Santa Cruz has like many cities always had a healthy ideal, but getting everyone on the same page is difficult. Many know they should quit or not do things, but do so anyway.
So in SANTA CRUZ, Calif., starting Monday, a new smoking ban goes into effect that is fairly tough.
Smokers won't be allowed to light up within 25 feet of doors and windows of public buildings. - No smoking on the following streets: Pacific ( this is the Pacific Garden Mall), Beach street( by the boardwalk), and West Cliff as well as the wharf, parks, and outside dining. This will mean the Santa Cruz wharf will be free of butts which can, and do end up in the water, will be no more. Kids who loiter and smoke down by the boardwalk will have to go elsewhere or change their behavior.Yeah, I know good luck! Frankly I think the high taxes are the best disincentive and should be applied to alcohol too.
The law increases the required percentage of non-smoking hotel rooms in Santa Cruz from 75 percent to 90 percent, which is probably a good thing for hotel owners. If you're caught breaking the law, you'll face fines, which are pretty petty in cost. There will be a brief warning period, then it will cost you $25 if you're caught lighting up.
I think it is a good thing.There is clear evidence to second hand smoke leading to increased heart attacks. In the Santa Cruz Ca homes that I sell, the ones that had a smoker in them, sell for less and take longer to sell. So the cost is not only to the health of the occupant of the home, but to their financial health as well.
Smoking should be banned ourtright or have harsher penalties, but then there are plenty of other things that should be done differently from alcohol and marijuana in this country to medical drugs. That is enough to leave for another day.
So if you are thinking of buying a Santa Cruz condominium, downtown, you won't likely be put off from the purchase by the smell of smoke wafting up from the streets.
The Santa Cruz Yacht Club is hosting it's annual lighted boat parade in the Santa Cruz, Ca harbor. This event is fun for all and it a free event. As it is done at night, be sure to dress warmly,mittens and scarves.
I find that unless you bike there, to bring quarters to feed the meters. I would also advise you to bring a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate and maybe even an umbrella in case it rains. This fun event has boats all lit up in the spirit and colors of Christmas. Santa even comes down sometimes to view these beautiful lighted boats as they parade along Santa Cruz yacht harbor. Be sure to bring your camera for some great shots.
This fun local event is held at the Santa Cruz yacht harbor Saturday December 6th at 5:30. Come and have fun at the FREE local event.
If you want to come to an earlier event, the Tall Ships tour, Hawaiian Chieftan will be on display December 2nd -4th. This beautiful tall ship is pretty to just look at during the day. Check it out. 
If you decide the yacht harbor is where you want to be and want to look at Santa Cruz yacht harbor homes, it is a great place to live with it's own different flavor. If you want to watch with a comfortable location, Johnnys Harborside restaurant has great food or the Crowsnest where you can watch from the coctail bar upstairs.
Santa Cruz housing medians for August 2008 show interesting information versus a year ago. As we face new lending issues, it is more critical to have experienced agents and mortgage people guiding you through your purchases. Visit Woodward O'Connor mortgage for great service in this difficult lending environment.
The buyers seem extremely active in the Watsonville market, which is a good thing. Our ratio of affordability is pretty good there and many buyers who were frozen out of the previous market can now afford the prices, but find the lending environment is difficult.
With the meltdown of Wall street having a temporary setback, I think investor confidence going to be restored. To see some of these great deals on short sales and foreclosures go to www. propertyinsantacruz.com
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County/City/Area |
# Sold | August 2008 | August 2007 | % Change Yr-to-Yr |
| Santa Cruz County | 179 | $490,000 | $669,500 | -26.81% |
| Aptos | 24 | $757,500 | $832,000 | -8.95% |
| Ben Lomond | 7 | $435,000 | $595,000 | -26.95% |
| Boulder Creek | 6 | $352,500 | $408,500 | -13.71% |
| Capitola | 5 | $680,000 | $465,000 | 46.24% |
| Felton | 5 | $375,000 | $509,750 | -4.56% |
| Freedom | 3 | $375,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz | 56 | $627,000 | $655,000 | -4.27% |
| Scotts Valley | 16 | $827,500 | $792,500 | 4.42% |
| Soquel | 4 | $507,250 | $759,000 | -33.17% |
| Watsonville | 50 | $333.500 | $640,000 | -47.89% |
The 4th Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival is set for September 26th-28th this year. The festival will be held at the Watsonville Civic Plaza at 275 Main Street.
This event has guided tours of many of the lovely birding spots in Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz landscape is quite varied and there are diverse bird habitats from Davenport to Elkhorn Slough, Pajaro Dunes to Mountain habitats of Bonny Doon and Boulder Creek and Zayante.
The real estate market in Santa Cruz is not for the birds though. Time for more buyers to start families, and come to roost. Plenty of nesting habitats from Santa Cruz to the mountains of the San Lorenzo Valley to Rio Del Mar, to the farmlands of Corralitos and Watsonville. While the early birds get the worm usually, now the bold buyer gets to best selection in homes. Call Gregg at 831-818-7524 or visit his site at www.propertyinsantacruz.com.
This festival takes you through much of the fine Santa Cruz real estate that makes up our county. See the birds, and enjoy the landscape. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder of the binoculars. Visit their site for more information at www.montereybaybirding.org
The annual 2008 Capitola Art & Wine Festival is to be held September 6 and 7th. It runs daily from 10 AM until 6PM. This day at the beach in Capitola is a great way to spend the day.
This fun filled event has of course lots of good local wines and a nice display of the many talented artist that call Santa Cruz county home.
The esplanade is the seaside location of this event. Bring your walking shoes, sun screen, sweat shirts, and a great appetite for good food, wine and art. The entrance is free, but if you plan on drinking, these "tastes" will give you a sample of a wide variety of the wines of the central coast. The cost for a bracelet and a glass with 5 tickets is usually about $20. Most wines will be 3 tickets, so bring along money as it can be a fun and enjoyable to taste and walk around. Many will want to buy some of this great art,so they do take credit cards to this invitational event.
This event has live music all day long in a variety of styles. There is plenty of food and things to drink.
No dogs are allowed unless they are legal working dogs. So leave the pooch at home and come with a great attitude to experience this fun annual event. To see where the parking is located follow this link. If you decide you want to buy a beach home in Capitola, you can find me at www.propertyinsantacruz.com
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