Tri-Valley/San Joaquin round up

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 26, 2009 | by Tri-Valley Herald

Pleasanton

FIND OUT ABOUT STATE OF LOCAL REAL ESTATE: The city is co- hosting a town hall meeting on the state of the real estate market in Pleasanton at 7 p.m. today at the Veterans Memorial Building, 301 Main St.

The event, co-hosted by the Bay East Association of Realtors, will feature a panel of real estate and lending professionals who will answer questions regarding the housing and lending market in Pleasanton.

Pat Huffman, president of the association and owner of Pat Huffman Real Estate, will talk about current and past housing- market conditions in the city. She will also analyze the market and foreclosures.

Financing for home buyers will also be discussed by George Duarte, a member of the East Bay Chapter of the California Association of Mortgage Brokers. Duarte is scheduled to talk about mortgage industry conditions, loan types and interest rates and the impact of the federal stimulus package and foreclosures.

Jacqueline Rickman, director of the Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center, will discuss housing and financial literacy programs for low-to-moderate income residents in the Tri-Valley. Zillow.com lists the average home value in Pleasanton at $613,382, more than three times the national average of $185,992. The same Web site has 403 homes listed for sale in the city, including 52 foreclosures.

-- Robert Jordan

Altamont Pass

CRASH SLOWs I-580 COMMUTE: An overnight semitrailer crash slowed the westbound commute on Interstate 580 Tuesday morning, even after the wreck was cleared, the California Highway Patrol said.

An 18-wheeler hit about a 100 feet of guardrail about 1:30 a.m. just past Grant Line Road and flipped over, spilling its cargo load in an area off the freeway, the CHP said. There were no reports of injuries.

The 43-year-old driver, from Winton, drove from one of the right- hand lanes to the center divide to avoid a collision with an unidentified vehicle that had cut him off. The two left-hand lanes were closed for about three hours for cleanup.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, traffic was diverted off the freeway at Grant Line Road to Altamont Pass Road and back onto Greenville Road. Lanes were cleared as of 6 a.m., but the off-road debris and visibly damaged guardrail caused slowdowns extending to Tracy, the CHP said.

-- Robert Salonga

Tracy

SIXTH ANNUAL SENIOR HEALTH FAIR: Come have breakfast and a massage at the sixth annual Senior Health Fair from 9 to 11 a.m. today at Lolly Hansen Senior Center, 375 E. Ninth St. Seniors will have a chance to improve their health by learning about diet and exercise from more than 35 vendors.

The fair offers hearing and eye exams, blood pressure checks, mini massages and a continental breakfast.

Space is limited. Call 209-831-4230 for more information.

-- Elizabeth Croisetiere

chamber of commerce mixer: Tracy business owners and residents are invited to attend the largest Tracy Chamber of Commerce mixer of the year from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Tracy Community Center.

The Tracy Entrepreneurs Group is hosting the event. Guests can win raffle prizes and network with more 300 guests, including 50 local businesses.

For more information, contact Sofia at the Chamber, 209-835- 2131.

-- Elizabeth Croisetiere