Cindy's and James Blog

Sex Offenders Email alerts

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:58:22 -0500

Thought this might be interesting to look up and maybe even use.

Introducing www.PeopleFinders.com Free Sex Offenders Email Alerts

Borrowing ice... Feeding the fish while you are out of town... Removing an overreaching tree branch... Each day, a neighbor may have a need to come to your doorstep. And it is often hard to determine, regardless of the neighborhood, whether your neighbors are just being nice or have darker intentions. How then does one determine whether or not a kind gesture from a neighbor is genuine? PeopleFinders.com has the solution: FREE Sex Offender Email Alerts.

PeopleFinders.com Helps You Safeguard Your Child

As a parent or grandparent, you want to do everything possible to keep your children out of harm's way. This means talking to them about strangers and which areas to avoid while walking home from school. PeopleFinders.com Free Sex Offender Email Alerts makes it easy to define "safe areas" in your neighborhood.

It's Easy To Sign Up:

Visit PeopleFinders.com and sign up to receive Free Sex Offender E-mail alerts for your neighborhood or any other area that children your care about live or play in.
Enter the address or city that you want to see sex offender information for.
Automatically, you will see a map with detailed information about all the sex offenders in the area that you chose.
Once you see the map, you can click on the offender iconsto see a picture and full description of the offender.
Use our "tell a friend" feature to send sex offender information to your family and friends so that they can keep their children safe as well.

San Luis Colorado 70 Acres

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:19:04 -0500

San Luis Colorado 70 Acres in Beautiful Southern Colorado

Colorado70acresForSale

70 Acres-Beautiful Southern Colorado along Wild Horse Mesa less than an hour from Taos/hwy frontage on road to Taos $289,000

360 degree views
55 miles to Taos/45 miles to Red River/2 hrs to Santa Fe/2 hrs to Pagosa Springs
1500 feet of highway frontage on Hwy 159(Hwy 522 in NM), the road to Taos

This land is located in Southern Colorado, right across the northern New Mexico border along Wild Horse Mesa. This property has 1500 feet of highway frontage on the road to Taos (Hwy 522 in NM or Hwy 159 in Colorado). It is also located far enough north that Wild Horse Mesa does not get in the way of the gorgeous views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range which are on the east to the north of the property.

You can see from horizon to horizon on this property and not see a building of any kind for as far as you can see. Wild Horse Mesa on the east to southeast, rolling sagebrush with mountain views on east over to the north and hills, mesas, and bluffs to the south over to the west for as far as the eye can see =360 degree views.. (looks just like the land around Taos)..

We have seen elk here in the winter and early spring and a neighbor told us he has seen 2,000 elk crossing the highway onto our property at one time trying to get to the valley. Elk hunting in Colorado and New Mexico is only minutes away.

....Skiing is 20 minutes away at Costilla Ski resort and 45 miles to Red River New Mexico and 55 miles to Taos. The area is nestled in the fabulous San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, the world's highest true valley at 8000 feet above sea level. The San Luis Valley is ringed by the three National Forests of the San Juans and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado, adjoins the north end of the area. Lake Sanchez, is great for sailing and water sports. You will find Northern Pike and Rainbow Trout in Lake Sanchez and surrounding area. The area abounds with wild sage and pinon pine home to wild horses, deer, elk and squirrel. Overhead are eagles, ravens and bluebirds. This is a nice area to build that dream home or to buy property for investment purposes.

There are no improvements. Two water wells can be drilled on this property, one per each 35 acres, by law. (beware of properties with less than 35 acres in southern Colorado-you may not have any water rights). Septic is allowed and permit is available. Electric power on adjacent property. Telephone line runs across property

For additional information, contact Cindy Nicholson at Remax Realtors in Castle Rock, Colorado @ 720-231-2178
or go to her website at www.NicholsonHomeTeam.com

7 Million Dollar Ranch in Larkspur Colorado 300 Acres!

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:10:12 -0500

Want the best looking place around with amazing views on your own 300 acre ranch?

LARKSPUR COLORADO Give me a call!! Cindy Nicholson 720-231-2178

M & M Ranch

Re/Max Alliance 719 Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 720-231-2178

7300 Perry Park Road - Larkspur, CO

This stunning home and equestrian facility features 300 spectacular acres with incredible views and a scenic backdrop that is a wonder to behold. With an award winning 8,652 square foot custom home with a walk out basement, Cozy 2 story guest cottage, 12 stall barn with a 3 bedroom, 2 bath managers apartment and a riding arena that is an equestrian dream, this beautiful estate presents an opportunity to live in a one-of-a-kind environment perfectly suited for your lifestyle

M & M Ranch has everything you can think of to offer that special buyer

• Amazing 300 Acre Property, Zoned for Horses

• Immaculate Custom Stucco Home Built in 1993

• Spacious 8,652 Square Feet With Walk-Out Basement

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 4 Fireplaces, Bonus Room

• Lower level designed for additional executive style master bedroom suites. Large Kiva fireplace and central seating area. Large sliding glass doors open from the suites onto a covered patio surrounded by mature mounting landscape and fantastic views.

• Cozy 2 Story Guest Cottage - 3 Bedroom, 1 3/4 Baths, Jacuzzi, Fireplace

• Spectacular 12 Stall Barn With Automatic Fly Spray System

• Barn Includes 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Manager's Apartment

• Western Red Oak Paneled Tack & Party Room with Wet Bar

• Hay & Grain Storage Building

• Roomy Maintenance & Service Building - Parking Space For 9 Rigs

• Water Rights & 1,000 Foot Deep Well

• Two 7,000 Gallon Water Storage Tanks

• Radiant Heat - Propane

• Minutes West of Interstate 25

• Easy Commute to DCT or Colorado Springs

• 100 x 300 Sand Filled Oval Riding Arena

• Cross Country Mid-Level Jumps

• Beautiful Covered Gazebo & Private Pond

• Impressive Large Decks With Panoramic Views

• Fantastic Kitchen With Custom Amenities

• Oversized Master Suite With Steam Shower and Jacuzzi Tub

• Fabulous Exercise Room With Wet Bar & Refrigerator

• Concealed Private Security Room

• Pristine Hills, Lush Meadows, Mature Forests & Abundant Wildlife

FOR PICTURES/PHOTOS OR FLYER CALL ME!

9 REASONS / New Construction

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:51:29 -0500

9 Reasons for Picking a Buyers Agent when Buying New Construction

ALL AGENT PROVIDE 9 REASONS TO CONSUMERS FOR USING A BUYERS AGENT (in my case use Scott Montgomery Keller Williams Arlington Va)FOR NEW CONTRUCTION PROPERTYS...

Check this out...

1. IT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING!

2. I CAN MAKE SURE YOU ARE REPRESENTED... Remember, the sales agent on the other side is working for the builder, and is bound by law to do what is in the best interest of his/her client - the builder. While he or she will likely be honest with you, they are still working in the best interest of the builder.

3. I CAN VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF WHAT YOU ARE TOLD... Buying real estate can be a complex process, especially for the first time buyer. When represented by Scott Montgomery (Realtor), you can rest assured that I will be working in your best interest.

4. I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE...If you have follow up questions, or you are still unsure of something, I am much easier to contact than the Selling Representatives. You have access to me via 703-283-4524(cell) Monday-Friday, 8-5. And if that isn't enough, I check our voice mail throughout the weekend and during the evening hours! You might have already experienced the frustration of trying to contact a live person at some of the new construction condo sites. I work for the buyer, and I will always return your call within hours.

5. I CAN HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS... You will be asked to make a lot of decisions in a short amount of time. I can give you advice to help make the decisions easier.

6. I AM AWARE OF OTHER PLANNED CONSTRUCTION... There is a lot of new construction that is already in progress or planned. You might think you are getting a condo with a great view, but will there be anything obstructing your view a few years down the road? We constantly monitor new construction (offices, retail, apartments - not just condos) through various publications, organizations, county news releases and visual inspection.. I can help you make the best decision for your needs and desires!

7. I CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE A UNIT WITH BETTER RESALE VALUE... Someday, you will probably want to resell your condo. I can help you choose a unit that will have better resale value. Such things as view, exposure, layout, parking, amenities and level all affect the future resale price. I may be able to better assist you in determining what buyers look for and what future trends might arise.

8. DID I MENTION IT WON'T COST YOU ANYTIHING?.. I realize that this is a repeat of #1, but it is an important point to consider. The sales commission is already built in to the sales price, and either the builder will retain it or it will be paid to an agent - not to you. The reason the price won't change for you is mainly due to appraisal reasons. A lender will only lend money up to the appraised value for any property. For new construction, the main factor an appraiser looks at when determining the value is the sale of similar units/houses. If the builder gave discounts for buyers without an agent, this would pull down the appraised value of other similar units/houses bought with an agent, which would then create financing problems.

9. If you are going to use a buyer's agent, the agent needs to accompany you to the first meeting, or else the builder won't pay the commission

Hope these are useful.

Water/Colorado

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:44:50 -0500

Mean what you write!! info on a class I took awhile back. Hope this is informative

Like it or not, Realtors are often the first stop for water resource information during a property transaction. Colorado is the highest state in the nation and all of the water flows out of the state. There are only two states that happen too, Colorado and Hawaii.

You have to put water to use or you cannot keep the water rights. i.e. Beneficial Use!

A water right is a property right to make beneficial use of a particular amount of water within a specified time. A water right is a special kind of property known as a Usufructuary right This means we have the right to inherit the resource, will it, sell it, lease it, share it, store it or change it from one se to another. WE DO NOT OWN IT, you only have a right! This resource stays in the Public Domain under Colorado law and we can not waste it.

Exempt Wells can not ever pump more than 15 gallons a minute. If well was drilled before May 22 1972 grandfathered in! Wells before 1972 Must have complete well records in order to be recorded with the state. Back then wells were not required to be recorded with the state. To get a well drilled you must get a permit fro the Sate Engineers office. If they do not have the permit number you will need to get it inspected and get specific information. The State records and spots every well in this state and records it on a map. If it has been recorded then they can give you the permit number with legal description of the property.

If you are dealing with a well, then go to the health department and get the booklet for guidelines.......................

25 feet......minimum setback

50 feet......animal yard and or barn concrete silo septic tan

100 feet.....leach field, pesticide or fertilizer storage, chemical mixing, loading site, fuel and oil products.

250 feet.....waste lagoon, household wastes dump, manure stockpiles, earthen silage storage

Soils and Contamination

We have soils that are contaminated up to 100 feet, due to our weather, and freezing and thawing soils.

Drilling

Be aware that there are unlicensed well drilling companies; you need one with a license due to the fact that if someone is killed on the property then the owner of the property is liable. If problems occur then you need to call the board of Examiners Colorado Division of Water Resources, 303-866-3581...... Problems can occur therefore you need a contract with a licensed well drilling company.

Application

To make application for a well, it will cost $480.00 Permit is good for two years, and you can get an extension if you have a good reason for not drilling, and the extension will cost money. You will need a Water Well Permit Application GWS44

Main: 303-886-3581

Fax: 303-866-3589

Water Right Transfer

Any water right that you do not legally describe will not be transferred. Each Decree needs to be read and understood. Water Rights have a Name, Description and zoning, it is no different than a piece of property, and you must treat it that way.

When you list a property you should ask if there are any wells on the property, because the owner of the property is responsible. They are responsible for sealing and plugging the well.

If someone is selling land to one person and the water rights to another person be sure to know that the person with the water rights has the right to go onto your property at any time.

When making change of owner, ex at closing you will need to do a change of ownership form and make sure that it is sign and then you the realtor should mail it into the Water Resource Board!

Don't try to be an expert just follows the simple rules. If you do become an expert then you are liable. Have your attorney draw up a document advising the parties to have tests and inspections performed on the applicable systems by the local health authority and other professionals of your Buyers choosing.

When buying water rights you need to be sure and get the ditches and the pumps.

In-House Use Permits

There are wells that are only in-house Wells; the well permit only allows the use of water in the house! Not for horses! The land could be zoned for horses, but the well permits could be only for houses! ** SO IMPORTANT TO PULL A COPY OF THE WELL PERMIT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF WELL YOU HAVE, AND THAT USE OF THAT WELL!

In the state of Colorado you can have three homes on one well, with written explanation of you will pay for what if the well should go dry etc....

Clauses!! Example!

Buyers understand the improvements are not connected to the public water system. Buyer acknowledges that no representation whether oral or written have been made by the Broker or any of their agents pertaining to the depth of the well, type of the well, permitted uses, pumping capacity, water quality, future water supply or the equipment used to supply water to the property The Seller and their Agents are not competent to give opinions on these topics. Buyer is advised to seek the advice of a competent Well inspector.

Commission Approved Form!

Listing firm's well checklist page 39 of GRI book!

http://www.water.state.co.us/

Water district court is in Greely.

You must check water rights in your district. We are district 1, South Plate River Basin, located in GREELY. If you feel you were not treated fairly you can go directly to the Supreme Court to state your case.

Contract

You will have to supply the permit number

Adjudication water right the best to have.

A Decree is a Deed to water! Decrees do not specify a claimant; Decrees usually do not make reference to actual ownership. Decrees are awarded to structures, head gates, ditches, reservoirs and wells, you will also need to know the in-stream flow. If a Decree is silent and does not say where the water goes, then this should be a red flag. This can create a law suite; you need to know specifically who is getting the water. DO NOT COUNT ON TITLE INSURANCE TO HANDLE WATER RIGHTS!!!

Streams, just because a stream flows through your land that you own does don't mean that your animals can drink from that stream. According to Colorado you are stealing water, and can be sued1 Every Stream in Colorado is over appropriated not one stream is under appropriated. Appropriation: the right to take water from a natural stream or aquifer for beneficial use at a specified rate of flow, either for immediate use or to store for later use. This I usually confirmed by a water court decree. Senior water rights are more powerful than anything else.

Abandonment! It takes 10 years to lose your water rights, through new law of in stream flow.

You do not transfer water rights by saying and all water rights in the contact; you must put the legal description in for each well and each water right. There is a law suite to prove it. This law suite is what is responsible for putting the words in the contract, legal description.

New Build and Why I need a Realtor?

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:40:49 -0500

Why you should use a realtor for previously owned homes:

A realtor is able to provide information on all homes for sale in the market! This includes for sale by owner homes and new homes!
A realtor will help you validate listing information and market values.
A realtor will prepare, and submit your offer with your best interest in mind.
A realtor will coordinate the closing process from contract to closing, creating a much less stressful event for you.

Using a realtor costs you nothing!

Know these important facts
before signing a contract!

Most builders hire on-site sales people to provide general information, copies of floor plans, dimension, and price sheets. These people work directly for the Builder, and that is where their loyalty lies and to whom they owe their fiduciary responsibility! If the Buyer is not represented by a Realtor, the on-site builder's representative will provide you with information about the builder, the community and the homes being offered. If you are represented by a Realtor they can provide valuable information on similar homes in the area, their market value, and financing alternatives! There are many choices you must make before contracting to purchase a new home. These choices can affect the sales price and re-sale value of your home. A Realtor owes their fiduciary responsibility to you.

Upgrades

Builders will usually start with a base price. This price is for the home with only standard features, and does not include upgrades. Every builder's standard features are different, so be sure to ask for a list! Your Realtor will help you compare the standard features of different builders. Items such as fireplaces, decks, windows, appliance upgrades, and floor coverings will be included among these choices. Some options are good values, but others can be purchased at better prices at a retail store. These options can add quite a bit to the base price. Many require payment in advance and can be non-refundable, so it is important to understand your choices!

Elevations

Each model will have several elevations. An elevation is basically the appearance of the front of your home from the street. It can include everything from exterior finish (wood, vinyl, brick, or stucco) to different rooflines to covered front porches and other architectural accents. For all upgrades, including elevations, your Realtor will provide you with the benefit of their experience as to whether those upgrades will help in the re-sale value of your home.

Procuring Cause??

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:37:53 -0500

Procuring Cause in Colorado as I know it.

I was recently in a class on Procuring Cause and became aware of the misconception of the subject. This is what I got out of it! Several class members seemed to be confused and had this wrong. There are so many items that come about in arbitration to cause a panel to consider procuring cause. To discus what procuring cause is not, one it is not who first showed the property! From what I understand this concept is the threshold rule which was determined in the 70's. Well, no more! Who showed the property is only one of many items the arbitration panel will take into consideration. Of course I personally know some who got away with doing something wrong, knowing it and still got out of it, which should have never happen.

The agency agreement is another misconception of Realtors; some say I had an agency agreement with the buyer so therefore I am the procuring cause. When in arbitration the panel considers who is entitled!! The buyer agency agreement has nothing to do with the co-op compensation. The agreement is between the buyer and their agent. According to the teacher these are two separate compensation agreements.

There are others who think that whom ever wrote the contract gets the commission. The person who writes the contract may be the procuring cause, as in the case of my friend, but not just because they wrote the offer, he himself knew exactly what he was doing.

When ever you become aware of a potential procuring cause dispute the very first thing to do is to communicate with the other broker and try to resolve. It is easier to resolve at this point than it will be half way through the transaction. If you can't resolve then do not let this crash the transaction. Allow the transaction to close even if you are the agent who will not get the commission. You have 180 days after closing to file an arbitration request, and I have seen it happen.

An option that the board offers to Realtors is mediation. We suggest it to clients so why not us. This way maybe a mutual agreement can be obtained by all parties involved. At least here at this stage you have input, not so with arbitration. The panel will make the decision.

Anyway, I thought this was interesting.. hmmm

I have a client now that refuses to sign a buyers agreement, and has two of us working for him, thank goodness she is working with him in other areas of town.

Cindy Nicholson and GREAT TIPS!!

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:53:59 -0500

PLEASE BE SURE YOU READ THE LAST ONE ABOUT THE CLOTHES DRYER!!!!!!

GREAT TIPS:
1. Reheat Pizza: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove , set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs:   Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal , mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients , reseal , keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly , cut the tip of the baggy , squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting:   When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store , whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread :   To warm biscuits , pancakes , or muffins that were refrigerated , place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away:     Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

6. Broken Glass clean up:Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes:    Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away!: To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum nozzle: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups clean up :     Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Hate foggy windshields?:     Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope:     If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

14.Hair Conditioner:     Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair..

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies:     To get rid of pesky fruit flies , take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid , mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants:     Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it , take it "home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains , but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS :   The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean.
(I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. WELL...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film , but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free - that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So , I thought I'd share! Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it the water ran right Thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

Tour company using YOUTUBE

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:09:03 -0500

Not that i have the time to write a huge blog, but a friend of mine is using youtube with her tours and seems to be getting great response. Just thought i would put this out there for you to view and think about. i have not used youtube for tours yet and I am not sure if many tour companies will post to youtube. If you are interested i will get the info on the guy that took the tour. Here is the link for one of her tours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM23F08jy5w

If i knew how to embed the video i would, sorry..

Wine Matching

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:36:10 -0500

Wine & Food Matching

The matching of food and wine can be anything from a very complex subject surrounded in the detailed mumbo-jumbo of gastro-bores to a set of simple rules, according to one's point of view. The French, who have as long and intimate an experience of wine as any, have always regarded wine as an intrinsic part of gastronomie, and few Frenchmen would dream of describing a wine without suggesting food combinations which would enhance and be enhanced by its flavors. Nevertheless, the old rule of "red wine with red meat and white wine with fish and poultry" are somewhat outdated in today's world of multi-ethnic and subtly flavored foods and the ever-expanding range of available wines.

Wine drunk by itself tastes different from wine served with food, because wine acts on on food in a similar way to spice. The acids, tannins and sugars in the wine interact with the food to provide different taste sensations. Wine can enhance the flavor of food. A good match will bring out the nuances and enhance the unique characteristics of both.

Basic guidelines which should be viewed and used flexibly. Here are some guidelines as a starting point:

Some General Guidelines:

(1) Serve lighter wines before full-bodied wines

If you're serving more than one wine with a meal, then it's best to serve lighter wines first and progress to more full-bodied wines later in the meal. Dry wines should be served before sweet wines unless a sweet flavored dish is served early in the meal. Lower alcohol wines should be served before higher alcohol wines.

(2) Strongly flavored food goes well with full-bodied wine

A fundamental rule is to pair delicate wines with delicately flavored food, medium-bodied wines with medium weight food flavors and strongly flavored food with wine which will stand up to it.

Flavor	Delicate	Medium	Strong
Wine	Riesling Sauvignon Blanc	Chardonnay Merlot Pinot Noir Viognier	Cabernet Sauvignon Petite Sirah Syrah Zinfandel
Food	Salads Vegetables Fish	Poultry Pork Game Veal	Beef Lamb Venison

(3) The cooking method and sauces are just as important as the food itself

It may be obvious that the food preparation method and use of sauces is just as important in setting the flavor profile of a dish, but this is often forgotten when a wine selection is being made. For example fish poached with a delicate lemon sauce pairs well with a light refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, while fish cooked in a spicy sauce or blackened Cajun-style will pair well with a wine with more body and robustness like a Zinfandel. Remember it is easier to adjust the flavor of a given food to pair with a wine than it is to adjust the flavor of a wine after it has been chosen. Adding sweetness to a dish will increase the awareness of any bitterness and astringency in the wine, making it appear drier, stronger and more fruity. Adding sourness to food will make the wine taste richer and more mellow, and sweet wine will taste sweeter.

(4) Sweet Desserts pair well with sweet white wines or full-bodied reds

Dry wines do not taste good with sweet foods, which tend to emphasize the wine's acidity. In general, wine should not be paired with food which is sweeter than it. The classic accompaniment for a sweet dessert is a sweet white wine (e.g. a Sauterne) or a fortified wine. However, a full-bodied red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon can be equally enjoyable, and is wonderful with chocolate.

(5) Wine and cheese pair well together

In many European countries the best wine is reserved for the cheese course at the end of a meal. Red wines pair well with mild to sharp cheese, whereas pungent and intensely flavored cheese is better with sweeter wine. Goat cheeses are delicious with dry white wine, while milder cheeses are well supported by fruitier red wines. Soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie, if not over-ripe, pair well with any good red wine, including Cabernet, Zinfandel or Pinot Noir.

(6) Don't stress. If it tastes good to you, then it's OK

The fact is that no two palates are the same. You should enjoy a food and wine combination because it tastes good to you, and not because someone else tells you it tastes good. Above all, ENJOY.

I personally use wine as a gift sometimes and they have my personal lable attached. Here is their website. You can personalize your own label

http://www.ambrosiawine.com/ambrosiawine/welcome.asp?sc=1011&body_sc=1011&occ=1011&firstEntry=Y

Cindy Nicholson - Castle Rock Colorado-the place to live

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:26:20 -0500

Welcome to the Town of Castle Rock, home to slightly more than 42,000 people who love our small-town atmosphere, low crime rate, abundant parks and open space and clean air.
Located midway between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock encompasses 33 square miles and sits in the East Plum Creek Valley at the base of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,202 feet. The Town is traversed by Interstate 25, is home to the Outlets at Castle Rock and is the seat of Douglas County. Our climate is known as among the nation's best, with more than 300 days of sunshine

Well folks here it is!! We are on the map!! Our town is growing strong so take a look at the write up.

The population of Castle Rock is expected to nearly double in the next five years, and why not?

With our prime location, affordable housing (relative to other nearby towns) stunning natural beauty in the area, excellent schools, world-class shopping and dining, and some of the best new golf courses in the country, the question really is, why wouldn't you want to live in Castle Rock?

Castle Rock among '10 best' for families in U.S.

Town of Castle Rock residents can stand up and take a collective bow on Tuesday, July 10, the day that Family Circle magazine unveils its "10 Best Towns for Families."

That's because the Town of Castle Rock made Family Circle's list - the first of its kind for the national magazine celebrating women and families.

The magazine's 10 Best Towns for Families article appears in the August edition, which hits newsstands nationwide on July 10. The article shares the results of the magazine's quest to identify "the best communities across the country that combine big-city opportunities with suburban charm" and "an ideal blend of affordable houses, good jobs, top-rated schools, wide-open spaces and a lot less stress."

"That describes Castle Rock perfectly," Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed said of the results of Family Circle's investigation. "If you asked 100 people why they moved to Caste Rock, 95 percent of them would probably cite the community's small-town charm and family friendliness."

Reed said while it's great to be recognized nationally as a great place for families, it's reward enough to experience family life in Castle Rock. "Every time I walk out my front door I think about how fortunate I am to have landed here 20 years ago with my wife and two daughters."

To come up with its 10 Best Towns for Families, Family Circle partnered with On Board, a New York City research firm providing real estate and demographic data to assemble a list of 1,850 places with populations between 15,000 and 150,000 and a high concentration of households with an average income of $65,000. That list was pared to 800 based on criteria such as cost of living, jobs, schools, health care, air quality, green space and crime rate. Family Circle assessed which towns best met those standards and ranked them according to state. The winners were selected from the highest-rated towns in the top 10 states nationwide.

The ten "10 Best Towns for Families" are:

· Castle Rock, Colorado

· Diamond Bar, California

· Morton Grove, Illinois

· Cedar Park, Texas

· Derby, Kansas

· Kennesaw, Georgia

· Cooper City, Florida

· Madison, Mississippi

· Franklin, Massachusetts

· Chanhassen, Minnesota

Family Circle Magazine's "10 best Towns for Families" honor is the latest in a string of national rankings awarded Castle Rock in recent years. In 2006, BusinessWeek magazine named Castle Rock No. 9 of the top 25 "best and most affordable suburbs in the United States." In a 2005 CNN Money Magazine report on the best places to live, Castle Rock ranked No. 1 in job growth.

For those of us who are lucky enough to both live and work in this little piece of Colorado, life is good... very, very good.

The Town of Castle Rock is a booming community located in Douglas County midway between Denver and Colorado Springs. The number of residents has grown tremendously since the early 1980's, but Castle Rock has retained its small-town character and distinct community boundaries.

What attracts residents to one of the fastest growing counties in the nation? It seems to be a combination of our breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, our convenient location, dry and mild climate, 300 days of sunshine a year, our low crime rate, and a small town atmosphere which includes numerous annual family oriented events.

Outdoor recreational opportunities abound in Castle Rock- including outdoor parks and a new skate park, golf courses, wide open space and the International PGA tournament. A school system that has been nationally recognized for its excellence, a recreation center with an Olympic size pool and a vide variety of shopping and dining experiences all enhance the residents' quality of life.

Our small town charm, beautiful views and unique culture attract more than 3,000 new residents annually. As the county seat, Castle Rock boasts a quality of life that is hard to come by for many other metropolitan communities. Scattered with sprawling new residential developments and surrounded by rolling hills, it's an idyllic setting for those who want to raise a family outside the city and enjoy the beautiful Colorado landscape

Tips and Hints

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:04:24 -0500

I found this a long time ago and have kepted it ever since in my kitchen. Hope it helps some of you.

Tips & Hints

	A copper scouring pad in your humidifier will prevent lime buildup.
	A tsp. or 2 of vinegar can help keep eggs from cracking while boiling.
	Add 1/4 tsp. Soda to Cranberries while cooking them and they will not require as much sugar.
	Add 1/4 tsp. of baking powder per quart of potatoes while mashing them and they will be fluffy, smooth, and more tasty.
	Add about 7 drops of lemon juice to 2 cups of whipping cream. It will make the cream beat up firm in about half the time.
	Adding a pinch of sugar to the water when boiling corn on the cob helps bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
	Adding lemon juice to gravy that is too greasy, will make the grease disappear and add flavor to your gravy. A small amount of baking soda will also work.
	Bring Lemons to room temperature and roll them under your palm on top of the kitchen counter before squeezing to get the most juice from them.
	Brushing beaten egg whites over a pie crust before baking gives it a beautiful glossy finish.
	Chunks of charcoal placed in the refrigerator will help absorb any bad odors.
	Cindy writes that when she makes deviled eggs - she hates a mess, so she puts the cooled hard boiled egg yolks, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and onion into a ziplock plastic bag. Mush it altogether in ther, snip the corner of the bag and fill your egg white halves. Then just pitch the bag. Hope you like this idea - it works for her!
	Cream that is whipped ahead of time, will not separate if you add a touch of dissolved unflavored gelatin (1/4 tsp. per cup of cream).
	Do Not use Iodized Salt in making pickles, it causes them to become soft.
	During winter months when the kitchen is cold, it can be a slow process or nearly impossible to get yeast breads to rise. Try placing the dough in an oven-safe container and setting it in the oven on warm (200 degrees F) for 2-3 minutes. Don't let it bake, just enough to warm the bowl. It can really speed the rising process.
	Eleanor says she likes to make up a pan of buttered bread crumbs and store in refrigerator (you guessed it) in a glass jar. That way she uses up all the old bread plus she doesn't have to stop to make buttered crumbs whenever she needs them. She uses these crumbs for toppings on many different dishes.
	Eleanor suggests storing your sour cream or cottage cheese upside down in your refrigerator to make it keep longer!
	For a new taste in potato salad dressing, use onion soup mix instead of fresh onions or chives. Two Tablespoons are enough to season a family-sized salad. It's easy and saves the tears and fuss of chopping onions.
	For burnt-on food in a skillet, just add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet, bring to a boil on top of the stove for easier cleaning.
	For hardened brown sugar: try keeping a bag of prunes with the top cut off laying on top of your container of brown sugar. The brown sugar never gets hard and when the prunes start drying out, just put them in a saucepan and cook for whatever time it takes for them to soften. Having been in with the sugar they are usually sweet enough without adding more sugar.
	For the burnt-on food in skillet shake a little baking soda in along with the soap and water.
	Gina writes to suggest - when hard boiling eggs, boil the water and slowly put the eggs into the water so they dont crack or break open, let the water come to a harsh boil and then put the cover onto the pot. Take the pot off the heat and let the eggs sit in the water for 20-30 minutes and the eggs should be hard-boiled!
	Green peppers may be frozen without blanching in an airtight container for later use in hot dishes or casseroles.
	Have just a small amount of leftover wine? Don't throw it away, try freezing it into cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
	If the refrigerator is stale or full of bad odors, crumble up newspapers and fill the fridge. Let it run for a day or two. Remove the newspapers and discard them. You may need to repeat this procedure, but it does work very well. It also works on a stale cooler.
	If you accidently over-salt a recipe while its still cooking, put in a peeled potato to help absorb some of the excess salt.
	Jennifer says that if you get gum in your hair try freezing it with an ice cube. It should glide right off!
	Jennifer suggests storing your brown sugar in plastic containers such as a coffee creamer container and says you'll never have to soften your brown sugar again!
	Jennifer suggests that if you want extra fudgy brownies, try adding 1/4 cup corn syrup!
	One reader said her all-time favorite hint is to store things in glass jars. When she buys buttermilk, she brings it home and puts it in a glass jar. It keeps for months that way. In fact any leftovers she has she keeps in a glass jar. She suggested storing onions in a glass jar leaving the root intact and they should keep for weeks. Another use is to clean and skin grapefruit and keep the sections in a glass jar. They keep for weeks and you don't have the mess each time you want some.
	Placing a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar helps to soften it again.
	Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice it and rub the raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
	Put a little butter in a kettle of potatoes to keep them from boiling over.
	Remove the burnt taste from scorched milk by putting the pan in cold water and adding a pinch of salt to the milk.
	Salted cold water will cool a hot dish more rapidly than plain cold water.
	Spraying tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before putting in a tomato-based sauce will help prevent stains to the tupperware.
	Steve writes to us and suggests...for a great way to proof dough take a large bowl of water and put it in the microwave for a few minutes until the oven gets warm and moist. Take the bowl out and put in the dough. Its a nice warm, moist environment. You can leave the dough in there for however long you need to while it rises!
	Stuffing a miniature marshmellow into the bottom of a sugar cone will help prevent ice cream drips.
	To allow salt to pour easily, put a few uncooked grains of rice in your shakers to absorb moisture.
	To clean a thermos bottle, fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour or more, if needed.
	To cook hamburgers in a hurry, poke a hole in the center when shaping. The centers will cook more quickly and when the hamburgers are done, the holes are gone.
	To cut very fresh bread and cake without crumbling, use a thin-bladed knife heated in hot water and then dried.
	To determine whether an egg is fresh or not, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away.
	To freshen a microwave, combine 1 cup water, the juice of 1/2 lemon and the rind, and 5-6 cloves. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
	To help prevent hard-boiled eggs from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling them.
	To keep Confectioner's sugar frostings moist, add a dash of baking powder.
	To keep your potatoes from budding out, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
	To maintain the flavor of freshly ground coffee, store it in the refrigerator.
	To prevent Rice Krispie bars from sticking to your fingers, run your hands under cold water before pressing them into the pan.
	To remove a stain from inside a glass vase, fill it with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
	To remove gum from hair, rub it with peanut butter or cooking oil. This will release it.
	To remove paint from hands, use lard.
	To toast blanched almonds, arrange the nuts in one layer on a shallow pan and bake in a moderate oven until golden, stirring often.
	To wipe crayon marks off a wall, apply toothpaste and let set about 15 minutes, and wipe off with a damp cloth.
	Try freezing half and half or other cream in an ice cube tray and then store the cubes in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Then when you make something like a soup or sauce, you can just take out a cube or two. This works great if you live alone too and never need a big batch of anything. These cubes can be used to add flavor to anything!
	Try using milk instead of water when making pie crusts to make a more tender crust and to have it brown nicely.
	Use a meat baster to squeeze your pancake batter onto the hot griddle for perfect-shaped pancakes every time.
	Wash hands in cold water and rub with salt to get rid of onion odor.
	When instructed in a cake recipe to flour the baking pan, try using a little of the dry cake mix instead of flour for a no-white-mess on the outside of the cake.
	Wrapping celery in aluminum foil when storing it in the refrigerator will help to keep it fresher for weeks.

Crazy Cake, my first cake ever!!

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:57:51 -0500

CRAZY CAKE

2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 sticks butter
1 c. water
4 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix flour and sugar and set aside.

Mix 2 sticks butter, water and cocoa and bring to boil. Boil 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Mix 1/2 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, eggs and soda until well blended. Mix with flour-sugar mixture. Blend well. Add cocoa mixture and mix well. Pour onto prepared cookie sheet or sheet cake pan. Bake at 400 degrees about 13 minutes.

CRAZY CAKE ICING:

1 stick butter
6 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. cocoa
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. nuts, chopped

Boil first 3 ingredients about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in next 3 ingredients and mix well. Pour over warm Crazy Cake.

This is the first cake I ever learned to bake, its easy!! I remember being very young and living in timberlake estates in cypress texas, cooking this recipe with my grandmother. At one time is was my most favorite cake of all.

Motorcycle get away!

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:38:38 -0500

One of our rides.. Take a look at the link..

http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery2.php?instanceid=73597159

Staying positive about the market

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:39:15 -0500

With the news these day's about real estate. What more can they say,, everything seems to be bad. What we need to do is

Stay positive and promote the good news about our market.
Keeping a good out look
Standing tall and smiling

I see a lot of real estate agents with sad looks on their faces, and many want to quit, but as I always say it will get better.

Here is a good article that will help you with some facts about our economy.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/09/03/daily23.html

Motorcycle Riders of Colorado ........... Alice Radio.....BEWARE!!

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:54:55 -0500

The following article appeared in the news this weekend. Remarks by ABATE member Sandy Dell follows. There are also links in her article regarding where to voice your complaints. Bikers, motorcyclist upset by radio DJs comments

posted by: Jeffrey Wolf , Web Producer written by: Carrie McClure , Anchor/Reporter

created: 9/7/2007 9:25:57 PM Last updated: 9/8/2007 7:34:56 AM

DENVER - For years, motorcyclist Dana Straw has been an avid listener of Alice 105.9's morning show. That is, until, this week, when he heard something he could not believe.
He says one of the show's three disc jockeys, known as "Howie," was talking about an encounter he had with a motorcyclist on the road who was driving erratically.

"He said, 'I wanted to open a car door on these guys who were passing me on the shoulder of the road on the right hand side of the road,'" said Straw. "And then today, during his broadcast, pretty much was inviting other listeners to call into the radio and tell their stories, and was kind of egging listeners on to explain they would like to do the same thing too."

Since the broadcast Wednesday morning, word of what reportedly took place on the airwaves has sparked a massive campaign by local motorcycle groups to boycott advertisers and listeners alike from the station.

They are writing in by the hundreds, sometimes thousands, on Web sites like http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/.

"When you have people telling you how to harm other people on the road, especially people who are unprotected like motorcyclists and don't have a cage around them, that's absolutely horrible," said Straw. "He's (Howie) a public figure, on the radio, a lot of people listen to him and to mention something like that was really bad."

Biker Siona Weaver, whose mother was killed by a truck while riding her motorcycle, agrees.

"We have as much right to be out there as anyone else, and we're not going out there to run people off the roads," she said. "I'm very upset that anyone would suggest to hit a motorcyclist. Period."

9NEWS contacted the station's program director, Dave Symonds, who denied the show ever mentioned opening car doors to oncoming bikers, and had no further comment on the matter.

9NEWS also asked Alice 105.9 for recordings of this week's morning shows to hear for ourselves what was said. Symonds would not give them to us.

Bikers like Weaver and Straw want there to be more education about safely sharing the roads with motorcyclists.

"The more people understand, the safer it's going to be for everybody," said Weaver.

They fear that what they heard this week on Alice 105.9 not only made light of doing harm on the road, but will encourage drivers to hate bikers.

"It's inciting people to do bad things to people when they're just trying to project themselves on the road," said Straw. "They had a caller on this morning that said she felt like nudging a motorcyclist."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fellow Riders,

It has come to my attention that the past two mornings DJ Howie at 105.9 FM (Alice) has been blatantly spreading hate-speech towards bikers - sport bike riders in particular. As if this was not bad enough, he has actually been advocating that car drivers take violent action against sport bike riders by pushing them off the road or opening their doors. (I did not hear the broadcast personally).

Apparently this DJ is not all that familiar with the First Amendment. If he is advocating violent action he is irresponsible as well as in violation of the law (and yes I will email them and tell them so)

Sandy

__________________

Freedom of Speech limitations:

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) involved a KKK leader advocating the return of all blacks to Africa and all Jews to Israel. The result of the case was the development of The Brandenburg test. According to this test, "teaching or advocating unpopular ideas must be distinguished from teaching or advocating the duty, necessity, or propriety of acting on those beliefs... the speaker must subjectively intend incitement (imminent evil), use words which are likely to produce action (imminent action), and openly encourage or urge incitement (suggesting, for example, it's a duty to commit a crime)."* Imminent evil, imminent action and incitement make this DJ's broadcast unprotected speech under the first amendment.

(*Except from a North Carolina Wesleyan College Freedom of Speech lecture at http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/410/410lect08.htm)

_______________________

Contact Information:

To talk to the Sales lady Jessica Farias go to http://www.alice1059.com/pages/294749.php? She sells the ads for Alice Radio. To talk to DJ Howie go to http://www.alice1059.com/pages/393054.php

Location of Alice Radio main office is located near I-25 & Belleview, just north of Syracuse & Belleview in the Denver Tech Center, next to Garcia's restaurant. We're on the 10th floor. A personal visit by motorcyclists in the local community might make a biiigggggg difference in how they respond.

To write to Alice Radio:

Kalc 105.9 Fm (Alice)

4700 S Syracuse St Denver, CO 80237

To Call Alice Radio - (303) 967-2700

___________________

Original Email received by ABATE of Colorado

For the past two mornings now the DJ "Howie" on the Alice 105.9 radio station has been blatantly spreading hate-speech towards sport bike riders in particular. As if this was not bad enough, he has actually been advocating that car drivers take violent action against sport bike riders by pushing them off the road or opening their doors, and encouraging people to call in and join in this tirade.

This is pretty serious stuff - someone out there is going to hear this message and take it seriously, and some motorcyclist is going to die from it. I believe when a station in California was spewing similar nonsense on their station, it did result in a rider being taken out - but that's just from memory and I can't cite a specific example, though I do remember reading about the station doing this. I am using our reach to thousands of local riders within the Colorado Sportbike Club to advocate a complete boycott of Alice 105.9 and their advertisers. We have put scrolling text and a rotating banner on the top of our forums, and I am now reaching out to my motorcycle contacts to spread the word. Basically I want nothing less than a commitment from Alice to NEVER speak this kind of drivel again, and a formal apology from Howie and the producer who allowed it to happen and then continue for two days for inciting violence and discrimination against motorcyclists, sport bikers in particular.

Homes Sales on the RISE?

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:46:53 -0500

Are you ready for this? I think we are showing small signs that the residential resale market in Douglas and Elbert County is improving and on track for a small recovery in 2008. We've had plenty of negative news in that last month regarding liquidity in the mortgage market and increased foreclosures but I'm optimistic going forward. Have we hit the bottom and are slowing starting to bounce back?

All three MLS areas posted an increase in sold single family homes with Douglas Elbert Parker (DEP) leading the way, an increase of 12.4% over Aug of 2006. Douglas Highlands Ranch Lone Tree (DHL) up 4.3% and Douglas County West (DCW) 2.9% comparing August closing in 2006 and 2007.

Douglas County West (DCW) is still down in overall closed homes year date by 4.8%. Average days on market averaged 118 a decrease of 8.5% while active listing increased to 1,451 an increase of 9.6% over this time last year. Active listings decreased in August when comparing last month's totals, July 2007 1,505 listings.

Douglas Elbert Parker (DEP) has closed 4.8% more homes year to date compared with 2006. Active, new listing and absorption rate all decrease in DEP compared to August 2006. Absorption rate for last month was 5.9 months indicating a neutral market between buyers and sellers.

Douglas Highlands Ranch Lone Tree (DHL) ended the month with 258 closings an increase of 4.3% over August 2006. Year to date DHL is down only 2 transactions. Active, new listing and absorption rate also decrease in DHL compared to August 2006.

Disclaimer - the information and commentary provided in this e-mail are opinions of Jim Renshaw and should be used for informational purposes only. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Art Fest Castle Rock Colorado

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:02:56 -0500

The 18th annual Artfest community event, presented by IREA and Sky Ridge Medical Center, which showcases the work of over 180 juried artists from across the nation, will enliven the streets of downtown Castle Rock on Saturday, September 8th between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm and Sunday, September 9th between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. This year's event will be in a new location that will stretch from the Castle Rock Town Hall to the Philip S. Miller Library on Wilcox street, and adjoining side streets and lots between.

This popular festival will include continuous live, musical groups; food, beer and soda vendors; strolling entertainment such as puppeteers, clowns and storytellers and an Imagination Zone with interactive art and cultural activities for the kids.

In addition, a silent auction is held during the two days of Artfest to benefit the Castle Rock Community Art Fund. The Fund, established by the Castle Rock Chamber, helps to finance outdoor art pieces for the Town in order to leave a legacy of Artfest.

There is a small admission fee of $4 ($3 for seniors) and children under 12 are free. Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=94vpjecab.0.6rtrk7n6.ig4ih8n6.1857&ts=S0273&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.castlerockartfest.com%2F for more information

News in Colorado

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:25:54 -0500

What's New in Colorado?

The Colorado Legislature adopted a new affiliated Business Arrangements law, effective July 1st 2006, the first part of this new Act relates to the title insurance industry, however the second part of the Act affects each person and entity licensed as a real estate broker in the State of Colorado. The current rules of the Colorado Real Estate Commission applicable to referral of business and AfBA's are Rules E-18, E-19, E-22 and E-46. Colorado has the same restrictions on referral fees and kickbacks that exist in RESPA. An appropriately established and operated AfBA is exception to the state rules. However even if the AfBA is properly established and operated, each licensee and real estate brokerage firm licensed in Colorado which is part of AfBA must do the following.

1. Use a disclosure form in each real estate transaction which provides written disclosure to the consumer to the transaction being referred. Pursuant the Rule E-46, proper completion of the HUD disclosure form shall be deemed compliance with the disclosure requirements in Colorado.

2. In addition, each real estate licensee and brokerage firm which is part of an AfBA must give written disclosures to the Colorado Division Real Estate (DRE) on an AfBA disclosure form available from the DRE. This form should be completed and kept in the transaction file of any brokerage firm that is part of an AfBA. Shortly, DRE will have an online sytem through which each licensee and brokerage firm will be obligated to make filings. That form must be completed and ultimately filed with the DRE as follows:

When a licensee enters into an AfBA, When an AfBA is changed. When a person files an application for real estate license, When a licensee changes a status form inactive to active, Employing brokers are required to file annually.

All this means that both HUD and state regulators are taking a hard look at referral fees, rebates, co-brokerage agreements and AfBA's involving real estate brokers and other settlement service providers such as title companies, mortgage brokers, and mortgage lenders. Some arrangements being promoted by title insurance companies, mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers may not meet the requirements of Colorado law and the requirements of federal law. You should consult a lawyer when presented with these opportunities, don't just sign up. The money you might make from the arrangement does not justify the civil penalties, possible jail time and attorney fee expense that you will face if you become a target. Due to the importance of this issue Colorado REALTORS, real estate brokerage firms and local boards and associations should give training.

Denver Noise Ordinance

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:09:10 -0500

DENVER NOISE ORDINANCE

This month's edition of Scooter News gives great insight into the Denver Noise Ordinance. Stop by an pick up this month's edition. There is a form that everyone needs to clip out and keep.

"In the event that you are stopped and ticketed by Denver police under the new noise ordinance, fill the form out, attach any additional materials you may have, and mail ot to the address printed on the form. The purpose of the form is to help keep track of who, why, wheere, when and how police are writing tickets, All this information will be necessary to create a clear picture of how the ordinance is being used or abused by police...

...If you are stopped, remember, keep your mouth shut! You are under no obligation to talk to the officer. The burden of proof in any case against you lies with the city. Let them do it on their own...keep your mouth shut and keep careful mental notes of everything the officer says and does.

DO NOT, under any circumstances consent to a search of any kind. If they really want to search, make them do it without your permission.

When you go to court, DO NOT plead the case out. Admit no guilt, and ask for a jury trial. The ordinance as it is written is vague, and beatable.

The more of these that are fought, the better we'll be get at winning. Plus, prosecutors don't want to have to deal with the headache of a trial and having to prove their case.

They're counting on you to plead guilty and go away. Visit the Colorado Confederation of Clubs website at http://www.colorado-coc.com/ for a guideline on how to deal with one of these tickets.

The information there, and the information printed here, is not legal advise, and should not be taken as such. This is only a guide to help ticketed riders deal with what is clearly a vague, subjective, and poorly thought-out law."

LOUD HORNS SAVE LIVES!!

As of now there have been several police department test their own motorcycles and guess what, they did not pass!!

Sex Offender Notices

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:58:19 -0500

SEX OFFENDER NOTICES

Have you seen notices on doors of listed homes?

Homeowners throughout Colorado are finding notices taped to their doors stating that a known sex offender has moved into their neighborhood. The notice directs them to a website, which offers for a fee to notify you when a sex offender moves into your neighborhood. The District Attorney's Office is receiving many calls from consumers who received a notice and are upset because there may be a sex offender in the neighborhood.

For those considering purchasing the services of this website, the District Attorney's Office has two cautions. Click here for details.

CONSUMER BULLETIN from Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce
August 21, 2007

SEX OFFENDER NOTICES

Homeowners throughout Colorado are finding notices taped to their doors stating that a known sex offender has moved into their neighborhood. The notice directs them to a website, www.neighborhoodredalert.com. The website offers for a fee to notify you when a sex offender moves into your neighborhood. The District Attorney's Office is receiving many calls from consumers who received a notice and are upset because there may be a sex offender in the neighborhood. For those considering purchasing the services of this website, we have two cautions:

1. A list of registered sex offenders and their locations is available from many police and sheriff departments free of charge. Go to your local law enforcement website or call them for information on sex offenders in your area. A list of registered sex offenders in the state of Colorado is also available at www.sor.state.co.us. Again this service is free and the site is maintained by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

2. The lists of sex offenders maintained by law enforcement agencies are accurate and up-to-date. When we used the Neighborhood Red Alert website to search for new offenders who had moved into the neighborhood near our office, the four addresses listed were all the same, and the address was not identifiable on the Red Alert website, but in fact was for the Arapahoe County Jail.

An advisory bulletin for consumers from the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District,
Carol Chambers

MyRealty.com by Cindy Nicholson

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:40:48 -0500

IT'S FREE TO JOIN AND FREE TO POST YOU LISTINGS!!

http://www.MyRealty.com

Home Finding Community was launched for two reasons. One to build a comprehensive source for all real estate professionals and second to help existing real estate websites improve their visibility and web rankings. The best part is you can add your website to this directory at no-charge.

This real estate community also offers many great tools such as blogs and forums to help you stay in touch with all facets of the real estate market. We offer five industries, Real Estate agents, New Home builders, Mortgage Lenders, Escrow & Title, as well as inspection services. Home Finding Community is the most comprehensive real estate directory on the web.

Please visit the link below to view this new directory:
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San Luis Colorado Land Listing 2.5 acres, by Cindy Nicholson

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:31:04 -0500

Nicholson Home Team 720-231-2178

The contents of this email regard real estate properties in which you may be interested, and is based on an established marketing relationship. Please add innovia@sanluisvalleymls.com to your address book to ensure our emails reach your inbox.

This email was sent on behalf of:

Tonya Sipple
ERA WERNER REALTY
1208 MAIN ST.
ALAMOSA, CO 81101
Phone: 7195872400

MLS: 214109	LOTS Active	2.5 AC on Wild Horse Mesa SAN LUIS CO, 81152		$7,000
List: Tonya Sipple (719) 587-2400 of ERA WERNER REALTY (719) 587-2400 /

County:	Costilla	School Dist:	Centennial
Area:	San Luis
Lot Type:	Unimproved	Tot Acres:	2.5
SF Min Req:		Schedule:	71224360
Type:	Vacant Land	Ann. Taxes:	36.98
Zoning:	RUR	Lot Size:	2.5 acres
Subdiv:	Wild Horse Mesa
Sec/Twp/Rng:	xxx-xxx-xxx
Legal Desc:	WHM Sec F Blk 83 Lot 20

Directions:

Hwy 159 South to Melby Ranch, left up Wild Horse Dr, to Mesa Drive East, right on Altamesa to Gold Hawk, left 700` to lot on left.

Remarks:

Beautiful veiws from this 2.5 acre parcel atop Wild Horse Mesa-- where the wild horses still roam!! This is a very nice lot, very buildable and accessible. Minutes from the lake, too! Call for details or a showing, today.

BUILDING FEATURES
Water Source:	None	Utilities:
Sewer:	None

Improvements:

None

PROPERTY FEATURES
Special Features:	Close To Town , County Road Access , Many Possibilities , Mountain View , Natural Landscape , Near Reservoir , Near Ski Area , Remote , Secluded/Private , Valley Views
Terms Offered:	Cash , Coventional
Terrain:	Mountainous , Natural Ground Cover , Rocky

List Date:	07/10/2007	Sell Price:	$	Sell Date:
Withdrawn Dt:		Trans B % or $:	2	Sold Terms:
Buy Agt % or $:	2	Buyer Name:
Expire Date:	07/10/2008	Covenants:	No	Agency:	Transaction Broker
Seller Name:	Rodriquez			DOM:	11
Seller Conc:

- - - - All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified - - - -

07/20/2007 10:25:44

This display was created 07/20/2007.
While the information was believed accurate at that time, all information is subject to verification.

Sturgis 2007

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:51:38 -0500

15 DAYS TIL STURGIS!!!!!

Can you believe it's here?

Borrowed the following...

Below is what I try to live by. I'm not perfect. I also believe that for every right there is a responsibility attached.

Respect all. This includes yourself. If you want respect, then you have to show it. If you can't respect folks, avoid them, and leave them alone. If they won't respect you, then deal with it.

Honor all. When someone gives of themselves selflessly to you, you have to honor them. Honor your creator, and their creations. Honor all who have served our country in any capacity, this includes veterans, public officials, and volunteers. If you don't like what they are doing, then get off you ass, and work to change the situation.

Freedom for all. We should live our lives free of all tyranny. This includes religion, and political. We do not have the right to infringe on other's freedom. If your freedom is important to you, then you have the responsibility of fighting for freedom. Freedom aint free, and part of the price tag is to respect, & honor others.

H.O.G. Members-only Reception: August 4

Saturday, August 4, 10AM-1PM

Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City

Members must show active membership card

Members are allowed to bring one guest each

Harley-Davidson New Product Show: August 4-11

The H-D New Product Show features new 2008 H-D® and Buell® models, MotorClothes® apparel, and Parts and Accessories.

Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Open to the public Saturday, August 4, 1PM-5PM; Sunday, August 5 - Friday, August 10, 10AM-5PM; Saturday, August 11, 10AM-4PM

Willie G. T-shirts and limited-edition commemorative merchandise with his exclusive logo will be for sale

Your H.O.G. membership card will provide access to the H.O.G. Hospitality area, where you can pick up a free
commemorative H.O.G. pin (must be present to receive) and purchase exclusive Harley Owners Group® merchandise
at H.O.G. & Co.

Demo Rides: August 4-11

H-D and Buell models will be available to take out on a trial run.

Saturday, August 4 - Saturday, August 11, 9AM-4PM

Parking lot of Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City

Pikes Peak Run ... do you have the guts?

Cindy & James Nicholson (******* Inactive********) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:05:03 -0500

July 28

9am

4th Annual Pikes Peak Run

Sponsored by ABATE District 2, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ride starts at the Disabled American Vets Post at Palmer Park and Peterson Road in Colorado Springs.
Registration is from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Rider fees are $20.00 and include a run patch.
The ride ends with live music and prizes. For more information call (719) 650-4490.