BEAR RIVER VS COLFAX - FULL GAME VIDEO - GIRLS

Touchdown Productions called the game in which Bear River blew-out Colfax on 1/31/13 at Bear River High School. Full game video can be seen below.

NEVADA CITY JAZZ CAMP - 2013

Sierra Jazz Society's mission is to pass on the uniquely American tradition of jazz with the highest musical standards. Bill Douglass and the professional faculty share their knowledge and musical passion through annual summer Jazz Camp, concerts and workshops. Sierra Jazz Society, SJS, provides musical experiences that weave together the elements of jazz. Improvisation and discipline are basic and we combine them in an atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie and sympathetic communication.

TERMS FOR JAZZ CAMP 2013

Tuition is $450. This includes lunch. Deposit of $150 and the completed registration form is required to reserve a space in your section. Balance is due by June 1. To register after June 1, the entire tuition is required. Refund of deposit and tuition, less a $25 processing fee, available until June 15. No refunds after June 15.

There is no housing provided by the Sierra Jazz Society. We can provide information to help you secure housing if you need it.

Financial Help is available. Please contact Julia as she may be able to offer you a work-study scholarship.

Click here  to register for the all-ages Jazz camp.

Click here for information for the Junior Jazz Camp.

2012 BEST REAL ESTATE YEAR SINCE 2007

Steady December home sales capped the best year for the U.S. real estate market in five years, according to an industry trade group report Tuesday.

The National Association of Realtors said that December sales of previously-owned homes came in just slightly below November's sales pace, but up 12.8% from a year ago. That brought full-year sales to 4.65 million, up 9% from 2011 and the best year for home sales since 2007, when there were 5 million homes sold just before the start of the recession.

Sales are being helped by a combination of strong market fundamentals -- near record low mortgage rates, lower unemployment and a rebound in home prices, all of which are bringing in buyers into the market who had been waiting for it to hit bottom. The mortgage rates and years of depressed home price-shave also combined to create the most affordable housing market on record, according to the Realtors group. And the Realtors are predicting strong sales should continue into 2013 and beyond. It has a forecast for 5.1 million existing home sales this year, and 5.4 million next year.

Related: Big luxury home sales, big tax savings

The improved demand for homes in December led to the inventory of homes for sale to fall to 1.82 million homes on the market, the lowest supply since January 2001. One factor in tightening supplies is a drop in foreclosures and other distressed home sales, which made up only 24% of home sales in December compared to 32% a year ago. The tighter supply, and the drop in distressed sales, have helped to lift home prices so that the median sales price for the year rose to $176,600, up 6.3% from 2011. That's the biggest gain in prices in since the bubble year of 2005.

The rebound in the market for previously-owned homes is also showing up in the market for new homes, where sales rebounded to their highest levels since 2009, while housing starts reached the highest level since 2008.

Information was obtained from Moneyline.

BEAR RIVER - PLACER RESULTS - PVL GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Placer entered Bear River High school's gymnasium on Tuesday night and if they found a way to drop the Lady Bruins the Pioneer Valley League title would be shared by three rival schools.

And that is exactly what happened as Placer defeated Bear River by a score of 48-46. Bear River, Colfax and Placer will all share the 2013 honor if they each can win their final games.

The first quarter ended at 11-9 in favor of Placer as they pushed the ball up the court and knocked down a 3-ball when they needed it. The Bruins also attempted to bomb the three but they failed to hit pay dirt in the early going.

The second quarter went as the first ending 27-24 with the Hillgals holding on to the lead at intermission. Placer used good foul shooting while the Bruins struggled from the charity stripe. Coach Jeff Bickmore found his team in a bit of foul trouble late in the quarter.

The first time these two teams met Placer pressed in the full court which did not work. Tonight we saw both teams play man to man in the half court. Placer played 11 players where the Lady Bruins ran 8.

Bear River took the lead in the third with starter Sara Hagar on the bench due to foul trouble. Placer struggled from the field while the Lady Bruins knocked down a few key shots as well as hit the glass hard resulting in a score of 35-32 going into the final 8 minutes with the PVL title on the line.

The Bruins opened up the score to 41-34 with 5:19 to play on a spin move mid-range jumper by Savannah Welz along with a breakaway by Hagar but Placer answered by scoring the next five points. Hagar got called for her fifth foul with just over 3 min to play. 44-43 Placer 1:33 to play on a 3 ball which was banked in from the top of the key. Bear River was now down at 44-43 with 59 sec to play with the ball. The Bruins proceeded to turned it over and then fouled with 23 sec. Placer sank both. The Bruins were down by 3 with the ball with 16 sec. Bear River missed there 3-ball which would have knotted the score but did not convert. They were forced to foul and Placer made both foul shots to move the score to 48-43 with 7 ticks on the clock. The Bruins sank a 3 at the buzzer for a final score of 48-46

PIONEER VALLEY LEAGUE BASKETBALL - BOYS

The PVL's top team has its work cut out for themselves. No I'm not talking about Colfax, Foothill or Placer. Get this I'm referring to the Fighting Zebras of Lincoln High School (19-5 overall, 6-1 league) who will match up at Placer on Feb. 8 and then travel to Colfax on Feb. 12.

Lincoln fell to the Hillman earlier in the season at home by a score of 66-43 while the defeated the Falcons at home by a score of 57-46.

In non-league action Lincoln did beat Del Oro (16-8) by a score of 74-69.

The Zebras do have some very good record as well as some impressive wins at home to hold onto the top spot in the PVL. They have struggled against Center (1-6) even though they did win by scores of 38-35 and 45-44.

This team will have to find a way to win on the road against two perennial PVL powerhouse programs.

What makes Lincoln so good? They have 3 boys who average double figures which makes it tough to defend. Marcus Salgado who loves to shoot the 3-ball has averaged 13.5 points per game, slasher Adam Felt delivers 11.8 ppg with 8 boards and all-around talent Alexis Gonzalez scores 10 per game.

If that sounds good, the player who completes the team is the hard-nosed banger Logan Stayner. He works hard and will kill you on the glass which gives Lincoln firepower.

Head coach Robert Ash will looked to win the PVL not only this year but next as well as they only have 4 seniors on their roster of 13.

Prediction - Colfax wins PVL. They play Bear River (1-6), Center (1-6) as well as close out the season with Lincoln who struggles on the road and the Falcons are near impossible to beat in their gym.

CAROLINES COFFEE - BEST IN GRASS VALLEY

If you are in Downtown Grass Valley and you need a coffee fix, there is only one place to go. Carolines Coffee on which is on the corner of South Auburn at Bank St. They offer outside seating as well as free wifi for their customers.

Carolines offers six different brews daily with free refills if you order it "for here." While Starbucks may make a better Caramel Frappachino, I prefer the black stuff from this local roaster which was established in 1982 than that of the Bucks!

The service is tough to beat and it never changes, if you came here a year ago the people working here has not changed much either. They treat there employees as well as they do there customers.

If you like there coffee but don't live in the area then be sure to contact them at (click here) and they will send it to you in the mail.

The combination of the smell of roasting beans, the friendly small town atmosphere as well as the coffee makes this a must stop if and when you are in the area.

ALTA SIERRA DOG PARK AND PLAYGROUND - PROPOSED

A group of Alta Sierra residents have proposed an off leash dog park as well as a playground where people and dogs may play.

The proposed site location is at the corner of Dog Bar Rd and Alta Sierra Dr. currently where the Alan Thiesen Trail parking is located.

"Well known and loved by locals around Alta Sierra, this trail loops through a small nature preserve on a hill with a park-like forest, small meadows, and some nice views. It’s worth a trip to discover and enjoy." The organizations website said.

The Group is currently conduction a survey and would like your input. Click here to take the survey.

The Bear Yuba Land Trust, Rotary Club of Nevada County South, ASPOA, Bear River Parks and Recreation, and Supervisor Ed Scofield were initially contacted to garner support for the project. Various levels of support have been pledged:

• BYLT will provide general oversight and coordination with various stakeholders. They will develop an overall plan for the Alan Thiesen/Adam Ryan Preserve/Mathis Pond conservation and public access areas.
• The Rotary Club of Nevada County South will spearhead the playground portion of the project. This includes raising funds and labor from a club of 34 members.
• ASPOA has committed to provide communication with the surrounding property owners as well as ongoing maintenance of the park.
• Bear River Parks & Rec has offered to provide financial and park-related support.
• Supervisor Scofield has offered to coordinate with the county’s planning department for permits.

As a Alta Sierra resident I'm in support.