VENICE REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE

RECYCLED BOOK SALE SATURDAY ...

The Friends of the Venice library are having a RECYCLED book sale on Saturday, May 16th, from 9am to 3pm at the Venice Abbot Kinney Library on Venice Boulevard at the corner of Ocean Avenue.

Since the recent city budget cuts the Friends have had to increase their support for the library in buying supplies, new books, DVDs, and equipment. They need to make this the most successful book sale ever !!! Also they need donations of recently released, popular new books in good condition to add to the library collection or sell.

WHERE TO RECYCLE YOUR OLD ELECTRONICS ...

As conscious as consumers are becoming about recycling, every once in awhile it is easy to slip up. Maybe you didn't know where to recycle that AA battery, so you tossed it in the trash when nobody was looking. This is understandable. How much can one little battery hurt? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, each person in the United States discards eight dry-cell batteries per year. With a population of more than 305 million people, that adds up to a lot of batteries.

And that's just the beginning. Think about all of the used cell phones, computers, CPUs, and other electronics languishing and leaching hazardous materials in landfills all over the country. At one time, the only option for recycling common household products was driving to a local Goodwill Store and hoping your used goods were salvageable. But what do you do with those used batteries or electronics that aren't? How do you ensure they don't end up in landfills? To find out where you can recycle these used goods in your neighborhood, we've put together a list of locations that offer recycling programs:

AT&T Wireless (http://www.wireless.att.com): In addition to recycling used cell phones, PDAs, accessories, and batteries (regardless of manufacturer or carrier), AT&T Wireless has partnered with the charity Cell Phones for Soldiers (http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/). Cell Phones for Soldiers collects and recycles wireless phones and uses the proceeds to buy free phone cards for United States military personnel and their families

Goodwill Industries (http://www.goodwill.org): In 2007, Goodwill Industries received more than 200,000 computers. Many are refurbished, but some are not. In response to the overwhelming number of electronics the organization receives each year, Goodwill Industries has created an E-Waste Initiative (http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about/howweoperate/recycling) to "seek economically and environmentally sound ways to recycle and reuse donated electronic equipment.

Sprint PCS (http://www.sprint.com): The Sprint Project Connect (http://www.sprint.com/citizenship/communities_across/project_connect.html) program accepts used wireless phones, batteries, accessories, and connection cards, regardless of make, model, or service provider. All net proceeds go to benefit Internet safety for kids.

United States Post Office (USPS) (http://www.usps.com): The USPS launched a new initiative in March to aid in recycling. Through its "Mail Back" (http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/pr08_028.htm) program, customers can use free envelopes found in 1,500 post offices to return at no cost inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods, and MP3 players.

Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com) recycles cell phones, ink cartridges, and rechargeable batteries.

FedEx Kinko's (http://www.fedexkinkos.com) recycles inkjet and toner cartridges.

Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com) recycles used computers, monitors, digital cameras, fax machines, cell phones, and other electronics.

OfficeMax (http://www.officemax.com) recycles inkjet and toner cartridges.

Radio Shack (http://www.radioshack.com) recycles cell phones, NiCad batteries, and rechargeable batteries.

Staples (http://www.staples.com) recycles used computer monitors, cell phones, PDAs, inkjet, and toner cartridges.

T-Mobile (http://www.t-mobile.com): T-Mobile's recycling program accepts any make and model of wireless phones, batteries, PDAs, and accessories. In addition, 100 percent of refurbished product’s net proceeds go to charity.

Verizon Wireless (http://www.verizonwireless.com): Verizon Wireless' HopeLine (http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/hopeLineRecycling.html) phone recycling program donates cell phones, air time, and money received from refurbished cell phones to assist victims of domestic violence. The company also recycles used cell phones and equipment from all service providers. Walgreens (http://www.walgreens.com) recycles used dry-cell batteries, NiCad batteries, rechargeable batteries, and inkjet cartridges.

If all else fails, a quick check on the earth911.org (http://www.earth911.org) Web site can help you find other recycling locations in your neighborhood. The Web site is very easy to use. Simply type in a ZIP code and the material/product you want to recycle, and find a list of local centers.

WATER SAVING TIPS OF THE MONTH ...

#1 ... Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. Not sure if you have a leak? Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

#2 ... Californians may face water rationing this summer. In response, the California Landscape Contractors Association has provided tips for use by homeowners and businesses.

• Do not use high nitrogen fertilizers during a drought. They encourage growth but the plants will need more water. Heavily mulch all flower and soil beds. Mulch helps keep water in the soil.

• Do not use rocks/gravel because they add heat to the soil and moisture evaporates faster.

• Mow grass higher to promote deeper root growth and hold more moisture. Aerate the lawn and fill the holes with compost so the water can infiltrate deeper.

FAST FACTS