Real Estate

"I am pleased to announce that Kara Handy was the recipient of the Award of Distinction at Dilbeck's annual awards event," said branch manager Susan Lindsay. Handy graduated from Chico State University with a bachelor of science degree in business management. Her caring work style provides an excellent opportunity for her to get to know each of her clients on a personal level and she does not stop working until she knows that her client is satisfied. Handy's strong work ethic, combined with her vast knowledge of the local real estate market, makes her a consistent top producing agent.

Barry Ross received congratulations from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Fred Rotenberg after Ross was recently sworn in as the 2012 president of the Glendale Bar Assn. by Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman. A native of the Glendale and Burbank area, Ross just completed a two-year term as the 2010-2011 president of the Burbank Bar Association. Known best as one of Southern California's most respected real estate attorneys and mediators, Ross earned his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University, School of Law in 1975, and an MBA in accounting and management in 1974 from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.

Shirley Owens with Dilbeck Realtors GMAC's La Cañada Flintridge office was recently applauded by branch managers Lynn Beckenhauer and Carole Kunz as she was announced as a Quarterly Sales Leader. Owens is consistently an award winning multi-million dollar Realtor specializing in residential properties in the Foothill areas including La Cañada and La Crescenta for the past 26 years, making dreams come true for both buyers and sellers in all price ranges. She takes the extra time to listen to and understand her client's goals and provides solid real estate guidance all along the process.

Blain Fairbanks Anderson, 84, returned to his loving heavenly father on January 31, 2012. Blain, a long- time resident of the Crescenta Valley was born October 16, 1927 in Burbank, California. After serving a church mission in Holland & graduating from the University of Southern California, Blain began a career in real estate. As one of the early real estate developers in La Canada & La Crescenta, Anderson played a major role in the growth of local com-munities. On August 30th, 1951 Blain married Patricia Hales in the Latter Day Saint Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As a resident concerned about a potential Walmart in Burbank, I would like to say that everyone wants to pay less for things. Everyone. And as a teacher who can't get more hours, I can especially appreciate that. But if there is one thing that I could try and get across to people, it would be these “low prices” that Walmart advertises aren't as low if you look at the larger picture (“Walmart is far from a cure-all,” Aug. 30). A lot of people who want Walmart think that its coming to town would be good because of the state corporate income taxes they will pay. But what a lot of people don't realize is that Walmart avoids paying millions in dollars in taxes a year because of the way their real estate trust is set up. They put their stores under the ownership of a real estate investment trust.

We all know about the serious challenges the real estate market is facing. The state wide decline in values due to excess inventory and the soaring foreclosure rate is sure to worry most California homeowners for an unknown period of time. Market conditions are affected by many factors such as the health of the general economy, the cost of borrowing for a mortgage and inventory of homes for sale are among few of these factors. But let’s not forget: “Real estate is local.

"A Wealth of Options for the Golden Years ? Part Two" is a free seminar especially designed for seniors and their adult children that will be offered at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. A panel of professionals in senior living, family therapy and real estate will speak about selecting the ideal retirement community, managing life changes and real estate options for seniors. The seminar will address the steps seniors and their adult children can take in deciding how and when they should sell the family home and transition into retirement living.

Hospital gets grant from foundation The Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center announced last week that it received a $150,000 grant from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation for its new emergency department. The emergency room in the center?s recently completed west tower has seen a 15% increase in patients since September, hospital officials said. Grant funds are slated to cover the cost associated with equipment in a dedicated X-ray room. For nearly 30 years, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation has helped Southern California nonprofits provide critically needed services to hundreds of thousands of people.