Us Bikers Need You Hikers, HELP

Yes, believe it or not us bikers need the hikers. You see a mountain trail is always in transition, oh wow just like a real estate market, anyway it is always changing. We had some great rain a little over a week ago. Here in Arizona we get all our rain in oh about 6 different days throughout the year. A week ago on Friday, we got one of those days of rain. It messed up the trails. I ride most of the time here in McDowell Mountain Ranch and my short ride is up Taliesin Trail to Lost Dog and to the saddle over looking the valley. I then come down, except go north through the Quartz Trail and empty out on 105th Street, near the McDowell Mountain Ranch community center. I then have a mile ride on the street to home. It is a great work out and I can do the whole ride in about 45 minutes.
Since the last rain there are some big issues on the trails. Parts of the trail are washed out, big ruts and drop offs on the hills, and a build up of sand in areas. We need the hikers to go through and compact everything with their hike. It is funny to watch how the trail evolves through out each year. Some parts of the trail that go through washes are difficult to see. I know the trail and therefore know where to ride. But I look forward to the hikers recreating a smooth transition in those washes. Some of the hills have big ruts or are very loose. I have been either crashing through or riding on the little ridge next to the ruts. Riding on the ridges is not hard, it just looks real hard. Something that took me a couple of years to start doing, but love now. The hikers will probably need to crush through the loose stuff and re compact it. This may take a while and may not be fully recovered until after the rainy (ha, ha) season coming up. The last fix I hope the hikers can fix is all the built up sand. I almost crashed pretty bad yesterday as my front tire washed out just before hitting a clump of big rocks and dropping down a hill. But I made it without crashing and laughed as I knew it was almost a nasty one.
One thing I tend to do on the trail a lot is laugh. It is usually right after I survived some crazy adventure spot on the trail. You have to enjoy those moments and I do. So, if you are riding with me or hiking along as I pass, if you here me laughing out loud I almost crashed!!!

ENJOY THIS INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!

September 19th Weigh in by Jeff

Running a little behind here but here is the posting for my September 19th weigh in. I need to wait until next week for another weigh in because I have been BAD! I need to get back in control. the good news is I was flat from the 10th to the 19th, the bad news is I am up right now. I went on 2 rides and 2 runs this week. I am planning on a 12 mile ride tomorrow, that should shed some poundage. But I need to back that up with less comsuption in order drop some weight. This will be a great weekend!

Go Cardinals!

Windgate Ranch a Toll Brothers Community

I stopped by Windgate Ranch the other day for an update. They invited me to their big Resident Round-Up Saturday night. They are doing a big event to create excitement and show off their completed community center. I must say it is nice. It is one of the nicest community centers I have ever seen. It looked nicer than most of the resorts I have enjoyed. There were 3 pools all in the same area. They had big tent like cabanas next to the pools. I highly suggest stopping by and checking it out. But remember, bring your Realtor. If for some reason you get excited and want to buy, we must accompany you on your first visit.
The prices for their homes has held steady, but they are discounting the lot premiums on the existing phase available lots. They are discounted as much as 50% and that can be pretty good. Some of the available lots are as high as $200,000. In that case you are talking a $100,000 savings. Not bad Toll Brothers.
They have a SPEC home available at Windgate Ranch that looked pretty good. It is a Tuscan style Torre in the Desert Willow Collection. the base price is $976,975 and it priced out at $1,229,975, but after incentives can be your home for a mere $1,154,975. Realistically, I am sure Toll would take a reasonable offer in this market.
Toll's lower end product is on fire. The Agave Collection at Windgate Ranch in Scottsdale is selling so well they are converting lots from the Ocotillo Collection to Agave. Gotta sell what is selling. I am shocked for the conversion, but again gotta sell what is selling.

Real Estate Market Update for Scottsdale/Phoenix

Well we have survived the mortgage melt down and homes are still selling. YES! Oh and thank you to the Federal Reserve for lowering the Federal Funds rate by .5%. That has not really lowered interest rates for mortgages, but it will help for all the variable rate mortgages and LOC. I expect the Fed will have to act again in the near future. The problem today is not supply as much as it is demand. The net new listings (supply) are running 33% lower than this time last year, however that is matched with sales (demand) being down 44% from the low levels of 2006. This time last year, in 2006, our sales were equal to the sales in 2002. So, they were very low last year. Where has all the demand gone??? I believe a few things are happening: lack of 100% financing, No more "stated income" loans, Strickter mortgage guide lines, buyers waiting for prices to drop, buyers renting, too many foreclosure homes and HUGE builder incentives. Builders are in my mind the biggest culprits. They allowed speculators to buy their product and get around their rules. They knew who was an improper buyer and they still let them close. "Don't tell us the truth, you can't buy, but blantantly lie and it is OK. Builders keep building homes too, they just won't slow down. It use to be a builder would not start building until you sold your existing home, they need to start that up again. You see too many people are buying new homes with unrealistic expectations on the value of their home. Then they walk from the new build. Those SPECS are then sold with huge discounts, just destroying the resale market. Hopefully the builders will start to catch on. They hold the key to recovery in this real estate market.

Discount Real Estate companies going OUT OF BUSINESS

One of my friends sent this article to me about how discount real estate companies are going out of business. It is interesting. You see it made sense that if you lowered your commission you can make it up in volume. But this business requires the best to be successful and with out large reward, agents won't go through the "hell" we go through to get the job done. This is one of the reasons there is such a huge turn over with Realtors. 86% of new Realtors do not renew their license. Most are just part time. In this market some houses are selling with an average Realtor, but the good agents are still the most successful. Why should an experienced agent charge less, when brand new agents are getting paid 6% or higher?

Foxtons done in by housing slump
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/27/07
BY MICHAEL L. DIAMONDBUSINESS WRITER Post Comment

Foxtons, a West Long Branch-based real estate company that made a splash with its discounted commissions, said Wednesday night it is closing because of a downturn in the housing market.
The company said it is contemplating bankruptcy for an orderly shutdown, and it will continue only with a skeleton crew; it is laying off 350 of its 380 employees.
"The plain fact is that we have been battling against a real estate market that recently has turned into a sharp decline, and the company no longer has the liquidity to operate as a going concern," said John D. Blomquist, Foxtons' senior vice president and general counsel...

The business model, however, was unproven. Real estate agents were unmotivated to show their buyers Foxtons homes, knowing the commission wouldn't be as much. And observers said what Foxtons lost in commissions, it would have to make up in volume.

full article can be reached with this link:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS/709270425/1070/NEWS02

The Greater Fool Theory expressed through Tulips in the 16th and 17th centruy

While studying for my degree in Finance at California State University at Northridge, I was shocked when my professor started talking about Tulips in the 16th and 17th century. It was an amazing story. Why would anyone pay so much for Tulips? But this question can be asked of any product when a mania hits. With any mania you never want to be the last to buy or The Greatest Fool.

This link below will tell the story of Tulips, please enjoy and relate:
http://www.greekshares.com/tulip.php

Great new Mortgage called The Home Ownership Accelerator

Even if you think you have the best mortgage, it's now obsolete.

This innovative and powerful loan uses the power of your income to slash thousands off the
total interest you pay and chop years off the time it takes to pay off. All without changing
your spending habits, or your access to the cash you earn. Here is what others are saying....

"....harnesses the money sitting in a checking account for the borrower's benefit instead of the banks."
-- San Francisco Business Times, 6/10/05

"....could revolutionize the way Americans pay for their homes...."
-- East Bay Business Times, 6/10/05

"....designed to help borrowers accelerate their principal payments as painlessly as possible."
-- San Francisco Chronicle, 5/26/05

Bank your money in your mortgage. With the CMG Home Ownership Accelerator, you
direct-deposit your entire paycheck into your mortgage, instead of your checking account.
This immediately reduces your principal balance. Since interest is based on your daily
balance, you start saving interest immediately compared to traditional loans! Access your funds just like you used to. You pay all of your expenses out of your mortgage,
just like you would with a traditional bank account -- using the unlimited checks,
free ATM/Debit card, and free online bill-pay that comes with the account. Until you need
the money, though, it's in your mortgage in the form of a lower principal balance, saving
you 5-6% in mortgage interest, instead of earning 1% in a bank account. Less interest means
that more of your take-home pay goes towards principal, and you pay off sooner. With no change
to spending habits!
If you're an average borrower with good cash flow, you could pay off an average sized loan in as
little as half the time – with no changes to spending habits.
Let's look at an example: you have a $400,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 5.5%. And, let's even assume that mortgage interest rates
are climbing on a "reverse course" that mirrors their recent decline (APR 8.19%)! A 'worst case' rate scenario!" Saves interest, pays off sooner. In this example, refinancing to the CMG Home Ownership Accelerator roughly doubles your mortgage efficiency.
You could pay off in as little as 17.3 years and save nearly $89,000 (21%) in interest, compared to the 30-year fixed
rate loan at 5.5%. In fact, to save that much interest, you'd have to find a 30-year mortgage at 4.4%, which is very unlikely. But what if rates go up even more? In this example, the adjustable rate on the CMG Home Ownership Accelerator would have to average 9.6% over the entire
17.3 years for the interest payments to equal that of the 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 5.5%. That's not likely to happen either. I’m looking forward to discussing this loan with you in more detail. We have a 5-minute movie that explains the product in more detail, and we can also run a simulation on your specific financial situation to determine how the product will work for you. Give me a call! A twenty minute conversation could save you thousands in interest and get you free of mortgage debt twice as fast as you thought possible.
http://www.cmgfs.com/home_loans/cmghome/movie/player.html

Equipoint Financial
Mortgage Solutions
Brad Simpson
Office: 623.932.3554
BradSimpsonLoans@yahoo.com

September 23, 2007 Arizona Cardinals 23 Baltimore Ravens 26

Yes, the Arizona Cardinals blow a chance to win on the road. It was quite a game. Our defense could not stop them in the first half while our offense did nothing in the first half. Matt Linart looked pretty bad. Then Kurt Warner came in with the no-huddle offense. Kurt moved the ball right down the field to score a field goal. It was shocking to watch Kurt work. He was just a pro and seemed to find open reciever after open reciever. I was loving it. However, they did not finish. We lost. There were some close calls that went against us, but we need to put a team away. We can't put ourselves in a position for the refs to take the game from us. We need to finish strong in the 4th quarter and WIN.
Next week is the unbeaten Pitsburg Steelers. Big Ben is coming to town. How will we rspond. Will we PROTECT THE NEST? Or willl we be 1 and 3 after Sunday. That is why they play, any given Sunday any team can win. This week let it be The Arizona Cardinals!

Existing Home Sales Plunge to a 5 Year Low

In a correction like this, we expect to see new lows. The worse it gets now, the closer we are to the bottom of this correction. However, lower interest rates and lower prices will start to bring the buyers back to the table. The most difficult thing for a buyer is timing the market. You want to buy a home because you want the home and you pay a reasonable price.

Many buyers are looking for prices to go lower. I believe prices have already dropped significantly, sellers just don't believe it and have not priced their homes appropriately.

The follow article was posted on AOL finance today:
Existing-Home Sales Hit 5-Year Low
AP
Posted: 2007-09-25 10:11:46
WASHINGTON (Sept. 25) -Sales of existing homes, depressed by turmoil in credit markets, fell for a sixth straight month in August, pushing activity to the lowest point in five years. The National Association of Realtors said that sales of existing single-family homes dropped by 4.3 percent in August, compared to July. Sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate dropped to 5.5 million units, the slowest pace since August 2002. The housing market has been battered by the steepest downturn in 16 years. Those problems were exacerbated in August by turmoil in credit markets, reflecting new worries about rising defaults in subprime mortgages. The median price of an existing home - the point where half sold for more and half for less - edged up slightly in August to $224,500, an increase of 0.2 percent from August 2006. It marked the first year-over-year price increase after a record 12 straight months of declining prices. However, many analysts believe that sales and prices will fall further as the housing market receives additional blows from rising default rates that are dumping more homes on an already glutted market and causing lenders to tighten standards. These factors have made it harder for potential borrowers to qualify for loans.
Read the full article from the link below:
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/existing-home-sales-hit-5-year-low/20070925073909990001

YES to Children

Scottsdale Realtors Endorse SUSD Ballot Initiatives

The Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® announced that the Association is officially endorsing the Scottsdale Unified School District’s two ballot initiatives: renewal of the Maintenance and Operations Override, and the Capital Override.

In a statement delivered to Yes to Children, President Matt Deuitch and CEO Robert W. Pierce, Jr. stated, “As REALTORS®, we recognize that education continues to remain one of the most important priorities a family considers when determining where they want to live. We strongly endorse SUSD’s commitment to the continuation of high educational standards for our children and for our community. Scottsdale is among the best anywhere!”

Deadline to request an Early Ballot is October 26th

The easiest way to vote and show your support for our schools is to request an early ballot and vote by mail. You can request an early ballot online by visiting the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office website at https://recorder.maricopa.gov or call the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office directly at 602-506-3535 and make a request.

Your ballot will be mailed to you prior to the election, and all you need to do is fill it out and drop it in the mail to make your vote count.

Don’t take the chance of a busy life getting in the way of casting your vote on Election Day. Request your early ballot today!

Jeff Cameron Weigh in September 19th, 2007

Several people mentioned to me prior to the party that the party would be an issue in my dieting. I responded each time that it was no problem. Well it was. It wasn't eating at the party the was the issue, it was all the work leading up to the party and the full exhaustion after ward. Wednesday night I was shopping late, Thursday I worked on the organization and Friday I started cooking. Friday night I never had dinner. I just sampled the dips and sauces to make sure I made them right. The shrimp dip doesn't taste right until the next day, but I sampled it oh about 10 times. I woke Saturday at 4:30 and started prepping. I took a break around 7:00 to go for a 3 mile run. Then I returned to prep until 2:00 when I showered and got ready for the party. So, here we are in week 5 and it is a set back week. The good news is over the past couple of days I took off some of the bloat from the party. The party was Awesome, by the way. Thank you to all of you who attended. Right now I am working on getting the attitude back to be pumped up and want to loose weight. I was motivated this morning when my weigh in came in so good. Yes, above last week, but not much. It is hard to keep the motivation going. Go, Go, Go. But it is working and I will. I plan on listening to some affirmations tonight on the way home. That will help. Thank you to Tom Ferry for those positive tools for use.

Thank you,

Jeff Cameron
The Cameron Team
Keller Williams High Desert Realty

Arizona Cardinals 23 Seattle Seachickens 20

September 17, 2007

Wow what a game! The cardinals came out and looked great through most of the first half. Matt Lienart was connecting with his receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and Edgerin James continued his ground attack. He ended the game with 128 yards of rushing, which is awesome. One of my favorite plays was 3rd and one on the Seattle 30 yard line. Because we have a running game we were able to take advantage of it to score. But not by running the ball. We lined up in a run formation and Leonard Pope, the 6 foot 7 tight end, snuck through on a play action pass. Leonard went 30 yards untouched for a touch down.
The defense held Seattle for most of the first half. It was disappointing how Seattle drove down the field just before the half and scored for the first time making the score 17 - 7. That score did not represent how much we dominated that team both on offense and defense. The offensive line was stellar. We had 2 rookies and second year Duece Lutui along with 2 veterans for our starting line. They were impressive and the difference. One of the rookies, center Lyle Sendlein, graduated from Chaparral High School. That's my alma mater.
The second half was a little different. Matt Lienart started off good and then the interception, which led to a touch down. Then Matt looked a little shaky, he was throwing the ball in the dirt, we had a false start and Matt tripped and thus a punt. This is where the game got scary. Seattle is up by 3, then we tie the game at 20. Now late in the 4th quarter and Seattle is driving. Time is running out. It is first and 5 at the 36 with under 2 minutes to go, Hasselbeck muffs hand off to Shawn Alexander, Cards linebacker Hayes forces fumble, Darnel Dockett recovers at the 44. We drive down and Neil Rackers kicks the winning field goal as time expires! What an AWESOME game. Really we showed strong defense, good special teams plays and an offense that could both run the ball and pass the ball. We were firing on all cylinders.
In listening to the players interviews I was shocked and impressed to hear what happened. Because the CROWD, the 12th man, was so loud; Shawn Alexander thought Matt Hasselbeck had audibled out of the play. There was just enough confusion for Gerald Hayes to get in and cause the fumble. So, I ask you all this basic question: How many games in the past would we have won with more crowd support in a REAL NFL stadium?

Jeff Cameron

Endless Summer BBQ

Saturday was the Endless Summer End Of Summer BBQ and it was great! Several people asked what that title meant, so I asked Jeff and he said, "Endless Summer refers to the fact by mid September we wish summer would end and then End of Summer refers to summer ending next week." We all enjoyed the Halibut, King Salmon and Cod from Jeff's Alaska Fishing Trip. Our menu consisted of: Z-Tejas recipe for blackened Fish Tacos, Blackened Halibut, Blackened Salmon, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Grilled Salmon with Basil Honey Vinaigrette, Grilled Halibut with Mango Relish, Hot Dogs, Fruit, Grilled Veggies, Potato Salad, Asian Cole Slaw, Tossed Green Salad, and more. It was tasty!
A big THANK YOU from The Cameron Team to John Todaro for stepping in and running the grill, he was a big help. You see him getting a little smoked out from the grill right here.



Thanks to Jeff & Lisa for opening up their house for everyone too! Jeff loves to entertain and throw big parties. This was a biggie, he said their biggest yet with approximately 125 guests. Many were children and they were having a blast in the pool and sliding down the big Rock Waterfall Slide. One casualty was the basket ball hoop, about 3/4 way through the party it broke. It had rusted through at the base and took its last dunk. Time for a new one!





For a bit it looked like it was going to rain. Many people volunteered to bring in the food and Jeff kept a positive attitude. There were a few drops but mainly the storms came from the South and North but never connected. We were the one dry spot between them and then they broke up. The weather was great for mid September. About 100 degrees for most of the afternoon. Hope everyone had a great time and enjoyed the friends, family, and food.





Included are some photos of the guests at the party. You can see the fish taco, some blackened Halibut and blackened King Salmon in this photo, but the fish is covered with the Mango Salsa. For those of you who are Muddy Buddy Sponsors, take a look at the food Jeff ate. He's really doing good trying to lose weight and get into shape for this event. However, he came in on Monday upset about his weight. He said it wasn't the party as much as it was the exhaustion from prepping for the party and not eating right during that period that put some pounds back on. Thanks for sponsoring him & donating to such a wonderful cause.





It was nice to meet those who came and finally put a name and voice to your face. Now when I talk to you I can remember what you look like. Great to see everyone having a good time. See you at the next event!

~Stormy

Jeff's Weekly Weight Watch 9-10-07

Here we are, three weeks into my weight loss and training program. I want to thank all my sponsors, for you are giving me the motivation, and pressure, I need to move forward and not give up as I have done for years.

This was a very difficult week, as are all, but as of yesterday, I feared a setback. However, I ended the week strong. While attending church, playing with the kids in the pool, watching football, cleaning the entire yard, cleaning the pool, reviewing the party menu, practicing my guitar, and spending several hours on the computer searching for buyers, I had a very active day, stuck with the diet and drank lots of water. This morning I was pleasantly surprised and rewarded with my weigh-in. Don't give up was my big "aha" for this week.

Thanks again for all the support and we will see you all Saturday at the party!

2007 Arizona Cardinals – Jeff Cameron’s pre-season picks

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Well we are here, at the Cameron household. As a matter of fact, I am watching the Denver Broncos battle the Buffalo Bills as I write this. However, it is the Arizona Cardinals I long to watch. I am a die hard Arizona Cardinal Fan! I have suffered for too too long! I wasn’t really into sports as a boy. My parents were divorced and I lived with my mom. Although, I remember watching Monday Night Football with mom, I think I was more interested in the pizza. I had no identification with a professional football team, nor did I pay attention to college football.
During college I roomed with a bunch of guys that lived to watch football and drink beer. It was fun and I became a fan. All my friends had their teams and I sided with them in support, but had no team of my own. Their teams were from their home town, teams they watched with dad, teams with one of their favorite college players playing for the team, teams with a great quarter back and or teams they just liked. I needed a reason to compel me to call a team “my team.”
In 1988, the Cardinals moved to Arizona and I knew my patients were to be rewarded. I now had a team. I was so excited. But here is what I found, I was the only one or so it seemed. My friends were upset their team was no longer on TV because of the Cardinals. It didn’t matter if that was the case or not, but when the Cardinals were on it was causing their team to be off. For years I watched the Arizona Cardinals in disappointment. We became season ticket holders and went to every home game. Each year we expected a better next year. We melted, we suffered we lost. If we were doing good, then a sell out meant missing a full quarter of the game to go get food, beer or use the restroom. ASU’s stadium is miserable. My best memory there was of course 1998 when we squeezed into the playoffs as a wildcard. I still remember looking at my buddy, Dale Hahne, when we beat the San Diego Chargers with a game ending field goal and we both agreed to jump the fence and charge the field. It was a crazy night. The following week Lisa, the kids and I went to the airport to cheer the victorious Cardinals as they returned from their playoff win in Dallas. It was a special night. OK, I am ready for something like that again.
Being a season ticket holder for over 10 years now, I love the new stadium. Last year was rough at 5 – 11, but at least we were comfortable. What kind of fan I am, now that we are comfortable it’s time to WIN. I love watching players like Anquan Boldin. It’s incredible to see a receiver take on safeties and linebackers like a running back would. HE MAKES THE GAME FUN! But more than just him, we have Larry Fitzgerald another incredible receiver. His speed and leaping powers are AWESOME. I expect a lot of touchdowns from these guys this year. Now they have Matt Lienart our Franchise quarterback of the now and the future. The talking heads are not giving the Arizona Cardinals much of a chance this year. I kinda like that, it takes the pressure off. I think we will surprise many this year.
Here are my picks for the 2007 Football Season:



September 19th Arizona Cardinals 27 VS. San Francisco 49ers 24
September 16th Arizona Cardinals 21 VS. Seattle Seahawks 31
September 23rd Arizona Cardinals 10 VS. Baltimore Ravens 14
September 30th Arizona Cardinals 24 VS. Pittsburgh Steelers 17
October 7th Arizona Cardinals 24 VS. St. Louis Rams 28
October 14th Arizona Cardinals 20 VS. Carolina Panthers 17
October 21st Arizona Cardinals 17 VS. Washington Redskins 10
October 28th Arizona Cardinals Bye week
November 4th Arizona Cardinals 31 VS. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
November 11th Arizona Cardinals 21 VS. Detroit Lions 14
November 18th Arizona Cardinals 17 VS. Cincinnati Bengals 24
November 25th Arizona Cardinals 31 VS. San Francisco 49ers 27
December 2nd Arizona Cardinals 24 VS. Cleveland Browns 14
December 9th Arizona Cardinals 17 VS. Seattle Seahawks 28
December 16th Arizona Cardinals 14 VS. New Orleans Saints 24
December 23rd Arizona Cardinals 24 VS. Atlanta Falcons 10
December 30th Arizona Cardinals 28 VS. St. Louis Rams 17

SEE YOU ALL IN THE POST SEASON!
2007 Arizona Cardinals 9 Wins 7 Loses

Remember the 2008 SUPERBOWL will be played in The Arizona Cardinals stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February the 3rd. To sign up to be a volunteer click the link below:

Spike's Super Crew

Arizona Real Estate Tracking Through August 2007

The numbers are out for August. As seen in the chart to the left, the increase in inventory is changing its trend. It was headed down as it did last year, but due to the "mortgage crisis" sales have dropped off and new listings have been fairly constant, causing an up trend in the total listing number. See below.

This chart is a comparison of weekly sales over the past six years. It shows our sales are trending lower than over this period. This charts single family homes only. It is not a full representation of the market because many buyers have turned to condos or townhomes as alternatives.

I have been tracking the sales in McDowell Mountain Ranch over the past 5 months. This chart shows the number of ACTIVE listings, trending up and the number of pending homes trending down. Demonstrating that McDowell Mountain Ranch is following the valley trends as this mortgage crisis plays out.

Letter from Ben Comen

Dear Mr. Cameron,

Thank you for the email, and for what you are doing. I hope your training is going well. How has the weather been during your training? How long are the bike and run segments? Sorry for all the questions but I am curious.

In terms of permission to raise the funds, permission is granted. Thank you so much for your willingness to help the foundation. The foundation's mission is to help disabled athletes in schools find their way through the maze of obstacles between them and participation in school sporting events. We are also providing scholarships to a disabled athlete who displays courage, determination, and perserverence in the face of adversity, to a supporter of that athlete, who stands behind them and supports them through thick and thin, in honor of my twin brother, Alex, and to give an award to a coach who takes on a disabled athlete and truly makes them a part of the team. Also, the donation is tax deductible.

Donations can be made to Living Without Limits at:Foothills Community Foundation, Living Without Limits FundP.O. Box 1228Anderson, SC 29622Also, please visit livingwithoutlimits.org for more information. The website is out of date but can provide some helpful information.

Thank you again for everything you are doing. Hope to hear from you soon.

Ben Comen

Polybutylene (PB) Plumbing

Because we are the neighborhood experts in the Tatum and Bell, Foothills Elementary Neighborhood, we get lots of questions regarding polybutylene plumbing and the effects it has on the sale and purchase of homes.

http://www.pbpipe.com/index1.htm is the website for claims and information regarding the recovery fund for PB claims. Please take a look at the guidelines for filing a claim to see if your home qualifies.

For more information on polybutylene and your home, contact us.

The Cameron Team End of Summer Party

YOU are Invited to our

Annual Endless Summer End of Summer BBQ
Enjoy an Alaskan Fish Experience!
Date: September 15th
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: Our Home
10654 E Palm Ridge Dr
Scottsdale 85255

Our way of saying Thank You for your
Friendships, business & Referrals!
Fun for the whole family!
Swimming
Rock Water Slide
Put-Put Golf
Fish Sandwiches/Tacos
Grilled Halibut
Grilled King Salmon
Hot Dogs &
More!!!

RSVP: Jeff @TheCameronTeam.com

Jeff's Weekly Weight Watch

What a week it's been!

A bad cold, a trip to California, and a run through McDowell Mountain Ranch, that kicked Jeff's butt. For those keeping track, Jeff started August at 245, he wanted to kick it up a notch, so he decided to team his weight loss with a donation to "Living Without Limits" Ben Comen's Foundation. So far he has received over $265 per lb lost in donations pledged, thats over $2300 in donations, so far!

To make a pledge, click here and put Jeff's Weight Watch in the comment line.

City of Scottsdale Updates

We've got some great things going on here in Scottsdale, check out some of the latest info provided by the city:

below
AUGUST 31, 2007
WHAT’S NEW?

SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE TO BEGIN DEMOLITION OF FORMER ROBINSONS-MAY Starting in early September, Scottsdale Fashion Square will begin demolition of a section of the mall formerly occupied by the Robinsons-May department store. To minimize impacts to adjacent property owners and mall customers, the demolition dirt haul will occur from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., in phases, thru February 2008. Dirt-hauling construction trucks will exit and enter the site via Fashion Square Drive, a signaled access point off of Scottsdale Road. For more information, Rick Roberts, Senior project superintendent, Kitchell Contractors, (480) 947-3887, (602) 399-0392,
http://eservices.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/cases/casesheet.aspx?caseid=33306

http://eservices.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/cases/casesheet.aspx?caseid=33936.

DOWNTOWN BRIDGE NOW OPEN TO PEDESTRIANS The new Downtown bridge spans the Arizona Canal between the Waterfront and the new SouthBridge development is now open to pedestrians. The bridge, which is only intended for pedestrians and Downtown Trolley traffic, features bollards that go down automatically only when trolleys approach. The project, which included bridge construction, pedestrian underpasses, land acquisition, landscape enhancements and linkages to the city's loop drive, cost approximately $1.8 million. For more information, Bill Peifer, project manager, (480) 312-7869, bpeifer@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.
Proposed Fashion Square Expansion

COMMUNITY DESIGN STUDIO FALL/WINTER LECTURE SERIES Scottsdale's Community Design Studio, in collaboration with the ASU School of Design and Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory, is hosting a series of free community lectures to explore issues related to design, architecture, economics and sustainability. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by calling (480) 312-2647. For more information or a list of scheduled lectures, www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/bldgresources/planning.asp

CITY’S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT CONTINUES IN NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION As part of their on-going neighborhood revitalization efforts, the city’s Solid Waste Management department continues to work with residents about alley maintenance, bulk and brush pick up and recycling issues and opportunities. Part of this work includes meeting and talking with residents to address questions and concerns that can help keep neighborhoods in the revitalization area safe and beautiful. For more information, Solid Waste Management, (480) 312-5600. To contact your area Solid Waste Management representatives, call Oscar Espinoza, (480) 312-5730, oespinoza@ScottsdaleAZ.gov or Manuel Castillo, (480) 312-8107, mcastillo@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS The city is offering funding opportunities to assist residents with neighborhood-based improvement projects. The Neighborhood Enhancement Partnership program addresses individual neighborhood needs before they become community challenges. In order to apply for funding, residents are required to attend one of two free orientation workshops offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. or on Sept. 11 at the city's Human Resources building., Pinnacle Room, 7575 E. Main St. Pre-registration is required. Funding application deadline is Nov. 9. For more information, (480) 312-3111,
www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/departments/CNR/Neighborhood_Services_and_Preservation/Neighborhood_Enhancement_Partnership.asp.

To view the latest progress at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/ASUScottsdale/images/underconstruction/2007/01-17-07a.asp

To see a list of the city’s south transportation improvement projects, visit:
http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/projects/ProjectsInNews or http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/reinvestment

To read the latest Scottsdale Police monthly newsletter in English and Spanish, visit:
http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/LawEnforcement/districts/D1.asp

http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/departments/deptDetail.asp?deptID=31

Get "real time" information about construction activity, development requests, building permits, code enforcement notices & crime activity in your neighborhood by visiting: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/projects/myneighborhood