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National Nursing Home Week ® begins on Mother’s Day, May 11 and continues until May 18, 2008. Many nursing home residents are the people who lived and worked locally and made our community what it is. They have been parents or relatives, teachers, business people, and people from all walks of life. Many of us have had parents and others in our lives that have needed care, such as provided at a place like Pacific Coast Manor, in Capitola. They are celebrating with patients and staff his wee... Read Full Post

Santa Cruz Real Esate Market Showing signs of Life Santa Cruz real estate has been slowed like most other parts of the nation. While our prices haven't taken the horrific hit s others have, we have had a downturn in volume and price too. These tables of the surrounding counties to Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County ( Silcon Valley) and Monterey County( Salad bowl of the world) reflect the market's activity and strength or weakness. While the media paints a broad brush and tarinishes all pa... Read Full Post

As many are starting to realize in government, we are a nation addicted to gas. We burn more than our proportionate share and have paid a lower price than the rest of the free world. Our government policies are tied to big business interests of oil and automobile companies. The current administration has finally backed off a little recently, in not thwarting legislative efforts aimed at higher fuel efficiencies. For years the outcry by environmentalists has stymied any new gas refineries from... Read Full Post

How do you know if your cleaner is “green” or not? With the burgeoning growth of the green cleaning products, how can you tell if you are buying something that is “green” or “natural”? Unlike the organic product market, there is no standard of what is “natural”? The government does not even require that companies list all the ingredients in their products. While most companies do not list all their ingredients, Clorox with their new Green Works cleaning product line, lists all... Read Full Post

Green seems to be the buzz word of the day as well as organic. There are benefits to both ideas and it is hoped that this will help us, and the earth all. Clorox, headquartered in Oakland, California has started a new line of green cleaners, called Green Works. This is a big change for a company that has been a cleaning powerhouse company for decades, with a whopping 41% of market share. Best known for its bleach, 409 and Pine Sol, this change of tact is a watershed change of course. They als... Read Full Post

Take a walk….today is World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2008 Autism has charged into our lives at an unprecedented rate. This has put a further burden on parents, already facing raising a child in a fast changing world. Autism has no known cure, though there are plenty of theories, but none seem to have gained traction as a sure fire path to a cure. It is treatable and manageable, though it takes a focused approach of behavioral and developmental therapies. Families have banded together t... Read Full Post

Senior communication help in California The California Telephone Access Program ( CTAP) governmental program designed to help seniors with communication access on the phone. This state program is free to qualified seniors as well as other qualifying Californians. Seniors who have problems accessing the telephone can get help. Some instances may be due arthritis, hearing, visual issues or other physical impediments. You will need a doctor’s note in part to qualify, and to have phone service.... Read Full Post

Santa Cruz Seniors have the benefits of a local Santa Cruz Seniors program to help with their taxes,how nice is that! Taxes are tough enough early in life, and easier later in life, sort of . The Project Scout helps seniors with their taxes for free. Yes that magical word,FREE, that is golden especially to seniors, is the cost, besides your time. Contact them for assistance. You will need the following. Valid picture ID for taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly) Social Security cards and bir... Read Full Post

What will you be remembered for when you are gone? For some, these are trying times, just trying to stay alive, for others it is preparing for going. Life is a cycle, just as birth proceeds death. We trumpet death more than life or birth, for reasons unknown to me. So as we contemplate getting our will and trusts in order, what will we be remembered for or by? We can get our things in order, and you should have something set up early in life. As we all know, life is an uncertain gift that can... Read Full Post

I am thinking as I read and fathom the carnage that happened and was somewhat averted with the Bear Stearns debacle. What came to mind was the word “diversity.” You may think, huh, but as I was reading about 15,000 people being affected, and many of then with their retirements heavily vested in their seemingly rock of Gibraltar company, Bear Stearns. What this reminds me is that people have not remembered the word “diversity” that so many employees of Enron learned. Diversity is anoth... Read Full Post