The life you’ve always envisioned awaits you at Ivy Lane in Pleasanton! This new neighborhood reflects the small-town comfort and charming city allure of this classic community, which was recently named #4 on 24/7 Wall St.’s list of America’s 50 Best Cities to Live In.

Pleasanton also makes education a top priority. Both of our high schools rank among the top 2% of US News & World Report’s Best High Schools in America.

We embrace a higher standard of living. Pleasanton was ranked as #3 in Highest Earning Cities in America. Money Magazine named the city one of the 50 Best Places to Live in the Nation, and the data analysis site, NerdWallet, declared Pleasanton as one of the Top Twenty Cities in Northern California.

With the arrival of Ivy Lane, fresh opportunities to live in Pleasanton are now available.

These thoughtfully designed single-family residences feature modern conveniences and innovative amenities. Offering  up to approximately 2,656 square feet of living space, with up to 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and a bonus room, these excellent homes include everything you desire in an officially outstanding community.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page. 

It’s cooling down in the Bay Area! Get out with you family this Saturday and Sunday for fun events near you.

It’s time to lace up your skates! Come out for Downtown Ice this weekend in San Jose and twirl and glide on the ice rink beneath beautiful palm trees. For more info, click here. 

Games, games and more games this weekend in Dublin! International Games Day is happening this Saturday at the Dublin Family Library, and you’ll have the chance to drop in and experience exotic and brand-new board and card games from 11AM to 1PM. No registration is required. To learn more, click here. 

This event is perfect for book aficionados. Get ready to meet Bay Area authors this weekend in San Jose! Mingle with more than 20 writers and hear the inspiration behind their books from 1PM to 5PM at Kings Library this Sunday. Click here for more info. 

Grammy-award winners are hitting the stage this weekend in Livermore! The Manhattan Transfer, one of the most popular vocal groups of all time, is coming to the Bankhead Theater this Sunday, November 16 at 7PM. For tickets, go here.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page. 

This warm, gooey and yummy treat is sure to get everyone in your family excited about Halloween!

Vanilla Coffee Roasted Pumpkin Seed Snack Clusters…Dipped in Chocolate. 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Yield: 25-35 pumpkin seed clusters

Ingredients

3 cups raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried

1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds minus the shells)

1 cup pistachios

2 tablespoons ground or whole flax seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2-4 tablespoons fresh coffee grounds

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon all-spice

6 ounces semi-sweet, or dark chocolate, melted (use milk chocolate if you prefer)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spread the raw pumpkin seeds (not the pepitas) on a greased baking sheet. Roast the pumpkin seeds for 15 minutes to dry them out. Remove from the oven. Leave on            the pan.

3. To the pan with the pumpkin seeds, add the pepitas, pistachios, flax, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coffee grounds (2 tablespoons), salt, cinnamon, nutmeg      and all-spice. Toss well, making sure all the seeds are evenly coated. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times during cooking until the pumpkin seeds are golden          in color. Remove from the oven and using the back of a rubber spatula push the seeds into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Allow the seeds to cool completely. As           they cool they will harden. Break up into clusters.

4. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Carefully dip the clusters into the melted chocolate. Place on the prepared              baking sheet and if desired sprinkle with coffee grounds and sea salt. Repeat with the remaining clusters.

5. Place the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes or until the chocolate is hardened. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, or in the fridge, for up to two weeks.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page.

You’ll soon need to prepare for cooler weather in NorCal! Here are some fall maintenance tips to keep your home and garden in tip-top shape.

Get to work! Having clean gutters makes all the difference to ensure that water is diverted off of your home’s exterior and foundation walls. Clogged drainage systems can lead to major damage, so once the leaves start to fall, it’s time to call a landscaper – or grab the ladder and get to work.

Fall fire safety. It’s that time of year to replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Vacuum the systems with a soft brush to remove dust and press the test button to test the detectors. It’s also a great time to check for damage and replace fire extinguishers. Replace these units every six years, and keep one in the kitchen and on each floor of the home. Here’s how to check a fire extinguisher:

• Check that the indicator on the pressure gauge is charged
• Make sure the lock pin is intact
• Inspect the discharge nozzle for clogs

Staying dry. Remember to clean the space under and behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Also clean the vent and exhaust duct periodically to prevent fires and to keep your dryer running smoothly. It’s especially important to clean the lint trap after every load. Hopefully you’ll even find a lost sock or two!

Love your yard in fall. Don’t neglect your landscaping during fall. Fix dead patches in your lawn by laying sod and planting perennial flowers that will blossom in cold weather. You’ll need to adjust the height of your lawn mower to its normal height. Care for your patio by packing up and storing patio furniture as the weather cools down.

Stay warm and enjoy a fun-filled fall in the Bay Area!

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page.

Enjoy giving back to the community, culture and art this weekend in the Bay Area!

An afternoon of opera is coming to Livermore this weekend! During a one-hour program of arias and duets, the Livermore Valley Opera will preview Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Livermore Public Library on Sunday at 2PM. For more info, click here.

Help some paws in need this weekend in Livermore! Come out for the Paws & Outlaws Barbeque where you’ll enjoy delicious eats, dance to the music of Blues House band and have a chance to win raffle prizes on Saturday at 3PM. The barbeque benefits the Paws In Need Just Like New Fund and spay/neuter programs. Click here for tickets. 

It’s all about food, wine and creative culture this weekend in Dublin! The “splatter…not your ordinary food, wine & art festival” on Saturday from 12PM to 8PM, features a tasting pavilion, best in food truck eats, live entertainment and a marketplace – plus fireworks at dusk at Emerald Glen Park. Click here for more info. 

Do something good for the environment and beautify the area this weekend in San Jose! Help remove debris from the river channel at Guadalupe River Park & Gardens with local residents during the Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday at 9AM. To learn more, click here.

Celebrate art this weekend in San Jose! Come watch artists create live works at The Luna Park Chalk Art Festival, listen to music and indulge in delicious bites from a variety of food trucks on Saturday at 10AM at Backesto Park. To purchase tickets, go here. 

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page.

There’s plenty of family fun happening in the Bay Area this weekend – so don’t miss out! Check out what’s going on in your neck of the woods on Saturday and Sunday.

Journey through the music of Motown this weekend in Pleasanton! Bay Area favorite Top Shelf is hitting the stage at the Firehouse Arts Center on Sunday at 3PM. Listen to the tunes from Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops and more during this high-energy performance. For tickets, click here.

Get ready to learn the best places to take a fall hike this weekend in Dublin! REI Dublin will help you learn the facts about trip planning, tell you what you’ll need for your hike and give safety tips this Saturday at 9AM. Click here to learn more.

Be a part of culture, tradition and community this weekend in San Jose! The 7^th American Indian Heritage Celebration is taking place at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and features dance, a powwow and American Indian Market on Saturday from 12PM to 10PM. For more info, go here. 

Join aquarium experts and herpetologists to learn about local wildlife this weekend in San Jose! Frog and Lizard Night is happening this Saturday at Santa Teresa park’s Historic Bernal Ranch at 7:30PM. And don’t forget to stick around for movie fun after the program and watch campy horror flick Godzilla vs. Mothra. Learn more here. 

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page.

Have a great Saturday and Sunday in the Bay Area doing what you love with your family! Enjoy!

Get ready for one of the most popular comic operas this weekend in Livermore! Pirates of Penzance, presented by Lamplighters Theatre, is coming to the Bankhead Theater on Saturday at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

Come watch a fun family flick this weekend in San Jose! The Lego Movie is hitting the big screen at Almaden Lake Park as part of the Outdoor Movies Series on Saturday at 8:30PM. Get more info here. 

Pick up the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables this weekend in Pleasanton! The Pleasanton Farmers’ Market offers the best in California-grown produce on Saturday from 9AM to 1PM – rain or shine. For more info, click here. 

Experience an abundance of culture this weekend in San Jose! The San Jose Italian Family Festa is coming to Guadalupe River Park and Gardens this Sunday at 10AM and features authentic Italian eats, entertainment, arts and crafts and even a grape-stomping and Tarantella contest. To learn more, go here.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page. 

This weekend is sure to be a hit in the Bay Area! Check out the great events happening near you on Saturday and Sunday.

Check out a magic show like no other this weekend in Livermore! NewMagic with Alex Ramon adds a new style and flair to incredible marvels and feats this Sunday at the Bankhead Theater at 3PM. Purchase tickets, here. 

Run for a great cause – and get blasted with some color – this weekend in Pleasanton! The Color in Motion 5K is happening this Saturday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds and benefits the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. To register, click here.

Come listen to an original repertoire of tunes this weekend in Livermore! Americana Quintet, Houston Jones is performing songs ranging from bluegrass to gospel at the Livermore Public Library this Sunday at 2PM. Get more info, here.

Learn bike maintenance tips this weekend in Dublin! REI is hosting a workshop to help you get to know the basics this Saturday from 9AM to 10:30AM. Click here to register.

Jazz is calling your name this weekend in San Jose! The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is taking place this Saturday in the downtown area of the city. Listen to the sweet sounds of local and regional artists starting at 10AM. Find out more, here. 

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page. 

Summer continues to bring plenty of fun to the Bay Area! Check out what’s happening near you this weekend.

Stroll the streets of Livermore this Saturday from 12PM to 5PM! Taste of Downtown features delicious eats from talented local chefs, along with the chance to sip award-winning wines from Livermore Valley vineyards, enjoy live entertainment and shopping specials. Get more info here.

Travel back in time this weekend at the 4^th annual San Jose Renaissance Faire. This cultural eventbrings magic and merriment, entertainment, music, dancing and action-packed shows to you this Saturday at 10AM. Purchase tickets here. 

It’s books galore this weekend in Livermore! Get ready for a monthly book sale presented by the Friends of the Livermore Library on Sunday, August 3 from 12PM to 4PM. These books are priced well below their retail value. There will even be a table of free books, so don’t miss out! Get the details here. 

Get ready for the beauty of family and traditions at the San Jose Tamale Festival this weekend! This multicultural event showcases the best in family tamale recipes, music and live performances this Sunday at 10AM at Emma Prusch Park. Buy your tickets here. 

 To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page. 

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to LIKE the Ponderosa Facebook page.