December 26th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

The stockings are no longer hung by the chimney with care and you may be thinking of disposing that Christmas Tree.  There are lots of options to recycle your tree in Marin, from curbside pickup to drop-off locations. The Marin Hazardous and Solid Waste JPA provides this information about Marin Christmas Tree recycling.

Marin County Curbside Christmas Tree Collection

Marin Sanitary Service

For Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Las Gallinas Valley,  Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Fairfax and Ross Valley (Sleepy Hollow and Oak Manor) trees will be collected at the curb on your regular yard waste pickup day during the month of January.  If trees are greater than 6 feet in length, please cut them in half.  Remove all metal stands, plastic tree bags,and ornaments.  Flocked trees will not be accepted.

Mill Valley Refuse

For Almonte, Alto, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Homestead, Strawberry, & Tiburon put trees out on the curb
on any regular greenwaste collection day, starting the week after New Year’s.  Trees taller than 5 feet in length must be cut in half.  Flocked trees are OK.  All apartment building tenants should contact their manager. They will set up one day for all Christmas tree collection.

Novato Disposal

During the week of January 11th customers may place whole trees at the curb the night before their regular collection day. Additionally, trees may be cut to fit inside your yard waste container for collection on your regular service day.  Remove all lights, tinsel ornaments and stands. Flocked trees will not be collected.

Sausalito/Marin City

Bay Cities Refuse customers in Sausalito can put trees at the curb on your regular greenwaste pickup day January 4th through 8th or January 18th through 22rd.  Customers in Marin City can put trees at the curb on your regular green waste pickup day January 8th and January 22nd. No metal stands or flocked trees and remove all ornaments.

Redwood Empire Disposal

For Bolinas, Forrest Knolls, Inverness, Marshall, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo, Stinson Beach, West Marin and Woodacre cut trees to fit inside your yard waste container. Remove all lights, tinsel ornaments and stands. Flocked trees will not be collected.

Tamalpais CSD

Cut trees into pieces no longer than 2 feet in length and 2 feet wide and place trees in your green waste cart on regular green waste collection day for free pick up.  You may also place your tree curbside the week of January 4th – 8th.  After January 8th, there will be a $15.00 fee for tree pickup.

Marin County Christmas Tree Drop-Off Locations

Kentfield: January 2nd through 14th, Parking Lot #12 (south of gym), College of Marin

Larkspur: January 2nd through 14th, Piper Park, 250 Doherty Drive
January 2nd through 14th, Fire Station, 15 Barry Rd. Niven Park, Drakes Landing Road

Marinwood: January 2nd through 14th, Marinwood Fire Station, 777 Miller Creek Road.-Fire House. Flocked Trees and trees with wooden stands in place will not be accepted.

Novato: Take your whole tree to the San Marin High School parking lot December 26-27, January 2-3 and 9-10 from 9 am – 5 pm only. The High School asks for a $5 donation ($10 for flocked trees) which helps fund Safe Grad Night, San Marin’s Safe & Sober Party for graduating seniors. You may schedule a pick-up at your door for a $10 fee ($20 for flocked). Call 899-9223 to schedule an appointment.

Point Reyes: December 26th-January 12th, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.  4th & B Streets.-Fire House. Flocked Trees and trees with wooden stands in place will not be accepted.

Ross: January 2nd through 14th, Marin Art & Garden Center (across from fire station).

San Rafael: Fire Stations January 2nd through 14th:

• 210 3rd St. (3rd & Union)
•  Pickleweed Community Center (Canal Area)
• 3530 Civic Center Dr. (Civic Center)
• 955 Point San Pedro Road (Glenwood Area)
• Manuel T. Freitas Parkway & Del Ganado (Scotty’s Market Parking Lot)
•  Marin Resource Recovery Center During the month of January, 2 trees per customer accepted free of charge.
(There will be a charge for flocked trees.)

Sausalito: Trees can be dropped off at the recycling area behind the old
bus barn on Coloma Street (Old Martin Luther King School
property) until January 15th.

Stinson/Bolinas: Trees can be dropped off at Bolinas-Stinson Recovery Park, 25 Olema Bolinas Rd. Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm. No flocked trees, tinsel, ornaments or stands will be accepted.

Tam CSD: Bring your tree to the Tamalpais Valley Community Center parking lot and leave it next to the mulch piles no later than January 30th.

Tomales: December 26h-January 12th, 8:00am-5:00pm. 599 Dillon Beach Rd.-Fire House.  Flocked Trees and trees with wooden stands in place will not be accepted.

Woodacre: December 26th-January 12th, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. 33 Castle Rock Road.-Fire House.  Flocked Trees and trees with wooden stands in place will not be accepted.

December 9th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

It is unusually cold in the San Francisco.  I was excited about cuddling up next to the fire with a blanket but poor air quality has triggered an alert to Spare the Air in Marin.   News reports indicate the alert is on until noon Thursday.  What this means?  No fires (not even a Duraflame) in those bay area fireplaces.  The daily burn status can be found at www.sparetheair.org or by signing up for phone alerts at 1-800-430-1515.  Penalties for spare the air violations can be stiff – heed the alert.

November 20th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

Leaves falling and the crisp evening air makes me want to light a fire in my fireplace.  There is nothing better than cuddling up next to a crackling fire, but unfortunately,  it is not always great for our air quality.

Courtesy of Steve Paluch

The Winter Spare the Air season runs through February 28, 2010. During this period, it is illegal to burn wood, pellets, or manufactured fire logs when a Winter Spare the Air Alert is issued.

How do you know?   You can get Winter Spare the Air Alerts at 1-877-4NO-BURN (1-877-466-2876).  Residents and businesses can also call this phone number to report wood smoke concerns in their area.

Sign up for automatic alerts via e-mail AirAlerts and automatic Phone Alerts.

Check before you burn.  The first violation you will receive a warning letter.  The second time around you could get fined $400.   Marin County tied Contra Costa County with the highest number of warning letters last year, don’t be one of them!

September 5th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

The 2009 Eichler Home Tour, Open Hearts, Open Homes is almost here!  Take a self-guided tour of approximately 10 Eichler homes in the Lucas Valley area of San Rafael in Marin County, California on Saturday, September 19th.  The Home Tour benefits Hospice by the Bay.  Reservation deadline for tickets is September 10.  Remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Eichler homes were designed in California Modern style by Joseph Eichler, famous for his modern architecture and open floorplans.

According to Wikipedia,

One of Eichler’s signature concepts was to “Bring the Outside In,” achieved via skylights and floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out on protected gardens, patios, and pools. The homes had numerous unorthodox features, including post-and-beam construction, concrete slab floors with integral radiant heating, sliding doors and cabinets, and a standard second bathroom. Later models introduced the famous Eichler atriums, an entrance foyer designed to further advance the Eichler concept of integrating outdoor and indoor spaces.

Open Hearts, Open Home Marin Eicheler Home Tour Details:

• When: Saturday, September 19th, 11-4pm
• Where: Lucas Valley, San Rafael, CA.  Registration at 1201 Idylberry Road, San Rafael
• Tickets: $50 each, includes tour, book signing and entertainment.  Luncheon Buffet $25
  
• Benefits: Hospice by the Bay.  Hospice By The Bay provides hospice and palliative care services for patients and their caregivers needing care and support during the final stages of life. Our team of compassionate and expertly trained professionals is dedicated to promoting wellness at the end of life, as well as preventing and treating distressing symptoms or conditions that might otherwise threaten the quality of life for patients and families
• More Information

September 4th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

Image courtesy of TracyShaun on Flickr

The Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Invitational is coming up on September 19th in Marin County.  The event benefits Warm Wishes, a San Rafael non-profit organization which creates street packs to keep bay area homeless keep warm during winter.  Warm Wishes volunteers distribute 5,000 “StreetPacks” or backpacks stuffed with new, warm gloves, scarves, hats, wool socks and rain ponchos to homeless men and women and children, living on the streets of the Bay Area.

Never played Bocce Ball? That is ok!  It is fun and it is easy.  Wikipedia has a definition that makes it all sound very complicated, it is not!  You pick your team of four, and you throw these fun round little balls down a lane.   There is even a practice session for those who want to get their game on!  Every time I play, I think I should play more.  Teams for the event must be picked by September 11th, so go ahead and register!

Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Invitational Details

• What: 2009 Bocce Ball Invitational
• When: Saturday, September 19th, 10:00 am
• Why: Proceeds to benefit Warm Wishes street packs for the street communities throughout the Bay Area!
• Tickets: Entry and Raffle Ticket Purchase form
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Donate: Your donations are tax deductible. Donate to Warm Wishes
• Info: www.warmwishes.org
• Questions: Please contact Mary@marinlink.org or 472-0211

Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Practice Date is Sunday, September 13, 12:00-2:00, refreshments will be served, Albert park, 5 – “B” Street, San Rafael.

September 3rd, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

Did you know over a million visitors have experienced the Sausalito Art Festival, which has been taking place in gorgeous Sausalito since 1952.

The contemporary art festival features more than 20,000 works of art including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media, and photography.

Sausalito Art Festival Schedule- Labor Day Weekend 2009

• Friday September 4th · 6:00pm · Preview Party
• Saturday September 5th · 9:00am – 6:00pm
• Sunday September 6th · 9:00am – 6:00pm
• Monday September 7th · 9:00am – 5:00pm

More Information:

• Website
• Preview Party Tickets: 415.331.1142
• Information: 415.331.3757

P.S. Take the ferry if you are coming from San Francisco- Marin traffic is expected to be a mess with the Bay Bridge closure

September 2nd, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

Just a reminder that traffic is likely to be a bear this coming weekend in Marin County.  The Bay Bridge is scheduled to close from Thursday at 8pm to 5am Tuesday.  Friday is probably going to be the biggest traffic mess when San Francisco commuters head  over the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge.  Add in Labor Day weekend travelers departing the city or heading to it and it could be ugly.  Officials are advising holiday travelers to leave Thursday instead of Friday.  To top it off, the Sausalito Art Festival takes place this weekend.  If you are heading into Marin for that- take the Golden Gate Ferry!

More info here.

Patience may be the name of the game, but if you don’t have to commute, don’t!

February 14th, 2009 By Ginger Wilcox

On Valentine’s Day, I thought I would share one of my true loves with you.  Every time I return home to the San Francisco Bay Area and Marin County, I am thankful for where I live.  It doesn’t matter where I have been, Marin County is my home and it has a beauty that is unparalleled- the San Francisco Bay, Mt. Tamalpais, the San Francisco skyline, the Pacific Ocean.

I love where I live!  Here is my postcard to you.  Enjoy the view!

A view of Marin County and the San Francisco Bay from the top of Mt. Tamalpais

November 29th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

1. AWESOME Interest Rates
2. Less Competition- you have a better chance of getting the home you want without feeling the pressure to bid against several other buyers (in most cases).
3. Reduced Home Prices- values have come down approximate 10-40% (depending on location) over the last 2-3 years. 2008 will see the first year over year price decline in Marin County since 1992. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a great asset at a discount.
4. Motivated sellers-for the first time in over a decade the buyer has the upper hand over the seller in (most) negotiations.
5. Top Notch Schools- The public and private schools in Marin are outstanding with test scores off the charts.
6. Fabulous Lifestyle -Marin is a wonderful place to live. The natural beauty is awe inspiring and we enjoy vast areas of protected open space for hiking, biking and gazing at, which is all free and part of the privilege of living in Marin.
7. Location, Location, Location- proximity to San Francisco, the wine country, the California coast and the Sierras.
8. Weather-  On Monday, the high in Chicago is expected to be 33 degrees and snowing.  In Marin, 65 and sunny.
9. Rent vs Own Gap Decreasing- The gap between what you pay for rent vs. what you pay to own is closer than it has been in years especially when taking tax breaks into consideration. The combination of increasing rents and declining property values has tilted the opportunity towards owning.
10. Timing is everything- Looking back throughout history the best time to buy any valuable asset is when the headlines are the bleakest. Buy when others aren’t.

November 25th, 2008 By StaceyFleece

The Federal Reserve just announced this morning that it would purchase $600 Billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities (often referred to as MBS) backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. This action is “being taken to reduce the cost and increase the availability of credit for the purchase of houses, which in turn should support housing markets and foster improved conditions in financial markets more generally,” said the statement from the Fed.

In plain English, the Fed is doing this to help increase availability of credit while lowering fixed mortgage rates. Secretary Paulson noted in his press conference this morning (which is still ongoing as I write this) that increased liquidity and lower rates in the housing market would go a long way toward stabilizing the economy. I couldn’t agree more!

In addition to purchasing the MBS debt, the Fed will set up a $200 Billion program to support consumer and small-business loans. This is specifically designed to create liquidity in the auto, small business and student loan markets.

This means consumers BIG opportunity to grab a lower rate RIGHT NOW…

The Fed’s move is already lowering mortgage rates this morning as the mortgage bonds are trading up over 100 basis points (note that prices and rates move in opposite directions…so a move UP in prices means a move DOWN in rates) which is significant. This is a GREAT opportunity for home buyers to take advantage of lower rates that we will see because of this historic move!

Stacey Fleece is a Mortgage Loan Consultant with Countrywide Home Loans in Mill Valley.