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 week  to honor these special residents, as well as the families, staff, volunteers, and community. As one of the leading local rehabilitaton facilities in Capitola , in the Santa Cruz ,California  area, they know what having good people means. Celebrating those that work…

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 parts of the US, you will find real estate is very regional. Areas that are particularly hard hit because of job losses or rampant speculation or excessive growth have been hit hardest.Santa Cruz' sales volumes are off by about 40%, but the prices, depending on where…

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 being built; so don’t complain about the supply chain problems as prices rise if there are shortages.

Americans joyfully indulged in excess the government has allowed. It seems that maybe the people are finally getting the idea if they don’t speak the politicians…

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 the ingredients. Many other companies are starting to get on the bandwagon of full disclosure.

So what are you to do if you want to be certain you are using all natural products’? You can create your own cleaning products, often with vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda, depending…

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 also make diverse well know products such as STP auto care products, Glad plastic bags, and Hidden Valley salad dressings, as well as Brita water filers and Liquid Plumber. Not what you would call a green company at first blush.

There are about four major reasons that…

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 to help each other, and a group, Autism Speaks is a way to help your knowledge search.

Currently the diagnosis rate is one in one hundred fifty American children, a rate that has been steadily increasing in the last 15 years. It appears to be the fastest growing…

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 another thing to consider in your portfolio of investments. Not only do you need to have diversity in your 401K or SEPP-IRA, but you do significantly improve your returns by dollar cost averaging. Right now is a great time to be buying stocks as well as real estate. There are some…