much hurt to porcelain.

The flame diffuser disk was shot, though. Its job is to spread the flame and heat outward, around the circular grill more uniformly but it was made of regular steel and it had rusted badly. The company charged me $17 for a new one(and another $17 to ship it) which I thought was a bargain. I was halfway expecting the company would be long out of business so it was a surprise to even find the parts. And to find them here in America by the way, instead of Taiwan or India or someplace.

So last night we had hamburgers and they tasted great.

Squirrel Housing

This is what our neighbor Larry Harrison saw out his window recently. Seemed odd to see a rodent-like face lounging in a bird house....so he kept watching and after a while he shot this one, with the suspect exiting.














Note the screws. He had installed a new face on the bird house when he had noticed an earlier hole which he though might have been a flicker. Now we know.

Notes on Different Stuff

This is a shot from an outfit at Turtle Bay in Redding which offers guided tours around the Arboretum and along the (newly paved) Sacramento River Trail. Their website is www.shastaglidenride.com if you'd like more info or call 242-1150. The gadgets they are riding are called Segways, electric two-wheel devices which are self-balancing and ideal for the trails along the Sacramento River and arboretum at the Sundial Bridge.

Sally and I plan to do their one hour run around the Garden which is north of the bridge, a (again, paved) walk which we have done before, for my birthday. The tour will be followed by a disgusting Shrimp Fest lunch at Red Lobster and then a five-cheese mac and cheese dinner when get home. It's a good thing you only get one birthday each year.

On a different topic, Jason Robinson from Way Out Recycling dropped by to announce that they are now accepting styrofoam along with their newly-announced glass collection. This is important so start saving up your egg cartons and take-out containers. The next pickup is Monday May 3. Remember, it's the first and third Monday of each month and all you need do is bag or box up your plastic, glass, and styrofoam and leave it by the street on Sunday night (they come by early on Monday).

Entertaining and informative film by Michael Moore about the economic mess we're in: Capitalism; A Love Story. This guy loves to corner flustered executives and nail them to the wall with embarassing questions on their roles in the financial meltdown on Wall Street and the insider deals that made them rich. 2 hours, from Netflix.

Watch for this month's Lake Shastina News. We inserted a detailed map of Lake Shastina with all the lot and unit numbers and on the reverse, a color map of Siskiyou County. If you don't get the LSN or want extra copies, call us.

Glass Now Being Picked Up

Jason Robinson, owner of this new company just messaged that they are beginning to also pick up glass for recycling. They operate here in Lake Shastina in the early mornings of the first and third Mondays of each month so Monday May 3rd is the next pickup run.

Call Jason at 938-9967 to sign up or email him at wayoutrecycling@yahoo.com.

May Events in Lake Shastina

(Sent in by Julie Pontoni at LSPOA)

May is on the way! Here is your calendar of events for May, as well as some information about future events.

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" ~ Robin Williams

LAKE SHASTINA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT
LAKE SHASTINA PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

MAY 2010

Calendar of Events


May 1 - Burn Site Open – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
May 4 - Fire Safe Council Meeting – 6:00 p.m. (Administration Building)
May 5 - ECC Meeting – 9:30 a.m. (Administration Building)
May 9 - Happy Mother’s Day!
May 12 - Property Owners Association Meeting – 5:00 p.m. (Administration Building)
May 15 - Burn Site Open – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
May 19 - ECC Meeting – 9:30 a.m. (Administration Building)
May 19 - Community Services District Meeting – 5:00 p.m. (Administration Building)
May 31 - Memorial Day – Administration Office Closed



Scheduled Events at the Community Center Building

May 22 – Hot Rods by the Lake Car Show, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

HIGH DESERT GARDENERS: meets on the last Thursday of each month 3:00 p.m.
QUILTERS BY THE LAKE: meets each Monday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
TAI CHI: meets each Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
YOGA GROUP: meets each Monday 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Scheduled Events at Hoy Park

May 8 – LSCFI-sponsored Vendor’s Day

Lake Shastina residents are welcome to come join in the festivities at the Community Center. It is a beautiful location for any activity and keep in mind that the Community Center is available to individuals that may wish to rent the building for a family function, wedding, party, etc. Check for availability at the front counter at the Administration Office, 938-3281.

FUTURE EVENTS:


Scott Valley Bank Summer Concert Series at Hoy Park
On Friday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a concert at Hoy Park, featuring The Cheeseburgers. This concert is sponsored by Lake Shastina Property Owner's Association; Lake Shastina Community Services District; Meyer Irrigation Specialists; Lake Shastina Family Medicine; Golden West Realty; and Scott Valley Bank. There is no admission fee for this event. Lake Shastina is just hoping for a fantastic turnout to kick off the summer with a bang and show off the fabulous improvements happening at Hoy Park. If you have any questions regarding this event, please call 938-3281


This information can also be found at www.lakeshastina.com

Master Gardener Spring Fair This Weekend

For the 31st straight year Oregon State University's Master Gardening extension program is sponsoring this two-day event at the Jackson County Fairgrounds (the one you see from eye 5 on the right north of Medford at Central Point). Admission is cheap ($3), there are six free gardening classes each day, plenty of food vendors for lunch, and lots of plants and books to buy.

Rather than go through too much detail, go to www.extension.oregonstate.edu/mg which is the Master Gardening's spot on OSU's website. On the right side under Upcoming Events click on the third one down and the show information will appear.

Maybe we'll see some of you there!

B17 & B24 Flights Coming Soon

This group came to Redding and Medford a couple years back with the B-24 and the B-17 so a friend and I bought a ride which was one of those once in a lifetime things that you never will forget. This season they apparently are also bringing along their two-seat Mustang and the Me-262, the first jet fighter ever built.

As you can see the schedule this time seems to be central and southern Cal but with a chance for a P-51 ride or a bombing run in the Liberator it might be worth the drive to Stocton on June 2nd. Of course the $2,200 cost of a half hour in the Mustang and the $3,900 for the simulated bombing mission in the Liberator is not for everyone. But $425 for a short ride in the 24 or 17 I can tell you from experience is well worth it.




PS: If you can't make out some of the info in the picture give me a call and I'll read it off to you from the original postcard.

Lake Shastina's New Website

Congratulations to the LSPOA staff and webmaster for the new website design (go to www.lakeshastina.com to view the entire page). Not only more concise but more inviting, with such new features as Announcements, current weather, and even a spot (underneath Announcements) to sign up for email notifications of upcoming events.

Nice job folks!

A Community Perspective

By Will Bullington, CC&R Compliance Officer

May 2010

Proposed Architectural Rules

In May of 2009 I wrote in this same paper about the ballot proposal to amend the CC&Rs. The total votes needed to vote yes to amend, or 51% of the owners of lots were 1,613. We were about 300 votes short of that number after numerous mailings and extensions by the Board. Of those that did vote, surveys, and town hall meetings showed approximately 80% wanted to see changes to three areas of the minimum construction standards: fences (to be more private), outbuildings or sheds and eaves.

Our CC&Rs spell out that the Environmental Control Committee (ECC) may with the Board’s approval create architectural rules that will define, clarify, “guidelines for architectural design, placement of any work of Improvement….” (Article V, Section 5.4).

Based on this the ECC has proposed architectural rules in these three areas. These are areas that have seen the most variance requests and are the most challenged by owners that live here. They are also for some reason an area that out of area owners don’t seem to care about, hence the reason that we were short on getting the vote to amend those CC&Rs. The perspective is that once you build a home on your property your develop a need for a fence to keep in your kids and dogs, you outgrow your garage and need an outbuilding to store your property, and the overhang/eave requirement needed clarification as to what part of the roof counts for “overall overhang.” This same rule needed more definition as to how the eighteen inches was measured: from outside of finished siding to where? At what angle?

You will see in this paper the proposed architectural rules, the hearing dates by the Board and the proposed effective dates. This is your opportunity to still express your opinion to the Board as a property owner.

One of the downsides to living in Lake Shastina is our distance from many of the businesses and services offered by cities. Living in Mt.Shasta and Yreka I remember how easy it was for my kids to take fiddle lessons, take martial arts and to participate in school sports. Living here, our kids have to travel to Mt.Shasta or Yreka, and in the winter time that is really a nightmare. Just turn right onto highway 97 and the snow switch is on clear into Weed. We have found that our younger kids are being deprived somewhat of those extra- curricular activities of our older kids.






Lake Shastina Barter Guild


I remember taking my older son up to Ashland when I lived in Yreka for fiddle lessons and the teacher was part of a local guild that traded or bartered for services. She would teach a dentists’ child music lessons and the dentist would fix her child’s teeth in exchange. (I’m sure there is a proper way to report this stuff to the IRS so please doesn’t bombard me with the tax code).

What if we developed a similar guild in Lake Shastina? What if a 15 year old mowed a retired person’s lawn in exchange for music or art lessons? Even in the worst of our winter storms this year Lake Shastina just got the old “banana belt” skiff of snow. Many parents that have kids in our local schools: Big Springs and Butteville have the same issues with transporting youth up to Yreka or down to Mt.Shasta for some type of culture, art or sport. Many local parents have some type of professional skills to offer that maybe could help fellow Lake Shastina residents in exchange for music or art lessons, tutor a student that needs help in math, etc. Maybe the student could do yard work or help with other chores.

If these ideas interest you and you would like to help form our own Lake Shastina Barter Guild then give me a call at 938-3281 ext. 101 or e-mail me at will@lakeshastina.com. Check out the internet on “barter guilds” and you will see them out there. Portland Barter Guild is on Facebook, amazing.

ANNUAL CHILI DUMP - April 24, 2010

The eighth annual Chili Dump will be held at 6:00 p.m. on April 24 at the Lake Shastina Community Center. The event will feature samples of award-winning chili, door prizes and drawings, musical entertainement by Al Sosa, and time to visit with friends and neighbors.

This event is open to the general public, but the chili contest is limited to the first 12 who apply. For more information about this event, or to make a reservation, please contact Marvin Zeman at 938-1612.

Volunteer helpers for this event are welcome and needed.

California won't tax forgiven home debt

By Jim Wasserman
jwasserman@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Apr. 13, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 7B
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Monday to spare thousands of Californians big tax bills on mortgage debt forgiven in 2009.

The bill, signed days before Thursday's tax filing deadline, will eliminate state taxes on forgiven mortgage debt from 2009 through the end of 2012. The U.S. government has already done the same.

"We're elated because we were waiting to send in our statements," said Daniel Diaz of Whittier. He had forgiven mortgage debt from selling his house in a short sale last year. "Obviously, its a big relief, and finally, something good coming out of Sacramento."

State lawmakers had approved the bill on Thursday.

The signing Monday means many affected Californians won't have to file extensions for their tax returns this week.

The bill, SB 401, by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, relieves state tax obligations on many people struggling after foreclosures, short sales and loan modifications.

It bans state taxes on up to $500,000 in forgiven mortgage debt, and also prevents the state from taxing federal stimulus funds as additional business income when steered to renewable energy firms.

In a statement Monday, Schwarzenegger said, "It is important that we continue to provide all possible assistance to homeowners who were negatively impacted by the mortgage crisis … and protect them from thousands of dollars in unfair taxes."

Wolk said those affected "can now rest a little easier, knowing they won't be hit with a large state tax bill after already being forced to sell their home at a huge loss."

Mortgage debt is typically considered forgiven by lenders – and eligible for taxation as extra income – during a foreclosure or a short sale. In short sales, lenders accept a price below what's owed to avoid higher costs of foreclosing. The difference is the forgiven debt.

The state Franchise Tax Board estimates about 100,000 Californians will be spared from $34 million in state taxes through 2012 as a result of the new law.

The tax relief plan applies only to people who lost homes in which they lived. Investors are not affected and still owe, says the FTB. State officials say qualified taxpayers don't have to do anything to get the tax break. Those who qualify for federal relief will automatically get the state relief.


Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/13/2674065/california-wont-tax-forgiven-home.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics#ixzz0l5PyLIHc

Free Yoga Class

A free beginners' yoga class is offered at the Lake Shastina Community Center, 15244 Driftwood Lane, on Mondays from 10 am - 11.15 am. The class is designed so that anybody can safely participate at their level of comfort, no prior experience is needed.



What can yoga do for you? The short answer is that yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures and breathing exercises makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Regardless of an individual's level of experience, each class is an opportunity to leave stress and worry behind while giving each student a chance to restore mental and physical well-being.

Yoga removes the stiffness and inertia from the body. It promotes balance between strength and flexibility, building endurance, and developing self-awareness through precise movement, posture and breath. It improves posture, stimulates the immune system, creates a sense of well-being and calm and has the ability to slow down and reverse the aging process.

Annie, the instructor, has been living in Lake Shastina for the last ten years. She is a long-time yoga practitioner and completed her yoga teacher training last year. For more information call her at 938-3599.

It's Adding Up

After several sessions with the evening news it seems the following conclusion is inescapable: business in this country has gotten big enough to control our government. Automobile, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, insurance, mining, banking . . . they all have grown so massive that they can influence and direct the governments (not just the Fed but state and regional, too) whom we elected to protect us.

What else can explain why governmental bailouts seem to disappear into thin air and the consumer on Main Street who uses a company's product (car, food, drugs, mortgage) sees absolutely no change in his or her plight? The phrase "corporate arrogance" was coined to fit times like these, when company giants pretty much write the rules they operate by. Their Golden Rule is to maximize their net profits.

Many of the watchdog agencies that were created to protect our public health and safety are staffed and led by people retired from the same banking, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries they are charged with regulating. Talk about conflict of interest.

Which is how a coal mine can still be operating with 122 safety violations this year alone. And why a car company can continue in business after hiding safety defects.

What's to be done?

State Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended

On March 25 Governor Schwartznegger signed Assembly Bill 183 into law. This new legislation provides $200 million for home buyer tax credits; $100 million for qualified first-time buyers of existing homes (meaning they've been lived in) and $100 million for buyers of new homes (never been occupied).

You have to buy between May 1st and Dec. 31st this year to get the credit which is the lesser of 5% of the purchase price or $10,000 payable in equal installments over three years. (The reason it's May 1 is because the $8,000 federal tax credit program ends on April 30 and they don't want people double-dipping).

You must live in the home as your primary residence for at least two years to keep the credit. Also "first-time" means that you haven't owned a home in the last three years, it does not mean that you've never owned one.

According to our state Realtor association, nearly 40% of first-time home buyers said they bought a home only because of last year's federal tax credit so this new law is important.

Last year's state tax credit program was $8,000 and so successful that it ran out of money in June, a full eight months before it was due to expire. The 2009 bill was aimed at sales of new homes because there was such a large inventory of them. Unlike that tax credit last year however, this new one adds not only $2,000 to the tax credit amount but also dedicates half of the $200 million to EXISTING homes.

If you are looking at the classic buyers' market that we are in right now (especially here in Lake Shastina) check with your lender or mortgage broker for details and if you qualify. If you do it's like taking $10,000 off the price of a home. But don't wait too long. This program is likely to be far more popular than last year's because it includes older homes and is $2,000 more in tax credits. Remember how they ran out of money last year so get your application in early this time.

Recycling Service Expands in Lake Shastina

Last month I wrote about this start-up company and they have just now provided this map of their expanded pickup route. The starting date for the added roads (Muskrat, Fisher, Jackrabbit, & Elk Trail) is next Monday, April 5 and to participate just put any plastics and aluminum into a black trash bag by the side of the street. Plastic beverage bottles with "CRV" on the label are not only accepted but desirable to Way Out for recycling value.(They cannot take glass or newspapers yet but if enough of us begin using this service this might change.)

If you live on any one of the several courts that branch off the yellowed roadways shown above you might call the LSPOA office at 938-3281 to ask if it is okay to leave your bag(s) on the side of the main road.

One of the (several) nice things about this service is that you don't have to separate the different plastics nor drive them to town. Time is money as they say and it's great now to NOT have six or seven boxes in your garage for the different numbers. If you look on each plastic container there will be the recycling triangle icon with a number in it and WayOut takes them all.

To save those flimsy vegetable bags and white plastic grocery bags (both #2) try this: cut a 2" hole in the side of a plastic milk jug (also #2) and push the bags inside. You can jam a great number of bags in there and since it's all #2, you just leave of the milk jug in the black trash bag instead of 3 cubic feet of uncompressed plastic bags. You will be able to get a lot more in this way.

If you have questions call Jason Robinson at 938-9967 or email him at wayoutrecycling@yahoo.com.

Late development: Jason reports that response has been so strong that he is willing to come to any address to make a pick up. So if you do not live on the map route above don't dispair, just call or email him with your address and they will come right to your home.

Due to so many calls they are even considering a glass pickup once a month but they do not yet have a trailer to haul with (although he said that is coming soon) and if anyone here in Lake Shastina who owns a trailer is willing to let them use theirs for a month or two they will add glass to the program.

Again, call Jason at 938-9967. Let's all get on board with this neat program!

More Recycling News

As some of you know a start-up company is now servicing Lake Shastina with free pickup for plastic and aluminum. There is a story in the Siskiyou Daily News about them (http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/business/x1176897000/New-company-offers-recycling-service-to-residents). Way Out Recycling apparently enters Shastina at Tony Lema, proceeding to Lake Shore then left to Palmer and exiting up Muskrat and Antelope. I wrote them to confirm this route but the point is we need to participate to encourage the enterprise. Leave a trash bag by the street with all your plastics (numbers one thru 7) each first and third Monday in the am and they will pick up.
Tip; plastic milk jugs are #2 and so are those flimsy vegetable tear-offs you get at Ray's & Raley's so cut a hole in an empty milk jug and stuff the bags in. You can jam a lot of them in there and it all goes to the same place. Better than the landfill.

Be Advised

Actually, pleading (the search word I used to find this image on Google) does not apply here. The topic I'm trying to address is how to avoid a nervous breakdown when trying to buy an REO or short sale home. Begging does not work in this environment. Hopless submissiveness is better but I couldn't find a picture of that.

The problem is that the pricing on these homes is so low that buyers become much more compliant and far less demanding than in a normal purchase where the buyer is dealing with a real person who may actually live in the home. It's the idea that there probably are other buyers lined up for this bargain and if you don't agree to the seller's demands and way of doing business the seller will just drop you and go on to the next buyer.

For example the seller bank chooses the escrow company. To most buyers, this seems innocent enough but it ends up costing you the buyer not only extra time but more money as well. Buyers have the right to choose their own and normally it is a local one but these big banks are powerful and when you try to exercise that right and keep the escrow local they just refuse and threaten to go on to the next buyer. Don't quote me on this but most of us out here in real estate land suspect collusion and so do the lawyers so a law got passed requiring seller banks to provide a form stating that you have this right. All they had to do was to take a small step sideways (offering to pay the title insurance) and it bypasses the law very neatly.

So here you come, the thirsty buyer looking for a real deal. The price is fantastic so what do the terms matter? Here is where the rubber meets the road. Suddenly a 30 day escrow becomes a six month nightmare. Oops, the closing costs are more than expected (most of these banks won't even SIGN a purchase offer, they will only sign when the deal is in escrow . . . way too late to ask questions.)

So, beware. Expect much more paperwork. More delays. More games. There is a price for the steal you thought you had.

Medical Care Disaster in Mt. Shasta

We learned Thursday in a phone call that Mercy Care Center, one of the finest nursing care facilities in Northern California, is closing its doors. Sally's mother has resided there for some time and was the reason we got the call, the announcement will appear for the general public in next week's papers.

The Care Center is a unit of Mercy Medical Center, the hospital in Mt. Shasta which has been subsidizing the Care Center to the tune of nearly a million dollars each year for the past several years according to Morris Eagleman, Vice President of Patient Care Services whom we met with yesterday for guidance. He explained that it had come down to a choice of closing the Care Center or the hospital itself and there was broad agreement in higher management that the hospital served a wider and more immediate need in the community.

Nonetheless it was a wrenchingly painful decision he said. There are 46 patients in the Care Center each of whom requires round-the-clock professional care unobtainable in a home setting. But the unforgiving realities of our depressed economy had finally reached the point where the facility was unsustainable ___ expenses were outstripping income at the rate of a million dollars a year and it was weakening the hospital next door.

The care center employs around 60 people and their departure will be a severe blow as well and to the entire county because many live and shop in other towns besides Mt. Shasta. Then there will be a major impact on the local businesses which provide services and supplies to the Care Center, jobs may be lost in that area as well. The overall economic impact of this closure is staggering.

But for all concerned the very hardest part of the entire tragedy are the effects of the closure on the 46 patients and this was painfully evident to each of the staff whom we have come to know over the years. There were hugs and tears everywhere when we went there after our visit with Eagleman. None of the patients will be thrown out onto the street Eagleman made quite clear, nor dumped on their families. Rather the facility will strive over the coming months to place them in other care centers.

The unfortunate part however is that nursing homes are closing all over California for the same exact reasons and the task of placing a resident will be a challenge. Since there are so few in this rural end of the state the likelihood is that the patients will end up in urban areas far away from their families and loved ones.

While moving to a new rest home will be hard enough for these residents (Sally's mom is 100 and practically bedridden for example) many depend on family visits to keep up their spirits and reason for living at all. We heard one heart-breaking story where the husband lives on his own but the wife in the Care Center because she has so many medical problems the man was simply physically unable to care for her. But the real twist is that she absolutely will not eat anything unless he is there with her at each meal. Right now he is next door in an apartment but what will happen when his wife is hundreds of miles away?

This entire scenario is sad beyond words and there is little I can do here to fully describe it's impact on people. I encourage you all to write your elected officials and try to head off this closure which will cause so much misery to those least able to defend themselves . . . the 46 elderly patients of Mercy Care Center.

Jim Nielsen, our state assemblyman; 530-223-6300 (Redding office) or email: assemblymember.nielsen@assembly.ca.gov

Sam Aanestad, state senator; 530-225-3142 (Redding office) or email: senator.aanestad@sen.ca.gov

Arnold Schwarzenegger, our governor; 916-445-2841 or email: governor@governor.ca.gov

Wally Herger, our congressional representative; 530-223-5898 (Redding office), no email shown.

Diane Feinstein, our senator in Congress; 202-224-3841 or email senator@feinstein.senate.gov

Barbara Boxer, our other senator in Congress; 202-456-1111 or email webform: boxer.senate.gov/contact (not sure about this)