Monday, December 21, 2009

The Frank Murphy Team Highlighted by The Santa Cruz Sentinel

Santa Cruz Sentinel Article dated 12/20/2009

"The Frank Murphy Team of Keller Williams Realty hosted their annual client appreciation pie giveaway. Every year, just before Thanksgiving, Frank gives out fresh baked pies to his friends, clients and associates. This year, Frank gave away pies at Bonny Doon Church Nov. 24. This is his way of thanking the people in his community."

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tax Credit Deadline Extended

Don't discount the tax credit yet!


Last week, after the Senate gave its final and fully supportive approval on the home buyer tax credit extension, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass the legislation, sending the tax credit to President Obama who's final sign-off on Friday made it official.

The $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, which was slated to expire Nov. 30, 2009, will be extended for contracts signed before May 1, 2010 that close before July 1, 2010. First-time buyers, who are in the process of closing now, no longer have to worry about qualifying for the $8,000 tax credit if they do end up closing after the Nov. 30 deadline. The new legislation also increases the income limit for couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the current level.

Buyers who already own a home are also now eligible for a tax credit and the purchase of a home. The $6,500 maximum credit will be available to existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five consecutive years of the prior eight years. The legislation does set forth several provision including, limiting eligibility for existing homeowners to homes worth $800,000 or less, as well as making both credits available only for primary residences, not second homes or investment properties. The legislation will take effect December 1, 2009 and is not retroactive.

The original first-time home buyer tax credit jump-started the housing market, driving home sales to the highest level in more than two yeas. The National Association REALTORS® reported sales jumped 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units in September and are 9.2 percent higher than the 5.10 million-unit pace in September 2008.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded


Current

New

Effective Date

· January 1, 2009

· December 1, 2009

Deadline

· Close on or before
November 30, 2009

· Contract signed before May 1, 2010, must close before July 1, 2010

· Members of the uniformed services, foreign services, and intelligence employees who served an extended service of 90 days will have until April 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011.

Amount

· First-Timers: maximum of $8,000 or 10% of sales price

· Prior Owners: $0

· First-Timers: Unchanged

· Prior Owners: $6,500 if lived in prior home for at least 5 years of past 8 years

Income Limit

· Individual: $75,000

· Couple: $150,000

· Individual: $125,000

· Couple: $225,000

Other Restrictions

· Home must be primary residence for at least 3 years. If home is sold or buyer moves before 3 years, must re-pay full amount of credit.

· Buyer must be at least 18 years old and not classified as a dependent for tax purposes

· Home must cost less than $800,000

· New Home must be primary residence for at least 3 years following purchase. If home is sold or buyer moves, before 3 years, must re-pay full amount of credit. Exception for military, foreign services, or intelligence with extended 90 days service overseas.

How to claim

· If purchased in 2009, by amending 2009 tax return or claiming on 2010 tax return

· If purchased in 2010, by amending 2010 tax return or claiming on 2011 tax return

Monday, November 09, 2009

Invitation to the annual Bonny Doon Church Craft Faire!


Please be sure to attend the annual
Bonny Doon Church Craft Faire
Saturday, November 14th, 10-4
.

You could be the lucky winner of this beautiful one of a kind handmade quilt to be raffled off. All of the proceeds will benefit the Bonny Doon Fire Team!



Saturday, November 14
10:00am to 4:00pm: Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church Holiday Arts & Craft Faire
at the Bonny Doon Elementary School, 1492 Pine Flat Road

More info: 426-0110


Chili Cook-Off, Raffles, Food, Fun, Free Admission

Food Collection (non-perishable) for Valley Churches United

Bonny Doon Lavender Farm ~ Maryjo Koch Jewelry ~ Wood Carvings ~ Photography ~ Quilts ~ Antiques ~ Watercolorists ~ Teas ~ Special Crafts ~ Chocolate ~ Bird Houses ~ Holiday Items ~ Pottery ~ Olive Oil Products and much, much more!!!


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Bonny Doon Garden Company-Documentary on PBS Tonight!

The Bonny Doon Garden Company

Exciting News to Share

The Botany of Desire

Documentary on PBS Tonight!

Almost exactly two years ago, I was contacted by a film producer inquiring if I would be interested in being interviewed for a documentary entitled

'The Botany of Desire' based on the book by Michael Pollan. Ironically, I had just gotten around to reading it, and had only just begun days before!

I was honored to be a part the filming, and the garden looked gorgeous for them!

However, in the editing process, great efforts were put forth in order to fit in all the good footage, while also weaving a good story, alas my footage didn't make the cut! Well, most of it-apparently if you do not blink at all for two hours, you may be able to catch a glimpse of me in my garden.

BUT WAIT! Here's the good news I wanted to share with you!

The producer was intriqued by footage they shot of the garden, and the interview was of interest enough to create a bonus feature! Click here to view my 6 minutes and 53 seconds of fame! Like a Florist from 100 Years Ago.

It is an honor for me to be a part of this fascinating documentary at any level, but I think you'll agree, this bonus feature they put on the incredible web site and on the DVD itself is quite impressive! I hope you get a chance to see it, and of course the whole documentary tonight too!

You may purchase the DVD from from the PBS/Botany site if you'd like, or it will also be available for purchase from my store in November. Enjoy!

This is going to be a fascinating two hours tonight!

Don't forget to tune in or TiVo!

Channel PBS, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:00 pm

Teresa Sabankaya

The Bonny Doon Garden Company

1101 Fair Ave - Santa Cruz, California 95060

(831) 421-0975

www.bonnydoongardenco.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

2010 Tour of California Route

http://www.bikeworldnews.com/index.php/2009/10/22/2010-tour-california-route-revealed/

From Velo News:

The 2010 Tour of California will venture high up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, dispense with the traditional prologue, include a time trial in Los Angeles and feature the first mountaintop finish in the race’s 4-year history at Big Bear.

The biggest change for the 8-day event remains the move from February to May (16-23), pitting it against the Giro d’Italia. Still, race organizers expect a field of comparable strength to 2009, when world champions and former winners of the Tour de France and Paris-Roubiax lined up alongside America’s best riders.

Next year, the race will begin in Nevada City and head generally south, visiting Sacramento, Davis, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Modesto, Visalia, Bakersfield, Pasadena, Big Bear, Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks.

Here are the route details:

  • Stage 1: Nevada City to Sacramento.
    • The 78-mile stage will put riders back into Sacramento where the race caravan will have been staying in the days before the race. Expect a sprint finish.
  • Stage 2: Davis to Santa Rosa.
    • Somewhat of a repeat stage from 2009, but perhaps a little longer and a little harder. It may or may not have finishing circuits. Organizers are looking to put a hill in Santa Rosa to give someone else a chance to win it. Plus, it’s harder for Santa Rosa to do circuits on a Monday and shut down all of downtown. Trinity Grade may figure into the route.
  • Stage 3: San Francisco to Santa Cruz.
    • Another repeat from 2009, this stage will again feature the Bonny Doon climb, where this year Levi Leipheimer attacked his way into the race lead. The stage will start at pier 30/32, then it will follow the Bay to Breakers running course from two days earlier, across the spine of the city and into Golden Gate Park. There will not be a Golden Gate bridge crossing this time, however.
  • Stage 4: San Jose to Modesto.
    • A sprint finish is pretty certain, as there is no way to get to Modesto without traversing 25 miles of dead flat central valley.
  • Stage 5: Visalia to Bakersfield.
    • The first and only real Sierra Nevada stage, this day will take riders up into the Sequoia National Forest. It could be somewhat similar to the Merced-Clovis stage from this year. The proposed finish near Bakersfield College consists of a 2-mile circuit with a 200-foot climb in middle.
  • Stage 6: Pasadena to Big Bear.
    • The queen stage will include 13,000-14,000 feet of climbing up to one of the ski resorts in Big Bear. Race organizers are waiting on clearance from the state because parts of the route include areas affected by the Station Fire. If the Forest Service gives clearance, the race would do 2.5 hours through the burn zone. From the start in Pasadena, riders will climb up to Crystal Lake, summiting there at 8,000 feet, then descending into Wrightwood and climbing back up to Big Bear Lake.
  • Stage 7: Los Angeles time trial.
    • Originally, the plan was to start the time trial start downtown and go to the beach. The LA Triathlon used a similar route and the city concluded the traffic impact was too great. So, the time trial will take place entirely downtown, visiting Disney Music Hall, Staples Center and the Exposition Park. It will likely be a two-lap course.
  • Stage 8: Thousand Oaks circuit race.
    • The race will conclude with a circuit race in the Santa Monica Mountains. There will be at least one canyon climb over the top of mountains and a drop down to the Pacific Coast Highway. SoCal roadies can look for the Rock Store climb to be featured.

Neal Rogers contributed to the Velo News report.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

SC Median Home Price $500,000 in August

"In Santa Cruz County, the median price for a single-family home inched down to $500,000 in August after climbing $100,000 over the previous five months." Says a recent article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. For more information, click the link below:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/newsletter/ci_13364437

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Friday, May 08, 2009

Despite Falling Prices, Homeownership out of Reach for Many!

"Even though the median home price dropped 37 percent last year, Santa Cruz County remains unaffordable for many first-time buyers," says an article published in today's Sentinel. For more information, click on the link below.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_12323061?source=most_viewed

Monday, April 06, 2009

Sailor of the Week, Ernie Rideout at 91 Years Young!

Sailor of the Week – Ernie Rideout, 91, has spent a lifetime touching the lives of young people through sailing. For 50 years he worked as a school teacher and principal, and after he retired in 1975, he worked as a sailing instructor for 26 years at the O’Neill Yacht Center in Santa Cruz, Calif. Ernie taught over 3,500 children and adults how to sail. Check out this link: