2016 Christmas in the Village

Local Holiday Activities & Light Displays

Fun for the family  light displays, crafts, tree lightings, caroling, bonfires and more..

• Christmas in the Village - Meadow Vista. -  Dec. 10th   Enjoy a scavenger hunt for goodies from 4 to 6 pm with the businesses in downtown Meadow Vista.  Santa arrives in the lot next to the Post Office at 6:30 pm and the bon fire is lit while children express wishes to jolly St. Nick.

• Festival of Lights Parade  - Sat. Dec. 3 at 5:30pm in downtown Auburn

• Old Town Auburn Country Christmas - Sat. Dec. 10 and 17th from 5 to 9 pm  crafts, food and fun. www.oldtownauburnca.com

• Grass Valley Cornish Christmas - Friday nights beginning Nov. 25th thru Dec. 23rd - Enjoy the traditions of the earlier immigrants to this area from 6-9 pm

• Nevada City Victorian Christmas - Wednesdays Dec. 14 & 21 from 5-9pm and Sundays Dec 4, 11 & 18 from 1:30-6pm -  Enjoy turn of the century theme with costumed merchants, caroling and much more. Visit nevadacountythingstodo.com/christmas for more info.

• Sacramento Region - Check out the website for light displays in the surrounding area, then map your route and have fun.  The site adds new locations daily.   www.lightsofthevalley.com

• Light Display in Walgra Meadows - Ryan/Jackson Home - All December, this local home & yard is decorated with wooden figures including a Nativity, Santa & Nutcracker. Drive by & See!

What is Happening to Mortgage Rates?

By Toni Ryan, Princeton Capital

Mortgage Rates continued their move higher, as financial markets adjust to the price of the “new perceived” realities of the presidential election. The average 30yr fixed rate has surged .5% higher.  The last time rates moved in this manner was in mid-2013.

What is the concern about the new perceived realities? Markets are repricing based on a Trump presidency and GOP-controlled congress. The problem is that markets have to “guess” as to the future outcome of the policies that Trump might enact as well, as the extent to which the legislative and executive branches will work collaboratively with his policies. Unfortunately, most of the best guesses are not good for US bonds. Higher spending, lower taxes, protectionist trade policies, and deregulation policies all add up to inflation. Inflation is the enemy of low interest rates.

Fortunately, this repricing of rates is likely to be short-lived. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean rates will simply come surging back to previous levels although we have clearly seen this happen in the past. We are looking at an actual feeling of increased risk (as opposed to just a reaction to the election). It would take a new motivation for the repricing to occur in a more positive direction. Until then, a lowering in rates isn't out of the question. Indeed, that can happen as a corrective move but there's no guarantee of its size or that rates may continue to move higher before it happens.

Working with a mortgage professional that offers many options will help you to acquire the best rate for your needs. Keep in mind that the rates today are still great. Do not let this increase stop you from the purchase of a home.

Friendly Neighbors Thank You!

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club says “THANK YOU” to Holiday Market and their customers that purchased all those $5 bags of groceries. Those bags will come in handy for the families receiving Christmas Baskets in our community this year.

Our “Thank You” goes to the students and parents at Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills School for their canned food drives. Those canned food donations really help us. And THANK YOU to all those individual resident monetary donations that make these Christmas Baskets possible.
Thank you Wells Fargo Bank Meadow Vista for allowing ornaments for local children in need to be placed in their bank. Thank you to all those that have made generous donations of toys to ensure children in our community will have a present to unwrap. If it was not for your gift these children may not receive a present to unwrap. Just a friendly reminder that we ask your donated present be returned to the Wells Fargo Bank by Wednesday, December 14, in order for us to match your present with the appropriate child (gender and age).

Placer County Association of Realtors (PCAR) grant award made it possible for the fresh vegetables and Christmas Dinner’s main course to be in our Christmas Food baskets this year. Thank you PCAR for awarding us that grant to ensure Christmas Dinner for our residents in need!
Thank you to those that attended our 9th Annual Christmas Basket Breakfast held on Saturday, November 12, 2016. It was heartwarming to see the community mingling while enjoying a delicious breakfast cooked by our Meadow Vista Lions Club.

We need physical labor of assembling the Christmas Food Baskets (boxes) at Sierra Hills School auditorium on Friday, December 16 starting at 5 p.m. Those willing to do heavy lifting of canned food boxes at 3:30 pm on December 16, please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359. This is a great opportunity to see how our community comes together to help those in need.
We are very grateful to live in a community that is willing to watch over other residents that are not as fortunate and are struggling during the Christmas Season.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors’ other community assistants throughout the year are Spring Break food for students and seniors, clothing for graduating students in need, free swim lessons/safety lesson/days for our community youths and adults along with emergency assistance and helping residents in need when food is needed. We welcome donations year round to allow us to provide other assistants to our community area residents in need. Monetary donations may be made on our website meadowvistafriendlyneighbors@gmail.com or checks payable to TMVFNC mailed to P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA 95722. All other donations for arrangements of delivery/pick up please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359.

Our club wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year.

Meadow Vista Lions Club Crab Feed 2017

By Etta Gross, MV Lions Secretary

Meadow Vista Lions will be selling See’s Candies in front of Holiday Market on Thursdays through Sundays until we are sold out.  You may also purchase See’s candy at Meadow Vista’s True Value Hardware.  All the proceeds from See’s candy sales will be evenly donated to Sierra Reach Ministries Food Closet and Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club for the Christmas Baskets.

THE CRAB is BACK…  Meadow Vista Lions will be hosting their CRAB FEED on February 4, 2017 Gold Country Fairgrounds (Auburn, CA) in the Placer Building.  The menu will include CRAB, pasta, bread and salad.  Along with a no host cocktail hour starting at 6 p.m. with dinner served around 7 p.m.  Donations of $45 per ticket.  This is our annual community account fundraiser that allows us to do Sierra and Weimar Hills School hot dogs, Easter Egg Hunt, the Tablet Reading Program, Mother’s Day Breakfast, free swim with hot dogs and all the other community service projects we do!  So please come enjoy an evening out while you are supporting the Meadow Vista Lions at the same time.  For tickets see Bob at Meadow Electric, True Value Hardware, any Lion member or contact Lion Greg at (530) 637-5359.

You are welcome to come visits us at our regular meetings held on the second and fourth Wednesday night starting in January 2017 at the Community Center.  Our meetings start at 7 p.m.  And please visit our website at www.meadowvistalions.

MV Community Center Update

Christmas Recipe

Californians Fleeing High Cost of Housing

Submitted By Christine Schlittenhart, Sierra Pacific Real Estate

Recent real estate data shows that for every home buyer coming into California, another three are selling their homes, packing up and moving out. 625,000 more U.S. residents left California between 2007 and 2014 than moved into the state. The vast majority ended up in Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Washington.

The search for more affordable housing is sending low and middle-income workers out of the state, while higher-wage workers continue to move in, which argues against the theory that high taxes are driving people away.

California is experiencing an employment boom with a housing problem. The state continues to offer great employment opportunities for all kinds of workers, but housing affordability and supply represent a significant problem. Home prices and rents have been rising steadily for more than four years.

Many baby boomers are moving to Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Georgia or North Carolina where home prices are considerably lower. Still others are relocating to Texas. Home prices are cheaper there, although property taxes are higher. (My last 3 sellers moved out of state to Idaho.)
High housing prices are also impacting younger Californians. California home prices have risen in part because of a lack of inventory.

From 2005 to 2015, permits were filed for only 21.5 housing units per every 100 new residents in the state. That put the Golden State second to last behind Alaska, where only 16.2 housing permits were filed for every 100 new residents.

Are you ready to take the plunge and move out of state? Call on one of your local Meadow Vista Merchant Realtor's to get Listed and take advantage of our large collection of buyers.

Community Center Update

Pioneer Day 5K Run

Sunday, June 5, 2016 • 9 am Start 

Meadow Vista Park - 1101 Meadow Vista Rd.

Pre Registration Fee: $20. ($15. If Under Age 14)

Race Day Registration: Begins At 7:30 Am Until 15 Minutes Before Race Start at Meadow Vista Park 

Race Day Registration Fee: $25.00 (race Shirt Not Guaranteed)

Awards: Overall Male And Female Finisher And The Top Three Finishers In Eight Age Groups

Course: Accurate, Fast with Rolling Hills. Starts and Finishes Near the Meadowvista Park.

Walkers Welcome!

For More Information: Call Shana Brown (530)368-6506 Or Email Shana.met.brown@gmail.com.

Register Online: Https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pioneer-day-5k-run-tickets-24425981769

All Proceeds Benefit: Colfax High School Cross Country

We Appreciate Our Sponsors:  

Oshetski Orthodontics • Mother Lode Realty • Sierra Pacific Real Estate • Triton Construction Service • Hydros Consulting • Lippert Construction • Colfax Dental Center • Dr. Dan Zendner • Dr. Chad Jensen • Oliver's Gas Station • Casey Spencer Realtor • Hansen Mgmt and Maintenance • Anytime Fitness • Meritage Automotive Center

Family Movie Nights 2016

Local Eagle Scout Service Project...Needs You!

Many people know of the effort, determination and work required of a young man striving to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. The old saying - “It takes a village...” applies only too well. One young man is attempting to beautify a small portion of our town...and I hope our village will jump forward to help him.

“Hello. My name is Matthew Pfeiffer and I’m a Life rank Boy Scout in Troop 6 of Meadow Vista. I’m currently working on a service project to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. For my project, I am landscaping the barren corner of Combie Rd. and Placer Hills Rd. The land is the leach field for the Fire Station’s septic system and provides and excellent location for a decorative pathway, drip-line irrigation and native drought-tolerant plants. Please contact me for a list.

“I am currently tracking down native plants for the lot. If you have questions about my project or would like to donate materials or money towards its completion, please contact me...

Matthew Pfeiffer
Email: matthewpfeif@gmail.com

Make checks payable to:
Troop 6 BSA - Matthew Pfeiffer Eagle Scout Project
c/o Matthew Pfeiffer
870 Cole Road, Meadow Vista, CA 95722

Lions Club Update

Come join us and the Cub/Boy Scouts for Breakfast at Placer Hills School on Pioneer Day.  Breakfast will beginning at 8 a.m. and close at 11 a.m.  There will be pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and all the trimmings.

Spectators are free at the Meadow Vista Lions 2nd Car Show.  This car show will be held at the Meadow Vista Park on Saturday, June 18, 2016.  Time is 8 to 3 p.m.  Early registration for cars/bikes/?? Is $20 until June 11, 2016.  For more information contact Lion Greg at (530) 637-5359.  Come view all the gorgeous vehicles.  You may also want to enjoy breakfast and/or lunch cooked by Meadow Vista Lions while observing all the fantastic exhibits.

We want to thank all those Moms for coming to the Mother’s Day Breakfast.  We will see you all there again on Mother’s Day 2017!

Please visit our website at www.meadowvistalions.com.  You will find what events we have coming up, how to request our assistance at your upcoming event, how to contact us, other information and past event pictures.

Remember during the summer months we meet once at the Meadow Vista Hall.

The Lions want to thank Lion David Lease for being our club President for the last year and to Lion Howard Fleming for being our President starting on July 1.

Economic Revolutions: Boomers to Millenials

By Toni Ryan, Princeton Captial

The Baby Boomers and the Millennials are two special generations. Their influence is worthy of evaluation especially because it is likely you will be interacting with both groups in some way in your daily life. Whether you work for a Baby Boomer or you’re trying to have a positive relationship with your kids (or grandkids), the trends and ideologies of these two groups of people are driving our social and economic structure.  Why? The Numbers – 82 million Millennials (born 1981 to 2001) and 77 million Boomers (born 1946 to 1964).
Baby Boomers were the generation that pushed revolutionary ideas in marriage, relationships, civil rights and social commentary. Millennials are the first generation to have computers in the home and classrooms, to have cell phones, instant messaging and hundreds of cable channels. The ease at which they use technology is the greatest difference between Millennials and every other generation.
Millennials have grown up very structured with very little free time. 60 Minutes stated that “It’s a generation in which rules seemed to have replaced rebellion, convention winning out over individualism and values are very traditional.” Confident and open to change, Millennials are on track to be the most educated generation in America.  Most millennials have Boomers as Parents.
How do each see the world?  Boomers are confident in themselves but have less faith in authority – Millennials are more trustworthy of authority and less of individuals - perhaps due to over-protective parents or terrorism. Boomers want a prestigious job title while Millennials want meaningful work. Boomers had controlling parents while Millennials had intrusive, hovering parents. Boomers were indulged as children while Millennials were protected. Boomers want freedom of expression while Millennials want structure and accountability.  Boomers resent oppression and want to attack it but Millennials crave community and social networks. Lastly, Boomers want to know what it all “means” while Millennials are curious to know how to “build” it to change the “wrong” in the world.
  At the core of these differences is the huge potential energy within the Millennials for achievement and the massive potential of the Boomers to mentor that energy.  Communication is the key.
To understand the uniqueness and similarities of these two groups of people, is to know how to succeed with your message.  Whether you are a business focusing marketing efforts for your product or service or just a person interacting at a social event, to understand the differences and similarities of these generations is to appreciate what is driving our society today.

Tips to Be More Positive

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Are you a “glass-half-full” or “glass-half-empty” type of person? Many of us want to be the first yet find ourselves passing through each day with the latter’s outlook. It can be difficult to channel positive energy in today’s world especially when everywhere we turn the bank account gets smaller, political fights are never ending and increasing acts of terrorism grace headlines. Many scientists point out that negativity is hard-wired in our brains because our ancestor’s survival instincts trained us to focus on any and all potential threats. Today, this translates into negative perspectives in which we identify situations and all of the ways they could go wrong. If a situation involves choosing whether to walk down a dark alley in a bad neighborhood, our negative outlook could be life-saving. If you are working on a project or trying something new and spend the entire time thinking of all of the ways it will go wrong, negativity will wreak havoc in your life.
According to Entrepreneur, being more positive affects your health (pessimistic people’s health tends to deteriorate more rapidly as they age) as well as your performance “on-the-job.” For example: optimistic sales people sold more products/services than their negative counterparts who were more likely to leave their job within a year.f you want to become more positive and enjoy your life day-by-day, you need to practice the skill of changing your thoughts.
Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania has conducted extensive research on the effects of positive/negative thinking. He has 3 ways to help train yourself into becoming more positive.

1. Separate Fact from Fiction - While our brains might be wired to notice potential threats, many negative thoughts are just that, thoughts not facts. He suggests that when you find yourself believing those negative thoughts, you should write them down. This will slow down the momentum of your negative thinking and help you see your thoughts clearly in black and white. If the statements you write down include words like “never, always, worst, etc.” they are inflated feelings versus facts. If, however, your statements still look like facts once you have them written down, take them to a friend or colleague you can trust to get feedback.

2. Identify a Positive - Once you’ve practiced writing down your negativity and getting rid of self-defeating thoughts, it’s time to teach your brain what to focus on instead. So if you find yourself slipping into negativity, consciously focus on a positive thought, memory or feeling. When life is going well, this is fairly easy. When life is giving you lemons, this might be a challenge. This is why it is important to practice and have a few “positive thoughts” at the ready. A key part to this is to be specific in your thought. Instead of thinking of being on vacation - think back to a great moment from your vacation last summer. Make the moment clear and vivid in your mind so you can easily remember your feelings of happiness. This will make it easier to focus on when it seems like your world is falling apart.

3. Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude - Beyond whether you believe in God or a higher power, taking time to contemplate what you’re grateful for physically reduces your stress hormone by 23 percent. Research conducted at UC Davis found that people who worked daily to cultivate gratitude experiences improved mood and energy with less anxiety.

So once again, whenever you find yourself experiencing negative thoughts, use this as a cue to shift into thinking about people and experiences that you are grateful for. It might be beneficial to create a habit of positive thinking by setting aside time every day (over your first cup of coffee or right before bed) to think about specific parts of your life that are good and gratitude generating. These three tips might sound very basic but their potential for training your mindset into a positive powerhouse is enormous. And besides, what have you got to lose...besides the negativity?

Meadow Vista Community Center Grand Opening

Faith Lutheran Summer Day Camp

Allergy Season is Here!

By Richard Peatman, Pharm.D., Meadow Vista Pharmacy

Runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, sneezing, clogged sinuses and ears, fatigue and trouble breathing.  Yes, it's allergy season for 1 in 5 Americans.  Allergies occur throughout the year, but springtime is the worst period for most sufferers.  The medical term for this condition is called allergic rhinitis and, while it isn't life threatening, it costs billions of dollars each year in treatment and time off work.  All this suffering is caused by molds, pollen or a few proteins from mites or animal dander.  These allergens in the air react with the immunoglobulin (IgE) in a person's blood stream, resulting in the symptoms of “spring fever”.
In some people, the allergic process can lead to more serious complications such as asthma, sinus infections and ear infections.  For those who are prone to these conditions, it is especially important to seek treatment from your medical provider.  Available OTC products include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal rinses, steroid and cromolyn spray and numerous alternative medical therapies.  Your doctor can help you discover the causes of your allergies and work with you on avoiding things that trigger attacks both inside and outside the home.  You may need to be referred to an allergist for testing and desensitization therapy.
When treating allergies, remember that it is a 24-hour process.  Medicine must be taken on a daily basis to thoroughly control the symptoms.  Gaps in treatment allow the allergens to start their work all over again.  For those who experience more serious complications of allergies, such as infections or asthma, consistent and aggressive treatment offers the best hope for preventing or minimizing the disease.
New therapies are now available from your medical provider and offer an alternative to desensitization shots.  One example is Oralair®, a tablet containing several pollen types.  When taken regularly, a person will develop tolerance to these pollens and greatly reduce their allergy symptoms.  Oral and injectable immunotherapy offers a promising approach to treatment and avoids the pain and inconvenience of allergy shots. Remember, early and regular treatment is the best approach to controlling allergy symptoms.
For more information on how you can treat your allergies, go to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at www.aafa.org.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Update

THANKS Meadow Vista Holiday Market for allowing The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbor's Club to set up and sell Sees Easter Candy in front of your store to all those generous community folks who either donated money or purchased candy.  As you may already know, we are a 501©(3) non-profit organization, operated for the purpose of providing aid, relief and assistance in all areas of community welfare, cultural improvement, and community service for Meadow Vista and its surrounding communities.
     Please visit our new website @ www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com to learn how you can join, how you can help, and how we help the community.  Our Club has been in existence since 1944.

Meadow Vista Lions Club Update

Thank you to those that attended our 2016 42nd Fundraiser Dinner.  Your support allows us to continue with our many community events.
Meadow Vista Area Lions Club upcoming events are:
• Mother's Day Breakfast at Sierra Hills School on Sunday, May 8, 2016, starting time is 7:30 a.m.   All Moms are FREE!
• Pioneer Day is Sunday, June 5, 2016, Lions will be cooking breakfast at Placer Hills Campus Cafeteria.  Starting  time to be announced at a later date.  
Come to a Lion's meeting at the Meadow Vista Grange Hall on the second and fourth Wednesday at 7 pm.

10 Credit Do's and Don'ts to Remember Prior to Getting a Mortgage Loan

By Toni Ryan, Princeton Capital

How can a fully approved loan get denied for funding after the borrower has signed loan docs? Simple, the underwriter pulls an updated credit report to verify that there hasn't been any new activity since original approval was issued, and the new findings kill the loan.
This generally won't happen in a 30 day time-frame, but borrowers should anticipate a new credit report being pulled if the time from an original credit report to funding is more than 60 days. Purchase transactions involving short sales or foreclosures tend to drag on for several months, so this approval / denial scenario is common.
Why this happens?
It's can be an ugly cycle where by the buyer receives an approval and thinks everything is OK so they make a credit impacting decision (buys new car, furniture, runs up credit card balance).
The lender's Funder pulls new credit report right before they fund the loan to check for changes. The Funder sees the new credit or larger balances and denies the loan.
What do you need to know?
In the hopes of stemming the senseless slaughter of perfectly acceptable loan approvals, check the “Ten Credit Do's and Don'ts” List below to help ensure a smoother loan process. These tips don't encompass everything a borrower can do prior to and after the Loan Pre-Approval process, however they're a good representation of the things that will most likely help or hurt an approval.

1.   DO continue making your mortgage or rent payments
2.   DO stay current on all accounts
3.   DO keep the balances on your credit cards at less than 35%
4.   DON'T make a major purchase (car, boat, big-screen TV, furniture, etc…)
5.   DON'T open a new credit card
6. DON'T close any credit card accounts
7.   DON'T open a new cell phone account
8. DON'T consolidate your debt onto 1 or 2 cards
9. DON'T pay off collections (especially old ones!)
10. DON'T take out a new loan

Follow these Do's and Don'ts for a smoother mortgage approval and funding process.
Just remember this simple tip: Wait until AFTER the loan closes for any major purchases, loans, consolidations, and new accounts and always consult your loan professional for advice before you make any changes.

5 Habits that Ruin Business Productivity

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Our lives (and our businesses) are run on a valuable commodity that runs in limited quantity...time! When time is money and family and stress and health (did I mention money?), it matters how we spend it. Productivity is maximizing the amount of time we have to create a valuable result. Take a moment to "learn" from these bad habits to keep your productivity running strong:

Habit #1 - Touching emails more than once
You’ve got mail! What you do with that new message matters. Open it. Read it. Act. The faster you can deal with the email message and file it away - the less time you will spend re-reading, re-thinking and re-adding it to your to-do list. If you don’t have time to “act” - don’t read the message until you can. This also keeps you from checking your messages constantly throughout the day.

Habit #2 - Meeting without an agenda
Whether this applies to a staff meeting, a follow-up with a client or meeting with a new prospect...you need a plan. This might be a goal, a formal agenda, or an outline but by the end of the meeting, you should be able to clearly identify if the meeting was successful. Make sure you also stick with a time limit. This keeps the meeting moving forward and allows you to stay on schedule.

Habit #3 - Letting Mistakes Go Unnoticed
Mistakes are going to happen which is okay because it’s part of risk taking. However making a mistake over and over is just bad business. It’s much better to take the time to acknowledge a mistake, identify a way to correct it and establish a go-forward plan than to wait it out. You will end up wasting more time making the mistake repeatedly than if you take the time to respond right after it happens.

Habit #4 - Allowing app distractions
In the world of smart phones and tablets, you are probably surrounded by apps. If you stick with the default settings (which allow alerts called push notifications) on these apps like social media, news, email and more then you are also encountering the constant flow of distractions. “A new message is waiting,” “Sally left a comment,” “You might enjoy this new article.” These alerts cause you to look at your phone/tablet and might even tempt you to stop what your doing and click. Make sure your notifications don’t make sound or buzz or remove them altogether. Check your apps when you want to - not when they want you to.

Habit #5 - Prioritizing everyone else
We’ve all heard the saying - “the customer is always right,” but if every time someone complains about something, you change your business plan or if you drop everything to meet a client whenever they call...you’ll end up ruining your business. Yes, you want clients to be happy but don’t sacrifice your business to literally make everyone happy. That’s impossible. Listen to what is being said and evaluate if the complaint is valid and should be fixed or if it’s just one person’s point of view. One bad review won’t kill your reputation like an inconsistent business strategy will. And if that client who calls you and wants to meet asap threatens to go to a competitor if you don’t comply - let them go. You can’t make everyone happy but you can certainly make yourself miserable trying to.

If you found that you have one or more of these habits - don’t worry. Take it one habit at a time and make 2016 ROCK!

Swedish Massage: The Basic Stress & Pain Relief Method

By Joel Curry, MSW, CMT, Pathways To Health

Swedish massage is gaining acceptance as a complementary treatment for many stress related symptoms. Studies have shown that massage can relax the body, decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce stress and depression. Swedish is used as symptomatic treatment for headache, facial pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, other chronic and acute conditions, and athletic injuries.
The specific techniques used in Swedish massage involve the application of long gliding strokes called effleurage.  Friction, and kneading and tapping movements on the soft tissues of the body are also used for deeper work.    
Oil or cream is used in Swedish to facilitate the sliding motion of most of the massage techniques that are used. The main massage stroke, effleurage, is a flowing motion that follows the shape of the muscle group being addressed.  The therapist's hands are open and most of the contact is with the flat of the hands. It is the move used mainly to calm and relax the receiver. When a therapists begins to work, he or she uses effleurage to apply oil over large areas and to generally check out areas of tightness.
When tightness and knots are encountered, the therapist may go a little deeper using Petri sage - a kneading motion that lifts, squeezes and rolls tissue to release muscle tension, improve blood flow and increase lymphatic drainage.
When more pressure is needed, the therapist uses friction, the stroke generally used in deep tissue massage. The  therapist uses body mechanics to apply pressure using  the flat of their hands and the pads of the thumbs, knuckles, fingers, or the back  of the forearms, and then releases the pressure slowly and gently. This movement should be a continuous sliding motion or a group of alternating circular motions.

Vibration is a technique used to release muscle tension in more delicate areas, such as those on the face or along the spine. To effect vibration, the massage therapist gently shakes or trembles the flesh with the hand or fingertips, then moves on to another spot and repeats this stroke.
Other movements usually employed in more vigorous, deep tissue work are tapping and percussion, called tapotement.  The therapists may form their hands into a cup shape and use chopping motions in quick succession.  The same motion can be used with the sides of the hands as well. Loose fist may be use to rapidly pummel large muscle groups of the thighs and buttocks.
Although most experienced massage therapist use a variety of bodywork methods, Swedish forms the basis of most of their work.

Meadow Vista Community Center Update

Should I Sell My Home Now or Wait Until Spring?

By Christine Schlittenhart, Sierra Pacific Real Estate

As with every decision in life, there are pros and cons, and choosing when to sell a home is no different. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding when to sell a home. Many homeowners believe selling a home during the winter months is not a good idea and that the spring is the only time a house should be sold. This is the furthest from the truth. Certainly most real estate markets across the United States experience a "spring market rush" every year. There is no doubt that the "spring market" is a great time to be selling and buying real estate, however, the winter season may be the best fit for you for many reasons.

Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home NOW may be a better decision than waiting until the spring:

Less Competition

We are currently experiencing limited inventory in our area.  One great reason to sell your home now and not wait until the spring market is there is sure to be less competition.  The fewer number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home. Not only will less competition increase the probability for showings, but it will also increase the probability that an offer will be received and you will get the maximum amount of money for your home.

Serious Buyers Are Out There

Homes are sold and bought 365 days a year, period!  Many homeowners believe that buyers aren't out there during the winter months. This simply is not the case. Serious buyers are always out there!  Some buyers may stop their home search because it is the fall or winter, but serious buyers will continue to look at homes, no matter what time of year it is.

Mortgage Rates Are Low

If you've read about real estate in the past year, it's likely you've read that the mortgage rates are still very low.  You also probably read that there is an expectation that the rates will increase very soon. Since mortgage rates are so low right now, buyers are able to afford more expensive homes.  Bottom line: take advantage of selling your home while the rates are this low.

Quicker Transactions

Right now, there are fewer real estate transactions than there will be in the spring.  The fewer number of transactions means the mortgage lenders have less loans to process, title companies have less closings to do, and home inspectors have fewer inspections to do.  All of these factors should lead to a quicker transaction and closing for all the parties involved.  One of the most frustrating things for a seller to deal with while selling their home is not getting answers in a reasonable amount of time. A quicker transaction is going to be less stress for you.

Conclusion?  NOW is the time to list your home for sale with one of your Meadow Vista Merchant Realtor members.

Protecting Yourself Against IRS Scams

Provided by J.C. Harrison, Simplified Business & Tax Service

The Internal Revenue Service receives thousands of reports each from taxpayers who receive suspicious emails, phone calls, faxes, notices claiming to be from the IRS. They fraudulently use IRS name or logo as a lure to make the communications as more authentic and enticing. The goal of these scamsknown as phishingis to trick you into revealing your personal and financial information. The scammers can then use your informationlike Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbersto commit identity theft or steal your money.
Here are five things the IRS wants you to know about phishing scams.
1.  The IRS never asks for detailed personal financial information like PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
2.  The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email request personal or financial information. If you receive an inquiry from someone claiming to be the IRS or directing you to another site:
  a. Do not reply to the message.
  b. Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code that   will infect your computer.
  c. Do not click on any links. If you clicked on links in a suspicious e-mail or  phishing website and entered confidential information, visit the IRS website and  enter the search term 'identity theft' for more information and resources to help.
3.  The address of the official IRS website is www.irs.gov. Do not be confused or misled by sites claiming to be the IRS but ending in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS but you suspect it is bogus, do not provide any personal information on the suspicious site and report it to the IRS.
4.  If you receive a phone call, fax or letter in the mail from an individual claiming to be from the IRS but suspect they are not an IRS employee, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to determine if the IRS has a legitimate need to contact you. Report any bogus correspondence. You can forward a suspicious email to phishing@irs.gov.
5.  You can help shut down these schemes and prevent others from being victimized. Details on how to report specific types of scams and what to do if you've been victimized are available at www.irs.gov. Click on “phishing” on the home page.

Meadow Vista Lions Club Update

Submitted by Etta Gross, MV Lions Club

A special Thank you to all who purchased See's Candies from us in front of Holiday Market and at True Value Hardware.  The proceeds will be shared equally between Sierra Reach Ministries Food Closet and Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club. We also appreciate those that attended the Tri-Tip & Shrimp Dinner on February 6th. This fundraiser helps to support many of our yearly community causes and we appreciate your help.
Mark your calendars for our up- coming events:
• Easter Egg Hunt, March 26 at  Placer Hills School play-yard (Soccer Field) begins at 10:00 a.m. SHARP!  The hunt is over within 10 minutes, so please arrive early.
• Mothers' Day Breakfast,  Sunday, May 8 at Sierra Hills School Auditorium. More information will be posted throughout town as we approach the dates.
We welcome potential members to join in our meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at the Grange Hall.  Meetings start at 7 p.m.  For additional information contact our Club President Ron Carmichael at 637-5805 or any Meadow Vista Area Lions member.  

Some Valentine's Day Facts

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.
Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.     (Information provided by History.com)