Category Archives: Weekly News Columns

Three Cheers for the Postman

By Mark Hopper

 

I suspect that the employees at the post office are the recipients of a lot of criticism.   I know I have voiced my frustration about the long lines and slow service at the post office in the past.  Maybe you have too.

 

I am sure that they hear many comments and words of criticism that are unkind and undeserved.  Customers are always in a hurry and it seems like the lines moves slowly at the post office.  I’m sure that the postal employees have a thankless task as they try to serve the needs of impatient customers.

 

However, I want to go on record and express my appreciation for the people at the post office in Diamond Bar.  I was pleasantly surprised by the shorter lines and positive service.  They deserve some recognition for their hard work.

 

We tend to ship things overseas several times a year.  Birthdays and holidays required sending small packages with special gifts for wonderful grandchildren and family members.

 

My wife does most of the shopping.  She asks our daughters who live overseas what the grandkids need or want for their birthdays or Christmas.  They provide some helpful ideas and she sets out to find the right gift for each grandchild.

 

Sometimes, we order gifts online and have them shipped directly to their homes.  Amazon, FedEx and UPS all offer delievery overseas.  Many of the items are already in Europe, we just have to track them down and order the desired items.

 

But, some gifts need to be purchased locally and shipped overseas.  We have found that shipping them through the local post office is most coat effective.  Don’t misunderstand, the price to ship even a small box to Europe is pretty high.  But, our post offfice has a pretty good record getting our packages to their oversea destination on time.

 

We have a very diverse community in Diamond Bar.  People who live here are from all over the world.  And, these wonderful people send letters and packages to their friends and families all over the world.  I have seen postal employees patiently assist people from many different countries.  They have helped me on a number of occasions to get our packages to our families in other parts of the world.

 

I hope you will exercise more patience the next time you go to the Post Office.  And, I hope you will express your appreciation to the postal workers, too.  They will be glad you did and you will too.  Three cheeers for the people who work at the Post Office.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efree DB.org

 

Believe You Can and You Will

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops

Just for a moment think about your mindset regarding yourself.  What is your internal dialogue?  Do you tend to tell yourself you can and so you do or do you tell yourself you can’t so you don’t.  Also what is that mindset based on and is it really your truth.  If you believe you can’t think about all that you have already done successfully and learn to challenge that lie that holds you hostage.  I bet you are all much more capable then your mind tells you.  Take out a piece of paper and fold it in half and write done all the lies.  Write down all of the lies that hold you hostage.  Now on the other side ride down your truths based what you have already done successfully.  Now make as many copies of this paper and take it with you everywhere and place them all over your house.  Next time you are believing you can’t the truth will remind you that you are already have been successful.  Pretty soon you will be storing the truth in your mind and know you can and so you will.

Learn to challenge the incorrect believe system that has always held you back from being who you are intended to be.  The truth literally does set us free.  I was raised to believe I could fly.  This mindset has honored me with a life of blessings and success.  Learn to believe in yourself and in your capabilities. The truth is if you believe you can do something and work really hard anything is possible.  Believe you can and you will.  Our mindset literally is a road map for our lives.  Our mindset acts as a designer for our entire lives.  I hope you will take the time to change your mindset and take the opportunity to grow into the best version of you.

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy is now accepting new clients.  She also works as a motivational speaker.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens and can handle many court mandated needs.  For more information about any of these services contact Nancy at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog atAmazon.com

Rents Rocketing? Part 2

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

Diamond Bar property values have increased tremendously over the last 8 years, as they have throughout California. Rents have also increased more than 30% for Single Family Residential (SFR) detached homes over that same period of time. This week we will look at the rental rates for Townhomes and Condominiums in Diamond Bar and compare them to the rental rates for SFRs.

The first quarter (3 month period) of 2010 saw the Diamond Bar Townhome and Condominium Median Sales Price at $265,000.00. After dropping a little further in 2011, the Median Sales Price for that segment of the market in Diamond Bar reached $382,000.00 in the First Quarter of 2018. That represents an strong increase of 44.2% in the 8 years, averaging approximately 5.5% annually. The number of sales recorded in this segment of the market in the first quarter of 2010 posted a fairly strong total of 54. The number of recorded Townhome and Condominium sales in Diamond Bar for the first Quarter of 2018 dropped to 33, a steep drop of 39%. For those in the real estate industry, that represents a steep drop in numbers of transactions, almost mirroring the drop in the SFR market.

The number of leases transacted (per the California Regional Multiple Listing service-CRMLS) in the first quarter of 2010 was 76. That number increased by 36.8% to 104 in the first quarter of 2018. It seems that the lower number of recorded sales translated into a higher number of reported lease transactions. This would indicate that an increased number of property owners are choosing to rent out their properties instead of selling them. And why not, with both rental rates and property values increasing, it is a win-win for property owners.

The rental rates for Townhomes and Condominiums in Diamond Bar increased as well. The median lease price for a Townhome/Condominium in Diamond Bar was $1,800.00 in the first quarter of 2010.  That number now has reached $2,500.00, representing an increase of 38.9% in the 8 year period. The median lease price for a Single Family Residence in Diamond Bar for the first quarter of 2018 reached $2,860.00, only 10% more than the median lease value for the Townhome/Condominium market.

I wish I had bought more real estate back when…LOL! Seriously!

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

NEF CORTEZ,
Broker  DRE # 00560181

RE/MAX Universal Realty
1411 S. Diamond Bar Blvd.,
Diamond Bar, Ca.  91765

e-mail: nefcortez@gmail.com

www.nefcortez.com

Office: 909-610-6303
Fax:  909-752-3163
Cell: 909-762-8135

30 Years (Part One)

By Mark Hopper

Thirty years is a long time. It is almost a third of a century. But, that is how long we have lived in Diamond Bar, California. I began my new job as the pastor of our church on June 1, 1988 – 30 years ago. My wife and kids stayed in Arizona waiting for our house to sell while I began work at the church. I lived by myself in a condo near Pathfinder and Diamond Bar Blvd.  The condo belonged to a widow who was in poor health and she was living with her family. So I was on my own for about six weeks.

Although I missed my family during that time, I had a lot of time to get to know the community and people in the church.  I was able to visit most of the church families and several of them invited me to dinner in their homes.  In addition, I enjoyed delicious chocolate chip cookies and other snacks that came to my door during those days.

When our house finally sold in Arizona, I flew home to pack up and move to California.  With four kids and a four bedroom house, we had a lot of stuff to move.  We rented a U-Haul Truck – the biggest they made towing the biggest trailer they made!  Friends in Arizona helped us load everything in to the truck and trailer and new friends in California helped us unload it.  We could not have done it without their help.

We moved into the Daisy apartments (now the Hillside apartments) on Grand Avenue across from the Fire station.  We unloaded some things into this two bedroom apartment, but most of our things would need to be put in storage.  When I drove this giant truck and trailer down the exit driveway, it got stuck.  The trailer hitch got caught on the pavement and the back wheels of the truck were lifted off the ground.  The truck was stuck and we couldn’t move!  It was quite a sight.

I ran over to the fire station and asked for help, but they didn’t know what to do either.  Finally, I called the U-Haul hot line and they sent a tow truck from Sana Ana to help.  The tow truck driver hitched a heavy chain on to the front bumper of the truck. The firemen blocked oncoming traffic and the tow truck dragged us down the driveway and on to Grand Avenue while I was sitting in the truck using the brakes so I wouldn’t hit the tow truck in front of me.  It was a memorable start to our new life in Diamond Bar.

Our life at the Daisy apartment was fun.  It felt like we were on vacation.  It was a little crowded with four kids and two adults, but it had a pool, spa and tennis court.  I would go to work each day and my wife and kids enjoyed “vacation” at the Daisy apartments!

I usually took Monday as my day off, so we began to go to the beach on Mondays.  We usually went to Newport Beach and we usually stopped at Thrifty Drug store to get a scoop of ice cream on the way to the beach.  This became a weekly routine. Eventually the kids began to invite friends to come with us. The summer of ‘88 was a summer to remember.

In the first book in the Bible (Genesis) there is the record of Abraham leaving his home in Ur near the Persian Gulf and traveling to a land called Canaan (Israel).  The Bible says that Abraham went in faith, following the call of God on his life.  Abraham packed up his family and his possessions and traveled to a land he had never seen before.  It was a journey of faith.

We packed up our family and our possessions and traveled to a community we had never heard of called Diamond Bar.  It was a journey of faith for us too.  We are thankful that the Lord led us to this special community and to this special church.

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45

 

Rents Skyrocketing?

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

I have reported on home values rising fast in Diamond Bar. Today, wetake a look at how fast rents are increasing as well.

Home values typically follow the pattern of economic recessions, with prices increasing as the economy improves, and peaking at about the same time or slightly after the economy has reached its zenith.  Rents, however, appear to be immune to the rise and fall or cyclical nature of home prices or home values.  The predictable thing about home rental values is that over the years, they have consistently trended upward.

As an example, where home values took a dive of almost 30-40% during the Great Recession, rents maintained a level or flat trendline.  Since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, property values across the United States have come roaring back to their current heights.  The median sales price of a Diamond Bar single family residence (SFR) in the First quarter of 2018 reached a level of $735,000.  That represented an increase of 56% from the median sales price of $470,000.00 in the first quarter of 2010.

The Diamond Bar median rental rate for a Single FamilyResidence (detached) in the first quarter of 2018 stood at $2,860.00. This represented an increase of 30% from the median rental rate of $2,200.00   where it was in the middle of the aftermath of the Great Recession.  This represents an increase of $660.00 per month, which is not an insignificant number, but it is not the “stratospheric” increase seen in the  single family resale market values.  The rate of increase of rentals (30%) in the same period has been almost half of what the rate of the median price increase of homes values (56%) from 2010 to 2018.

Next week we will look at the Diamond Bar Townhome and Condominium rental market, and the comparison of rental for that type of property to the single family residential (detached).

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Stuck on the 405

By Mark Hopper

Recently, my sister in law’s car broke down while she was driving on the 405 Freeway.  Bummer! She had spent a few days with her grandchildren in San Diego and was driving home to in Bakersfield when her Nissan began to sputter and finally died in the middle of the north bound 405 Freeway!

Thankfully no one hit her as her car slowed to a stop in the middle of afternoon traffic. A helpful stranger pushed her car to the side of the freeway and she called 911 and AAA for help.  The CHP office arrived quickly and parked his cruiser behind her car to protect her from the rush hour traffic. The tow truck arrived and asked her where she wanted to go for repairs.

While all of this is unfolding on the 405, my brother called me and asked if I could go help his wife. He knew she had broken down on the 405 Freeway but he was not sure exactly where she was. After a flurry of cell phone calls with his wife and with me, he decided to have her car towed to our house in Diamond Bar.

He asked me if I knew a good mechanic who could analyze the situation and if his wife could stay with us until her car could be repaired. Unfortunately, when I called a reliable mechanic that we often recommend, he was unable to help. He was overbooked with work and his co-worker was gone for the week.

As the tow truck slowly made its way in rush hour traffic toward Diamond Bar, I realized that it would drive past a Nissan dealer on the 60 Freeway. Maybe he should take the car there and ask them to diagnose the problem? I could meet my sister in law there and we could decide what to do.

We didn’t know how late the car dealer and service department would be open late in the afternoon, but they responded quickly and assured us that they could repair the car quickly. The diagnostics would cost about $125 plus the parts and labor. The service advisor encouraged us to go find some dinner and come back in about an hour. They would call us if there was any unexpected problems.

While we ate dinner, we prayed that the repairs would be done quickly and that it would not cost too much.  My sister in law was hoping to get back on the road and get home so she could teach school the next day.

When we returned to the car dealer, we went to the cashier’s office to pay for the repair work. But, the cashier didn’t have the paper work so she told us to go back and talk with the service advisor. He explained that the repair was actually very simple. An air intake hose had come loose and they actually found the missing part laying on the engine. They simply put the part back together with a new hose clamp!

When we asked how much this cost he said, “No charge”! At first we weren’t sure we heard him correctly – did he say “No charge”? Yes – the missing part was still there and a simple hose clamp reconnected everything and the car was running fine. “No charge”. We were stunned and very thankful for this unexpected outcome. Amazing!

My sister in law was able to get back on the freeway and continue her journey home. She arrived safe and sound later that night. My sister in law had quite an adventure. From broken down in the middle of the 405 Freeway and towed 40 miles to a very helpful car dealer and back on the road without a scratch or paying a penny – pretty amazing.

By the way, did I tell you the name of the service advisor who was so helpful? His name was “Jesus”. No kidding! I thought Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but I guess he is in the car repair business too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Be Who You Want to Become

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops

Change is something that doesn’t happen overnight.  Just for a moment I want you to think about who you long to be.  For me I always want to be happy and peaceful.  The way that I work on this is by trying to smile, laugh and appreciate every day and then I am happy.  I also try to do the things that I enjoy and always have some type of adventure planned.  This is a good recipe for happiness for me.  As far as being peaceful, I meditate daily and try not to let things irritate me too badly.  I also must always remind myself that I am only in control of myself and of my responses.  I don’t have the power to control others.  This seems to be an equally good recipe for inner peace.  Now I must keep in mind I am human and that there will be very difficult days that maybe my recipes struggle but must pat myself on my back for tying my best.

Now it’s your turn to think about who you want to be.  Get out a piece of paper and write down one characteristic that you would like to obtain.  My example to help you will be living a healthy life style.  This doesn’t mean a crash diet and working out so hard for a couple of days that you can’t move.  It means that you will eat a well- balanced meal, exercise consistently, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, quit smoking, learn to drink alcohol in moderation, and manage your stress daily.  This plan may differ for each individual because it will need to be balanced around the demands of each individual’s lives.  My point is we eventually become what we do and how we behave!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909)229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.  You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

The Final Four

By Mark Hopper

The Final Four championship of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament was held in San Antonio, Texas a few weeks ago in the huge Alamo Dome. I actually attended the Final Four At that same location about 20 years ago.  It was a great experience that I still remember. Unfortunately, my favorite college teams were not there then and they were not there again this year.

One of my favorite memories from my Final Four experience was the plane ride back home to California. I had traveled with a couple of college basketball coaches. We flew on my favorite airline – Southwest. Twenty years ago, some of the Southwest planes had seats that faced each other. We ended up in the back of the plane facing three other gentlemen flying back to LA.

We had a fascinating conversation with the men sitting across from us. One of them had actually played basketball for USC many years earlier. His name was David Price. After college and law school, he eventually developed a business managing golf courses. He was the owner of American Golf. His company owned or managed over 200 golf courses across the country!

He was a quiet and unassuming man. I would have never guessed that the man sitting across from me in the back of a crowed airplane owned and managed golf courses. I even asked him why he didn’t have his own plane? He said that he did at one time but it wasn’t very cost effective.

We not only talked about his business success, we also talked about his personal life and faith. He shared with us how he had become a follower of Jesus through the influence of some teenagers that he met at a local gym.

He also shared a story of how he was led to invest some of his wealth in a new Christian school that was starting in Thousand Oaks. Some friends had challenged him to contribute to this project, but he saw no reason to help build a school. His children were already grown. Why should he help?

Eventually, he did contribute to the cause. Today, Oaks Christian High School is one of the athletic powerhouses in Southern California. And, although his own children were too old to attend, eventually some of his grandchildren did!

When we finally arrive back in LA, he gave me one of his business cards and invited me to play a round of golf at one of his courses. He instructed me to call his secretary and she would arrange it.

A few days later, I wrote him a thank you note and told him how much I enjoyed our conversation.  I also told him that my father in law was a golfer and was coming to LA. I shared with Mr. Price that what I would really love to do would be to play a round of golf with him and my father in law.

He wrote back and thanked me for my note and expressed how much he enjoyed our conversation on the airplane, too. However, he didn’t think my idea would work out because although he owned and managed many golf courses across the country – he didn’t play golf! Amazing!

You may not be a golfer either, but I hope you are a follower of Jesus. Young and old, wealthy and poor – everyone is welcome to follow Him!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 Am

Efreedb.org

 

Boomerang Buyers Re-enter Market

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

“Boomerang Buyers”, homeowners that lost their homes through foreclosure or were forced to sell their homes as “Short Sales”, are re-entering the market.  The peak of foreclosure notice filings-bank repossessions, scheduled auctions, and default notices-occurred in 2010, passing the 2,870,000 mark. It surpassed the previous year’s record number of 2,300,000 filings.  The total number of filings since the mortgage meltdown begin to hit the housing market in 2005 stands at more than 19,000,000.

Homeowners that lost their home typically are required to wait 7 years before they would qualify for any of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), as well as the Housing and Urban Developments’ FHA program loans.

With approximately one third of all filings in 2010 having led to an actual bank repossession, at least 700,000 homeowners who lost their homes are now able to qualify for loans, based solely on that criteria. There are an additional 500,000 that also went through a short sale and would also now qualify for these government sponsored programs.  They need to have repaired their credit by establishing a good payment history since their repossession distressed sale in order to qualify in the now existing tighter credit environment.

This pool of more than 1,000,000 buyers, which represents close to 20% of the total number of home sales in the US this past year, will provide a further upward push on home prices by being able to compete with the already existing pool of homebuyers. This pool of buyers will continue to grow as those who lost their homes through foreclosure after the peak in 2010 also begin to re-enter the home buying market.

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website http://www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Diamond Bar Condo Sales Update!

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

The “California Screamin’” Roller Coaster ride that is the housing market continues! Diamond Bar Condominium and Townhome sales dropped like the downward hurtle after the “loop” at the famous Disneyland ride.  The number of recorded condominium and townhome sales in Diamond Bar dropped dramatically from 74 in the 4th quarter of 2017 to only 36 in the 1st quarter of 2018! The sharp drop in number of sales of more than 52%, however, has not impacted the median sales price in a negative way.  As a matter of fact, the median sales price of condo and townhome sales continues to climb, very much like the rising median sales price of single family homes in Diamond Bar.

The drop in sales from the 1st quarter of 2017 as compared to the 1st quarter of 2018 was not as pronounced as the change in market activity from the 4th quarter of last year. Diamond Bar saw a decrease of 29% in the number of sales year over year, comparing similar time frames.  There were 51 recorded sales in the 1st quarter of 2017, and only 36 in the 1st quarter of 2018.  A 29% drop is substantial-just ask any person who depends on their livelihood on the commissions earned in the housing industry. Not only are real estate agents and their staff affected, but so are loan agents and loan processors, escrow officers, title representatives and other title industry employees, home inspectors, and pest control operators and their employees.

As mentioned previously in this article, the median sales price continues to climb.  The median sales price of condos and townhomes in Diamond Bar in the 4th quarter of 2017 hovered around $374,000.00. That numbered climbed to $390,000.00 for the 1st quarter of 2018,  an increase of $16,000.00, or 17% on an annualized basis. That is a huge increase! So, the fewer number of Sellers that have come on the market and sold have benefited from the continuing problem for the industry as a whole, that is, the housing inventory shortage. These sellers that were able to get on the market and sell and get out are not complaining!

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Are You Living to Die or Dying To Live?

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops

 

Our lives are truly about our mindset and how we view our lives.  I must ask you if you are living to die or are you dying to live.  These two ways for which people live sure do look and sound the same but they couldn’t be more different.  Take a look at the first one, living to die.  To me that means the person is merely existing and just going through the motions until they die.  I don’t believe there is much joy or quality of life with this style of life.  I believe a pretty unhappy and dissatisfied person lives according to the idea of living to die. Now on the other hand a person who is dying to live has a life of joy and quality.  I believe they are satisfied with their lives and appreciate each and every day they are honored with life.

 

So how do you live?  Which of these two mottos do you follow? It’s never too late to change.  It all starts by changing your mindset.  It starts by letting go of your past, forgiving yourself and others and on being grateful each and every day we are honored to be here.  As you begin the healing process your mindset will start to help you see all the good in everyday and you will start to feel empowered by the self- induced changes in you and the way you think.

 

I hope the change will start by reading this article.  I hope you believe you deserve a better life and use this as a road map to take you there.  I have faith in you that you can make the change and get the life you are worthy of!

 

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancystoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

 

 

Wedding Season

By Mark Hopper

Spring has traditionally been the season for weddings. I often tell people that some of the happy parts about being a pastor are weddings and babies.  And, some of the sad parts about being a pastor are deaths and divorce.

I have two requirements for doing a wedding – come to church and come to counseling. I encourage each couple to come to church together regularly before their wedding. In many cases, these couples already attend our church.  Some actually met their fiancée at our church!

Sometimes I am asked to do a wedding for a couple in the community who do not attend our church. I actually enjoy this opportunity to get to know an engaged couples and I feel honored to lead their wedding ceremony.

When an engaged couple go to church together, they are developing and deepening their relationship with one another and with God. It is a healthy habit to develop early in their relationship and a habit that I hope they will maintain throughout their married life. I also encourage them to make time to pray together for one another and for their future.  When a couple prays together, they are revealing their inner thoughts, concerns and dreams.

I also require the engaged couple to commit to spend time with me in premarital counseling. I have used a number of different books and resources over the years to help these couples talk through various topics that will impact their marriage. Topics include communication, finances, expectations, money, intimate relations and more.

We usually meet together 4-5 times before the wedding. Each couple is expected to do a homework assignment on one of the topics listed above and then we discuss their thoughts and ideas together. I always remind them that the more time and effort they invest in this process the more they will benefit from it. Some couples work hard and “do their homework” while other couples only put in the minimum effort required. Some don’t realize the long term benefits that can come from premarital counseling.

We always spend a session planning and discussing the wedding ceremony. I enjoy hearing about what the bride and groom would like to include in their ceremony that makes it unique and special for them. Sometimes I am able to offer a suggestion, too.

I always use the Bible in premarital counseling and in the wedding ceremony itself. I believe that God created the institution of marriage and that the Bible has a lot to say about marriage.  In the very first book in the Bible, the author explains that God intended that “a man shall leave his father and mother and embrace his wife and the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:25). God’s plan is for the kids to grow up, get married and start a family of their own. It is both sacred and very special.

Weddings can be stressful for everyone involved. There are so many details to attend to and so many decisions that need to be made.  But, I always remind these hopeful couples that a wedding is a day of celebration for the lucky couple, their friends and their families. Don’t let the stress and pressure detract for the celebration. You will be glad you did and your family will be too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

How a Community Came Together To Save Him!

Brandie Altuna and Kaitlyn Valenzuela  

Chino – “He’s safe!” whispered Principal Dr. Cabrera, as she walked out of the Chino Valley Unified School District office. After that board meeting, everyone was relieved. However, earlier that afternoon, anxiety and frustration flooded the room. Daniel Pahutan About 200+ people showed up to support Coach Gano. It was surreal to see how many people cared for their beloved coach. The community was brought together on this night. Determined to have their voices heard, there were 200+ Don Lugo students, parents, community members, and coaches piled into the boardroom at the school district with handmade posters. One by one, football players and parents trepidatiously stepped up to the mic to explain how Coach wasn’t just their coach, but a father figure. It was a heart-wrenching sight. The toughest football players “allowed themselves to be vulnerable and honest to rightfully save a man’s job.” Coach Gano is not just a coach but he is also a teacher — a job that he lives off of financially. Devastation arose when news circulated that Coach Gano would possibly not be returning to Don Lugo after confidential allegations were made. A school board meeting was scheduled to be held that would address the potential fate of his job. Parents and students took to social media with the hashtag “SaveGano” and were determined to keep Gano’s position. “We were going to lose a member of the Conquistador family,” comments Principal Dr. Cabrera. She had an idea that a number of supporters were going to show up but she did not know that many people would attend. Coach Gano later saw pictures of several students who went and commented, “there were kids from my P.E. class who don’t even play for me, they’re my students!” Gano’s true passion is taking care of kids. It has become his duty and that is exactly what coaching means to him. Coach Gano has provided for so many of his athletes and makes sure that they have all the necessary needs in order to live and breathe. He’s not just a coach to these young men. He is a father figure to all who need the father figure that all young men deserve. As testimonies are heard, the rest of the Don Lugo community can only sit and wait for the final word. When Gano got the news that he was going to keep his job as a teacher at Don Lugo, he was quite emotional over the phone according to Dr. Cabrera. “He immediately sat down and took a deep breath when he got the news,” says Athletic Director Coach Donoho. Both Coach Gano and Coach Donoho were located at the first round of the Girls’ Basketball CIF game on that same night. Everyone quickly drove over to the school to congratulate Coach Gano in person. Coach Donoho recounts, “People started randomly showing up, giving him hugs, and congratulating him.” There was no doubt that the entire Conquistador family was excited, relieved, and happy to know that their coach and teacher was going to stay. The impact that Coach Gano has on both Don Lugo and the community, is beyond incredible. He has led the football team to win the Milkcan two years in a row and make it to CIF. He has brought the entire Conquistador family together; he is the epitome of what a Conquistador leader means to all and he will continue to be appreciated by his family and friends but most importantly, his Don Lugo family.

Diamond Bar Homes Sales Update

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez 

 

Homes Sales Down! True Home prices up! Median Sales Price is down! The trends have changed. The lower number of sales usually indicates a lower sales volume, and so do home prices. The fact that the number of homes sales in Diamond Bar decreased for a third consecutive quarter is not an indication of a lowering of demand for homes in this community. It is more of a reflection of lower inventory, less homeowners putting their homes on the market, and resulting in fewer choices for those looking to buy a home. The 4th Quarter 2017 report for Diamond Bar home sales noted that there were 98 closed transactions (as reported by the California Regional Multiple Service). The median sales price (Median Sales Price is the point in which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less) in the 4th quarter was $745,000 for a single family residential (SFR) property. The 1st Quarter 2018 saw a drop of $10,000 in that figure from $745,000.00 down to $735,000.00. This represented a DROP of 1.3% quarter over quarter, or 5.2% annualized.  This represents a normalization of the median sales price of Single Family Homes (detached) in Diamond Bar, which have been sky rocketing.  The number of transactions, however, was down from 90 in the 4th quarter (October to December 2017), to 78 in the 1st Quarter 2018.  This represented a drop of 13.3% from the previous quarter.    

The seasonal housing market cycles are not as pronounced in Southern California, and more specifically, in Diamond Bar, as they are in other parts of the U.S.  It is, however, not very unusual for the market to slow down at this time of the year because it covers a period which includes major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year’s Holiday. The Diamond Bar home sales show an even greater drop in number from the 1st Quarter 2017.  The Los Angeles county recordings show that the Diamond Bar closings fell from 98 down to 78 year over year comparing the 1st Quarter 2018 to the same period 2017. That is a drop of 20.4% from one year to the next.  That is a huge drop in this industry. Real Estate professionals have been impacted in a fashion similar to a person having their annual income reduced by 20%.  Not good for those counting on that income to make ends meet.  We will report on the Townhome and Condominium market in next week’s edition.  

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate. 

Anxiety and Our Youth

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops 

I have been a psychotherapist for eighteen years and have worked with people of all ages with various issues.  I’m constantly amazed when I have a child or teen brought to me for anxiety issues. We seem to have created a generation that feels very inadequate and struggles with growing up and being successful.  The issues this generation worries about are things my generation didn’t have to deal with. 

 

Our colleges are impacted and hard to get into.  Now kindergarteners have homework and are expected to read and know many more things.  Video games and television are replacing playing outdoors in the fresh air and getting much needed exercise.  This outdoor playing is such a great way to reduce or eliminate stress.  Social media unfortunately has made this generation very lazy and childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise. 

 

As parents and community leaders we have a social responsibility to help this generation find a healthy balance in their lives in every area.  We need to support and encourage our youth.  We need to provide the necessary tools to help them strive to become their best.  We need to have faith in our youth as some many of them are diamonds in the rough.  We need to give them guidance and tools to help them shine and reach their full potential. 

 

We need to teach the teens that problems can we worked through and that drinking and drugs are not a solution.  We need to teach them how to meditate not medicate to quiet their busy minds.  We need to teach them how to relax by finding balance, getting organized, prioritizing and effectively managing their time and communicating what’s working and not working in their lives.  Please don’t assume they are all pot smoking video game playing lazy worthless human beings.  They are just scared and need some help finding their way! 

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.   

Leftover Easter Eggs

By Mark Hopper

I have shared in previous articles how much my wife loves decorating our home during the various seasons of the year.  We have boxes and plastic storage tubs full of decorations for spring and fall, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I think we also have some patriotic decorations for the 4th of July.

Easter season has been a lot of fun this year.  One of the things that our young grandchildren like to do is hunt for Easter Eggs around our house.  I enjoy hiding the plastic eggs and love to watch them enjoy finding them.

We have also learned that hiding the eggs is just as much fun as finding the eggs. The four year old likes to hide the plastic eggs inside drawers and kitchen cabinets. The younger 15 month old likes to hide them in more conspicuous places like on a living room chair or on top of the coffee table.

The four year old likes to give hints about the location of the hidden eggs. She uses words like “you are getting warmer” and “you are getting colder” to help guide her younger sister and me to the hidden locations.

On the other hand, the younger one likes to actually show her older sister when she has hidden the eggs. She will walk right to the spot and pick up the egg and give it to her older sister.

It is a fun game to play inside or outside the house. It fills a lot of time and allows both girls to be creative in where they hide the plastic Easter Eggs.

However, one of the challenges of hiding and finding Easter Eggs is accounting for all of them.  After we play this game several times, we realize that some of the eggs are still missing.  I sometimes forget where I have hidden them and sometimes our granddaughters do too. Where did they go? Why haven’t we found all of them yet?

The other day, as we were going to bed, my wife and I discovered a plastic egg under our pillow. Another time, we found one behind the living room curtains. Leftover Easter Eggs keep popping up around our house days after the children had left.

Leftover Easter Eggs bring a smile to our faces and warms our hearts. When we come across a hidden egg, we are reminded of the special times we share with these two precious little girls.

I recommend that all grandparents keep a supply of plastic Easter Eggs year round. They provide a fun activity with little guests and create some memories that will last for a long time. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Sources of a Down Payment

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

 

How much money does a person have to have in order to buy one’s home? The answer to this question, of course, varies in many ways. One variable is in what city one decides to make their home. That decision, of course, will affect the price of homes that a person has to choose from. The price of a home, then, will impact greatly the amount of cash one must come up with as the Down Payment.

Another major variable will be whether a person is buying as a First Time Homeowner, a Move-Up Buyer, or a Down-Sizing Buyer. By the very definition of a “First Time Homeowner”, this buyer usually has a low level of savings. They are just getting started with their home ownership experience, and are usually in their mid to late twenties and into their mid-thirties. As I wrote before, this group of buyers is usually busy getting started with both their careers and their family. The lower income earned by those just beginning their careers coupled with the expenses of getting started in the raising of a family does not allow for the typical First Time Homebuyer to come up with a very large down payment.

One of the more commonly used loan programs for the first time homebuyer is the Federal Housing Administration 203B program.  It is a loan in which a first time homeowner can purchase a home with as little as 3 ½ % down payment. In addition to this type of loan, there are a few “grant” or “subsidy” programs which will also assist this buyer with an additional 2 % for the down payment. This facilitates the purchase of the First Time Homebuyer to finance the purchase with as little as 1 % Down Payment.

The FHA loan limit for a Single Family Residence in Los Angeles County is $636.150.00.  This means that a First Time Homebuyer can purchase a home with a little as $16,500.00.  With other grants or subsidies, this figure can end up as low as $6,500.00, making the purchase of a home very doable, as far as the Down Payment is concerned.

This article was written by Nef Cortez, a licensed Real Estate Broker, Cal BRE # 00560181 since 1976. He can be reached via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.  

 

Spring Cleaning For the Soul

By Nancy Stoops

I’m so happy to invite you to Spring Cleaning for the Soul, the latest wellness event facilitated by me and sponsored by the City of Walnut.  The event will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 8 a.m. until noon. This amazing opportunity to totally get cleansed mind, body and spirit will be held at the Walnut Senior Center located at 21215 La Puente Rd. in the City of Walnut.  You can register for this free event by calling the Senior Center at (909) 598-6200 or the recreation department at (909) 598-5605. There will be free childcare for youth ages 4 to 11 and registration is required to reserve your spot.  This event is very dear to my heart because it offers a sage burning ceremony to help you all get rid of any negativity. There will also be cleansing meditations, free massages, a free tea bar and snacks, and an opportunity to free yourself of anything that holds you back from being the best version of you!  I will also be signing both of my books that are available on Amazon and you will have an opportunity to meet Midnight the therapy dog. Massage Envy will also be joining me for this fabulous event.

I’m so proud to be able to help people heal and offer an opportunity to help others live a better life.  Please don’t put the importance of your wellness off any longer.  I know we all take care of others but make April 14, 2018 the day you start caring for you! I promise you will feel brand new and empowered to live the life you are so deserving of living if you take the time to attend this life changing opportunity. With each individual that helps him or herself by we start to heal the world one by one person at a time. Please don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this remarkable change!!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy is now accepting new clients.  She also works as a motivational speaker.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens and can handle many court mandated needs.  For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s book’s Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

Planting Seeds

By Mark Hopper

I have an Aunt who lives in Des Moines Iowa. She was an elementary school teacher and principal for many years. Now she is retired and in her 90’s. We were able to visit her when my wife and I went to see the Solar Eclipse in the mid-west last summer.

We enjoyed our conversations with her and learned a lot about my family roots in a small town outside of Des Moines called Boone, Iowa.  She told us stories about my grandmother and about life in Iowa.

One thing that she shared with us was her tradition of planting tomato seeds in small containers in her house in Iowa in February. She often saved seeds from the previous years, dried them out and planted them in the late winter. It was too cold in Iowa to plant the seeds outdoors, so she started them in her house and set them in the kitchen window sill to get plenty of sunlight.

So in her honor, I decided to do the same thing here in our house in California. I saved some seeds from one of last year’s tomatoes and dried them out in our garage. In early February, I planted the seeds in a little plastic “tray” that had six small compartments, like the ones you buy at the local home improvement store.

I got some soil from my garden, planted one or two seeds in each compartment and waited to see what would happen. I was so excited to see that at least one seed in each little compartment sprouted! It was fascinating to see tiny, thin plants emerge from the moist soil. The first little spouts were as thin a hair. Then a two tiny leaves emerged over the next few days and these little plants begin to grow bigger.

It was a slow process. But each day I would check on these little plants to see how much they had grown each day. I was excited to show these little tomato plants to our grandchildren when they would come to visit our house each week. I think they were excited too.

Unfortunately, I decided to add a little fertilizer to these fragile plants. I think that was a mistake. Over the next few days, I notice some of the tiny tomatoes plants began to look unhealthy. I think I may have over done it a little.

Since my wife and I were scheduled to go out of town for a few days, we sent to small tray of tomato plants home with the grandkids. When we returned the next week, only one plant had survived. Bummer.

But, one living plant is more than we had last winter and even one tomato plant can produce a large crop. I suspect that we will go to the home improvement store or local nursery and purchase some additional plants for the coming season, but I am hopeful that my one little friend will produce a bumper crop of tasty tomatoes this year.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Christians he says, “One plants, another waters, but God causes it to grow’ (First Corinthians 3:6-7). The miracle of life seems to be conclusive evidence of the existence of God.  One small, tiny seed can grow into a healthy plant and produce fruit that in turn contains dozens of seeds for the next season. And another crop! Amazing!

Let me encourage you to get busy and plant some seeds this spring. Watch the miracle of life emerge from the soil and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Why not plant some seeds in honor of my Aunt?  I think you will be glad you did and I’m sure she will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond BAr Blvd

909-594-7604

Easter Sunday Services: 8:30 / 10:00 & 11:30 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Gorgeous Greens Farro Bowl

with Grilled Zucchini and Asparagus

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 40 mins

Servings: 4

Nutrition: 470 Calories

Ingredients:

 

  • Farro- 1½ Cups
  • Veggie Stock Concentrate- 4
  • Asparagus- 16 oz
  • Zucchini- 2
  • Garlic- 4 cloves
  • Yellow Onion- 2
  • Lemon- 1
  • Parmesan Cheese- ½ Cup
  • Walnuts- 2 oz

 

 

1  PREHEAT OVEN AND COOK FARRO    Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine farro, stock concentrates, and 3½ cups water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil and cook until farro is tender, 30-35 minutes total. TIP: If water evaporates before farro is cooked, add a splash more.

 

2  PREP.     Wash and dry all produce. Trim and discard bottom woody ends of asparagus. Cut off fuzzy tips and set aside. Chop stalks into ½-inch pieces. Slice zucchini into thin rounds. Mince or grate garlic. Halve, peel, and finely dice onion. Zest, then halve lemon.

 

3 ROAST VEGGIES.       Toss asparagus tips, zucchini, and a large drizzle of olive oil on a baking sheet. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until nicely browned, 15-20 minutes, tossing halfway through.

 

4  COOK AROMATICS.      Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, tossing frequently, until soft and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, tossing, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

 

5  FINISH FARRO.    Stir asparagus stalk pieces into pot with farro about 5 minutes before farro is done (grains should be just shy of al dente). Drain once both are tender, then add to pan with onion and garlic. Stir in juice of one lemon half, half the lemon zest, half the Parmesan, and 1 TBSP butter. Season with salt and pepper.

 

6  PLATE AND SERVE.     Divide farro mixture between bowls. Top with zucchini and asparagus tips. Sprinkle with walnuts and remaining Parmesan and lemon zest. Cut any remaining lemon into wedges and serve on the side.