Shannon Drew, Hometown Realty, Yakima WA

1.Historical Park Have a picnic, play games, and tour history at Fort Simcoe State Park. Located at the end of SR220, 45 minutes South of Yakima, the park is open daily 6:30AM to dusk through October 2^nd. An Interpretative Center and the Historical Buildings are open 9:30- 4:30PM Wed-Sun through Oct. 1^st. Call (509) 874-2372 or visit  http://www.parks.wa.gov/ for more information.

2.Art Show  Enjoy art from three very different perspectives, now through June 4^th, at Oak Hollow Gallery, Chalet Place, 5631 Summitview Ave., Yakima. (509) 965-3846 "Generational Views: Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter." Works by Ardith Kaiser, Holly Mahre and Lindsey Gaskill. (A Mother's Day outing, maybe?)

3.Kids/Teens Night Out "Saturday Night Live", every Saturday night 7-9:30 at the YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. Free fun for ages 7-15. Activities include swimming, basketball, volleyball, foosball, and pool. (509) 248-1202.

4.Dance Not just any dancing, but Los Bailadores Del Sol. This dance group is so energetic and great fun to watch, and the public can participate as they practice, too. 6:30-8:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Castlevale EPIC, 2902 Castlevale Rd., Yakima.

5.Music  This month you can listen to Ryan Schultz on the Tuba at Englewood Christian Church. The Second Sunday Series falls this month on May 11^th and starts at 2PM. The church is located at 511 N. 44^th Ave., Yakima. Donations are accepted if you'd like to contribute.

6.Book Club  On the second Wednesday of each month you'll find the Passionate Readers Book Club in deep discussion at Borders Books. Meetings begin at 7PM. Borders is in the Union Gap Mall at 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. (509) 248-4018.

7.Car Show The American Reflections Car Club is hosting their 8^th Annual "Open" Show Sunday, May 18^th at Moxee Park. There is a registration fee to enter, but looking and enjoying is free! Features custom cars, classics, streetrods, stock vehicles, trucks, vehicles under construction, foreign vehicles, tuners, lowriders, SUVs, motorcycles and even bicycles! Music and food vendors, too!

8.Storytelling "Tales of the Rails" is songs and storytelling by Nancy Stewart and MaryLee Sunseri. Fun the whole family will enjoy! Show is May 23^rd at 7PM in the Yakima Valley Museum at Franklin Park, 2015 Tieton Dr., Yakima. (509) 248-0747. Have a picnic in the park and then enjoy the show!

9.More Music An electric-folk/rock presentation by Raining Jane, May 27^th at 7PM at the CWU Student Union and Rec. Center Pit off Chestnut Street in Ellensburg. (Okay, this isn't Yakima, but it's close, and it sounds like a lot of fun...)

10.Campfire Talks Every summer the Yakima Sportsman State Park hosts what they call the Summer Campfire Program. Each event has a different topic and host. Bring a lawn chair and stick around to roast marshmallows (provided) after the talk. The park is located at 904 Keys Rd., Yakima. (509) 575-2774

• May 24^th, "Vineyards of Yakima Valley"
• May 31st, Bob Tuck, "Local Yakima Birds & Animals"                                                                                                                                                                           

This includes all residential sales, including condos, townhouses, single-family site built homes, manufactured homes on leased land, and manufactured homes on land. The data was pulled from the MLS and compiled by me.

Total volume and total units sold are lower this year than last year, but the average price has increased and the average days on market has declined. So, while we are seeing some slowing, homes are selling faster and for more money.

I've been reporting that Yakima is a strong market despite the slight declines in volume, but thought it would be more believable if I brought out some real numbers.

"Housing market continues to fall", read the headline yesterday on the money page of the local newspaper. It was an AP article discussing the situation nationwide. Quoting statistics from the National Association of Realtors and economic experts, the article suggests that the real estate market is in for a really bad year.

National statistics may interest some, but I hear from most people that they'd like to know what is happening here...where they live and work. I would love to see the Yakima Herald Republic print more articles about our local economy because this national doom and gloom reporting is scaring people. I answer panicked calls from sellers and buyers daily.

So, today, I'm writing to people in my community and sharing some GOOD news, some SO-SO news, and some LOCAL market information....

GOOD NEWS: Local non-agricultural job growth is at the second highest level in Yakima County since 1990. The new Osteopathic college will open it's doors to the first class this fall. The HOP market has gone crazy and all those farmers planting extra acres are going to bring loads of money into the local economy. Downtown Yakima has been born-again as a hip, fun, artsy place to be and be seen. New construction homes are selling here...more and more homes are being built and most are purchased in advance. (Have you driven around West Valley lately!) I hosted an open house in Yakima last Sunday and was bombarded by buyers...I haven't done an open house that busy since last spring!

SO-SO NEWS: Lending standards have changed. You now need to have some money and good credit, in addition to a pulse, to get a home loan. Sub-prime loans have gone bye-bye. This just means that young first-time buyers will need to plan and save before becoming homeowners. Gas prices are up, just like everywhere else, and this is affecting local businesses. Those who rely on shipping products in or out, folks in the trucking or repair industries, or real estate agents driving to showings have seen it first-hand in their wallets. This is forcing us to be more conscious of our driving habits, and also urging the faster exploration of alternative fuels. We all need to buy as much locally as possible. The Farmer's Market will be back soon and even bigger this season!

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET NEWS: That headline about the falling market was all about the number of pending home sales. In Yakima, the pending sales are down, too. For the last thirty day period compared to 2007 for the same 30 days, we are down 4 pending sales. FOUR. That could just be four folks that couldn't get a loan this year, or four that were too afraid to try because of all the negative media. We have 10% more houses on the market this year-to-date compared to the same period last year (114 more residential listings, which is less than one month's inventory). But average sale price is up 4% (GOOD). Average Days On Market from list date to closing date is longer, though. Four days longer. FOUR. Four days longer to sell, Four pending sales worse than 2007. Prices up 4%. This isn't the same real estate market the AP reporter was writing about. We are affected by some of the same things happening nationally, but not nearly at the same level.

If you are waiting to buy or sell in the Yakima area because of the bad news reports...STOP IT! Now is a fine time to shop for a house. The extra inventory is a treat if you're buying, lots to choose from...and sellers that price right for the market and present their homes well are still getting them sold. Call a local Realtor if you have questions. We have ready access to the facts and are willing to share the information.

Outdoor Survival Class at YVCC First class April 10, 6:30PM and runs for three consecutive Thursdays. Class taught by a Yakima County Search and Rescue veteran includes topics such as positive attitude and programming your mind to succeed and to control fear, as well as basic map-and-compass skills, telling time and direction by the stars and sun, and navigating by reading signs in plants, soils, winds, topography, temperature and wildlife. Call Don Witke, instructor, for more information 509-697-6378. To register call YVCC at 547-4712. Tuition is $30.

Temptation: A Mixed Media Invitational. Opening reception, Thursday, April 10 5:30-7:30PM, Through May 25th, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Allied Arts Center 509-966-0930, www.alliedartsyakima.org . Expressions of temptation by Becky Blair, Bill Brennan, Brian Holtzinger, Carol Hassen, Gary Dismukes, Justin beckman, Leo Adams, Lucy Valderhaug, Marcia Blevins, Penn O. Shelton, Rob Prout, and others.

Yakima Area Arboretum, 9th Annual Arbor Festival April 12, 10AM-3PM Activities for kids and adults, FREE!

Seattle Opera Young Artists, with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra April 12, 7:30PM at the Capital Theatre. Two one-act comedic masterpieces: Maurice Ravel's Fantastical L'enfant et les Sortil ges and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. Tickets available at 509-853-ARTS, or toll free 877-330-ARTS.

YVCC Visiting Faculty Lecture Series April 14, 7:30PM. Kendall Hall Auditorium. Free. Call 509-574-4646 Diandra Leslie-Pelecky: "Building Speed: The Physics of NASCAR"

Earth Day Hike, Cowiche Canyon April 20, meet at 1PM at the Weikel Trail trailhead. (Dir: West on Summitview for 7 miles past 40th Ave., right on Weikel Rd., half-mile later turn right into parking lot for Cowiche Canyon) Participants go one way with a naturalist, who will point out local flora and fauna, and the other way with a geologist who can explain the history of the rock structures and how and what the different colors and layers mean.

Yakima Valley Community Band Spring Concert April 21, 7:30PM, Eisenhower High School's Little Theatre, 702 S. 40th Ave., FREE Broadway, Classical and Patriotic music. 509-965-2115, www.yakimacommunityband.org.

Capital Steps April 24 at the Capital Theatre. 853-ARTS, or 877-330-ARTS for tickets. Don't miss the show all of Yakima talks and laughs about for days. A highlight of the year on stage!

The Wizard of Oz, April 24-26 and May 1-3, 7:30PM, or April 26/ May 3 aat 2PM at the Davis High School Auditorium. $7 adults, $5 ages 12 and under. Presented by Davis High School drama department. 509-573-2500

Tieton, Washington is a small community that is in the beginning stages of a rebirth thanks to Ed Marquand and his vision for this community.

The town of Tieton is only about 15 minutes from Yakima, and less than three hours from either Seattle or Portland. It used to be a bustling agricultural/fruit area, but in recent years has declined. Many businesses were boarded up when Mr. Marquand first came through town. The story has been repeated many times... he was on a bike ride through the area and ran over some goatheads which flattened his tires. He stopped at the town square, a grassy, well-kept area in the center of town, to make repairs before moving on. It was here that he had his vision for the town.

He envisions a community of artisan businesses and hospitality enterprises that will be recognized for the creative and imaginative ventures of it's residents. He calls this vision "Mighty Tieton".

(For more info visit the website, www.mightytieton.com )

Several projects have already been started, some completed. A fruit warehouse has been converted into live/work lofts, another warehouse is headquarters for a letterpress print shop and artist studios. A church that was abandoned has been converted to a community events center called Harvest Hall. Anyone interested in investing in the development of a small inn and tavern can contact mtieton@yahoo.com.

Real estate is still very affordable and there is a ready work force in the area. Average price for residential property is between $175,000 and $275,000.

Homes currently listed in Tieton range from $89,000 for a 1 bedroom home with workshop on half an acre (see photo, left) to a $735,000 horse ranch. Land starts at $35,000.

Search for Tieton real estate at www.shannondrew.com.

The opportunities are wide open for artists of all kinds in this town. Consider being a part of it's future.