About Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

A Snopes Story: Safety Advice for Women

Taken from Snopes, this is very scary!

By: Irma Haldanethumbnail

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“Sunday afternoon around 5 PM I headed into the Target in Philadelphia, Pa. where crime is VERY RARE and mostly it is with bikes being stolen!!  It was still light outside and I parked fairly close to the entrance. As I got out of my car and began walking towards Target, an older lady shouted to me from the passenger seat of a car about 30 feet away from me.
“Ma’am you must help me, help me please, help me Ma’am!”

I looked at her in the eyes and started to walk towards her when all of a sudden I remembered an email my Mom had sent me a week or two ago about rapists and abductions using 2 elderly people to lure women in. I paused, memorized the license plate and immediately headed into Target to get a manager to come help this lady, just in case something was up.

While the woman manager headed out there, I kept a close watch just because I was curious what was wrong with the lady and wanted to be sure nothing happened. As the Target lady walked up towards the car and got very close to the old woman in order to help her, the back door of the car flies open and a large man with stocking cap on, jumps out and sticks a gun to the lady’s stomach as he shoves her into the back of the car.

I yelled out “call 911″ several times and just as I was saying that, a policeman who happened to be on the other side of the parking lot! And who, luckily had seen the entire thing happen, raced over to the car.   He was able to stop the car and arrest the male as well as the old lady, who was involved in the scheme.

By God’s grace everyone was all right, including my self, although I think we were both shaken up.   Like many of you, I would not in a million years have left an elderly person who was yelling for help if it weren’t for the e-mail I had read last week. So, I wanted to pass this along so you all can be aware and remember that you really can’t trust anyone these days. You just never know when something like this could happen.

I would have never dreamed it to happen to me especially on a Sunday afternoon at a Target in a safe area! It definitely was not a coincidence that my Mom sent that Email just a few days before this all happened.

Please, be careful and always be aware of your surroundings. Just because you individually don’t go over to help someone doesn’t mean you have to leave them in trouble, but don’t go ALONE, you really don’t know what might be going on.

This was checked with 20Snopes.com Snopes
This is true – and they also use children to lure the victim

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Lead Renovation Rule in Real Estate

This is Brought to you by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®paint

By: Irma Haldane

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Renovations that disturb lead-based paint in older residential dwellings and child-occupied facilities must generally comply with the Lead-Based Paint Renovation Rule of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Realtors who act as listing agents or property managers who advise their clients to perform renovations, repairs, or painting projects for such properties may, as a matter of prudence, also want to inform them about these lead renovation requirements.  One common example is when a listing agent recommends that a seller has a home painted to improve its marketability.

Under the newly implemented rule, renovators of target housing built before 1978 must now be trained and EPA-certified to lead-paint-removalperform safe work practices to prevent lead contamination. Additionally, renovators must deliver EPA’s lead renovation pamphlet to an occupant within 60 days before a project begins (and, if mailed, at least seven days before a project begins).  Renovators must also obtain the occupant’s signed acknowledgment of receipt or substitute documentation as specified.

The EPA issued this rule in 2008, but delayed implementation until now. The rule generally applies to building contractors, handymen, residential landlords, property managers, and anyone else who is paid to perform renovations or to direct workers to perform renovations as specified. The lead renovation rule does not apply to homeowners renovating the homes they live in.  However, sellers of target housing must, among other things, disclose to their buyers any known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards (C.A.R. Form FLD).

Renovation work covered by the lead renovation rule is defined as a modification of an existing structure that disturbs a painted surface, such as surface restoration or surface preparation activity. Excluded are minor repair and maintenance activities that disrupt up to 6 square feet of interior painted surface or 20 square feet of exterior painted surface.  Demolitions and window replacements are not considered minor repairs.

For more information about the lead renovation rule, C.A.R. offers a legal article entitled Federal Lead-Based Paint Renovation Rule.  See also EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting webpage which includes the new requirements, pamphlets, and other resources.  To locate an EPA-certified renovation firm, go here.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Traffic Citations Cost More than Face Value

Traffic tickets are more expensive than you thoughttraffic prices in ventura county

By: Irma Haldane

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With California steeped in massive debt, increased traffic tickets are one way our State government is generating a few extra bucks. Many motorists remain unaware that roughly $28 in penalty assessments are added to every $10 of a base traffic fine in Ventura County, according to county records. That’s a 180 percent markup to the original ticket.

As Christina Egan recently experienced, a $100 citation, with mandated penalties, can run as high as $446. Astonishingly, a $20 cell phone ticket adds up to $97 and many times reaches $143. A $35 ticket for driving up to 15 mph over the speed limit will end up costing $217, including traffic school.

According to Automobile Club of Southern California, over the past few years traffic penalties have increased up to seven times the cost of the base fine.

In Ventura County, about 55 percent of the overall ticket revenue goes to the county, 34 percent goes to the state, 6 percent is allocated between the city and county — depending on where a ticket is issued — and 5 percent goes to crime victims.

Hopefully this will serve as motivation to slow down a bit, come to a full stop and obey traffic laws.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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California Car Buyers’ Protection Act

New Laws for 2010

California Car Buyers’ Protection Act

California Car Buyers’ Protection Act

By: Irma Haldane

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As we’ve been discussing the move over law and understanding the potential implications for failing to comply with the law, I’ve come across a couple other laws that could be important for our readers. Here’s this weeks law according to the DMV:

“This new law requires a vehicle dealer to pay off the outstanding loan or lease balance on any vehicle accepted in trade within 21 calendar days of taking the vehicle in trade. Additionally, it prohibits a dealer from selling, consigning for sale, or transferring a vehicle accepted in trade before the outstanding loan or lease balance has been paid. This law also raises fees for dealer licenses.”

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Protect Yourself During an Earthquake

Drop, Cover, and Hold On

By: Irma Haldane

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Federal, state, and local emergency management experts in the United States, the Red Cross, and other official preparedness organizations all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. This fact sheet contains important information that may save your life in the next earthquake.

The “Drop, Cover and Hold On” protocol, when performed correctly with an awareness of your surroundings, remains the most effective single piece of advice that you can follow when an earthquake occurs. More detailed information about what to do during an earthquake can be found at www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/step5.html.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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2010 Move Over Law

In California, the “Move-over” law become operative on January 1, 2010.

By: Irma Haldane

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The Law holds that motorists in California could be fined for failing to slow down or move over when passing parked emergency vehicles.

MoveOverLogo

Move Over!

I recently found this story regarding the Move-over Law:

I wanted to let my Medlock Bridge neighbors know about the move over law. My son got a ticket on Pleasant Hill coming back from Wal-Mart. A Duluth police car (turned out it was 2 police cars) was on the side of the road giving a ticket to someone else. My son slowed down to pass but did not move into the other lane. The second police car immediately pulled him over and gave him a ticket. My son and I had never heard of the law. It is a fairly new law that states if any emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, if you are able, you are to move into the next lane or slow down to 20 miles below the posted Speed limit.

As the cost of the ticket was $754, with 3 points on your license and a mandatory court appearance, it seems like an important law to share.  Beware people!

Visit: http://www.moveoveramerica.com/

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Agoura Hills Amphicar

By: Irma Haldane

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right and left

Pam D' Ambrosio (left) Alan Woodcock (right)

Pam D’ Ambrosio, from the Ewing & Assoc. Sotheby’s Agoura Office and her husband, Alan Woodcock, enjoy an adventure on the lake in their restored Amphicar.  Many hours went into the restoration of this unique amphibious car/boat and they do get many curious stares when they are out on the lake.  Their friends enjoy going along for the ride too.

The Amphian was built in Germany in the 60′s and has a Triumph Herald engine.  It is referred to as the Model 770 – 7 knots on the water and 70 miles on the road. The car is put into gear (a stick shift gear) when going down the boat ramp and that switches it to the propellers and you are “going swimming” in the lake.

When in the water, the car gets many lookers and as well as questions.  Pam and Alan have fun with the car and will at time tell other boaters “We’re lost, do you know where the freeway is?”.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.  Irma Haldane Real Estate Agent, Ewing and Sotheby’s.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Be a Santa to a Senior in Thousand Oaks

Seniors need Santa?7

By: Irma Haldane

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Well, yes.  At least that’s what the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program says.  This Christmas, elderly residents in need of some extra help can attain assistance.  The sixth annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” program provides non medical home care and companionship for elderly persons.  You can participate in “Be a Santa to a Senior” through Monday, December 14th.

Christmas trees will be erected and draped with ornaments containing the first names of the seniors and their gift requests. Just pick up an ornament, buy what’s on the list and return them to the store.  Volunteers and nonprofit workers will collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to the seniors.

Find your local Christmas tree at: Thousand Oaks: Curves, 2090 Newbury Road and 1738 Moorpark Road; Valley Bakery, 2838 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.; Atria Hillcrest, 405 Hodencamp. To volunteer to help on giftwrapping day, call Laurie Reid at (805) 577-0926.

For more information about the program, go to:http://beasantatoasenior.com/

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Agoura Hills Extends Cell Tower

The saga continues…070726210108

By: Irma Haldane

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The cell phone moratorium in Agoura Hills has been extended for another 10 months.  Due to the speculation of cell towers causing damage to citizens health, T-Mobile request was originally stomped out.  Because the City Council is divided on the issue, the debate continues anew despite the recently ruling banning cell towers.  City Council member John Edelston said, “We need to step back and see what’s best for the city.”  We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the story develops.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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Agoura Hills Trader Joe's to Open

We’ve been excited about thistrader Joes2

By: Irma Haldane

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Popular Trader Joe’s grocery store is coming to Agoura Hills in 2010, along with other stores and restaurants. The project known as Shops at Oak Creek is slated to open about September.  Area residents will be pleased that the grocery store will be so convenient being located on Canwood St., east of Kanan, not far from McDonalds.  The developer has been working with the City of Agoura Hills to establish a unique shopping area that includes Oak Creek running thru the area.  It is anticipated that customers will enjoy having a new venue in which to shop and to enjoy other dining experiences.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Irma Haldane

Irma Haldane, estate agent at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, represents buyers and sellers throughout the West San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys with specialization in Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Camarillo and Westlake Village.

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