If you have any questions or a story to tell, please call Don Marler 684-6654

From Reuters:

On February 18, 2010, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California announced that it dismissed with prejudice a putative class action lawsuit filed against Pulte Homes, Inc., Pulte Home Corporation and Pulte Mortgage LLC. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Pulte engaged in misconduct that contributed to the mortgage crisis. The suit drew from reports issued by the Laborer's International Union of North America (LiUNA) and other union-related groups that attempt to blame Pulte and other large homebuilders for the mortgage crisis. In fact, the attorneys who drafted the suit lifted sections of one union sponsored report and inserted them verbatim into the complaint. The lawsuit was filed by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP, which has worked with LiUNA to file at least one other class action lawsuit against another national homebuilder. According to Pulte Homes, for some time, LiUNA and other union groups have engaged in an intimidation campaign against Pulte in order to coerce the Company to force its independent trade partners to sign union agreements. As part of that campaign, these union groups have been behind false claims that Pulte and other residential homebuilders engaged in improper practices with respect to the sale of homes. They have pressed these same false claims through official-looking, but misleading, reports, lawsuits, media articles and testimony before various State and Federal regulatory and rulemaking proceedings.

from the court ruling (available here):

V. CONCLUSION
This Court finds that Plaintiff lacks statutory standing to
sue Pulte for its alleged bait-and-switch scheme. The Court
further finds that Plaintiff would be unable to amend her pleadings
so as to correct these deficiencies without directly contradicting
the pleadings set forth in her initial Complaint. Consequently,
Plaintiff's first and second causes of action are DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE as to Plaintiff's bait-and-switch allegations.
This Court further finds that Plaintiff lacks constitutional
standing to assert any cause of action based on a theory that
Defendants harmed her by causing her house to depreciate in value.
Consequently, all of Plaintiff's remaining causes of action are
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

We have previously posted a “save the date” for a scheduled Round Table Discussion with the City of Elk Grove City Council at the Arbour Lodge.      We promised to post more information about the event but it has proven to be very difficult to get the facts.  

On the  Ourglenbrooke community page is the following announcement:

Round Table Discussion with the Elk Grove City Council.   There will be a Round Table Discussion with the  Elk Grove City Council on March 25th from 6:30 - 8pm in the Arbour Lodge Oak and Cedar Rooms.  (posted by Erin Gormley).

When I asked Erin for more information, she said she hadn’t booked the room but was working on the flyer that would have more information.  

While at the Lodge today, I picked up the flyer and I am even more  confused.   It does not say with the City Council.  The title is City of Elk Grove Round Table Discussion at Glenbrooke – no mention of the Council or what department or persons from the City of Elk Grove were coming.   

When I asked staff about the event, they thought it was being held at City Hall.   I pointed out the flyer states the discussion will be at the Arbour Lodge.   They seemed surprised and checked the registration book.  Sure enough, there is a sign up sheet for the Discussion.  We signed up and there are two people that had already registered.  

So many unanswered questions:   

Is this a Round Table Discussion with City Council members?    If so, which one(s)?    Why don't they know about it?

Is it with a different department of the City of Elk Grove?

What is the topic/purpose of the meeting?

Who is organizing this event?

Is this a political endorsement?

Are they paying rent for the room?

Is it about the Sphere of Influence?   Wal-Mart?  CSD taking over the maintenance of the promenade, Rose Garden Park, Storybook Park?

I have even heard it is not for the residents, only for   "HOA Leadership."   That must not be true since there is a flyer posted in the Lodge and a sign-up sheet for residents.  But if it is true, who is considered  "leadership” our resident board members, the entire Board of Directors, group leaders?

This is a prime example of better communication not costing a penny more- it just needs to be more efficient (see Communication Survey article).    When something is posted on the Association's Website (ourglenbrooke.net) it would be very helpful to have all of the information. One can’t go wrong to include the 5 W’s; Who, What, When, Where, and Why!   

When something is scheduled for the Arbour Lodge, ALL staff should know all about the event.  It is my understanding that there is a weekly staff meeting.  Why isn’t information shared with all staff members about every event on the calendar?    I personally spoke with three different employees – including the Activities Director – none had any information about this event.

Residents should not have to make multiple phone calls and trips to the Lodge to try to get accurate information.  

Can someone shed some light on what may be an important event? 

Did you complete  your orientation to the equipment when you first moved into Glenbrooke?    Can you remember how to adjust the seats and weights on the machines?    Have you been telling yourself you need to get back to the fitness center and start a regular routine -  now that you are settled into your house?

Then take advantage of this free refresher course and feel comfortable utilizing the facilities we are so lucky to have at Glenbrooke.

Please,  if you own a dog,  you need to be responsible  for it, and pick up after  - everywhere!    The City even provides  the trash cans and Mutt Mitts (but always carry your own in case the receptacle is empty).   If you are disabled and have trouble bending over,  there are inexpensive special tools designed for assisting in this tasks - no excuses.   

A reminder to our non-dog owning neighbors,  female dogs squat to urinate.   Please be sure that there was solid waste left behind before you become concerned.

Monty Hight

reprinted with permission from anewscfe.com 

“76 in a 65, I got him.”  As I approached the vehicle on the passenger side and leaned in to speak with the driver, I started with my standard, “Good afternoon, I stopped you for exceeding the posted speed limit.  May I see your license, registration and proof of insurance?”  And then I see it.  Affixed to the windshield just above the dash… a radar detector.

Looking  for something to do today?  There are still  free tickets to the Cal Expo Home and Garden Show for today.    Pick up your at the Lodge.

There  are  10 halls of exhibits and the Show runs March 5th through the 7th.   Admission price is

photos by D.Gore

The next meeting of the Genbrooke photo club is Tuesday, March 16 at 6:00 PM at the Arbour Lodge.  Because of the wonderful presentation by Daniel Kasser, we didn't have time to look at our monthly topic photos at the last meeting.  So, we'll double up with the February photos (Bridges) and the March photos (Sky/Clouds/Sunrise/Sunset). 

I'm sure some of you will also have some photos from our February 19 Field Trip to Placerville. The newest pictures are up in the Lodge.                                      

I found a photography workshop nearby some of us might be interested in.  I have included info about that below. If you have any questions, please email or call me.

Ponce's Portraits Studio Workshop:Make your Photos look professional! We will have a live model to shoot, practice and will cover:
Artistic Composition
Rules of Thirds
Eliminating background distractions
Framing subject with surroundings
Selective Focus on the Subject
Techniques to Blur Backgrounds
Colors and Clothing Choices
Natural Lighting techniques
Posing
Rules
Male, Female poses
Hands
Position to camera
Direction of light
Fill lightMarch 28th, 10am to 1pm, $29, Must sign up in advance to save your spot.
Ponce's Portraits Studio
10466 Franklin Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95757                                                                             

We will be talking about portraits, but the lighting and composition can be transferred to any subject.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1/8 tsp. Pepper

1 Tablespoon butter or margarine

1 cup fresh cut up asparagus spears

1 cup red or pink salmon, drained, and  flaked

1 cup shredded Dill-Havarti cheese or other mild soft cheese

Directions:   In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and pepper until well blended.   In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat, add asparagus; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender.

Reduce heat to medium-low, Add egg mixture to skillet; gently stir in salmon.  Cover; cook 6 to 8 minutes or until eggs are set. (Do not stir) Sprinkle with cheese; cover and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.