Be there or be square! Sunday, July 27 at Woodland Park Shelter #3 from 11AM-3PM. Bounce house for the kids, volleyball, raffles, chair massages, tarot card reading, face painting, piñatas, and Indian food catered by Pabla Indian Cuisine!! Stop by and stay awhile:)

As I’ve been saying all along, the real estate market is alive and well in our NW area. Serious sellers are giving concessions and buyers are making offers at prices and terms they haven’t seen for several years. Not that I am denying that times are difficult for many people right now. I believe in the long term outlook and find it valuable to remember that real estate has always been a longer term investment when the primary reason to purchase a property is to live in the home and create a life. In our area, that usually means keeping a property for 5 or more years to see a substantial appreciation of your investment.

My good friend, Dr. Sutapa Basu, was honored at the ‘2008 Women of Inspiration Night‘ along with 3 others at this past Saturday’s Seattle Storm game at the Key Arena (which they won 70-52 btw). Sutapa is someone who actually walks the talk. Under Sutapa’s direction, the University of Washington’s Women’s Center has increased their membership and funding to reach many more people around the world. The UW Women’s Center is an internationally respected center taking on the often difficult local and international women’s issues that many people are unwilling to tackle such as domestic violence, trafficking women and children, religious oppression, etc.

Note from Sutapa: My dear friends,
A heartfelt thank you to each one of you who went to the game and to those who were there in spirit to cheer me on. Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you !
Your friendship sustains me and your support encourages me to continue my work.
On another note, it was a very exciting game and the Seattle Storm were amazing. Many of us have decided to buy season tickets. Please let me know if you want to join us.
Again, Thank you.

More photos from the event:

Every year many South Asian patients are diagnosed with blood-related diseases. In order to survive, they need a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor. The Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches works to make those matches happen.

Nearly 30% of patients will find a matching donor within their families.

The remaining 70% must search for an unrelated donor. Unfortunately, only 1% of South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis) are registered to be marrow donors.

It’s easy to get on the registry (learn more from this youTube video)! Get registered today!