Tina Farinas REALTOR®, ABR®, e-PRO

Did you know that there is a station in Rocklin, CA that teaches the public about compassion to our earth? With emphasis on our environment - I was surprised to find this place by accident.

I was driving Interstate 80W just the other day and noticed a sign "ECOSTATION" before the Rocklin Rd exit. I've never seen it before, so I decided to exit. I thought it was a store but it was far from it. I found out it is an environmental education and exotic wildlife rescue center. One of the two built in California (the other one is in Southern California). The building itself is built with recycled materials. This place is called STAR Eco Station - it is a division of STAR. If you have children, STAR is dedicated in improving children's education through educational and enrichment programs. You can read more about the history of STAR Eco Station by clicking here.

If you want to learn more about how you can contribute to the environment, this is a place worth visiting. They are open to the public and hold tours with affordable charges.

Every month there is a specific celebration - for the month of March, if you happen to be in the Rocklin area, you might want to join in this event.

STAR Eco Station is located at 4465 Granite Drive, Suite 700, Rocklin, California.

To visit their website click the parrot.

This is information is provided to you by Tina Farinas - your ADVOCATE in Real Estate!

We are in a technological world where cell phones have intertwined with our day to day lives. It's a MUST have for some but it DOESN'T have control us or does it?

<-------How real can this be graphic be?

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? I know I have! Of course not as extreme as this picture. But close enough for me to be cautious when using my cell phone while driving.

There are a lot of adults and teens who are guilty of driving with their cell phone glued to their ears. Do they really pay attention to their driving while talking on the phone? Or is their concentration on the conversation? How many incidents/accidents have been reported about car accidents brought about by someone not paying attention because they were on the cell phone?

Its no surprise that they enacted laws regarding usage of cell phones while driving As much as I love my cell phone - I have to say that I support this laws. I believe in safety first. For information purposes, I wanted to share this FAQs' that a friend forwarded to me today. It is in reference to the two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving, which will go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws.

Wireless Telephone Laws FAQs

Q: When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?

A: The new laws take effect July 1, 2008

Q: What is the difference between the two laws?

A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle(VC §23124).

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands- free device?

A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines if I'm convicted?

A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. According to the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, with the addition of penalty assessments, a first offense is $76 and a second offense is $190.

Q: Will I receive a point on my drivers license if I'm convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?

A: NO. The violation is a reportable offense: however, DMV will not assign a violation point.

Q: Will the conviction appear on my driving record?

A: Yes, but the violation point will not be added.

Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?

A: NO. The law becomes in effect on July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.

Q: Are passengers affected by this law?

A: No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.

Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?

A: Yes

Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?

A: YES. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction. Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that?

A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a "push-to-talk" feature.

Q: What other exceptions are there?

A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?

A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.

Q: Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?

A: Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.

Q: Does the new hands-free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?

A: Yes.

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law allow drivers 18 and over to text page while driving?

A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

A: NO. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free. EXCEPTION: Permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities. (VC §23124).

Q: Why is the law stricter for provisional drivers?

A: Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. Teen drivers are vulnerable to driving distractions such as talking with passengers, eating or drinking, and talking or texting on wireless phones, which increase the chance of getting involved in serious vehicle crashes.

Q: Can my parents give me permission to allow me to use my wireless telephone while driving?

A: NO. The only exception is an emergency situation that requires you to call a law enforcement agency, a health care provider, the fire department or other emergency agency entity.

Q: Does the law apply to me if I'm an emancipated minor?

A: Yes. The restriction applies to all licensed drivers who are under the age of 18.

Q: If I have my parent(s) or someone age 25 years or older in the car with me, may I use my wireless telephone while driving?

A: NO. You may only use your wireless telephone in an emergency situation.

Q: Will the restriction appear on my provisional license?

A: No

Q: May I use the hands-free feature while driving if my car has the feature built in?

A: NO. The law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any type of wireless device while driving, except in an emergency situation.

Q: Can a law enforcement officer stop me for using my hands-free device while driving?

A: No. For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a hands-free wireless phone if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless telephone while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over.

They say that gratitude is in order. I wanted to share an article about Affordable Market is in the Business Week today. They have ran comparison on housing which showed a huge variation in pricing. The affordable housing market is across the board in the U.S. According to this article, there are 10 STATES where you will find the most affordable market.

10.Parkersburg, West Virginia - average Sale Price $164,333

9. Eau Claire, Wisconsin - average Sale Price $158,650

8. Augusta, Maine - average Sale Price $157,400

7. Grayling, Michigan - average Sale Price $155,000

6. Tulsa, Oklahoma - average Sale Price $153,750

5. Topeka, Kansas - average Sale Price $150,075

4. Muncie, Indiana - average Sale Price $150,000

3. Canton, Ohio - average Sale Price $146,333

2. Minot, North Dakota - average Sale Price $139,033

1. Killeen Texas - average Sale Price $136,735

Please be careful out there. There has been numerous "DAYTIME" burglaries that have plague the Roseville area. These burglers are tageting homes throughout Roseville, ringing the doorbell first and breaking in when no one answers the doorbell.

The most recent one just happened yesterday at 12:15PM on Fifteen Mile Drive. The homeowner was upstairs when the doorbell rang, then heard a window breaking. She encountered the burglar in her house as she heads downstairs scaring the would-be burglar. This is not very far away from my place of residence. To read about the press release report from the Roseville Police, click on the link below:

ROSEVILLE POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Since these burglars are braving "DAYTIME" to do their misdeed, here are some suggestions to ward them away.

1. Make your presence known, if you are home. You don't have to open the door. They are threaten by commotions from the inside.
2. If someone knocks or ring your doorbell and they look suspicious, call the Police. Make mental note of their appearance when calling authority.
3. Most of these burglars will enter through your side gate to the backyard, If you have a guard dog, leave them out. This will scare them away.

I was watching the news the other day ~ the subject caught my eyes. With foreclosures in the rise, many families are packing up and leaving their pets behind. The animal shelters are overwhelmed with the number of abandoned pets brought on by families going through foreclosures. They are reaching out to the public in an attempt to get them adopted. As a realtor and lover of pets, it broke my heart as I watched a shelter filled with caged pets ~ in their eyes you can see their sadness. I never even thought for a moment that these innocent animals would tragically be affected by this situation.

It is unfortunate that these animals are left behind. I can't really blame the families that abandoned them ~ I can only speculate what they were thinking. I'm sure that their problem is bigger than trolling around a pet they may not have a place for. The choices they had to make were probably difficult, so I can't really make a judgment