ABC's 20/20 has been doing a series on the "New Normal." In the feature this past Friday New Normal: Workers Learn New Skills ABC introduced to the nation two gentlemen who I have been fortunate enough to come to know during the past year and hold in high regard. Mike Hess and John Holcomb.   A small part of what these two have accomplished over the past year is to bring affordable, self-generated power to the world. The Windspire is the newest appliance for your home. The Radarrange by Amana received the "Top 10 Gadgets That Changed the World" award. Akin to Radarrange that was first introduced to households in 1967, I believe the Windspire will take it's spot in the top 10 Gadgets That Changed The World.  Photo Credit: Sang Nguyen     Latest statistics show that 25% of the world's pop... 06/22/2009

I had an interesting conversation today with a local stock broker. During our discussion I mentioned fuel poverty. He stopped me mid-sentence.... "What is that?" he asked. What is what? I said. What is fuel poverty? What is your definition of Fuel Poverty?" he asked. I thought everyone had heard it yet he told me he had not heard the term before....                                                        but it struck him.... "How do you define it?" he asked. Hmmm...my definition of fuel poverty is that one spends so much of their disposible income on fuel - whether for keeping warm, driving to appointments or heating water - that they don't have enough money to enjoy the things they want to enjoy, or feed their family, or pay their mortgage.       The "official" Wikipedia definition of ... 02/19/2009

Hi,                 I just wanted to take a minute and give you an update on the market.  (Like you need one! )  Two remarkable stories in the Grand Rapids press this weekend really put into words what I have been telling people who ask, and it was great to see that same information validated by the GR Press.  I know it's been a rough year for sellers.  It's been a rough year for almost everyone in this economy.  We've all seen our home values plummet, and we've all wondered what the best thing to do is.  Wait? Sell? fire-sale? short sale? foreclosure?  Many buyers are in a dilemma because money lending practices are more stringent, and the plethora of home choices make it difficult to make a decision for many. Now, more than ever, more and more homes selling are foreclosures.  Just las... 01/12/2009

Jeff Foxworthy would have a field day with Coopersville, Michigan . . . especially this morning!  You've heard the stories young boys tell about how they got a bruise, a cut or any other wound.  Why is it with boys, it has to be some spectacular thing that happened to them--even big boys!  At Coopersville's East Elementary, 4th grader Drake is going to have a story to tell for a real long time on how he got a cut on his head!  He got kicked in the head by a 6 point buck IN HIS 4TH GRADE CLASSROOM.  He is completely fine, thank goodness, but this kid is going to have a story to tell until he is old.  The best part is he has the proof to tell what happened.  Toward the end of school yesterday, the deer crashed through a window as a 6 point buck but he left the classroom as a 3 point buck.... 12/09/2008

  For those of us who are dedicated bloggers, we sit at the keyboard for hours.  By the time we’re done with our post, our hands are aching and our fingers are tingling.  Don’t you wish you could rub a magic lantern and ask the genie to make it so you could speak the words, and have them appear on the page?  But that’s only for fairy tales and fairy tales aren’t real . . .are they???? Did you know that almost everybody has speech recognition on their computer?  Right now, I am speaking these words instead of typing them.  My hand does not hurt—in fact, it isn’t even touching a keyboard. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “how much does this cost, because in this economy I can’t afford anything”. Want to know how much it cost? It costs nothing.  Yes, you heard me right--- tha... 11/21/2008

Is it a Roundabouts or a Silly Circle?You know that moment. . . . you look down a road well traveled, a road you use all the time, and there it is . . . . road closed, construction ahead!  You bite your lip and take a deep breath and think, OK, I have to figure out a way around this . . . . I wonder how long the road will be closed . . . . .I wonder what they are doing . . . . .is it really closed or can sneak through all the heavy equipment?!!?  Hopefully my car won't bottom out too bad!!That was my thought last year.  We live in between two small towns.  One is Allendale, MI (home of GVSU) and the other is Coopersville, MI.  Coopersville is even smaller than Allendale.  Coopersville is where I grew up, where I went to high school, where I had my first job, where I got fired from my fi... 10/24/2008

On the City of Coopersville website, Cindy Timmerman proudly proclaims, "Welcome to Coopersville, a fun place to visit, a fantastic place to live, and a great place to do business!"You may ask what makes Coopersville such a fantastic place to live? If you have children, our Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School System may appeal to you!The State of Michigan website describes the award as having more rigorous standards than the national blue ribbon award. "The Michigan Blue Ribbon is awarded to schools based on academic achievement, accreditation, school organization and culture, student focus and support, curriculum, quality teaching, and family and community partnerships with the school; whereas, the National Blue Ribbon is awarded on the basis of academic achievement scores alone."As ... 02/25/2008

 There was an interesting story in our local Northwest Advance newspaper (January 27th, 2008)  The article by Jeffrey Cunningham was entitled "City Council debates to to enforce local ordinances."  Zoning ordinances can sometimes become prickly issues and this was the case apparently when Fountain View Nursing Home in Coopersville, Michigan complained about neighbors who were letting junk pile up in their yards.City officials stepped in and forced the offenders to clean up their trash by taking them to court.  However, it seems that the same standards have not been applied when the nursing home itself has violated city ordinance by parking a semi-trailer on their property in violation of zoning restrictions in a residential area. According to the paper, City officials have been in conta... 01/31/2008

I can't believe it.  I actually had someone try to pull, what may be, an equity skimming situation on someone that lives around here, in COOPERSVILLE!  AGAIN!This is the second time that I am personally aware of where some of our citizens have almost been scammed.  What happens is this...  Someone starts getting a bit behind on their mortgage, to the point that a bank sends information out on public notice. (about 2 missing payments).  A third party then calls the homeowner, and spins a yarn about how they will take care of everything, just sign over certain rights to your house and "rent" from them.  Meanwhile, they take out all of the equity, never make a payment, and leave the homeowner high and dry without equity or a place to live.  I personally do not know of any "legit" operation... 12/06/2007

That's what I do. (with a little help from my wife)... ok a lotta help...  We're here to be helpful and make a living.  Confidentiality is always the theme, so don't worry about anyone hearing your woes, or your achievements, or your motivations from me.  I try to earn respect from every customer, so they talk to other people here in town in a good manner about my business, and will refer their children and family members to me when they choose to make a real estate change in their lives.Foreclosures.   Sellers and Buyers.  Growing Families.  Shrinking Families.  Seniors.  Empty Nesters.  Divorces. First Time Buyers.If you can think of it, we've probably handled it. 11/20/2007