The Island Scoop Real Estate and Lifestyle News

October 2019

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WE CONTINUE TO LIVE, LOVE AND SELL IN ALAMEDA CALL TODAY TO MAKE YOUR BEST MOVE!

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FALL VS. WINTER:

WHAT’S THE BEST TIME TO SELL?

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ou may be preparing to sell your home and want to know whether it is best to sell it in fall or winter. There are advantages to selling your home in each of the two seasons.

on a home. Buyer demand is currently high. It is particularly high right now because the Federal Reserve recently lowered the interest rate for the first time in a decade and it’s already had an impact by lowering mortgage rates to nearly a historical low. A ADVANTAGES OF FALL fresh wave of buyers has come The sooner the better. If out to take advantage of these you are planning to upgrade, excellent mortgage rates. you can save more both in your down payment and your Strong curb appeal. You mortgage payment if you move want your flowers to be in full quickly. Appreciation of 4.8% bloom and for everything to is expected from 2019 to 2020, be as green as possible. Curb per CoreLogic. appeal is essential to luring potential buyers before they More people exploring even step in the door. the neighborhood. Whether passers-by are bicycling or ADVANTAGES OF WINTER walking, your “For Sale” sign Less competition among will pique more interest in fall sellers. Everyone rushes to than in winter. Spring and fall, get their houses up for sale in with their mild temperatures, spring, since that’s perceived are considered by many to be by many as the best time to the best seasons for spending sell. Because so many people time outdoors. Grab people’s are actively selling their attention as they pass. homes in spring and summer, it can be difficult to stand Great demand. We are in out from the crowd. Winter a seller’s market, with multiple can be the perfect time to sell buyers often making offers simply because the inventory

of available homes is so low Security Administration and and buyers are usually quite Center for Health Statistics. motivated.

With so many babies being born, real estate agents know Less competition for those mothers and fathers your own new home. You will be looking to upgrade are probably looking to sell to larger homes. Expect these your home and move into a new parents to look for homes new one. Since there are fewer in the beginning of winter, buyers on the market, it is buying at about the turn of easier to negotiate a deal with the year. a contingency clause basing your purchase on the sale of THE BOTTOM LINE your current home.

While both the fall and the winter have their benefits for Relocating families. People home sales, a key thing to who are relocating often need keep in mind is whether or to move quickly. They are not the market is stabilizing. trying to sell their old home If it is, you want to move as and want to get their kids back quickly as possible toward a into school. This urgency can sale. Since the behavior of the make it easier to complete the market is such a key factor, sale without any hesitations. it is critical to have an expert January and February are key at your side. By choosing a times for corporate relocation. highly skilled agent, you can be sure you are working with New parents. Buyers’ agents someone who knows market often work with people who conditions in both seasons— are going through important and can best advise you as life changes, and having a you move forward. Please baby is a major one! There give us a call and we’ll be are actually more birthdays happy to evaluate your home in September than any other and suggest optimal ways to month, according to the Social market it. n

YOUR MONEY PAGE 2

IN THE COMMUNITY PAGE 3

WOLFGANG PUCK RECIPE PAGE 8

GAMES AND PUZZLES PAGE 10

KIDS: WIN A GIFT CARD! PAGE 11

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

YOUR MONEY

senior finances

THE JOURNEY:

5 THINGS RETIREES SHOULD DO WITH THEIR CREDIT

by Janet Kidd Stewart

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Publisher The Drysdale Team DRE#01499008

885 Island Drive, Suite 200 Alameda, CA 94502 (510) 523-1144 www.IslandScoop.com

6425 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 877.872.3080 www.DiscoverPubs.com Sudoku, Scrabble, Crossword and articles distributed by Tribune News Services and Brandpoint where noted.

© Copyright 2019 by Discover Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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hether or not you’re one of the 147 million consumers affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach— which resulted in a Federal Trade Commission settlement of up to $700 million last week—retirees need to stay vigilant about their credit profiles, experts say.

That may seem counterintuitive, particularly to those who pay off their homes, cars and other debt by the time retirement is on the horizon.

Retirement itself, in fact, doesn’t hurt a credit score directly.

But the absence of credit can, indeed, torpedo a pristine credit score because payment history over the past two years—or the lack thereof—is the biggest determinant of a credit score.

The length of credit history, where most retirees can really shine, carries less than half the weight of the overall payment record.

And a credit-score dive can be trouble, even for retirees.

“It’s an important tool to have available and to protect,” said Rod Griffin, director of public education for Experian, one of the three major credit-reporting agencies.

A later-life move, purchases of items like cars, cell phones or insurance, even an application for a reverse mortgage may require a strong credit score. What to do? Consider these 5 moves:

“A later-life move, purchases of items like cars, cell phones or insurance, even an application for a reverse mortgage may require a strong credit score.”

dip in their credit scores could be ideal candidates for Experian Boost, a program that lets consumers give the agency a look into their checking accounts to verify positive track records on paying utility and cell phone bills.

Two-thirds of the customers who try the Boost program see a rise in their scores, Griffin said, with an average increase of 12 points. Note that it can’t negate bad credit behavior, it simply can help consumers with thin credit records beef up their profiles.

“When you think about people heading into retirement, if they are adding recurring on-time utility payments, that could help maintain activity” on their reports, he said. The LEVERAGE THE POSITIVE Retirees who’ve experienced a program is most helpful for people

never to close credit accounts because it can hurt scores, but Griffin says any dip is typically short-lived. “If you close an account your scores will dip, but they usually recover within two or three months,” he said. If you’re not planning to buy a house or a car in the next six months, cleaning up orphan accounts may be a good idea now, he said.

BE READY If you’re thinking about a reverse mortgage, where a lender provides funds to homeowners 62 and older that are tied to home equity, be aware that your credit history is now part of the equation. Since 2015, these lenders have been required to assess whether a borrower has the ability to continue making home improvements and tax payments on the property, and credit who started with scores below 680. reports are a key part of the equation.

(Scores range from 300 to 850).

CHECK FOR A WINDFALL EMBRACE THE FREEZE If you want to check your potential If you’re retired and don’t plan to eligibility to claim part of the Equifax move or buy a car in the near term, settlement, go here: https://eligibility. this may be a good time to put a equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/ freeze on your credit with the three eligibility. To file a claim, go here: / main bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/ and Experian. If you do this, creditors file-a-claim . can’t access your information until “You should always be diligent you remove the freeze with a PIN about managing your credit history,” number. So, keep that number in a Griffin said. “It can affect a wide safe place. For a fee, the bureaus offer range of financial transactions and a credit lock, which can be removed you want it to be there to work for without a PIN, but may not carry all you when it is needed.” n the protections of a true freeze. ©2019 Tribune Content Agency CLEAN UP Distributed by Tribune A lot of credit experts tell consumers Content Agency, LLC.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VEGETABLES! W

ho knew Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties agents could turn over so much dirt? On Friday, September 20th, a large group of stalwart Drysdale agents turned up at Farm2Market on Alameda Point.

Drysdale’s have always had a strong commitment to giving back to the communities we are in. Each year, on the third Friday of September, our entire team closes its doors to dedicate their time, energy and service

for projects in our local communities.

This year, our Alameda team grouped with Farm2Market and spent almost two hours preparing beds for planting, packing boxes of freshly grown vegetables, and organizing compost.

Farm2Market is a small, diversified working urban farm and a social enterprise of Alameda Point Collaborative. It provides job training to the 500 residents of the Alameda Point Collaborative to help end the

cycle of homelessness and poverty. This two-acre farm produces all kinds of organic produce—corn, tomatoes, eggplant, strawberries, basil, and much more. Even honey from its own beehives.

After a brief introduction and some stretching exercises, Patrice, the farm foreman, put the group to work— helping them discover all over again how much hard work it takes to grow the food we eat.

Farm2Market is a great place for doing good and useful work.

HERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN HELP: 1.

Interested in reactivating your green thumb? Invite a couple of friends and sign up to help.

They work all through the week, so anytime is fine.

More at apcollaborative. org/farm2market.

2. Buy their vegetables.

For $15 a week, you can receive a weekly produce box of local organic fruits and veggies.

More at squareup.com/ market/farm2market-csa. n

John Lisanti REALTOR® Broker Associate (510) 523-1144 DRE #00372418

AROUND TOWN

in our community x

ALAMEDA CAN BECOME THE BEATING HEART OF THE BAY AREA

by Michael McDonough, President of the Alameda Chamber of Commerce

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ight years ago, when I was the Chairman of the Ambassador Committee, I was asked by one of my new Ambassadors to define the role of the Chamber of Commerce.

It was a good question.

Being new to the Chamber myself, I asked one of our Board members to attend an Ambassador meeting to discuss the subject.

The result of this meeting formed the framework of our mission as we see it today.

That Board member believed the role of the Chamber could be summed up in three words…Advocacy, Education and Opportunity. After a little research, I found that the first Chamber of Commerce was established to advocate for the business community.

Since that time, we’ve worked behind the scenes and often spoken publicly at City Council meetings to amplify the voice of the business community. Additionally, we’ve started a new program

that is a game changer for the Alameda Business Community. It’s called focus@12 where we will bring in businesses, one industry sector at a time, to share their specific needs and concerns with the Chamber and the City Manager so, both the Chamber and the City can better serve them. The first of these meetings will be held in October with businesses in the local Maritime industry.

Equally important is our mission to deliver educational value to our members. Understanding the local economic landscape, knowledge of best practices and awareness of legislative actions are imperative to remaining competitive in the current business climate.

Chamber events such as the City Developments Luncheon, City Manager’s Report & Luncheon, Successful Thinkers Network, the Chamber Academy are just a sample of how we address our mission of providing educational programs for our members.

Our newest educational effort is the Junior Chamber program, developed in conjunction with

the College of Alameda, to work with high school age and above students to help prepare them to enter the business world. This is another game changer for the community of Alameda.

Our efforts to provide Advocacy and Education set the stage for the third leg of our mission which is to provide opportunities that promote economic prosperity for our members. Bringing our members together in networking events, producing major community events and our various marketing programs help our members expand markets, increase sales and promote good-will within the community. Our Island Business Visitors Guide and Membership Directory, available in print and on our

(510) 523-1144 |

website, is another example of how we help our members get exposure in the community.

The Alameda Chamber of Commerce has taken a giant leap in the ways that we deliver Advocacy, Education and Economic Opportunity but we’re not satisfied. We have a vision of becoming a leading Chamber of Commerce and creating the strongest business environment in the Bay Area.

That may sound ambitious, but it’s already happening.

The City has attracted top MedTech companies like Pnumbra, Exelexis and Abbott Diabetes Care, all public companies. Marina Village is host to the Research Park at Marina Village, Wind River and Cost Plus World Markets.

Alameda Point is home to green tech companies Wrightspeed,

whose founder also co-founded Tesla, and Makani, a division of Google, not to mention Bladium and all the fine companies of Spirits Alley. The list of great companies who call Alameda home is too long to list in one article but if you are reading this, you are essential to shaping Alameda’s bright future.

Some may say ambitious, I say we’re just getting started.

However, for the Chamber to reach its goal of being the best, we need more staff, more volunteers and we need your support. I believe Alameda can become the “beating heart of the Bay Area”. We are the Bay Area’s geographic center and have a thriving economy with room to grow. With our ambition and your support, we can all succeed together. n Michael McDonough has been a Financial Consultant for over 25 years specializing in wealth management and insurance solutions for business owners and executives. His mission is to equip community leaders with financial tools that help them achieve greater financial security.

Michael’s commitment to community is exhibited through his six years of service as President of the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and member of the Alameda Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, AUSD CTE Advisory Committee and College of Alameda President’s Roundtable. He is also the leader of Alameda’s Successful Thinkers Network and member of both Alameda Business Network and Alameda Referral Group.

Michael McDonough is an accomplished artist, keynote speaker and author of Winning the race to Financial Independence.

Michael McDonough 510-995-8850 mmcdono@gmail.com Chamber of Commerce President

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ASK A REALTOR

Q & A with the real estate expert

INVESTORS THWART MANY FIRST-TIME BUYERS

Q

Dear Rose, I am a single woman, not independently wealthy but doing pretty well for myself. I live within my means and save religiously; I still owe on my student loan but the debt is not unmanageable. My fiveplus years in the same, wellpaying job has paid off in an abundance of transferrable skills and an impressive resume (if I do say so myself), so I do not fear unemployment or obsolescence.

Having been a renter since my college days, I believe it’s time for me to buy a home of my own.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a new build; I just want a modest house with enough room to grow a little.

Mortgage rates are low and it seems that every time I find a suitable place, it’s off the market before I can even call to inquire about it. Is there a conspiracy of which I am unaware? - Anita L.

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Dear Anita, You are not alone in your frustration. Firsttime buyers may have the will and the way to purchase a house, but tight inventory can make starter homes less affordable than they otherwise would be. In many areas, that problem is exacerbated by real estate investors eyeballing those same properties with plans to offer them up for exorbitant rents.

Data from the National Association of Realtors®

suggests that an entry-level home requires about 23 percent of a new buyer’s income. Investors typically have several financing options, so they can hand the seller a wad of cash on the spot. You, on the other hand, have to go through channels and hoops to procure a loan.

You can’t blame a seller for opting for a bird in the hand, and competing against a cash buyer can easily have you paying way more than you would if you were to approach the endeavor with detachment.

Breathe.

Don’t get seduced by the first adorable house you see; even among slim pickings, there are others begging for loving owners.

Find a real estate agent who

understands your needs and desires, and shop for a lender you can trust and with whom you feel at ease. They can help keep you grounded in reality, and together you can determine what you can afford and payments that don’t make you squirm.

Get your pre-approval before you start hunting; discuss any down payment assistance programs for which you may qualify as well.

Also, take the time to study the neighborhoods. Some homeowners’ associations and developments, perhaps conflating rentals with transience, impose lease restrictions to ensure a majority of owner-occupied properties.

Once your financing is

in order, you can conduct your search seriously and move quickly on the home you want. It’s not impossible to get the jump on a presumptuous investor. n

Rose Krinks REALTOR® Luxury Collection Specialist (510) 523-1144 DRE #01783545

WHAT IS YOUR ALAMEDA HOME WORTH?

FIND OUT FOR FREE: www.IslandScoop.com 4

5 TIPS

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esourceful thieves and cyber criminals continue to find new ways to hack U.S. consumers’ sensitive personal information. Dumpster diving, stolen or lost wallets and mail fraud should still be concerns, but the digital age of tablets, smartphones, PCs and Wi-Fi networks leaves people even more vulnerable than ever.

Think about it: Have you ever stored credit card information on your phone for added convenience to make payments in a checkout lane? Do you ever store passwords in apps to transfer funds between accounts? And what’s to keep hackers from accessing a wireless network you check your email on while you’re grabbing a quick cup of coffee?

“More than 15.4 million people a year will experience identity theft, with an average loss of more than $1,000,” said Jane Li, Mercury Insurance’s director of product management.

“When one access point closes due to added levels of security, cyber attackers find another. Insurance companies like Mercury provide services that allow homeowners and renters to enjoy the convenience of accessing their connected devices at home and on-the-go, while also helping to protect customers from the potentially devastating effects of criminal infiltration, cyber extortion and identity theft.”

Keeping aware of the latest schemes and ensuring members of your household, friends and others

TO PROTECT YOUR CONNECTED DEVICES AND ELECTRONIC IDENTITY

you care about have the right tools helps stop criminals in their tracks.

Following are five do’s and don’ts to help protect your connected devices, as well as your electronic identity, from hackers.

DO POWER DOWN YOUR DEVICES This disables the internet connection, cutting off access to any personal information stored on your computer, tablet or phone.

Unattended machines, especially if you’re asleep or you leave them at home while on vacation, are easy targets for hackers.

DON’T CONNECT TO UNSECURED WIRELESS NETWORKS Information accessed on an open network, including email passwords and sensitive bank information, is fair game for hackers. Don’t make their jobs easier. Turn off Wi-Fi access on

MODERN TECHNOLOGY

security and protection l

shred expired insurance documents, vehicle registrations, bills, loan prequalifications and other paperwork that would allow someone to call in pretending to be you. Check your credit reports at least twice a year to ensure all accounts opened in your name are valid.

DO INSTALL RECOMMENDED UPDATES Smartphone, computer, tablet and smart TV manufacturers, among other providers of connected devices, your devices unless it’s a password- offer periodic software updates to protected network you trust. protect against potential security breaches. Chances are, if an update is DO MONITOR YOUR recommended, hackers have already CHILDREN’S DEVICE USAGE discovered a way to access your It’s a good idea to limit use of personal property and information, computers, tablets and phones to so keep your software up-to-date. public areas within the home like the living room or kitchen. This makes Li recommends homeowners it easier for parents to keep an eye on and renters speak with their local who their kids are communicating insurance agent to learn more with, especially on social media or about the endorsements they may gaming sites, to help prevent the be able to add to existing policies sharing of sensitive information to help safeguard their finances if like full names, addresses or other their identities are compromised or things that can be used for identity connected devices are attacked. theft or other potentially dangerous activities.

“It can be daunting to try to regain your financial footing if a criminal DON’T DISCARD IMPORTANT takes advantage of you,” said Li. PAPERWORK WITHOUT “Insurance exists to help protect SHREDDING IT consumers from unexpected events If it has your name and address, it and, in this case, it’s better to be safe presents an opportunity for thieves to than sorry.” n take advantage and open an account using your information. Remember to ©2019 Brandpoint.

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IN THE HOME

space savers

by Kathryn Weber

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t’s true that you can never have too much storage. Homes with generous closet and drawer space are a dream. But what if your closet is shy on space? With some clever changes you can carve out more storage in your closets.

1. USE THE BACK OF THE DOOR The back of your closet door can hold a variety of items. Add an over the door hanger with multiple hooks, and you can hang robes, exercise wear, belts or hats. Look for specialty hangers specifically made for the back of your closet door.

2. DITCH THE PLASTIC HANGERS It’s true; tubular plastic hangers do take up more space. Recycle those mismatched plastic hangers with velvet thin hangers in a single color.

You can get 100 for about $32 on AmazonBasics (www.amazon.com).

3. ADD A SHELF ON LOWER RODS If you have a double rod closet, be sure to add a shelf over the lower rod.

This is the perfect place to add thin jewelry boxes like Colleen’s Prestige sunglass and jewelry storage boxes (www.hsn.com).

10 WAYS TO SQUEEZE MORE SPACE

OUT OF YOUR CLOSET 5. PLACE SHELVES AND DRAWERS UNDER CLOTHES Make the most of space by adding a dresser or drawer unit under hanging shirts. Look for easy to configure units like the Nordli (www.ikea.com) that can be adapted to multiple sizes and shapes.

6. INSTALL HOOKS ON SHELVES Adding hooks on either side of 4. GET WIRED Affix wire baskets to odd corners closet shelf boxes makes a handy and small spaces to hold odds and spot to hang belts, handbags and ends. Wire shelves can be added above scarves. regular shelves to add more space, and they enable you to see what’s on the 7. REDUCE YOUR PANT SPACE shelf at the top.

Jeans and pants eat up a lot

of closet real estate because they’re reduce the number of hangers needed bulky and they’re doubled up. by hanging up to eight garments per Reclaim some of that space with hanger. specialty hangers for pants that let you hang four or five pairs of pants 10. ADD A SHELF UNIT on one hanger.

It may seem like you’re taking away valuable hanging space, 8. GROUP CLOTHING LENGTHS but a shelf unit can be outfitted Place all long garments on one end with baskets that can work like of the closet. This will enable you to drawers, storing folding T-shirts, create more space under the shorter corralling flip-flops, housing shoes garments for additional storage. or containing other odds and ends that clutter closet floors. n 9. PUT TANKS AND CAMISOLES ©2019 Kathryn Weber.

ON A MULTI-HANGER Distributed by Tribune Content A tank top hanger (www.target.com) Agency, LLC. is a great way to group like items and

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BAY FARM ISLAND

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xcerpts from the Pacific Rural Press December 1897, “A correspondent of the Oakland Inquirer recently visited the tract of land across the bay from San Francisco which is known as Bay Farm island. It has been famous from the early days as a splendid garden region. With an arable territory of between four and five hundred acres, nearly every square yard is farmed in the most thorough way, and the production is as large as on any similar area in California, or perhaps the United States. The annual value of the products of this little island, which would be only a moderate sized farm, if owned by a single man,

is $40,000 or $50,000— perhaps more. Bay Farm island is sort of a sand-split in a big marsh which extends from Alameda to the head of the bay at Alviso. Just beyond the peninsula city there is a deep channel extending from San Francisco bay through to San Leandro, which is crossed by a bridge connecting the island with Alameda. In past ages the beach sand has washed up and made a tract of land only 2 or 3 feet above the tide water level and originally consisting of barren sea sand; but by the growth and decay of vegetation, as well as by the constant manuring given it by the farmers, the soil has become very rich, and the few hundred acres reclaimed from

the waves support fifteen or twenty families.

Reclamation. — An interesting chapter might be written upon the reclamation work on the island, which is being done by Mr. Amos Mecartney, a capitalist, whose residence is the finest on the island. Mr. Mecartney has constructed levees enclosing a large area of marsh outside of the present reclaimed lands.

The marsh is being drained, and before long will be in condition for cultivation, when doubtless Mr. Mecartney will be well repaid for the large expenditure, he has gone to in his reclamation work. From his house, on the northwest end of the island, Mr. Mecartney has built a shell road leading to the Alameda bridge, which is one of the nicest driveways in Alameda county.” So apparently Ron Cowan and Utah Construction weren’t the first folks to “fill” the island.

“Bay Farm’s first “pilgrims” were the Mecartneys, who came in 1850, followed by the Silva family, in 1886. Both families were reportedly among the earliest people (after the Native American tribes that

(510) 523-1144 | 6

were here for centuries) to move in, settle and homestead “Farm Island.”

The Mecartneys were wealthy and influential and spent a lot to purchase up so much of the land. They, like the Silvas and others who followed them here a few years later, had heard almost anything could grow on what was then known as Farm Island; that was the primary lure, along with the agreeably mild climate. The soft-sandy soil, though, had to be enhanced with prime additive dirt that was shipped in. “They got the necessary manure to help out the sandy farming soil from all the chickens, cows and pigs that they also raised on the farms out here,” Cumming said. “Everyone said you could sure smell the manure at times, but the sandy soil often needed its help. And all that early farming was done with horses until the 1940s, when the tractors were finally introduced.”

Excerpt from http:// thealamedan.org/news/ alameda-history-firstfamilies-bay-farm-island:

years, it doesn’t qualify me as a “native”, and the “natives” will let you know that when it comes up in conversation.

However, I have been around long enough to remember a few things that most Bay Farm Island/Harbor Bay Isle residents don’t. For instance, the “shell road” referred to in the above article was in existence when I was a student at Lincoln School (no, not the new one, the one on Central Ave…that’s another story).

That road (Maitland Dr., partially renamed Island Dr. later) was the main access to Bay Farm Island and the few kids who lived there actually had a school bus that would pick them up and deliver them to school and back. A memory of one of my first days at school was during attendance I moved to Alameda in call in home room the teacher 1966, and while I’ve been read a name of a student who a resident for 52 of my 64 wasn’t in attendance and

WWW.ISLANDSCOOP.COM

another student said “Richie’s not here, he’s duck-hunting with his Dad on Bay Farm Island”. It wasn’t until I was old enough to drive that I got to know Bay Farm Island better as it was a trek back in those days, as the kids who missed the school bus home well knew. n

Steve Sorensen Broker Associate 510-914-3003 steve.sorensen@bhhsdrysdale.com DRE#0859043

Restoration ceiling fan (www.lampsplus.com) that’s reminiscent of the old metal tabletop fans.

by Kathryn Weber

W

hen thermostats are turned up to conserve on energy, having air movement can make the stuffiest room seem cooler.

One of the most efficient ways to deliver cooling air movement, or circulate the cool air in your home is with a ceiling fan, and now it has looks too. Yes, the simple ceiling fan has been upgraded, and today’s fans have more style to offer than five simple blades.

COOL DESIGN One of the most stylish updates has been to encase ceiling fans: Rather than having exposed blades, some new ceiling fans look more like ceiling light fixtures.

With their fans hidden inside a decorative drumstyle fixture, the blades move inside the drum pushing out air through a grill at the bottom of the drum. The Stokes ceiling fan (www. wayfair.com) offers both lighting and cooling without the look of fan blades.

Another way to hide fan blades is with a curved transparent blade. Looking more like a light fixture than a fan with a ceiling light, the translucent blades move air while the fixture provides

DESIGN & DECOR

ceiling fans

NEW CEILING FAN UPDATES MERGE

COOLING POWER WITH STYLE

lighting and the look of a light fixture. These fans (www.houzz.com) can be found with both fixed and retractable blades that can be folded back when the fan isn’t it use, and they provide a beautiful chandelier look

year-round.

Fans can also be showcased with their blades. Caged ceiling fans have a terrific retro look that would work well in a variety of settings and decor styles. The look of the blades is demurred

by the cage, and the cage offers a unique design from standard ceiling fans. The Vintage Breeze offers an adaptable look that would work well in most homes, or go completely retro with the Minka Aire Gyrette

BLADE RUNNERS Sometimes it’s the blades themselves that are taking the starring role overhead.

There’s no denying the impact of one new style on the block, and that’s the three-bladed ceiling fan reminiscent of a plane’s propeller. With these fans, it’s the blades themselves that make the statement.

Go with a propeller look of the Monte Carlo Maverick’s three 60-inch blades or the Minka Air Light Wave (www.build.com) that has an Art Deco appeal. Both are stylish and make a nod to the propellers.

For a fan with artistic flair and an eye-catching look, the Innovation fan (www. amazon.com) has two oval blades that look more like a futuristic piece of moving art.

It will be hard to take your eyes off of the spinning ovals, reminiscent of a spaceship about to take off. You’ll have a cooling conversation piece that’s a long way from your standard fan. n ©2019 Kathryn Weber Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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LIFESTYLE

entertaining and food

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eeding your family wholesome meals that everyone enjoys can feel like a challenge, especially on busy days. With different food preferences and limited time to cook, it’s easy to fall into meal ruts where you eat the same thing over and over again.

It’s time to add a little color and creativity to dinners with meals that come with maximum taste and nutrition achieved with minimum effort. Here are five ideas to inspire healthy dishes the whole family will love, with extra nutrients you can feel good about: DIVIDE YOUR PLATE Let your plate be your guide in showing one of the easiest ways to make sure your family is getting enough good-for-you foods.

In general, divide your plate into quarters. Half of the plate should be filled with vegetables like a salad or a combo of fruit and vegetables, such as steamed broccoli in one quarter and sliced peaches in another.

On the other side, a quarter would be for whole grains including whole wheat toast include all of the ingredients or brown rice. The final for a gourmet salad. All you quarter would be for lean have to do is toss and serve. protein, such as chicken HEALTHY HIDDEN breast, eggs or beans.

EXTRAS It can be an endless battle UTILIZE SLAW KITS to get kids (and adults!) to eat Packed with fresh produce, more vegetables.

Try being slaw salads are a wonderful creative when it comes to addition to any meal that including vegetables into adds a satisfying crunch. family favorites.

For example, However, most people don’t have the time or the know- add a subtle sweet touch to how to make restaurant- your mac and cheese with quality slaw. Fresh Express a bit of pureed pumpkin or makes dinner a culinary supercharge spaghetti sauce adventure. Their new, chef- by adding finely chopped inspired Premium Salad Kits sweet bell peppers. For an

QUICK TIPS

ON ADDING EASY, ENJOYABLE AND HEALTHY ELEMENTS TO YOUR FAMILY’S MEALS extra nutrient boost without sacrificing taste, puree some steamed cauliflower and add to mashed potatoes to make them extra delicious and wholesome.

and kale tossed with Asian Avocado dressing and topped with honey roasted sesame chips, crunchy wonton strips, and sweet dried corn.

You can also pair it with a turkey burger or an avocado CREATIVE TWISTS crab salad and you have a Sometimes you have to restaurant-quality meal. shake things up to keep meals interesting, but it doesn’t SMOOTHIES require trying out complex Want to give your family new recipes. Roll the new healthy fruits and vegetables Fresh Express Asian Avocado while they feel like they’re Premium Slaw Salad Kit into getting a treat? Whip up a wrap for a great lunchtime smoothies as an easy breakfast meal. It comes with a blend of or a nourishing drink that Napa, red and green cabbage works with virtually any meal.

Try using frozen fruit as an affordable simple base for any smoothie. You can also add in vegetables like chopped frozen spinach for a vitamin boost you won’t even taste among all the fruit. Mix with ice and milk or juice and blend until smooth.

With these five tips and tricks, you’ll change your mealtime mindset and be able to shake up your family’s menu with healthful fare to please palates of all ages. n ©2019 Brandpoint.

GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES DIRECTIONS THE SANDWICH

INGREDIENTS • Oven-dried tomatoes (recipe attached)

FOR THE SANDWICH:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 2 slices white cheddar cheese, each about 3/4 ounce • 2 slices provolone cheese, each about 3/4 ounce

• 4 slices good-quality egg bread such as brioche or challah, or white sandwich bread

FOR THE OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES: • 2 good-quality medium-sized ripe tomatoes • 3/4 teaspoon sugar • Generous pinch kosher salt

8

• Pinch freshly ground white pepper • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, smashed • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

Prepare the oven-dried tomatoes ahead of time.

Alternatively, place the pieces of sun-dried tomato on a double thickness of paper towels to drain.

Preheat a skillet large enough to hold the two full sandwiches over medium heat. You can also make one sandwich at a time if your skillet is smaller. Meanwhile, generously spread one side of each of 2 bread slices with a quarter of the butter.

Place those slices buttered side down in the skillet.

Place a slice of the cheddar on top of each bread slice in the pan; arrange 4 oven-dried tomato or drained sun-dried tomato pieces evenly on top; and place the provolone over the tomatoes. Place another slice of bread on top of the cheese, and spread the tops with the remaining butter.

Cook the sandwiches until their undersides are deep golden brown, about 3 minutes, pressing down on them lightly but firmly with the underside of a metal spatula halfway through that time to compact and seal each sandwich. Use the spatula to turn them over, press down gently again with the spatula, and cook until their other sides are nicely browned and the cheese has melted, about 3 minutes longer.

With the spatula, transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut each sandwich diagonally in half and transfer to serving plates. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

THE OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES Preheat the oven to 300 F (150 C). Line a small baking sheet or baking pan with parchment paper.

To peel the tomatoes, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Meanwhile, on a counter nearby, place a mixing bowl filled with ice cubes and water. With a small, sharp knife, cut out the tomatoes’ cores and, on the opposite, flower end of each, score a shallow X. With a wire skimmer or slotted spoon, lower the tomatoes into the boiling water. As soon as their skins begin to wrinkle, 5 to 15 seconds, use the skimmer or spoon to lift them out and transfer them immediately to the ice water to cool.

As soon as the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off and discard their skins, starting at the X and, if necessary, using the knife to help. Cut each tomato into 4 equal wedges through the stem and flower ends. With your finger or a small spoon, scoop out the seeds from each quarter, leaving just a petal-shaped piece of tomato flesh.

Place the tomato pieces side by side on the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with the sugar, salt and pepper. Drizzle evenly with olive oil. Place the garlic cloves and thyme sprigs among the tomatoes.

Bake the tomatoes until they begin to shrivel and darken in color, about 45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and set aside. When cool, cover and store in the refrigerator and use within one day. n © 2019 Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Singapore

BEAUTIFULLY MODERN

by Doug Hansen

A

30-foot-long, red and yellow cloth dragon with daggerlike white teeth blocked our way as my wife, Shirin, and I strolled down Singapore’s famed Orchard Road, a treelined boulevard known for its upscale stores and hotels.

Drums beat rhythmically as a dozen men maneuvered the undulating dragon along the broad sidewalk. This symbol of strength, power and good luck in Chinese culture was part of the lingering festivities following the Chinese New Year 10 days earlier. As we paused to watch the colorful show, I thought to myself, “You have to expect the unexpected in Singapore.”

Our five days in Singapore were meant to be a warmup for our six-week Southeast Asia tour, but I discovered belatedly that Singapore should have been the grand finale, since it proved to be one of the highlights of our five-country trip. In fact, Singapore has become my favorite major, modern city in the world.

Modern Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 as a trading post for the British East India Company. The island city state (just 279 square miles)

blossomed in just six decades from a place of strife and relative poverty to a global powerhouse for entertainment, education, finance, health care, manufacturing, technology, tourism and transportation.

During our visit to the National Museum, we were struck by the magnitude of the country’s accomplishments, displayed in what could be called “the bragging rights room”: Singapore is consistently rated as one of the world’s safest and cleanest countries; it has the world’s top rated airport and airline; its students year after year rank No. 1 in the world for science, reading and math; it is the world’s second busiest container port, third largest global foreign exchange market and third largest oil and refining center; and Singapore ranks as the eighth healthiest country.

As we toured various parts of the city, invariably we found the Singaporeans to be kind and helpful. Fortunately for us, English is their main official language, followed

by Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. We never perceived any tension as people from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, India and Europe mixed freely everywhere.

“Even though we have a very mixed population,”

explained a local man, “we all get along well because from the earliest days our country focused on policies that ensured that people from different countries and cultures could live and work together peacefully. That’s why every year on July 21 we celebrate Racial Harmony Day, to remind ourselves of how important this is for our success.”

My wife and I opted for an unorthodox way to explore the city by staying in hotels in three different areas. Our first hotel, the Six Senses Duxton, placed us near Chinatown, the elaborate Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and across from the Maxwell Hawker Center, one of the city’s best places to try tasty

Chinese home built in 1895, it gave us a glimpse into the lives and traditions of a wealthy Chinese family in that era.

Our next lodging, the fivestar Capitol Kempinski Hotel, had recently opened after a restoration that combined two historic structures. This location placed us within walking distance of several major museums, the famed Raffles Hotel, St. Andrews Cathedral and the spectacular bayside Merlion Park, all within a 10- to 15-minute walk.

For our initial outing, we headed first thing in the morning to the 160-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens, only 10 minutes by taxi from our hotel. Being plant lovers, we had looked forward to

yet inexpensive Singaporean dishes. The boutique hotel is located in a row of carefully restored trading houses, which accounted for rooms named the Opium Room and Shophouse Room.

While much of Singapore has been rebuilt with towering modern buildings, the city now rigorously preserves the remaining historic homes and shops as heritage sites.

We made a reservation to see a good example of this protection, the NUS Baba House. As a carefully restored

visiting these gardens, and we weren’t disappointed. We delighted in exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site, whose 203 acres of tropical gardens offered miles of hiking and jogging trails, three lakes and a spectacular orchid garden.

The area surrounding our hotel was attractive during the daytime, but after nightfall the city transformed itself into a nocturnal kaleidoscope of color, especially down by the bay. The horseshoe-shaped bay presented a Las Vegas-like

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world destinations

fountain show with sound and lights, while the city’s signature Singapore Lion spouted a massive stream of water from its jaws as hidden lights painted the statue in endlessly changing colors and patterns.

Small tour boats festooned with colored lights twinkled in the water while in the background, the three towers of the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel loomed large, topped by an enormous lintel shaped like the bow of a ship.

When we visited that lofty perch, the 360-degree view of Singapore was overshadowed by the enormous infinity pool that seemed to float in the air 57 stories above the city.

Below, the giant lotus flowershaped Art & Science Museum added to our sensory overload as constantly changing colors and textures painted the petals of the unique structure.

Behind the Marina Bay, on a 250-acre man-made island, is another of Singapore’s mustsee attractions, the Gardens by the Bay. We visited the site in the late afternoon in order to appreciate it during the daylight, especially the glassenclosed Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, with the world’s tallest enclosed waterfall. As the night sky darkened, a sound and light show began in the Supertree Grove where a stand of hundred-foot-tall, man-made trees changed colors to the rhythm of the music, glowing majestically in hues of lavender, orange, purple and magenta.

Wherever we walked, we appreciated Singapore’s efforts to create a more eco-friendly environment. As a result, large, lovely trees graced most streets, while many buildings had walls and roofs

covered with plants. In some areas, pastel-colored, historic shophouse rows stood in stark contrast to the surrounding modern buildings with their stunning architectural designs.

One of our taxi drivers boasted, “Dining is our national pastime,” and it certainly seemed true, based on the number of international restaurants and the 114 hawker centers that offered every kind of food imaginable.

For our final exploration of the city, we decided to splurge and stay at the five-star Capella Singapore on exclusive Sentosa Island, known for its beaches, golf courses and attractions including Universal Studios Singapore.

Our room overlooked the cargo ship-filled South China Sea and a nearby Indonesian island bristling with oil refinery structures. A path behind the hotel led us down to a sandy beach and a free shuttle that transported visitors around the island. Our sense of contentment with our elegant room was enhanced by an exquisite meal in Cassia, the hotel’s Cantonese-food restaurant.

As we prepared to leave Singapore and continue our Southeast Asia sojourn, Shirin and I agreed that someday we will return, stay longer and savor even more of the specialness of Singapore _ a bold, vibrant, attractive and innovative city-state with pleasant surprises around every corner. n ©2019 San Diego UnionTribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WWW.ISLANDSCOOP.COM 9

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just for fun l ACROSS 1 6 10 14

“__ Secretary”: CBS drama Tense period?

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THE ALAMEDA MARKET T

oday is a great time to sell your home in Alameda, looking both at local data and national mortgage rate trends. The year-overyear (YOY) numbers for August show great performance in the area. The median home sales price was up, as was the median price per square foot of sold homes. Plus, mortgage rates continue to fall, with signs that they could improve even further into October.

The median home sale price was $973,800 in August. That is up from $962,500 in August 2018, a YOY improvement of 1.2%. There was also a boost in the amount paid per square foot of house, as that figure rose 15.0% to $663 YOY. The market in the area is now extraordinarily competitive, with the average home staying on the market for just 14 days. The average buyer makes a down payment of 15.3%. A total of 62 homes sold in the month, which was up from 46 a year previous, an incredible 34.8% rise.

More than three quarters of homes, 77%, sold for more than their asking price, a slight uptick from the 76% of homes in that category the same time last year.

It is also advantageous that buyers are out looking to benefit from better mortgage rates than have been seen in nearly three years. Rates recently dropped to a lower level than has been seen since October 2016, per Freddie Mac. For the week that ended September 5, the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) average dropped 1 basis point to 3.30%. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage decreased to

ALAMEDA

L A S T 3 0 D AYS

M A R K E T U P D AT E

C A L I F O R N I A

H O MES SO L D

38

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

26 CONDOS & TOWNHOMES

12

TOTAL

INVENTORY 3.00%, a drop of 6 basis points. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 9 basis points to an average of 3.49%.

The rates have been headed downward following a decision by the Federal Reserve to lower its interest rate in late July. In fact, the rates could be going even farther south sometime in the future.

A seller’s market in Alameda is

AVER A G E SAL E PR I C E S

AVERAGE DAYS ON THE MARKET

17

$1,042,987 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

$1,166,794

17

CONDOS & TOWNHOMES

CONDOS & TOWNHOMES

$774,710 NEW LISTINGS

16

16

ACTIVE LISTINGS

33

shown in the year-over-year median sales and price-per-square-foot data, and a happy climate for buyers is evident in the great mortgage rates they can score. While these factors suggest a perfect storm for selling your home, it is critical to work with an established Realtor for an ideal homeselling experience.

A highly skilled real estate agent

PENDING SALES

22

can work with you to professionally market and stage your home to a perfect audience of buyers. A trusted agent can help you negotiate the best possible terms for your contract so that the agreement is in your best interests.

Today is a great time to move forward with selling your home. Just make sure that you have an expert at your side for the best results. n