Housing market sets solid base

The Inland Empire housing market has established a “firm floor,” thanks to a record number of affordable homes, low interest rates and rising sales volumes and prices, according to a regional economist. It all adds up to a shimmering light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, said Economist John Husing. “I’m running counter to what most analysts are saying about the market,” Husing said, “but I’m just seeing too many people focusing on the supply when they should be looking at the demand.”
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Survey: Victorville safer than before

Victorville has taken a significant drop on the list of most dangerous cities in the country, ranking lower than Los Angeles, Riverside and Seattle, according to a recent survey. The numbers from 2007 placed Victorville at number 152, six spots more dangerous than Los Angeles. This year, Victorville dropped to 188. Hesperia placed at number 280 with a crime rate well below the national average, the report showed.
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Adelanto logistics hub back in business

After sitting mostly dormant for several years, an 80-acre facility in Adelanto has reopened as a logistics hub and equipment depot, bringing about a dozen new jobs to the area. Fast Lane Transportation, Inc., has acquired the former Roadway Express property, just east of Highway 395 on Adelanto Road, to serve rail logistics providers, trucking companies and equipment leasing companies.
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Apple Valley Country Club

After two and a half hours of heated public debate, the council left its decision to purchase the Apple Valley Country Club alone. At issue during Tuesday night’s special meeting was whether the council should have been notified about potential interested buyers for the club, after Mayor Rick Roelle recently learned that local businessman Tom Carpino had made an offer that was quickly withdrawn.
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summary: Tom Carpino, a local business man, was interested in a new restaurant and withdrew an offer for the golf course. It is unclear the motivation for him withdrawing his offer for the golf course, but it was during the time the town was making an offer for the course.

The town will be responsible for watering the golf course which is very large and make up any losses in golf course operation. Tom Carpino will likely make a deal with the town for the restaurant which may be remodeled/replaced by the town.

The course is reported to have 127 members which is down from 450 some time ago. One person said the value of the property is far greater than the price paid however there will likely be annual losses.

Town of Apple Valley -- Thanksgiving holiday hours

The Town of Apple Valley will be closed from Thursday, November 26 through Monday, November 30 for the Thanksgiving holiday. This closure includes Animal Services, Town Hall, Public Works and Code Enforcement. For emergencies pertaining to vicious dogs, animals with life threatening injuries, sewer, water, flooding, or traffic signs or signals, please call (760) 961-6001. Town Hall will reopen for business as usual Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m.

Home prices rise for 4th month in a row

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Home prices rose slightly in September, the fourth straight monthly increase and a clear sign the housing market recovery is continuing. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities released Tuesday rose 0.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted reading of 144.96 in September. Prices rose month-over-month in 11 metro areas, a weaker showing than in recent months.

Compared with a year earlier, prices were down 9.4 percent, the smallest year over year decline since January 2008. "We have seen broad improvement in home prices for most of the past six months," David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Standard & Poor's index committee. "However, the gains in the most recent month are more modest than during the seasonally strong summer months."
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VVC to build $7 million solar plant

Strapped for cash and searching for creative ways to generate revenue, Victor Valley College officials are planning to partner with a private energy company to construct a $7 million solar plant on vacant campus land. The solar plant is expected to pay for itself through energy savings within five years and pump $22.1 million back into the college’s general funds over 25 years, according to estimates by the college’s program manager, Al McQuilkin of gkkworks.

The energy conservation facility, which will be built within a 10-acre vacant parcel on the far northeast side of the college’s main campus, is expected to generate about 1 megawatt of electricity per year, or roughly one-third of the college’s average electricity.
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Apple Valley Town Golf Course meeting Tuesday, Nov 24 @ 5 PM

Marty Nachman noticed that the town website said the next Tuesday meeting would be at 5 PM at the town council chambers , which are next to the library. I called the Town Clerk AGAIN and she confirmed that they had moved it up to 5 o’clock. She said it is firm now.

We need to be there when it starts for real impact, so send this to everyone. If you are in a club, send it to the club email list.

Don’t drive alone. Bring your neighbors. This will come down to a body count. Anyone who looks old enough to vote will work equally.

WE CAN DO THIS! SEE YOU THERE!

Mike Regan

Scandal swirls around A.V. Country Club

The controversy swirling around the town’s purchase of the Apple Valley Country Club appears far from over, after Mayor Rick Roelle reports a resident came forward with “serious allegations” about a “backroom deal” orchestrated by several town officials. Roelle said Carpino told him he’d been in negotiations to purchase the Apple Valley Country Club before the town voted to do so last November.

Roelle said Carpino was told, “‘Don’t purchase it. The town will purchase it and then we’ll work a deal with you later on.’” “I was disappointed that I had not heard this during this long year of negotiating with the country club, that there was a viable buyer of the country club,” Roelle said. “We were told there was nobody that was stepping up to the plate and to save the club the taxpayers would have to do it,” with some $1.2 million expended so far.
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Cutting edge surgery using ultrasound

A new surgical tool being used by two hospitals in the Victor Valley dramatically reduces blood loss during general surgery and helps patients heal up to 75 percent faster with just a Band-Aid. Instead of using a metal blade or a laser to cut through tissue, the highly advanced piece of equipment — called a Harmonic Scalpel — uses ultrasonic technology sound waves to separate tissue and stop bleeding at the same time. The Harmonic Scalpel is used at the Outpatient Surgery Pavilion of St. Mary Medical Center and in the hospital. Victor Valley Community Hospital also uses the Harmonic Scalpel for general surgery.
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Homebuyers far outnumber inventory, driving up prices

Supply and demand is driving local home prices artificially high, according to real estate data, as the number of buyers far outweigh the number of homes on the market. “Any home that comes on the market is getting multiple offers and most are going above the asking price,” said Larry Trombley with Century 21 Rose Realty. “We just have a lot of buyers and very few homes and no one really knows why.”

Figures compiled by Trombley show that closed sales in October were down from September by 3.2 percent and that bank-owned homes were 76 percent of the sales. Trombley said home sales are down only because there are not enough on the market. Inventory was down by 11.6 percent in October from the month before and by a whopping 70 percent over last year.
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Ashwood Golf Course

Hello friends and neighbors,

The Ashwood Golf Course is owned by Pulte. In 2007 it lost $1,000,000. I don’t know about 2008. It looks like it will lose $600,000 plus this year.

Private golf courses seem to lose money almost everywhere. The Apple Valley Country Club [which competes with our golf course for players] has been losing money for some time. After a lot of heated discussion, the town has decided to bail them out and purchase the Golf Course with taxpayer money.

Thursday’s Daily Press disclosed that there was a private buyer for the country club but that person was discouraged by certain town officials from pursuing it. The town council will have a special meeting to discuss this VERY SOON.

If we have the town subsidizes the competing course we are in BIG TROUBLE.

Pulte has a pattern when they have sold out the project. I can name exact places. They offer to sell the course for a dollar to the Del Webb community or close it down and let it become brown, swirling dust. When they leave, it is OUR problem, not theirs. I am sure not one of us would have bought a home here if we came in Arroyo Mesa and saw a brown dust bowl on each side. It would have been an immediate U turn out.

When this has happened in other communities it has been BITTER. Good friends fought with each other publicly and deep divisions became permanent. I have spoken with some of those people. MUCH BITTERNESS REMAINS YEARS LATER.

When the golf course purchase first came up ALL councilmen voted to do it with certain conditions to be met for completion of the purchase. When it came up for vote recently three of those same people disclosed they may have conflicts of interest. Those same conflicts were there before, but no one was watching then and they silently voted their interests.

Two of the town councilmen very publicly asked residents to show up at the meeting when it was on the agenda and have the residents voice their opinion as to whether the town should purchase it. At the next meeting they actually asked people to stand up to be counted pro or con.

I spent hours, and hours and hours talking and emailing people to the point that we had it in our power to protect our golf course and make it self sufficient by getting more players. Almost everyone agreed. 25 or 30 agreed to show up and be counted by the council.

Five of us stood up to voice our opposition. Twenty plus well organized people were for the purchase. The council asked the people’s opinion and clearly got it. 25 or 30 of us could have killed it.

We have one more chance. Due to the “backroom deals’ being disclosed, they will have another open meeting to discuss it. If you are too busy or disinterested to show up, I want you to remember that when the day comes that we are screaming in the ballroom about an additional assessment or $20 to $30/month to support our nice green golf course [I don’t play golf] .

The mayor said the meeting would be before Thanksgiving but hasn’t announced a date.

Please send this to other members WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. Form a carload to go to the meeting.

WE CAN CONTROL OUR FUTURE!

Mike Regan

Water plan goes easy on ag users, critics say Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/11/08/MNB01AEM7G.DTL#ixzz0WKR40C6L

Cities across the state must slash water consumption by about 20 percent over the next decade under newly passed legislation aimed at reworking the aging policies and plumbing that determine water flow to 38 million Californians. But the California agriculture industry, which consumes an estimated three-quarters of the water used in the state, won't have to change its practices much under the new rules.
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Alan Grayson Reads Names Of Dead

article: Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) took to the floor Wednesday night to read the names of those who had died from lack of health insurance in Republican districts. Grayson also read stories from his website Namesofthedead.com, which collects health care tragedies from around the country. "Is it really asking too much of us that we keep people alive?" he asked. Later he added, "We can save these people, or we can let them die."

In our congressional district: California District 41, represented by Congressman Jerry Lewis, 144 neighbors will die next year because they do not have health insurance based on experience. Of course this does not include those of us who are fortunate to have Medicare.

The national total of dead is over 44,000 annually -- we started two wars over less than 3,000.
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Dental Service Program continues serving Victor Valley community

What do if you’re homeless and have an excruciating toothache? Or if you’re in a losing struggle to make ends meet and the kids need dental care? The Victor Valley Community Dental Service Program has been there for 12 years, providing full-service dental care at free or discounted rates to underserved, uninsured or indigent people of the High Desert, including the hungry and the battered. For more information contact the Dental Service Program at 951-9181
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Water legislation good news

Though his agency doesn’t view it as quite the historic, monumental overhaul politicians are touting it as, Mojave Water Agency General Manager Kirby Brill said the comprehensive water policy package passed by the state Legislature early Wednesday is “all-in-all a good thing” for local water supplies.

“We’ve lost almost 40 percent of our long-term supply and we’re struggling trying to make that up,” Brill said, with the package bringing greater stability to the state’s water supply. Brill said MWA and the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority will likely be able to benefit from some of the $11 billion bond ballot that’ll now be floated next November, to fund conservation, reclamation and integrated water management plans.
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Hi-speed Charter Internet

I received notice that Verizon is raising their Internet rate. And, I have been getting info from Charter. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems interesting. Does anyone have experience they can share so I can let folks know?

Charter Communications is a cable TV provider that also offers Charter Cable Internet, a broadband, high speed internet service. Charter Cable makes a great choice for high speed internet access, with a reliable, always on net connection. Take a look at Charter cable internet if you are considering high speed, broadband internet services such as DSL or cable internet access. Sign up for Charter Cable Internet Today!

Charter Cable Internet Key Features
At the time of this writing, Charter Internet service includes these key features:

• Charter High-Speed Internet – First 6 months for only $24.99/month^*
• FREE Motorola Cable Modem^*
• No Contract
• $100 Cash Back
• Over 100 times faster than dial-up

Charter Cable Internet Additional Features
Charter Communications Internet access also includes these features:

• Delivers up to 5 Megs of immediate online action
• 100 times faster than dial-up; Up to twice as fast as most DSL connections
• No dial-ups - just launch your browser, and you're on the Web
• Transmit large files quickly
• No long-term contract required
• Connect multiple computers throughout your home to a single connection

Here is the link

Another link

Sure, Santa can fly, but did you know he can Scuba?

Soon Santa will travel all the way from the North Pole to the deep end of the Apple Valley pool to take a photo with you, and help soldiers’ families at the same time! On November 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. bring a $10 unwrapped gift to the Apple Valley Civic Center Park Aquatic Center and you can have your photo taken underwater with Santa.

“For our Troops” gifts can be for any age group as they all go to the families of U.S. military personnel. Scuba participants must take a brief safety course before diving.

Enjoy everything from hot cocoa to hot dogs at the snack bar or explore police cars and helicopters while you wait! This event is sponsored by Sport Chalet and the San Bernardino County Sheriff Dive Team and is free to spectators.

Civic Center Park is located at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley.

For more information please call Recreation at (760) 240-7880 or visit www.AppleValley.org.

AARP Driver Safety Program Online Course!

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest course for drivers age 50 and older. The program has helped millions of drivers protect their safety on today's roads. AARP has offered its classroom course since 1979, and now offers the course conveniently online.

• Tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the rules of the road
• Learn defensive driving techniques
• Discover ways to handle left turns, right-of-way, highway traffic and blind spots
• Complete the course online at your own pace
• 24 hour a day customer service support
• Only $15.95 for AARP members and $19.95 for non-members^*
• In some states, taking this course may qualify you for a multi-year insurance discount ^**

AARP Driver Safety Program

Forever Wild exotic animals

PHELAN • Princess Diana lived the life of a pampered Las Vegas show cat, until the recent economic bust ended her owner’s performance. She wasn’t happy about her move to Phelan. The white tiger banged and cut her forehead, growled at every new face and panted in the heat of the sun. But after a while she settled into the comfort of her new home — complete with a small waterfall, realistic rocks and branches to climb, and plenty of room to roam.

Located in Phelan, California Forever Wild rescues and rehabilitates captive-bred exotic animals, giving them a safe home for the rest of their lives.
The Forever Wild nonprofit organization doesn't receive government support or grants of any kind. Your kindness and support go directly to the care of these magnificent animals.

TOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 760-868-2755
Forever Wild

Sacramento: Go with the flow on water legislation

Negotiators are on the brink of achieving the most comprehensive California water legislation in half a century. They're also in danger of an embarrassing belly flop. Both sides -- whether talking about Democrats vs. Republicans, environmentalists vs. farmers, cities vs. burgs -- have attained their top priorities, realizing gains that seemed almost impossible just 18 months ago.
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Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum closing in December

After 42 years honoring the legacy of the King of the Cowboys and Queen of the West, the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum will be closing its doors on Dec. 12. The museum first opened in 1967 in Apple Valley, where Rogers and Evans “retired” only to continue filming TV shows and doing charity work. It moved to Victorville in 1976 and remained there until the family took it to the tourist town of Branson, Mo. in 2003 in hopes of reaching more fans. For more information or to schedule one last trip to the museum, visit www.RoyRogers.com.
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Retired educator opens center to promote the arts

Bob Sprague has studied music under world-renowned masters at Juilliard School, Columbia University and Paris Conservatory of Music and spent several years in the New York Metropolitan Opera. The Arts Connections/Innovations Artistic Community Center, off Main Street near G Avenue, now offers a daily array of music, dance and arts activities for all ages, from 5-year-olds to senior citizens. The center hosts free talent nights and offers lessons in flute, drums, guitar, piano, trumpet, violin, singing, painting, photography, drama and more.
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Town of Apple Valley Winter Wonderland Saturday, December 5

Get ready for a whole new level of holiday cheer at the second annual Town of Apple Valley Winter Wonderland Saturday, December 5 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Park followed by the Christmas Tree Lighting at promptly 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

Winter Wonderland is a family friendly event featuring train rides, inflatables, crafts, information and giveaways, live entertainment and falling snow! Bring the kids along for a picture with Santa.

At 5:30 p.m. simply stroll next door to Town Hall for free holiday refreshments from local businesses then join in Christmas carols with neighbors and friends as our Mayor flips the switch on our 65 ft tree covered in thousands of shimmering lights. Our annual Town ornaments will be given away while supplies last.

Admission and parking are free. Civic Center Park and Town Hall are located at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley.
For more information please call Special Events at (760) 240-7000, x 7071 or visit www.AppleValley.org.

Obama calls for $250 payments to seniors

President Barack Obama called on Congress Wednesday to approve $250 payments to more than 50 million seniors to make up for no increase in Social Security next year. The White House put the cost at $13 billion. The Social Security Administration is scheduled to announce Thursday that there will be no cost of living increase next year. By law, increases are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year.
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