Great Opportunity in Guard Gated Community with Ocean View in the OC - 03/28/08 03:00 PM
26 EMERALD GLEN ~ LAGUNA NIGUEL, Offered at: $1,495,000
"The Residences"... Guard Gated Ocean Ranch at Bear Brand
Broad Second Floor Ocean Views...
JUST REDUCED! Now $1,495,000. Award Winning Public & Private Schools; 4BR, 4.5BA, 4,039 sqft, Flat Usable 9,741 sqft Lot; Forced Air Heating; Dual Central AC System; Main Floor Office; Family Room & Bonus Room; Breakfast Nook; 3 Fireplaces; Main Floor Suite; 2nd Floor Master Suite w/full retreat;
Ocean Ranch is a 24 hr. Guard Gated Community just minutes to beach, restaurants, marina, entertainment, golf and tennis facilities. Call Michael Caruso now for your appointment to view this special home.
Michael … (2 comments)
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Increased Filings for Citizenship... - 03/27/08 02:46 PM
Records are showing an unprecedented surge in citizenship filings and immigration officials are ramping up for weekend shifts, staff increases and extra paperwork to keep up with the demand.
A big push is coming to Orange County from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. That big push came last year as well in The OC, and resulted in a half-million people applying to become naturalized citizens. And last July was the biggest jump in the past 15 years. In Los Angeles about 236,000 people applied for citizenship, which was about double from the previous year.
This is all good energy and the right thing … (1 comments)
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5 Seal Beach Students Selected for Explorer Police Program... - 03/27/08 02:19 PM
In The OC, the Seal Beach Police Department has an "Explorer program" that will give area youth an opportunity to learn more about the Law Enforcement field.
Five students from Los Alamitos High School have been selected to participate in this select program, which falls under the umbrella of "Learning for Life". Area students from 14 to 18 years of age and a good GPA are eligible. Those selected had a great attitude and attendance record at school. They can participate in ride-alongs, law enforcement concepts and procedures, help in special events. The 5 will have an opportunity to participate in summer … (1 comments)
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Consumer Borrowing Increases... - 03/27/08 02:06 PM
While consumer spending has backed down consumer borrowing is apparently increasing.
According to a Federal Reserve report, consumer credit rose at the annual rate 3.3 percent in January of this year. That figure was up from 1.8 percent growth in December of last year.
This doesn't seem to surprise economists as the January numbers pushed up total consumer debt by $6.9 billion to $2.52 trillion and it fell right in line with their predictions.
It seems consumers are relying on their credit cards a little more to finance their purchases.
Please email your thoughts about leaning too hard on credit cards at this time....
And … (0 comments)
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Volvo Leaving The OC... - 03/27/08 01:38 PM
For a period of time there was some talk and some ideas that The OC could and would become the new corporate headquarters for many of America's auto makers...like Ford Motor Company, GM and others. And so it was for some time, but maybe we are just a little too far from factory and production facilities.
Volvo Cars of North America said recently that it will relocate it's headquarters from Irvine in the OC to Rockleigh New jersey, which will affect about 80 employees (especially in winter months..hehehe).
Volvo had moved to Irvine in 2001 and operations were overseen by Ford Motor Company.
Thank … (0 comments)
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Soccer Collies had Puppies...and They are Taking up the Game too! - 03/26/08 02:32 PM
There is a soccer team in the OC's Huntington Beach that is quite famous...and they all have 4 legs. The Soccer Collies are a team of border collies that play soccer. And earlier this year, they had a litter of 6 pups. Like father, like son...the pups are taking up soccer too!
The only male pup is catching on a little faster, but they're all getting the hang of it, owner Mark Lucas said in an interview. The mother, named "Keeper" is the goalie of a 4 dog team that can dribble the ball with their noses, shoot with their shoulders and catch … (0 comments)
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OC is #1 in Internet Access... - 03/26/08 02:20 PM
The 2007 Community Indicators report named the OC as #1 in Internet access.
The report shows a picture of adults with access to the Internet, high tech diversity and patenents and investments.
Internet Access: The portion of OC's adults with access to the Internet rose to 79 percent. The figure had been 70 percent in the first half of this decade when OC trailed Seattle, Austin and San Francisco by five percentage points. Now OC leads Seattle and Austin by 2 percent and San Francisco by 3 percent.
High Tech Diversity: The OC has 18 high tech sectors with employment above the national average.
Patents and … (0 comments)
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Airlines Making Bank...on Baggage! - 03/24/08 01:40 AM
Airlines are struggling to make a buck, and it shows. With a soft economy (nice words for recession) and rising fuel costs, airlines are getting squeezed. So, you better squeeze more things into one piece of luggage, because they found a way to make some supplemental income.
Airlines (and many of them) are charging for overweight baggage, a second piece of luggage and I wish you luck if you're considering a third piece of luggage. The fees can be hefty ($50 per bag) and when traveling as a family it can add up quickly to penalize the group of travelers whose only … (4 comments)
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Divide and Conquer...Financial Duties - 03/24/08 01:31 AM
I'll do the checkbook balancing, you pay the bills. You're in charge of investments, I'll handle the shopping...no matter how you describe the responsibility couples might do best when they divide responsibilities.
The Hartford Financial Group said "Partners who practice a division of labor approach to managing household finances reported notable successes that stood out from other groups". This segment of people, the "divide and conquer" group account for just 11% of those surveyed.
Like everything else, financial planning has become more complex and specialization no matter what you call it, seems to work best. Surveys show there is a large contingent (53%) "joined … (1 comments)
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OC Navy Seal to get Posthumous Award - 03/24/08 01:15 AM
A Navy SEAL from Garden Grove who sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade will be posthumously awarded the nation's highest military honor.
The family of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor will receive the Medal of Honor on his behalf during a White House ceremony, the Marine Corps reported.
Monsoor was part of a sniper security team in Ramadi, Iraq with 3 other SEALS and eight Iraqi soldiers. An insurgent fighter threw the grenade, which struck Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him. According to the account, Monsoor threw himself … (1 comments)
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Trucks Driving Slower... - 03/23/08 11:29 PM
Diesel fuel has crossed $4 per gallon...and the only benefit? Trucks are driving slower. That really is a good thing. It's good for us because those hauler trucks are scary on the freeways and it's good for them because they conserve fuel when they drive slower.
Officials say that slowing a trailer rig from 75 mph to 65 mph increases fuel mileage by more than a mile a gallon. Since most trailer rigs get 10 miles per gallon, that is a significant (10 percent) saving.
My point is we may be saving lives as well...by driving slower.
Your comments are welcome.
Thank you for making … (2 comments)
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"Chick Flicks" OK...When the Movie Theatre Serves Beer & Wine! - 03/21/08 10:28 AM
So many times, when my wife has suggested that we go see a certain movie with our firiends I've said "Isn't there anything else playing...that movie is a chick flick"?
Now, the Anaheim Planning Commission just granted permission to the Garden Walk Mall Cinema to serve beer and wine! This movie theartre is the first to my knowledge to be cleared to serve light alchohol beverages. Despite some concerns about underage kids trying to get served, this was passed 7-0. City permission does not exempt the movie theatre from following protocol of obtaining proper licensing from the State Alcohol Beverage Control.
If this … (6 comments)
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Members of Congress...Among the Wealthiest in USA! - 03/20/08 12:51 AM
I know you didn't want to hear this, but...in recent years the personal wealth of members of Congress has soared to new heights. This places lawmakers on average far up the ladder of America's most well-to-do and places them far ahead of most Americans as of the 2006 study recently released.
Here are the numbers...the median net worth was estimated at $1.7 million for Senators and $675,000 for members of The House of Representatives.
Statistics came from a Washington watchdog group called the Center for Responsive Politics.
Congressional members are paid about $169,000 annually. The Center said that 58% of Senators and 44% … (3 comments)
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Whose Your Momma? - 03/18/08 01:34 PM
A DNA study performed recently says that nearly all of today's American Indians in the Western Hemisphere can trace their ancestry to 6 women whose descendants immigrated around 20,000 years ago. Those women left a particular DNA legacy that persists today in about 95% of American Indians, according to researchers.
While the study (published recently by the journal PLoS One) left some questions unanswered, it confirms previous indications of 6 maternal lineages. The study's co-author is Ugo Perego and he thinks the 6 "founding mothers" apparently did not live in Asia because the DNA signatures they left behind aren't found there. Most probably, … (6 comments)
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The Next Force in Housing... - 03/18/08 01:16 PM
In an on-line survey held recently of agents across the country 66% saw an increase in home purchases from empty nesters over the last 3 years. Of those surveyed, 52% say "desire to downsize" is the empty nester key reason for a move. 50% say empty nesters look for single-family homes; 49% are seeking condos or townhouses.
Agents polled believe that 18% of their empty nesters move to be near their children or grandchildren and 54% of those empty nesters view their home as a home, while 3% see it as an investment.
The baby boomer will continue to be a powerful demographic, creating waves … (2 comments)
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Human Traffickers Using the High Seas... - 03/18/08 11:12 AM
Dangerous sea voyages were common with Haitians and Cubans who were Florida bound, but this is new for Mexican smugglers. From sandy Mexican shores the illegals can see the San Diego city lights on clear nights...and they yearn for a new life in America. Now migrants can board boats in the dark in their attempts to get here. Mexican traffickers are charging $4,000 per person to smuggle them here, often changing boats along the way as a diversion tactic and for additional speed. And authorities say that the crews will have less to tell about if they are captured.
Border pressure hasn't … (2 comments)
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Revised Smog Limits...What Will Critics Say? - 03/13/08 02:02 PM
The EPA has tightened air pollution standards...I can breathe easier already! But most think it will be met with sharp criticism from health experts and some members of Congress because it conflicts with recommendations of two agency's scientific advisory panels.
The new EPA standard will lower allowable concentration of ozone in the air to no more than 75 parts per billion (the old standard was 80 parts per billion). The science advisory boards said that it should be 60 - 70 parts per billion to protect our nation's most vulnerable citizens (elderly, asthmatics, children, those with respiratory illness).
While the decision seems … (4 comments)
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AT&T files suit vs. Little Old Mission Viejo? - 03/13/08 01:48 PM
Whoa...is this technology vs. community?
AT&T earlier this week filed suit against the city of Mission Viejo contending it is violating the california Public Utilities code by not giving AT&T access to install telecommunications equipment.
AT&T's complaint states that for more than a year they have tried to gain right-of-way access to install technology for a program to enhance its network...call Lightspeed.
The installation would require several boxes the size of a refrigerator to be installed in at least 2 neighborhoods, so it's a balance of community aesthetics vs. business needs.
Personally, I think AT&T will win this in a short and sweet hearing...if it … (2 comments)
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Scientists Report on Meteorite that hit Peru... - 03/12/08 11:27 AM
Back in September a meteorite hit Peru, digging out a deep hole that was about 49 feet wide and created a crater. Scientists have been studying this meteorite since that time and believe the meteorite traveled faster and hit harder than would have been expected.
In theory, the meteorite should have disintegrated in the atmosphere long before reaching Earth's surface as it traveled 15,000 miles per hour, according to Peter Schultz a geological science professor at Brown University in Rhode Island. "Normally with a small object like a meteorite the atmosphere slows it down enough so that it becomes the equivalent of a … (2 comments)
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Home Schooling Receives Reassurance... - 03/12/08 11:14 AM
Recently, the 2nd District Court of Appeal in California issued a ruling that parents who home-school their children must have a teaching credential.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connel issued a statement earlier this week after reviewing the ruling that he sees no reason to change the state's policies on home-schooled students. California's top public education official is reassuring parents who home-school their children that the department will not try to force them into the conventional school system.
Before the ruling, the state let parents home-school if they filed papers establishing themselves as small, private schools, hired a credentialed tutor, or … (2 comments)
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We've Got Spirt in The OC... - 03/12/08 11:03 AM
Wow, have we got spirit in The OC! The USA National Cheerleading Competition was here this past weekend and we can still hear the cheers!
More than 350 schools were represented with over 8,500 performers competing in dance or cheer at the 23rd annual event. This competition, held at the Anaheim Convention Center provides school based teams with an opportunity to showcase the results of all their hard work and dedication.
Quite a few teams advanced to the USA World Competition. For more information visit varisty.com and click on "nationals" or visit usacamps.com
Thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards, … (0 comments)
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Great News for OC Transportation.... - 03/12/08 10:54 AM
All commuters are saying hurray as the OC could collect nearly $218 million to widen the 91 freeway and improve several rails. This is part of a state program that will divvy up $3 billion in bond money approved by voters in 2006. In all, there will be 8 projects in OC including the 91 and 57 freeways, and busy intersections. The OC Transportation Authority plans to match the proposed state money with about $263 million of its own.
These improvements could begin within 2 years and will have a significant impact to assist commuters.
Thank you for making me Your Orange County … (0 comments)
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March Madness Costs are Maddening to Employers - 03/11/08 11:36 PM
The calculations are in...and it's not the rankings about which teams will make it to the NCAA basketball March Madness finals! It's the statistics about workers watching or listening to the games at work.
Workers who spend just 10 minutes a day during office hours watching, thinking or talking about the NCAA basketball tournament will cost employers a collective $1.7 billion in unproductive wages.
The calculations were performed by the firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas based on an estimated 37.3 million workers who earn the national average or $17.50 per hour spending 10 minutes a day following the annual tournament. Other notes … (3 comments)
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OC's Laguna Niguel...Ready for Emergencies - 03/10/08 02:59 PM
The OC's beautiful city of Laguna Niguel (located between Laguna Beach and Dana Point) has an emergency services coordinator. This position and staff was created by the city manager and chief of police. The overall;l duties include ensuring the readiness of city management and staff to respond to a large scale emergency.
Paul Russell, the city Emergency Services Coordinator trains folks on bandaging injured people, lifting them properly on or off stretchers and he holds training classes for these first responders in case of an emergency.
Once a year the city also holds a 7 week "Citizens Preparedness Academy" where residents can learn … (1 comments)
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Mosquito Haven...a Neglected Swimming Pool - 03/10/08 02:46 PM
With the sudden surge of foreclosed and abandoned homes, you may expect a whopper of a summer for mosquitoes.
Orange County has cool evenings and we are luckier than most parts of the country because we don't suffer from mosquitoes....but the County's disease trackers have issued a sensible warning. Abandoned homes or foreclosed home with swimming pools become perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes once the water turns green. The green color signifies that there is algae in the pool water and algae supplies the food for mosquito larvae.
Good luck everyone...I hear taking vitamins with iron keeps mosquitoes from biting you...is there … (2 comments)
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San Clemente Saving Rubber...and Money! - 03/10/08 02:37 PM
Orange County's city furthest south is the city of San Clemente. We love this town for so many reasons, but they gave us a new reason to be proud. San Clemente has saved 10,091 tires from being tossed in the trash heap this year. In fact, since 1995 the city estimates that it saved 281,900 tires from being thrown in the trash heap. How did they do that?
Well, the city of San Clemente repaves it streets with a mixture of asphalt and recycled tires. City engineers began looking at a project such as this in the early 1990's. Since the program's … (1 comments)
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Nutrition can be Undermined by Stress... - 03/05/08 01:58 PM
I eat stress for breakfast...nothing ever bothers me...I don't worry about anything! Are those your mantras?
Well for all of us who spend thoughtful time to instill proper nutrition in ourselves and others we care about, take heed that all the nutrition in the world won't offset a high stress lifestyle.
Let's talk about food and nutrition. Food should be consumed at the table with friends or family, good conversation and companionship. That provides stress relief which invites food to be digested properly, metabolized properly and therefore provides nutrition. Less fast foods and more home meals is an important consideration.
Take good care … (4 comments)
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New Cancer Risks Found in Hormone Study... - 03/05/08 01:25 PM
Check out today's Journal of the American Medical Association for more details.
The first follow up of a landmark study of hormone use after menopause shows that heart problems linked with the pills seem to fade after usage is stopped, but surprising new cancer risks appear.
That government study was halted 6 years ago because of heart risks and breast cancer.
Dr. Gerardo Heiss of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill was quoted as saying the cancer risks "were completely unanticipated". Mr. Heiss is the lead author of the follow up analysis.
Best regards, Michael Caruso
… (0 comments)
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2 OC Companies Named in California's Best Places to Work... - 03/05/08 01:18 PM
According to the California Human Resource management Association, 2 OC companies are among California's best places to work. The association honored 4 other OC businesses. The field was over 400 nominees.
Congratulations to: Motorcycle Industry Council, located in Irvine as a winner in the Small Business category (50 - 99 employees). And congratulations to Cox Communications, located in Rancho Santa Margarita in the large Business category (500+ employees).
Finalists were determined by scores from initial assessment in a two part evaluation process that measured 125 different criteria, together with scores from employee satisfaction surveys.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real … (0 comments)
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City Considers Buying Open Land to Thwart Development... - 03/05/08 12:03 AM
San Juan Capistrano...where he swallows come every March. A city of 14 square miles and 40 percent of it is winding trails and rolling hills. A city with 400 acres of orange groves, mustard flowers and lush fields...privately owned. A city that has become a natural refuge in the midst of Orange County's never ceasing commercial and residential growth.
San Juan Capistrano has a history of battles to retain it's small town rural ambiance. It's residents and leaders have attempted to avoid the urban sprawl and traffic snarls that characterize LA and parts of OC.
Now there is a $30 million dollar bond … (1 comments)
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Bullet Proof Clothing Line in Mexico... - 03/04/08 11:48 PM
A Columbian designer Miguel Caballero is "the Armani of bullet proof clothing". He has a clothing store in the Polanco neighborhhood of Mexico City, Mexico. Police recently closed him down. They closed the store because he was selling bullet proof vests without a permit.
But all his clothes are bullet proof! Oh, he designs and sells some regular rags too. But Miguel is famous for his line of casual and formal jackets for men and women that can withstand bullets! I wonder if I can mail order something for the holidays?!?!?!
This time the crossfire came from the Mexican police and their regulations...but for good … (2 comments)
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How Does the Credit Mess Squeeze Us? - 03/04/08 11:39 PM
Everyday we all hear and read stories about the "credit crunch"...it's really famous! All the bad news started in the housing market with slowing sales and prices deflating, then homeowners began defaulting on loans. That hurt the debt securities market and made sub-prime a high risk or bad investment. This led to big losses at investment banks and in hedge funds.
Expect more losses and huge write downs to continue until the books are cleansed. Maybe the write downs will be over done so it's easy for the investment banks to show improvement in coming quarters.
But the squeeze is reaching far beyond … (1 comments)
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Invest in Yourself...with Education! - 03/03/08 10:57 PM
Is education an expense? Perhaps we should all think of education in a different way...as an investment rather than an expense!
Isn't it true that we are always learning in our lifetime? Well, continued formal education has never been easier. We can take courses in a classroom or on line. We can listen to educational and self improvement CD's. We can listen books on CD's or download books into the new Amazon Kindle electronic reader and go paperless!
Is there any excuse for not pursuing continued education of some kind? The fact is that we're out of excuses because of progress and ease … (4 comments)
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Illegal Immigrants Fleeing Arizona... - 03/03/08 10:48 PM
Need a job? The prospects of finding one in Arizona are improving. That is because Arizona enacted a new law punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants. The new law (now 2 months old) suspends or revokes the business licenses of violators hiring illegal immigrants.
Scores of Arizona immigrants are abandoning their jobs. Families are hastily moving out of their apartments. Visible effects can be seen in schools, the housing market and job sites.
Illegal immigrants from Arizona...are fleeing back to their Latin American homelands or to other states? Email your opinions.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards, … (2 comments)
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OC's Drought Declared Over! - 03/03/08 10:37 PM
Yes, we Southern Californian's live in a desert...by definition! You know the old song 'well, it never rains in Southern California'...
The OC is a great climate for sun lovers, as average annual rainfall is about 9 inches a year. But the last few years have been dry...real dry!
And yet, Federal climatologists just declared an end to Orange County's long and damaging drought. Our new classification is "abnormally dry" which sounds better - doesn't it? Actually it is the lowest level of concern in a comparatively dry year. How did we do it, you may ask? Well, we have had 8.17 inches of … (1 comments)
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School Food and Hospital Food, Not so bad Afterall.... - 03/03/08 08:32 AM
In the OC, many would shiver at the thought of eating tasteless hospital food or worse yet, that lousy cafeteria food at schools. But guess what? In a recent study, hospitals and schools excelled at the most important category...food safety!
OK, the words aren't synonymous with gourmet bliss, but they are important.
In an analysis of county food inspection reports the Orange County Register found that schools and hospitals mostly practiced high degrees of food safety and hygiene. For more information and the full report visit www.ocregister.com
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards, Michael Caruso
… (2 comments)
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