Archive for January, 2008
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Jan
31
Posted by Pam Novak
The Federal Reserve cut another half-point off interest rates again yesterday. This time the Commercial banks followed suit by lowering their prime rate. As with all the previous cuts everyone is looking for it to shore up the slump in the housing market. Along with helping the economy show some growth.
The real estate market in parts of the country are far worse than the Pacific Northwest. For the most part we still have our properties appreciating. Not by leaps and bounds as it was a few years ago, but steady. Sales are slow but still happening. Spring is just around the corner and hopefully as historically happens sales will bloom.
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Jan
30
Posted by Pam Novak
The Fire Departments want to hear from you. Each station is having an open house next week. Please attend, listen to what they are planning and give them some feed back. The times and locations are as follows:
MILTON - Wednesday, February 6, 2008 7:00pm to 9:00pm
City of Milton Council Chambers 1000 Laurel Street Milton, WA 98354
EDGEWOOD - Thursday, February 7, 2008 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Pierce County Fire District #8 - Training Room 10105 24th St E Edgewood, WA 98371
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Jan
28
Posted by Pam Novak
Last week when it was nice and sunny I went for a drive. I took some shots of the construction site of the Stone Ridge Senior Living Center. If you look carefully you can see Mt Rainier between the trees. The views from the units when the project is complete will be much better. I was standing in a dip in the road and was unable to get past the locked gate on the site.
When construction is completed there will be 29 Independent Living Cottages, 110 apartments in the Assisted Living building. They will be a mix of studio, and 1 or 2 bedroom units. There will also be 16 Memory Care (Alzhimeirs units).
I spoke to a representative today and was told that completion is slated for the Fall of 2008. They will be opening an on site office approximately 6 months prior to completion. I’ve been placed on the information mailing list so I’ll be regularly updated on the progress. Prices of the units have not been published at this time. As soon as I receive any updated information I’ll be passing it along.
The project is located at the corner of S 376th St and Milton Rd S. It’s about a mile or so south of Enchanted Village/Wild Waves.
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Jan
26
Posted by Pam Novak
“The mountains out” is a phrase that was heard around here a lot this past week. It’s something that people who have lived in this area along time say when we finally get a clear day after weeks of overcast skies. You can look to the direction of Mt Rainier and actually see her. It’s a beautiful site.
I was out driving around on Tuesday afternoon and had to stop and take a couple of shots. The first one is from the corner of 20th & 70th in Fife heading to Milton. The second was on Valley Ave leaving Fife toward Puyallup.
In person the views are much better. Reviewing the photos on the computer when I got home makes me want to run out and get a new camera. I will soon, then I’ll go out and retake the shots from the same spots and compare the sets.
Living in the Pacific Northwest is great. We have such a variety of things to do. A mix of sports, we have all the basics, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, equestrian events, the snow sports, skiing etc and then all the water sports. We have all the fresh water and ocean events. The University of Washington has all the same rowing programs the the Ivy League schools back east have. Our lakes are great. I know plenty of people that during the summer months get up 2 hours early and go water skiing before going into the office. I’m not much of a fisherman so I can’t comment from experience, but I’ve heard its great.
We also have all the cultural basics Symphony, ballet, opera, theatre. We actually have a wider range here since we have the all the different Indian tribal culture to draw from. They have beautiful art work along with their music and dance traditions.
In a couple of weeks I’ll be starting a series of articles about different things to do in the area. Places to go, things to do. It’ll cover the general Western Washington area. It could be a day trip event or just a couple of hours.
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Jan
25
Posted by Pam Novak
Yesterday we heard that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republican leader John Boehner and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson finally agreed on a package to pump up to $150 billion into the economy.
The plan will go to the House next week and then move to the Senate. We are already seeing statements in the press about Senators wanting to make additions and changes.
I hope that this doesn’t get hung up due to infighting over add ons for special interests.
For some people the payments don’t sound like much, $600 for individuals, $1200 per couple plus extra per each child. But, if your unemployed and extra $600 could be the difference between eating or paying the heat bill.
Anyone with an extra minute could send an email into Congress and request that the bill move forward without delay.
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Jan
23
Posted by Pam Novak
The Bulldogs ran over the Dons on Monday night and for the second game in a row made history beating the opposing coach. Last Saturday is it was their former Assistant Coach Bill Grier. Losing his first game back in the Kennel as the visitor. Monday night was San Francisco’s coach Eddie Sutton. It was his first shot at getting to the 800 win mark.
The Zags are currently undefeated in league play at 4-0. Overall they are 15-4. They’ll be going back east to play #1 Memphis this Saturday January 26, 2008. The game will be shown on ESPN at 9am PST.
The only other time the Zags have faced a #1 team was back in 1999. This should help the team step up its game. Hopefully it’ll step up the ranking too. We did get some votes this week, but nowhere near enough to make the top 25. GO….ZAGS
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Jan
22
Posted by Pam Novak
Chairman Bernanke has been saying that he could and would step in if things worsened. He did this morning in response to world market drops yesterday.
The global markets have been reacting to fear of a US recession. Hopefully this cut with the stimulus package to follow will be enough to start a come back. Considering the size and timing of this move it should get some positive results. This is the first time since Sept. 17, 2001 that there has been an inter-meeting cut, along with it being the largest cut since August 1982. The markets should see that the Fed and Congress are working to stabilize and help turn the markets around.
Opinions are all over the map. So we’ll have to wait and see. The chance that there will be another cut at the Jan. 30th meeting is still a possibility.
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Jan
20
Posted by Pam Novak
Bill Grier the new coach for the San Diego Toreros spent years as an assistant coach at Gonzaga. He returned for the first time yesterday to face his old team. Everyone was glad to see him and wished him well. But, it didn’t stop them from beating his new team. They got ahead and stayed there the entire game. They finished with a final score of 80 - 70.
Gonzaga had 5 players in double figures. Including Jeremy Pargo, its looking like Jeremy is almost back to his old playing form. The team is currently at 3-0 in conference play and 14-4 overall.
The next game is Monday night at home against San Francisco. It will be shown on ESPN. GO….ZAGS
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Jan
19
Posted by Pam Novak
You don’t have to be religious to pray for a good thing.
I received an invitation to a Prayer Vigil that will be held at the Mountain View Lutheran Church Chapel on Saturday January 26 starting at 8:00am and ending on Sunday January 27 at the end of the 8:15 am Worship service.
The Church has sent out invitations to the community at large. Opening their doors to anyone and everyone that wants to come and prayer with others for the betterment of the Edgewood Community Center and anyone else in need.
Please remember this is the church that is currenty operating and building the new home for the Edgewood Community Food Bank.
To view the original article Mountain View Lutheran Community Church deep community roots Click Here
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Jan
17
Posted by Pam Novak
President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke agree that an economic stimulus package is needed and it needs to be put into effect quickly. What is being looked at is a combination of tax and interest rate cuts. Along with other government actions.
Chairman Bernanke made a comment about slower growth in 2008 but not a recession. He did state that “the design and implementation of the fiscal program are critically important.”
I hope Congress works out a plan before it’s too late.
