Exclusive Vanagon "Super Flier" Ring & Pinion now available!

Country Homes Campers is proud to offer our new custom Super Flier Ring and Pinion (R&P) for the Automatic VW Vanagon (water-cooled vehicles only).

ADVANTAGES

Save your transmission
Reduce your RPM’s by 800 revolutions (depending on size of rims and tires)
Increasing your gas mileage (MPG) by up to 23%
Any qualified installer with a VW setting tool can install this Ring and Pinion
Choose your own R&P installer or use one of our recommended shops
Not a cheap knockoff product
New high quality production using the finest materials

Super Flier achieves a 20% reduction in RPMs, which increases your fuel economy 23%. Lowering RPMs is especially important for more powerful Subaru, Ford and other motor conversions. By increasing your tire and rim size you can also decrease your RPM’s but this puts strain on your transmission. The R&P Super Flier significantly lower your RPMs without increased strain on your transmission. So switching your R&P is the better modification to make.

COST

The Super Flier Ring & Pinion is now available within North America.
The cost is ONLY $1,500.00 + Shipping.
Note: Sales tax added for CA sales.
To order please visit www.countryhomescampers.com or call (815) 346-3337


MORE ABOUT CHC

Based in California, Country Homes Campers (CHC) has over 30 years of experience working with quality Volkswagen, Ford and other model campers.

Known for camper conversions, CHC is your camper van expert specializing in camper vehicles and camper accessories.

Visit CHC online at www.countryhomescampers.com.

Cherie Miller & Associates, Joshua Tree and 29 Palms Realty

Cherie Miller & Associates, Joshua Tree Realty and 29 Palms Realty offers services for your realty needs, whether you’re a buyer seller or investor. The agents come from all over and have different real estate specialties with the same passion and appreciation on the beauty of the desert communities they all call “home”.

WHY Cherie Miller

“Trust.” That’s the number one advantage in choosing Cherie Miller & Associates, Joshua Tree Realty and 29 Palms Realty to help you find the perfect home, neighborhood and price. They are a family-owned, local, full-service real estate office. Cherie Miller & Associates have diverse backgrounds and specialties

It is with great satisfaction for Cherie Miller to hand buyers the keys to their new home at closing and sees how their faces light up. They always look forward to helping each family to find and settle to their new desert home and community.  And willingly help sell your home from the time you’re ready to move as well.

The home buying process

Cherie Miller & Associates will assist you in making sure everything goes smoothly, from the start to moving-in.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how the buying process works.

1. Price. The staff will talk to you about price, to understand how much you are qualified for, what you want to pay for a monthly payment and help you with the pre-approval process.

2. Next the staff will talk about house size and location. Expect to be asked a lot of questions to help pinpoint the ideal house and location to fit your needs and lifestyle. For instance, do you have school-age children? Animals? If so, how many? This can be a determining factor. Where do you work? Are you retired? After determining all of these factors, they’ll filter them for areas and properties that fit your family needs and wants.

3. Showings. Once you to clearly identify your house needs and location, the next step is to get ready to view 2 to 10 homes until you find the right fit for you.

4. Offer. After you’ve picked the house you want, the staff will help you do the necessary paperwork and deliver your offer to the seller’s agent. Please note. You’ll usually be asked to write a check for a minimum of $500 or up to 3% of the house price. The check is to show you are a serious buyer and will be held as an earnest money deposit.

5. Escrow. When the seller accepts your offer, escrow will be established, serving as a neutral third party for all of the documents. The papers for the lender must be given to your lender as soon as possible and be thorough and accurate to keep from delaying the escrow. It’ll make sure that every “t” is crossed, every “i” is dotted and all necessary papers are signed properly.

6. Loan documents. The lender will prepare the loan documents. The lender will check closely to make sure they reflect the customer’s agreed-upon terms before they sign them and a notary will be available to notarize the deed of trust. At this point the client will provide the down payment, reflecting the difference from the deposit check, in the form of a cashier’s check or wire transfer.

7. Recording deed. Once the deed has been recorded with the county recorder’s office, the keys are handed over. Welcome home!

LISTING WITH CHERIE MILLER  

“Sold.”

That’s the word everyone want to hear from the real estate agent. It’s a satisfying reward to hang that sign in the yard. It shows that the agent was successful in helping the clients move on to the next stage of their lives with one less thing to worry about.

Cherie Miller & Associates will accomplish it with strategic local and Internet advertising, by promoting their proprietary Summer Catalog. Experienced real estate pros will help you navigate the paperwork and now – easy search tools on our website to help you find properties quickly.

Cherie Miller & Associates, Joshua Tree Realty and 29 Palms Realty are family-owned, local, full-service real estate offices. They are protecting the high reputation of the company name and proud of what they do. Their agents have diverse backgrounds and specialties in Real Estate in the Morongo Basin.

The home selling process

Once you’ve decided to place your home on the market, here are the steps involved in selling it.

1. Choosing your agent. These are tricky times, but that’s all the more reason to choose your agent wisely. We don’t view our clients as numbers.

2. Price. Analyzing comparable properties on the market and recently sold, look at upgrades and special benefits to come up with a price that positions your home attractively in your area.

3. Sign and lock box. Once you’ve signed a listing contract with Cherie Miller & Associates, the sign goes up, the lock box goes on and the marketing of your home begins.

4. Neatness sells. Now for the hard part: keeping your home “model” clean and tidy. But it’s worth it. All it takes is that one buyer, and we’ll help find the right one.

5. Offer. When a buyer makes an offer, you may need to negotiate a fair sales amount, presented through the agents. Once you approve the offer or counter-offer, you need to sign it.

6. Inspection. Your home will be inspected at this point; to be sure there are no unidentified problems. Be sure all utilities are on.

7. Escrow. All paperwork is handled through escrow, serving as a neutral third party. Papers need to be signed and notarized, including the grant deed.

8. Closing. At closing, the buyer will bring loan funds or cash, which is placed in escrow. At this point, be sure to turn off the utilities!

9. Deed recording. Escrow will arrange the recording of your home deed.

Disbursement of funds. Upon confirmation of the close of escrow, the buyer is given all keys and remotes. You can pick up your check or have the funds wired to your bank. Have a happy move

For your Yucca Valley, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Joshua Tree and 29 Palms real estate needs, trust Cherie Miller & Associates at telephone number (760) 369-1800.

Napa Dentist and Dental Implants & Dentures by Steven M. Mansfield

Since opening the practice doors in 1986, Valley Prosthodontics primary goal is to serve the patient with the highest level of professional dental care in an environment of compassion, courtesy, and confidence.

They are dedicated to keeping skills sharp and ears open. Valley Prosthodontics invites everyone to share their hopes and concerns, and to fully participate in the treatment process. The staff is hoping that your experience with them will lead to recommendation to your family and friends.

Why a Prosthodontics

Prosthodontists is a licensed dentist with two to three years of additional specialized training in dental prosthetics—the replacement and repair of missing or damaged teeth.

Prosthodontics’ routinely collaborate with general dentists and other specialists, and are specially qualified to provide advanced dental care involving crowns, bridges, implants, and removable dentures. We also perform routine screening for oral cancer and TMJ disorders, as well as more sophisticated reconstruction involving the teeth and hard and soft tissues of the mouth and face.

Services

An immediate denture is a full or partial denture which is placed immediately following the extraction of natural teeth. Extractions are performed very comfortably with local anesthesia or oral sedation. The principal benefit of an immediate denture is that it protects the patient from the inconvenience and possible embarrassment of being without teeth. The denture itself can also aid in the post-surgical healing process by protecting tissues and reducing bleeding.

Percelain Crowns, Bridges and Veneers

A crown is a dental restoration that covers all or most of the visible portion of the tooth. It is used when a tooth has become damaged by decay or trauma, or to improve appearance.

A fixed bridge replaces missing teeth, is non-removable and natural feeling. This useful procedure involves joining a prosthetic tooth to sturdy crowns on either side. These crowns are then cemented over a patient’s natural teeth, effectively “bridging” the gap in between. A bridge may also utilize dental implants for support when several teeth are missing.

Veneers are thin coverings of porcelain or composite which are placed upon the visible surface of the tooth. They are primarily applied to front teeth and are used for aesthetic purposes. They can restore, lengthen, brighten and reshape teeth, often dramatically improving a person’s smile.

Natural Looking Partial & complete Dentures

Full and partial dentures are removable prosthetic appliances used to replace missing teeth. They may allow a patient to enjoy a greater variety of foods, while promoting a more youthful and natural face structure and smile.

Extractions & immediate Dentures

An immediate denture is a full or partial denture which is placed immediately following the extraction of natural teeth. Extractions are performed very comfortably with local anesthesia or oral sedation. The principal benefit of an immediate denture is that it protects the patient from the inconvenience and possible embarrassment of being without teeth. The denture itself can also aid in the post-surgical healing process by protecting tissues and reducing bleeding.

Implant Prosthodontics

For most patients, dental implants provide the most attractive, permanent, and functional replacement for missing teeth. The implant is placed into the jaw where it serves as a sturdy and durable foundation upon which a prosthetic tooth (crown) is securely placed.

Implants can also be used to secure dentures, greatly improving their stability, comfort and function. The implant itself serves as an anchor to the jaw and aids in maintaining the natural shape of the face.

The computer and medical worlds are both working hard to develop small and smaller components. In similar fashion, a smaller version of the dental implant has been successfully utilized in selected cases. These mini implants (1.8mm diameter) enable your dentist to broaden the spectrum of patients that can be treated. The Sendax MDI System was developed in order to provide greater denture stability for those patients who cannot withstand thee rigors of conventional implant surgery, do not have enough bone to allow for full-sized implants to be placed, or are in on-going therapy from one prosthetic system to another.

What are MDI Implants?

The MDI System consists of a miniature titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth, and a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of your denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball, and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.

TMJ Therapy

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge which connects the lower jaw to the skull. Trauma or disease to the TMJ can cause problems such as jaw pain, headaches and earaches. Special diagnostic skills are used to help determine the best treatment for TMJ dysfunction sufferers.

Valley Prosthodontics with D.M.D. Steven Mansfield has offices in the towns of Napa and Sonoma.

For questions about Dental Implants and Dentures services call Valley Prosthodontics at (707) 252-1950   

Gallinas Watershed Council in 2011

Efforts by the Gallinas Watershed Council to promote watershed planning for the zip code 94903 area (North San Rafael) finally paid off as Marin County launched a serious effort to begin this process in 2011.

Other watersheds in Marin have had their cities such as Ross, Fairfax, Corte Madera, Larkspur and Novato stepping up as major partners.

We hope San Rafael will do the same. Upstream impervious development and creek channelization leads to downstream flooding; a whole watershed approach will create systemic improvements so that those at the end of the line are not shouldering the burden alone.

GWC highlights from 2011:

Jan:

Participated at the Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair

Feb:

Held our 1st community watershed workshop at Northgate Mall
Gave tours of the creek with local politicians and journalists to draw
attention to the significant value of the wetlands
Attended a LOT of meetings around the bay dealing with Sea Level Rise,
Climate Change and Watershed planning

May:

Began developing our watershed plan vision
Became an official creek group within North Bay Watershed Association
Promoted Marin County’s Watershed plan to local agencies
Made watershed presentations with Liz Lewis to Santa Margarita,
Contempo Marin and Mont Marin Homeowners’ Associations

Sept:

Held our first Watershed Education Bike Tour and BBQ
Presented Gallinas Creek info at the Santa Venetia Labor Day Picnic

Nov:

Presented watershed appropriate planning information at the SMART
Civic Station Area Design Committee community meeting
With Diana Connolly developed the Gallinas Creek Watershed Survey
www.surveymonkey.com/s/ gallinascreekwatershed
Submitted a letter and spoke out to SR Planning Commission
addressing the serious flaws in the FEIR for the airport soccer development

GWC will continue to monitor proposed developments and speak out against inappropriate development.

We will be watching as the Phase 2 Stormwater Pollution regulations come into effect and help support city and county efforts to keep our waterways free of trash and toxic chemicals.

We will also keep reminding everyone of the effects of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise on our area and promote ways that work with, not
against, nature.

As always we can use your help, personally and financially, as we work to protect our local natural environment. Join our email list at www.gallinaswatershed.org to stay in touch with important issues or join us for a kayak tour, bike ride or headlands hike that celebrate this beautiful landscape we are so fortunate to live in. We usually meet on the third Monday of the month and would love to have you join us!

To volunteer for Gallinas Watershed Council call  415 578 2580.

Real Estate Appraisal, Appraiser in Marin County and San Francisco Bay Area - Semple Appraisals Inc.

Since 1962 our family-owned business Semple Appraisals Inc, has been providing both residential and commercial valuations and consultations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This longevity contributes to our balance perspective, offering clients equitable, comprehensive appraisal reports.  The real estate appraisal business was started by Charles Padraic (Pat) Semple who was an appraiser for over 50 years.

We are an experienced team of licensed, certified and designated appraisers. Our helpful staff offers:
   Appraisal services
   Appraisal reports
   Appraisal valuations
   Appraisal consultations

Semple Appraisal provides appraisal services for these uses:
   Trusts
   Estates
   Loans
   Commercial properties
   Industrial properties
   Residential properties
   Agricultural properties

From our office in San Rafael, Marin County, we offer appraisal services throughout the greater Bay Area.

Our service area includes:
   Marin County
   Sonoma County
   Napa County
   Solano County
   San Francisco County
   San Mateo County
   Alameda County
   Contra Costa County
   Santa Clara County

For inquiry about Semple's real estate appraisals services contact (415) 472-7833.

Indian Restaurant, Taj of Marin in Downtown San Rafael, Marin County

For tourists and those wandering around San Rafael, one thing you should not miss is a dinner at Taj of Marin. Foodies and those who just have an empty stomach will both be satisfied here.

Taj of Marin is located in downtown San Rafael right on 4th Street.  Taj of Marin serves North and South Indian cuisine at a very reasonable price.  Indian art works gives the restaurant a touch of Indian culture. They even have live Indian music that compliments the Indian ambiance.


The restaurant serves an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch at a low price. There is a wide variety of Indian dishes to choose from. From mouthwatering appetizers to tandoori to desserts you'll enjoy eating lunch or dinner at Taj of Marin. Foods are labeled so you can choose vegan and gluten free options. Just right for vegetarian and health conscious people. Meat lovers also have many delicious choices.

Come enjoy an awesome Indian food experience at Taj of Marin.

Rogers Remodel Promotes Green Projects!

When every last detail of bath or kitchen remodel is wrapped up, Northern California plumber and building contractor Jamie Rogers hopes his clients are happy with the way the room looks and works. Most of the time, the project also makes the home a whole lot greener.

Rogers brings a passion for both green plumbing and green building to every project. In construction for 18 years and plumbing for 15, he started Rogers Remodel, Inc. in 2003 in Novato in the San Francisco Bay Area. He studied civil engineering and worked as a journeyman carpenter in Washington State before moving to California.

Rogers Remodel primarily serves affluent Marin and Sonoma counties, San Francisco and the East Bay. The full-service plumber handles residential and light commercial work, from basic plumbing to full-on, ripped-down-to-the-studs renovations. The company does repairs, inspections, sewer and drain work, water audits, gas line and water heater installation, and bath and kitchen installation and remodeling.

Rogers is not shy about admitting he's a bit of an evangelist on the subject of conservation, saying that he's frankly touched when his efforts to educate homeowners and business clients hit home. Sometimes he's preaching to the choir. Customers do come to him with an eye to reducing immediate water and energy use and slicing utility costs for the long run.

He estimates that 75 percent of his remodels are green and 80- to 90 percent of his plumbing projects have a green component. Rogers has been able to reduce clients' water bills as much as 47 percent.

The company has benefited from the remodeling surge in recent years, Rogers said, as owners of older homes take on updating a single bath or knocking down walls to create expansive master suites or create double bathrooms. He cited projects where a total "remodel" budget has surpassed the value of the original space and his part of the job was significant. Most of his larger remodeling jobs have been in Sonoma and Marin Counties, where clients have had the funds to renovate.

Rogers is on a mission to convince more clients that a green remodel is within their budget. "If there's one thing consumers need to know, it's that green projects and products don't have to be any more expensive than traditional options. "They can get the look they want with products that do the job while saving water and energy," Rogers said.

As a plumber/building contractor, Rogers is hands-on during the design and specification stages of many projects, offering his input on sourcing green products.

He uses many of the same sources repeatedly because field experience has demonstrated what products best fit project needs, while being on constant lookout for new products and ways to improve on installation. For example, when possible, he configures piping in shorter runs to get water where it needs to go more quickly and efficiently.

One extensive remodeling project was the 4,500 square foot Courtney residence in Marin County's slightly posh Mill Valley. "The initial plan was to add a guest suite to the '70s era home, and push out to give the son a larger room and private bath," Rogers said.

The Mill Valley project's "in-law" suite included a kitchen, bath and laundry room. Rogers did the plumbing on those areas as well as remodeling three existing baths, five baths in all. The job stretched over eight months, with possibly the biggest challenge having to haul cast iron up about 90 steps, he said.

The plumbing work included interior re-piping in PEX and copper and exterior in Aquatherm, a very durable green pipe that uses heat to fuse pipes together, and installation of a whole-house circulation system with Metlund pumps. Hot water was provided via two A.O. Smith hybrids, a large one of the main house and a smaller one for the guest house. The advantage of the hybrids, Rogers explained was that they heat up water quickly like a tankless but also store water, and that an upgrade of the gas line wasn't required.

In the baths, Rogers put in Toto high efficiency 1.28 gpf toilets, lower flow Grohe valves and showerheads and low-flow Hansgrohe faucets. While they were at it, the homeowners added PV solar. Rogers' pride in the project is obvious when he talks about how cool the baths look with features selected from Restoration  Hardware that give the baths a retro, yet modern feel.

For another large green project, the Kramer residence in Novato, the company remodeled a full kitchen and two baths. Rogers and his full-time crew of three not only did the plumbing but framing, electrical, cabinetry and lighting as well.

"What I liked about this kitchen is the use of recycled materials and natural light," Rogers said. The countertops are fabricated of recycled marble and granite and the backsplash of recycled glass. Natural light is brought in by a skylight and the space boasts energy-saving under-cabinet LED lighting. A non-demand circulation system feeds hot water to remodeled kitchen and two bathrooms.

An example of going green without sacrificing the "wow factor" is a bath from another Rogers Remodel project in Novato which included a full kitchen and two baths.Green materials were used when possible. The master bath was plumbed with low-flow faucets and showerheads in the large shower and soaking tub with waterfall faucet, and the builder used recycled materials for the floor, and added a skylight and LED lighting. "In the master bath, we retained the tank heater. On a lot of projects we'll upgrade the tank or go tankless, depending on what they need what their peak flow is."

The large shower guest bath had both a rain-type showerhead and a handheld shower. The installer used a diverter so that only one low-flow showerhead or the other could be used at one time.

Green features in the kitchen included a recirculation pump, aerators on faucet, a low water use dishwasher, skylights, and LED under-cabinet lights. On projects like this, Rogers said, it's important to insulate everything well.

Rogers' efforts on the green plumbing front earned him the GreenPlumber of Year award or the Western states from GreenPlumbers USA and IAPMO. He was cited for "going above and beyond by collaborating with community partners to install water catchment systems in two local schools. Jamie has calculated that he has saved 2.4 million gallons of water this year [2011] in the Bay Area and has also promoted water conservation by serving on local job-building boards and green employment councils."

"We teamed up with local water districts for toilet change outs and did a lot of water audits the past year for clients in commercial buildings and we were able to calculate how much water was saved with the change outs and the other projects that I did," Rogers explained.

On the school projects, "we teamed up with RainwaterHog, a rainwater harvesting company out of Australia, to install rainwater capture systems in a couple of different schools," Rogers said. "We met them (RainwaterHog) at a trade show and signed on as distributor and installer of their products in the Bay Area."

Through GreenPlumbers, Rogers and the manufacturer put in seven rainwater tanks and a hand pump at McKinley Elementary School in San Francisco for the students to use to water their plants. They installed three tanks at Hall Middle School in Larkspur which were rigged to flush a toilet. "We donated most of our services for those first two projects. It's a great hands-on demonstration about conservation for the kids. We want to do more like them."Rogers plans to keeping delivering the green message, whether with individual homeowners or business clients, working with local water districts in programs such as water audits and toilet change outs and through GreenPlumbers to help educate other plumbing and building professionals.

Even though he started on the construction side, Rogers said he loves plumbing. And, there's no greater compliment to plumber or builder than having a client say, "I love the work you did and I want you for my next project."

Check out the article written about Rogers Remodel in Reeves Journal, the oldest publication in the plumbing industry.