There isn't a song in the world that brings a smile to my face as quickly as this one does...

If I could choose any song for my theme song, it would be James Brown's "I Feel Good". Nothing could be better than hearing this as you walk into a room...or mayble slide into a room and add a quick turn and a kick! Power of positive thinking at work, baby!

My friends and family know that I am generally happy and like it that way. Hubby tends to be more pessimistic, so he'd have me on mute. But, really, I could dig having this tune follow me around.

1.Historical Park Have a picnic, play games, and tour history at Fort Simcoe State Park. Located at the end of SR220, 45 minutes South of Yakima, the park is open daily 6:30AM to dusk through October 2^nd. An Interpretative Center and the Historical Buildings are open 9:30- 4:30PM Wed-Sun through Oct. 1^st. Call (509) 874-2372 or visit  http://www.parks.wa.gov/ for more information.

2.Art Show  Enjoy art from three very different perspectives, now through June 4^th, at Oak Hollow Gallery, Chalet Place, 5631 Summitview Ave., Yakima. (509) 965-3846 "Generational Views: Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter." Works by Ardith Kaiser, Holly Mahre and Lindsey Gaskill. (A Mother's Day outing, maybe?)

3.Kids/Teens Night Out "Saturday Night Live", every Saturday night 7-9:30 at the YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. Free fun for ages 7-15. Activities include swimming, basketball, volleyball, foosball, and pool. (509) 248-1202.

4.Dance Not just any dancing, but Los Bailadores Del Sol. This dance group is so energetic and great fun to watch, and the public can participate as they practice, too. 6:30-8:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Castlevale EPIC, 2902 Castlevale Rd., Yakima.

5.Music  This month you can listen to Ryan Schultz on the Tuba at Englewood Christian Church. The Second Sunday Series falls this month on May 11^th and starts at 2PM. The church is located at 511 N. 44^th Ave., Yakima. Donations are accepted if you'd like to contribute.

6.Book Club  On the second Wednesday of each month you'll find the Passionate Readers Book Club in deep discussion at Borders Books. Meetings begin at 7PM. Borders is in the Union Gap Mall at 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. (509) 248-4018.

7.Car Show The American Reflections Car Club is hosting their 8^th Annual "Open" Show Sunday, May 18^th at Moxee Park. There is a registration fee to enter, but looking and enjoying is free! Features custom cars, classics, streetrods, stock vehicles, trucks, vehicles under construction, foreign vehicles, tuners, lowriders, SUVs, motorcycles and even bicycles! Music and food vendors, too!

8.Storytelling "Tales of the Rails" is songs and storytelling by Nancy Stewart and MaryLee Sunseri. Fun the whole family will enjoy! Show is May 23^rd at 7PM in the Yakima Valley Museum at Franklin Park, 2015 Tieton Dr., Yakima. (509) 248-0747. Have a picnic in the park and then enjoy the show!

9.More Music An electric-folk/rock presentation by Raining Jane, May 27^th at 7PM at the CWU Student Union and Rec. Center Pit off Chestnut Street in Ellensburg. (Okay, this isn't Yakima, but it's close, and it sounds like a lot of fun...)

10.Campfire Talks Every summer the Yakima Sportsman State Park hosts what they call the Summer Campfire Program. Each event has a different topic and host. Bring a lawn chair and stick around to roast marshmallows (provided) after the talk. The park is located at 904 Keys Rd., Yakima. (509) 575-2774

• May 24^th, "Vineyards of Yakima Valley"
• May 31st, Bob Tuck, "Local Yakima Birds & Animals"                                                                                                                                                                           

I'm enrolled in a GRI 300 class at the end of this month and will finally add a designation to my Realtor title. I say "finally", but I've only been a Realtor for 2 years. It was my goal from the very beginning of my real estate career to earn the GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) and the ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) designations as quickly as possible.

I know there are a lot of opinions out there as to the value of designations. The main reason I decided to take advantage of these classes was for the education. I felt woefully unprepared to assist clients with life-altering, real estate decisions after first getting my license. The education requirements for new licensees are, IMHO, far from adequate and I'm happy to say that in Washington we will be seeing some changes in the near future.

But back to designations.... Which ones do you think offer the best educational opportunities and really give you great tools to be better agents? Am I on the right track with the GRI and ABR? I have also heard that the CRS is fantastic and I'm interested in the Women's Council of Realtors, too. Those that have earned one or more of these abbreviations after your name...has it made a difference? And is it because people really respond to the letters, or do you think you are better at your job because of the additional education...or both?

This includes all residential sales, including condos, townhouses, single-family site built homes, manufactured homes on leased land, and manufactured homes on land. The data was pulled from the MLS and compiled by me.

Total volume and total units sold are lower this year than last year, but the average price has increased and the average days on market has declined. So, while we are seeing some slowing, homes are selling faster and for more money.

I've been reporting that Yakima is a strong market despite the slight declines in volume, but thought it would be more believable if I brought out some real numbers.

"Housing market continues to fall", read the headline yesterday on the money page of the local newspaper. It was an AP article discussing the situation nationwide. Quoting statistics from the National Association of Realtors and economic experts, the article suggests that the real estate market is in for a really bad year.

National statistics may interest some, but I hear from most people that they'd like to know what is happening here...where they live and work. I would love to see the Yakima Herald Republic print more articles about our local economy because this national doom and gloom reporting is scaring people. I answer panicked calls from sellers and buyers daily.

So, today, I'm writing to people in my community and sharing some GOOD news, some SO-SO news, and some LOCAL market information....

GOOD NEWS: Local non-agricultural job growth is at the second highest level in Yakima County since 1990. The new Osteopathic college will open it's doors to the first class this fall. The HOP market has gone crazy and all those farmers planting extra acres are going to bring loads of money into the local economy. Downtown Yakima has been born-again as a hip, fun, artsy place to be and be seen. New construction homes are selling here...more and more homes are being built and most are purchased in advance. (Have you driven around West Valley lately!) I hosted an open house in Yakima last Sunday and was bombarded by buyers...I haven't done an open house that busy since last spring!

SO-SO NEWS: Lending standards have changed. You now need to have some money and good credit, in addition to a pulse, to get a home loan. Sub-prime loans have gone bye-bye. This just means that young first-time buyers will need to plan and save before becoming homeowners. Gas prices are up, just like everywhere else, and this is affecting local businesses. Those who rely on shipping products in or out, folks in the trucking or repair industries, or real estate agents driving to showings have seen it first-hand in their wallets. This is forcing us to be more conscious of our driving habits, and also urging the faster exploration of alternative fuels. We all need to buy as much locally as possible. The Farmer's Market will be back soon and even bigger this season!

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET NEWS: That headline about the falling market was all about the number of pending home sales. In Yakima, the pending sales are down, too. For the last thirty day period compared to 2007 for the same 30 days, we are down 4 pending sales. FOUR. That could just be four folks that couldn't get a loan this year, or four that were too afraid to try because of all the negative media. We have 10% more houses on the market this year-to-date compared to the same period last year (114 more residential listings, which is less than one month's inventory). But average sale price is up 4% (GOOD). Average Days On Market from list date to closing date is longer, though. Four days longer. FOUR. Four days longer to sell, Four pending sales worse than 2007. Prices up 4%. This isn't the same real estate market the AP reporter was writing about. We are affected by some of the same things happening nationally, but not nearly at the same level.

If you are waiting to buy or sell in the Yakima area because of the bad news reports...STOP IT! Now is a fine time to shop for a house. The extra inventory is a treat if you're buying, lots to choose from...and sellers that price right for the market and present their homes well are still getting them sold. Call a local Realtor if you have questions.  We have ready access to the facts and are willing to share the information.

Outdoor Survival Class at YVCC  First class April 10, 6:30PM and runs for three consecutive Thursdays. Class taught by a Yakima County Search and Rescue veteran includes topics such as positive attitude and programming your mind to succeed and to control fear, as well as basic map-and-compass skills, telling time and direction by the stars and sun, and navigating by reading signs in plants, soils, winds, topography, temperature and wildlife. Call Don Witke, instructor, for more information 509-697-6378. To register call YVCC at 547-4712. Tuition is $30.

Temptation: A Mixed Media Invitational.  Opening reception, Thursday, April 10 5:30-7:30PM, Through May 25th, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Allied Arts Center 509-966-0930, www.alliedartsyakima.org . Expressions of temptation by Becky Blair, Bill Brennan, Brian Holtzinger, Carol Hassen, Gary Dismukes, Justin beckman, Leo Adams, Lucy Valderhaug, Marcia Blevins, Penn O. Shelton, Rob Prout, and others.

Yakima Area Arboretum, 9th Annual Arbor Festival April 12, 10AM-3PM Activities for kids and adults, FREE!

Seattle Opera Young Artists, with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra April 12, 7:30PM at the Capital Theatre. Two one-act comedic masterpieces: Maurice Ravel's Fantastical L'enfant et les Sortil ges and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. Tickets available at 509-853-ARTS, or toll free 877-330-ARTS.

YVCC Visiting Faculty Lecture Series April 14, 7:30PM. Kendall Hall Auditorium. Free. Call 509-574-4646 Diandra Leslie-Pelecky: "Building Speed: The Physics of NASCAR"

Earth Day Hike, Cowiche Canyon April 20, meet at 1PM at the Weikel Trail trailhead. (Dir: West on Summitview for 7 miles past 40th Ave., right on Weikel Rd., half-mile later turn right into parking lot for Cowiche Canyon) Participants go one way with a naturalist, who will point out local flora and fauna, and the other way with a geologist who can explain the history of the rock structures and how and what the different colors and layers mean.

Yakima Valley Community Band Spring Concert April 21, 7:30PM, Eisenhower High School's Little Theatre, 702 S. 40th Ave., FREE Broadway, Classical and Patriotic music. 509-965-2115, www.yakimacommunityband.org.

Capital Steps April 24 at the Capital Theatre. 853-ARTS, or 877-330-ARTS for tickets. Don't miss the show all of Yakima talks and laughs about for days. A highlight of the year on stage!

The Wizard of Oz,  April 24-26 and May 1-3, 7:30PM, or April 26/ May 3 aat 2PM at the Davis High School Auditorium. $7 adults, $5 ages 12 and under. Presented by Davis High School drama department. 509-573-2500

Tieton, Washington is a small community that is in the beginning stages of a rebirth thanks to Ed Marquand and his vision for this community.

The town of Tieton is only about 15 minutes from Yakima, and less than three hours from either Seattle or Portland. It used to be a bustling agricultural/fruit area, but in recent years has declined. Many businesses were boarded up when Mr. Marquand first came through town. The story has been repeated many times... he was on a bike ride through the area and ran over some goatheads which flattened his tires. He stopped at the town square, a grassy, well-kept area in the center of town, to make repairs before moving on. It was here that he had his vision for the town.

He envisions a community of artisan businesses and hospitality enterprises that will be recognized for the creative and imaginative ventures of it's residents. He calls this vision "Mighty Tieton".

(For more info visit the website, www.mightytieton.com )

Several projects have already been started, some completed. A fruit warehouse has been converted into live/work lofts, another warehouse is headquarters for a letterpress print shop and artist studios. A church that was abandoned has been converted to a community events center called Harvest Hall. Anyone interested in investing in the development of a small inn and tavern can contact mtieton@yahoo.com.

 Real estate is still very affordable and there is a ready work force in the area. Average price for residential property is between $175,000 and $275,000.

Homes currently listed in Tieton range from $89,000 for a 1 bedroom home with workshop on half an acre (see photo, left) to a $735,000 horse ranch. Land starts at $35,000.

Search for Tieton real estate at www.shannondrew.com.

 The opportunities are wide open for artists of all kinds in this town. Consider being a part of it's future.

Genealogy is a rewarding hobby for history buffs. Not only do you seek and find your ancestors, but the research brings history alive.

I began my research as a teenager with the goal of finding the original immigrant to America in each family. Then I thought I was only researching four names, those of my father's parents and my mother's parents. It has multiplied into the hundreds as one surname leads to two more and on and on and on... Twenty-five years later, I still am searching for some elusive families. Eventually, I'd like to publish my research in a book to pass to the next generations.

I have ancestors that came on the Mayflower, Jamestown settlers, some that came to America as indentured servants, and one that came to fight against colonists in the Revolution with the goal of deserting and starting a new life here. There are Irish, English, Scots, German, and Dutch...some famous and well-to-do in their time, some poor as dirt looking for a fresh start. I've traced many families as they moved west, some coming to the Northwest over the Oregon Trail. It has been, and continues to be, a fascinating journey.

There are lots of ways to get started. Several websites provide beginner tips. Visit www.rootsweb.com , www.familysearch.org, and www.genealogy.com for blank forms and instructions for completing them. To begin, you should download a blank pedigree form and a blank family group sheet and make lots of copies. Then start by filling in the information you already know. Ask older family members for their help whenever possible.

If you live in a town that has a local genealogical society and library, go and join! In Yakima we are blessed with the YVGS (Yakima Valley Genealogical Society). Over the last few years the group has been busy moving and settling into a brand new library, and fundraising efforts to pay for it. This year the focus is on increasing membership and the collection of resource books (already one of the largest in the state).

The library is staffed by volunteers and open Monday-Saturday 10AM-4PM September through May, it's closed on Saturdays in June, July and August and also closed on major holidays. The library is located at 1901 S. 12th Ave. (just south of Washington Ave.). Non-members may visit the library for a fee, or join the society and visit as often as you'd like!

Membership fees for YVGS are $20 for individual, $21 for a couple, or $25 for the whole family. With your membership you also receive a quarterly bulletin. Meetings are held once a month and the library hosts workshops and classes throughout the year. Visit www.rootsweb.com/~wayvgs/ for more information. And think about exploring genealogy as a hobby your whole family can share!

Latino Cultural Film Series, Allied Arts Center, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave. Tapas, wine tasting 6PM, Screenings 6:45PM Discussion Follows. $5.00. 509-966-0930, http://www.alliedartsyakima.org/                                                       

• March 13, "The Motorcycle Diaries", 
• March 20, "Crossing Arizona",  
• March 27, "Quinceanera"

Home and Garden Show, March 14-16 Yakima Valley Sundome, 1301 S. Fair Ave. $6, $8, $16. TicketsWest 800-325-7328, State Fair ticket office, 509-248-7160

Capital Theatre, Best of Broadway Series, 19 S. Third St. Tickets: TicketsWest 800-325-7328, Capital Theatre Box Office, 853-2787

• "GYPSY" March 14, 7:30PM and March 15, 2:00PM and 7:30pm
• "LITTLE WOMEN" March 28, 7:30PM and March 29, 2:00PM and 7:30PM

Simon Edwards Gallery, 3105 Summitview Ave., 509-248-6886, 11:00AM-4:00PM Tues.-Sat   

• "Wood", interpretations from around the world. Through March 28.

Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive. Open Dawn to Dusk. Jewett Visitor Center open 9AM-4PM Tuesday-Saturday. Admission: Donation www.ahtrees.org 

• March 15 , 10AM-noon, Stained glass garden art class. $35 members, $40 non-members. Class size limited.
• March 22 , 9AM-noon, Raptor class on birds of prey. Optional field trip through arboretum follows. (Bring a sack lunch). $10 members, $15 non-members

Medieval Swordsmanship, Beginner-level classes. Offered by the Fencing Society of the Academy of Historical Arts and Sciences. 509-972-8578, mail@livinghistoryacademy.org

Some Good news for Yakima in-city High School, Eisenhower...

 Eisenhower High School Principal Stacey Locke was recently named the state's top high school principal for the year. The diverse population in Yakima presented a challenge to Locke when she was hired as the school's principal in 2003. Eisenhower, nicknamed IKE locally, has a student population of close to 2000. Under the guidance and direction of Principal Locke, the school population has become a "culture of one", unifying students, staffmembers, and families as a single community. She has made the high school experience more personal for each individual, raised test scores, and reduced the school's drop-out rate.  

 The award is handed out each year by the Association of Washington School Principals. This award places her in the running for the National Principal of the Year award.

***I'm thrilled about this because I have three kids currently attending IKE, plus one that graduated in 2005, and I have seen the dramatic improvements from a parents viewpoint. Congrats Stacey Locke!!