Recently in Southern California Life Category

The magazine confirms what we already know, right? And while there is ongoing controversy about the validity of USNWR's rankings, we's still take the recognition.

Among the top 50 universities were six in Southern California: CalTech (#7), USC (#23), UCLA (#25). UCSD (#35), UCSB (#39) and UC Irvine (#41).

Six liberal arts colleges in their category's top 50: Pomona College (#6), Claremont Mckenna (#11), Harvey Mudd (#18), Scripps (#23), Occidental (#36) and Pitzer (#46).

Hmm, except for Occidental, the liberal arts colleges are all part of the Claremont Colleges.

New FTC rules aim to reduce confusion caused by credit services offering "free" credit reports that require consumers to purchase other services to obtain the reports.

By law, consumers are entitled to a free annual credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the only government authorized provider of the free reports.

Bring your unwanted TVs, computers, cell phones, etc, Sat. 2/20/10, 10am-3pm to:

The Von's Shopping Center
23381 Mulholland Hwy
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

More information.

Be sure to follow the link to check the accepted items before you haul it all the way over there. Open to residents of all cities.

Today's mail brought another official-looking letter from an entity called Homeowners Property Tax Board. The letter tells me it's likely that I can save over $1000/annually on property taxes if I send them $189.

It bears repeating: Never pay to have your property tax assessment reviewed.

• These companies are not the local tax assessor.
• Although the letter looks like property tax bills, the senders are not affililiated with or approved by any government agency (read the fine print).
• The county tax assessor will reassess value at no charge to you.

Go to the LA tax assesor's site to find out:

• if you qualify (we don't),
• if the city has already reviewed your property for a reduction, and,
• ahow to apply for a review if you think you do qualify.

Southern California home sales inch up; median price steady

October 13, 2009. Dataquick reported today that Southland home sales inched higher in September, boosted by late-closing summer sales, low mortgage rates and buyers hoping to get the federal tax credit that expires next month. The region's median sale price are lower than in September 2008 but, for the first time in years, several counties logged year-over-year gains in the median price paid for resale houses.

Last month 21,539 new and resale houses and condos sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties. That was up 0.2 percent from 21,502 in August and up 5.1 percent from 20,497 a year earlier, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.

September marked the 15th moninth in a row with a year-over-year sales gain, although last month's was the smallest of those increases. Sales for the month of September have averaged 24,873, ranging from a low of 12,455 in September 2007 to a high of 37,771 in 2003, based on DataQuick's statistics, which go back to 1988. Last month's sales were the highest for a September since 2006, when 24,195 sold.

From Dataquick

The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) Save the Dream Tour has will be at the Los Angeles Convention Center from now through Sept 28th with representatives from banks and lenders on hand to restructure loans.

NACA, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, has legally binding agreements with most banks and lenders, and are helping eligible homeowners reduce their interest rates to 4%, 3% and 2%. The services are free.

The first step is to go to NACA.com web site to register for the event. The site has information about what paperwork to bring with you.

Wedesday's Los Angeles Times had an article about the tour.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is offering $1 for every square foot of lawn replaced with drought resistant landscaping, up to $2000 for qualifying single family homes. But hurry, funds are being depleted quickly.

LADWP information,requirements and application.

Head off for Zuma Beach on the Calabasas Beach Bus. Operating Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays until August 22nd (closed July 4th), the Beach Bus offers various pickup points. These include: Calabasas High School, Calabasas Swim and Tennis Center, Round Meadow Elementary, Calabasas City Hall and Juan Bautista de Anza Park. The first bus leaves Calabasas starting at at 10am and the last bus leaves Zuma at 6:10pm. $1.00 each way, picture ID required. More information.

The data are out for May for home prices and sales. Here are the stats for Calabasas and Woodland Hills real estate:
91302: Calabasas Real Estate
Median sale price

• May 2007: $1,337,000


• May 2008: $1,205,000


• Change: -9%

• May 2007: 20


• May 2008: 11


• Change: -45.0%

• May 2007: $820,000


• May 2008: $630,000


• Change: -23.2%

• May 2007: 30


• May 2008: 25


• Change: -16.7%

• May 2007: $756,000


• May 2008: $689,500


• Change: -8.8%

• May 2007: 40


• May 2008: 27


• Change: -32.5%

Source: Dataquick Information Systems

Cherry blossoms, that is. The cherry trees are in bloom and it's a great time to reacquaint yourself with this treasure of a park. On a recent Sunday afternoon, it seemed as if everyone had a smile on their face. New parents showed off their infants in state-of-the-art strollers, families picknicked and barbequed, people worked on their tans, and dogs and their owners promenaded around the lake. The lake was alive with ducks, swans and pedal boaters, and fishermen dotted the shore. Lake Balboa, 6300 Balboa Blvd. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset.

The City of Calabasas is offering a free drive-thru flu shot clinic on Sat, Nov 3rd from 8:30am-11:00am. The clinic will be located at A.E. Wright Middle School. For a map, more information, and to download a consent form, go to http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/flu.html.

A tradition since 1961, the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest is a unique Southern California pleasure. Outgrowing its Topanga roots long ago, the event features over 100 contestants of all ages. As you stroll around the western town movie set, studded with oaks, you'll find musicians in every corner taking part in informal jam sessions. On the main stages, you'll see contestants and professional bands alike. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy. Fee. May 20, 9am-6pm at the Paramount Ranch. More info: http://topangabanjofiddle.org

Friday, February 16th, 7-9pm. The Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch). Information 310-454-1395 (ext 153). At the Victory Trailhead. Enjoy a ranger-led evening hike through oak-studded rolling hills and learn more about the evening sky. Rain cancels.

Southern California Home has a guest today, Joeann Fossland, Coach and founder of Web Women Giving Circle. Joeann is here to tell us more about the WWGC fundraising campaign to benefit CARE.

Web Women Giving Circle Founder Joeann Fossland steams into town on her historic whistle-stop virtual tour right here on Southern California Home Friday, December 22, 2006. Fossland will promote the Real Estate Premiums Package and the Shopping Alliance and Book Club for CARE. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.

Joeann has a fundraising goal of $100,000 and has already reached over $20,000...

December 15th, 7-9pm. The Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch). Information 310-454-1395 (ext 153). At the Victory Trailhead. Enjoy a ranger-led evening hike through oak-studded rolling hills and learn more about the evening sky. A telescope will be available.

If the San Fernando Valley was its own city, separate from Los Angeles, it would rank just behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston in population, according to the Los Angeles Times in an article published last week.

The LA Times reports today that a quick-witted kindergardner caught a California condor with his digital camera. Experts say that it may be the first sighting in a hundred years!

Sunday, November 5th, 10am-5pm. Join Main Street Canoga Park for their 6th annual festival. There will be altar displays, a classic car show, international foods, arts and crafts, sidewalk chalk art festival and live music. The Madrid Theatre will feature live perfomances including folkloric dance companies. free. More information.

Don't miss the school's annual Fall Festival! Come in costume and be prepared for lots of spooky fun! More information and times: 818.347.9220 or http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Woodland_Hills_EL/events.htm.

Thursday, October 19th from 11:30am until 2:30pm. Oxnard Street between Owensmouth and AMC Place in Warner Center. Sample food from Kate Mantilini, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Poquito Mas, Warner Center Marriott, Starbucks, Milano's, Maggiano's, Baja Bud's, and many more! Also, there will be a dunk tank featuring local firefighters, fire truck displays, and fun for the whole family.

This is a little off the blog topic, but I found a great program for managing the myriad of account numbers, passwords, user names that just seem to pile up. It's called Password Agent, by www.moonsoftware.com. You can use it for free with 25 or fewer passwords, or purchase the unlimited version $24.95. I'm not affiliated, I just think it's a great little program that has made my life a little simpler.

The Halloween Harvest Festival takes on a more sinister persona after dark as the FrightFair Scream Park comes to life, featuring: both the "Factory of Nightmares" Haunted House, Sinister Dreadfords Mansion of Lost Souls" Haunted House and the "Creatures of the Corn" Haunted Trail. Not for the faint of heart. Information. Corner of Desoto and Victory Blvd in Woodland Hills.

Through October 31st. Get lost in the Corn Maze, go on a hayride, find the perfect pumpkin and more! Climbing wall, bungee bounce, haunted trail. Corner of De Soto and Victory Blvd, in Woodland Hills, right near the Orange Line. Information and hours.

Have you taken a hike in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve yet? Formerly the Ahmanson Ranch, this pristine swath of 2,983 acres of rolling hills and oak woodlands was for years the source of a bitter fight as developers sought to build 3000 homes, a hotel, golf course and more. In 2003, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy bought it and now it's ours to hike, to ride moutain bikes and horses on. From West Hills, drive west on Victory Blvd until you reach the end. Parking at the trailhead. More information and other access points are available at lamountains.com.