Garage doors and lights suggestions

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Hi Penny: We wanted to give some suggestions for the garage door openers that came with the townhouses and light bulbs for the built-in can lights in all the units: - Per a garage door repair company, it's suggested that we use LITHIUM GREASE in the screw mechanism that runs from the garage door opener motor to the front of the garage door (it can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes). The screw is hard to see, but it runs through the center of the long track that raises the garage door. We were told Chamberlain no longer makes this type of garage door opener because of problems with the screw mechanism and the extreme heat in the valley will take its toll. We used the lithium grease on our door and it is EXTREMELY quiet now when it opens/closes. It's also suggested people use WD40 on the main spring and support wheels that run on both sides of the track. - The original light bulbs that were installed in the can lights give off a very cold and blue light (the type of light you would see with fluorescent lights in a factory or hospital. You can go to Home Depot or Lowes and replace the same type bulbs, but you have to buy ones that are 2700 to 3000 Kelvin and they will give off a much more natural light, similar to an incandescent bulb. When you drive through our great complex and you see these old types of bulbs/lights at night in the kitchens, it just looks too industrial. Hope it helps." Miss Penny Lane says: Thanks for the tips.

Lit up at Melody and Sandy

About a dozen homes at Palermo Palm Springs have already decorated with lights for the holiday season. This is from the corner of Melody Lane and Sandy Point. Miss Penny says: She's inspired.

Memory Lane: Christmases past at Palermo Palm Springs

Holiday lights are popping up at Palermo Palm Springs this weekend, so Positively Palermo will walk down memory lane and feature some decorations from years past. Miss Penny Lane says: She's lit up for the holidays and she hasn't even had a Christmas Cosmo yet.

Trash/recycle day

A reminder that today is trash and recycling day, delay one day due to Thanksgiving. MIss Penny Lane says: She'd filled up her blue bin with the boxes of all the present she bought for herself last night.

Happy Thanksgiving, Palermo Palm Springs

Positively Palermo wishes the community a wonderful and filling Thanksgiving. Miss Penny Lane says: After being away for the beginning of Thanksgiving week she happy to be home, but Thanksgiving is not a good day for wardrobe. A trip to the outlet may soon be in order.

Lost Kindle Touch in the gym

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Ms. Penney, I may have left my Kindle Touch at the Palermo Gym Friday morning on the 2nd treadmill. Would you mind posting this so that it can be returned to me if it has been found? It is password protected so it is of no use to anyone but me. Thanks for all you do!!! Chris, 3661 Melody Lane." Miss Penny Lane says: Please help if you can.

Voting question

Positively Palermo recently fond this message and other message from earlier this month in the "spam" folder. The e-mail says: "Did anyone else here have trouble voting today? I confirmed that I was registered to vote through the Riverside county registrar weeks ago, but when I went to the polling station today, I was not on the list. Had to do a provisional ballot (and they did not ask me for ID which I think is required.) When I went back online to check with the Riverside county registrar, my registration status had changed to "pending." Miss Penny Lane says: She had no trouble exercising her right to vote but any other type of exercising is a problem for her.

Palm Springs to Vancouver

Palermo Palm Springs sometimes is called Little Canada, so this article in the paper might be of interest. It reads: "An unprecedented construction boom has left British Columbia with a large shortage of construction workers — a scenario that could benefit unemployed Coachella Valley residents. “Some have not found work for the past four years in their trade,” said Tom Freeman, commissioner with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency’s office of foreign trade, which has helped set up a Dec. 4 job fair in Indio to recruit workers willing to move north. Economic development specialists and others in the Coachella Valley have been very involved in what is called the “workforce mobility program,” with initial meetings taking place in Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, he said. The British Columbia Construction Association, which represents some 2,000 companies, will have a delegation at the job fair, as it has at similar job fairs held in Ireland and Scotland, said Abigail Fulton, vice president and an attorney with the association based in Victoria, British Columbia." Miss Penny Lane says: With this morning's gray cloudy weather, she feels like she's in B.C.

Palms trimmed: Let there be light

Positively Palermo received this e-mail about the trimming of the palm trees last week and earlier the other type of trees: "Miss Penney, Thanks for your service and I want to say how great our community looks with the trees trimmed back, very different, and lots of light." Miss Penny Lane says: These are sunny days at Palermo.

Happy Veterans Day, Palermo Palm Springs

Positively Palermo wishes everyone a good Veterans Day. Miss Penny Lane says: She'll be cerebrating her freedom with a nice dip in the Palermo hot tub.

Palermo Palm Springs Desirability Index: 21 to 40

Here is the second top 20 in Palermo Palm Springs Desirability Index, based on the original "final release price" of the developer. The prices were based on intrinsic factors such as views, size of the back yards and privacy, not later upgrades such as back yard landscaping, outdoor fireplaces or improved bathroom tiles, etc. According to our research, though, it does appear that the units at the top of the index have had more upgrades as the original buyers, who paid more for their units also sprang for more upgrades. For example, a big percentage of the private pools, spools and spas that were put in at Palermo were installed in the units near the top of the index. Conversely, original buyers who wanted a lower price didn't shell out as often for the upgrades offered by the builder. Those owners here at the beginning may remember that in those pre-construction days that the sales team in the trailer were aiming for at least $20,000 in upgrades per unit. (For more background on these original prices, please see our posting from earlier this week.) Here is the list:

21. 241 Breeze Loop, Unit 99, A model, $450,000
21. 231 Breeze Loop, Unit 100, A model, $450,000
23. 3548 Foothill Ave., Unit 178, G model, $446,000
24. 230 Enterprise Way, Unit 92, A model, $443,000
24. 240 Enterprise Way, Unit 93, A model, $443,000
24. 3533 Penny Lane, Unit 94, A model, $443,000
24. 3573 Penny Lane, Unit 98, A model, $443,000
28. 288 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 145, A model, $439,000
29. 3522 Melody Lane, Unit 84, D model, $436,000
29. 3592 Melody Lane, Unit 91, D model, $436,000
29. 3558 Quiet Side St., Unit 179, G model, $436,000
32. 3521 Melody Lane, Unit 65, A model, $435,000
32. 3531 Melody Lane, Unit 66, A model, $435,000
32. 3671 Melody Lane, Unit 80, A model, $435,000
32. 3681 Melody Lane, Unit 81, A model, $435,000
32. 3621 Melody Lane, Unit 75, A model, $431,000
37. 3661 Melody Lane, Unit 79, A model, $431,000
37. 3532 Melody Lane, Unit 85, D model, $431,000
39. 3542 Melody Lane, Unit 86, A model, $429,000
40. 248 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 141, A model, $423,000

Miss Penny Lane says: She loves the top 40.

Palermo Desirability Index: Original developer's 'final unit release prices' provide a guide

Positively Palermo once again has received e-mails asking that we discuss home sales and prices. First, let’s examine the seven model types. There are four model types (A, B, C, and D) with two-bedrooms and two stories. There is one model (G) with two bedrooms in a single level. The developer generally priced the two-bedroom models in this order: A unit had highest price, D unit had the second, B and C tied for third, and then the G unit. There also are two models (E and F) with one bedroom in a single level. The F unit is bigger than the E unit. However, the developer in the initial sales push didn’t treat all of the units of the same model type equally. That is, for example, the price of a D unit could vary from another D unit, depending on location, views, yard size, privacy and other factors. Below, we have listed the top most desirable units based on the original "final unit release price" we obtained and published years ago. Please note that these prices may not have been what the units eventually sold for — but the list serves as a guide to the residences considered to be premium ones. All of Palermo's 117 units, not just these 20, should be evaluated individually. Also, please note the "final unit release price" on these 20 units below and the other 97 units do not include pools or spas they were added, or other upgrades.

Here is the top 20:
1. 260 Enterprise Way, Unit 109, A model, $481,000
1. 270 Enterprise Way, Unit 110, A model, $481,000
1. 3534 Penny Lane, Unit 107, A model, $481,000
4. 250 Enterprise Way, Unit 108, A model, $480,000
5. 3585 Sunburst Blvd., Unit 118, A model, $477,000
6. 302 Breeze Loop, Unit 123, A model, $473,000
6. 210 Enterprise Way, Unit 82, D model, $473,000
8. 280 Enterprise Way, Unit 111, A model, $470,000
8. 318 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 147, A model, $470,000
10. 312 Breeze Loop, Unit 121, A model, $468,000
11. 3525 Sunburst Blvd., Unit 112, D unit, $466,000
12. 308 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 146, A model, $463,000
12. 220 Enterprise Way, Unit 83, A model, $463,000
14. 272 Breeze Loop, Unit 125, A model, $461,000
14. 3591 Melody Lane, Unit 72, A model, $461,000
14. 255 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 126, A model, $461,000
17. 215 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 136, D model, $460,000
18. 252 Breeze Loop, Unit 128, D model, $456,000
18. 245 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 130, A model, $456,000
18. 275 Sandy Point Trail, Unit 122, D model, $456,000

Next: The next 20. Miss Penny Lane says: Every unit is desirable in her book.

Showing off for the season at Palermo

Halloween kicked off the decorating season at Palermo Palm Springs. The fall wreaths are wonders to look at in the community, with more to certainly come. Miss Penny Lane says: She's inspired and is going to make a Target run for decorations.

Election Day!

Positively Palermo was asked after yesterday's post about where our polling place is — It is at the James O. Jessis Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road. Miss Penny Lane says: Election Day provides her an excuse to spend the night with Anderson Cooper.

Former Julian Market building get more work done

The clean-up of the former Julian Market building on Indian Canyon Drive at San Rafael continues. Signs of the businesses there are gone and painted over, other painting is being done on the building and a window for the former market has been removed and replaced with a wall. The building is for sale as bank-owned. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for a Starbucks.

Tomorrow is the big day

A reminder not to forget to vote tomorrow as Palermo loves to show its civic pride. Miss Penny Lane says: She's already dropped hers in the mail.

'Loose change for animals'

Positively Palermo received this e-mail request: "Hi Penny! Please see attached. I am doing a fundraiser, and I know our Palermo community is very generous, especially when it comes to our animals. Wondering if you can post this, and if people want to give loose change to me, I am happy to come to them anytime, or they can drop off at my place. No amount is too small. Many thanks, Tiffani, 3545 Sunburst." Miss Penny Lane says: Good luck!

Here is the flyer:

“Loose Change for the Animals” Fundraiser 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

@ The Bungalow Salon

71935 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage 

760.568.5454

Hey Ladies! (and guys too)

It’s time to empty out all those fabulous summer handbags and get ready for fall…what to do with all that loose change you ask? We’ve got the answer!

Drop by the Bungalow Salon and put it in the jar….for the animals!

“Loose Change for the Animals” Event benefitting Animal Samaritans, SPCA, Inc. Improving the lives of animals and people since 1978 – a non-profit rescue shelter located in Thousand Palms, serving the Coachella Valley -

Join us on Wednesday, November 14^th @ 6pm for an evening of coming together for the animals. We’ll have libations and goodies to snack on while we raffle off great prizes and count all the loose change we’ve gathered at the Salon even before the event! No loose change? No problem…come by and support a great organization right in your own backyard. There are so many ways to help out; volunteering, fostering, transporting, adopting, educating! Come find out what Animal Samaritans is all about!

Loose change jars are available at Bungalow Salon right now! Don’t wait! Clean out those handbags, jacket pockets, sofas, etc.. today and drop by the salon!

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, November 14^th @ 6pm

If you’d like to learn more about Animal Samaritans, please visit the website; www.animalsamaritans.org and our Facebook page; Animal Samaritans SPCA

We also have a donation wish list available through Amazon.com and Walmart.com

Thank you for your support!

Palermo's trees get spruced up

Palermo's trees received major hair cuts with crews spending days in the community. A picture is worth a thousand words. Miss Penny Lane says: She's off to the hair salon as well.

Clean-up at the vacant models continues

More activity was reported at the vacant model units this week, with another large trash container filled. Miss Penny Lane says: Spring cleaning has come early to Palermo, and she's inspired.