I travelled to Veneta a couple of weekends ago to visit the Faerieworlds Festival in Veneta Oregon.  It was a perfect Sunday in August, not to hot with a few fluffy clouds in the sky.  It has been a couple of years since I have been there, and I was looking forward to checking out the fabulous costumes, handmade gifts and a fun afternoon with my girls.

Real Estate in the World of Fae!  No inspections, no lenders!

Crimson Faerie

Chrystal Crown Faerie

The Bleu Faerie Babe

White Land Strider

Brian Froud signs his artwork

Sunset Faerie

Willamette Valley Market Overview

Through July 2008

In the month of July 2008, there were 1708 new listings that came on the market and a total of 8257 listings available. In the month of July 2007 there were 1780 new listings that came on the market and a total of 6442 on the market. That is a 28.2% increase in listings available this year over last year at the same time.

In July 2008, there were 617 closed sales. With that number of closed sales we have approximately 13.4 months of inventory on the market.

Days on the market currently are:

Salem/Keizer: 120

Benton County: 129

Linn County: 149

Marion County: 131

Polk County 129

Closed Sales in Units for the last six years:

Through the end of July 2003: 5030

Through the end of July 2004: 5471

Through the end of July 2005: 6378

Through the end of July 2006: 6306

Through the end of July 2007: 5584

Through the end of July 2008: 3652

The percent of sales price to list price was 94.1% in Salem/Keizer, 95% in Linn and Benton County, 93.6% in Marion County, and 93.4% in Polk County.

Average Sales Price comparing last year to this year:

Area July 07 July 08 %change

Salem/Keizer $238,997 - $227,721 -4.7%

Benton County $310,670 - $304,491 -2%

Linn County $192,809 - $194,687 +1%

Marion County $247,844 - $244,154 -1.5%

Polk County $237,672 - $228,572 -3.8%

Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service

Western Regional ASA Softball All Star Team

I have to take time to congratulate my daughter Kelsey.  She was honored with a position on the Western Regional ASA Softball All Star Team.  The regional tournament was held last week July 24-27, 2008 in Newberg, Oregon.  She hit 4 singles, 2 doubles and a game winning triple.  Kelsey is a 2 year member of the 18U  Lady Warriors from Salem Oregon. This weekend she is visting Seattle with her team and participating in the Western National ASA Softball Tournament.

She has been playing softball since she was 5 and her career began with Little Leaque T-BALL. Kelsey is a pitcher and can play any field position but is most comfortable with center field.  During Kelsey's high school softball career at Santiam in Mill City she was named to the Tri-River All Conference team for three consecutive years.  She was a unanimous choice as a sophomore, outfielder; junior year second team pitcher and this year as a graduating senior she was chosen as a first team utility player. 

Kelsey will be attending the Oregon Institute of Technology, in Klamath Falls, Oregon in the fall and plans to be a Dental Hygenist. 

Congratulations, Keli Beli!  I am so proud of you! 

Scio Veterans Memorial, Scio Oregon

Honoring Veterans – Past, Present and Future

The Scio Veteran’s Memorial is located on at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 226.  It was rebuilt  over the footprint of the original Memorial established twenty five years earlier.   In 1983, the founding father of the Memorial, placed a cannon and a flag pole at this location and dedicated it as a war memorial  honoring veterans.  In an effort to build on the original idea, the City of Scio and its citizens have expanded the Memorial into a magnificent display to honor those who have honorably served in our countries Armed Services. 

The Re-dedication of this memorial was held appropriately on July 4, 2008.  The colors were proudly presented by the American Legion Post 51 Honor Guard. Jessica McDaniel sang the National Anthem.  Master of Ceremonies was Gene L. Peery US Army Vietnam Veteran, 34 Air Medals, Silver Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal with “V” Device for Valor.  Highlights of the event were a flyover by the Oregon Air National Guard F-15, 142nd Fighter Wing and 123rd Fighter Squadron.  Mayor Sandra Baggett said the flyover was breath taking and a wonderful addition to the ceremoney.

The Community of Scio has helped the Lamb and Wool Fair and the Mid Valley Chapter 585 of the Vietnam Veterans Association raise funds, much of the memorial is financed by the sale of bricks.  Bricks are available for purchase by residents and non-residents for $35.00 each.  Donations without brick purchase are also encouraged.  Donations are tax deductible.  All questions can be referred to vetsmemorial@smt-net.com .

Game On!

I love games.  I have always loved games but most especially, board games.  I can take or leave dice or card games, but position a game board in front of me and the gauntlet has been thrown; the challenge issued!  There is something about a brightly colored game board that brings out the competitor in me.  At pre-school age I remember playing Uncle Wiggly with my mom and younger brothers, Matt and Chris. We spent many rainy days inside the house playing Candy Land, Sorry, and Trouble.  We learned addition by totaling our scores on game sheets for Kismet and Yahtzee.

Different homes always meant different games to play.  Grandma Madeline taught me how to play Checkers and 4 different kinds of Solitaire.   On visits to my grandparent’s home in Aloha, we played “Marbles.”  The board for this game was made from varnished press-board by my grandpa Earl.   The objective; race your set of colored marbles around the board and be the first player to get your marbles home safe.  I didn’t find out for many years this game was marketed and sold under the name of Aggravation.  To me, this game had always been “Marbles.”  I thought for sure Milton Bradley had stolen my grandpa’s idea for a board game.  A trip to the grandparents wouldn’t be complete without a quick game of Tic-Tac-Toe while snuggled on my grandpa’s lap.

Holidays at Gran’s were always the best.  Gran would cook an enormous stuffed turkey with all the fixin’s.  Everyone would eat too much and in the next breathe ask when dessert would be served.  As soon as the girls had cleared dinner dishes from the table, it was safe to ask “Which game can we play?”  Would it be Canasta, 31 or Uno?  Could I talk the adults into marathon game of Monopoly?  NNNNNope!  Sure the kids would play, but getting the adults to indulge in a board game… never.   Adults like cards.  Rats!  With all three leaves in the dining table and 19 people gathered around it, we would play cards until Gran would say a swearword. Everyone at the table would giggle uncontrollably.   “Damn” was usually the sign to put away the cards and break out the pumpkin and apple pie and homemade whipped cream. 

 

 

 

As a sophisticated junior in High School, I advanced to Stratego, “a fascinating two-handed game of strategy,” or so states the box.  Scott, (boyfriend then; hubby now) and I would spend a few quick minutes to set up the board. Well, Scott would take a minute to set his pieces.  I transform into Napoleon and victory would be obtainable though a complete and complicated analysis of my opponent’s undeniable mental weaknesses.  I took a few minutes longer to set my game pieces. I must be first to capture the enemy flag! 

It’s true, War Is Hell. 

Scouts destroyed by bombs, Majors removed by Colonels, and a Spy, my sneaky, carefully placed Spy, overtaken by a low-ranking Miner.  Yet, there is time for victory; I finally know the location of the enemy flag…

Thirty one years later, the details of this infamous confrontation remain hazy through the smoke-filled memories of the cardboard battlefield.  The biggest casualty of the skirmish was the game board and red and blue castle-like pieces that flew through the air upon my defeat. 

 

 

This tale ends in a verbal treaty and both parties in agreement to never play Stratego together again, ever!

 

There May Be Bugs On Some of You Mugs, But There Ain’t No Bugs On Me

As a rookie real estate licensee, my broker insisted I preview at least 5 properties a day for 4 weeks.    Being new, I was not fond of making appointments to look at houses, so looked at many vacant homes. 

Did you know fleas stick to nylons?  Their nasty little jaws are like Velcro hooks and the nylons act like the loops!  I am sure I was the only meal those little suckers had in a couple of weeks.  All it took was a warm body to walk through the house and BAM,  Free Lunch!  I remember I looked at one particular home, thinking it was in pretty good shape, except for the carpet, which needed a good shampoo.  I wandered from room to room, taking in the floor plan in quick order.  I locked up the house and headed to my car.  I opened the door, sat down and put the key in the ignition.  All of a sudden I felt like I was getting bit, I looked down at my leg and I was covered in fleas.  Completely horrified, I left the car running and jumped out the car, swatting at the my legs.  Ever since that day, I look at vacant homes a little differently.  It still freaks me out a bit to view empty homes.  Especially if they have dirty carpet.

One of the quickest turn offs to a potential home buyer is walking out of a home with fleas.  If you are a seller and you have pets, or if you are the listing agent of a vacant home and you know there have been pets in the house, it is a good idea to set off a couple of flea bombs before any showings.  Your buyers will be grateful! 

 Mill City Volunteer Fire Department

Established in 1937, the Mill City Volunteer Fire Department has a long history of being dedicated and productive members of Mill City and the entire Santiam Canyon.  Leland Ohrt is the current fire chief and has held the position of chief for the since 1985 with a brief sabbatical in 1991. Chief Ohrt has been a member of the department for more than thirty years, having joined when he was in high school.  The citizens of Mill City voted to make the chief a paid position and Leland was officially hired in 2000 as Mill City’s first full time fire chief.  As fire chief, Chief Ohrt keeps the fire hall and all the equipment in excellent order.  He has worked on several grants and so far, they have received close to $500,000.00 in grant money to help in the purchase of much needed equipment. Purchases in recent years include a new pumper truck and a new tanker.  In my opinion, the residents of the Mill City Fire District are extremely fortunate to have a man like Chief Ohrt on staff.  Much of what the Chief does, goes unnoticed by the general public. 

In 1991, the construction of the fire hall was completed.  It was purchased with monies obtained through a bond.  One of the most amazing things the fire department accomplished was paying off this bond eight years early, saving over $75,000 in interest. 

In 2007, the men and women of the Fire Department contributed over 5100 hours to the department. Each volunteer averaged approximately 142 hours of service for the year, with Chief Ohrt working 2214 administrative hours and 241 volunteer hours. They respond to first-aid and fire calls, miscellaneous calls and provide community assistance to groups such as the Boy Scouts.  Other community projects include the yearly pick up of discarded Christmas Trees, safety information published in the local newspaper and they provide Red Cross First-Aid classes for those who would like to learn CPR and basic first aid.  The volunteers meet every Tuesday evening for meetings and practice drills.  The volunteers usually conduct one to two Burn to Learn drills a year to practice the newest rescue techniques and sharpen their firefighting skills.

In November, the weekend before Thanksgiving,  the volunteers plan and put on the Fireman’s Benefit. My favorite part of the Benefit has to be the Double Cheese-“Gut-Bomb Burger” piled high with grilled onions and green peppers, bargain priced at  only $2.00!  Just one of these babies and believe me, you are good for a year, before you want another.  During the Fireman's Benefit you can play BINGO and there is a area for Kid's Games. Bean Bag Toss and the Fish Pond are popular games with the kids.  Both adults and kids enjoy playing BINGO and winners receive a Turkey or a Ham.  Bingo cards are .25 each.  There is also a raffle prize of $50.00 Bill drawn at Midnight and a $100.00 Bill drawn at 1:00 AM.  Other prizes include Ham, Turkey, a case of canned goods or a huge slab of bacon. The proceeds of this fundraiser benefit many of the groups projects throughout the year.  Most notable of these being the Fireworks on the Fourth of July at Kimmel Park.

One of the best things about this fire department is it’s family time.  Leland knows the members spend a lot of personal time dedicated to the department and he feels it is important to get the group and their families together.  Several times each each year  the department plans activities for the volunteers and their families.  These special events include the family picnic in August, Kid’s Christmas Party with very special guest; Santa Claus, Game Night and the Annual Awards Dinner. 

At the Annual Awards Dinner, the district presents its honors to the Fireman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and the Darwin Award.  The Darwin Award is given to the Firefighter, who through the course of the year, pulled the department’s stupidest stunt.  The Darwin Award is a wooden plaque mounted with a charred and melted fire department pager.  And yes, the owner of the pager lost it in a burn to learn fire.  My brother Chris has been honored with the Darwin twice, with back to back wins.   

The Mill City Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for new members.  If you would like to join this organization, please contact Chief Leland Ohrt at 503-897-2390 or MCRFPD2@wbcable.net. 

July 31, August 1st and 2nd 

Hey!  It’s Rodeo time once again in the canyon!  The Santiam Canyon Stampede is a favorite activity for rodeo lovers of all ages.  A Canyon tradition, the Stampede is in its eleventh year.  It is a PRCA sanctioned event.  The rodeo committee is made of of community volunteers dedicated to the sport of rodeo.  This event continues to grow and it is getting a great reputation for a terrific show. 

Thursday, July 31 at 7:00 PRCA action starts.  I am proud to announce that Blake and Tess Hendricks will be singing the National Anthem at the opening ceremonies.  Blake and Tess are the children of Craig and Michelle Hendricks.  Michelle is a broker in our Prudential Real Estate Professionals office.  We are all very proud of Blake and Tess and wish them good luck!

Friday evening is Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night.  Santiam Memorial Hospital will donate $1.00 for each person who wears PINK to the rodeo.  So grab your best pink shirt and head to the rodeo on Friday evening.

Other events scheduled for the weekend include bull riding, mutton busting, X-Games gold medalist Justin Hoffman,  Oregon JR Bull Riding exhibition, teen dance, Bike rodeo, Cowboy Breakfast and Rodeo Dance. 

I Love Oregon, Let Me Show You Why!