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jim frimmer: Renter, house sitter, and stager all rolled into one - 05/11/09 07:59 PM
If you are very mobile, have tasteful furniture, are adept at taking care of a house, both inside and outside, and have always dreamed of living in a high-end home (mostly million-dollar homes), this just might be your opportunity.
Quality First Home Marketing, operated by Mary Heineke, rents vacant homes at a discount. The caveat is that the renters must stage the home so that it looks lived in but must also maintain the home -- inside and outside -- in "show-ready" condition for buyers and agents.
Renters must have the ability to furnish the home with tasteful furnishings and live … (18 comments)

jim frimmer: Upcoming garden tours in San Diego County - 05/05/09 09:34 PM
Home and garden tours are currently in full swing throughout San Diego County. With our Mediterranean climate where virtually anything will grow, there is a lot of variety on these tours, including not only gardens, but homes, art studios, refreshment, and entertainment.
Following are four tours for the upcoming weekend of May 9-10.
 
 
Fallbrook Country Garden TourSponsored by the Fallbrook Banch of the American Association of University Women.May 9, Noon to 4:00 p.m.Tickets are $20 and can be purchased the day of the event at the Palomares House, where the stour starts, at 1815 Stage Coach Lane in Fallbrook.Information: 760-451-9532 Secret … (9 comments)

jim frimmer: Balboa Park chooses waterwise landscaping - 05/05/09 08:49 PM
Balboa Park just north of downtown San Diego is one of the largest urban cultural city parks in the nation with over 1,200 acres. For comparison, Central Park in New York City has 843 acres. It also dates from 1835, making it one of the oldest urban parks.
The Trust for Public Land says that Balboa Park is the third most-visited urban park in the United States, behind Central Park and Chicago's Lincoln Park.
Much of Balboa Park is still rugged, undeveloped land and is good for hiking and exploring.
The more developed areas of the park, which includes the San … (5 comments)

jim frimmer: Wasteful water practices apparently end for CalTrans - 05/05/09 08:00 PM
I don't have very many pet peevers, but the one I do have is front and center in the newspapers and on the news, and that's water waste.
It really bugs me when I drive down the freeway at 1:00 in the afternoon only to see the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) watering the freeway dividers. I learned many years ago that watering is most effective early in the morning, like when it's still dark but just before sunrise, to help control excessive evaporation.
I used to think that it might be CalTrans testing or repairing the irrigation systems, but when … (4 comments)

jim frimmer: Level 2 drought alert for Mission Valley residents - 05/05/09 03:37 PM
The two pictures that Russel Ray used in his blog are from the Mission Greens condominium complex, one of the forty condominium complexes in Mission Valley where I specialize.
Many of the condominium complexes in Mission Valley have various types of water features -- fountains, lagoons, lakes, and artificial streams -- that have been shut down because of the drought situation.
As Russel so eloquently states in his blog, Sellers and their Realtors should make it known to Buyers and their Realtors what's going on and that these water features under normal conditions are quite beautiful and an amenity to the … (6 comments)

jim frimmer: ESL volunteer teaching opportunities in Casa de Oro, El Cajon, and Lakeside - 05/02/09 01:41 AM
Volunteers who would like to teach English as a second language can attend tutor training sessions on May 9 and May 16 at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center,6650 University Avenue, just a block west of La Mesa.
Training sessions last from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and take place in Building A.
Classes are hosted by the Laubach Literacy Council of San Diego and LEARN, the San Diego County Library Adult Literacy Program. Once training is complete, you can teach at libraries in Casa de Oro, El Cajon, or Lakeside.
For more information, contact Charles Ross … (5 comments)

jim frimmer: Attorney consultations available in El Cajon on May 1 - 04/30/09 07:27 PM
Wondering about bankruptcy and how it might affect you and your family?
Have a legal question about your non-traditional family and how California treats it?
Maybe you had an accident on someone else's property or in the public sphere.
The East County law library will have attorneys available for free consulations on many legal topics on a first come, first served basis from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The clinic is being held as part of Law Week and is sponsored by the Foothills Bar Association as well as the law library.
The East County law library is located at the East … (10 comments)

jim frimmer: Neighborhood Watch forum in El Cajon on May 3 - 04/30/09 06:55 PM
With so many cities having budget problems, our public services are under attack, with budget cuts affecting police and fire fighter services, libraries, schools, after-school programs, sports, and music.
It's important in this type of economy that everyone work together to help protect their cities, communities, and neighborhoods, and that's where Neighborhood Watch programs can help.
The El Cajon Police Department has a community forum scheduled for 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3, to discuss the Neighborhood Watch program. It will be held at the Ronald Reagan Center at 195 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.
You can get more information … (2 comments)

jim frimmer: Second Annual 5K Jenny's Walk at San Diego State University May 3 - 04/30/09 04:52 PM
More than 1,500 people are expected to participate in the Second Annual 5K Jenny's Walk Sunday at the San Diego State University Aztec Center.
Money raised from the event will benefit the Friendship Circle, an organization that specializes in bringing joy, companionship, and friendship to children with special needs, as well as their families.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, but you can pre-register at their web site. If you can't participate or make it to the event, you can donate at their web site, as well.
Schedule of events:
8:00 a.m. - Registration 9:00 a.m. - Pre-walk … (4 comments)

jim frimmer: Second Annual Healthy Families Day in La Mesa - 04/30/09 04:27 PM
The Second Annual Healthy Families Day will take place on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 6843 University Avenue, in eastern San Diego just a block west of La Mesa.
Ray and Joan Kroc were the founders of the McDonald's burger empire, and when Joan Kroc died a few years ago, she left the empire to many non-profit, charitable, and philanthropic organizations throughout San Diego County. One of her gifts was to the Salvation Army to build the Corps Community Center.
Families are invited to tour the Center's facilities, which … (2 comments)

jim frimmer: 14th Annual Union-Tribune Kids Magic Mile in Balboa Park - 04/30/09 04:06 PM
The San Diego Union-Tribune has a long and distinguished history of supporting various causes throughout San Diego County. On Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, Dr. Seuss characters will be on hand for the 14th Annual Union-Tribune Kids Magic Mile, a one-mile run/walk that benefits literacy programs throughout the County.
Each participating child receives a book, a participation medal, and a T-shirt. The cost is $13 to $20 and will take place in Balboa Park, beginning at 6th Avenue and Laurel Street.
For more information, call 760-692-2900, or see their web sites at utraceforliteracy.com or inmotionevents.com.
*****
Need help finding just … (0 comments)

jim frimmer: Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour and Festival in Alpine - 04/30/09 03:42 PM
If you think you might like an Alpine mountain home, this weekend is a great opportunity to visit the community.
The annual Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour and Festival begins Friday, May 1, and runs through Sunday in Alpine.
The self-guided tour is available from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. all three days. It features five gardens and a raptor rehabilitation facility. Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased in Alpine at The Vine Bistro, 2502 Alpine Boulevard, or at the Viejas Outlet Center, 5005 Willows Road.
The Festival will be at the Viejas Outlet Center and features seminars, vendors, … (4 comments)

jim frimmer: SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): The San Diego River - 04/26/09 10:05 PM
One of the things that attracted me to San Diego back in 1988 was the natural beauty of the area. Running through the heart of the City of San Diego -- Mission Valley -- is the 

Since my office is in Mission Valley, and my farming area encompasses forty condominium complexes in Mission Valley, I often have the opportunity to take a walk along the river.
    
    
The San Diego River is only 62 miles long, and for about 55 miles it is nothing but a little creek, sometimes even going underground and disappearing. The other day I … (10 comments)

jim frimmer: The 24 tallest buildings in San Diego - 04/23/09 02:26 PM
It's always fun to go to downtown San Diego because there is so much to do regardless of the time of day. Nightlife is over at the Gaslamp Quarter, a stroll along the Harbor, or even a daytime or dinner cruise around the Bay.
I also enjoy watching how the San Diego skyline changes, remembering how it was when I first came here in 1988, and imagining what it might be in the future. Since Petco Park was completed in 2003, construction projects in downtown San Diego has been booming, especially for residential towers.
It's interesting that San Diego's tallest building … (17 comments)

jim frimmer: Movie review: The Dark Knight - 04/23/09 01:19 PM
Although I've seen all the Batman movies, courtesy of having to sit through them while my marketing guru watched them, I can't say that I am a big fan of them and never really put any of them on my list of movies to see.
I did put "The Dark Knight" on my list as soon as Heath Ledger -- who played The Joker -- died. If you want me to see any movie, just have a major figure in the movie die in real life.
So I put "The Dark Knight" in my Blockbuster queue even before it was available … (16 comments)

jim frimmer: San Diego real estate market, March 2009 - 04/21/09 07:20 PM
Home prices in San Diego County, after rising in February 2009 for the first time since April 2008, were unchanged in March 2009, with the median home price at $285,000.
Home sales in March 2009 zoomed 43 percent over March 2008, at 3,020 homes sold. That came in as the largest March increase in five years.
So basically what we've seen recently is that home prices have been stable for three consecutive months, and home sales have increased, year over year, for nine consecutive months.
Real estate experts attribute the trend to low interest rates and more affordable housing, and some believe … (10 comments)

jim frimmer: Every little bit helps - 04/20/09 10:46 PM
Although we all know that no single person can save the world, imagine if everyone actually tried. It's no different from cutting calories here and there to lose weight, or going for a short walk each day.
Perhaps you're really not interested in what's going to be happening 50 years from now when your children and grandchildren are running the world, but doing something now can certainly save you some money, and in this economic environment, surely that's a pretty good incentive.
Here are just a few things that can help:
Use refillable water canisters. Better yet, if you like bottled water, install … (16 comments)

jim frimmer: Visit the Cabrillo National Monument through my pictures - 04/13/09 09:45 AM
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is said to be the first European to set foot on the west coast of what is now the United States.
It is not known where Cabrillo was born or where he is buried. Although he sailed under the flag of Spain, some historians state that he was Portuguese.
On September 28, 1542, Cabrillo's three ships -- San Salvador, La Victoria, and San Miguel -- entered "a closed a very good port," and named the area San Miguel the site of modern San Diego. There is a San Miguel mountain about 15 miles east of downtown San Diego.
… (16 comments)

jim frimmer: Playful Malayan tigers at the San Diego Zoo - 04/12/09 10:46 AM
I've known for a couple of decades that there were Malayan tigers at the San Diego Zoo. Unfortunately, I had never seen them because they always seem to be hiding.
The best exhibit of Malayan tigers I had ever seen was at the Minnesota Zoo in Minneapolis.
Until last week.
The four Malayan tigers at the San Diego Zoo were out frolicking and playing. I don't know whether it's because it's springtime, or the sunny weather, or the 76°F temperature, but I finally got to see them.
I present them here for you to enjoy, too.




For … (8 comments)

jim frimmer: Pulte Homes to buy Centex Corporation to create largest U.S. homebuilder - 04/11/09 07:58 PM
Two of the nation's largest home builders, Pulte Homes and Centex Corporation, are joining foces in a deal whereby Pulte Homes will buy Centex Corporation for $1.3 billion in stock. The deal will create the nation's largest U.S. home builder.
Centex Corporation currently has to projects underway in Escondido: The Knolls and The Terraces at Eureka Springs.
Pulte Homes has one ongoing development in Carlsbad: San Vincenzo at La Costa Ridge.
Largest U.S. Homebuilders By Units Sold
Pulte/Centex - 39,263 D.R. Horton - 23,915 Lennar - 14.281 KB Home - 11,162 NVR - 10,741 Hovnanian - 8,805 Ryland - 7,352 Beazer - … (2 comments)