Skiing and Little Kids

Hello from snowy Squaw Valley where all, or seemingly all, of the kids in California are spending their vacation. If your ski week is coming up, a few refresher suggestions may be in order. If you only ski once a year, or just rarely do a vacation rental, it’s easy to forget the little stuff.

1. Plan to pack. If you only ski (or travel to the beach for that matter), once a year, this is one case where making a list of the necessities makes sense to use to pack each year. How many miles from town does it become impossible to turn back and start again. In this year’s example, I’d estimate it was about 25 miles out that my husband realized that his ski boots were still at home. We remembered almost all of the stuff for the children’s skiwear only to remember that we forgot the parents’ stuff. This is very important if you want to be out there as an example to the kids to enjoy the snow and the skiing. The ski boots weren’t left in the basement, or even on the floor of the garage, they never even made it to the pile we accumulated to cover all the potential exigencies of a snowy holiday.

Also, remember the stuff you need to move from the ski condo/house to the ski slopes. Snow boots to walk through the snow and the slush, use of plastic sleds to carry all of the little ones’ equipments (as surely, you will be the valet for all of the multitude of equipments for you and your kids) I actually saw a mom who had a small shopping basket on wheels where she carried all of her three children’s ski equipment.

Even if there is only one child, it is often too much weight and too many pieces to carry for a dad or mom who is in good shape and can carry many pounds. And, prepare for temperature variation. It’s even easier to forget things when you live in a climate like ours in Northern California, where it’s never really hot nor really cold. It’s hard to imagine what three below is like, say nothing to 95 above.

2. Pack some mustard. Unless you have good confirmation with the owners or the management as to what is stocked at the house, add to your bag of groceries the basics you’ll need for a week. It’s hard to part with six bucks for a bottle of salad dressing when plenty of oil and vinegar is back at home.

3. Rent skis and boots if necessary in your hometown if you’re driving to ski. There’s nothing worse for kids and more fatiguing for adults than to start a ski day with a one hour trip for ski fitting. Rent at home, save money, and use your time on the slopes.

4. Plan for babysitting or for lots of in-home down time if you’re traveling with small children. Ski schools start at age three in most places as kids younger than that do not have the physical coordination required to properly teach them to ski. Even if it starts earlier, your kid may not be ready. Be fully prepared to not ski, or trade off days with your spouse. Either way, you may regret spending a lot of money to ski so little. Just keep it in mind when planning the ski vacation and set expectations. Also look for other recreational activities, like dog sledding, sleigh rides, a kids’ bungee jumping area, interior rock climbing gyms, or an area to build snowmen. Plan and figure out all the possible ways to enjoy the trip, away in the snow rather than focus on that fact that it’s a ‘ski’ week. Focus on the family down time and just enjoy the break. My little two-year old son and I had several hours of rambling around the village where he was the mayor of the village and an ambassador to all of the many dogs.

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Classic Garden Furniture

It was in the 1800s that many people began spending a lot of quality time with their friends and families in their gardens which are also referred to as patios, by taking their regular classic furniture outdoors. The only problem was that when the weather became inclement, all the furniture had to be again brought back indoors. To keep the garden furniture in the outdoors safe and weather resistant, the need to create a solution resulted in arrange of exclusive furniture.

Most ideal for your garden:

Thomas Lee decided to come up with a solution for this. When he with his family had gone for a vacation to Westport, in New York, he needed something on which he could comfortably relax and which would also suit the surrounding ground which sloped around his cottage. With a saw and a single plank of wood he then set to work, and created the popular Adirondack chair which was made out of around eleven wood pieces. One of the feature characteristics that are most distinguishing about this chair is that it had wide armrests, and a back that was fan shaped and slightly reclined, so that the uneven ground got compensated.

A side table and a footstool that matched well with the rest of the classic garden furniture and of course the Adirondack styled chairs still make for a great setting which is most ideal for any inland or coastal garden. Primary vivid colored paints can be used to paint chairs that can look great on a patio or even the deck. Besides this you can even have a few pieces of furniture made from oak in the garden to create a seating nook which is very cozy. Oak furniture is well known for its durability as well as beauty.

In a cottage garden which is equally traditional, you can place Rattan garden furniture which fits perfectly. A picnic table made of wood, or some chairs made of maple or pine can help you dine with friends and family on the weekends. Those families with kids can have some furniture made of wood designed specially for the little ones. To avoid the glare of the sun, it is important to remember to add one or two parasols in the garden along with Rattan garden furniture.

Prevent from deterioration:

Proper protective finishing should be given to the wooden garden furniture on a regular basis, once you choose and purchase wooden furniture for the outdoor space. When exposed to the heat as well as the rain, this will prevent them from deterioration. Preservatives that are water repellent, exterior wood stain, an acrylic latex paint are some of the protective finishes which you can easily get in the market. For many years you can enjoy the pleasure of a beautiful garden and lawn. According to the ambience of the home’ exterior façade and your exclusive taste you can select from a wide range of styles and designs in outdoor wooden garden furniture. Redwood, pinewood, cedar, oak and teakwood as well as many other varieties of wood can be used to make wooden furniture for the outdoors.

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Why not Acquire a Property in San Felipe, Baja California?

Baja California has miles and miles of beautiful coastline. San Felipe is situated 125 miles south of the US border on that Baja coastline. It has a population of about 25,000 . This number includes the 10,000 American and Canadian residents who have retired to San Felipe.

During holiday periods there is, of course, more traffic, especially during Spring Break and other holidays. The active city has, in the past years, planted hundreds of new palm trees in the waterfront area on both sides of the seaside main drive. Tourists, locals and foreign residents like to cruise the seaside drive near the town center. There are always activities going on there. This area has hotels, resorts and restaurants and a lot of water sport activities.

There is a wide variety of facilities in San Felipe: markets, hotels, restaurants, bars, banks, clinics, trailer parks, auto mechanics, curio shops selling anything from shirts, shoes and beach wear to blankets and pottery. In San Felipe you find it all: hospitality, friendly people, warm climate, beautiful nature, white sandy beaches, mountains, etc. All this makes the San Felipe real estate opportunities exceptionally interesting for vacation, retirement or investment.

The beach in  the San Felipe area  has big tidal differences and year round warm ocean water. Water temperatures vary depending on the season. In the northern Gulf where San Felipe is situated the water temperature goes down in winter. In summer the temperature of the water may go up to 90 degrees F. In April the water starts warming up quickly and stays warm until October /November. So you won’t need a wetsuit to dive then. But in winter you will need one to dive as the water temperature goes down to some 60 degrees. Another attraction of this region is the unique eco-system because it’s one of the rare places where the desert meets the sea. The altitude of San Felipe is 10 ft above sea level. 

Many Snowbirds (Americans who live part time in Mexico) have a property or some real estate in San Felipe. Buying property there is not complicated. The San Felipe real estate choice is large and interesting. Americans and other foreigners can easily acquire property in Mexico. All Mexican real estate transactions involve a real estate agent or broker, the buyer’s lawyer, a bank and a public notary. All these four players are essential in acquiring a property in San Felipe Baja as they are experienced specialists in their own fields .For more information on these legal aspects you can contact your Baja real estate agent.

Join a group of satisfied foodies as they rave about their excellent experience at The Sophisticated Palate, a new culinary vacation getaway program launched by The Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premier culinary college. Choose from four different courses which combine chef-instructor kitchen classes with exclusive day trips in and around Napa Valley. The four classes are: Foods and Flavors from the California Harvest, A Taste of Northern California, Live-Fire Cooking and Cooking for the Next Half of Your Life. For more info and to enroll, visit www.ciachef.edu
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Sonoma County Wine Guide

Sonoma County Locals Choice Wine Guide

Sonoma County is a well known grape growing and wine producing region located 30 miles north of San Francisco. The moderate weather is ideal for a wide variety of agricultural products, but vineyards, grape growing and wineries dominate Sonoma County’s economy landscape.

The county seat rests in Santa Rosa which is about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are over 200 award-winning wineries located in Sonoma County with twelve distinct grape growing regions, also known as appellations or designated AVAs (American Viticultural Area). These consist of Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Carneros-Sonoma, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Valley.

For the purposes of this article we will focus on the three most northern appellations of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley.

The Alexander Valley is the most northern appellation in Sonoma County, is the warmest region, and borders Mendocino County. Alexander Valley is known for growing a wide range of grape varietals that grow well in warm climates such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Sangiovese. These are red grape varietals that do well in warmer weather, whereas white varietals like cooler weather.

Some well known wineries and tasting rooms in Alexander Valley include Silver Oak, Murphy Goode, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Geyser Peak. The small enclave of Geyserville sits in the middle of Alexander Valley, and has a collective wine tasting room called Locals, as well as a few very good restaurants.

Dry Creek Valley is southwest of Alexander Valley and west of the town of Healdsburg, the hub where these three appellations meet. Dry Creek Valley is known for growing Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as several Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.

The Dry Creek Store is a great place to stop for lunch. It’s located in the heart of the valley on Dry Creek Rd. Notable wineries in Dry Creek Valley include Dry Creek Vineyards, Ferrari-Corano, Rafanelli, Bella Vineyards, Mauritson, and dozens more.

The Russian River Valley is just south of Dry Creek Valley and also includes the sub-appellation of Green Valley. It is recognized as a premium growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Warm days and the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean provides ideal conditions for growing these varietals. Other varietals grown in the Russian River Valley include Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinto Gris.

The Russian River is repleat with restaurants and eateries throughout. Some of the most noteworthy wineries include Martinelli, Rochioli, Gary Farrel, Hartford Court, and many more.

Sonoma County is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and has miles of roads along its majestic coastline. Other features of Sonoma County include the Russian River, magectic redwoods, over 20 gof courses, over 40 spas, diverse festivals, numerous local Farmers’ Markets and an incredible amount of top notch restaurants and eateries.

For these and many more reasons, Sonoma County is a very popular vacation destination point for people from all over the world. If you are planning a visit to Sonoma County be sure to check with the Chamber of Commerce in the particular area you will be visiting to see if there are any special events going on.

You may also want to contact any specific wineries you plan to visit and get a copy of their events calendar. Wineries are notorious for events throughout the year, many featuring food and wine pairing, music and holiday themes.

For recommendations of wineries and restaurants in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, visit http://sonomacountywineguide.com.

An Introduction to Napa Valley

The wineries of Napa Valley California are among the most known among wine lovers all over the world. For some, a visit to this region is a lifelong dream vacation due to it’s pleasant climate and beautiful scenery.

Located in Northern California, Napa Valley contains both the soil and the climate that is considered one of the best in the world for growing wine grapes. As one of the premier wine producing regions in the United States, Napa Valley is home to a number of different wines through it’s wineries; among them include the Chandon, Caymus and Frank Family.

Napa Valley receives millions of visitors each year that tour it’s productive wineries. Napa Valley has also become one of the premier attractions in the state of California. During a trip to the Napa Valley, visitors will have the experience of enjoying breathtaking vistas, numerous culinary pleasures and a source of inspiration for those who make wine as a hobby.

Even though this region has been historically strong, the fertile and beautiful Napa Valley has had it’s share of times where it almost ceased to exist in terms of wine production. Beginning in 1920 and ending in 1933, Prohibition became the law of the land. Around the same time, phylloxera, a root louse, destroyed numerous vines that produced the wine which resulted in the closing of several wineries. However, Napa Valley wineries reopened again after World War II and the region became popular again.

The popularity of the Napa Valley region grew even more when the region’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were deemed to be better than the fine French labels in the Paris Wine Tasting in 1976. The region is continuing to grow and expand to this day and is now home to hundreds of wineries. The Napa Valley is now home to some of the world’s best wineries.

Wine tours of the Napa Valley run from morning until evening. Visitors will not only have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fine wines, they will also have the chance to view the entire wine making process; from beginning to end. Many of the wineries also provide high quality wines at a discount in addition to their tours.

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of wineries in the Napa Valley, the valley itself is a condensed 35 miles long. However, this gives it an added convenience to the visitor because they can easily travel from one end of it to another in a relatively short amount of time. The drive of the entire distance of the valley only takes a half hour long with traffic permitting. The main route for these wineries is formed by Highway 29. On this route, you can also find not only the larger wineries, but shops, hotels and restaurants as well. Highway 29 begins quite close to the end of San Francisco Bay at the mouth of the Napa River. Every winery can be reached along Napa Valley when traveling along this highway.

Do you have an interest in wine and thinking about your next getaway? You might want to try the beautiful and fertile Napa Valley for your next vacation.

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Holiday Homes- California Versus Florida

If you happen to be among those people who, after a weary year, dream about having the perfect vacation away from home, then you know that the choice is though due to the harsh holiday home competition. But if what you’re looking for is quality, look no further than an American holiday home offer. Because America is all about being grand, whether we refer to impressive sky scrapers, sparkling azure lakes, a fancy cottage or a stunning holiday home.

Just as the west coast differs from the east cost, the holiday home domain has split the touristy choice into two major segments: California and Florida. At a first glance, a common holiday home searcher might say these states resemble much and the offer can’t be very complex. The Sunshine state and the Golden state are sunny, expensive and famous, but when it comes to holiday home, the two states come with knock-out villas, different for each of the two regions.

The Sunshine state promises to bring the sort of holiday home perfect for families, couples and friends, a take-away package that includes comfort, privacy and relaxation. You can take the Naples route and rent a holiday home with private pool, luxury spa and large living rooms, all this located in a paradise of sun, sea and nature. Or were you thinking Beverly Hills, with the heated pool pattern and landscaped gardens?

A holiday home in Florida draws heavily on bringing, together with the house utilities (large 4-5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full kitchen appliance package), a wide range of facilities and attractions. And if this means taking your children to the nearby Disneyland, or having a shopping session in the rich Tampa Bay, a Florida holiday home will give you everything you need.

But the Golden state, California, doesn’t waste any time. “Find yourself here” is precisely what a holiday home rental company will tell you if you are searching holiday accommodation. You can get a fancy 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in the centre of San Francisco if you are the town-boy type, or a fabulous, luxurious 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom holiday home in Hollywood if you wish to live like a star.

Californian private holiday home offers basically hit the jackpot with Wine country rentals in Napa Valley, where any holiday home searcher can spend his holiday in a cottage-like villa placed nearby the vineyards and old redwood trees. This way, California comes up with segment-oriented holiday home packages ranging from relaxation vacations to cultural discoveries in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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Mark and family head west for this classic American vacation, including Redwoods!
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Adirondack Chairs: Comfort, Style and Function for your Outdoor Spaces

Introduction

An Adirondack chair is the combination of form and function in outdoor relaxation. Also known as a Cape Cod chair or Muskoka chair in different areas of the world, Adirondack chairs are usually made from durable, insect resistant woods like cedar and redwood, although other materials are also used. Well made Adirondack chairs are quality pieces of outdoor furniture that can last for generations.

Design

The ancestor of today’s Adirondack chair was designed by Thomas Lee in 1903. After arriving at a final design for the “Westport plank chair,” Lee offered it to Harry Bunnell, a carpenter friend in Westport, New York , who built the chairs during winter for sale in the springtime. Harry Bunnel eventually patented the robust design, which combined a slanted back and wide armrests.

While the original Adirondack chair was thought to have a straight back, contemporary designs often include more curves. Adirondack chairs are comfortable because the chair back usually has an incline of 30 degrees and excellent lower back support. These chairs also feature wide, level arms that double as tables for drinks and books.

The basic design of the Adirondack chair has been expanded over the last 100 years to include chaise lounges, loveseats, rockers and other outdoor furniture that follow the lines of the traditional Adirondack chair. Other variations of the chair’s design feature a curved back and rolled seat made to wrap around the body and cushion the legs, something you just do not get with any other type chair. And no matter what style you choose, these robust All-American chairs will offer years of pleasure and comfort.

Wood Types

Nothing is quite as relaxing as sitting in a wooden Adirondack chair with your hands on the large, smooth armrests. This is one reason for their enduring appeal; another is the fine looking wood of which many of these chairs are made. Other than the most popular (red or white cedar,) woods used in the manufacturing of Adirondack furniture include teak, cypress, mahogany, alder, eucalyptus, and southern yellow or white pine. The wood can be stained to preserve its natural color, painted in any shade you desire, or left to weather naturally. Certain woods, like pine, most definitely need to be treated regularly with a protectant.

There are those who prefer resin rocking chairs to wooden ones because they are easier to maintain and are more durable. Plastic Adirondack chairs are not considered to be as beautiful as wooden ones, but are less expensive and can last for a very long time. Winning the longevity award for a natural material, however, is teak. With an average lifespan of 75 years, teak wood has long been commended as the ideal choice for outdoor furniture. Teak is exceptionally expensive, however, and is out of reach for many on a budget.

Conclusion

Adirondack chairs are a unique combination of man-made ingenuity and craftsmanship in combination with the beauty of natural design. Adirondack chairs were once found only on campgrounds and summer retreats. Now, these chairs are found more and more on porches, lawns and in the homes of people who have fallen in love with them while on vacations in the mountains, at the lake, or similar places. While Adirondack Chairs are not confined to a single manufacturer, or even a single style, they are still beautiful pieces of furniture that can call to mind a vacation-like experience for just about anyone.

San Diego Real Estate

In San Diego prices rose 0.9 percent from the previous quarter and 6.8 percent from a year earlier. The average luxury home in San Diego priced at .1 million. San Diego as a whole has been one of the most overheated markets in California, so the fact that luxury home prices continue to hold up there may be good news for the rest of the homeowners in San Diego for now.

In San Francisco prices were up 1.6 percent from the previous quarter and up 8.6 percent from the same period of time last year. The average price of a luxury home in San Francisco is .92 million.

There are investors cashing in on their profits and getting out, however most homeowners are not investors. Investors poured into lower priced markets during the recent boom and areas in Florida and Arizona have many residential investors. The market has started to reflect this. In Phoenix the real estate market is pulling back due to rising inventory from investors trying to cash in, however at this point you couldn’t call this a bust. In other areas of the country prices are still inching up.

In California the market is returning to normal conditions. It will take longer to sell a home and prices may stay flat or increase slowly. So far the signs of market stress that would indicate a bust are not there. Down payments remain stable and speculation buying is moderate. The foreclosures are up, however based on historical numbers they are still low.

The many areas of California real estate are seeing a surge in the population growth as inventors, explorers and those who are king in the technology world are searching for homes near their jobs. The Northern California coast real estate in a similar situation, real estate is at a prime right now, and it is not going to get any lower at both family homes and luxury homes alike are in hot demand. Young people will want new larger homes and older adults may want smaller homes with lots of amenities.

In 1952 when my family came to CA homes were ,000-,000. This key indicator refers to the total number of homes sold. Burbank homes consist of luxury homes in the hills, and single and multi-family homes throughout the city.

Parents are keen to purchase homes here in order to send their children to the highly successful District. Luxury real estate is usually sold at a rate of at least twice the average price of homes in the area. Timeshares and vacation homes are other luxury properties that are available for those who are looking for short-term or periodic living and renting.

You now can sit back and take your time, while looking for the home of your dreams.

There is no worry about multi-offers on a home. Today, you might be the only one looking at the home?

dont expect anything exciting, its just a little something i made of my roadtrip to the Stockton/Sacarmento area to go spend summer vacation with my family there….did a couple of effects on the video and i didnt really get most of the 6 hours since the first 2 hours were very dull but managed to get the rest soo enjoy used my HTC TouchPro 2 as the camera, came out pretty good on camera not sure about youtube though song is Driven21(tiny rmx) by Dafunk
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Hotel Del Coronado Reviews

With its year-round tropical climate, year-round average water temperature of 78 degrees, perfect waves, excellent dining, and numerous oceanfront resorts, this earthly paradise also boasts picturesque harbors and a shimmering coastline filled with sand, surf and sun.

Hotel Del Coronado Reviews

Not only is it home to millions of people but it beckons millions more each year from all over the globe. Whether you are a California resident headed to the beach to soak up the sun for a day, or you are planning a family vacation that your kids will remember for a long time to come, you’ll find some beaches to add to your itinerary here.

Here are six of the top beaches in California, including nice, quiet beaches as well as a few beaches that are particularly nice for visiting families.

1. Santa Monica Beach. The West Coast’s answer to Coney Island, this magnificent stretch of wide, sandy beach located in the seat of Los Angeles County features the famous Santa Monica Pier which houses its own amusement park atop one of the oldest wooden piers on the west coast. The site has also appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Take a ride at sunset on the Ferris wheel for a spectacular ocean view. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the many different eateries in the area and be sure to check out the nearby attractions, which include Venice Beach and Palisades Park. This is one place that’s sure to make a splash with the entire family.

2. Newport Beach. A fascinating and trendy bit of real estate located in Orange County, Newport Beach offers locals and tourists a variety of activities. Stroll on a scenic walkway, embark on a refreshing harbor cruise, or go boating, scuba diving, or bodysurfing Dining at most restaurants includes panoramic views of the harbors. Make sure to check out the Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion.

3. Cardiff State Beach. Located in San Diego County, this recreational facility features lifeguards, restrooms and a smoothly sloping beach for sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing and kayaking. People love Cardiff State Beach for its quiet beach, casual atmosphere, fewer crowds and excellent restaurants. Nearby points of interest include Restaurant Row, which features savory seafood and Mexican fare; San Elijo Lagoon, which boasts great bird watching; and the Seaside Market where you can purchase a wide variety of healthy foods and snacks.

4. La Jolla. If your preference is sheltered coves and unique landscapes, then visiting these beaches in San Diego County should definitely be listed on your itinerary. The versatility of La Jolla’s beaches makes for intriguing and enchanting getaways or they can be loads of fun for the entire family. Investigate the underwater marine life while snorkeling or simply walk the shoreline barefoot. Nearby attractions include The Scripps Institute of Oceanography and The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum.

5. Oceanside City Beach. Tropical palm trees stretch along the shores of this tranquil and eloquent beach located in northern San Diego County. Take a leisurely walk, ride your bicycle or roller-blade down what is called “The Strand” (the main street alongside the beach) or spend some time fishing off the pier at Oceanside. Nearby Cape Cod Village offers lots of great restaurants and the beach has lifeguards and restrooms.

6. Coronado Beach. If you’re in San Diego, you’ll love the wide expanse of Coronado Beach with plenty of room for the family to spread out. While the kids are playing volleyball, soccer or tag, or tossing Frisbees, flying kites or building sand castles, you and your spouse can kick back and enjoy the surf, the sand and the seagulls.

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This enchanting locale is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and is just a short ferry ride away from San Diego Bay. Or you can opt to pack everything you’ll need for a day at the beach and drive across the Bay Bridge. No food is sold at the beach so be sure to bring along sandwiches, soft drinks and other snacks. There is free parking on Ocean Avenue but it gets crowded quickly so try to get there early.

It’s interesting to note that the entire California coastline is constantly changing due to tides, currents and weather conditions. Beaches erode and new ones form when sediment washes in from the Pacific Ocean.

With all its coves, cliffs and inlets, islands and harbors, jetties and piers, it would take eons to fully explore this magnificent geographical location. That’s why many people return year after year to experience its magic and appreciate its treasures.

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Inmates graduate from Seminary at San Quentin Chapel as part of Southern Baptist program by Peter Menkin

The program for ministry at maximum security prison San Quentin in Northern California, outside San Francisco, proves the maxim, minister where you are at the moment. For inmate Mark Baldwin, serving a life sentence, he will prove the maxim well for with his new diploma in ministry earned from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary based in the town Mill Valley, which is near the prison, will be ministering to fellow inmates for a long time—lifelong.

The Certificate for Ministry earned by the recent June, 2010 graduate Mr. Baldwin in the Southern Baptist tradition, as the seminary is a Southern Baptist seminary, is part of a larger and national program that applies the same maxim throughout its teaching efforts reach, which is really more than national. It is worldwide. That maxim remains the same wherever students learn and go into ministry. Minister where you are at this time in your life, and in the many places where you may be a long time in their location or place of life.   In a conversation by phone with a Seminary spokeswoman, more details of the educational program called Contextual Leadership Development (CLD) was found. CLD finds its home base at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary just north of San Francisco at the Southern Baptist Seminary. The Spokeswoman offers these fast notes on the CLD centers:    

  CLD center:

is established under a cooperative agreement between Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and a local Southern Baptist Church, association or state convention
offers diploma programs in Christian ministries, theology, and church planting
offers classes in English, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Chinese, Hmong, Mien, Russian, and Haitian, depending upon the center location
is approved by the CLD National Office and the Office of Academic Affairs of Golden Gate Seminary

CLD – home page on website: http://www.ggbts.edu/cld/default.aspx     She points out how Don Beall, employee of the Seminary for 5 years, has the job of running this innovative and successful program of ministry-in-place. This writer was told in that same phone conversation, “There are over 60 CLD centers in the United States. A CLD Center needs to be established…It is ethnic, but has evolved to be cultural and started out to meet the needs of ethnic people to meet the grasp of learning English to provide future ministers during their student days in the Seminary program with an education in their own language so they can have a ministry. There is a cultural relevant group for every people group in their respective country. It is currently taught in 17 States, and 11 languages.”   In the specific ministry program at San Quentin prison, the four inmates who graduated with their certificate this June, 2010 will be supervised by Prison Chaplain Morris A. Curry, Jr. (an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Church). He is Pastor to all Protestant inmates at San Quentin Prison, and supervises the four graduates, and the one previously graduated inmate who is himself an ordained Southern Baptist Minister. (All are inmates.)   The relationship between Pastor Curry, the director of the national program Don Beall (an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Church), and the Seminary itself is close and genuine for they have a mutual simpatico that is driven in part by the cooperation and interest of the Seminary, as evidenced by the participation of the Seminary President in the worldwide CLD program, and specifically in what is seen as the Seminary’s important educational program at San Quentin. So the Spokeswoman told this writer, “The President is very supportive and the Seminary considers it a major outreach. We have many students and graduates in the CLD program.” The San Quentin Prison program is the second such prison program of its kind in the United States, and the Seminary hopes to have a second of their own in another Prison. That would make three such programs.   The Seminary is dedicated to CLD, and prisons are a favorite among favorites because of San Quentin’s proximity to the Seminary—but 20 minutes away.   “Don Beall was one of the first teachers at San Quentin in 2007. He’s very involved in the other CLD centers because this one is special and it’s all nearby the Seminary. (He has been teaching one semester, two times a week, and every fall for a long time.)” So the Spokeswoman explains to this writer in the interview by phone.   The following interview with Don Beall reveals the dedication of the leadership in the CLD program, displaying mostly that the dedication is Bible based, and tells us something of Don Beall’s role. The interview by email was sent to this writer from Washington State, in the Western United States, when The Reverend Don Beall was on vacation this July, 2010.   1. What is your role, and how do you see this developing leadership and ministers?  Peter, I serve as the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Contextualized Leadership Development (CLD) National Director. I work with local CLD Directors and Registrars to provide orientation, make sure they receive adequate training, coordinate our cooperative agreement/partnership.   2. Will you speak to the nature of the San Quentin ministry as a ministry in place–its Biblical authority and basis? The Bible teaches us to visit those in prison and that “some of us used to be” which teaches us that God gives eternal life to all who call upon His name. Matthew 28: 19-20 commands us to teach those we come in contact with. Preparing men at San Quentin to serve the Lord through His church in prison and outside of prison is the task of all believers. 3. Where next might the Southern Baptist Church begin another prison ministry study program? We do not initiate setting up local CLD centers across North America but respond to local Southern Baptist Church (SBC)–churches, associations and state conventions who desire to provide theological training. We will evaluate each request with a face to face meeting with those interested.  4. How do you find the support of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in this study program and ministry? Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (GGBTS) provides training support and encouragement to the local CLD Director. Dr. Jerry Stubblefield (retired GGBTS Faculty member) and Pastor/Chaplain Morris Curry who serves as the San Quentin CLD Registrar. We help enlist instructors at San Quentin, provide Course Syllabus Templates and evaluate each instructor’s syllabus to make sure what is being taught is the GGBTS course listed 5. If I recall right, you visit at San Quentin yourself. Tell us something about what you are doing with prisoners? I have volunteered to teach each CLD 1111 Ministry Foundations one semester two nights a week for 15 weeks. I also help advise the San Quentin students on their progress toward earning a Diploma in Christian Ministries or a Diploma in Theology.    The graduates of this June, 2010 ceremony, complete with sermon by Seminary President Reverend Doctor Jeff Iorg, was the same as a graduation given at the Southern Baptist Seminary proper. The graduates were Mark Baldwin of California, 50; Robert Butler of California, 51; David Cowan of Pennsylvania, 42; and Darrell Cortez Hartley of Missouri, 46.

  Speaking from a podium in the Protestant Chapel, Seminary President Iorg told the graduates, “It takes time to tell about Jesus. I challenge you to show Jesus Christ.” The Sermon spoke of the Holiness of the moment, and this writer thinks he meant by that the Holiness of the men’s new ministry in place, and the Holiness of their graduation into ministry. This wonderful sermon was a form of blessing and commissioning.   In the Sermon, preaching Seminary President Iorg said Jesus went to the most strategic places possible. He looked to minister to the product of people’s backgrounds, where they were, in the place where they live, and in the state of their lives. He said that for these new ministers, “The Church is San Quentin.” He offered a blessing, and proclaimed, “Bless the Lord.”     Donald Hart, a graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary is a teacher of men in the Protestant Chapel in San Quentin for the CLD program. He taught the four recent graduates, though did not teach the one previous graduate of the program. The Protestant Chapel is inside the Prison, of course.   This interview by phone with the writer was held with Donald Hart regarding his teaching ministry to inmates. Don says of the men, “They are very proud; it is one of the programs they put a lot of effort into.” :   Don has been teaching at San Quentin for two years.   How long have you been on the faculty of the Seminary?   Approved as an adjunct for the San Quentin project two years ago, I was a student at the Seminary finishing up my Theological Masters–passed the Masters of Divinity and focused on research and writing. It’s between the Masters of Divinity and the Ph.D. I did my undergraduate work at California Baptist University in Riverside, California.     Have you had experience in teaching prisoners prior to your San Quentin experience?   I had none. Actually, San Quentin was my first time in being involved with prison ministry. I think it was a combination of both; I did not know how prepared I was until I started. If someone wanted to be involved in this ministry, they have to have a passion for teaching for one. And along with the teaching is spiritual discipleship of the men. You also have to have the mindset that men in prison can be rehabilitated… That God has a plan for them where they are at or where he wants to put them in the future.     What’s the point of making ministers of men who are so far gone to the criminal side?   I think that as the men really grow in their understanding of God, their life can be lived for Christ. They can get a perspective on where they’ve been and what opportunities God can have for them. Men in prison have committed crimes and made fairly large mistakes in the way they lived life; I believe God has placed them in a unique position to minister to others in the same circumstance.   Because of their past mistakes they are more fully able to minister to those who are in the same place before they go to prison. I believe that through their trials, their mistakes, they have a voice for reconciliation, or voice for understanding for those who are making the same mistakes: criminal activities, or drug use. Things that the person sitting in the pews may not fully comprehend.   One of the biggest things that strikes me, as God redeems the men; he redeems their actions to positive contributions in the future.     What other Church activities are you involved with in the Southern Baptist tradition?   I also work fulltime, and I am ministering in a Church in San Francisco part time. I work with the facilities department of the seminary. First Baptist Church, San Francisco. It’s on Octavia and Waller, where Octavia hits market. We run about 250 to 300 people on a Sunday morning. We are in the process of growing. I work with small group ministry, overseeing them and in security, making the place a safer place to worship. The work with prisoners is a ministry, and it is a volunteer job as adjunct teaching position. All the teachers with the Seminary program at San Quentin are unpaid volunteers.         Phyllis Evans wrote in an article about the inmates earning a Seminary diploma: Most CLD graduates have the option of participating in commencement ceremonies at one of Golden Gate Seminary’s five campuses. But for the San Quentin grads, the ceremony went to the prison. More than 150 inmates and guests attended the ceremony in the prison’s Protestant chapel.

“These graduates are receiving the same experience as our other graduates,” Jeff Iorg, the seminary’s president, said. “The program is the same, the people on the podium are the same, the diploma is the same, and we expect the same kind of results from these graduates as from our other graduates.

“Some may wonder why such a program would be offered in prison, where many of the graduates will never be paroled,” Iorg said. “Our mission is training leaders to expand God’s Kingdom. The church is in San Quentin and needs leaders here, too.”

  Inmate Mark Baldwin, in his remarks from the podium, told those present and his teachers that jail is a journey. He said he’s been incarcerated in three institutions—and now San Quentin. He spoke of how humbled he was by the program, his graduation, and entry into ministry. He mostly spoke of his thanks to this place in San Quentin (the Chapel), and offered his thanks for the support of his family, friends and fellow prisoners. He closed his remarks with, “Good night. God bless.”   Local reporter for “The Marin Independent Journal” Christian Goepel… said of inmate Baldwin, now minister Baldwin, “Baldwin has long taught Bible study and an apologetics class, which offers instruction along with defending the fundamentals of Christian faith. He is serving a life sentence, but said he will use what he learned on his long journey to promote ministry and help others in prison.”   Inmate Robert Butler spoke of this graduation for him as a “defining moment in my life.” Of the three African American, and one white graduates, all were pleased, honored and proud to be graduates of the Seminary, and now ready to enter into a lifetime of ministry to their fellow prisoners at San Quentin, or wherever incarcerated.     Photos by Terry Peck. Note writer and friend are shown exiting prison Protestant Chapel after graduation ceremonies.

Images: (1) Seminary President The Reverend Doctor Jeff P. Iorg with graduate Robert I. Butler, California; (2) The Reverend Morris A. Currry, Jr., Protestant Chaplain, San Quentin Garden Chapel. Pastor Curry worked 20 years as a volunteer at the prison, and has been Pastor on paid staff now for five years. ; (3) Pastor Curry. He is committed to the community through helping it to regain its moral base by promoting a value system based on Agape: “Consider others more important than yourself” (Philippians 2:3); (4) Darrell Cortez Hartley, at the laying on of hands in his robe. The Missouri born prisoner received his diploma in Christian Ministry at San Quentin Garden Chapel June 10, 2010 along with three other inmates; (5) The writer exiting San Quentin Garden Chapel which is inside the prison, a maximum security institution located in California’s Marin County, north of San Francisco. Accompanying the writer is a friend who came to witness the graduation. There were few guests in attendance; (6) Laying on of hands, for the spirit of ministry was conferred by faculty of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, California–but 20 minutes from the prison.

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