Hey, Fazel should be in the Diplomatic Corps; The first thing he did in introducing our Russian realtor visitors was to remind them of the first real estate deal between our countries 144 years ago, when "Seward's Folly" was purchased at 2 cents per acre. He also probably antagonized a few Republicans by updating the title to Palin's Folly. He also said something about Palin's back yard being seen from Russia, which was worst of all because it's questionable whether the Russians know who Sarah is. John did redeem himself by giving thanks for our great former exchange students, Masha from Moscow and Natalia and Lena from St. Petersburg, and also warning our visitors about the last two words of the LSR version of our Pledge of Allegiance.
GUESTS
Rotarians:
Bob Shusta, WC Sunrise
Dick Burkhalter, Orinda
Dino Riggio, Lafayette Noon
Mike Heller, Lafayette Noon
Luis Alcon, Concord
Other:
Cindy Silva, guest speaker, Mayor of Walnut Creek
Her namesake's new companion, Amador the Dog
Nathaniel Evaristo, Troop 204, gathering contributions
for the troops
Owen and Ruth Murray, drivers for Russians
The Russians, see below
RUSSIAN REAL ESTATE HEATING UP
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Russian Real Estate Professionals pose with Prez Alex (center front)
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The interpreter for the Russian group (at far left in the pic above), Ilya, thanked the four local clubs for guiding the group. He explained that the Russian real estate industry is a work in process, having started only around 20 years ago. Probably for that reason, the average age of real estate professionals in Russia is 29, as compared with 53 in the U.S. The group is very grateful to have had this learning experience.
The realtors introduced themselves individually, some in Russian and some in English.
Anna Isakova from Moscow. Graduate of Moscow University of Land Development, now studying at the Academy of Law (all right, another lawyer!). Isakova Real Estate Co., doing property management, marketing, and legal consulting.
Aleksey Sviridov from Miass. Chelyabinsk State Technical University, and Russian Trade and Economics University. Sviridov Real Estate Co., doing marketing, evaluations, and commercial property management.
Sergei Lozhkin from Izhevsk. Udmurt State University of Economics. Ofisnyi Tzentr Real Estate Co., as well as several other business including catering.
Elena Ray from Chelyabinsk. Moscow Academy of Law and Management. "Business - Most" Real Estate Co., investing in properties and handling all real estate operations.
Anna Khanas from Chelyabinsk. South Urals State University Law Department. "Business - Most" Real Estate Co., same.
Elena Sidorenko from Vladivostok. Vladivostok State University of Economics, now studying at the Law Academy. Nedvizhimost Vladivostoka Real Estate Co., doing all kinds of property management.
Vladislav Novomeyskiy from Ekaterinburg. The Urals State University, Marketing and Advertising Department. Fars Real Estate Co. (Deputy Director), doing sales and leases, commercial and non-commercial, plus other businesses in night club and IT advertising.
Alexander Babin from Vladivostok. Dalnevostok State University, political science major. Stroy Gorod Real Estate and Construction Company, building and selling residences.
Olga Babina from Vladivostok (married to Alexander). Dalnevostok State University Law Department. N.A.T.A. Real Estate Co., doing real estate operations and legal consulting.
Victor Shein from Ekaterinburg. The Sverdlovsk Law Academy. Agropromservice, doing all phases of real estate and legal consulting, plus an additional agriculture business.
Maksim Mikhaylyuta from Chelyabinsk. Russian Academy of Education, Credit and Finance. The Sluzhba Nedvizhimosti Real Estate Co., doing all phases of real estate and legal consulting. Received an award as the best real estate agent and the title "Mr. Realtor" in Chelyabinsk Oblast.
Isn't it remarkable how this scribe got all this information taking notes at the meeting? NOT! Even Jim Marggraff's pen couldn't have handled that. Thanks go to Bob Shusta for furnishing the above information and a good deal more.
SO WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING
Brad Davis rarely fails to seize the opportunity to speak, but this morning somehow passed him by. However, in a scoop for this newspaper, he did reveal that next week's speaker will be Linda Worsham, coordinator of the Garden Park Apartments, and that our pumpkin carving event there will be on October 27th at roughly 5:00.
Dino Riggio of the Lafayette Noon club gave a timely reminder that Thursday is Rotary Night at the Town Hall Theatre, which will present Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile", the barroom conversation between Picasso and Einstein, which also features a mysterious stranger. (Steve Martin himself may not be present.)
President Alex said that Paula Bernard has some health issues. We all certainly wish you well and are thinking of you, Paula, and hope to see you back soon.
WHAT'S SHAKIN' IN WALNUT CREEK
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| Mayor Cindy Silva of Walnut Creek. |
Mayor Cindy Silva certainly knows. She gave us an education and update on her favorite city. Its fiscal health has come a long way. It wasn't good 2 years ago, but they've closed a $20 million gap. Expenses are down, the reserves are healthy, and there is no general fund debt. Just to keep on top of things, a 15-member blue ribbon task force has been created to come up with long term strategies, and they've already put in around 2,000 hours.
Crime rate in 2010 was down 10.8% from 2009, and down 9.5% from the prior 6-year average.
1,200 citizens (of which 300 are in Rossmoor) are becoming CERT-trained for emergency work and public safety.
Economic health is being stimulated in various ways. John Muir Hospital has doubled in size since completion of its new tower in April. Auto sales, which produce 1/3 of the sales tax revenue, will jump on completion of a new VW dealership at North Main & Ygnacio Valley Road, which is so state-of-the-art that the only other such facility in the country is in Manhattan. Retail vitality will result from Nieman Marcus opening at Mt. Diablo & Main in March 2012, and upgrading of the 60-year-old Broadway Plaza including Nordstrom.
Other efforts in this direction include a branding effort to help the traditional downtown (north of Mt. Diablo Blvd), and a Mt. Diablo-Locust Plan. This latter plan addresses the last vestiges of the old days when Mt. Diablo Blvd. was Highway 24, and Main Street was the main highway north and south. From an area of gas stations and related services, the focus will be on pedestrians, bridging the north and the south, local business, and arts & entertainment.
To help a Transit Area Plan, covering the area around BART, a $500,000 grant has been obtained. The city's population is stable but aging. More housing units are needed to relieve downtown traffic, increase use of public transit and lessen impact on existing neighborhoods. A BART transit village is planned over the next 10 years. Other housing projects are Walden Commons on Oak Road, affordable apartments on Third Avenue, and 10 homes to be built in 2012 by Habitat for Humanity.
The planned Shadelands project, 25 acres owned by Safeway, will go through a community process before Safeway proceeds.
How to get to Walnut Creek, and where to park? Technological advances in traffic signal timing, LED lights, and 24/7 token and countdown systems for public and private garages will help. Ygnacio Valley Road is still a traffic focal point, although the car count there is the same as 20 years ago. Some relief should be provided by diversion elsewhere as Highway 4 and other projects are completed.
Health and the environment are important to the city. $25 million is going into rebuilding of swim centers, where aging aquatics are of particular interest. Solar panels are going into City Hall. Walnut Creek and Lafayette have teamed up on a new acquisition at Acalanes Ridge, bringing that very scenic area to 2,700 acres. There is also a new Creek Walk where WC's three creeks come together at Civic Park.
Walnut Creek is a cultural center. The Lesher Center is now celebrating its 21st birthday. It has received 12 Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, and every $1 spent there brings $36 in benefits. There is noteworthy art in public places, including a Benny Buffano peace sign which is 38 feet high. The new library has over 1,500 visitors per day.
Mayor Silva noted the city's volunteerism has similarity to Rotary's. Two years ago, a crossroads was reached as to whether the city should preserve the status quo or seek progress. Over 200 people walked the streets and advocated progress, and this grass roots movement led to the activity today. 2011 has been declared the Year of the Volunteer. A Community Service Day was celebrated for the first time a week ago, and over 1,000 volunteers, who had worked on 42 projects, showed up.
How could Rotarians fail to like a town like this?
