Meadow Vista Lions Club News June

Submitted by Etta Gross

Thank you to those Moms and families that came to join the Mother’s Day Breakfast on May 14, 2017 at Sierra Hills School.
Our next Breakfast will be on Pioneer Day, Sunday June 4, 2017.  This breakfast is in partnership with the Cub/Boy Scout Troop 6 here in Meadow Vista.  The costs is $5 for when you pre-purchase tickets from any Cub/Boy Scout and $6 at the event.  Serving time will be 8 a.m. to 11 pm at Placer Hills Campus Cafeteria.  Menu will be eggs, sausage and pancakes along with refreshments.  We hope to see you all there!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 17, 2017 for the Meadow Vista Lions’ 3rd Annual Car Show in Meadow Vista Park.  The show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  There will be goodie bags and dash plaques for the first 100 registered cars.  Registration fee is $20 before June 11, 2017 or $25 after that date.  Spectators are FREE and WELCOME to come view the cars on display, enjoy breakfast, lunch and refreshments throughout the day.  Vendors will be there with a variety of different merchandise.  For information please contact Lion Greg at (530) 637-5359 or stop by True Value Hardware in Meadow Vista.
Please visit the Lions at the swimming pool this season.  We will be cooking up hot dogs and supply water and chips.  Exact date will be posted throughout town, so please look for the flyer…
Our website is www.meadowvistalions.com and email address meadowvistalionsclub@gmail.com

Meadow Vista Community Center Update

2016 Christmas in the Village

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.

Meadow Vista Community Center Grand Opening

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.  

Why do Customers Lie? How to Get them to Buy Instead

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Customers....we love 'em right? We're in business to deal with customers and clients (no customers = no business) but sometimes it can be frustrating figuring out exactly what they want. And just when we think we have our customers nailed down...they still don't buy! What's the deal?

• Problem: Customers...Lie!
Without sounding too harsh, ask a customer about pricing, competition, satisfaction and what they tell you...is probably not true. Why? As humans, we don't like confrontation and your customer is no different. Put someone on the spot and they are likely to give you the answer you want to hear. Most customers don't want to admit that your product is too expensive or that they like your competitor better or that your specials are on the products they don't need.  They won't say a word but they also won't buy or renew or upgrade. So what do we do?

•  Solution: Coach Your Staff (and Yourself) to Ask & LISTEN
We all know that when someone asks you, "how are you doing today?" - it's usually not an invitation to spill the beans on all of your problems. If you want to get real customer feedback, you need to ask the right questions - questions that require more than one word answers and invite honesty.  

• Have you tried this product before? Is there anything you would suggest to improve it?
• We've had some issues come up regarding [insert product or service] - what has your experience been? Any suggestions?
• I've heard that other companies offer [different product, service or guarantee] - does that kind of option influence your choice to buy?
• What is your #1 frustration with the [insert your industry]?

• Why it Works: Quantity = Trends = The Truth!
The more people you talk to, the more you're likely to notice a pattern. This truthful feedback can be used to increase your sales and conversion. Customers might not always be "right" but if you take the time to listen - they do have the "answers" you need.

2015 Real Estate Update

By Fred Eichenhofer, Sierra Pacific Real Estate

Last year was a very active year in real estate, sales slowing down somewhat towards the end of the year, but it is still a good real estate market.  It is a new year and it started out with a bang, activity picked up just after the first of the year.  I went to a California Association of Realtors Convention in October 2014 attending a luncheon where an economist spoke.  She said that prices have come down some, and activity has slowed, she didn't know if prices would continue to fall, her thoughts are they will probably remain stable, but in time we will know if lower prices would be a trend.
The challenge now is home affordability, inventory selection is still a problem for buyers, but should increase in 2015 since equity has gone up with the rise of prices, thus allowing homeowners that have wanted to move is now giving them the ability to put their home on the market which should increase inventory.
Interest rates are still low and have come down some in the last few weeks.  The Federal Reserve is talking about raising rates, so we don't know what this will do with real estate lending rates.
The real estate market should remain strong throughout 2015 provided the economy remains stable and interest rates remain low.
Factors that could hold back a recovery are, tight credit standards, lack of first time home buyers.
To maximize the value and price of a home, presentation is important.  It helps to have everything in place, clutter picked up and having good curb appeal.  It is best to have the home depersonalized, removing family photos, walls painted a neutral color, this allows the buyer to visualize their furnishings in the home.
Meadow Vista is usually a very stable real estate market, but is not immune from the ups and downs to the fluctuations of the real estate market in general.  Meadow Vista is a very desirable place to live and should hold values better than other areas.

Meadow Vista Community Center Update

Own a local business? Join the Meadow Vista Merchants

Not only will you get a discounted rate to advertise here in the View Magazine but you’ll get exclusive invitation to our Member & Sponsored Events!

• In April we hunted for Cash Filled Easter Eggs in True Value. Members and their spouses were invited.

• This month, we’re serving ice cream at Family Movie Night (see pg 3) and member businesses are invited to participate & sponsor the ice cream for added exposure.

• In August, we’re planning a Salsa Tasting Contest that will include more fun and ways to win.

• In October, we hand out candy to cowboys and princesses at Trick-or-Treat trail in downtown Meadow Vista

• In December, we host Christmas in the Village Scavenger Hunt that gets families out to your business for holiday fun.

We’d love to have you as a member! Learn more at MeadowVista.com

Local Calendar of Events in Meadow Vista

Oktoberfest 2013 Pictures

With over 500 people in attendance, the 8th Annual Oktoberfest event was a huge success and raised over $8,400 for the community center.  Meadow Vista residents & friends enjoyed good food, beer, a bonfire, live music and variety of other goodies throughout the evening. Special thanks to the 40 volunteers and numerous sponsors that made this year’s event possible. See you next year!

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Christmas Basket Program in 2013

It’s almost Christmas Time and the Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club is preparing already.  This year will bring us new challenges since our donation from Campbell Soup in prior years of over a ton of canned goods will NOT be available.  We are starting early to seek new donations and secure those annual ones from our community too. Every year our community Christmas Basket Project budget increases at a higher pace than our donations.  Last year we helped 125 households with 73 families with children.  Monetary donations are always greatly appreciated and may be mailed to TMVFNC, (P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722-0764.  Cash donations assist the club with allowing a greater buying power for food at the Placer Food Banks and other suppliers.  All donations are used in our community to help those in need.  Our community includes the surrounding towns of Applegate, Christian Valley, Clipper Gap and Weimar.
We will be hosting the annual Community Christmas Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Placer Hills School cafeteria, starting at 7:30 a.m. The Meadow Vista Lions will be cooking their delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes.  And of course coffee, tea, hot chocolate and orange juice will be available too! Last year's breakfast proceeds help to purchase half of the shoe gift cards we present to the teenagers in need at the Christmas Toy Basket program.  Pre-ticket sales for breakfast will start in October. Look for us outside of Holiday Market mid-October.

Ornaments with a child's gender and age will be available after November 12, 2013 at Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  Please return your wrapped present with an ornament attached to the package (Please confirm the gender and age are legible on the ornament). This is tremendously helpful for Santa's elves to know and ensures children will be receiving the appropriate present for their ages and gender.
On December 20, 2013, at Sierra Hills School, starting at 5 p.m., with the community's help the  assembling of the Christmas Food boxes for our community residents in need will begin.  This does give those helping to assembly the food boxes the true Christmas spirit.  Our goal is to have enough food to last for the two weeks of Christmas vacation from our local schools since some recipients' children are on the school lunch program.  
Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills Schools canned food drives will benefit this Christmas Food Basket program. We are very fortune to live in a community that does care for their neighbors. Thank you everyone for your financial, physical assistance and your donations of canned foods and toys!  This community Christmas Basket Food and Toy program's success is due to YOUR support.  
Any questions, please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359 or Gerry Hinkle at (530) 878-6117.We are a non-profit 501 c 3 organization and receipts for donations are available.  Please remember to consult your Tax Advisor for current tax deduction laws.

Wine Tasting Tips

By Bear River Winery

Going wine tasting?  Here are a few wine tasting tips for the sensory evaluation of wine.  Humans are the most sensitive sensory instrument there is for analyzing wine.  Most people prefer sweet white wines at first, finding the sometimes bitter flavors of red wines unpleasant.  As we become familiar with wine, we begin to perceive and appreciate the detail and complexity found in wine.
When tasting wine, it is helpful to break down the experience into several categories including appearance, aroma, taste and flavor (a combination of aroma and taste).  If you look at wine in natural light, white wines will appear light yellow but will darken to amber with age or oxidation.  Red wines are ruby red with a purple tinge when young but become somewhat browner with age or oxidation.  Intensity of color is related to grape variety and for red wine is also due to skin contact during fermentation.  Looking through the wine it should appear somewhat clear.  Cloudiness or haziness might be related to microbial spoilage but could also be from an unfiltered wine.  Swirling the wine in your glass with small circular motions will help to release the aromas of the wine.  You will see lines dripping down the inside of the glass commonly known as tears or legs due to the lower surface tension of alcohol compared to water.  Higher alcohol wines will show more legs.
After swirling the wine, place your nose into the top of the glass and breathe in deeply.  You will smell varietal and other complex aromas related to how the wine was processed and cellared. You will smell aromas ranging from fruity or spicy to floral or vegetable.  There might be earthy, woody or nutty odors.  Standardized aroma wheels are commonly found on the internet and can be helpful to describe what you sense.  Different noses will detect different aromas and everyone seems to describe wines a little differently.
When you taste wine, you may notice that your tongue really only senses four basic tastes consisting of sweet, sour, bitter or salty.  The sweet will be on the tip of your tongue while the sour will be on the sides and the bitter will be in the back.  The sweet taste comes from residual sugar while sour is from acid and bitter from tannins.  Astringency such as hotness from alcohol or mouth-feel from tannin is a sensation and not really a taste and both usually mellow with age.  As the wine hits the back of your mouth you will notice additional flavors from aromas traveling up through your nasal passages in your throat.  It is common to talk about lingering flavors after you swallow as the back end of the wine.  Have fun tasting.

Home Mortgage: Don't Ruin Your Finance Chances

By Toni Ryan, First Priority Financial

How can a fully approved loan get denied for funding after the borrower has signed loan docs? Simple! At the end of the transaction, 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 if closing in a 30 day time-frame, but borrowers should anticipate a new credit report being pulled if the amount of time from an original credit report to funding is more than 60 days.
To help ensure a smooth loan process, here are some credit Do's and Don'ts. These tips don't encompass everything a borrower can do prior to and after the Pre-Approval process, however they're a good representation of the things most likely to help or hurt an approval.
1. DO continue making your mortgage or rent payments
2. DO stay current on all accounts
3. DON'T make a major purchase (car, boat, big-screen TV, etc…)
4. DON'T open a new credit card
5. DON'T close any credit card accounts
6. DON'T open a new cell phone account
7. DON'T consolidate your debt onto 1 or 2 cards
8. DON'T pay off collections
9. DON'T take out a new loan
Keep in mind that the mortgage financing process has changed over the last few years and lenders have become more strict. When in doubt: Wait until AFTER the loan closes for any major purchases, loans, consolidations, and new accounts &  ALWAYS consult with your loan professional regarding advice and the strategy for closing your loan.

Join or Re-Join the MV Merchants!

It's that time of year again! We have loved having you as a member this past year and can't wait for you to rejoin.

Dues = $100 - Make checks out to MVMA and mail to PO Box 933, Meadow Vista, CA 95722

 

Were you a new member last year? You paid $100 when you joined so this year you only owe $8.33 x the # of months you weren't a member last year.

 

Example: If you joined in August 2012 then you owe...

$8.33 x 7 = $58.31 •  If you have questions call 530-878-8778

Dues are delinquent if not paid by February 28th and your information will be removed from the View and website directories.

 

Why???? Here are the Benefits of Being a Member

 

- Listing in the Directory of the View Magazine

- Option to advertise and submit articles in the View Magazine (bi-monthly publication that reaches 3300 residents in Meadow Vista & Applegate)

-Listing & backlink from MeadowVista.com

- Listing & Backlink from our online View Magazine Blog

- Contribute to community services & events that support shopping local

- Invitation to member events & networking opportunities

- Support small business in our community

 

Trick-or-Treat Trail Candids

 

 

PHEF: Press Release

The Placer Hills Education Foundation Grants $91,250 to

the Placer Hills School District!

The Placer Hills Education Foundation (PHEF) is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization that formed six years ago to build support and provide resources to preserve and enrich education in the Placer Hills School District which includes Sierra Hills School, Sierra Hills Arts and Science Charter School in Meadow Vista, Weimar Hills Elementary School and Weimar Hills Arts and Technology Charter School.  The 2011-2012 fundraising season proved to be the best yet.

Each year PHEF holds a dinner auction as their primary fundraiser.  This year the auction raised over $70,000 for the schools!  As part of the auction this year, SunPower© donated a residential solar system to be auctioned off for the schools.  In addition, the foundation was awarded a $5,000 grant from the United Auburn Indian Community to help support library services in the district.  Numerous donations from parents, community members and local businesses raised the total award to the schools to $91,250.  The largest grant PHEF has ever awarded to the Placer Hills Union School District.    In total, PHEF has raised half a million dollars for their school district since 1995!

The money granted to the school district this year will be used to support library services, technology and counseling programs in the district.  In the past, PHEF grants have supported art, music, physical education, field trips, new curriculum, computer software, hardware, art docent, and many other areas of education that most districts have seen suffer in the tight economy.

Meadow Vista History - 1967 Post Office

This was an article printed in December 1967 “Foothill Folks” assumed to be written by then postmaster, Cliff Ramos.

During 1967 the Post Office Department conducted an all out campaign to remind people of the importance of Zip Codes and to make the number readily available to every citizen.
 Today, Postmaster Cliff Ramos urges all residents of Meadow Vista to use the Zip Code they have added to their mailing lists on every piece of Christmas Mail.
 We expect more mail than ever before, Zip Code will be a key element if we are to efficiently handle the number of pieces of mail that will go through the Meadow Vista Post Office between now and Christmas. The Post Office is geared up to process this year's record breaking deluge of mail but public cooperation is necessary for our operation to be successful...Zip Codes can be obtained by phoning the Post Office.

Keeping Your Home Electrical Panel Safe for Your Home

By Chris Gilwee, Gilwee Electric

The last thing on anyone’s mind is their electrical panel and circuit breakers but a residential call I had last week made me think. My client's clothes dryer had stopped working. They had called an appliance repair man and he informed them that their problem was electrical so they called me. After testing the circuits, I needed to check for a faulty connection. I found a junction box under the house which had caught fire and melted the wiring. The joist near the junction box had been charred. The melted and burnt up wiring inside the junction box was still “energized”. The panel did not signal the problem - faulty equipment. The idea is this..... If you have a short circuit or an overload condition, you want your breaker to trip!   In some cases, breaker replacements are available for certain panels. Unfortunately, breakers can be costly as some panels are no longer made. If you have a Zinsco Panel, (You can identify these by noticing if your breakers are red, light blue and light green) we recommend a panel replacement. Go to.... www.ismypanelsafe.com for more information on Zinsco and FPE panels. 
HOMES BUILT 30 PLUS YEARS AGO NEED AN ELECTRICAL SERVICE INSPECTION. A CIRCUIT BREAKER AND PANEL UPGRADE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IF NECESSARY.
 

There have been some significant house fires in our area so I discussed this issue with the Fire Chief Ian Gow. “The two biggest causes of house fires in this area are fireplaces, chimney stacks and old electrical systems” Ian stated.
 “Unfortunately, chimney stacks and electrical systems in our homes are 'out of sight, out of mind'. People assume that they are O.K. until a fire starts on the roof or an electrical receptacle sparks when an appliance is plugged in. If people were more informed about the real dangers of their receptacles and circuit breakers being out of date, we would probably have a lot less house fires.”

Some things to consider for fire safety:
• If your home was built before 1980, have a licensed electrician inspect your panel and circuits.
• If you plug something in to an outlet and it feels loose or starts to fall out, replace the outlet.
• If your light switch slides rather than making a good mechanical “snap”, replace it. We recommend switch and outlet replacement for homes built before 1980.
• If the circuit breakers in your panel are loose or “slide” rather than “snap” on or off, these breakers are suspect and should be replaced.
Fire safety starts with prevention. A safe electrical system saves lives.