Kevin & Maryellen Garasky (KMG Mortgage Group - ID & WA)

GOOD NEWS: A side-project of mine makes it to the front page!

For those of you who have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that an organization named Community Roots is close to my heart. Besides just being started by my sister-in-law and a friend of hers, Community Roots is a non-profit group here in Coeur d'Alene that takes fresh produce and delivers it to local food banks, soup kitchens, and other emergency assistance facilities.

In the past 2 years, Community Roots has delivered over 7,000 POUNDS OF FOOD to people who need it.

Well, this past Saturday, a side project of mine, one that will partner with Community Roots to feed those in need, made it to the front page of the Local Section of the Coeur d'Alene Press.

Coeur d'Alene is going to have a community garden - called, A Shared Harvest. Several of us are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen, but this is how it is going to work:

• If you garden and want to grow fresh produce for you and your family (and lack the space to do it), you can sign up for a plot at A Shared Harvest.
• 50% of the yield from every plot will be donated back to the Coeur d'Alene community via Community Roots.
• Also, two beds will be designated, specifically, for Community Roots and 100% of the produce grown on those two beds will be given back.

Coeur d'Alene has an AMAZING network of food assistance facilities available and, being on the Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene, I get to see them at work. Their dedication to our community is enviable and we all benefit from their generosity.

So far we have a mountain of support from all across the community, including:

• Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene
• Panhandle Kiwanis Club
• Sorensen Elementary
• Coeur d'Alene High School
• Lake City High School
• City of Coeur d'Alene (presenting at town meeting tonight, live on TV)

But, the garden will be more than just a place to grow fruits and vegetables. Plans for the garden include a sensory garden for the seeing impaired, wheelchair accessible growing beds for those dependent on wheelchair assistance, and a shaded picnic area under four 100-year-old oak trees.

If you are interested in getting involved, please feel free to e-mail me via the link on this blog. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 26th.

If you are interested in learning more GOOD NEWS, please visit other entries in my blog...
or start one of your own!

Maryellen Garasky (in the photo above, sitting, red coat, lap top on my lap)
Mortgage Broker
KMG Mortgage Group
(208) 664-3600
(509) 638-3455
www.kmgmortgagegroup.com

GOOD NEWS: Royal Family Kids Camp in North Idaho

Like many of you, I am tired of the constant bombardment of the network media about how bad life is right now. So, I am doing something about it and I would like to encourage you to do the same. I am blogging for 30 days about POSITIVE things I see going on in my community. So far, I have been faithful to my calling and this is my 4th installment in the series.

But now, I'd like to introduce you to...

Royal Family Kids Camps

"Every year in our area, hundreds of children are removed from their homes and placed in the foster care system because of severe abuse and neglect, or even abandonment. For most of these children, they will lose hope, and feel as if their life has come to a deadend, even before it has begun.

A national organization, Royal Family Kids' Camp (RFKC) developed week-long camps for abused, neglected, and abandoned children who have been placed in foster care. For many of these children, their week at RFKC is the first time ever in their lives they have felt security, warmth, and love from dedicated adult caregivers. For them, it can be a life-changing experience.

Lake City Community Church has sponsored and operated such a camp for the past four years, and eagerly looks forward to its 5^thyear. When children arrive at RFKC they are assigned a caring counselor, along with a surrogate "grandma" and "grandpa" and "aunt" and "uncle." For many of these campers, this is their first experience of how a real family functions. They discover self-worth, and a feeling of success as they accomplish projects and make friends.

We would love for you to share this opportunity in serving these children with us. If you are interested, read on..."

I would like to encourage you to get involved in one way or another. If you live in North Idaho, please consider contacting RFKC to see how you can help. If you live elsewhere in our great nation, look for opportunities to serve those around you.

There is no better way to take your eyes off your current circumstances than to look into the eyes of a child.

Thank you...Maryellen

GOOD NEWS: Free Tax Help for Those Who Have Need

As some of you may know, I am on a crusade to write about one positive thing I see in my community for 30 days. Today is my 2nd installment.

This is not the first year that this service has been offered. But, with all the changes in the economy, paying for tax assistance might be prohibitive for many people this year. That's why I wanted to highlight this valuable service made by volunteers in and around the Coeur d'Alene area.

Assistance is provided by the AARP Tax-Aide, but serves low to moderate income taxpayers of any age. You don't have to be a member of AARP to use this service!

Shut-ins call: 667-4628 or 687-2028

What to bring: your social Security card (and those of your children), photo ID, last year's (2007) income tax return, and all your 2008 income documents (W2s, 1099s, etc.)

Maryellen Garasky
Mortgage Broker
KMG Mortgage Group
(208) 664-3600
(509) 638-3455
www.kmgmortgagegroup.com

Great Family Fun - Thursday nights in Hayden, Idaho

If you are looking for something to do with your kids on a Thursday night, consider going to Jump-A-Lot, Indoor Party Zone in Hayden.

Gabrielle and I discovered Jump-A-Lot last summer when we were looking for something to do, but wanted to get out of the heat. We were happy to learn a couple of weeks ago that Thursday night is family night and prices reduce to $3.95 (from the regular $7.00) per hour, per jumper.

Jump-A-Lot can be found at 10260 N. Taryne Street (on the East side of HWY 95 just North of Dakota Ave) in Hayden.

Kevin and Gabby went to Jump-A-Lot last week and it resulted in some GREAT action shots!

Maryellen Garasky
Mortgage Broker
KMG Mortgage Group
(208) 664-3600
(509) 638-3455
www.kmgmortgagegroup.com

HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION INFORMATION

Do you own a home in Idaho? If you are a resident of Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Hayden, Hayden Lake, or anywhere else in Kootenai County, don't forget to file for your homeowner's exemption before the deadline creeps up on you!

WHAT IS THE HOMEOWNER'S EXEMPTION?

• The Homeowners Exemption saves the property owner money on their property taxesand is an exemption provided by state law. The exemption deducts 1/2 of the assessed value of the buildings, up to a maximum of $104,471 or 50%, whichever is less. This rate is peridically changed.

WHO QUALIFY?

• A property owner who occupies the home as their primary residence and is an Idaho resident.

HOW DO YOU QUALIFY?

• You reside in Idaho for a majority of the year.
• A valid Idaho drivers license (if you drive)
• Vehicle is licensed in Idaho (if you own a vehicle)
• Registered Idaho voter (if you vote)

WHEN DO I FILE?

• On new construction the owner must apply within thirty (30) days of purchase.
• On existing homes the deadline for applying is April 15th of the year that you occupied the home.

WHERE DO I FILE?

• The Homeowners Exemption Applications are available, and must be filed in the Assessor's Office.

Kootenai County Assessor's Office
Administration Building
451 Government Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE

• Call the Assessor's Office at (208) 446-1500

Maryellen Garasky
Mortgage Broker
KMG Mortgage Group
(208) 664-3600
(509) 638-3455
www.kmgmortgagegroup.com