Things to do in Alameda on April 15 and 16, 2017HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday April 15,  and Tuesday, April 18 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.  Splash into Spring at Crab Cove on Saturday, April 15 from 10:00 am to Noon.  All day activities to celebrate the coming of spring.  There will be an egg hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny.  Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Avenue in Alameda. Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, April 15, ... 04/14/2017

 Big Truck Bonanza in Alameda Who doesn’t love big trucks?  I do and on Saturday, April 8, from noon to 3:00 pm, you can play being a big truck driver, too.   This event is a collaboration with the Alameda Free Library, the Alameda Fire Department, the Alameda Police Department, the Alameda Public Works Department and Alameda Municipal Power.  The public is invited to explore many of the different city vehicles at the City Hall parking lot  There will be a fire truck, street sweeper, derrick digger, backhoe, bucket truck and patrol SUV for kids and their families to inspect and climb. The event is free but a a liability waiver is required.  Please call 510-747-7777 for more information.  The City parking lot is located between the Police Department and City Hall on Oak Street. And if yo... 04/07/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on April 1 and 2, 2017   Neptune Beach Walk to celebrate the amusement park’s opening its doors 100 years ago on March 31, 1917.  The walk will be lead by Dennis Evanosky and Eric Koss, publishers of the Alameda Sun and local historians.  Meet at the corner of Taylor Avenue and Webster Street on Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 am for a 2 hour walk. The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday April 1,  and Tuesday, April 4 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine. Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food tru... 03/31/2017

 Neptune Beach Walk to Celebrate the it’s 100th Anniversary   To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Neptune Beach’s opening Dennis Evanosky and Eric Kos will walk the historic grounds and tell us about Neptune Beach’s history on Saturday, April 1, 2017. Neptune Beach opened on March 31, 1917 near what is now Crab Cove and Crown Memorial State Beach.  The Beach, dubbed the “Coney Island of the West” was a popular playground which attracted visitors from San Francisco and surrounding areas.    During the walk Dennis and Eric, who are publishers of the Alameda Sun and local historian, will tell us about the founder and all the exciting details of the entertaining landmark. The walk begins at the corner of Taylor Avenue and Webster Street where the guys will tell us about the Palace Brew... 03/31/2017

 The 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid  Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, an Alameda native son, was the Commander of the raid on Japan on April 18, 1942 by 16 B-25 American bombers. The bombers took off from the U.S.S. Hornet at about 750 miles east of Japan where they struck factories and other industrial targets in six Japanese cities. The raid had little effect on Japan’s military or industrial capabilities and America lost seven men and four others spent the rest of the war in POW camps   But the raid had a devastating effect on the confidence of the Japanese people and its leaders and was a much needed morale booster for Americans. The raid and complex preparation are described in fascinating detail in the Air Force Magazine, April/May 2017 issue. The Alameda Naval Air Mus... 03/31/2017

 PEERS April Fool's Day Ball   The PEERS folks are at it again, offering delightful dances and the chance to dress up in vintage clothing.   This time they are celebrating Galavant’s April Fool's Day Ball on Saturday, April 1, at the Alameda Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda. You’ll dance to English country dance music and actual Medieval and Renaissance music and more.  You are encourages to wear Medieval, Renaissance or Fantasy costume but not required to do so. Doors open at 6:30 pm and complimentary dance lessons are offered at 7:00. Tickets are $25.00 at the door.  The Period & Events Entertainment Re-Creation Society otherwise know as PEERS, offers the change to dress up and dance at the Park or in the Grand Ballroom of the Alameda Elks monthly. Mark your calendars ... 03/29/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on Saturday, March 18, 2017  A Flashlight Tour of the area of the USS Hornet usually closed to the public on Saturday, March 18 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.  You may meet one of the supposed ghosts famously occupying the Hornet.  Members pay $30.00, non-members pay $35.00. Please call 510-521-8448 for reservations.  The Hornet is located at 707 West Hornet Avenue in Alameda. The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday March 18,  and Tuesday, March 21 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.  Alameda South Shore ... 03/17/2017

 Made in Alameda - A Local Showcase of more than 20 local artists, investors and artisans will gather on Saturday, March 18 from Noon to 5:00 pm at the Alameda Main Library at 1550 Oak Street, in Alameda.  Hear Alameda creators talk about their new products and see lovely art.   The showcase will feature authors discussing their works, artists and their art and do-it-yourselfer’s who will provide workshops and information tables for the public.  Some participants may have items for sale. The event will be held in the Stafford Community Room.  Please call 510-747-7713 for more information.  Made in Alameda is part of Alameda’s initiative “Love all things Alameda.”  This initiative recognizes all the exciting, positive and inspiring things that are happening in Alameda. Throughout this ca... 03/17/2017

 Alameda Point Antiques Faire on Sunday, March 12, 2017  I want to introduce you to the city where I live - Alameda California.  It's a city boasting beautiful Victorians, Craftsman, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and mid-century homes.  It's a community with a diverse population and a small town feel.  It's a great place to call home.  Plus it's an island with beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay, the Oakland Hills, San Francisco and the Bay Bridge.  There are lots of things to do in Alameda.  But one of the most popular event is held on the first Sunday of every month.  The Alameda Point Antiques Faire at the old Naval Air Base, now called Alameda Point.  The Antiques Faire is the largest antiques show in Northern California with over 800 dealers. The Faire starts at 6 am and goes on unti... 03/11/2017

The Median Sale Price for homes in Alameda during February was $935,000 with the highest number of units sold in the $1M-$1.49M price range. The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home. If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.com You can also call me on my cell at 510-919-5741 for a more personal conversation. I would love the opportunity to earn your business. 03/10/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on March 11 and 12, 2017 The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday March 11,  and Tuesday, March 14 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.  Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, March 11, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot in front of Petco.   Crab Cove for Family Nature Fun Hour features “Fish Fun”.  Explore the finned, gilled and under water world on Saturday, March 11, at 2:00 pm,  then see what is going on new at the Vis... 03/10/2017

Pleasanton, CA, March 09, 2017 – VirtualTourCafe, a nationally recognized leader in real estate virtual tours announced today the new EZ-AutoTour™ for hands-free creation of a marketing suite for real estate agents and brokers, including a virtual tour, print flyer, video tour, and more, all done without any agent interaction… hands free!  VirtualTourCafe has been known for their slogan “Real Estate Marketing Just Got Easier” and this new feature is a great example of delivering on their promise to help real estate agents, brokers and associations be more successful marketers while spending less time on technology. “Our members want an easy to use tool to create virtual tours and to help them market their properties, and VirtualTourCafe has been providing this tool for the past three ye... 03/09/2017

   Island City Opera present the opera Don Quichotte an adaption of Cervantes’ Don Quixote by Jules Massenet on on March 1, 3, 5 10 and 12.  The French opera is the story of a chivalrous knight and his love for a shallow young woman and his quest to find the thieves who stole her jewelry and restore the jewelry to Dulcinee. The comedy stars Buffy Bagott as the lovely but shallow Dulcinee and Bill Pickersgil as the aging Don Quichotte which will be previewed on March 1 at 7:30p.  Opening night on Friday, March 3 at 7:30pm and on Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm.  There will be a Sunday Matinee on arch 5 at 2:00 pm and a closing matinee on Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 pm.  Tickets may be purchased at 510-263-8060 or Islandcityopera.org.  The Elks Lodge Ballroom will be the venue for the performa... 03/01/2017

Can you move a home from another site using the FHA 203k loan?I've always found it interesting to see a home going down the street on it's way to another site, just waiting for someone to throw out some dish water out the back door... lol , not reallyIn the case of moving a home from one site to another several things must be present to qualify for a 203k loan.1) The house being move must be on it's original foundation. It cannot have been moved already to a storage site while awaiting a lot to move it to.2) HUD engineering must observe the home on the present site prior to the move and at the new location once sit & bolted on the new foundation.3) The mover's insurance must cover the home during the move. Looking at the contract this mover has it suggests the borrower is responsible fo... 02/25/2017

 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training 2017 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training in 2017 begins on Saturday, February 25.  The program provides free training to Alameda residents and people who work in Alameda so they may learn to be self-sufficient in a disaster. Class members will learn skills to enable them to provide emergency assistance to themselves, their families and neighbors.  Along with the training will come peace of mind.  If you know The basics of what to do when a disaster occurs you will feel you have more control. Captain Sharon Oliver There are six classes in the training including Personal Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation, Disaster Medical, Fire Suppression/Hazardous Materials, Disaster Search Techniques, Basic Incident Command System(ICS) a... 02/23/2017

 Alameda Theater Classic Movie Series, Winter/Spring 2017 Alameda Theater offers great current movies, movies for children and Friday talent shows.  But the best thing they offer are the Classic Movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Seeing classic films on the large screen is an awesome experience.  The winter series begins on February 21, 2017 and ends on May 10, 2017 You can purchase a package of eight classic movies for $40.00 .  No expiration date.  There is also a Classic Snack Pack for $4.50 which includes vintage packaging, popcorn, drink and candy. Here’s the lineup for this winter/spring: Singin’ in the Rain on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22  starring Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor (1952). Rio Bravo on Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday, March 1 st... 02/20/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on February 18 and 19, 2017  Flashlight Tour of the USS Hornet’s areas usually closed to the public on Saturday, February 18 at 8:30 am to 11:30 am. The Hornet Museum is located at 707 West Hornet Avenue in Alameda.  Fee for non-members is $35.00 and $30.00 for members. Registration is required at 510-521-8448. Birdwalk by the Bay on Saturday, February 18 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.  The walk starts at Crab Cove Visitor’s Center at 1252 McKay Avenue, then participants will carpool to the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary.  You can borrow binoculars   The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday February 18,  and Tuesday, February 14 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  D... 02/17/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on February 11 and 12, 2017     The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday February 11,  and Tuesday, February 14 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine. Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, February 11, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot in front of Petco.  Mosaic for Beginners on Saturday, February 11  at Noon to 4 pm at Rhythmix Cultural Works.  Cost is $85 for one or $150 for two.  Rhythmix is at 2513 Blanding Avenue in A... 02/10/2017

 My Eight Ball is Ready for My Real Estate Predictions for 2017    Since I am no fortune teller I don’t have a crystal, but I do have an Eight-ball and it is predicting a few changes this year. The easiet prediction concerns interest rate which will go up.  I say it is an easy prediction because the feds have already raised the rates and have said that more rate increases are coming.  Hopefully, the interest rate increases will be gradual. Trump may make some changes in FHA loans which may affect buyers who depend on those loans.  According to the forbes.com Trump may also make other changes that will affect other areas of the real estate market.  During the campaign Trump proposes cutting the tax brackets to three: 12%, 25%, and 33%. He would eliminate Obamacare's 3.8% net investment i... 02/05/2017

 Things to do in Alameda on January 21 and 22, 2017 The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday January 21,  and Tuesday, January 24  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine. Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, January 21, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot in front of Petco.    The Island City Opera presents Don Pasquale by Donizetti on January 22 at 2:30 pm at the Alameda Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue.  Admission is $10 to $40, kids are free... 01/20/2017