The time has come for us to say goodbye! As of November 8, 2010, we will no longer be posting stories on this website, as we have moved on to other ventures.
It's been our pleasure to provide our readers the latest and greatest Marin has to offer in news, culture, dining and recreation. We hope you've enjoyed reading MoreMarin as much as we've enjoyed bringing it to you.
Best to you all!
Pam Gould and Bill Scholtz, Co-Founders of MoreMarin
Musings by Dr. Michelle Gannon: Psychologist, Wife and Mother
"Gratitude is an attitude and way of life. Gratitude has the power to heal, to energize and change lives." ~Dr Robert Emmons
Studies have found that gratitude can lead to more healthy behaviors, more positive relationships, reduced blood pressure, better sleep, happier mood, and more pro-social behaviors. When people are grateful, they can feel both calm and energetic while recognizing their blessings.
I must say this all sounds good to me, but sometimes I think I could use an elixir of gratitude. Can someone please put a shot in my morning coffee?
Continue reading "Musings by Dr. Michelle Gannon: Building gratitude " »
 | Marin real estate job losses continued into this year, data show: Scott Wilmore of Mill Valley opened his own real estate brokerage in 2007, just as the subprime mortgage crisis was brewing into what would become a national recession. The business never took off. (Read more) |
 | Moratorium Extended on Medical Marijuana Facilities: Fairfax extends temporary moratorium six months. (Read more) |
| nsured home deliveries of medical marijuana in Marin begin next week: The Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax will begin making pot deliveries to members of its collective next week now that insurance concerns have been resolved, organizers said. (Read more) |
| Dead Man Walking: Marty plays chess with Alina the Pawn and survives another round. (Read more) |
| Ross council postpones hearing on homeless shelter: A Ross Town Council hearing over a controversial homeless shelter at a Ross church was postponed Thursday at the church's request. (Read more) |
 | North Bay rail line faces $345 million shortfall: The rail line planned for the North Bay is facing major financial problems that could cut the project in half. (Read more) |
| Workers sift through mountain of Marin ballots: The election has come and gone, but the tally has just begun at the Marin County Elections Office. (Read more) |
| Lib at Large: 15-year-old Mill Valley rock star in training (Read more) |
Eye On Image with Michèle Benza-
Stretchy slim/legging type pants
+ black turtleneck
+ camel coat
+ pair of boots or booties
= Your look for this winter!
Change your closet quickly...
Continue reading "Eye on Image: Camel, the color of the season (plus gift ideas!)" »
| San Rafael burglary inquiry widens: The arrest of a burglary suspect in San Rafael last week has ballooned into an investigation involving at least seven cases in three counties and thousands of pieces of property, police said. (Read more) |
 | Marin Desalination Plans Can Move Forward: Measure S trumped competing initiative that would have stalled project (Read more) |
| The 2010 Election: A Disaster, Not a Catastrophe: Will the new Congress prove beyond a doubt that mindlessly balanced budgets equal another Double- Dip Recession? (Read more) |
| Marin sues state over San Quentin death row plan: The Board of Supervisors agreed in a closed session Tuesday to file a lawsuit challenging the gubernatorial budget veto, County Counsel Patrick Faulkner said. (Read more) |
 | Climate Watch: The EV solution: “For the first time in my life, I’m excited about the American automobile industry." (Read more) |
| Then & Now: Blithedale Avenue: Blithedale Avenue inherited its name from a hotel took its moniker from a romance novel from Nathaniel Hawthorne. (Read more) |
| SMART details options for rail construction timeline: Larkspur would not be linked initially with the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Agency's passenger rail line based on six construction options detailed in a staff report, which also estimated the entire project could cost another $155 million. (Read more) |
| West Marin farm hand charged in attempted murder: Alfredo Sanchez of Tomales went before a Marin County Superior Court judge Nov. 1, said Deputy District Attorney Chuck Cacciatore, who heads the county’s domestic violence unit. (Read more) |
| Novato playgrounds still closed as schools replace equipment: Novato's new elementary school playgrounds remain closed as school officials struggle to replace equipment they worry could be inappropriate -- or even dangerous -- for small children. (Read more) |
| It takes a Sausalito village: Big turnout at launch for group to help elders age at home (Read more) |
| Stock market losses kill Marin pension bonus bid: Retirees in the Marin pension program won't get a bonus this year after all in light of severe stock market losses that torpedoed investments. (Read more) |
Real Estate/Real Info by Wes Mayne
Most elections are accompanied by optimism and hope for the future. But this election cycle was filled with negative campaign ads, and it makes me wonder how much change we can actually hope for from our local, state, and federal governments.
However, I do know that interest rates are still amazingly low, and home prices are down, which makes for some wonderful opportunities for home buyers this fall and winter.
I remember an agent telling me a story, about 10 years ago, that he was the first realtor in Marin County that he knew of, who had ever received a $1,000,000 price reduction on a listing. Well last week, there was a $5,000,000 reduction on a home in Belvedere. How's that for a buying opportunity.
Another agent just told me a story about his mom, who is trying to sell her 1,800 square-foot home outside of Chicago, in a nice, residential neighborhood. They just got an offer for a bit less than she paid for it 19 years ago.
We also had a speaker come into our office last month who told us that about 30% of the homes in Phoenix, AZ, are vacant! So our market is still looking pretty good compared to some others. There are 113 condos in escrow in Marin County right now. Ten of the 16 homes on the market, below $300,000, are in escrow. As you increase the price point, the activity level slows down some.
Here are the highs and lows for the month of October 2010-
Two homes sold below $300,000. One in Fairfax for $285,000, and one in Woodacre for $273,500.
There was a closing over $5,000,000, and that was in Belvedere for $7,140,000.
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Realtor Wes Mayne, affiliated with Coldwell-Banker Real Estate, has been helping people buy and sell property here in Marin County since 1984. He specializes in properties all over the county from Muir Beach to Mill Valley all the way north to Novato. His website, Great Homes of Marin, offers comprehensive information about Marin communities and also has a property search database.
Wes lives with his family in San Rafael.
 | GENERAL ELECTION : Unofficial results (Read more) |
| Woolsey wins 10th term in Congress despite setbacks for Democrats nationally: Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, demonstrated Tuesday that Tea Party issues don't exactly resonate in the 6th congressional district, which consists of Marin and most of Sonoma County. (Read more) |
| Marin approves auto registration tax to pay for transit programs: Marin voters approved a $10 increase in vehicle registration fees Tuesday, a move that will provide more than $2 million a year for a variety of transportation programs. (Read more) |
| San Rafael to explore plastic bag regulations: The San Rafael City Council has instructed city staffers to work with other Marin County municipalities on possible plastic bag regulations. (Read more) |
| What Matters Most This Election Day?: Voters at polling places around the county weigh in on their key issues. (Read more) |
| Marin bails out child care dropped by state: Marin County will provide $84,000 to help low-income mothers whose child care subsidies were sliced from the state budget -- after a court lifts a restraining order temporarily blocking the budget cuts. (Read more) |
| Green candidate will avoid charges for crashing Dominican debate: Laura Wells, the Green Party candidate for California governor, will face no legal consequences for attempting to attend the debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman at Dominican University last month using someone else's ticket. (Read more) |
| Marin's Measure N fire tax falling short of passage: Measure N, a tax increase for fire services in West Marin and several unincorporated pockets of the county, appeared to be headed for defeat Tuesday. (Read more) |
| Ross Valley approves $41 million school bond: Ross Valley voters were approving a $41 million ballot measure to provide more classrooms for the district's elementary and middle schools, according to late election returns. (Read more) |
| Leone, Weiner re-elected to Sausalito council: Sausalito voters appeared to re-elect Herb Weiner and Jonathan Leone to second terms on the City Council on Tuesday, rejecting challenger Joan Cox after a contentious campaign in the city of 7,300. (Read more) |
| Stinson Beach spending measure passes; Kentfield measure leads: Stinson Beach voters passed a measure to raise the appropriation limit in their water district Tuesday, while a similar measure was leading in the Kentfield Fire Protection District. (Read more) |
| Measure S leads Measure T as voters weigh in on desalination: Marin Municipal Water District's plan for how to proceed with desalination proved popular with voters, appearing to beat out a rival measure that sought to tie up planning for the technology. (Read more) |
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