Here is something to think about coming in March, the Lodi Spring Wine Show.  If you lived in Legacy Estates in Lodi, California you would probably already know about this event.  You would also know about the premier wine grapes that are grown in Lodi, California and the wines that come from those grapes. Here is an opportunity to sample those wines at the 31st Annual Lodi Spring Wine Show held at the Lodi Grape Festival grounds.  The show runs from March 25th to the 26th and is open from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM each night in the Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion. More than 2500 people attend this event that features wine tasting from more than 40 of the local wineries.   If you enjoy wines this is an event you should not miss. Come to Lodi, California and look around.  You just may decide that L... 01/28/2011

The “Hunger Free and Health by 2020” summit held on January 27 at the Robert J Cabral Agricultural Center, is still looking for means to achieve their goal, but is taking steps to provide plans for building and rebuilding relationships in the drive to provide for the County’s poor and hungry.  Part of the goal is to pay particular attention to the “kind” of food donations received.  They are taking steps to provide for healthier food in their drives.  Another focus of the summit was to establish relationships in the local “distribution” communities to work together.  Major not-for-profits seem to “network” well together, but other smaller organizations like service clubs, communities of faith and small businesses are not as well organized.  Business Administrator for the Salvation Army... 01/28/2011

Friday's fotos...  Makes ya miss summer huh? This picture was taken at Tower Park Marina in the Californa Delta which is in Nothern CA...  It is in the City of Lodi.  I think the weather this day was in the 90's, so we were sooooooo ready to get the boat in the water.  Getting everyone on board and in the water can be like hearding cats... I  hope everyone has a great Friday! :) Chris 01/28/2011

An activity that is going to become more prevalent in real estate are the auctions held on the local county court house steps.  Now there are times that the name of something and its actual place of occurrence are different.  Well in this case these auctions are actually held on the court house steps. This is a pretty serious process where people’s property is being sold and some very large amounts of money, in the form of checks and sometimes cash, are being exchanged.  Seeing as how this is happening right on the steps of the county seat of government you would think that there would be procedures and standards of practice written with everything in triplicate tied up with a ribbon. Not the case interestingly enough. When I went to a recent auction and asked around about a written pr... 01/26/2011

Lodi, California a community in San Joaquin County in the premier grape growing area of the Central Valley of California is the place to be this February.  If you lived in Legacy Estates on the southern edge of the City of Lodi you would already know about the Wine and Chocolate Weekend coming on February 12th and 13th. Lodi, California extends a very cordial invitation for everyone to come and participate is this fun weekend.  This event takes place throughout the Lodi Wine community with over 40 participating wineries.  The festivities start on both Saturday and Sunday at 11 AM and go until 4 PM each day. During this popular and fun event you will travel from winery to winery sampling their wines, doing barrel tastings, taking cellar tours and oh yes, getting to taste amazing wine an... 01/25/2011

  Lodi Unified School District is requesting community input as the board considers cost cutting actions.  The reductions are needed as the expected State Budget cuts will have a direct impact on the District’s budget. It is widely expected that even if Governor Brown’s budget plan is approved, there will still be local cuts required.  There are a number of methods of getting community suggestions to the district:  email at breductionidea@lodiusd.net; complete at survey on the district’s website – click here; speak directly to the District at scheduled Budget Advisory Committee meetings (call 209-331-7002 for schedule and further information.) There seems to be little doubt that reductions will be required.  Here is an open invitation to be part of the solution!   If you may be conside... 01/25/2011

  So what would I do if I had an extra hour everyday … you know a 25 hour day?  I guess it would depend where the extra hour was located! How many times have we heard at the end of the day … “I’m almost done … I just need another hour?”  How many times have we thought … “I’m so tired … I just need another hour?” OK, maybe I’m the only one that says or thinks this … but for me it seems to ring true and does so frequently!  So I started to look at my time planning … or in some case the lack of time planning.  And I noticed that I would reduce some of my non-productive work time by as little as 5 minutes … I could add an extra hour to my day … well not actually an extra hour, but the use of an extra hour! So instead of stressing over deadlines that seem to approach all to fast … I’m going... 01/23/2011

Have you ever wanted to run your own railroad? Just north of Legacy Estates in Lodi, California, if you ever wanted to own a locomotive or run your own railroad, you will find just the place that you are looking for.  Okay, it is not a real locomotive or railroad but just as much fun.   Located appropriately across the street from the Lodi Train Depot is Roger’s Railroad Junction and Hobby at 105 S. Sacramento Street.  This is the place you will want to visit to find that special locomotive or even a complete railroad to own for yourself. When I walked in the front door I had to stop for a moment to take it all in.  I was amazed by the amount of railroad paraphernalia in Roger’s Railroad Junction and Hobby.  If it is railroad, it is there. Something else you will want to see is the ver... 01/21/2011

  The end panels on one of the Street Murals in Lodi, California represent the progression of the agricultural history of the community. In early 1900’s the major agricultural production was table grapes … a variety now known as Flames.  This grape is still grown in the Lodi area, but the production is less than 10% of the total acreage under vineyards’ plows.  Late last century, the growers of Lodi started becoming world renown with the production of the locale’s Zinfandel grapes.  By the middle of the first decade of this century, Lodi had become the Zinfandel capital of the world … accounting for over 40% of global production. The impact of the noble grape can be seen “everywhere” in Lodi … the names figuring importantly in the culture of both high schools, festivals and local commu... 01/21/2011

In Lodi, California in San Joaquin County in the Central Valley of California is the Hutchins Street Square, a performing arts theater, community, conference and senior center.  The Hutchins Street Square which is located to the North of Legacy Estates is one of the crown jewels of the City of Lodi. On Sunday February 13th at 4PM there will be a matinee performance of the 1940’s musical revue, IN THE MOOD, a celebration of Big Band Music.  The performance is a recreation of the big bands that were so prevalent during the 30s and 40s.  IN THE MOOD is a wonderful chance to experience the sounds, excitement and energy of the music from that era that was enjoyed by so many.  It was from the creative talents of those composers of that big band music that the roots of much of the music we ha... 01/21/2011

  From time to time I have noticed AR Icon Margaret Rome posts on various lunches that she and other AR members share shared.  She chats about the cuisine and camaraderie … and the impact of Active Rain on the lives and business of those sharing the repast. Today two friends, colleagues and former co-workers and I met for Lunch in beautiful downtown Lodi, California.  In between the sweet potato fries, extra crispy real fries, BBQ sauced bleu cheese burger, French dip and other assorted yummies at Moo Moo’s Burger Barn … we talked about life, real estate and ActiveRain … The first two were small talk … the main entree was ActiveRain. Susan Goulding and Christina O’Neal and I talked, smiled and laughed about some of the people we have come to “know” having met them on ActiveRain.  We sh... 01/20/2011

  Hey … it was nice outside today …. Sorta!  Nice enough anyway to take a drive … look at sites and ponder about this place called Lodi, California.  One of the “ponderings” was prompted by the street wall mural on the corner of Walnut and Schools Streets.  If you’ve followed any of my Lodi writings, you might have guessed by now that vineyards and wine are a major portion of the community’s economy and culture.  This mural depicts the early years of the industry … and the “working conditions” that surrounded those working in packing plants.  Please notice the sign … “no talking …”  Boy, have we come a long way … in both the working environment … and the WINE! The sign and parking lanes on the street … is a side note … to give you an idea of the size of the mural.  There are a bunch of... 01/19/2011

  Cheating! Is it an absolute bad idea?  Or does it depend on the situation, definition and circumstances? I often get caught up in “institutional mixed messages” – or as I define them … teaching one thing when the opposite better serves most situations. Please don’t misunderstand … this is not a position that condones “cheating” but it is a position that asks for rational reconsideration of the definition of “cheating.” As an example, the University of Virginia builds great credibility on its “honor system.”  Most of the written work being done by students has a required or implied pledge: “On my honor as a student, I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment.”  Jerry Harvey’s book “The Abilene Paradox” holds the position that the University’s focus is not uncommon … they... 01/18/2011

The Legacy Estates subdivision is located on the Southern edge of Lodi, California.  Lodi is known for the growing of premier grapes and the award winning wines that comes from those grapes. The community of Lodi, California is in San Joaquin County in the Central Valley of California. Legacy Estates in Lodi, California is made up of 217 units built between 2005 and 2007. Currently there is the following activity in Legacy Estates: * •·         Active Properties for Sale       4 •·         Active Short Sale Properties    4 •·         Average Days on Market        95 Days •·         Average Listing Price             $317,437 * Per MetroList MLS Prospector   •·         Pre-foreclosure Properties     4 •·         Bank Owned Properties         1 •·         Auction Properties               ... 01/18/2011

  Small business owners are usually more concerned about their business than they may be in running the business.  The passion and excitement of business ownership does not usually extend to the nuts and bolts of “managing the business.”  Real Estate agents are small business owners, and as individuals we can also be caught up in the “in the business” attitude and not spend as much time on managing our own businesses. Reaching out into our local small business communities is one way that we can expand our contacts and benefit from the networking that local businesses seem to enjoy more than their bigger corporate cousins.  Small business owners seem more willing to share their resources … corporate sees their resources as a competitive edge. There is a rising issue in both business wor... 01/17/2011

Located North of Legacy Estate is the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds at 413 East Lockeford Street in Lodi, California.  This community in San Joaquin County in the Central Valley of California is known for the growing of premier grapes and the wines that come from those grapes. With spring just around the corner, okay I am pushing it a bit, but I am ready for some warmer weather.  Anyway, spring is coming and it is time to start thinking about those home improvement projects you have wanted to do around the house.  Having said that, just where is a good place to go to get ideas and maybe pick up some materials for those projects?  You are in luck.  At the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds on Friday February 04, 2011 to Sunday February 06, 2011 there is the Lodi Home and Garden Show.  The show o... 01/17/2011

North and West from Legacy Estates in Lodi, California is the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.  There two uniquely different routes you can travel to get to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom from Legacy Estates.  One route is to go via Highway 12 which takes you from Lodi through the San Joaquin Delta and over bridges and waterways of the Delta.  On Highway 12 you will go through the towns of Rio Vista and Fairfield.  In Fairfield you will connect with West bound Interstate 80.   The other alternative is to go to Sacramento via Interstate 5 and then go West on Interstate 80.  Either route will get you to the park which is on the West side of Interstate 80 in Vallejo. The park has come a long way from its beginnings in 1968 as Marine World, a small oceanarium, in Redwoo... 01/15/2011

This is a new experience for me … the season of winter … is getting to me!  To be fair, I don’t usually even notice winter.  It’s not that there are not changes in the weather … it sometimes just is plain cold.  It’s not that am avoiding looking at the calendar.  Whatever  ... I noticed the other day that I was just getting impatient with the gray gloom, the wetness and the piercing chill.  So why now? At first I thought maybe it was just me getting older (there is that!) Then I thought, naw … I’ve been old for a long time … so why now?  Then this morning it hit me …. I am no longer in isolation with those that share my immediate weather with me.  ActiveRain (or from time to time it may be more apropos to say ActiveSnow) has me involved with people from all over the nation daily …. Not... 01/15/2011

– Success Stories from Preston Castle In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains East of Legacy Estates in Lodi, California is the historic town of Ione (pronounced “eye-OWN), California an important supply center during the Gold Rush of 1849. The drive East from San Joaquin County into Amador County will take you through the historic countryside that witnessed that moment in history during the Gold Rush of 1849. I have talked about the haunting of the Preston School of Industry (1889 to 1960), also known as Preston Castle.  What I want to tell you about now are some of the former wards of the Preston School of Industry that went from there to doing something special with their lives.   Some you will recognize and some you will not.  There is a sprinkling of famous writers, musici... 01/14/2011

  So what do you do when the art work is so small that you can’t read what you want people to see? Answer:  Expand your technological applications: Recently I posted a bit about one of my favorite restaurants in Lodi.  I included some of their “art” and a pictures of one of the dishes I like best (  … that’s OK, it MY blog post!)  I even took a photograph of the menu!  When I went to add it to the post … it was far from readable.  So, I just omitted it from the publication. One of my excellent admin folks, Kathy Quinn, solved the problem for me using an “FTP” (like I know what that is) … a File Transfer Protocol – a service that our IT email-provider make available to us.  So using magic, smoke, mirrors … and a little FTP dust … click here to see that menu! Thanks Kathy … and I’m going... 01/13/2011