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Happy Memorial Day

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The Gamache Team wants to wish you and your family a Happy Memorial Day. We wish to honor those who have lost their lives defending our great country and thank the family members who have been left behind.

It can’t be said enough that without the sacrifice of so many, we wouldn’t be living in such a great nation. 

May we all take time today and every day to be grateful, spend time with loved ones, and never take our freedom for granted. 

The American Dream

The Gamache Team comes from a long lineage of people who have called the Tri-Valley home for many decades. We appreciate the freedom to live the American Dream of home ownership and do not take it for granted that we help others achieve this same dream.

Real estate is one of the greatest gifts we can achieve, and we are grateful to our clients for trusting us for decades with their American Dream.

Celebrating Diversity 

The Tri-Valley is a mixture of many cultures and, our diversity is one of the very reasons people love to call it home. From mixed heritages, religions, and beliefs, we are all one community and are lucky to have so many opportunities to experience our differences. 

Apple Pie and Baseball

The Tri-Valley is home to just one baseball team now but getting to Oracle Park is a breeze with BART and our freeway system. Whether a hot dog and beer is your game pleaser or a tub of popcorn and cotton candy, watching baseball is one of American’s favorite pastimes.

Apple pie is an American delight, and whether you cook your own or buy one from one of our local grocers or restaurants, it’s an iconic staple of America.

Fly Your Flag High

A favorite past time for some Americans is flying the American Flag. We still get a bit choked up when listening to or singing the National Anthem. May you fly your flag high and consider with pride, thankfulness, and dignity all that the flag and National Anthem represent.

Back Yard BBQ’s

While the weather may be a bit on the cooler side this Memorial Day, it’s always a good time to have a back yard BBQ with friends and family.

The Gamache Team enjoys a good cook out on the backyard grille with chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, potato chips, and watermelon rounding out a few of our staples.

We hope you get the chance to enjoy a chance to sit, relax, and reflect this Memorial Day as we ramp up for the end of school and the beginning of summer.

Happy Memorial Day from Our Family to Yours

From the land of the free to the home of the brave, we wish every one a Happy Memorial Day. 

 

 

Freeze Warning and Wind Advisory in the Tri-Valley! Tips to Prepare for Inclement Weather

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California is known for its mild weather, but the upcoming freeze warning and wind advisory in the Tri-Valley warrants attention. Now, more than ever, it’s so important to be prepare your family, pets, home, and vegetation from the effects of the winter chill we are just hours away from experiencing. 

Tips to Survive Inclement Weather in the Tri-Valley

The recent floods from the winter storms, the wind knocking down trees and power lines, and the chilly temperatures remind us that the power of Mother Nature is nothing to reckon with. 

With these tips to survive inclement weather in the Tri-Valley, you can be more prepared to literally weather the storm.

  • Refill supplies such as water, canned food, ice, snack foods, and pet food. In the event of a power outage, you will have food to sustain yourself.
  • Consider refilling your propane tanks to power generators in the event of an outage or to use for cooking.
  • Have candles, matches, lighters, and flashlights handy and in a place that you can easily get to them in the event of an emergency. 
  • Stock up on batteries for flashlights, carbon monoxide, and fire alarms.
  • Layer in warm clothes and blankets to keep warm.
  • Trim trees and branches to keep from damaging property during high wind advisories.
  • Tie down or remove all loose exterior objects that may blow in the event of high winds. This will help avoid damage to the exterior of the home, pools, or windows.
  • Bring in all animals. The weather is too extreme to be kept outside.
  • Cover all delicate plants that aren’t used to such extreme temperatures.
  • Examine your emergency kit to make sure the medicines are not expired and that you have everything you may need in the event of an injury.
  • Make sure you have access to all medication and that they are kept away from children and pets.
  • Charge phones and cars if necessary in the event you need to evacuate.
  • Fill cars with gasoline.
  • Make an escape plan if you are required to evacuate, lose power, or don’t feel safe enough to stay at your location.
  • Have access to a radio or other device to track the storm and follow the local news.

Keep Safe, Everyone!

Let’s all keep safe! If you have a friend or neighbor that is alone or elderly, please plan on checking on them. Together, we can survive any storm! 

Winter Storm Safety Tips for Tri-Valley Neighborhoods

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Hands Protecting House from Bad weather on chalkboard.

It’s been a wet start to 2023, and predictions of more wet and stormy weather are on the way. With school back in session and safety of paramount concern, The Gamache Team would like to offer some winter storm safety tips for the Tri-Valley neighborhoods.

Preparing Your Tri-Valley Home for Wet and Windy Weather

The Tri-Valley hasn’t experienced this kind of wet and windy weather for years, so we’d like to offer some tips to help you prepare your home.

In the event of a power outage, call your local utility company and stay safe preferably at home. 

To prepare for a possible power outage, stock your home with fresh water and canned food, a can opener, flashlights, batteries, candles, and lighters.

Avoid opening the refrigerator often to keep food cold and fresh.

Sign up for emergency alerts at www.acalert.org and follow your city’s social media platforms. 

Keep all medication in one place and make certain to have a backup plan for medication that needs to be refrigerated.

Use generators, if possible, and only use them outside.

Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. 

Unplug all appliances in the event of a power surge.

Check all windows and doors for leaks and clean up all water spills to avoid damage to flooring. In the event of a water leak from the rain and wind, dry out walls and carpets with fans, tarp roofs, call your local roofer, and stay off of wet and slippery roofs and areas. Contact your insurance company immediately if you have damage to report.

Be Prepared in the Event of an Emergency Evacuation

Prepare an emergency bag in the event you have to evacuate. Include blankets, clothing, toiletries, medicine, snacks, water, band aids, phone chargers, and phone numbers for doctors, dentists, family members, schools, and emergency centers such as hospitals and fire departments. Keep your car filled with gas and your phones charged at all times. 

Bring Pets Indoors

Pets who are not used to severe weather conditions can run away, get injured, or even die. Extreme weather conditions are tough on our pets; bring them inside and make sure they have warm bedding and ample food and fresh water. 

Keep leashes and crates and an emergency bag for them in the event of an evacuation with food, bowls, medication, and bedding.

Special Preparations for Homes in Danger of Flooding

If your home is near a flood zone, you need to take extra precautions to avoid mud, water, and debris from flooding your home. Creeks that swell with rainwater overflow and seep into the soil.

When the soil gets saturated and can hold no more rainwater, the water runs freely and can flood your home. In order to protect your home from overflowing creeks or streams, prepare in advance by stacking sandbags where water might flood your home.

Most cities have sandbag locations to help you prepare for flooding. Research your city’s sandbag locations well in advance of the storm so you are prepared. 

Driving Precautions in the Event of a Storm

If you must drive during a storm, make sure your car is well-maintained with tires inflated to proper capacity, windshield wipers efficient, brakes in working condition, and headlights and brake lights in working order.

Leave extra early to avoid speeding or hurrying.

Drive slowly, taking extra precautions in flooded neighborhoods or streets and around schools. Never drive through puddles as you don’t know how deep they are. In the event you hydroplane, try not to panic, pump the brakes, and steer into the skid not away from it.

Maintain a safe distance between cars in front of you and behind you. 

Avoid all potholes to reduce the risk of damage to the car and flat tires.

Exchange Contact Information with Your Neighbors

It’s always a good idea to exchange contact information with your neighbors. In the event your neighbors are elderly or have young children, you may want to check on them before, during, or after a heavy rain or windstorm.

Keeping an eye out for each other and your homes helps calm fears and creates lasting relationships. Remember, we are all in this together. 

Stay safe, warm, and well everyone!

Tax Tips for the New Year

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As the end of the year approaches, it’s a great time to consider important tax tips for the New Year. So much has changed regarding our work force and work flow that we thought it might be helpful for you to refresh yourselves on preparing and filing taxes and learn new information.

Regardless of your tax status, we encourage you to always seek advice from your CPA, tax attorney, enrolled agent, financial advisor, or tax consultant.

Important Filing Dates for the 2022 Tax Year

The official start of the 2022 tax season begins on January 24, 2023 for the 2022 tax year, and the last day to file your taxes is, for most people, on April 18, 2022. For those taxpayers looking to file an extension, the last day to file is Monday, October 17, 2022.

Tips from the IRS to Make Your Tax Process Smooth

According to the official IRS website, the tips they give to make your tax process smooth included the following:

  • Refer to online resources when asking for help. Phone lines are impacted and some of the most frequently asked questions are available online. The best resource for tax assistance is IRS.gov.
  • Make sure all important documents are in order and accurate. Some child tax credit payments and third economic impact payments were not mailed until January of 2022.
  • Organize all of your tax documents and print out a tax checklist to help.
  • File electronically for speedier service.
  • Choose direct deposit to obtain any tax refunds faster.
  • Be diligent about checking the mail for important tax documents.
  • Bookmark IRG.gov on your computer and refer to the website for more information regarding your personal tax status and prior payments.

Smart Tax Tips to Reduce Taxes, Save Money, and Avoid Penalties

Advice from Turbo Tax suggests that these smart tax tips may help reduce taxes, save money, and avoid penalties. Again, we strongly recommend you consult a professional regarding your personal tax status, but we thought these were some smart tax tips.

  • Consider contributing to your Retirement Account so you are fully funded for the year.
  • Make a last minute estimated tax payment to avoid a possible underpayment penalty.
  • Itemize your tax deductions and educate yourself about what is tax deductible in your situation.
  • Consider a home office tax deduction if you worked from home as many people did.
  • Be diligent that all account numbers are accurate and all social security numbers for dependents are entered.
  • File your taxes on time and if you do owe money, file on time. 

We hope these 2022 tax tips will be helpful for you and wish you much success and less stress as you embark on your tax filing journey.

Tis the Season for Giving

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November marks the traditional season of giving, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are often called upon to help those in need in our community.

While The Tri-Valley is not always associated with families “in need,” we can’t turn a blind eye to those who have fallen on hard times and are in need of our financial, mental, or educational support.

You might be surprised to learn how many individuals, families, and animals rely on organizations throughout the Tri-Valley to succeed.

The Gamache Team would like to highlight the efforts of The Pleasanton Weekly whose annual Holiday Fund “asks residents, businesses and community groups in the Tri-Valley to consider donating to support eight local nonprofit beneficiaries this holiday season.”

Support Local NonProfits Groups in the Tri-Valley  

Whether your interest lies in helping adults, children, or pets with medical, educational, vocational, nutritional or mental challenges, the 2022 Holiday Fund offers an opportunity for you to donate to a local nonprofit in the Tri-Valley.

100% of the donations given to the Holiday Fund go directly to one of the eight nonprofit groups chosen by The Pleasanton Weekly, and all donations are tax-deductible (consult your local tax attorney for confirmation).

The 2022 Holiday Fund recipients are Axis Community Health, CityServe of the Tri-Valley, Hope Hospice, Open Heart Kitchen, Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE), Sunflower Hill, Tri-Valley REACH and Valley Humane Society.

Gina Channell Wilcox, president and publisher of Embarcadero Media’s East Bay Division, shares her thoughts on this giving campaign, “The Holiday Fund represents some of the most fulfilling work that we do every year, raising vital funding and awareness for these important organizations throughout the Tri-Valley.”

Donate to the 2022 Holiday Fund

The 2022 Holiday Fund is accepting donations now until the second week in January. Whether you are an individual or company wanting to help our local nonprofit organizations in need, donations can be made by clicking here.

For a list of the eight recipients and a summary of their causes, please click here. 

Happy Thanksgiving from The Gamache Team

The Gamache Team wishes you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful to have helped so many homebuyers and sellers in the Tri-Valley community with their real estate needs and are blessed to have made friends with so many of you.

We hold each of you near and dear to us as we take some time to celebrate with our family and count our blessings.

May we each find something to be grateful for.

 

Welcome Back to School, Tri-Valley!

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Students, teachers, and staff are back in school in the Tri-Valley, seeing a more normal start to school than we have seen in the last two years.

This is great news for students, teachers, and staff who began last year having to follow strict guidelines due to the pandemic and experiencing home schooling two years ago. 

Here’s to a great 2022-2023 school year, with hopes from The Gamache Team that students will fill their year with memories of in person learning, high-fives from friends, lunches with classmates, school dances, field trips, and in person help from teachers. 

As parents of children attending our accredited Tri-Valley schools, we appreciate the sense of normalcy in person learning brings, the friendships that last a lifetime, and the classroom and playground stories we share at dinner time. 

Livermore Students Receive School Supplies During Stuff the Cruiser Event

Thanks to the Livermore Police Department, approximately 300 K-12th grade students will receive new school supplies due to “Stuff the Cruiser.”

On August 13 and 14, 2022, the Livermore Police Department parked patrol cars and police vehicles in front of CVS, Office Max, Walmart, and Big Lots with an invitation for the community to “stuff” them with school supplies.

Due to the generosity of the community and the Livermore Police Department, students at the Livermore Joint Unified School District will be starting school with new calculators, folders, flash drives, notebooks, backpacks, crayons, and other items. 

Improvements Made at Pleasanton Schools 

Students, staff, and teachers in some Pleasanton schools will start the year with new classrooms, a library, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, heating, and safety measures such as fencing and cameras.

The improvements are part of a multi-million dollar Facility Master Plan that also includes a bond to be included in the November ballot. If passed, the bond would provide funds to rebuild the Amador and Foothill theaters and gyms as well as build new classrooms at Vintage Hills Elementary. 

Administrative changes and new salary and benefit packages for teachers complete the improvements to Pleasanton Unified School District. (source)

The Pleasanton Unified School District boasts several “bests” among schools in California according to Niche. It ranks as the 17th Best School District in California; 22nd Best District for Teachers in California; and 99th Safest School Districts in California. (source)

Here’s to a great 2022-2023 School Season!

Moving to the Tri-Valley School District

If you are considering a move to the Tri-Valley School District, you are making an excellent choice. Top-rated schools are just some of the reasons homebuyers move to the Tri-Valley.

If you want more information about the Livermore or Pleasanton schools or which neighborhoods fall under these boundaries, kindly reach out to The Gamache Team. Not only have we attended these schools ourselves, we have kids who attend as well!

 

 

 

 

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