Bed and breakfast inns (without children)?

Many people associate inns with antiques and peace & quiet, but there is certainly no “rule” about this. Our policy at the Albert Shafsky House B&Bis that only 2 persons are allowed in the room overnight….so if you want to bring your daughter or son, and that means there are now 4 in your party…you would need to rent 2 of our rooms. That is certainly fine to do, and if you are bringing your son or daughter as a single traveler, we would be delighted to have the 2 of you stay with us….

Here is the article in the paper that prompted me to post this….

Travel Q & A: Why are children not generally welcomed at bed-and-breakfast inns?

Article Launched: 06/23/2008 11:38:39 AM PDT in the San Jose Mercury News.

Why are children not generally welcomed at bed-and-breakfast inns? I would like to understand the rationale behind this rule. And it would be wonderful if you could write about inns that are kid-friendly.
- Kim Nguyen, San Jose Imagine all the couples sitting at B&B breakfast tables right now, reading this and choking on their freshly baked orange-currant scones at the very prospect of a rug-rat invasion!
But before banishing you and your little darlings to a campground, we decided to check with the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns for a little history and a policy update.
“Historically, B&Bs have been associated with romantic getaways and offer quiet, quaint retreats from the hustle-bustle of life,” said Stacy Rollo, spokeswoman for the California association. “Many inns still cater to this customer and want to be known as a quiet haven.”
But, like others in the lodging industry, B&Bs have had to change with the times. Parents increasingly want to take their children along on long-weekend getaways, and many crave a civilized inn experience.
In fact, for the past five years, Rollo says, the industry has heard from more and more families who want to shun the high-rise hotel experience.
So now, 25 percent of the California association’s 300 inns are family-friendly.

Yes, we are haunted…but by friendly spirits!

The team also found this out about our bed and breakfast in Placerville.

Now let’s see what Robert’s FINDINGS and CONCLUSION are. Did Robert’s team capture EVPs or any photographic evidence? Let’s see, Robert take it away:

ROBERT REPPERT’S FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION:
ROBERT REPPERT: There was a great amount of voice phenomena in the kitchen area, and also in the area where the piano once was. The voice phenomena was extremely audible on the stairs, and it is clear that you can hear Albert Shafsky say “Christmas party” which was interesting in itself, as he was Jewish. He speaks of a “holiday party” for the children, his and his friends, keeping them upstairs until the downstairs is ready for them to see. He also says the word “Memorial”. Both these are clearly heard when he was on the stairs, and in the kitchen his voice is heard as well, as is his wife ‘Kitty’. We will do further work on getting those words clearly off our equipment, this is a preliminary finding.

There was a great amount of orb actrivity at the bottom of the stairs where the unseen steps go under the building, as well as in the Albert Shafsky bedroom. Shadows appear in the kitchen, stairs, and living quarters which will need further investigation. As we go through the voice phenomena with a fine tooth comb, it is clear there are other words. This is truly a haunted building.

One more thing. Nancy was able to identify that there was a piano in the living room, and was surprised it was on an outside wall. She was concerned as she plays the piano herself, and knows that all pianos must be kept on an inside wall so as not to allow for moisture. However, she has a clarification for the door next to the piano. On first observation she thought it was opened with shelves inside and perhaps some brass parts for instruments. Upon looking at it closer she is certain at 100% that what she thought was shelves, was WOOD PILED UP SIDEWAYS, making it appear to be shelve like. The shiny objects are at the end of what appears to be a wood holding device, so the opening next to the piano held firewood, and the cabinet led to the outside of the building.

This is a truly haunted Victorian building with wonderful clear and happy energy. We do not have Brian or Rodney’s findings on their equipment as yet. We intend to come back and spend our anniversary here in November with Stephanie and Rita over a glass or two of wine, our two new friends, seeing what else may be going on.

Robert Reppert

One more thing, let’s see what our Evidence Analyst Brian Abeel and Technician Rodney Roberts have to say:

BRIAN & RODNEY’S NOTES (found at this link):
http://forums.jazmaonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=633

Photos of the Shafsky House can be found here:
http://ghosts.meetup.com/231/photos/

For more information on Gold Rush Ghosts please visit
www.GoldRushGhosts.com

Paul Dale Roberts, GRG Paranormal Investigative Reporter, Ghosthunter
WPRT Paranormal Radio - Content Editor
Email: JazmaPika@cs.com
www.GoldRushGhosts.com
www.nancybradley.org
www.wprt.com
Paranormal Cellular Hotline: 916 203 7503 (for comments on this story).

Copyright © 2008 Paul Dale Roberts, GRG Ghostwriter/Gold Rush Ghosts/Nancy Bradley Copyright © 2008
all rights reserved.

Is our Placerville Bed and Breakfast haunted?

Yes, we have been wondering that very thing for a long time ourselves.  When Rita and I first moved in there were a number of things that we could not explain and chalked up to being in a new house, exhaustion from moving and learning to be innkeepers….but we also felt like there was more going on….and we were right.
We recently had the experience of having Nancy Bradley and her team of “Gold Rush Ghost” hunters visit and record their experience with us and the home of Albert Shafsky.  Below is a portion of their preliminary report…more to follow.

Submitted by Paul Dale Roberts
“Sometimes when I go to Blockbuster Video, I pick up a few horror movies, like Thirteen Ghosts. That was one scary movie, in which every ghost is hideous and is an imminent threat to the guest’s well-being. Ummm…how come I never run into Thirteen Ghosts that will scare the living daylights out of me? Case example, I get a call from Robert Reppert - Head Investigator of Gold Rush Ghosts and his lovely wife Nancy Bradley - Celebrity Psychic. They run down a story to me about a preliminary investigation that Robert Reppert, Rodney Roberts and Catherine Noble did at the Albert Shafsky House B&B. The story is intriguing. Robert wants me on the official investigation. Robert has me hooked, because he also mentions an Indiana Jones meets the Winchester House type of discovery. Robert discovered a stairwell in the basement area that leads to nowhere!

When I arrive to Nancy’s home, the paranormal investigative team gathers: Robert Reppert - Head Investigator, Nancy Bradley - Psychic Extraordinaire, Rodney Roberts - Technician, Brian Abeel - Evidence Analyst and of course me, Paul Dale Roberts - Ghostwriter. We gather all the equipment that we will be using this evening of Sunday - May 18, 2008, which includes: thermal reader, digital audio recorders, digital cameras, video cameras, temperature gauges, EMF Readers. We all pile up in the official GRG Truck and head over to the Shafsky House - www.shafsky.com / 2942 Coloma Street, Placerville, CA 95667.

We are greeted by the owners Rita Timewell and Stephanie Carlson. Two very sweet ladies that have stories to tell. Nancy and I, conducted the interviews for her show Journey into the Paranormal. With the interviews, I learn that Albert Shafsky and his wife Dora Shafsky aka Kitty came to Placerville in 1901. Albert was a dry goods salesman and opened up a department store on Main Street. He was the first man to have glass show windows and he had a milliner who made lady’s hats. He built a beautiful home for his wife Kitty and their 2 year old daughter Alberta. He later had 3 more daughters, Verah, Bernice & Jeane. He was to later have a son named Boyd, born in Oakland. Albert became well known in the community and was elected City Council Member from 1906 to 1910 and Mayor of Placerville from 1906 to 1908. Albert and his three brothers came from Kishinvev, Moldavia. His daughter Alberta lived for 103 years. Albert Shafsky is descended from Kopel Yarashafsky of Modavia. “

I will post more in a few days…..

Saturday, March 7, 2008

Here is a fun way to spend a weekend.  Why not stay over at the Albert Shafsky House B&B and go to this fun run event. 

 

Wofford Acres Vineyards

Along with

 Ursa Winery,

Fenton Herriott Winery,

Crystal Basin Cellars,

and

Findleton Winery

present the

Spring  High Rollers’ Run

 

We invite you to take this opportunity

to visit these 5 excellent wineries in the Camino area. 

Receive playing die and a bottle of wine at each stop

and enjoy prize drawings throughout the day!

At the end of the day

sit down to a delicious dinner and more prizes!!

Tickets for the day of fun are only $84.50 per person

and additional dinner tickets may be purchased!

Tickest are purchased through Wofford Acres Vineyards.

 

You may order tickets in the tasting room itself

or by sending a check made out to Wofford Acres Vineyards

at

1900 Hidden Valley Lane

Camino, CA  95709

 

For more information please contact through info@wavwines.com.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/travel

I Love Inns(Keeping)

Life is full of perfect little moments….upon return from another wonderful CABBI Innkeeping Conference, where I presented about the importance of blogs, this is a snippet of the email I read….

“Dear Rita and Stephanie, Congratulations on being selected as Blog of the Week on ILoveInns.com.We at ILoveInns are always striving to bring our members more exciting ways to highlight their Inns and the special communities they live in. In this regard we wanted to share with you that your creative and informative Blog was selected to be highlighted as the Blog of the Week on our home page at www.iloveinns.com.”

So, being the responsible innkeeper and blogger that I am, here is a portion of what the iloveinns post had to say 

“Best Bed & Breakfast Blogs by InnkeepersJanuary 28, 2007 Best Blog: http://www.shafsky.com/blog.htmInnkeeper & Inn: Rita TImewell & Stephanie Carlson, Albert Shafsky House Bed & BreakfastName of Blog: Albert Shafsky House BlogWhy we like this blog: This blog is full of useful information for innkeepers and prospective innkeepers alike. Rita and Stephanie have owned the Albert Shafsky House for 5 years and share with you their thoughts and ideas on running a California bed & breakfast. From how to start a blog, to their “Top 10 reasons to become an innkeeper…or why we did at least”, to innkeeper conferences and trade shows, this blog offers detailed information on many aspects of inn ownership.”

Any more questions on why or how blogging can help your site?  Ask away.

Are you an aspiring innkeeper?

Join CABBI at the ANNUAL ASPIRING INNKEEPING AS A PROFESSION (IAP) CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION: Choose the 2-day or 3-day workshopTWO-DAY WORKSHOP
Regular Registration by 1/25: $590 (single) $950 (double)
Onsite Registration: $695 (single) $1195 (double)THREE-DAY WORKSHOP (includes InnSpire 2008)
Regular Registration by 1/25: $885 (single) $1600 (double) 
Onsite Registration: $935 (single) $1700 (double)HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Please contact the Hyatt Vineyard Creek & Spa directly for your hotel reservations at 800-233-1234 and ask for the CABBI conference rate of $129. This rate is good until 1/11/08. This hotel is located in Northern California.s wine county at 170 Railroad St. in Santa Rosa, in walking distance from the Historic Railroad Square District.CANCELLATION POLICY: Conference cancellations must be received in writing by 12/31/07 for a full refund less a $25 processing fee. After 12/31/07, no refunds allowed.REGISTER ONLINE or visit the Workshop page

 

Are you an aspiring innkeeper?

Join CABBI at the ANNUAL ASPIRING INNKEEPING AS A PROFESSION (IAP) CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION: Choose the 2-day or 3-day workshopTWO-DAY WORKSHOP
Regular Registration by 1/25: $590 (single) $950 (double)
Onsite Registration: $695 (single) $1195 (double)THREE-DAY WORKSHOP (includes InnSpire 2008)
Regular Registration by 1/25: $885 (single) $1600 (double) 
Onsite Registration: $935 (single) $1700 (double)HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Please contact the Hyatt Vineyard Creek & Spa directly for your hotel reservations at 800-233-1234 and ask for the CABBI conference rate of $129. This rate is good until 1/11/08. This hotel is located in Northern California.s wine county at 170 Railroad St. in Santa Rosa, in walking distance from the Historic Railroad Square District.CANCELLATION POLICY: Conference cancellations must be received in writing by 12/31/07 for a full refund less a $25 processing fee. After 12/31/07, no refunds allowed.REGISTER ONLINE or visit the Workshop page