HERE IS A LESSON THAT ALL HOA'S MUST LEARN FROM! Ex-property manager pleads guilty to grand theft

From the Ventura County Star in Ventura CA comes this tale of horror-
ex-HOA manager Daphne Brenon, who formerly worked for Dahl-Davis, an HOA management company in Westlake Village, is going to jail for embezzlement. Having been caught stealing over 400k from an HOA, and using checks from another HOA to funnel money out of their checking account by using a person who claimed to be a contractor...

Your lawyers and accountants will fill you in on the lessons that must be followed, so read up and then go look at your books!



A Westlake Village woman has pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft and one count of filing a false tax return and admitting to taking more than $150,000, Ventura County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Daphne Ann Brenon, 53, will be sentenced Nov. 4. She is expected to be sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise.

Brenon was the property manager for Spanish Hills Homeowners Association of Camarillo from 1998 to 2004, Wise said. While in that position, Brenon stole more than $400,000 from the homeowners association by writing association checks to herself and her employer, Dahl Davis Property Management in Westlake Village, according to the district attorney’s office.

Brenon also had checks from Spanish Hills Homeowners Association and Westlake Canyon Oaks Homeowners Association, of Westlake Village, written to a friend who Brenon falsely claimed was a contractor, Wise said.
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SoCal RCI SEMINAR SEPT 28th-Roof Drainage: Understanding, Analyzing and Correcting Roof Drainage Problems

TELL RCI You Saw It Here!

Inadequate roof drainage is a common problem found on many existing low-sloped roofs and on some new buildings. There are many reasons why drainage problems occur on new and existing buildings and the correction of such problems can range from simple to very complex.
There are some questions that need to be answered by the consultant, specifier, contractor and/or building owner, to ensure that the roof drainage complies with the applicable building codes, plumbing codes and the roofing material manufacture warranty. These questions include: 1) Do you have a drainage problem, 2) What are the problems, 3) What are the options for correct action, 4) What is right action for the specific project.
The intent of this seminar is to assist the attendees in answering these questions by providing you with useful information and/or identifying applicable sources of useful information that will allow you to better evaluate the existing roof drainage and to determine what corrective action is required. Having a knowledge of the applicable manufacturer requirements and codes, and a knowledge of the options available are critical to conducting both the proper analysis of the roof drainage and in determining what action should be taken if corrective action is required.
The speakers for this seminar include Dean Larsen, RRC, RRO of Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger; Szymon Zienkiewicz, RRO, CTI, LEED AP, EIT of SGH; Jim D. Koontz, PE, RRC of Jim D. Koontz & Associates; John Popp, Siplast Lightweight Insulating Concrete Product Field Technical Manager – West; Dale Reger, National Product Manager for Allied Insulation; Brian Billingsley, Lead Tapered Designer for Allied Insulation; John D. Shepherd, RRC, RRO of Shepherd Consulting Services; and Daryl Kuiper, State of Colorado, Plumbing Inspector Supervisor.

The sessions included in this problem are as follow:
· Roof Drainage Design and the 2007 California Building Code – What has changed?
· Beyond the Code: Other Industry Roof Drainage Design Guides for Roofing – What are they and how do they apply?
· Common Roof Drainage Issues and Solutions for Low-slope Roofs
· The Effect of Debris on the Flow Rate Properties of Roof Drains and Scuppers
· Slope Modification Options: Light-Weight Insulating Concrete
· Slope Modification Options: Tapered Insulation
· Slope Modification Options: Wood Taper Options, Crickets and Recesses Sumps
· Drainage Resources

For abstracts for each session and biographies for each speaker click below
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CA Firefighters Mourn Loss of Two Men Fighting the Station Fire and 18 Homes Are Burned Down

This is a very sad day for California and our Firefighters, with 2 men lost in an accident while driving down a windy, narrow road. With 18 homes lost and a fire that is nearly out of control due to wind, steep terrain and dry vegetation, more homes could be lost.

Please say a prayer for the families and friends of our 2 lost firemen, may they rest in peace.

Read more at the LA Times by clicking here...

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Waterproofers in NJ Are a Tough Breed...This Robber Tangled With Grandma and Got Roughed Up!

Fiesty is just one word to describe a 78-year-old woman who was robbed and beaten at work Tuesday by a teenager posing as a job applicant in Clifton, New Jersey.

Not only did she fight back, she was also back at work Wednesday. Her boss says she hasn't missed a day of work in 16 years.

"Bother me and I'm gonna fight," Delores Dolan said.

Her friends call her Dee, and she is no shrinking violet.

She's tough, and at 78, she was not about to be the victim of a robbery.

Police say 18-year-old Darwin Rivera found that out the hard way. On Tuesday, the Clifton grandmother was the Rivera's target. She was at work in a back room office of the waterproofing company she works for.

Authorities say Rivera walked in and, at first, said he wanted a job. But Delores says he was really after something else.

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Freud Introduces the New Diablo Mixers for Superior Durability and Performance in the Construction Market

Calling all Deck Coating Contractors-check these tools out!

Press Release

Freud America, Inc., a premier manufacturer of superior cutting and power tools, has announced the launch of the Diablo Mixers for the construction market. The new Diablo Mixers are specifically designed to give users the safest, easiest, and most controlled way to mix solutions on construction sites. These Mixers provide the versatility to comfortably mix a variety of high and low viscosity solutions.

Mixers on the market today are typically half inch drills. These drills are not designed for mixing applications and thus provide poor ergonomics and limited control. Diablo’s new Mixers combine power with increased comfort and control for the best solution for mixing on a construction jobsite. The Diablo Mixers feature electronic cruise control which keeps paddle at constant RPM, soft-start which reduces start up torque, an electronic regulator to stop paddle rotation in event of overload, and an ergonomic steering wheel handle design to provide the user ultimate control and comfort in mixing applications.

"We are excited about providing the contractor market with a dedicated mixer which is durable, safe, and easy to use," states Eric Baker, Director of Product Development – Power Tools of Freud America, Inc. "These mixers provide a demonstrable performance advantage over current solutions resulting in more efficient mixing, reduced user fatigue, and a more productive jobsite."

The new Diablo Mixers are versatile for all types of mixing including concrete, stucco, leveling compounds, filing compounds, waterproofing compounds and more.

The Diablo Mixers are available in 7amp and 13 amp models and include unique features such as:

• Electronic cruise control keeps paddle at constant RPM
• Electronic regulator stops paddle rotation in event of overload
• Speed control dial ensures mixing speed is set properly
• Ergonomic steering wheel design provides ultimate control and comfort in mixing applications
• Soft start reduces start up torque and reduces splashing of material
• 2 speed gear box on the 13 amp model
• 5 Year Limited Warranty