Realtor Sally Blackman shows off the spacious kitchen in the Jackson View active adult community subdivision for residents 55 and older. Sales are being handled exclusively by Coldwell Banker Award Realtors. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch Demonstrating the therapeutic effects of the revolutionary MicroVas Treatment System are, from left, Lisa Adamson, who represents the company based in Tulsa, Okla.; Don "Butch" Hollingsworth, a 30-year resident of Amador who has opened Do Away With Pain, an office in Jackson at which the technology is provided; Victor LaRosa, vice president of sales; and Jan Alexander, physical therapist. Photo by: Marcia Oxford Tricia Johnson Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch The owner and loan officers of CP Financial Services look forward to serving customers from their new office at 102 Clinton Road, Jackson. Shown from left are loan officers Matthew Johnson and Judi Parkinson, owner Doug Brown and loan officer JoAnn Daugherty. Photo by: Marcia Oxford

Tom Blackman and David Carlson, co-owners/brokers of Coldwell Banker Award Realtors in Amador County, are looking to a bright future in their business, particularly with the debut of Jackson View. The new development off Scottsville Road in south Jackson is a gated community focusing on active adults 55 years and older. Jackson View will eventually have 147 homes ranging in size from 1,600-plus to 2,600 square feet. Prices start from $420,000.

The homes are designed in distinctive Prairie style, a take on the classic Frank Lloyd Wright look. All are single-level homes in customers' choice of 14 plans, with numerous options including extra bedrooms, expanded garages or a separate on-site cottage on selected lots. Models are currently open daily, and according to Blackman, "Seniors have been asking for something like this so they don't have to leave the county to go to Del Webb or some place else. This is a very nice project with a great recreation center and swimming pool. We're very pleased to represent Jackson View."

"We think the public is really ready for this. These are high quality homes that include landscaping in the front yard which is maintained by the homeowners' association. The driveways have pavers to complete the look," Carlson said. "The recreation center is amazing. There is a spacious dining room and full facility kitchen, an exercise room with equipment, a game room with a pool table. And there's the outside pool and spa. Every building at Jackson View has state-of-the-art electricity and plumbing."

The homes offer two or more separate bedroom suites and inviting opportunities for entertaining with flow-through traffic from the kitchen to dining room to living room. Customers can select from numerous finish options including cabinets, countertops and carpeting. A walk through one of the model homes reveals light, sunny interiors in an upscale contemporary style. Coldwell Banker Realtor Sally Blackman said during a tour of one home, "The kitchens are very popular with customers. They really like the hood over the cooking island and the way the kitchen lends itself to entertaining." Nice touches include the pantry adjacent the kitchen and the master bedroom with dual vanities and a closet of monumental proportions.

Jackson View's first phase of homes is expected to be completed in three months, during which time the second phase will commence. Currently, the development is planned for four phases; the builder is Eland Construction of Sacramento, well known in the industry.

Complete details are available at www.jacksonviewhomes.com, or drive south on Highway 49 to Scottsville Road, turn left, then turn right on Thomas and go to the top of the hill. Call 223-2276 to talk with a Realtor.

New office offers hope to patients with chronic pain

Don " Butch" Hollingsworth, formerly a fireman in Antioch and 30-year resident of Amador County, has opened Do Away With Pain in Jackson.

Hollingsworth has drawn three medical professionals who aid patients suffering from various problems, including neuropathy, through the MicroVas Treatment System. Hollingsworth discovered the system after being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities. Having undergone a series of treatments, he raves about his own recovery and is eager to share MicroVas with others. He noted that patients must be referred by their physician. Hollingsworth is currently working with Drs. David Dutra and Mark Faryn, both with practices in Amador, and with Drs. Mark Cohoon and Marsha Teague at the West Point Clinic, and other physicians are being advised of the system and its benefits.

Hollingsworth left firefighting in Antioch after suffering severe injuries. Four years ago, he began experiencing burning in his feet and despite medications, was told his neuropathy could worsen. "At the time, the doctor said the only thing that could help me was from stem cells, but that was out of the question here. I got a call from my sister in Tulsa, Okla., who told me about a clinic there that worked on people with neuropathy."

Hollingsworth subsequently made arrangements to stay in Tulsa for three months where he underwent three treatments weekly. "I started feeling a lot better," he said. "After leaving Tulsa, I was told I had to exercise. I did and I do, but I ended up buying a MicroVas System and bringing it back here. I used to watch people coming in and out of that clinic in Tulsa. They'd come in on walkers or canes and I was there long enough to see that eventually they were walking unaided. Their lives were restored. So is mine, and I knew I wanted to make this available for helping other people."

Providing patient care are Jan Alexander, an experienced physical therapist, and LVN Lavonne Chavez, and CVN Cindy Fogg, both of whom have worked at a West Point clinic for six years. They assist patients undergoing the treatment, which squeezes muscles 1,800 times an hour, driving muscles to increase circulation and oxygen intake.

The MicroVas Treatment System originated with the military, which used it to treat U.S. Navy Seals for hypothermia, according to Victor LaRosa, vice president of sales for the company. "From there, MicroVas took the technology and turned it into medical instrumentation to heal diabetics with wounds," LaRosa said. "We stumbled into the fact that this not only had healing power but it could reverse the symptoms of neuropathy, which can be very painful or produce numbness in diabetics' feet." He shared literature explaining that the non-invasive vascular treatment delivers a powerful, deeply penetrating waveform that causes blood to pump more efficiently through the microcirculation in damaged tissue to accelerate the healing process. LaRosa said 300 physicians across the country utilize the treatment, considered an important new tool in the treatment of neuropathy as well as non-healing wounds, repetitive motion disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and common sports injuries such as tennis elbow or knee sprain.

"This gave me a whole new outlook on life," Hollingsworth said. "I have a treadmill and I walk at lot, so I'm paying attention to staying in good health. Now I look forward to spreading the word in this county, El Dorado, Calaveras and in the valley."

Hollingsworth and LaRosa collaborated to bring the system to Jackson where services are covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurance carriers. Complete information is available at www.neurovasix.com; NeuroVasix purchased MicroVas several years ago.

The office, at 601 Court St., Suite 206, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For an appointment, call 257-0686.

Mom and baby yoga offered at Camanche

Amy Spinetta, registered yoga teacher, is offering a free 12-week class sponsored by First 5 Amador for moms and their babies at the Camanche Lake Community Center. The class is designed to help moms get back in shape and bond with their infants. Babies benefit also by improving their sleeping and digestion; the class is appropriate for infants four weeks to 18 months old.

Moms and babies can meet each Wednesday, 9 to 10:30 a.m. now through April 11. Details and reservations are available at 418-5113.

Spinetta is also offering an "Opening the Heart" workshop Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kenpo Karate, 9252 Bush St. in Plymouth. The workshop will cover the loving kindness meditation technique, yoga poses for the heart center, loving communication strategies and partner yoga. Reservations, at $45, are being taken now.

Spinetta is a certified Sivananda yoga teacher and member of Yoga Alliance, Green Yoga Association and International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Realtor earns broker's license

Tricia Johnson, a Realtor with All Power Brokers in Jackson, just attained her broker's license and said candidly, "I'm pretty excited about it. Obviously, having the most education I need to do the job and being more knowledgeable are enormous helps in serving my clients. I'm really proud of the fact that I managed to do all this and still be a busy mom and wife. I am very focused and motivated in my career." An expert in residential real estate, she has $22 million in production to date in her two years with the company.

Johnson and Wendy James are broker associates at the company operated by Gail Harris, broker/owner. The company has six other agents.

Johnson, an Amador resident for 13 years, previously handled mortgages at a local bank for nine years. She is married to Matthew Johnson of CP Financial Services, and they are parents to Carson, 5, and Cole, 4.

Johnson can be reached at the All Power Brokers office at 847 N. Highway 49-88, Suite 1, Jackson, or call 223-0237.

Bank update from 2006

American River Bankshares (NASDAQ:AMRB) announces diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2006 of 42 cents, a 7.7 percent increase from 39 cents recorded in the third quarter of 2006 and a 2.3 percent decrease from 43 cents for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 increased 5.8 percent to $2,407,000 from $2,275,000 during the third quarter of 2006 and decreased 6.2 percent from $2,567,000 for the fourth quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, remained constant at $1.53 and net income decreased 1.3 percent to $9,062,000 from $9,184,000 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005.

"We are very pleased to finish 2006 with solid results," said David T.Taber, President and CEO of American River Bankshares. "The last two quarters have each been better than the previous and our key industry metrics are very good." He added, "The economy is strong, but the rapid increase in funding costs has made 2006 tough. As a company, we believe that we're up to the challenge of positioning ourselves as the premier business bank in the communities we serve."

American River Bankshares, the parent company of American River Bank, operates in Sacramento and Sonoma counties; in this county, it is represented by Bank of Amador.

Among highlights of 2006 were: U.S. Banker Magazine (July 2006) ranked American River Bank as 35 on its "Top 200 publicly traded community banks" list for the second consecutive year.

American River Bankshares was selected for the new NASDAQ Global Select Market, which has the highest initial listing standards of any exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements.

The American River Bankshares Foundation awarded a total of $70,000 during its 2006 cycle to five non-profit organizations in the four counties who create opportunity, enhance self-esteem and provide physical and emotional well-being for the most vulnerable women and children.

Financial service company settles into new office

CP Financial Services, which has operated in Amador for 31 years, is now settled into a new office at 102 Clinton Road in Jackson. For owner Doug Brown, the move made good sense. "We have much greater exposure here, plus parking, so it's great for our customers and the Realtors we work with."

Brown launched his business as California Housing Security in 1975, and later changed the name to Central Pacific Mortgage, which had a 22-year tenure. Location changed over the years, with the last site on Water Street, where the company was located from 1993. Now Brown, three loan officers and receptionist Karen Hill are enjoying their tenancy in the building completely revamped by owner Robert Manassero. Loan officers are JoAnn Daugherty, Matthew Johnson and Judi Parkinson.

Daugherty has been a loan officer for almost two years. Among the varied services available, she focused on a first-time home buyer program. "We have several assistance programs we can call upon," he said. "The city of Jackson has one with low down payments that's very generous. We also offer some first-time home buyer closing assistance. Most important, I believe, is we provide very good service to our clients. It's like hand holding through the entire process."

Johnson, listing some of the services, said the company offers everything from 30-year fixed rate mortgages and numerous specialty products, to 5/1 ARMS "which are fairly popular," he said. "We offer every mortgage product known to man." Johnson has been with CP Financial almost a year and previously handled vehicle loans for 12 years at Jackson Ford Mercury.

Parkinson has been with the company since 1993, having previously spent five years with Coldwell Banker. She pointed to loan programs for remodeling homes and some long-term land loans among the services available. "I think it's important that people be cautious about loans from the Internet," she said. "There are definitely benefits in dealing with local lenders where you can talk to people who are answerable to individual problems, who are familiar with the county, the realtors, the title companies. All those truly benefit customers. You don't know how much you're going to need them until you're involved in a transaction."

Brown recalled starting his career as an approved FHA-VA lender, the original first-time home buyer program in the United States. "Our business is based on relationships with Realtors. And, because we've been here so long, we get a lot of referrals. You don't stay in business as many years as I have unless you do something right."

For clients planning to sell or buy, CP Financial Services is open Monday through Friday. Call 223-1370 for more loan information.