The leaves are beginning to fade into yellow on my Dogwood and Maple trees so I know football is just around the corner.
When my 3 guys were little, they couldn't wait to play football. They had seen pictures and football cards of their Grandpa when he had played and they were just chomping at the bit to suit up and get out on the field. Fortunately for them, Maple Valley has a very popular Junior Football Program, the Maple Valley Raiders which was established in 1978.
The Raiders program offers little guys the opportunity to play by age & weight class from as young as age 7. I will never forget the night my son Graham received his equipment and helmet for the first time...when I woke him up for school the next morning I saw he had slept with his helmet right next to his pillow! The program is pretty time intensive, but the kids have a great time. Last fall at a few of the Tahoma Bears Varsity games, the Raiders 89ers and Sweet Peas took the field at half-time to scrimmage under the lights. They were absolutely adorable!
Ultimately my guys turned out to be too big for their age groups (they would have had to play "up" against boys who were years older) so they didn't play many years with the program, but we have many fond memories of watching them out on the field at the old Jr. High.
The Maple Valley Raiders Cheerleading program is also very popular and runs concurrently with the football program.
In case you'd like to check out a game this fall, you can view their schedule here.
Go Raiders!
Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400
Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser
The countdown is on!
Summer is almost "officially" over. Personally, I have no idea where the summer went (or if it ever even arrived), but here we are just four days from the start of the new school year. I imagine there are more than a few parents scrambling to buy last minute school supplies, backpacks or clothes.
Hopefully everyone received their copy of the Voice of the Valley this week which has all the bus routes for the Tahoma School District. In case you missed it or have replaced it, the transportation department has posted the schedule on their site by individual school.
Enjoy the peace & quiet!
Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400
Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser
The phrase Dog Days of Summer is used in reference to the hottest days of the year; which typically here in the greater Seattle area would be right now....but I'm wearing a sweater today, go figure! August is also typically a slower time in our market, as many agents and would-be home buyers are squeezing in last minute vacations.
But if there is one thing we know about the ‘08 market is that there is nothing typical about it! August has been my busiest month of the entire year and judging from pending sales in Maple Valley since the first of August, I'm not the only one! As of 8/1/08, 30 Single Family homes have gone under contract.
Some of these sales will close in August, others in Sept or beyond. But I think it will be interesting to start tracking these numbers more closely from this point forward given that the Maple Valley market began it's downward trend last August.
Only time will tell if things are truly picking up or if this is an isolated flurry just prior to the start of school.
Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400
Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser
This post has been published simultaneously on MovingMapleValley.com
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It's going to be HOT here in Maple Valley this weekend!
To me, 70's is perfect, 80's is HOT and 90's are intolerable! I was born and raised in the Midwest so it's odd that I consider mid-80's to be HOT, but I've lived here for 21 years and seem to have acclimated to the cooler Northwest Climate. One thing's for sure though, I definitely don't miss the muggy heat of Cincinnati or the gnats....I hated them! (I do miss fireflies though)
When my husband and I moved to the Puget Sound area in the late '80's I was dismayed to find there weren't very many options for outdoor pools for our kids. There were indoor pools, but how fun is that on a hot day? Silly me, I didn't realize that when you live in the Northwest and it gets hot, you head for real water....lakes & rivers!
Over the years, as the Summers have gotten hotter (anyone still claiming global warming is a myth?) more outdoor swimming options have cropped up-most of them geared towards kids & families.
So if you're looking for someplace to cool off in or around Maple Valley, here you go:
Lake Wilderness Park: Close to home, this 117 acre park is located in the center of Maple Valley. The Lake is a popular swimming spot and has life-guards on duty 7 days a week from noon to 7pm. There are many picnic tables, and grassy areas for frisbee & picnics.
Olson Mansion: The current owners of the Links at Taylor Creek, a 9 hole golf course, have added several Family Fun activities including miniature golf, u-fish and an outdoor pool. This one is close to home and good for Moms who want to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.
Gene Coulon Memorial Park; A beautiful park with a public boat launch on the Southern shores of Lake Washington. There are a few restaurants (Ivars & Kidd Valley) or pack a picnic basket. On a nice day, the parking lot can be packed, so bring your patience and or walking shoes.
Henry Moses Aquatic Center: This is the place that makes your kids' eyes light up on a hot day! Located on Hwy 169 right off exit 4 of 405 in Renton, this new swim park is a popular place with kids and families.
Wild Waves: Located in Federal Way, Wild Waves is a combination waterpark, theme park with a rollercoaster and other rides. The aquatic park features a wave pool, massive water slides and an inner -tube river ride. Admission can be pricey and you may want to bring Aqua socks for the pool. It's definitely an all day event but the kids will be wiped out when you get home!
Nolte State Park-a.k.a "Deep Lake": This was a little find for my family in the early '90's. Located in Cumberland it's a bit of a drive but well worth it as the park never seemed too crowded. The lake is a great swimming place however be careful with kids. It's shallow for a short ways and then drops off fairly steeply and there is no lifeguard at this park. I would encourage parents and/or caregivers to make sure they go in the water with their children and keep a close eye on them. Deep Lake is also a popular fishing hole, picnic spot and all around great get-away without having to go too far.
Inner-Tubing on the Cedar River: Another fun thing many do is float the Cedar River on inner-tubes. On hot days you'll find cars parked up and down Hwy 169 (Maple Valley Highway). I've never personally done this, but my kids have and they say it's a blast! Bring your own tube or I think Maple Valley Market still rents them. It sure sounds like a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon, floating downstream under a canopy of green Maple leaves!
If anyone has any other great spots nearby, please post them and I'll add to the list.
Please be careful though, King County has some tips on water safety and drowning prevention tips.
Enjoy the sun!
Be safe!
Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990. She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400
Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser
Although it's not possible to predict June weather in Maple Valley from one year to the next, one thing which does remain consistent year after year, is Maple Valley Days.
The festival is held each year at Lake Wilderness Park and begins Friday June 13 at 3pm and runs through Sunday June 15 at 6pm. The Maple Valley Days parade is on Saturday from 10-noon and runs down Witte Road into the park.
There is a Kidland area which is sponsored by Junior Junction. This area provides activities and crafts for kids.
You'll also find unique events such as the Bear Run, Lawn Mower Races & the Street Rats Classic Car Show, plus food and more.
Have Fun!
Residential Real Estate Fanatic, Guru, Broker, Owner & generally Fun Person..if I do say so myself! Serving South King & North Pierce Counties since 1990 &Specializing in the greater Maple Valley Area
Almost 18 years ago I decided to enter the Real Estate Industry because I loved the house hunting process and was excited about the opportunities and challenges presented by being self-employed.
I was bitten by the "house-hunting bug" as a young girl when I would go through the Sunday papers with my parents, looking for open houses. My father, Mike McCormack was an NFL football coach and we had moved several times throughout my childhood before finally settling in the NW when he took a job with the Seattle Seahawks. I came to view house hunting and the moving process as an adventure, and although it can sometimes be stressful and inconvenient, I love the process as much today as I did back then!
More than anything, I believe my role is to serve as a real estate advisor for my clients...to offer advice and options in order for them to make informed, educated decisions. I specialize in the greater Maple Valley market which is defined by the Tahoma School District boundaries.
Nestled beside the picturesque Cascade Foothill Mountain Range, approximately 20 miles Southeast of Seattle, Maple Valley Washington is a growing community rich in History and recreational opportunity. Skiing and hiking are only a 45 minute drive away at,Crystal Mountain, or Snoqualmie Summit. Boating and jet-skiing on Lake Sawyer, or swimming at Lake Wilderness are some favorite warm weather activities.
The greater Maple Valley area is defined by the Tahoma School District boundaries and also includes Hobart, Ravensdale & part of Renton. The City of Maple Valley, which incorporated in 1997, is where you'll find traditional subdivisions and retail shops. The rural portion of Maple Valley falls within unincorporated King County and is comprised mostly of homes on acreage. Population is approximately 29,600 (City of Maple Valley approximately 17,000). Median age is 33 and median income is $74,781.
View Complete Maple Valley Demographics.
The Maple Valley housing market is comprised predominantly of single family homes in a variety of settings...homes in traditional neighborhoods, homes on acreage, equestrian properties, lakefront homes and new construction. View information on Maple Valley neighborhoods.
If you're moving to the Seattle area, you may want to learn a little more about Maple Valley. Many area residents, priced out of the Bellevue, Issaquah and Remond Housing Market, moved a little farther South and found an area with a variety of homes ranging from Waterfront to Acreage to New Construction which were more affordable PLUS a School District with the highest test scores in South King County.
What Colleen's Clients Say....
"We wanted to express our gratitude to you for a completely worry-free purchase and sale. From the no-pressure sale, to the very effective marketing of our home, your attention to detail made the entire process pain-free! You anticipated each element with precision, accuracy and, most importantly, caring. We felt as though we were going through this overwhelming process with a friend at our side, and theat eased stress levels considerably."
The Forman's, Maple Valley WA
"Not only did I appreciate knowledge of the market and the area, I really appreciated your warm personality and strategic thinking..."
R. Asay, Auburn WA
"We chose you as our agent because of a personal recommendation from our friends who had seen your work before and they were right...you handled everything in a very professional manner but with a down-to-earth approach and a nice personal touch that we really enjoyed. We felt confident in your guidance and honesty.. So thanks for going the extra mile and for everything you did...
G & L Malmrose, Kent WA
"Colleen really knows the area inside and out, from builders to schools. She is also very knowledgeable when it comes to all the details of buying and selling. Our house sold in under a week for full price...due in part to her marketing skills....There is no doubt we would use Colleen again "
The Marottas, Maple Valley WA
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