Redding Makes National News Headlines....and is this ever RIDICULOUS?
OK, so I am reading the USA Today while on vacation on Monday and there in bold California state news it is: "Redding: 85 year old disabled man is the target of Shasta County Environmental Health for Selling Fruitcakes to supplement his social security income". Using an obsolete law, our county "watchdogs" are at it again, spending taxpayers money and wasting a huge amount of time and energy to prevent an elderly, but creative, 85 year old senior citizen from doing something that hurts absolutely no one, namely selling homemade fruitcakes at Christmas to friends, neighbors, and even strangers, without a permit. So big deal. He has been doing this for a number of years and who is complaining? Who has gotten sick? Who is begrudging the "ol fella" a few extra bucks. Well, guess who? It is our ever present not-enough-to-do county employees that, in fact, apparently do not have enough to do to protect our environmental health standards that they have to go out and find this guy. A number of things really bother me about this story, thus this blog.
1. How far do you take this "obsolete law?" Does this say that every "bake sale" conducted by children and youth groups, from the scouts to the local church, can no longer "sell their goods in front of WalMart?" If so, then consistency is demanded, so guess who will be doing this policing and who will pay for this use of county employee time? County employees paid by you and me.
2. How do you determine if the kitchen facility that our elderly gentleman is using to bake the fruitcake is not up to the "standards" required by the Health Department? As we all know, these standards are to a degree subjective, in that all of us have eaten in restaurants that are barely above "filthy and disgusting". When was the last time one of us went into a restaurant restroom that was repulsive, only to read the small scratched over sign "employees wash hands" (expected to do so in the grimy smelly sink)?
3. Not too many years ago, various Farmers Markets sold a whole assortment of various foods, both cooked and raw, and even non-organic that was grown with various fertilizers. In many areas, this has gone on for years, and in many areas still is going on. From breads and cakes to soups and even salads, visitors could go from booth to booth to both sample and buy "home cooked goodies"....all done without any kind of "permitting". Have we ever heard of a disease like Cholera or Hepatitus being contacted at a local Farmers Market? In fact, do you ever hear of someone getting "food poisoning" at a Market? We do hear this said of restaurants that are inspected by the County and "permitted", don't we?
4. Lastly, in the interest of time and space, what really makes this ridiculous is the time, energy, and expense that this kind of activity on the part of our rather highly paid County employees is costing us. Especially when this same department supposedly has such a heavy workload that they cannot get to "approving a septic system plan" for a new home for weeks; cannot do an inspection of a foul smelling and looking well water complaint fin Anderson for days; or cannot review the plans for a lot line adjustment for weeks. This is the department that frequently puts you into voice mail only to call back in 2 or 3 days. Where are their priorities might be a logical question. From this incident, it must be to chase down a handicapped 85 year old fella to check out his "fruitcake". Well, good luck at budget time, as the economy slows and job cutbacks will come.
Again, I ask, what is wrong with this picture? And, it is a shame that this is what gets national news, when we have so much going for us that is never noted, like the quality of life, the tourism, the natural beauty, and the great things that are happening by caring folks on a daily basis. And, I will be criticized by the County leadership that we must have laws, even if they are obsolete, for this brings order to our society. My answer to this is simple....we had plenty of laws to control big business and banking 2 years ago, and look where we are today. I rest my case, and have a good day. Redding Makes National News Headlines....and is this ever RIDICULOUS?
OK, so I am reading the USA Today while on vacation on Monday and there in bold California state news it is: "Redding: 85 year old disabled man is the target of Shasta County Environmental Health for Selling Fruitcakes to supplement his social security income". Using an obsolete law, our county "watchdogs" are at it again, spending taxpayers money and wasting a huge amount of time and energy to prevent an elderly, but creative, 85 year old senior citizen from doing something that hurts absolutely no one, namely selling homemade fruitcakes at Christmas to friends, neighbors, and even strangers, without a permit. So big deal. He has been doing this for a number of years and who is complaining? Who has gotten sick? Who is begrudging the "ol fella" a few extra bucks. Well, guess who? It is our ever present not-enough-to-do county employees that, in fact, apparently do not have enough to do to protect our environmental health standards that they have to go out and find this guy. A number of things really bother me about this story, thus this blog.
1. How far do you take this "obsolete law?" Does this say that every "bake sale" conducted by children and youth groups, from the scouts to the local church, can no longer "sell their goods in front of WalMart?" If so, then consistency is demanded, so guess who will be doing this policing and who will pay for this use of county employee time? County employees paid by you and me.
2. How do you determine if the kitchen facility that our elderly gentleman is using to bake the fruitcake is not up to the "standards" required by the Health Department? As we all know, these standards are to a degree subjective, in that all of us have eaten in restaurants that are barely above "filthy and disgusting". When was the last time one of us went into a restaurant restroom that was repulsive, only to read the small scratched over sign "employees wash hands" (expected to do so in the grimy smelly sink)?
3. Not too many years ago, various Farmers Markets sold a whole assortment of various foods, both cooked and raw, and even non-organic that was grown with various fertilizers. In many areas, this has gone on for years, and in many areas still is going on. From breads and cakes to soups and even salads, visitors could go from booth to booth to both sample and buy "home cooked goodies"....all done without any kind of "permitting". Have we ever heard of a disease like Cholera or Hepatitus being contacted at a local Farmers Market? In fact, do you ever hear of someone getting "food poisoning" at a Market? We do hear this said of restaurants that are inspected by the County and "permitted", don't we?
4. Lastly, in the interest of time and space, what really makes this ridiculous is the time, energy, and expense that this kind of activity on the part of our rather highly paid County employees is costing us. Especially when this same department supposedly has such a heavy workload that they cannot get to "approving a septic system plan" for a new home for weeks; cannot do an inspection of a foul smelling and looking well water complaint fin Anderson for days; or cannot review the plans for a lot line adjustment for weeks. This is the department that frequently puts you into voice mail only to call back in 2 or 3 days. Where are their priorities might be a logical question. From this incident, it must be to chase down a handicapped 85 year old fella to check out his "fruitcake". Well, good luck at budget time, as the economy slows and job cutbacks will come.
Again, I ask, what is wrong with this picture? And, it is a shame that this is what gets national news, when we have so much going for us that is never noted, like the quality of life, the tourism, the natural beauty, and the great things that are happening by caring folks on a daily basis. And, I will be criticized by the County leadership that we must have laws, even if they are obsolete, for this brings order to our society. My answer to this is simple....we had plenty of laws to control big business and banking 2 years ago, and look where we are today. I rest my case, and have a good day.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Adam Christing...a great event..
We just had Adam Christing at our Church Celebration Event and he was great. If you need a good, clean, funny, and audience interactive comedian-magician...this is your guy. Here is the story on him:
Adam Christing - Interactive Entertainer
As one of the world’s premiere interactive entertainers, Adam Christing has amused, mystified, and delighted more than 3,000 separate audiences across North America. Hailed as a “meeting planner’s dream”, Adam has become a favorite guest performer, emcee, and after-dinner entertainer for hundreds of the top companies and organizations in the world, including Toyota, Microsoft, Stanford University and scores of others.
Adam became a member of the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood at the age of 17. Since then he has been featured on more than 100 radio and TV shows, including Fox News, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News. He’s also been in national magazines and newspapers, including USA Today, FORTUNE, The Chicago Sun Times, The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.
Adam has been ranked among the top 5 after-dinner speakers in America. Success magazine highlighted him as “one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in America. Business and media expert Michael Levine noted Adam’s truly unique mix of leadership, humor, and creative communication, calling him “one of the most engaging and entertaining presenters in America today.” Adam has a knack for “getting everybody laughing” together no matter how large or small the audience.
Adam is the author of Comedy Comes Clean: A Hilarious Collection of Jokes, Quotes and One-Liners published by Random House, Three Rivers Press. Adam earned a degree in public speaking from Biola University and has been named to Biola’s Alumni Hall of Fame.
Adam is the CEO of Creek Park Pictures, whose vision is “Engaging Ideas On Screen”.
Look for Adam’s first feature film Change Your Life! Adam is the co-writer and co-director of this hilarious “mockumentary” about the wacky world of multi-level marketing, starring Tony Plana of Ugly Betty fame. Adam’s movie will be released in 2008.
Adam is also the writer and director of A Mormon President: Joseph Smith and the Mormon Quest for the White House, a documentary that is currently in post-production.
Adam lives in Southern California with his wife and 4 children.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Lest We Forget
This was in the Record Searchlight and is a great article...Lest we Forget.
A dying tradition for veterans
7 in Shasta County remain who served during Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
Photo Gallery
Local veterans
Mike Sotak, 86, is a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association in Redding and served in the U.S Navy from 1940-46. He was on the USS Maryland during the Pearl Harbor attack. View gallery »
Their ranks are thinning with each passing year. But survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are gathering at 9 a.m. Sunday outside the Shasta County Courthouse in Redding to remember the 67th anniversary of that “day of infamy."
“I figure if we get five, we will be lucky," said 86-year-old Mike Sotak of Happy Valley, who served on the USS Maryland at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack.
Once 67 members strong, today Shasta County’s Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 28 has seven active members left. “It’s a time in history that’s passing very quickly," said Don Crandell of Redding, the chapter’s secretary and the son of a Pearl Harbor survivor.
It’s been estimated that 18,000 to 20,000 veterans survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. And although it’s not known how many of them are still alive, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association has a nationwide active membership of about 5,000, about 800 fewer than it had only a few years ago.
Crandell, whose father was captain of the USS Gamble at Pearl Harbor, was an eighthgrader living with his family in a beach house on Oahu when he saw the Japanese planes fly over on their way to attack Battleship Row 67 years ago Sunday.
Crandell, who’s 80 himself and attempted a few years ago to begin a local chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors with little success, says that the days of the Pearl Harbor survivors chapter also may soon be numbered because of its declining membership.
“When it gets down to six we’re supposed to lose our charter," he said. Crandell, who helped to organize the ceremony, says it should be a simple and relatively short affair.
“I can’t imagine there are going to be many people there," because it falls on a Sunday morning, he said. The ceremony will feature a Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guard, a rifle salute, a bugler, and a few prayers and short speeches.
Then, of course, there will be those men who were present during a crucial turning point in world history.
The chapter’s president, Hank Reynolds of Red Bluff, who served on the USS Detroit, will miss Sunday’s ceremony because he is attending the national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association’s reunion in Fredericksburg, Texas.
But those local chapter members expected to attend are Sotak, Van Harrison of Redding, who served on the USS Tennessee; Melvin Fisher of Jones Valley, who served on the USS Whitney; Richard Lamb of Redding, who served on the USS Curtis; Robert McCullough of Red Bluff, who served on the USS Medusa; and Wayne Stamper of Redding, who served on the USS St. Louis. Crandell is the master of ceremonies.
Shasta vs. Enterprise Basketball WOW !
Last night we got to see a great game of fast and exciting basketball....and I wanted to share the coverage story from the Record Searchlight with you, for it says it all. What a fun night of high school basketball. It doesn't get any better than what we saw on Friday night at the Harlan Carter HS Basketball Invitational.
Wolves beat Hornets, try for first Harlan Carter title since 1999
The Wolves beat the Hornets at their own game.
In a frenetic-paced contest not for basketball purists, in a back-and-forth tilt stamped "instant classic" - the Shasta High School boys basketball team ignited at home with two minutes to play and burned rival Enterprise 56-54. The win puts the Wolves in the Harlan Carter Invitational championship against Pleasant Valley at 6:30 p.m. today.
They got there by outrunning the notoriously aggressive Enterprise defense, matching the Hornets' stamina and speed with a 12-man Shasta rotation.
And the final two minutes played out like a gem.
The Wolves outscored the Hornets 10-3 over the final 1:50 to fill a 51-46 deficit. Most of the 1:50 rolled off unabated as Enterprise ran out of timeouts with 80 seconds left and the Wolves sat on theirs.
"I thought we were where we needed to be," Shasta coach Bill Callaway said.
Besides, he didn't want to let the Hornets recompose.
"If we didn't break and get something we really got stagnant," Callaway said, praising Enterprise's half-court defense. "We didn't move very well on offense. Some of that's lack of practice time, but they just stuffed us in the half-court game so we didn't want to slow anything down."
Nick Preston owned five of Shasta's final 10 points and scored a game-high 11, counting a big 3-pointer to cut Enterprise's lead to 51-49 and a layup off a steal by Evan Taylor to extend Shasta's lead to 54-51.
The Wolves took the lead on Matt Wayda's go-ahead 3-pointer - his lone score of the game - to make it 52-51 Shasta with 56 seconds left. Enterprise set up the score when it flubbed an inbound pass.
Wayda's crowd-raising 3-pointer set off a chain of events in rapid fire.
Taylor snagged a loose ball and pitched it to Preston to put Shasta up three. Enterprise broke down the sideline and hit Nyjel Buchanan with a long pass. Buchanan dropped a game-tying 3.
Shasta came back up court and Tony Moore drove the lane for two with less than 20 seconds left.
Enterprise responded with a decent look by sophomore Cody Fisher in the corner that found iron.
Ball game.
"I think coming back against a little bit of a deficit is a big thing right there and maybe shows a little bit of what we're capable of doing," Callaway said.
And the two-platoon hockey shift gave the Hornets all they could handle. Shasta ran Enterprise to to the point where it would physically and mentaly lax, then Callaway sent in a new line of guys.
"We want to play like we did the last minute there," Callaway said. "With a sense of passion and urgency that everything is on the line. If we're going to play 12 guys lets get after it and make things happen."
Jovon Cunningham helped keep the Hornets in it early with his clutch 3-point shooting. Cunningham hit four-of-six downtown attempts in the second half.
"Usually I just slide to wherever the open lane is," Cunningham said. "You can feel it. It's all in the rhythm. I'd say after my third three I could feel it."
He scored 15 points, Buchanan added 15 and Anthony Williams scored 13. Shasta's Tony Moore scored 10. Brett LaHorgue added eight.
Reporter John Ryan can be reached at 225-8263 or at jryan@redding.com.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Housing Slips in Redding, CA
David Benda at the Record Searchlight kind of wrote it all....you can see the full article at the following site:
http://www.redding.com/news/2008/nov/26/area-housing-market-slips-prices-drop-14-over-past/
Redding’s housing market sizzled five years ago when it topped a government index as the fastest-appreciating area in the nation. It was the dawn of an unprecedented real estate run-up that exhausted itself in early 2006. Today, Redding is one of the 40 fastest-declining markets in the same government index. Plenty of other California cities share the same fate. Home values in Redding slid 14.07 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same three months a year ago, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) all-transaction House Price Index. Prices in Redding — which includes Anderson, Shasta Lake and unincorporated Shasta County — in the third quarter declined 6.63 percent from the second quarter of this year. Over a five-year period, values in Redding have increased 31.14 percent. Redding ranked 256 in the index, which surveyed 292 metropolitan areas
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Sarah Palin is still a Winner
Oprah wants her, and so do Letterman and Leno. Fresh from her political defeat, Sarah Palin is juggling offers to write books, appear in films and sit on dozens of interview couches at a rate that would be astonishing for most Hollywood stars, let alone a first-term governor. 
Sarah Palin continues to attract huge media interest despite her failed bid to become vice president.
The failed Republican vice presidential candidate crunched state budget numbers this week in her 17th-floor office as tumbling oil prices hit Alaska's revenues. Meanwhile, her staff fielded television requests seeking the 44-year-old for late-night banter and Sunday morning Washington policy.
Agents, including those from the William Morris Agency, have come knocking. There's even been an offer to host a TV show.
"Tomorrow, Gov. Palin could do an interview with any news media on the planet," said her spokesman, Bill McAllister. "Tomorrow, she could probably sign any one of a dozen book deals. She could start talking to people about a documentary or a movie on her life. That's the level we are at here."
"Barbara Walters called me. George Stephanopoulos called me," McAllister said. "I've had multiple conversations with producers for Oprah, Letterman, Leno and 'The Daily Show.' "
Asked whether Winfrey was pursuing Palin for a sit-down, Michelle McIntyre, a spokeswoman for Winfrey's Chicago-based Harpo Productions Inc., said she was "unable to confirm any future plans" for the show.
Palin may have emerged from the campaign politically wounded, with questions about her preparedness for higher office and reports of an expensive wardrobe, but she's returned to Alaska with an expanded, if unofficial, title: international celebrity.
Sen. John McCain plucked Palin out of relative obscurity in late August and put her on the national Republican ticket. Now, she has to decide how and where to spend her time, which could have implications for her political future and her bank account, with possible land mines of legal and ethical rules.
Don't Miss
Palin is considering about 800 requests for appearances from December through 2009, with 75 percent coming from out of state. A year ago, just a sprinkle of requests came from beyond Alaska's borders. They range from invitations to speak at the Chief Executives' Club of Boston, Massachusetts, and to attend a 5-year-old's birthday party, from a prayer breakfast in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to a business conference in Britain.
Michael Steele, the former Maryland lieutenant governor who wants to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, is seeking face time.
She has invitations to make appearances in 20 foreign countries, typically with all expenses paid, McAllister said. She has more than 200 requests for media interviews, again from around the globe. 
Watch whether Palin has plans for 2012 »
"She has to pace herself," suggested veteran Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman. "She wants a career made in a Crock-Pot, not a microwave."
In her two months on the national stage, Palin energized the Republican base but turned off moderates and independents, according to some surveys. Flubbed answers in national television interviews raised questions about her competence. She was embarrassed by the disclosure that the RNC spent at least $150,000 for designer clothing, accessories and beauty services for her and her family.
The right book or movie deal could help Palin reintroduce herself to the nation, on terms she could dictate. Watch Palin says she's ready to help Obama »
Although books and movie deals could be worth millions of dollars, it's not clear whether Palin would be able to legally earn it. State rules say she cannot accept outside employment for compensation. But there appears to be little in the way of precedent left by former governors to judge if book deals or lucrative speaking appearances amount to "employment."
Palin has sent unmistakable signals that she is open to running for president in 2012, but to advance her political ambitions, she must stay in the public eye in the lower 48 states.
As with any celebrity, there is the risk of overexposure. At the same time, she'll be under pressure to attend to governing her home state, which is thousands of miles from the rest of the nation.
"She has to deal with the perception that she bobbled her debut," said Claremont McKenna College political scientist John Pitney. "She needs to stay home for a while. If she wants a future in national politics, her No. 1 job is doing a good job as governor."
Shasta College Wins Bowl Game
SAN MATEO - The Shasta Knights football team won a thrilling Bulldog Bowl today with a final score of 33-31 over the Monterey Peninsula Lobos.
As time was running out, Shasta's Zack Gibbins intercepted a Hail Mary pass to end the game.
Shasta's Blake Arrowsmith caught an 8-yard TD pass from Will Camy with 33.9 seconds left to put the Knights up 33-31. Brandon Boyd missed the PAT.
Shasta had the ball at 2nd-and-goal from Monterey's 8-yard line with 40.1 seconds left in the game.
Monterey Peninsula came back 31-27 with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter of the bowl game at the College of San Mateo campus. Lobos quarterback Brian Reader scored on a 1-yard QB sneak.
Shasta's Ryan Krueger scored on a 46-yard TD run with 5:45 left to play. Blake Arrowsmith missed the extra-point.
With 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Shasta safety Casey Robertson snuffed out a Monterey Peninsula drive by making a diving interception.
With :07 left in the third quarter, Shasta's Brandon Baldwin scored on a 29-yard TD run. Blake Arrowsmith's extra-point was good.
The Knights scored a touchdown with 4:41 left in the third quarter when Arrowsmith caught a 50-yard TD pass from Will Camy. The Knights went for two points and Camy hit Brandon Baldwin in the flat for the 2-point conversion.
The Lobos had gone up 24-6 with 5:23 left in the third quarter after a 31-yard field goal by Monterey's Chris Pinto.
Shasta got on the board after taking the opening drive of the second half in for a score. Ryan Krueger scored on a 2-yard TD run on a toss sweep left. Arrowsmith missed the extra-point attempt.
But the Lobos came back and scored on the kick return. Zachkary Heager scored on the 87-yard kickoff return for with 11:52 left in the third quarter
Monterey Peninsula scored its second touchdown with 29 seconds left in the second quarter. Lobos quarterback Brian Reader threw an 85-yard TD pass to Heager on a great out-and-up play.
Reader pump-faked an out route and Shasta corner Robert Lee bit. Heager then got behind the Knights secondary, got it at the 40 and ran it in.
Halftime statistics for Shasta: Brandon Baldwin has run 11 times for 60 yards. Will Camy is 8-of-10 passing for 50 yards. Blake Arrowsmith has six catches for 28 yards.
For Monterey Peninsula: Ian Hesse has 12 rushes for 66 yards and a score. Quarterback Reader is 10-of-19 for 160 yards and a touchdown pass.
Shasta wasn't able to do much offensively in the first half. Although midway through the second quarter, Shasta's Baldwin reeled off runs of 16 and 25 yards on back-to-back plays, putting the Knights on Monterey's 40-yard line. The Lobos called a timeout with 7:30 left in the second quarter.
Earlier, Monterey running back Hesse ran 31 yards off left tackle for a touchdown with 8 minutes left in the first quarter. Chris Pinto made the PAT kick.
The Knights will return home this evening, probably sometime after 9 p.m.
Buy a Convenience Store in Northern California
Buy a Convenience Store in Northern California.....Just Listed
We now have 11 Convenience Stores with Gas Stations listed in the Northern California area. Cities include Redding, Anderson, Red Bluff, and Chico, CA.
Stores range from a Chevron on leased ground in great location in Redding for $300,000 to a branded and unbranded station that can be sold together in Redding, CA for $3,500,000.
Stores have both good inside sales and good gas volume, and a number of the stores have a liquor license to go along with a beer and wine license.
Brands include Shell, Chevron, 76, Valero, Beacon, in addition to the unbranded stations.
Various locations and sizes.
E-mail for details, financials, and photos to ronlargent@kw.com
This is the time to buy a Convenience-Mini Mart store, for people are buying gas, buying fast food items, and continuing to make the Convenience Store business one of the best profit businesses in the US.
Business in Redding, CA
Is there any project that's generated so much anticipation while spurring more conspiracy theories than Trader Joe's?
There's enough material here for an Oliver Stone movie.
Of course, Trader Joe's doesn't help by being so reluctant to elaborate every time we report a delay for the Redding store's scheduled opening.
Trader Joe's will open Feb. 1. That was the word in August from the developer who's building the store near the corner of Hilltop Drive and Browning Street.
But a friend told me last week that she was told by a Trader Joe's employee in Chico that the Redding store won't open until at least the summer.
There's a problem with the parking, the TJ worker said.
Parking? The shopping center was OK'd by the Redding Planning Commission in January 2007. The use permit addressed parking.
For the record, this isn't the first time employees at other TJ stores have fanned flames of doubt.
Earlier this year, the buzz was employees were telling folks up here who made the pilgrimage south for their TJ fix that the Redding store was delayed because it was having trouble obtaining its wine and beer license. Never mind that Trader Joe's had already received approval from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department when this rumor started circulating.
Alas, neither Trader Joe's nor the developer returned my calls last week.
Competition is good
I've lived in Redding for nearly 20 years. Ever since I can remember, the beef has been that there are no decent sports bars in this town.
Now, in the span of two months, two new sports bars have opened here.
In September, Johnny's on California Street downtown was the first out of the gate.
On Wednesday, Bleachers Sports Bar & Grill opened across town on Hilltop Drive, two doors north of Subway. Owner Tyree Bolton started work on converting the former Chuck E Cheese's building into a sports bar more than a year ago.
Bleachers is open daily until midnight and serves lunch and dinner. In addition to some 30 televisions, the bar has video games and pool tables.
Let the games begin.
Zillow alert
The bane of some in the industry, Zillow.com last week released its home value report for the third quarter.
Values in Redding, which encompasses Anderson and Shasta Lake, declined 4.2 percent year-over-year to a Zillow Home Value index of $259,832. That's compared to a nationwide decline of 9.7 percent to a value of $202,966.
Nearly 65 percent of the homes in our area lost value over the past year. That's a veritable real estate boom compared to what's happening in Merced, where values fell 32 percent and 99 percent of all homes have depreciated over the past 12 months.
Coming back to Redding, homes in Shasta Lake have been hit hardest, according to Zillow. Values there dropped 6 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter, and 21 percent compared to a year ago.
Zillow has its detractors, including real estate agents and appraisers, but the site contends its methodology eliminates the bias present in median sale prices. That's because it looks at values for all homes in a region, not just the ones sold.
More Thai food
Racha Noodle is expanding across town.
The popular Thai restaurant in south Redding is opening a second location on Dana Drive.
They will call it 5 Thais Tasty Thai Food and it's in the Metro Anderson Tri Center inside the former The Cool Breeze Yogurt Cafe, which closed earlier this year after more than 15 years in business.
The 5 Thais of Racha Noodle won't give an opening date, only saying the new location is coming soon.
Shasta High School Football
History is for books.
The 2008 Shasta High School football is bent on writing its own chapter and leaving its own legacy.
The second-seeded Wolves reached their first Northern Section title game in 20 years with a 41-19 win over No. 2 Lassen on Friday at Thompson Field.
"We've all heard the history about Shasta not being able to come up big in the big game," said Richard Stevenson, who had a monster game with a fumble-recovery touchdown. "We know the history. We want to write our future."
The Wolves penned another chapter in the 2008 annals with a 35-point second-half outburst that put away the Grizzlies and earned Shasta a trip to The Ridge at 7 p.m. Wednesday to take on top-seeded Paradise in the Division I section title game.
Shasta's offense sputtered in the first half as four starters sat and starting safety Stephen Somers watched in street clothes.
Somers was injured in an after-practice auto accident that led to stitches in his head and 24 minutes on the sidelines for his cohorts.
"It served as a wake-up call," coach Aaron Gingery said of Somers' injuries and the punishments.
The Wolves gave up a 66-yard touchdown burst to Darren Lee midway through the second quarter that put the Grizzlies up 7-6 at intermission.
But the Wolves, with their cadre of starters back, came out of the locker room and made up for lost time.
"These are an experienced bunch of guys," Gingery said. "I didn't need to yell at them. I drew up a couple of plays, but they did most of the talking."
Shasta held Lassen to a three-and-out before ripping off a three-play, 44-yard touchdown drive.
The Grizzlies would score on their next possession — an 11-play, 70-yard drive that chewed up nearly five minutes — to go up 13-12.
It would be the last time Lassen would see the lead.
The Wolves blitzed the Grizzlies for 21 points in roughly the same time as the final Lassen scoring drive.
Shasta used trickery with a Brooks Beaudette to Matt McCartin to Nick Preston double pass for a 44-yard strike to go up 20-13.
The Wolves then got a huge play from Jordan Tucker, who pounced on an 8-iron lob kickoff at the 20-yard line.
Evan Taylor carried the ball twice, scoring on a 4-yard run to lengthen Shasta's lead to 27-13.
After another Lassen three-and-out, the Wolves got the ball on their 33 and marched 67 yards in seven plays, capped by Taylor's untouched, 48-yard off-tackle scamper.
It gave Shasta a 34-13 lead just into the fourth quarter.
Taylor had 276 yards on 22 carries to move within 30 yards of Jim Tomasin's all-time Shasta rushing mark of 3,115.
With Lassen in a hurry-up offense, the Grizzlies were able to march down the field and looked primed to at least make it a game.
Lassen drove from its 28 to the Shasta 12 in six plays and were about to punch it in when quarterback Quinton Perry fumbled the snap.
Linebacker Richard Stevenson pounced on it for his second fumble recovery of the game and iced the Lassen threat.
Stevenson, a junior who said he wanted step up and take the leadership mantle in Somers' absence, also found the end zone for the Wolves' first touchdown.
"Stephen is our leader," Stevenson said. "Someone had to step into that role.
"I wanted to be that person."
In the first quarter, Taylor ran off-tackle from the 5, but fumbled at the 3.
Stevenson, also an offensive lineman, picked up the ball before twisting and turning into the end zone.
"You can just say 55 was at the right place at the right time," Stevenson said. "I knew once I picked up the ball, I was going to carry two or three people across the line if I had to."
The Wolves now must head to Paradise to exorcise the past — both distant and recent.
This season, Paradise handed Shasta one of its two losses — a 27-19 Oct. 31 loss in Paradise.
The Bobcats haven't lost to Shasta this century.
Compound that with Shasta's title berth drought and the Wolves have a chance to vanquish quite a few ghosts Wednesday.
"I've been here seven years," Gingery said. "We all know the history, but these guys are trying to leave their own mark.
"We expect them to rise to the occasion."
Unemployment in Redding, CA
When John Nogle was laid off three months ago from his position at the Shasta County Opportunity Center, he knew it would be difficult to find another job.
In that respect, the Shasta Lake resident hasn't been disappointed.
"I'd tell people looking for a job to take whatever's out there - it's slim pickings," Nogle said one recent weekday morning at the Smart Business Resource Center in downtown Redding. "Even if it's a minimum-wage job, it's better than nothing."
Nogle's hardly alone.
Unemployment in Shasta County in October jumped to a 15-year high as continued declines in the construction sector helped spark the increase. Construction jobs in the county last month totaled 3,700, a 21 percent drop from the 4,700 who were employed in the trade in October 2007, the state reported Friday.
Shasta's jobless rate in October was 10 percent, up from 9.5 percent in September and 7 percent from a year ago. Last month's unemployment rate tied October 1994 and was the highest since October 1993, when it reached 10.7 percent.
In Shasta County, there were 8,900 unemployed in October, up from 8,300 in September, and nearly 3,000 more people without jobs in October 2007. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in Shasta County last month was 2,469, up from 2,039 a year ago.
California's unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent in October, the highest rate in 14 years, just as a state fund that pays unemployment benefits was about to run out of money.
State officials are preparing to ask the federal government to step in with a loan on Dec. 1 so they can continue paying jobless benefits to California's now more than 1.5 million unemployed, nearly a third of whom have lost their jobs in the last year.
Shasta County saw year-over-year job gains in farming, manufacturing, local government, and educational and health services.
For Nogle, who's divorced with three school-aged children, job hunting has been mentally exhausting. But he doesn't have time to dwell on his bad luck.
Nogle's rent is $510 a month and he lives on $800 a month in unemployment benefits. He makes about two trips a week to the Smart Center, which has a database of job openings across the state and also helps job-seekers with resumes, cover letters and interview tips.
"It's been pretty hard. I will go to the Salvation Army to get canned goods and make sure we have food on the table," said Nogle, who made $9 an hour at the county before state budget cuts eliminated his job. "I want welfare to be the last resort."
Nogle's 13-year-old son helps out when he can by doing odd jobs like mowing neighbors' lawns.
"I won't let anything get me down - with kids you can't," Nogle said. "I told my oldest that just because you're down right now, doesn't mean it's the end of the world."
Nogle has applied for a temporary position at Sierra Pacific Industries in Anderson. He might find out Tuesday whether he gets the job.
For Sylvia Partridge, who quit her medical assistant job in Medford, Ore., and moved here to be closer to her family, finding job listings aren't difficult. But it's tough landing an interview when as many as 30 people apply for one job.
"It's very competitive," Partridge said while searching for work at the Smart Center.
Partridge applies for about two jobs a week. She's discovered that hourly wages in Shasta County are below what she made in Medford, Ore.
"I left making $13.41 (an hour) and most of the jobs I've applied for are 10 to 12 dollars an hour," said Partridge, who rents a home in Anderson.
Partridge's husband, who works in retail loss prevention, still lives in Medford. The couple's house is for sale but Partridge's husband won't move until she finds a job.
Meantime, she lives with her two children.
"I haven't applied for unemployment. I'm getting by, so it's OK," Partridge said. "I watch what I spend. There's no eating out; we do what we need to do."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Business in Redding..the Winners
The Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce honored the best in customer service with its annual Hall of Excellence awards.
Two businesses and an individual walked away with top honors Wednesday night at the Holiday Inn.
Redding Veterinary Clinic on Westside Road won first place for service. The business is owned and operated by Dr. Gerald Bond, who has five full-time employees. Bond's dedication to animals is illustrated by the time he donates to the Shasta Wildlife Refuge.
The veterinarian business was established in 1942 by Dr. C.J. Ferreira and his wife, Dorothy.
Penguin Paddlers won first place for retail business. Penguin Paddlers, which sells kayaks and accessories, is owned by Garth Schmeck and is at 3330 Railroad Ave. in Redding.
Schmeck's customers are a dedicated band of paddlers who meet weekly for paddle excursions and travel monthly on outdoor adventures.
Recently, Penguin Paddlers staged the great penguin migration, meeting at the old store and walking 200 yards north to the new location, each customer carrying a piece of equipment.
Individually, handyman Erin Johnson of Erin Johnson Handyman Service won top honors.
Johnson has made a habit of fixing just about anything since his arrival in Redding.
This year, 24 shoppers visited 156 nominees - 96 in the individual category and 61 businesses - over a four-week period.
Fishing in the North State
Without help, almost two-thirds of the state's native salmon, steelhead and trout could be gone within a century.
That includes seven fish swimming in north state waters, according to a report released this week by California Trout, a San Francisco-based fish and watershed advocacy group.
"They are all in serious danger of extinction," said Peter Moyle, a University of California at Davis ecology professor who wrote the 350-page report.
In danger of extinction in the north state are redband trout on the McCloud River; coho and spring chinook salmon on the Klamath River; and winter, spring and late-fall run chinook, as well as the Central Valley steelhead, on the Sacramento River.
They're endangered by the changes people have made to rivers and the land surrounding them, such as dams and logging, Moyle said.
"Every place has its own different reasons," he said, "but it all deals with how we treat the land and the water."
All of the fish facing possible extinction are indicator species that give warning of problems in the health of their streams, said Curtis Knight, Mount Shasta area manager for California Trout.
"These fish are telling us that something is wrong with those systems," Knight said.
In two of the past three years, he said, only about 50 fish of each species have made it back to the Shasta and Scott rivers, which feed into the Klamath River in Siskiyou County.
"These guys are hanging on by a thread," Knight said.
And there is precedent of extinction in the north state, with the bull trout - which was only found on the McCloud River - declared extinct in 1997.
But there are many habitat-restoration projects around the north state that are under way to help the ailing fish, Knight and Moyle said.
Those include the massive restoration of the Klamath River that would take place after the removal of four hydroelectric dams that block salmon from spawning habitat. Earlier this month, leaders from California and Oregon, the federal government and the dams' owner, Portland-based Pacific Power, announced an agreement in principle to remove the dams by 2020.
Along with restoration work, the California Trout report called for the state to hire more game wardens to enforce laws that protect watersheds and overhaul management of the state's hatcheries.
State scientists who study the north state fish deferred comment on the report to a spokeswoman in Sacramento - Jordan Traverson - who in turn released a typed statement from state Department of Fish and Game Director Donald Koch.
It read:
"We look forward to reading the 100-plus-page report 'SOS: California's Native Fish Crisis,' released by California Trout today. We thank California Trout for their dedication to California's native fish species. We appreciate their support and look forward to engaging them and other stakeholders in finding solutions to further our efforts to conserve the state's valuable fish and wildlife resources."
Life In America...What Happened on This Date?
Today is Friday, Nov. 21, the 326th day of 2008. There are 40 days left in the year.
On this day in:
1908
J.A. Johnson and father B. Johnson visited Redding on a trip from Olinda. The Johnsons owned a large tract of land near Olinda, which they were selling in small parcels for colonization purposes.
1958
Redding police received vandalism reports from three owners of airships parked at Benton Airpark. Nothing had been stolen, but a radio antenna on one was cut and door locks were sprung on all the planes.
1983
A battle cry had sounded against the north state's marijuana growers. One of the area's most notorious growers was "Dangerous Dan," who supposedly stood 6-foot-11 and weighed between 240 and 290 pounds. When authorities closed in on his camp, he got away, again.
1998
Country singer Merle Haggard played host and mentor to Palo Cedro Cub Scout Pack 85, Den 1, whose members wanted to spend the day fishing. Haggard gave the boys permission to fish on his Palo Cedro property, but they got more than fish. Haggard first gave the boys some lessons on the finer points of angling, then sent them out with personal fishing guide Mike Martin.
Fishing in Northern California
Without help, almost two-thirds of the state's native salmon, steelhead and trout could be gone within a century.
That includes seven fish swimming in north state waters, according to a report released this week by California Trout, a San Francisco-based fish and watershed advocacy group.
"They are all in serious danger of extinction," said Peter Moyle, a University of California at Davis ecology professor who wrote the 350-page report.
In danger of extinction in the north state are redband trout on the McCloud River; coho and spring chinook salmon on the Klamath River; and winter, spring and late-fall run chinook, as well as the Central Valley steelhead, on the Sacramento River.
They're endangered by the changes people have made to rivers and the land surrounding them, such as dams and logging, Moyle said.
"Every place has its own different reasons," he said, "but it all deals with how we treat the land and the water."
All of the fish facing possible extinction are indicator species that give warning of problems in the health of their streams, said Curtis Knight, Mount Shasta area manager for California Trout.
"These fish are telling us that something is wrong with those systems," Knight said.
In two of the past three years, he said, only about 50 fish of each species have made it back to the Shasta and Scott rivers, which feed into the Klamath River in Siskiyou County.
"These guys are hanging on by a thread," Knight said.
And there is precedent of extinction in the north state, with the bull trout - which was only found on the McCloud River - declared extinct in 1997.
But there are many habitat-restoration projects around the north state that are under way to help the ailing fish, Knight and Moyle said.
Those include the massive restoration of the Klamath River that would take place after the removal of four hydroelectric dams that block salmon from spawning habitat. Earlier this month, leaders from California and Oregon, the federal government and the dams' owner, Portland-based Pacific Power, announced an agreement in principle to remove the dams by 2020.
Along with restoration work, the California Trout report called for the state to hire more game wardens to enforce laws that protect watersheds and overhaul management of the state's hatcheries.
State scientists who study the north state fish deferred comment on the report to a spokeswoman in Sacramento - Jordan Traverson - who in turn released a typed statement from state Department of Fish and Game Director Donald Koch.
It read:
"We look forward to reading the 100-plus-page report 'SOS: California's Native Fish Crisis,' released by California Trout today. We thank California Trout for their dedication to California's native fish species. We appreciate their support and look forward to engaging them and other stakeholders in finding solutions to further our efforts to conserve the state's valuable fish and wildlife resources."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Your Vote...Your Call...the Issues
You Vote….Your Call…..the Real Issues
In a few days, you vote. The national situation is well known, but what about issues here in Redding? The real issues, not just the campaign “tell you what you want to hear” stuff from the candidates. The real question for me is “which candidate has the ability and determination to make a hard decision on issues and stand by it?” We have some major things going on right now, and we have to make decisions now. #1. Cut expenses or increase revenue, and #2. Get jobs. Simple. Sure, we hear that we need this and that but in reality, we need to face our current local economic situation head on. Redding could be in trouble if we don’t.
First, we have a current situation where we are losing businesses and jobs, thus income to the city is going to be decreasing. In the past few months, a number of companies have closed, the most recently Mervin’s, with a loss of several good jobs. Before that it was Maui Wowi , along with 2 local Starbucks, and a number of other small businesses, each with a loss of vital jobs and loss of income to the City. Still, the City is spending money as if it was “business as usual”. Is this a wise thing to do? And with this spending the City may require a needed additional source of income. If it isn’t from sales tax, where will it come from? Will it be by increasing taxes? Shouldn’t the City be thinking about cutting expenses, one way or the other, rather than looking for taxes to “bail them out? This is not the time to add expenses to the typical household in Redding. This is an issue. An alternative for the City would be to raise development impact fees. No way. The WalMart expansion called for huge development and impact fees of over $1,000,000 before construction. How many businesses that are considering coming to Redding can afford this amount in fees before they break ground? Fiscal conservativeness for the City for 2009 is an issue that will have to be addressed by the Council.
Secondly, and maybe this is priority #1, Get jobs. We have a City Economic Development Office and we are losing employers. What’s the story should be the issue. Is anything happening? Isn’t it time to quit talking and act? Let’s have some Council leadership to convene a multi-jurisdictional “committee”, if you will, made up of the brightest and most creative minds in our area. In fact, make it open to volunteers, not “appointed or anointed ones”. Throw it out on the table asking “what kind of business can we bring to the north state?” Naturally have the pros there, for they have the contacts, but in our community we have some very bright folks that are well educated, have been around and lived in other areas, and participated in growth and development issues in various locations. Solicit their ideas and follow the Disneyland model of “no bad ideas when you are creating”. What do we have to lose? From high tech to recreation and tourism, from transportation to basic manufacturing, from our natural resources to our natural labor force, we should be open to it all. Are we going after it, or are we just doing “more of the same, over and over?’. This is the issue, and we need strong leadership that will say “Time to act and I will now”.
Our national mess is the result of “failure to act” on the part of legislators, in my opinion. In Redding, let’s not let this happen, and by holding our elected officials accountable, by constantly supporting them by constructive criticism and positive suggestions, and by letting them know regularly that we want action not just words, we can change things for the better in Redding. After all, with good jobs, low taxes, and controlled expenses, Redding will be what we all want…the best place in the world to live, work, and play. Your call and your vote.
14
Oct
Wha
So You Want to be on City Council?
Why do you want to be on City Council?
This question should be asked of each candidate in the upcoming city election. It is a good question, for this job might be considered a thankless job. Yet, a large group of candidates are going to spend quite a bit of money advertising in one way or another that they want to serve you on the Redding City Council.
So what is so good about serving on the Council? Well, let’s take a look at what makes up their jobs. First, they have to attend meetings to prepare for the Council meeting, which will meet every other week. These Council meetings usually start at 7PM, unless called earlier, and will last 3 to 4 hours, or longer. For each of these meetings, Councilpersons, if they are doing their job, must prepare for the subject matter at hand. This might involve meeting with community members, interest groups, or members of the city staff, as well as reading the documentation. This must be done if they are going to be knowledgeable on the various matters that will come before Council. Many of the matters and issues must be studied and understood, rather than just being rubber-stamped. Bottom line: lots of meetings, study, and thinking of what’s best for Redding.
Then Councilpersons have to become knowledgeable about how the City runs. In Redding, we have the City Manager form of government, and the role of the Mayor is to run the Council meetings and to represent the City and Council in public events and activities. The Mayor actually serves at the pleasure of the other Council members, for a 1 year term. All of the Council members, though, should develop a good understanding of how the various departments function, for matters will come before them that range the entire community, from pet care to paving the streets to planning a budget for personnel gains or losses. As Redding is operated, the Council depends to a large degree on the preparation that is done at the staff level, but this does not take the place of preparation on the part of each Councilperson. In fact, in Redding, there has been a great deal of concern about how much the Council just takes the staff reports as they are presented and doesn’t really do their own individual homework before the staff presentation. This issue, by the way, should definitely be asked of each candidate. Specifically, will you accept staff reports without questioning these reports, and if you question them, will you have done enough work to know what you, and they, are talking about? Will you just “rubber-stamp” reports?
Well, there is more than above, but this gives a brief idea of the Council job, and of course leads to the next question, who is qualified to serve on the Council if they are, in fact, going to do the job as above. This question needs to be asked of each candidate, for some are obviously more qualified than others and more knowledgeable than others about City matters. Some of the candidates have actually attended Council meetings, and some haven’t. You, the voters must ask these questions, for this will help to determine the qualifications. Already we are seeing signs stating integrity, experience, qualified, etc., realizing that the candidates can only put favorable characteristics on their ads. I mean, who would advertise negatives, like I’m dishonest, can’t be trusted, a scoundrel, but vote for me anyway. The only way we can get to know the real candidate and their attitudes and viewpoints, and prejudices too, is to ask the hard questions, and then wait for the answers. And, voters should be able to “hold their feet to the fire”. We deserve a high caliber of elected officials, and we need to do a better job vetting them out. Are you in favor of increasing development fees, and why? or, do you think we need a new Police station, and why? and have you figured out how the City can pay for this? If you get the deer in the headlights look, maybe that candidate doesn’t know what’s going on. And if the candidate tries to spin the answer, then don’t let them get away with it, and ask it again, maybe this time with a different inflection, like “do you really think the City can afford Turtle Bay?”. Ooh, not a good subject, but guess what, you will probably get an answer, which is what we need to know before the election.
Well folks, we have a few weeks left, and the campaign is just heating up, so here’s your chance to help influence the future of Redding. Here’s your chance to (1) elect a candidate that is going to represent you and (2) to exercise a valuable right, the right to vote, so be prepared. The future of Redding is largely influenced by the attitudes and actions of the City Council. No easy task, so let’s not treat it as if it is just another election. You can make a difference.
Ron Largent
Friday, September 5, 2008
Pavlo, the Guitarist, in Redding, CA
Another One of those "Best Kept Secrets" in Redding.
Thursday night we attended the Shasta Community Concerts 2008-2009 Season Opening Concert, and what a concert it was. Pavlo, the world famous classical guitarist gave an outstanding performance to those 2000 in attendance. Once again, we are so fortunate to have these kinds of concerts in Redding, but yet, it seems, so few folks either know about this opportunity and just miss it, or don't know about it. Last night was classic. This kind of world class entertainment deserves a full house. An absolutely top-notch concert performance.
Pavlo has performed on stages world-wide as well as on PBS specials broadcast from Greece to Gander (Newfoundland). His music is a very unique blend of Mediterranean, Latin, Greek, and even Spanish flamenco music and he does it so well joined by his team of versatile guitarists and a percussionist. Pavlo's music is exciting to listen to, for even with his slower and beautiful ballads, the true spirit of the music comes through loud and clear, and everyone in the audience got into the great rhythms and arrangements Pavlo is known for. This was an evening to remember.
Pavlo is the first of five concerts scheduled for this season, and a lot of credit should go to the Shasta Community Concerts Association for their efforts in arranging these programs. The entire season is very reasonably priced, and the concert selection, which is made by our local Association, is Broadway quality. In fact, many of the concerts in Redding are coming here after Broadway, Las Vegas, and other noted venue performances. These are quality programs at Redding prices, and offer an excellent variety for both individual and family entertainment. The next concert is Pianafiddle on November 13th and the season concludes with American Jukebox on March 31, 2009. What a great opportunity for our community offered at the Civic Auditorium...close, convenient, and priced right. Give the Association a call for additional information at 530-247-7355.
Enjoy the season.
Ron Largent
www.ronlargent.com
Thursday night we attended the Shasta Community Concerts 2008-2009 Season Opening Concert, and what a concert it was. Pavlo, the world famous classical guitarist gave an outstanding performance to those 2000 in attendance. Once again, we are so fortunate to have these kinds of concerts in Redding, but yet, it seems, so few folks either know about this opportunity and just miss it, or don't know about it. Last night was classic. This kind of world class entertainment deserves a full house. An absolutely top-notch concert performance.
Pavlo has performed on stages world-wide as well as on PBS specials broadcast from Greece to Gander (Newfoundland). His music is a very unique blend of Mediterranean, Latin, Greek, and even Spanish flamenco music and he does it so well joined by his team of versatile guitarists and a percussionist. Pavlo's music is exciting to listen to, for even with his slower and beautiful ballads, the true spirit of the music comes through loud and clear, and everyone in the audience got into the great rhythms and arrangements Pavlo is known for. This was an evening to remember.
Pavlo is the first of five concerts scheduled for this season, and a lot of credit should go to the Shasta Community Concerts Association for their efforts in arranging these programs. The entire season is very reasonably priced, and the concert selection, which is made by our local Association, is Broadway quality. In fact, many of the concerts in Redding are coming here after Broadway, Las Vegas, and other noted venue performances. These are quality programs at Redding prices, and offer an excellent variety for both individual and family entertainment. The next concert is Pianafiddle on November 13th and the season concludes with American Jukebox on March 31, 2009. What a great opportunity for our community offered at the Civic Auditorium...close, convenient, and priced right. Give the Association a call for additional information at 530-247-7355.
Enjoy the season.
Ron Largent
www.ronlargent.com
Monday, September 1, 2008
Cal Bears Football Report
Cal Football…..A Game Much More Exciting Than What the R/S Reported
A Cal Football Report
I just got back from the Cal Bears vs. the Michigan State Spartans football game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday, and read the article in the Record Searchlight. The article made it sound just like another game, and for those of us that watch Pac 10 Football, this was not just another game. First of all, it was exciting right up to the final 40 seconds. No one in the full stadium left, for when the Bears would score, the Spartans would come right back with another score. Finally, with 40 seconds left in the game and the Spartans threatening to score, Michigan State passed and Cal intercepted the pass. Game over. Secondly, this game showed exceptional talent and skill on both teams. Granted, the first quarter was a time of first game jitters, but then both teams settled down to play good fundamental football. It was a very good game between two quite good teams. Both the Pac 10 and the Big 10 will have good seasons this year.
Sitting on the second row near the Gold end zone, I had a great seat to see all of the exciting plays, and there were many. Both teams showed exceptional speed, especially the Cal Bears. Jahvid Best is one of the quickest backs I have seen, and showed his ability on a number of plays, as well as on the kickoff returns. He is really an exciting runner, with moves that left you wondering how he made the play. If injuries do not get him, he will be a force to be reckoned with all season by other Pac 10 teams. He is really fast. The other Cal back, Shane Vereen, is not as fast and quick as Jahvid, but is still a fast back, and is a harder runner. He outran the entire Michigan State team on his one long play, and it was impressive. If both of these young and talented backs stay injury free, Cal football is going to be exciting.
Kevin Riley, the QB, did a good job considering this was his first real start. He played sparingly last season behind Nate Longshore, but came into his own against the Spartans. He is a quick release passer and his passes were on target for most of the night, and with the speed that the Bears receivers have, caught the defense off guard on a number of plays.
Overall, my initial observation of the 2008 version of the Cal Bears Football Team is that it is a very fast and talented team. Their offense, when the plays are working as designed, will be hard to stop if the opposing defense is not fast. If Riley can continue to develop as a QB, his passing will compliment the outstanding running, and the Bears will be a contender in the Pac 10. The Cal defense, although not as big as I expected, is also very fast. On a number of plays they moved quickly to stop the talented Spartan running game, and after a few miscues in the secondary, shut down the talked about Michigan State passing game. The Bears defense had an overall good game, even though the Spartans QB was on target with a number of his long passes, which kept the game in doubt until the final minute. Cal made the big defensive plays when they had to. Their quickness will cause problems for other teams.
A great game for all, and a great beginning to the season for all Cal Bears fans. If Cal continues to develop as we get into the season, Cal will be fun to watch, and they will win some games. Get your tickets now. Go Bears!
A Cal Football Report
I just got back from the Cal Bears vs. the Michigan State Spartans football game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday, and read the article in the Record Searchlight. The article made it sound just like another game, and for those of us that watch Pac 10 Football, this was not just another game. First of all, it was exciting right up to the final 40 seconds. No one in the full stadium left, for when the Bears would score, the Spartans would come right back with another score. Finally, with 40 seconds left in the game and the Spartans threatening to score, Michigan State passed and Cal intercepted the pass. Game over. Secondly, this game showed exceptional talent and skill on both teams. Granted, the first quarter was a time of first game jitters, but then both teams settled down to play good fundamental football. It was a very good game between two quite good teams. Both the Pac 10 and the Big 10 will have good seasons this year.
Sitting on the second row near the Gold end zone, I had a great seat to see all of the exciting plays, and there were many. Both teams showed exceptional speed, especially the Cal Bears. Jahvid Best is one of the quickest backs I have seen, and showed his ability on a number of plays, as well as on the kickoff returns. He is really an exciting runner, with moves that left you wondering how he made the play. If injuries do not get him, he will be a force to be reckoned with all season by other Pac 10 teams. He is really fast. The other Cal back, Shane Vereen, is not as fast and quick as Jahvid, but is still a fast back, and is a harder runner. He outran the entire Michigan State team on his one long play, and it was impressive. If both of these young and talented backs stay injury free, Cal football is going to be exciting.
Kevin Riley, the QB, did a good job considering this was his first real start. He played sparingly last season behind Nate Longshore, but came into his own against the Spartans. He is a quick release passer and his passes were on target for most of the night, and with the speed that the Bears receivers have, caught the defense off guard on a number of plays.
Overall, my initial observation of the 2008 version of the Cal Bears Football Team is that it is a very fast and talented team. Their offense, when the plays are working as designed, will be hard to stop if the opposing defense is not fast. If Riley can continue to develop as a QB, his passing will compliment the outstanding running, and the Bears will be a contender in the Pac 10. The Cal defense, although not as big as I expected, is also very fast. On a number of plays they moved quickly to stop the talented Spartan running game, and after a few miscues in the secondary, shut down the talked about Michigan State passing game. The Bears defense had an overall good game, even though the Spartans QB was on target with a number of his long passes, which kept the game in doubt until the final minute. Cal made the big defensive plays when they had to. Their quickness will cause problems for other teams.
A great game for all, and a great beginning to the season for all Cal Bears fans. If Cal continues to develop as we get into the season, Cal will be fun to watch, and they will win some games. Get your tickets now. Go Bears!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Big Fire In Redding Near Turtle Bay Exploration Park
A wind-whipped wildfire charred 130 acres in the heart of Redding today, burning within 20 yards of the Sundial Bridge and causing evacuations along Hilltop Drive.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 customers lost power this afternoon while Redding Electric Utility crews worked to reroute electricity from the Sulphur Creek Substation, at the bottom of Market Street near the fire, an REU spokesman said. By this evening most had power restored.
Swirling north winds - with gusts up to 30 mph clocked at the Redding Municipal Airport at the time of the fire - fanned the flames from where they started at about 11 a.m. on Sulphur Creek Hill across the four lanes and a median on North Market Street.
From there the fire spread up toward homes, apartments and condominiums on Hilltop Drive and into the Turtle Bay Exploration Park's McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and prompted the evacuation of Turtle Bay Elementary School where classes were in session.
The encroaching fire also caused the evacuation of residences along the Hilltop Drive's west side as it winds above the Sacramento River. Crowds gathered at vistas along Hilltop to watch the fire's fast spread below as it pushed toward the Sacramento River and the Sundial Bridge.
Fire crews had the fire contained by 4 p.m., five hours after it started. More than 300 firefighters and 45 fire engines, as well as air tankers and helicopters in the air and bulldozers on the ground, fought the fire.
Cause of the fire is under investigation,apparently.
Fire damaged about 20 percent of the botanical garden's plants. Fire burned on both sides of the garden's fences and close to the Sundial Bridge.
On the riverbank it was about 20, 25 yards from the bridge, as near as I could see.
If you want to see my videos of the fire from across the Sacramento River, go to www.youtube then ronlargent and you will see them.
Best wishes,
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty of Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.comThis was partially from the news release.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Why are we being taxed by the State?
The State of California is considering "borrowing" or seizing local tax funds, redevelopment tax increment, and transportation tax funds from our Cities and Counties to balance their budget! There is nothing good about this for our local community. It would be the height of irresponsibility to take these funds when the voters have overwhelmingly passed measures to stop this destructive process, not once, but twice!
Shasta VOICES participated in a press conference yesterday together with officials from the City of Redding, City of Anderson, City of Shasta Lake, Shasta County, Chamber of Commerce, Shasta Builders Exchange, and Shasta Association of Realtors in opposition to balancing the state budget by seizing our local government funds. The entire community is working together regarding this timely and important issue!
We hope you would also be compelled to send letters in opposition to this proposal before it's too late. Feel free to use the attached letter as a guide in writing one of your own. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Shasta VOICES participated in a press conference yesterday together with officials from the City of Redding, City of Anderson, City of Shasta Lake, Shasta County, Chamber of Commerce, Shasta Builders Exchange, and Shasta Association of Realtors in opposition to balancing the state budget by seizing our local government funds. The entire community is working together regarding this timely and important issue!
We hope you would also be compelled to send letters in opposition to this proposal before it's too late. Feel free to use the attached letter as a guide in writing one of your own. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Shasta Voices Alert in Redding, CA
The State of California is considering "borrowing" or seizing local tax funds, redevelopment tax increment, and transportation tax funds from our Cities and Counties to balance their budget! There is nothing good about this for our local community. It would be the height of irresponsibility to take these funds when the voters have overwhelmingly passed measures to stop this destructive process, not once, but twice!
Shasta VOICES participated in a press conference yesterday together with officials from the City of Redding, City of Anderson, City of Shasta Lake, Shasta County, Chamber of Commerce, Shasta Builders Exchange, and Shasta Association of Realtors in opposition to balancing the state budget by seizing our local government funds. The entire community is working together regarding this timely and important issue!
We hope you would also be compelled to send letters in opposition to this proposal before it's too late. Feel free to use the attached letter as a guide in writing one of your own. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Shasta VOICES participated in a press conference yesterday together with officials from the City of Redding, City of Anderson, City of Shasta Lake, Shasta County, Chamber of Commerce, Shasta Builders Exchange, and Shasta Association of Realtors in opposition to balancing the state budget by seizing our local government funds. The entire community is working together regarding this timely and important issue!
We hope you would also be compelled to send letters in opposition to this proposal before it's too late. Feel free to use the attached letter as a guide in writing one of your own. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday night I was at the City Council meeting when the Turtle Bay funding issue came up.
This is what came out in the paper this morning, and it tells it all.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park will see its Redding subsidy shrink by 1½ percent, or $5,000.
The City Council on Tuesday approved that cut along with a number of others to streets, parks, planning and other departments as City Hall starts to feel declining revenues.
The cuts -- which amounted to roughly 1 percent across the city's $67 million general fund -- come on top of a ½ percent trim approved in February.
The city plans to extend its hiring freeze to 2013 and shave some $700,000 each year off the money it puts into paving streets and patching potholes. Even so, the city plans to spend $4 million on streets this year -- roughly $3 million more than in years past, City Manager Kurt Starman told the council.
The reduction of Turtle Bay's annual subsidy to $345,000 from $350,000 reflects that 1½ percent cut made across the general fund this year.
Council member Patrick Jones cast a lone vote against the $5,000 cut to Turtle Bay, calling for a more drastic reduction of $100,000 to $150,000 to wean the nonprofit museum and cultural center of its subsidy.
Vice Mayor Rick Bosetti, also on record as wanting Turtle Bay to stand on its own, voted for the $345,000 contribution after raising questions about the size of the McConnell Foundation's support for the organization.
Turtle Bay CEO Mike Warren said Turtle Bay would have to cut entire programs or close for a day if it lost the city subsidy.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park will see its Redding subsidy shrink by 1½ percent, or $5,000.
The City Council on Tuesday approved that cut along with a number of others to streets, parks, planning and other departments as City Hall starts to feel declining revenues.
My take on this whole issue is that in the next budget meeting, we will see further cuts, and Turtle Bay may be cut even further.
An interesting issue....with alot more to be said.
Ron Largent www.ronlargent.com
Keller Williams Realty of Redding, CA
.
This is what came out in the paper this morning, and it tells it all.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park will see its Redding subsidy shrink by 1½ percent, or $5,000.
The City Council on Tuesday approved that cut along with a number of others to streets, parks, planning and other departments as City Hall starts to feel declining revenues.
The cuts -- which amounted to roughly 1 percent across the city's $67 million general fund -- come on top of a ½ percent trim approved in February.
The city plans to extend its hiring freeze to 2013 and shave some $700,000 each year off the money it puts into paving streets and patching potholes. Even so, the city plans to spend $4 million on streets this year -- roughly $3 million more than in years past, City Manager Kurt Starman told the council.
The reduction of Turtle Bay's annual subsidy to $345,000 from $350,000 reflects that 1½ percent cut made across the general fund this year.
Council member Patrick Jones cast a lone vote against the $5,000 cut to Turtle Bay, calling for a more drastic reduction of $100,000 to $150,000 to wean the nonprofit museum and cultural center of its subsidy.
Vice Mayor Rick Bosetti, also on record as wanting Turtle Bay to stand on its own, voted for the $345,000 contribution after raising questions about the size of the McConnell Foundation's support for the organization.
Turtle Bay CEO Mike Warren said Turtle Bay would have to cut entire programs or close for a day if it lost the city subsidy.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park will see its Redding subsidy shrink by 1½ percent, or $5,000.
The City Council on Tuesday approved that cut along with a number of others to streets, parks, planning and other departments as City Hall starts to feel declining revenues.
My take on this whole issue is that in the next budget meeting, we will see further cuts, and Turtle Bay may be cut even further.
An interesting issue....with alot more to be said.
Ron Largent www.ronlargent.com
Keller Williams Realty of Redding, CA
.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Granzella's in Williams, CA is Open and Ready for You
Granzella’s Is Open and Ready for You
For those of us that had eaten at Granzella’s Restaurant and Deli in Williams, CA the news last October that the restaurant had “burned to the ground” in an afternoon electrical fire was hard to believe. We were absolutely shocked, stunned, and saddened. “Are you kidding?” was the question most asked when the story got around, because the landmark establishment was one of those that you thought was invincible. The restaurant was destroyed in the fire, but fortunately many of the various collectibles were saved, including the deer and elk heads in the Sports Bar section. Shortly after the fire, the owners, Jim and Bev Granzella announced that “they would rebuild” and we all had hope restored.
For 6 months during the rebuilding project the restaurant relocated across the street from the original building and served a limited menu, but assured all of us that the famous menu and deli that made the restaurant so popular would return in the summer. Well folks, it has happened and 2 weeks ago the “New Granzella’s” opened, and it is as good as the original and maybe even better.
For starters, they have expanded the front patio area, making it a perfect place to either wait to eat or relax after the meal. Plenty of shade and plenty of conversation by the looks of the crowd there last week at 3 PM. The entrance with the famous double doors is a replica of the original, and then as you enter into the restaurant the entire deli area has been expanded to about twice the original size. The main restaurant has the same floor plan as before, but everything is new, although the décor makes it look “old”. The olive tasting bar has been moved to a larger area, and the olive sales area has been expanded, but the feeling of a general store is still very much there. The delicious looking Bakery area is much larger, as is the “gift store”, but again, just like the design and feel of the original store. In the back is the huge Sports Bar which has also been expanded from what it was but very much the “place to go” to watch Monday Night Football in Colusa County.
The menu for the entire restaurant is the same; the décor is the same; and the “down home atmosphere” with the smiling and helpful waitresses and staff is just about as nice as it could be. Just a delightful place to go and have a meal, a snack, a dessert, or even a “soda in the Sports Bar”. If you have not been to Granzella’s in downtown Williams, you have missed a Northern California classic, and you should make it a must as you travel Interstate 5. And, for those that have been there, it is open and ready for you. You’ll really enjoy the “New Granzella’s”….it is a winner.
Ron Largent
August 3, 2008
www.ronlargent.com
Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
For those of us that had eaten at Granzella’s Restaurant and Deli in Williams, CA the news last October that the restaurant had “burned to the ground” in an afternoon electrical fire was hard to believe. We were absolutely shocked, stunned, and saddened. “Are you kidding?” was the question most asked when the story got around, because the landmark establishment was one of those that you thought was invincible. The restaurant was destroyed in the fire, but fortunately many of the various collectibles were saved, including the deer and elk heads in the Sports Bar section. Shortly after the fire, the owners, Jim and Bev Granzella announced that “they would rebuild” and we all had hope restored.
For 6 months during the rebuilding project the restaurant relocated across the street from the original building and served a limited menu, but assured all of us that the famous menu and deli that made the restaurant so popular would return in the summer. Well folks, it has happened and 2 weeks ago the “New Granzella’s” opened, and it is as good as the original and maybe even better.
For starters, they have expanded the front patio area, making it a perfect place to either wait to eat or relax after the meal. Plenty of shade and plenty of conversation by the looks of the crowd there last week at 3 PM. The entrance with the famous double doors is a replica of the original, and then as you enter into the restaurant the entire deli area has been expanded to about twice the original size. The main restaurant has the same floor plan as before, but everything is new, although the décor makes it look “old”. The olive tasting bar has been moved to a larger area, and the olive sales area has been expanded, but the feeling of a general store is still very much there. The delicious looking Bakery area is much larger, as is the “gift store”, but again, just like the design and feel of the original store. In the back is the huge Sports Bar which has also been expanded from what it was but very much the “place to go” to watch Monday Night Football in Colusa County.
The menu for the entire restaurant is the same; the décor is the same; and the “down home atmosphere” with the smiling and helpful waitresses and staff is just about as nice as it could be. Just a delightful place to go and have a meal, a snack, a dessert, or even a “soda in the Sports Bar”. If you have not been to Granzella’s in downtown Williams, you have missed a Northern California classic, and you should make it a must as you travel Interstate 5. And, for those that have been there, it is open and ready for you. You’ll really enjoy the “New Granzella’s”….it is a winner.
Ron Largent
August 3, 2008
www.ronlargent.com
Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Mo Anderson Speaks to Keller Williams Realty Agents
Today, Mo Anderson, Co-Chairman of Keller Williams Realty, spoke to over 300 agents of the Northern California-Hawaii Region of Keller Williams Realty. Agents were attending a 1 day seminar for members of the Agents Leadership Council (ACL) from each of the 33 offices in the Region.
Speaking with passion, enthusiasm, and great energy, Mo rallied the group of top 20% of agents in each office to exceed all previous goals, even in the slowed down real estate market we are currently in. All in attendance agreed this was one of the best sessions ever conducted by Mo, and all furthered agreed that the best is yet to come for the fast growing and exciting Keller Williams Realty company.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty (ALC Member) in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
E-mail me for details and information on Keller Williams Realty...the Company of Choice
Speaking with passion, enthusiasm, and great energy, Mo rallied the group of top 20% of agents in each office to exceed all previous goals, even in the slowed down real estate market we are currently in. All in attendance agreed this was one of the best sessions ever conducted by Mo, and all furthered agreed that the best is yet to come for the fast growing and exciting Keller Williams Realty company.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty (ALC Member) in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
E-mail me for details and information on Keller Williams Realty...the Company of Choice
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Kids Unlimited
What a night...Kids Unlimited final performance of the season, and what a show it was. With over 100 singers and dancers, these kids were really great, and our hats go off to the show's founder and director Dawn Hess. Kids, in grades 2 through 12, can participate in this energy packed show that has been a center of summer entertainment for 21 years in Redding. From the opening "Dancing Machine" to the final "Push It To The Limit"-Hip Hop, this show was a fantastic tribute to the hard work of the kids, the creative direction of the staff, and the wonderful support from the many parents, grandparents, and kids in attendance.
Next year will be even better, so put this great show on your calendar....you do not want to miss Kids Unlimited in Redding, CA.
thanks,
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Next year will be even better, so put this great show on your calendar....you do not want to miss Kids Unlimited in Redding, CA.
thanks,
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com
Stillwater Business Park and Recreation/Tourism
Is Stillwater Park Our Future? Should it be? What about Recreation and Tourism?
We recently read that Turtle Bay “delivers $9.6 million” to the County last year. Not bad for a Park that receives $350,000 from the City each year to attract visitors from near and far. So, how do the “experts” come up with $9.6 mil? A complicated formula, no doubt, but seems to be based on the theory that the income that Turtle Bay generates is equivalent to 233 full time jobs in the area. These jobs would then provide income that would in turn be spent on living expenses here in Redding, which would in turn generate sales tax, property taxes, and a lot of other jobs that would create income, and on and on.
OK, I’ll buy that, to a degree. However, what does this “income” really tell us? It tells me that “tourism pays”. So, why aren’t our City leaders looking at ways to increase tourism/recreation dollars? In fact, maybe the tourism/recreation “industry” would be a good fit for Shasta County? Maybe even as logical to pursue as big industry coming to Stillwater Business Park.
Since my theory of “tourism/recreation” as our major industry will be discussed, down-played, and dismissed by smarter folks, I broadened my thinking to include all of the other sources of recreation/tourism dollars that flow into the City. There is the hotel-motel tax that is paid for every room occupied. Taxes are paid by Win-River and the 3 movie complexes. From Water World to Shasta Caverns, folks pay for this recreation and part of what they pay flows in as tax income to the city. How about the gas tax that is paid to the City, a good portion of that coming from out of town “tourists”. And so it goes. We are talking some “big bucks”, and yet, what are we doing to increase this “industry” if you will?
Stillwater broke ground a few weeks ago, and there was an excitement in the air that we would start seeing new businesses announce they were coming to Redding. We are all hopeful that they will, but will they? Over the past few years, a number of the new businesses, some in manufacturing and hi-tech have come, and gone. My thought is that it could be that we are not looking at the “right business or industry for our area”. Maybe we might consider going after industry that is related to what we seem to be doing pretty well, the recreation and tourism “industry”. Think about it: boats used on our lakes and rivers are built in Oregon, and the equipment used in fishing and water sports is a big business and made someplace, but not Redding. Ski equipment for both water and snow sports are manufactured in various parts of the country, but not in Redding. Bikes for many uses are sold in a number of local stores and come from all over the world, but not from Shasta County. RV’s are sold and repaired here, but are built in Montana or Mississippi. Even swimwear and snow attire could be made here, and the list of recreation/tourism related products goes on. It might be very interesting to be able to go visit the plant where your boat was being built, or see how snowboards or skateboards are made. And, of course, when one company finds that we have a great work force, a reasonable cost of living, and an exceptional quality of life, the word will spread.
Wishful thinking or naivety? Maybe. But the fact that we have all of the uses for these various products within a short distance does make a lot of sense to a manufacturer if only from the shipping and transportation aspect. Certainly makes sense to me to seriously look into this potential industry, especially when we don’t have many others lined up at the gate to get into Stillwater Park. But, just my view.
www.ronlargent.com
We recently read that Turtle Bay “delivers $9.6 million” to the County last year. Not bad for a Park that receives $350,000 from the City each year to attract visitors from near and far. So, how do the “experts” come up with $9.6 mil? A complicated formula, no doubt, but seems to be based on the theory that the income that Turtle Bay generates is equivalent to 233 full time jobs in the area. These jobs would then provide income that would in turn be spent on living expenses here in Redding, which would in turn generate sales tax, property taxes, and a lot of other jobs that would create income, and on and on.
OK, I’ll buy that, to a degree. However, what does this “income” really tell us? It tells me that “tourism pays”. So, why aren’t our City leaders looking at ways to increase tourism/recreation dollars? In fact, maybe the tourism/recreation “industry” would be a good fit for Shasta County? Maybe even as logical to pursue as big industry coming to Stillwater Business Park.
Since my theory of “tourism/recreation” as our major industry will be discussed, down-played, and dismissed by smarter folks, I broadened my thinking to include all of the other sources of recreation/tourism dollars that flow into the City. There is the hotel-motel tax that is paid for every room occupied. Taxes are paid by Win-River and the 3 movie complexes. From Water World to Shasta Caverns, folks pay for this recreation and part of what they pay flows in as tax income to the city. How about the gas tax that is paid to the City, a good portion of that coming from out of town “tourists”. And so it goes. We are talking some “big bucks”, and yet, what are we doing to increase this “industry” if you will?
Stillwater broke ground a few weeks ago, and there was an excitement in the air that we would start seeing new businesses announce they were coming to Redding. We are all hopeful that they will, but will they? Over the past few years, a number of the new businesses, some in manufacturing and hi-tech have come, and gone. My thought is that it could be that we are not looking at the “right business or industry for our area”. Maybe we might consider going after industry that is related to what we seem to be doing pretty well, the recreation and tourism “industry”. Think about it: boats used on our lakes and rivers are built in Oregon, and the equipment used in fishing and water sports is a big business and made someplace, but not Redding. Ski equipment for both water and snow sports are manufactured in various parts of the country, but not in Redding. Bikes for many uses are sold in a number of local stores and come from all over the world, but not from Shasta County. RV’s are sold and repaired here, but are built in Montana or Mississippi. Even swimwear and snow attire could be made here, and the list of recreation/tourism related products goes on. It might be very interesting to be able to go visit the plant where your boat was being built, or see how snowboards or skateboards are made. And, of course, when one company finds that we have a great work force, a reasonable cost of living, and an exceptional quality of life, the word will spread.
Wishful thinking or naivety? Maybe. But the fact that we have all of the uses for these various products within a short distance does make a lot of sense to a manufacturer if only from the shipping and transportation aspect. Certainly makes sense to me to seriously look into this potential industry, especially when we don’t have many others lined up at the gate to get into Stillwater Park. But, just my view.
www.ronlargent.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee in Redding, CA
The State of the State, of sorts!
Last week about 80 of us gathered to hear one of the most enlightening speakers in California, Dan Walters. Dan has been a journalist for more than 40 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. At one point in his career, at age 22, he was the nation's youngest daily newspaper editor.Dan joined The Sacramento Union's Capitol bureau in 1975, just as Jerry Brown began his governorship, and later became the Union's Capitol bureau chief. In 1981, Mr. Walters began writing the state's only daily newspaper column devoted to California political, economic and social events and in 1984, he and the column moved to The Sacramento Bee. He has written more than 6,000 columns about California and its politics and his column now appears in more than 50 California newspapers. He has written about California and its politics for a number of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal and the Christian Science Monitor. In 1986, his book, "The New California: Facing the 21st Century," was published in its first edition. He is the founding editor of the "California Political Almanac," the co-author of a book on lobbying entitled "The Third House: Lobbyists, Money and Power in Sacramento," and is a frequent guest on national television news shows.
He came to Redding to give our group, Shasta Voices, his views on where California has been over the past 40 years, and where we are now headed economically, socially, and culturally. A most interesting time, as he gave us a “walk through time” from the 1960’s through today. In case we have forgotten what California, and Redding, was like “back then”, here are some of his points.
Traditionally, California was primarily an agricultural and manufacturing state. Santa Clara County was a leading producer of various crops, located right in the middle of what is now Silicon Valley. Fishing played a big part in the state economy from Eureka to Santa Barbara and Ventura County. Logging was a big part of the north state and the Sierra’s, including Redding. Large auto manufacturing areas, like Ford in Fremont and GM in Southern California employed thousands, and the Oakland Shipyard was one of the largest in the nation. Fontana had the largest steel plant on the west coast, and airplanes were built from San Diego to the Bay area. After Korea and Vietnam, the nature of the California economy started to change. Oil fields closed, tire plants in the Central Valley relocated out of state, and chemical plants shut their doors due to environmental concerns. California had some tough years in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s.
To fill this economic void, and address the changing nature of the state, cities and counties, and the State, reacted by encouraging a “new economy’, and companies like Hewlett Packard, Intel, and Apple Computer emerged, joined by a whole new kind of “industry” called Healthcare. Almost overnight, where there were factories and orchards, we saw housing developments, with all of the trades and services involved with this industry, along with a new group of employees called immigrants. They came from all over to the land of opportunities, bringing with them their culture and traditions, and California started absorbing these folks at a record pace. Jobs were created and the economy was rapidly changing. Overnight, biotech and hi-tech companies sprang up, like Gentech in Vacaville and Google and Yahoo in Mountain View. What had been referred to as “Kansas on the West Coast” was quickly becoming the largest “melting pot in the world”, with population groups like Russians moving to Sacramento and Vietnamese to Orange County. This changing culture caused California to change its education strategy, for languages almost unheard of 10 years before were now being taught in the schools. Change would be, and is, the future of California. like it or not.
Today, California needs to create 250,000 jobs a year, just to keep pace with the growth. Every aspect of our lives, from water to transportation, to land use to healthcare is now an “issue” for the State. How the State deals with change, such as the graying of the baby boomers”, will affect each of us. Every service we receive, from good highways to good healthcare will be a ballot item, and each of us must realize that now, as in the 1800’s, California is still the “destination of choice” for many. The Gold Rush is still with us. Are we ready, is the question. Stay tuned.
Ron Largent
July 20, 2008
Last week about 80 of us gathered to hear one of the most enlightening speakers in California, Dan Walters. Dan has been a journalist for more than 40 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. At one point in his career, at age 22, he was the nation's youngest daily newspaper editor.Dan joined The Sacramento Union's Capitol bureau in 1975, just as Jerry Brown began his governorship, and later became the Union's Capitol bureau chief. In 1981, Mr. Walters began writing the state's only daily newspaper column devoted to California political, economic and social events and in 1984, he and the column moved to The Sacramento Bee. He has written more than 6,000 columns about California and its politics and his column now appears in more than 50 California newspapers. He has written about California and its politics for a number of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal and the Christian Science Monitor. In 1986, his book, "The New California: Facing the 21st Century," was published in its first edition. He is the founding editor of the "California Political Almanac," the co-author of a book on lobbying entitled "The Third House: Lobbyists, Money and Power in Sacramento," and is a frequent guest on national television news shows.
He came to Redding to give our group, Shasta Voices, his views on where California has been over the past 40 years, and where we are now headed economically, socially, and culturally. A most interesting time, as he gave us a “walk through time” from the 1960’s through today. In case we have forgotten what California, and Redding, was like “back then”, here are some of his points.
Traditionally, California was primarily an agricultural and manufacturing state. Santa Clara County was a leading producer of various crops, located right in the middle of what is now Silicon Valley. Fishing played a big part in the state economy from Eureka to Santa Barbara and Ventura County. Logging was a big part of the north state and the Sierra’s, including Redding. Large auto manufacturing areas, like Ford in Fremont and GM in Southern California employed thousands, and the Oakland Shipyard was one of the largest in the nation. Fontana had the largest steel plant on the west coast, and airplanes were built from San Diego to the Bay area. After Korea and Vietnam, the nature of the California economy started to change. Oil fields closed, tire plants in the Central Valley relocated out of state, and chemical plants shut their doors due to environmental concerns. California had some tough years in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s.
To fill this economic void, and address the changing nature of the state, cities and counties, and the State, reacted by encouraging a “new economy’, and companies like Hewlett Packard, Intel, and Apple Computer emerged, joined by a whole new kind of “industry” called Healthcare. Almost overnight, where there were factories and orchards, we saw housing developments, with all of the trades and services involved with this industry, along with a new group of employees called immigrants. They came from all over to the land of opportunities, bringing with them their culture and traditions, and California started absorbing these folks at a record pace. Jobs were created and the economy was rapidly changing. Overnight, biotech and hi-tech companies sprang up, like Gentech in Vacaville and Google and Yahoo in Mountain View. What had been referred to as “Kansas on the West Coast” was quickly becoming the largest “melting pot in the world”, with population groups like Russians moving to Sacramento and Vietnamese to Orange County. This changing culture caused California to change its education strategy, for languages almost unheard of 10 years before were now being taught in the schools. Change would be, and is, the future of California. like it or not.
Today, California needs to create 250,000 jobs a year, just to keep pace with the growth. Every aspect of our lives, from water to transportation, to land use to healthcare is now an “issue” for the State. How the State deals with change, such as the graying of the baby boomers”, will affect each of us. Every service we receive, from good highways to good healthcare will be a ballot item, and each of us must realize that now, as in the 1800’s, California is still the “destination of choice” for many. The Gold Rush is still with us. Are we ready, is the question. Stay tuned.
Ron Largent
July 20, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
President Bush in Redding,CA--What A Day!
Yes, he showed up....The President, George W. Bush....in person. What an exciting day for our little town in the far north state of California. Touching down at the Redding Airprt just after 2 PM, thousands were there to greet him, but unfortanately the tight schedule did not allow for much interaction with the public. All of the state and local politicians stood behind the President as he addressed firefightters and took a good look at the Fire Attack base. Then, after a helicopter tour over the burned areas, he returned to the Airport to honor Boy Scouts active in clearing the Pacific Trail.
At 4:30 PM...off they went as Air Force One headed north out of the airport then turning to the east and south and right over my home in Palo Cedro. What a sight, and what a day.
A first for Redding in that this was the first seated President to visit Redding since John Kennedy when he dedicated Whiskeytown Dam in the early '60's.
Best wishes to all,
Ron Largent The Largent Team Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Connection to the Redding area and the North State
At 4:30 PM...off they went as Air Force One headed north out of the airport then turning to the east and south and right over my home in Palo Cedro. What a sight, and what a day.
A first for Redding in that this was the first seated President to visit Redding since John Kennedy when he dedicated Whiskeytown Dam in the early '60's.
Best wishes to all,
Ron Largent The Largent Team Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Connection to the Redding area and the North State
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Commercial Property in Redding and Northern California
If you are looking for a client that wants to get into the "Convenience Store" business, give me a call. I currently have a number listed, but through cooperating brokers have access to stores from Sacramento, CA north to Oregon.
Stores range from great Interstate locations with branded gas to "off the road" stores both with and without gas.
Inside sales range from$25,000/month to $100,000/month...and gas is similar, depending upon the location.
Prices range from $395,000 without real property to in excess of $2 million with real estate.
So, e-mail me for details, photos, proformas, etc.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty Redding CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Real Estate Connection to the Redding Area and the
Stores range from great Interstate locations with branded gas to "off the road" stores both with and without gas.
Inside sales range from$25,000/month to $100,000/month...and gas is similar, depending upon the location.
Prices range from $395,000 without real property to in excess of $2 million with real estate.
So, e-mail me for details, photos, proformas, etc.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty Redding CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Real Estate Connection to the Redding Area and the
Commercial Property in Redding and Northern California
If you are looking for a client that wants to get into the "Convenience Store" business, give me a call. I currently have a number listed, but through cooperating brokers have access to stores from Sacramento, CA north to Oregon.
Stores range from great Interstate locations with branded gas to "off the road" stores both with and without gas.
Inside sales range from$25,000/month to $100,000/month...and gas is similar, depending upon the location.
Prices range from $395,000 without real property to in excess of $2 million with real estate.
So, e-mail me for details, photos, proformas, etc.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty Redding CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Real Estate Connection to the Redding Area and the
Stores range from great Interstate locations with branded gas to "off the road" stores both with and without gas.
Inside sales range from$25,000/month to $100,000/month...and gas is similar, depending upon the location.
Prices range from $395,000 without real property to in excess of $2 million with real estate.
So, e-mail me for details, photos, proformas, etc.
Ron Largent Keller Williams Realty Redding CA
www.ronlargent.com ronlargent@kw.com
Your Commercial Real Estate Connection to the Redding Area and the
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