Money Talks - MoneyTalks's Blog - Bakersfield.com http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks The Bakersfield Californian's growth and economy team of reporters and editors strives to bring you the latest news and information on real estate, retail, restaurants, oil, energy, agriculture, aerospace, banking, cars and employment. If it's about money and our growing community, we want you to know it! The Bakersfield Californian's growth and economy team of reporters and editors strives to bring you the latest news and information on real estate, retail, restaurants, oil, energy, agriculture, aerospace, banking, cars and employment. If it's about money and our growing community, we want you to know it! en-us Dairy $ drama... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26528 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26528 <p>Dairy Farmers of America recently alerted members that two (former) top executives spirited away $1 million. Unauthorized, like.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This happened in 2001, when the trade group's former CEO, Gary Hanman, allegedly had the cool mill transferred to former board chair Herman Brubaker, without board approval.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The money has been returned, the group's letter to members says, but they're investigating. It's not clear when they learned about the deal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm not sure where to post this but since we have lots of local dairy farmers I thought someone might like to know if they haven't already seen the letter. You should be able to download the PDF by clicking on the blue box.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Title: Cow.jpg
Caption:
Credit: World Wide Web


Title: Cow.jpg
Caption:
Credit: World Wide Web

 Cow.jpg World Wide Web First comes love, then comes marriage... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26523 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26523 <p>Downtown has two new businesses--a bridal boutique for the recently bethrothed and an all ages nightclub for any kids who come later.</p> <p>Little White Dress has left the Haberfelde building, where it occupied 600 square feet, for fancy new glass and corrugated steel diggs at 1800 21st Street. The new site is 2,000 square feet, with a loft and skylight. The owner eventually wants to put a rooftop garden on top for bridal parties and other special occasions.</p> <p>Speaking of which, there's a ribbon cutting 4:30 p.m. Wednesday May 14, followed by a private party with a D.J., hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.</p> <p>Not far from there is Screwy's, 902 19th St., a new all ages club that serves coffee, energy drinks and smoothies to anyone who shows up for the local bands or D.J.s offering up music Friday and Saturday nights.</p> <p>There's no age limit, but anyone age 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.</p> <p>Some day, you might be accompanied by a dog, too. The owner wants to convert some space near an outdoor patio into a private dog park, charging admission that he'll donate to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.</p> <p><i>--Courtenay Edelhart</i></p> No. 9 in mortgage risk http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26511 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26511 <p>Kern County had the nation&rsquo;s ninth riskiest residential mortgage market during the first three months of the year, according to a Monday report by First American CoreLogic, a Santa Ana-based real estate data company.</p> <p>At the end of 2007, the county ranked No. 8 among the 100 large metropolitan areas reviewed in the quarterly report.</p> <p>Eight of the top 10 high-risk markets, defined as those where home loans are most likely to become delinquent, were in California, the report states.</p> <p>Risky mortgage markets are typically characterized by double digit home price declines and deteriorating labor markets, CoreLogic reports.</p> <p>Kern home prices depreciated 20 percent in the first three months of&nbsp; 2008 compared with the same time period a year ago, according to CoreLogic.</p> <p>Foreclosures and risk of fraud are also factored into the report&rsquo;s ranking system.</p> <p>The report is attached (click on the blue icon).</p> <p><i>-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer</i></p> Now what: Your builder is bankrupt http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26317 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26317 <p>Reporter Vanessa Gregory headed up to Tehachapi this morning to catch up with residents of Alta Estates.</p> <p>The developer of their new subdivision, Empire Land (aka Prestige Homes and numerous other entities) filed for bankruptcy April 25. The Ontario homebuider's attorney told us the company will be liquidated although it's currently a reorganization case.</p> <p>Folks who bought homes in the tract this fall wonder what will happen with little things that need fixing and whether they'll have home warranties they were counting on.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/439527.html">Here's the full story,</a> along with links to our other coverage of the troubled market.</p> <p>-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Title: AltaEstates.jpg
Caption: Elevate Your Life...Empire's slogan for the Tehachapi project
Credit: Empire Land Web page


Title: AltaEstates.jpg
Caption: Elevate Your Life...Empire's slogan for the Tehachapi project
Credit: Empire Land Web page

 AltaEstates.jpg Elevate Your Life...Empire's slogan for the Tehachapi project Empire Land Web page One minivan, one mom, five kids http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26311 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26311 <p>Talk about a good cause.</p> <p>Ginger Boyd is a 32-year-old Bakersfield mother of five children, three of whom are adopted. She's single, having been recently divorced, and she works for a living.</p> <p>Until this week, Boyd had no car of her own.</p> <p>So her mother nominated her for the annual Mini-Van for Mom event. Every year since 2001, Auto Shopper America at 911 Oak St. in Bakersfield has given away a minivan to a single mother, preferrably one without a vehicle.</p> <p>On Thursday, Boyd drove away from Auto Shopper with a silver 2000 Dodge Caravan Sport. She also took home a computer donated by San Joaquin Bank.</p> <p>&quot;We want to come alongside a working mother and help her with transportation challenges,&quot; said Tina Miller, who heads up the event.</p> <p>A similar event, organized by the same people, takes place near the holidays in December.</p>


Title: Ginger's new minivan
Caption: Ginger Boyd and her new minivan
Credit: Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom


Title: Ginger's new minivan
Caption: Ginger Boyd and her new minivan
Credit: Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom


Title: The minivan's new family
Caption: That's a lot of family for one minivan.
Credit: Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom


Title: The minivan's new family
Caption: That's a lot of family for one minivan.
Credit: Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom

 Ginger's new minivan Ginger Boyd and her new minivan Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom The minivan's new family That's a lot of family for one minivan. Tina Miller / Mini-Van for Mom The economic 'value' of Mom http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26307 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26307 <p>If stay-at-home Moms were paid for all the incredible work they do &mdash; raising children, doing laundry, shuttling kids to sports and activities, offering counseling &mdash; they'd make $116,805 annually. </p> <p>A lot of that pay is driven by overtime, says the study released by Salary.com and reported on by the Associated Press, because Moms, as we know, sure don't work just 40 hours a week. </p> <p>And for moms who work outside the home too, they'd get $68,405 if they were paid for their work as mothers, the Associated Press reports.</p> <p>Salary.com has a cool <a href="http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/layoutscripts/mswl_newsearch.asp">Mom Salary Wizard</a> that let's you plug in number of children by age, ZIP code and hours worked doing various tasks so you can personalize what your Mom is &quot;worth.&quot; It ends with a fake paycheck. Sigh.</p> <p>And what about Dad? <a href="http://swz.salary.com/dadsalarywizard/layoutscripts/dswl_newsearch.asp">Well, there is a calculator for him too</a>.</p> <p>Or do the right thing and deem your Mom &quot;priceless.&quot;</p> <p><i>&mdash; Christine Peterson</i></p>


Title:
Caption:
Credit: Salary.com Web site


Title:
Caption:
Credit: Salary.com Web site

 Salary.com Web site First-time homebuyer help http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26304 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26304 <p>Here's a &quot;raw report&quot; press release from the state's Department of Housing and Community Development: </p> <p><b>CalHome Program Workshop to be Held in Visalia</b><br /> <br /> Sacramento, CA &ndash; California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will hold a workshop in Visalia on Wednesday, May 14 to educate developers, non-profit organizations, cities and counties about the CalHome Program.<br /> <br /> CalHome provides grants to local public agencies or nonprofit corporations for first-time homebuyer downpayment assistance and owner occupied housing rehabilitation.<br /> <br /> The workshop will help CalHome applicants answer questions about the funding and awards process.&nbsp; Approximately $60 million is available for this round of funding.&nbsp; Applications are due on June 25, 2008.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Wednesday&rsquo;s Visalia workshop will be held at Self-Help Enterprises, located at 8445 West Elowin Court.&nbsp; The workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.&nbsp; For more information, visit <a href="http://www.hcd.ca.gov">www.hcd.ca.gov</a> or call (916) 327-3646.<br /> <br /> HCD provides leadership, policies and programs to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing opportunities and promote strong communities for all Californians.&nbsp; The Department also supports increasing the supply of housing, especially affordable housing and works to improve the state&rsquo;s housing conditions and the health and safety of its residents.&nbsp; As the lead housing department, HCD is part of the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. </p> People in Business: A weekly list of achievements for May 8 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26276 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26276 <p>Do you know the person to the left?</p> <p>Find out what she accomplished in this week's People in Business column. </p> <p><i>Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to <a href="http://bakersfield.com/yourwords"> bakersfield.com/yourwords.</a></i></p> <p><i>You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302; faxed to 395-7519; or e-mailed to <a href="mailto:business@bakersfield.com"> business@bakersfield.com.</a> Sorry, photos that are submitted cannot be returned. For information, call 395-7345 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.</i></p>


Title:
Caption: Angie Koenig
Credit:


Title:
Caption: Angie Koenig
Credit:

Angie Koenig Wal-Marts seek OK to sell beer, wine http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26248 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26248 <p>Reporter Jenny Shearer found out that Bakersfield Wal-Marts are seeking liquor licenses from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.</p> <p>No word yet on what kind of beer or wine would be sold if Wal-Mart gets the OK. </p> <p>Read the full story here. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/1385/story/438374.html">Then tell us what you think.</a></p> Launch what you cook http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26166 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MoneyTalks/26166 <p>Do what you know. That's what business coaches always tell budding entrepreneurs. Don't, for example, try to start your own professional football franchise if you work as a ... a ... I don't know &mdash; a newspaper reporter.</p> <p>Do like Arnie Bella, is what they'd say. She's a local medical biller, but that's neither here nor there. The point is, she loves to cook, and her relatives can't get enough of her crepes. So Bella got a business partner, finance manager and New Jersey transplant Paulyn Mercado. Together they're working to open two adjoining restaurants at 5550 California Ave., just north of Stockdale Highway.</p> <p>Warning: Their ideas for the restaurants are going to make your mouth water, so you may want to eat before reading on. We'll wait...</p> <p>One is House of Shabu, an asian fondue place like the kind Bella loves to eat at in Los Angeles. Picture thinly sliced meat and vegetables dipped in piping hot sauces. Indoor and outdoor seating, beer and wine.</p> <p>The other is Oh Goodness! Crepe 'n Gelato. Sort of speaks for itself, really. No beer or wine, but yes, outdoor seating. If all goes well, the idea will turn into a franchise and make Bella and Mercado rich.</p>


Title: Mmmm
Caption: This is what a crepe looks like.
Credit: gentlemansc.blogspot.com


Title: Mmmm
Caption: This is what a crepe looks like.
Credit: gentlemansc.blogspot.com

 Mmmm This is what a crepe looks like. gentlemansc.blogspot.com