Although another Christmas has come and gone, there is still one more gift that you can give. That is the gift of recycling. So, Reno , please green your Christmas Tree.
Recycling has become an important part of our daily lives and is an important part of Christmas giving. 
Recycling is a gift to yourself as well as others.
You can recycle your Christmas tree from now through January 11, 2009. Reno residents can take their unadorned (please remove all lights and decor) Christmas trees to Shadow Mountain Sports Complex in Sparks (Shadow Lane entrance), Rancho San Rafael Regional Park near the entrance on Coleman Street in Reno or you may take your tree to Bartley Ranch Regional Park in Reno. Drop-off hours are for all locations is between 9 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., daily
If you will not be using the same decorations or if you are planning for new LED lights next year, please donate your old ornaments and lights to a local thrift store or non-profit organization rather than placing them in your trash bins.
For more information on local Christmas Tree recycling you can call 775.851.5185 or visit the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful website: http://www.ktmb.org/xmas.htm
Mortgage Interest Rates are Declining
As mortgage interest rates come down, mortgage applications have gone up. It looks like it is time to refinance! This is great news for homeowners who may have been struggling to pay their mortgages. Usually, there are closing costs associated with doing a refinance. You want to get the maximum benefit of those costs by locking in the lowest possible interest rate. If you are going to pay the closing costs, you want to get the most improvement on your mortgage payment in exchange.
Interest rates change without notice
Because mortgage interest rates come from the trading of mortgage backed securities, the interest rates change throughout the trading day in a similar way to the stock market ups and downs. If there is a high demand for mortgage backed securities, the yields on those securities come down and so do the mortgage interest rates. If none of the bond traders have buy orders for mortgage backed securities, those selling them have to increase their yields to make them more attractive to investors. When buyers of mortgage backed securities are scarce, our mortgage interest rates go up.
Tips for the best interest rate
· Set a rate target before you refinance. Based on the current interest rate you have and the cost to refinance, determine how much you need to improve your payment to make the costs of the refinance worthwhile.
· Ask your loan officer about their company's policy for locking an interest rate. Does that company offer the most current interest rates available throughout the day?
· Look for a lender who can offer you a float down option if the interest rates improve after you lock your rate, but before you complete your loan process.
· Make sure you lock for a long enough period of time. For example, if your lender needs 30 days to complete your loan process, do not lock your loan for 15 days. Make sure you lock for enough days to cover the lender's time frame.
· The sooner you close, the sooner you start saving money, so look for a lender who can perform quickly. Shorter lock periods are cheaper than longer lock periods.
Locking in the best interest rate is the key to a successful refinance. Right now rates are declining and it is an excellent time to lower your monthly mortgage payment.
About the Author:
Tiffini Anderson is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist for PrimeLending. She is often featured on the House Detective TV series and also does the Mortgage Market Update on Tuesday mornings for the Ross and Monica radio show 780am in Reno.
Lights are shinning throughout the City of Reno . Many of homes in Reno are decorated with bright shinny lights and fabulous lawn displays.
I have enjoyed driving through various Reno neighborhoods while showing homes to buyers this season. So, I thought I would suggest a Christmas Eve activity for your family. Make some hot chocolate and put it in a big thermos. Pop some popcorn. Put on your wintry Christmas attire and load up the car with the kids (or friends). Put a sing-a-long CD in the CD player and head on out for a tour of all the light displays in the city.
The Reno Gazette-Journal's website RGJ.com is currently displaying an interactive map of homes that have been decorated for the holidays. The time is short but you can still add your own home or recommend a home by Clicking here to submit an entry. Use this map to take the long way home and tune into Magic 95.5 to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays.
You will definitely want to put Hidden Valley 's Parade of Lights (southeast Reno) on your map. The Hidden Valley Parade of Lights is a 26-year tradition in Reno and is quite famous here among the locals. 
The neighborhood organized its own "Best Decorated Home" contest. The first place winner for this year was 3012 Clear Creek Drive, decorated by Brad and Amy Schler. Second Place winner was 113 Mia Vista Court decorated by David and Judy Roberts. Dave and Judy have been decorating their home for 40 years!
The Biggest Little Light Show can be enjoyed at Tanea Drive. Tanea Drive offers an awesome light display 
which is synchronized to music (just turn you car radio to 97.7). The creators of this display are also giving you the opportunity to share with others less fortunate this Christmas. ProjectXmas collects food which they deliver to the Evelyn's Outreach Community Center. They are also collecting clothing which will be donated to the MS society.
Outdoor Christmas decor delights us all but the effort and expense is not quite so delightful. Give back to the those who have given freely from their hearts and imagination in the form of Christmas light and lawn displays by taking the time to drive-by.
Charlene
Snowboard Candy Cane Race: Race your reindeer down the candy cane race course
Snowball Fight: who will win, you or the snowmen?
Elf Yourself: Upload a picture of you or someone you know, now watch as the familiar little elves entertain you with their Christmas dance
Today, we are experiencing our first big winter storm in the Reno-Tahoe area. The snowfall should give us a nice snow-pack for a beautiful white Christmas next week.
One of the advantages of living in America 's Adventure Place is our four-season weather. Our mild 
climate allows the Greater Reno area to experience all the advantages of each season without the extremes (cold or hot) that other areas in the nation have. The current snow storm is expected to deliver about two feet of snow to the local mountains and ski resorts, making skiers happy.
The disadvantage of living in an area which experiences snow storms is driving in it. The City of Reno 's road maintenance crews do a great job of keeping the roads clean and deiced, but there is a limit to what they can do in the middle of a big storm. As drivers, we must all remember to adapt to the driving conditions, slow down and drive carefully.
Here are a few safe driving tips:
Be safe everyone and enjoy your beautiful white Christmas in Reno.
Weather Related Sites:
Slip, slide or glide depends on your level of expertise, but no matter your ice skating abilities everyone has fun ice skating at Reno 's Rink on the River.
The Rink on the River has become one of Reno 's popular winter attractions 
for visitors and local residents. Even those who are not adventurous enough to join in with the skaters on the ice, enjoy the sport of spectator-ship. Occasionally everyone is treated to exhibition skating by local figures skaters.
Rink on The River offers group lessons for those who want to join in and improve their gliding while minimizing their slip and slide moments. You can register for lessons online at the City of Reno 's Rink on the River website. In addition to group lessons Rink on the River also offers special group reservations. Skate rental is also available at the Rink.
Rink on the River is located in downtown Reno next to the Truckee River , near the Virginia Street Bridge , at the corner of First and Virginia Streets. The rink will be open until February 22, 2009. Free parking is available at the Cal Neva garage next to City Hall. Street parking is allowed but spaces are hard to come by before 6.p.m.
Rink on the River opens daily, weather permitting, each weekday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the weekends. Because Reno experiences varied weather in the winter months, ice skating conditions are dependent on the weather. You should always call the Rink on the River Hotline (775.334.6268) to be sure that the rink will be open for skating before arriving at the rink.
Related Information:
City of Reno Rink on the River website
Group Reservations: Ice Rink Group Reservation Packet
Ice Skating Lessons: Ice Rink Skate Lesson Information
Admission Prices for Rink on the River
$6 adults (ages 13 - 54)
$4 youth (ages 3 - 12)
$4 seniors (ages 55+)
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