Meadow Vista Halloween Trick or Treat Trail

 

The Meadow Vista Merchants Trick or Treat Trail will be held in downtown Meadow Vista on Wednesday, October 31st from 3pm to 6pm. Children & Adults can visit the participating downtown merchants displaying this poster for a treat.

 

Trick or Treat Trail 2012 in Meadow Vista

 

The Meadow Vista Merchants Trick or Treat Trail will be held in downtown Meadow Vista on Wednesday, October 31st from 3pm to 6pm. Children & Adults can visit the participating downtown merchants displaying a pumpkin poster for a treat.

 

Kiwi's Shark Hunt Game Answers

 

Game Answers:

Bat - pg 4

Candy Corn - pg 15

Black Cat - pg 6

Cauldron - Back Cover

Pumpkin - pg 9

Skull - pg 3

Spider - pg 10

Shark - pg 14

5 Ways to Recession Proof Your Holiday

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Worried about funding your holidays because of the recession? Thinking about cutting back? While saving for the rainy day might be smart in a tough economy, it definitely doesn't make for a fun holiday season. Therefore, it's important to take action now and learn how to recession proof your holidays so you can enjoy them.
• Tip #1  Potluck your holiday meals - When getting together with family, friends or co-workers for holiday meals and parties, don't take on the burden of paying for the entire meal. Let your guests bring their favorite holiday dish. Make it fun by having a contest or making it a recipe swap.
• Tip #2  Raid the Local Dollar Store or Goodwill - You will be surprised by the kinds of holiday items they sell including wrapping paper, wreaths, ornaments, table runners and stocking stuffers. These small items can really add at major retailers so saving here can allow you to spend more on bigger presents for your loved ones.
• Tip #3  Cash in those Coupons - Stores like Safeway and Walgreens are really into giving out coupons that are based on your shopping habits. These could be printed on the bottom of your receipt or emailed to you so be sure to look before you shred. Stock up on dry goods as they go on sale ahead of time to spread out the expense of holiday meals and treats.
• Tip #4  Budget now, Enjoy later - Figure out what you plan on spending for gifts, parties and events now and figure out how much you need to save between now and then. Use this extra time to cut back on Starbucks trips, lunch outings, movies or excess purchases. The  .............money you save by cutting a few things over the next few weeks will add up and feel less like a sacrifice.
• Tip #5   Sell your junk on eBay - Ebay is like a garage sale that reaches every corner of the earth  someone might want your stuff! This is the perfect time to get rid of that stuff you keep but never use. You'll get the best bang for your buck if you do a little research to see if people are looking for your particular items by searching eBay. All the money you make can go towards funding your holidays or paying the credit card bills.
• Bonus Tip   Focus on the Positive of the Holidays - Whatever you do, don’t focus all of your thoughts on the negativity of the recession. Doing so will cause you needless worry and self sabotage. Approach any money saving efforts with a light heart. If you take them too seriously, it will make it feel like a “dreaded” chore. Spend time talking with your family and visualizing a happy holiday season so that everyone is working together. Prepare your kids and family members if there are gifts or parties you won’t be able to participate in or make it a group goal to save now to be able to enjoy later. Good Luck (You can do it!)

The Switchback Challenge Race 2012

The Switchback Challenge race will be taking place on Saturday, October 13, 2012 with all proceeds going towards the Meadow Vista Community Center. Event registration is at 7:00 am and race time begins at 9:00 am. at the parking lot of the Foothill Christian Fellowship on Surgarpine Road just off of Placer Hills Road. This year’s race is designed to coincide with the Oktoberfest taking place in downtown Meadow Vista that evening.

With challenges being issued to the CHP Team winners of last year’s Silver Cup Trophy, Placer High School Cross Country Team believes they will relive the law enforcement agency of the coveted award. Cheerleaders from Bear River High School have allegedly challenged the Cheer team from Colfax and rumors continue to stir the foothills with challenges being issued daily to various law enforcement teams and athletic teams, including Colfax Varsity Football Players, as the excitement builds.

“This course is my favorite training run. Think of it as a 10K on steroids, clearly brutal if you race it but pleasant and remarkably scenic if you take your time,” said Dr. Gordon Ainsleigh DC, age 64, Founder of the Western States 100 mile run.
The course is nestled in the Sierra Foothills, featuring 6.6 miles of a variety of topography ranging from gently rolling hills to 3 steep hills. The race course itself has been set up to be 100% trail course with the exception of the first and last 200 meters. In a unique twist, event organizer's are changing the direction of the run to be in the clockwise direction.

On-line registration is encouraged with categories for Adult Run/Walk, Under 18 Run/Walk and seniors, age 55+, Run/walk. Standard entry does include gender specific Sport Tec or similar athletic short sleeved sport t-shirt, commemorative bib number, finishers ribbon and eligibility for awards. In line with the events credo, taken from Romans, “We rejoice in our suffering knowing that suffering produces endurance and produces character.”
Together let’s get the Meadow Vista Community Center finished that is the result we want to produce! If you would like to donation please make check payable to Switchback Challenge- MVCC, P.O. Box 598, Meadow Vista California 95722. For more information and specific details please visit http://switchbackchallenge.com/

The Silver Switchback Challenge Trophy

John Arrabit on Sugar Pine Mountain Trail, Event Organizer and member of last years winning team. Will 2012 be the year that the coveted Trophy will go to another team, say Placer County Sheriff's Department - come out to cheer your team on!

Mortgage Trends: Rates Going Lower?

By Toni Ryan, First Priority Financial

Rates are low and there are many programs to allow homeowners the opportunity to lower their monthly payments and buyers to buy homes.  So that's good right?  Yes, but be prepared to spend some time to get the rate you want especially if you are refinancing.
 You are not alone, many borrowers are trying to accomplish their dream of a rate in the 3+% range  lenders, title companies, appraisers, inspectors, etc are all busy.  It is important to note that the priority is to close the loan for a purchase above the loan for a refinance.  Having said that, many of the low rate lenders are quoting 20 day turnaround  times  that is 20 business days.  The file must be complete and have the finished appraisal to be submitted.  Turn times change daily as the work load changes so be patient.
 The fear is often that rates will increase and one will “miss out”.  Most experts are predicting lower rates or no change in rates until mid 2013.  Often times, files placed in underwriting are seeing lower rates than they would have, if they had locked loans at two to three weeks ago so “time is on their side”.
 It is important to note the trends over the years.  Just like gas prices go up right before Memorial Day and Labor Day, rates go down in the fall and early winter.  The best advice  Now is the time to complete the loan file to be prepared to take advantage of the trends as well as the daily lows that occur each week.  Good things come to those who are patient and observant.

News from Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

It’s that time of year again.  Your Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club (TMVFNC) will be at work on Saturday, November 10, 2012 with a Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket Program.  The Meadow Vista Lions will be doing the cooking of those delicious pancakes, sausage and eggs.  All proceeds will be used for the Meadow Vista Christmas Baskets.  The surrounding communities of Applegate, Clipper Gap, Christian Valley and Weimar are included with Meadow Vista for this Christmas Basket Program. Donation of cash, canned food or a new toy will be happily accepted at this Pancake Breakfast event.   A suggested amount or value of $5 in exchange for a breakfast plate would be greatly appreciated to support the Meadow Vista Christmas Baskets.   Come visits your neighbor plus help those neighbors that need some assistances during the Christmas holiday.

Here is how the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket program works; families that are in need will complete an application.  Starting in October applications can be picked up at the local post offices and bulletin boards throughout the communities and various other ways.  The completed application is mailed to TMVFNC, P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA 95722 to begin registration.  Another way is families in need, or should you know of a family in need, may call Etta Gross at (530) 637.5359 to register for the Christmas Basket Program.

Thanks to the community and Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista, every child signed up will receive a gift to open on Christmas.  This happens by residents selecting an ornament from the basket at Wells Fargo.  The ornament will have the child’s gender and age.  Once you have purchased, wrapped your donation with the ornament attached, please return the package to Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista by December 10, 2012. 

Along with a present for a child there will be food baskets containing items for Christmas Dinner and other donated canned food.  Our goal is to supply enough food to last for two weeks during the Holiday season.  This allows the children in the household food during the school Holiday break.  Cash donations assist us in purchasing large quantities of canned foods, fresh vegetables, and other items to complete Christmas Dinner and fill in where the donated canned foods may need some additional support. 

The assembling of the food baskets will take place at Sierra Hills School auditorium on December 14, 2012 starting at 4:30 p.m.  Please note this is a new start time!  WE invite you to come see how the community works together on helping their neighbors that are having difficulties during the holiday season.  Once you have helped with food box assembling, it really gives you the feeling of what Christmas is ALL about. 

If you would like to financially support the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket Program, check payable to The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club (or TMVFNC) should be mailed to P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722. 

For more information please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359, or Gerry Hinkle at (530) 878-6117.  

THANK YOU Community for year after year of making this event so SUCCESSFUL!