Community Events, Events In Nevada County, Lifestyle
A Beautiful Celebration Of Our Ancestors
With fall now here in Nevada County, and our love of pumpkin spiced everything. Our thoughts start to move toward Halloween. Pumpkins and skeletons everywhere! There is another, lesser known holiday (by most Americans), celebrated after Halloween on November 2nd and 3rd called Day of the Dead (Dia De Los 
Muertos). Yes. It sounds scary and maybe sounds inappropriate for young children but it’s really quite the opposite. In our home, ever since our oldest was about 2 we have celebrated Day of the Dead. This is a time to celebrate all of our loved ones (pets too) who have passed on. We put up pictures of those who have passed and make their favorite foods. We invite friends to join us and bring pictures, food and stories of their departed loved ones as well. We have a feast and share all the wonderful memories we have of those who are no longer with us. We are able to pass their memory on to our children. Our children are able to share the memories they have of their grandfathers, grandmothers and aunts as well as their goats, chickens, cats and other treasured pets. They benefit from hearing stories the adults have to tell, too. In a sense, it seems to take away some of the mystery of death and makes it more of a celebration of that person’s life. It also normalizes the conversation of the circle of life and keeps their memory alive.
Every year in Grass Valley, Nevada County Fairgrounds holds an Alter Show. This is a time people can, in a very creative way, put a memorial together of loved ones who have died. It’s a great way to see an aspect of this celebration. And it is one of many celebrations we have in Nevada County that makes living here in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Alta Sierra, Penn Valley and surrounding communities such a blessing.
The recent Disney movie, COCO, is a grand celebration of Dia De Los Muertos. It is appropriate for all ages and a wonderful family experience that illustrates and educates us about this wonderful and meaningful cultural experience!
Events In Nevada County, Lifestyle
Nevada County Rotary Clubs Give Back
Rotarians Meet Happy Tree Planters
The five Rotary Clubs in Nevada County joined together to give away free trees in support of Rotary’s Earth Day 2018 objective of planting a tree for every Rotarian. Rotary’s International President, Ian H.S. Risley, challenged every one of more than 52,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide to help protect the environment and curb climate change in a sustainable way by planting a tree for each of more than 2 million Rotarians. One of many ways Nevada County Rotary gives back to our communities.
One of the wonderful reasons we love Nevada County is the plethora of opportunities to give back to our community. More non-profits per capita than any other county in the State of California make this amazing place home. The Rotary Club of Nevada City, The Nevada City 49er Breakfast Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Grass Valley, The Rotary Club of Grass Valley South, and the Rotary Club of Penn Valley joined forces, as they often do, to make it happen to give back to communities in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Penn Valley and surrounding communities.
Rotary Gives Away 400 Ponderosa Pines in 3 Hours!
Young Ponderosa Pine Trees
An so, on Saturday January 13, Rotary’s Free Tree Giveaway was on! 400 Ponderosa Pines, purchased from CalForest Nurseries were given away to interested folks in or local community. Why Ponderosa Pines? CalForest Nurseries recommends Ponderosa Pines: They are native to the area, are stable and sturdy trees able to withstand high winds, are beautiful trees that help with erosion control and can grow to 50-90 feet high, can live up to 250 years, and water requirements are between 12 and 40 inches a year. We appreciate CalForest Nurseries partnership, making available 400 your trees at an affordable cost. CalForest gives back!
Truly a Nevada County community event, our local newspaper, The Union, assisted with advertising and promotion and offered the drive-through parking lot in Grass Valley for Rotary to stage the giveaway. KNCO Radio in Grass Valley welcomed local Rotarians to discuss the event for an hour of air time. YubaNet helped promote the event on line. Ron Knauss, a longtime Rotarian with the Nevada City Rotary Club and an expert in forestry helped determine best planting timing and assisted with planting and care instructions.
Larry Davis, a member of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley South provided the clubs with invaluable assistance, managing the project and putting together an excellent pamphlet of Tree Planting Instructions: Guidelines for Selecting The Perfect Location, Digging The Hole, Filling The Hole, and Care. Since many tree enthusiasts are enlisting their children in the tree planting effort, the pamphlet is central to educating the young tree farmers as to the importance of planting and caring for our trees.
400 Local Carbon Sequestration & Oxygen Generating Machines To the Rescue!
Tree planters visited us from Nevada City, North San Juan, Grass Valley, South County and Penn Valley among other communities and were asked to regale us with pictures, videos, or written stories of their trees. We eagerly await those stories. Their trees will reduce carbon in the environment and deliver oxygen at the same time. Great job Nevada County.
Happy Rotarians Give Back
Lifestyle, Nevada County Schools, Real Estate
Nevada County Schools Rank High
The high quality of schools in Nevada County, and diversity of selection especially in Elementary Education, of is well known. Below we detail key grades given to our local schools in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Penn Valley, and surrounding communities as ranked by www.niche.com.
Elementary Schools in Nevada City, Grass Valley & Penn Valley.
Clear Creek Elementary School, Public, Grass Valley – K-8 Overall Grade A, 149 students, 19:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Nevada City Charter School, Public Charter, Nevada City – K-8 Overall Grade B+, 55 students, 21:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Alta Sierra Elementary School, Public, Grass Valley – K-5 Overall Grade B+, 289 students, 21:1 StudentTeacher ratio.
Cottage Hill Elementary School, Public, Grass Valley – K-5 Overall Grade B+, 474 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Deer Creek Elementary School, Public, Nevada City – K-4 Overall Grade B, 410 students, 21:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Yuba River Charter School, Public Charter, Nevada City – K-8 Overall Grade B, 292 schools, 24:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Ready Springs Elementary School, Public, Penn Valley – K-8 Overall Grade B, 212 students, 24:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Grass Valley Charter School, Grass Valley, Public – K-8 Overall Grade B, 511 Students, 23:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Nevada City School Of the Arts, Public, Nevada City – K-8 Overall Grade B, 390 students, 23:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Bell Hill Academy, Public, Grass Valley – K-4 Overall Grade B, 201 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Sierra Montessori Academy, Public, Grass Valley, K-8 Overall Grade B, 100 students, 16:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Chicago Park Elementary School, Public, Grass Valley, K-8, Overall Grade B, 121 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Twin Ridges Home Study Charter School, Public Charter, K-8,Nevada City, Overall Grade B, 118 students, 26:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Forest Charter School, Public Charter, Nevada City, K-12, Overall Grade B-, 720 students, 19:1 students, 19:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Margaret G. Scotten Elementary School, Grass VAlley, Public, K-4, Overall Grade C+, 500 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Union Hill Elementary School, Grass Valley, Public, K-6, Overall Grade C+, 486 students, 26:1 Studnent/Teacher ratio.
Chicago Park Elementary School, Public, Grass Valley, K-8, Overall Grade C, 52 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Grizzly Hill, Nevada City, Public, K-8 Overall Grade C, 91 students, 22:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Union Hill Home Charter School, Grass Valley, K-8 Overall Grade B, 16 students, 7:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Williams Ranch Elementary School, Public, Penn Valley, K-3 Overall Grade B, 218 students, 22:1 Student Teacher ratio.
High Schools
Nevada Union High School, Public, Grass Valley, 9-12 Overall Grade B-.
William & Marian Ghiddotti High School, Grass Valley, Public Alternative, Overall Grade A+. Ghiddotti High is a college prep high school component of Nevada Union High, considered by many to be one of the best High Schools in the state of California.
Bear River High School, Public, Grass Valley Overall Grade B.
Niche.com has a wealth of information. Visit the site to view expanded grading categories and methodology the site uses to evaluate schools and assign grades. What is cool about this site is that it connects with Realtor.com to allow you to view houses in each vicinity and to gather neighborhood data.
Johnson & Geare’s Sierra Lifestyle team has personal experience with many of the local schools here and is happy to share experience and impressions with you. Please contact us with any questions.
Important News and Info, Real Estate
Low Inventory Plagues The Market
Inventory levels of existing homes continue to act as brakes on the Real Estate Market. If you are a buyer looking for a home, you are likely abundantly aware of that reality. You are not alone. Shortages of existing homes are common in most markets in the United States. In fact, in 4 of the past 5 months, sales of existing homes dropped. August saw increases in the Northeast and Midwest, offset by decreases in the south and West.
Existing home sales fell in August 1.7% to 5.35 million nationwide, the lowest levels in nearly a year. Demand among buyers remains high, fueled by employment gains, rising incomes and low mortgage rates…great news for those selling their house! Low inventories put upward pressure on prices. Hurricane Harvey in Houston, and Irma in Florida will contribute to lower levels of deals closed in those area this year and likely into 2018.
Key Stats
Total housing inventory at the end of August dropped 2.1% to 1.88 million existing homes available for sale nationwide, 6.5% lower than a year ago. All-cash transactions were 20% of the market with 15% of those individual investors.
What’s Up In Nevada County Real Estate?
Third quarter Nevada County Real Estate sales are up 11.4%. Number of homes for sale average 420 per month. Number of homes sold average 135 per month. Average price per square foot in Nevada County is about $220 per square foot. Average days on market has been running at about 40 days. Average sales prices are in the mid $400,000s. Average prices FOR SALE are in the mid $600,000s.
Nevada County Real Estate And You
What does this mean for Sellers and Buyers in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Penn Valley, Alta Sierra and South County? If you are a seller with a well-priced home in good condition, you are likely to be doing a happy dance within two months of listing your property. If you are a buyer, do your due diligence and be ready to pull the trigger on an offer when that just-right house hits the market. Have a professional, well educated real-estate agent on your side to negotiate and advocate for your interests. And… welcome to the best places in the world to live…in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Alta Sierra, Penn Valley and surrounding communities.
Source: Realtor Magazine & Nevada County Association Of Realtors Statistics
