Get Your Taxes Done For Free!

Get Your Taxes Done For Free!

Sonora, CA…Every year, hundreds of Tuolumne and Amador County families are eligible for free income tax assistance. Please call for eligibility and to schedule an appointment. In partnership with the IRS, ATCAA’s Tax Program offers free tax preparation for qualified recipients between January and April in Amador and Tuolumne Counties through the Volunteer Income Tax […]

US Economy Adds 227,000 Nonfarm Jobs In January, Labor Participation Rate At 62.9%

US Economy Adds 227,000 Nonfarm Jobs In January, Labor Participation Rate At 62.9%

Washington, DC…According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 227,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.8 percent. Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, and financial activities. In 2016, job gains averaged 187,000 per month. Incorporating revisions for November and December, which decreased nonfarm payroll employment […]

Sonora Area Foundation Announces The 2016 Irving J. Symons Award Winners.

Sonora Area Foundation Announces The 2016 Irving J. Symons Award Winners.

Sonora, CA…Two Tuolumne County non-profit organizations were recognized for the significant benefit they provide to our community by receiving the Irving J. Symons Award presented by the Irving J. Symons Foundation, a supporting organization of the Sonora Area Foundation. The Smile Keepers program, providing dental education, school based preventative treatment and community education for the […]

Gross Domestic Product Only 1.6% In 2016 & 1.9% For 4th Quarter

Gross Domestic Product Only 1.6% In 2016 & 1.9% For 4th Quarter

Washington, DC…Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 (table 1), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.5 percent. The Bureau emphasized that the fourth-quarter advance estimate released today is based […]

Meet Julie Eckardt-Cantrall Chief Philanthropy Officer for Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation

Meet Julie Eckardt-Cantrall Chief Philanthropy Officer for Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation

San Andreas, CA…Julie Eckardt-Cantrall is the new Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation. Her goal is to raise awareness that individual giving plays a key role in improving health care excellence. “Awareness is the first step in fundraising,” she says. “We want people to know their personal donations to the Foundation […]

The FED Bumps Up Interest Rate & Hints Of More To Come

The FED Bumps Up Interest Rate & Hints Of More To Come

Washington, DC…Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in November indicates that the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace since mid-year. Job gains have been solid in recent months and the unemployment rate has declined. Household spending has been rising moderately but […]

California Ranks As The #6 Least Tax Friendly State For Retirees

California Ranks As The #6 Least Tax Friendly State For Retirees

Washington, DC…Kiplinger has revealed its annual list of the most and least tax-friendly states for retirees. Kiplinger’s 2016 Retiree Tax Map reveals senior tax breaks across all 50 states, and compares taxes on income (including Social Security benefits, pensions and other forms of retirement income), property, everyday purchases and, ultimately, your estate. California ranks as […]

Federal Grants Received For Both Calaveras And Tuolumne County

Federal Grants Received For Both Calaveras And Tuolumne County

Sonora, CA…The TCEDA/CSEDD has been working on a number of federal grants to aid in the recovery and the redevelopment of the regional economy. So today we are announcing three awards we have just recently been awarded. 1) We submitted a $50,000 USDA grant for small business development in Tuolumne and Calaveras County. In the […]

Public Hearing For Proposed Water Rate Increase

Public Hearing For Proposed Water Rate Increase

Murphys, CA…The purpse of this meeting is to discuss revisions of the current monthly water rates pertaining to the Utica Water and Power Authority. Currently the rate is 1.00 per month which was established on July 2nd, 1994 and is insufficient to cover the District’s increasing cost to purchase water from UWPA. The 2016 Water […]

Domestic Violence Shelter Funding And Disaster Tax Relief Extensions Help Victims

Domestic Violence Shelter Funding And Disaster Tax Relief Extensions Help Victims

Sacramento, CA… The Governor signed two bills strongly supported by the Chairwoman of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Fiona Ma, CPA, to help victims of domestic violence and businesses devastated by natural disasters. AB 1399 (Baker) will create a checkoff box on California personal income tax return forms which will allow Californian’s to donate […]

$122,000.00 Donated to Butte Fire Relief

$122,000.00 Donated to Butte Fire Relief

COUNTYWIDE – Calaveras Recovers, a long-term relief organization helping survivors of the 2015 Butte Fire, has received a generous, $22,000 donation from the congregation of Good Samaritan Community Covenant Church of Valley Springs. Another anonymous donor also privately contributed $100,000. “We studied and prayed where we should put our money,” said Jeff Jolliff, church Executive […]

Brexit: An Update for Investors ~ From Brian Tewksbury

Brexit: An Update for Investors ~ From Brian Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…As an Independent Financial Advisor with Quest Capital Strategies, Inc., Brian enjoys helping people with their investment needs. Anticipating the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Brian gained certification through Covered California Healthcare Exchange and manages this segment of business through HealthMarkets, Inc. Brian feels his life experiences prepare him well […]

Odds Of Rate Increases Strengthen & The Fed’s Monetary Policy Toolkit ~ Chair Janet L. Yellen

Odds Of Rate Increases Strengthen & The Fed’s Monetary Policy Toolkit ~ Chair Janet L. Yellen

Jackson Hole, WY…The Global Financial Crisis and Great Recession posed daunting new challenges for central banks around the world and spurred innovations in the design, implementation, and communication of monetary policy. With the U.S. economy now nearing the Federal Reserve’s statutory goals of maximum employment and price stability, this conference provides a timely opportunity to […]

Calaveras Community Foundation Receives Donation from Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Calaveras Community Foundation Receives Donation from Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Angels Camp, CA…Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently presented Calaveras Community Foundation (CCF) with a generous $5000 donation to benefit The Career and Technical Training (C&TT) Scholarship Fund. The Career and Technical Training Scholarship Fund, founded in 2010, helps to support alternative forms of higher education, including two-year community college and trade school certificates. […]

Inflation and Your Portfolio From BluePrint Investments

Inflation and Your Portfolio From BluePrint Investments

Valley Springs, CA…What’s the real rate of return on your current investments? Watch the video below. It takes a look at inflation. And how important it is not to let it take the air out of your investment portfolio. Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns. C. Ryan Burnell, CFA c.ryan@investmentsandtax.com […]

Is 70 The New 65? Why Americans Are Working Longer ~ From Brian Tewksbury

Is 70 The New 65? Why Americans Are Working Longer ~ From Brian Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…As an Independent Financial Advisor with Quest Capital Strategies, Inc., Brian enjoys helping people with their investment needs. Anticipating the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Brian gained certification through Covered California Healthcare Exchange and manages this segment of business through HealthMarkets, Inc. Brian feels his life experiences prepare him well […]

Below Zero: The World Experiments with Negative Interest Rates ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Below Zero: The World Experiments with Negative Interest Rates ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…As an Independent Financial Advisor with Quest Capital Strategies, Inc., Brian enjoys helping people with their investment needs. Anticipating the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Brian gained certification through Covered California Healthcare Exchange and manages this segment of business through HealthMarkets, Inc. Brian feels his life experiences prepare him well […]

Why Tourism Matters, and Our Focus on Our Industry in 2016 ~ By Lisa Mayo, Executive Director, Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

Why Tourism Matters, and Our Focus on Our Industry in 2016 ~ By Lisa Mayo, Executive Director, Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

Sonora, CA…Does this election season have you thinking, “I need a vacation”? Though you may not realize it, you’re actually doing yourself and your country a great service if you take one. When you pack your bags and travel, you’re helping to grow local economies, create American jobs and improve your own work performance, relationships […]

Full Employment: Are We There Yet? ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Full Employment: Are We There Yet? ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…As an Independent Financial Advisor with Quest Capital Strategies, Inc., Brian enjoys helping people with their investment needs. Anticipating the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Brian gained certification through Covered California Healthcare Exchange and manages this segment of business through HealthMarkets, Inc. Brian feels his life experiences prepare him well […]

401(k) Plans ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

401(k) Plans ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…Qualified cash or deferred arrangements (CODAs) permitted under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly referred to as “401(k) plans,” have become one of the most popular types of employer-sponsored retirement plans. How does a 401(k) plan work? With a 401(k) plan, you elect either to receive cash payments (wages) from your employer […]

Future Of Mark Twain Healthcare District Starts With A History Lesson. Complete Meeting Video

Future Of Mark Twain Healthcare District Starts With A History Lesson.  Complete Meeting Video

San Andreas, CA…Last night the Mark Twain Healthcare held the first of three planned public meetings to inform the public and get public feedback and guidance on the best path forward for Mark Twain Healthcare District and the future of healthcare in Calaveras County. Mark Twain Healthcare District Executive Director Daymon Doss led the presentation […]

Economic Opportunity & Income Mobility (Status Of The American Dream) ~ A Speech By William C. Dudley, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Economic Opportunity & Income Mobility (Status Of The American Dream) ~ A Speech By William C. Dudley, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

New York, NY…Good morning. I am very pleased to speak at the 6th Annual Community Development Conference. I would like to give a special thanks to the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development for organizing this conference about issues of importance to the community development industry and to the future of New York City. At […]

Wine and Investments Workshop in Murphys On March 30th

Wine and Investments Workshop in Murphys On March 30th

Murphys, CA…Join BluePrint Asset Management for a complimentary evening of wine and appetizers at the Historic Murphys Hotel on March 30th.  You’ll enjoy fun conversation, fantastic wine and food, and useful financial information no one has ever told you before. For example, you’ll learn: How to cut your investment costs at least 30% AND achieve a portfolio […]

Is Cheap Oil Causing Trouble for the U.S. Economy? ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Is Cheap Oil Causing Trouble for the U.S. Economy? ~ From Brian J. Tewksbury

Murphys, CA…Brian J. Tewksbury Biography: Born and raised in New England, Brian grew up in a large middle class family with a love for the outdoors and sports. Educated in both public and private schools Brian attended Keene State College from 1975-1979 where he studied Sociology and Mathematics. After college Brian attempted a career in […]

Wine and Investments Workshop in Murphys On March 30th

Wine and Investments Workshop in Murphys On March 30th

Murphys, CA…Join BluePrint Asset Management for a complimentary evening of wine and appetizers at the Historic Murphys Hotel on March 30th.  You’ll enjoy fun conversation, fantastic wine and food, and useful financial information no one has ever told you before. For example, you’ll learn: How to cut your investment costs at least 30% AND achieve a portfolio […]