Mountain Biking the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

With more than 28 years of experience in real estate, Jim Cicchese serves as a realtor for Keller Williams in Westlake Village, California. When he finds time away from his professional commitment, Jim Cicchese can often be found mountain biking through the nearby Santa Monica Mountains.

Near the top of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Backbone Trail is a 67-mile ridgeline trail stretching from Will Rogers State Historic Park to Point Mugu State Park. Built primarily by volunteers, the varied Backbone Trail incorporates old animal paths and fire roads into various trail sections.

Mountain biking is popular on the Backbone Trail, but bicycles are not permitted on all its sections. As a general rule, trails 4 feet and wider are open to cyclists unless otherwise marked. Most of these areas are fire roads, though some single-track trails in the Thousand Oaks and Topanga State Park areas are also available for cycling. 

Backbone Trail officials request that mountain bikers minimize their impact on the land by riding responsibly and taking all their refuse with them. Cyclists should also avoid muddy trails, leave wildlife alone, and avoid tampering with gates on the trail.

Wheels for the World

A real estate agent and corporate relocation specialist with Keller Williams in Westlake Village, California, Jim Cicchese was named a top producing agent at his former position at Re/Max Olson and Associates. Outside of his professional life, Jim Cicchese enjoys volunteering and supporting his local church, Calvary Community Church.

Calvary Community Church is a Christian worship center and organization located in Westlake, California. A large church, Calvary Community sponsors an array of support programs for its members and its local community, as well as a variety of fundraising and charity events for volunteers. These include counseling sessions, health and wellness programs, financial assistance, marriage resources, Bible studies, and more. 

Additionally, Calvary Community Church hosts international aid efforts through its mission trips. These mission trips take place in a variety of places throughout the world and largely focus on volunteering at local community centers within these places to help aid and assist those in need. 

Calvary Community Church also joins in an ongoing project called Wheels for the World, a disability-centered program designed to provide wheelchairs to children across the globe. While the program functions in part within the United States to repurpose and update wheelchairs, Wheels for the World also requires team members to travel to other countries to distribute the wheelchairs, fit them to the recipients, and teach the children how to use and maintain them.

Meet Jim!

Sponsoring a Child through World Vision

 


The real estate industry gave Jim Cicchese the chance to help individuals find new homes. This career also enabled Jim Cicchese to support two orphaned boys in Mexico through World Vision. World Vision’s Sponsorship Program invites interested people or entities to provide for a child’s basic needs until the he or she and the community to which he or she belongs becomes self-sufficient.

The sponsorship process begins with the sponsor’s selection of a child from depressed areas in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. The profiles of children from these communities can be accessed through World Vision’s online database. Once sponsors have selected a child, they begin an ongoing financial commitment to send $39 every month. These donations will be used to create sustainable access to clean water, proper health care, and educational opportunities.

Throughout the process, sponsors will also get the chance to establish a relationship with the child and his or her community. They can not only provide encouragement via letters and photos, but also meet and visit with the child.

Monterey’s Historic Old Custom House

Jim Cicchese is a longtime Westlake Village, California, realtor who serves as an agent with the local Keller Williams office. An avid traveler, Jim Cicchese particularly enjoys visiting Northern California destinations such as San Francisco, Carmel, and Monterey. An historic town that was the center of government during California’s Spanish colonial, Mexican, and early U.S. eras, Monterey still has numerous historical buildings from the early 19th century.

Prominent among these is the Old Custom House, which stands near Fisherman's Wharf and holds status as California’s oldest government building. Constructed in 1827, the building operated for nearly two decades as the place where duties were levied on all shipments that entered California via Monterey Bay. A particular focus was the state’s pre-Gold Rush tallow and hide trade, with fees of between $5,000 and $25,000 not uncommon for a single ship’s cargo load. This trade provided California with its largest single source of revenue during the Mexican era.

The Custom House became home to the U.S. Consulate in 1844, and two years later an American flag was flown, as California was ceded to the United States. It continued operations as a U.S. customs house until 1868, when it became a private residence.

Cheseboro and Palo Comado Canyon - A Popular CA Recreational Area

A Southern California real estate agent with Keller Williams Westlake Village, Jim Cicchese has a passion for mountain biking. Jim Cicchese’s favorite trails run through the Santa Monica Mountain, but he also enjoys the geologically older, less steep Cheseboro and Palo Comado Canyon.

Administered by the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains are characterized by gentle, rolling hills and oak trees. The current makeup of the area reflects historic ranching activities, with heavy grazing eliminating many native plant species. In their place, European annual varieties, including thistles, wild oats, and mustard, came to predominate. There are remnants of original verdure, such as riparian woodlands near streambeds and coastal sage scrub. Another natural habitat is chaparral, which is composed of difficult-to-traverse hardwoods such as madrone and manzanita.

Canyon trails are shared among hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers, with popular spots including Simi Peak, which offers views of surrounding urban areas.

Top Tourist Destinations in Hawaii

Jim Cicchese has worked as a real estate specialist with top real estate companies including Re/Max Olson and Associates, Keller Williams, and Fred Sands Realtors. Also an avid traveler, Jim Cicchese has visited many states including Hawaii.

Hawaii is a tropical paradise in the Central Pacific. The group of islands offers multiple tourist attractions.

USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is located at Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island. Every year, over 2 million tourists flock to the memorial to see where World War II started for America, making it the most visited destination in Hawaii. In fact, of the nine historic sites of WWII Valor, five are located at Pearl Harbor.

Honolulu

The state’s largest city is also host to its largest population. The city is lined with beautiful sandy beaches offering picturesque views of the ocean, topographic landmarks, and vibrant shopping malls. Tourists can also visit the Honolulu Zoo and enjoy activities such as swimming, hill climbing, and forest biking.

Maui

Maui is a surfer’s paradise. It is home to dozens of beaches with everything from brown and white sands, strong ocean waves, clear skies, and a warm tropical climate.

When to Visit New York City

Jim Cicchese has been a licensed Realtor in California for more than 25 years. When he’s not assisting his clients with real estate transactions, Jim Cicchese enjoys traveling around the United States to such cities as New York City.

Depending on your funds, interest in crowds, and weather preferences, some months may be better than others for visiting New York City. For mild weather in the 60-to-70-degree range, visiting during September and November is best. The time around Thanksgiving is extremely busy, but crowds are more manageable during other times in the fall. However, hotel rates are high.

Between March and May, the city also sees slightly more mild weather starting in the upper 40s and going to the 60s, but rain is much more common. Springtime is one of the most beautiful times to visit New York thanks to the blooming trees and flowers. Hotel rates are more affordable up until early April, but then they start rising again as summer draws closer.

Summer in New York City lasts from June to August. Summer brings with it temperatures in the 80s and high levels of humidity. Additionally, summertime is one of the most popular times to visit because school is out, so crowds are heavy.

Finally, winter lasts from December through February and sees temperatures in the 20s and 30s. However, the cold deters many tourists, so hotel rates are often discounted in late January and February. Visiting during the holidays brings a major spike in crowds and cost, but outside of that, winter is more affordable and less crowded.

What Is the Difference Between Northern and Southern Indian Cuisine?

A member of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, Jim Cicchese has served as a corporate relocation specialist and real estate agent at Keller Williams Westlake Village for the last three years. Outside of his professional pursuits, Jim Cicchese enjoys food, particularly Indian cuisine.

In India, each region and group has a specific way of preparing meals, using a wide variety of ingredients and techniques that make the cuisines unique. Many know India for its curries, but there are different options to choose from in the country’s Northern and Southern regions. Many dishes commonly found in United States-based Indian restaurants originate from Northern India. Focusing primarily on curries and breads, this region is famous for its naan bread, aloo ghobi, and paneer dishes. Many Northern Indian dishes such as kadhi also include yogurt and cream in their sauces.

As opposed to Northern cuisine, Southern Indian dishes typically revolve around the use of lentils and rice. Popular regional dishes include dosa, a rice-and-lentil crepe, and sambar, a stew made of vegetables and lentils. Most Southern dishes also employ a variety of chilies to enhance their spiciness. In the Kerala region, curry sauces primarily consist of coconut milk or oil to temper the overall spice levels in the dish.