Procrastinators rejoice! The IRS and State Franchise Tax Board announced yesterday that they would extend the deadline — again — for most Californians to file their 2022 income taxes. You may recall that the deadline was already pushed back to in response to the deadly winter storms. The new deadline is Thursday, Nov. 16, for businesses and residents in 55 of 58 counties. The Chronicle has what you need to know.
These days, with the stress of pandemics and wildfires and uncertain markets bearing down, we could all use an escape from the world outside to focus on self care. A home spa is one way to bring more peace and tranquility to your life, and we have some tips for doing it right.
First thing’s first: You need the right tub — something you can crawl into for a deep soak at the end of a long day. While you’re in there, light up some eucalyptus-scented essential oil candles to put you in the mood to chill. And be sure to have a stack of fluffy Turkish white bath towels handy. As for decorations, keep it clean and keep it simple, adding plants or fresh flowers for pops of color.
If shutting out the world is your thing, I recommend ceiling lights with dimmers and “blackout” blinds for the windows. When I’m relaxing, I don’t want to know if it’s day or night. Working from the ground up on design, I’m a big fan of heated tiles and a wraparound steam shower. And because I’m usually exhausted by the time I hop into the shower, a wooden sitting chair is a must.
When personal finance company WalletHub recently compared 1,300 American cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on affordability, economics, health, education, safety, and other indicators, Los Altos and Palo Alto ended up in the 95th percentile, just behind Livermore as the highest-ranked California small cities. See the full list here.
Despite a huge spike in mortgage interest rates buyers are still actively shopping for their next homes. And even though inventory remains sparse, current rates are pressuring some sellers to lower their prices to make their homes more affordable. Recent national data found that 5.9% of homes for sale in August experienced price cuts, and September saw even more sellers (6.5%) posting reduced prices.
Did you know Shoreline Regional Park was created out of an auto wrecking yard, a landfill, and a hog farm? We’re all learning more about this local gem for its 40th Anniversary!
Whether you feel like playing a round of golf, taking a chill bike ride along the bay, embarking on a quick sailing excursion, or exploring the habitats of native species like owls and butterflies, there’s plenty to do at Shoreline. And with the amphitheatre right next door, a picnic and a show makes for a perfect evening. Maybe we’ll see you on the lawn!
As usual, I’m looking ahead to the future, when Shoreline will add neighborhoods with almost 10,000 housing units and all the amenities of a full-fledged city — without sacrificing the natural beauty and open space we’ve all come to enjoy. If you want to learn more, you can join us at the 40th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 15th. See the flyer below for more info!
