Fire Safety in the Winter

Posted on January 6, 2018 by hsrny

Did you know in 2017 there were 243 house fires in Nassau County and 384 in Suffolk County? Now is the time to review safety tips with your children. When was the last time you practiced a fire drill and planned an escape route? Do you know the fire departments phone number and is it programmed into your phone? What do your children know about crawling on the floor or opening windows and doors?

While keeping your family safe, these are some additional tips to keep your home safe:

*Do not plug space heaters into extension cords, this is the cause of many winter house fires.

*Do not use a blow dryer or space heater on a frozen pipe. This can cause the insulation to go on fire.

*Do not use your stove to heat your house. You are putting yourself at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

*Do not go to sleep with a candle burning.

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes In Your Home

Posted on December 19, 2017 by hsrny

Thought I would share these tips for winterizing your home…

For this information and more visit Lancer Insurance at  http://www.lancerinsurance.com/index.php

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Happy Hanukkah!

Posted on December 11, 2017 by hsrny

May the glimmer and glow of each candle you light, bring blessings, warmth, and make your day bright! Happy Hanukkah!

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Decorating Your Home Safely During the Holidays

Posted on December 10, 2017 by hsrny

Found this article about the Holidays and wanted to share it with you… Be safe and enjoy!

For this article and more visit The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)

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From the Legal Hotline of the MLS

Posted on November 24, 2017 by hsrny

This article is from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc.) and I wanted to share it with you…

RISK MANAGEMENT – LEGAL TIP

BEWARE – CYBER FRAUD

There is a very sophisticated cyber fraud being committed against unsuspecting parties in real estate transactions.

The Fraudster hacks into the email of the real estate agents, buyers, sellers, attorneys, or bank to obtain all of the information about the sale of the house.  The Fraudster then sends a legitimate looking email containing all of the correct information and requests that a large sum of money be transferred into a designated account, claiming it is necessary for the real estate transaction to proceed.

The email looks so legitimate that people are complying and losing large sums of money.

Please communicate and educate your clients that such a scam exists.   Tell your clients that before transferring any funds to immediately call their attorney and/or the person claiming to request the wire transfer to confirm whether the request is legitimate.  Another good practice is to use encrypted emails, strong passwords, and change the passwords to your emails regularly.

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Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Feast Recipes

Posted on November 19, 2017 by hsrny

I came across this Thanksgiving article and wanted to share it with you…. Enjoy!

I’m cooking up all the Thanksgiving recipes in my house this year, and while my immediate family is blessed not to have any food allergies or sensitivities, some of my guests do. My daughter’s best friend has egg, dairy, and peanut allergies, my mother-in-law is a vegetarian, and my BFF is gluten-free.

It’s going to be a whole different kind of holiday!

But I feel ready for the challenge. Allergy-friendly eating and healthy Thanksgiving recipes have come so far in just the past few years, I have no doubt that everyone will be able to find something they love at my Thanksgiving table.  Not every side dish on my table will suit every need, but I feel confident that I’ll be able to provide enough variety that no one will go away hungry.

So here’s a round-up of just a few Thanksgiving recipes I’ve had pinned to help make my allergy-friendly feast a raging success:

For this article on Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Feast Recipes, visit the Organic Authority web site.

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Halloween Events on Long Island 2017

Posted on October 28, 2017 by hsrny

Here is a list of this year’s Long Island Halloween parties and events ~ Have fun getting spooked!

Rise of The Jack O’ Lanterns
More than 5,000 hand-carved and illuminated jack o’ lanterns creatively displayed on a festive walking path as Halloween-themed music fills the air. The incredible pumpkin carvings will wow you! Definitely a cut above the rest. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. therise.org Prices vary. 6-10:30 p.m. Oct. 19-22, 26-29.

This Is Halloween
Featuring a variety of DJs, bands and spooky visuals, you don’t want to miss out on this night of local talent and fun! 89 North Music Venue, 89 North Ocean Ave., Patchogue. 89northmusic.com $10. 7 p.m. Oct. 19.

Halloween Horrorthon
Grab your favorite Halloween candy and head over to this frighting film fest! Six terrifying flicks will unreel in one night, including House of 1,000 Corpses, Halloween III: Season of The Witch, Scream, Blacula, Scream Psycho III and Tourist Trap. That’s some bone-chilling celluloid. Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. cinemarartscentre.com $40-$45. 10 p.m. Oct. 21.

Pumpkin Park
Go trick-or-treating at one of Long Island’s most popular amusement parks! This attraction offers a boo-tiful display of pumpkins, hair-raising rides and loads of family fun. Free parking and admission for the weekend, but ride prices remain the same. Adventureland Amusement Park, 2245 Route 110, Farmingdale. adventureland.us 11 a.m. Oct. 21, 22.

Halloween Paint Party
Rumored to be haunted, Katie’s bar will be hosting a paint party! Uncork your creative side and make Halloween-inspired glassware. Katie’s of Smithtown, 145 West Main St., Smithtown. katiesofsmithtown.com $30. 5-7 p.m. Oct. 22.

Halloween Boat Burning
Come watch a Long Island Halloween tradition! A large wooden boat is set ablaze, making the occasion LI’s largest aquatic bonfire. Live entertainment, snacks, raffles and a chance to win a new wooden boat! Talk about “fire on the water!” Long Island Maritime Museum, 88 West Ave., West Sayville. limaritime.org $5. 5 p.m. Oct 27.

Masquerade Ball at the LI Aquarium
Throw on a mask and dance the night away in a evening full of Halloween festivities. Open Bar, DJ and prizes awarded to the best dressed attendee! Long Island Aquarium, 431 East Main St., Riverhead. longislandaquarium.com $69.95. 21+ 8 p.m. Oct. 27

It’s A Halloween Party!
Grab your costume and get ready for a night of great food, music and dancing. There will be a DJ, buffet and prizes awarded for the best costume. The Snapper Inn, 500 Shore Dr., Oakdale. thesnapperinn.com $40. 7 p.m. Oct 27.

Costumes and Cocktails
Hors d’oeuvres, great music, dancing and dessert! The winner of the best Halloween costume will be awarded two free tickets to the Country Club’s renowned New Year’s Eve party along with a room at the Melville Marriott. Woodbury Country Club, 884 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury. woodburycc.com $55. 8 p.m. Oct 27.

Halloween Ball
Come in costume to venture through Dante’s Inferno in the Hempstead House followed by dinner and a cabaret performance of The Seven Deadly Sins. Conclude your evening by dancing to the terrific tunes of the mansion’s organ. Sands Point Preserve, Hempstead House, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point. sandspointpreserveconservancy.org $170. 7-11.55 p.m. Oct. 28.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This over-the-top B-movie classic never goes out of style. Everyone’s favorite freaky scientist, Dr. Frank N. Furter, is back and he’s opening the doors of his mansion just in time for Halloween. The Patchogue Theater for Performing Arts at 71 E Main St, Patchogue. patchoguetheatre.org $20-$30. 8 p.m. Oct. 28

Halloween Fun Festival
Molloy’s Madison Theatre is transformed once again for the 5th annual Halloween Fun festival! With a haunted house, pumpkin picking, custom-mask making, costume contests, cupcake decorating and live entertainment, there is no better way to get into the Halloween Spirit! Madison Theatre at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. madisontheatreny.org $10 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28.

History Unearthed
Beware of ghosts on this historical walking tour of Sag Harbor’s oldest burial grounds! Pre-registration and prepayment is required. Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum, 200 Main St., Sag Harbor. sagharborwhalingmuseum.org $20. 2 p.m. Oct. 28.

Bats, Barnacles, & Broomsticks Halloween Party
Trick or treat throughout the aquarium in a day filled with family fun! Long Island Aquarium, 431 East Main St., Riverhead. longislandaquarium.com Free with Admission 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28.

Barkfest
Get your furry friend in on the Halloween fun at Long Island’s Largest Pet Costume Contest and Parade. Judging begins at 2:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring pet food donations. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park Field 6, Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow. Free. 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28.

Mesita’s Annual: Dia De Los Muertos
Salsa and cerveza will be flowing on the Dia de los Muertos, a holiday originating in Mexico and celebrating passed loved ones. Special tastings provided by Modela Negra, Don Julio, Corona, and Modelo Especial. Mesita, 212 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre. $25. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 28.

Great Jack-o’-Lantern Spectacular Sail
The first 50 carved pumpkins will be lit with candles, placed on floats and sent sailing around Belmont Lake at dusk. In addition to the main event, there will be a kid-friendly haunted house, trick or treating, Halloween-themed arts and crafts and other attractions. Belmont Lake State Park, Southern State Parkway, Exit 38, North Babylon. $8 parking, free with Empire Pass. 3-6 p.m. Oct. 28.

Halloween Costume Ball
Calling all ghosts and goblins! Come show off your most creative costumes. There will be a DJ, dancing, Halloween buffet, desserts and prizes for best costumes. Windows on the Lake, 235 Lake Shore Rd., Lake Ronkonkoma. windowsonthelake.com $64.95 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Oct 28.

Halloween Party
DJ Mike Savage and DJ Move will be spinning spooky tunes while costumed revelers compete for $2,000 in prizes. Talk about a bloody good time! Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh. muls.com $40. 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 28.

Grand Halloween Parade
“Apply for a chance to participate in local’s favorite Halloween parade and take home the $500 first place award! Or come by and watch the fear inspiring floats go by in Downtown Riverhead. halloweenfestriverhead.com Free 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28. 

Nightmare on Main Street
DJ Jester will get the ghouls and goulettes dancing while bartenders pour specialties such as caramel apple martinis in the preamble to the annual costume contest. Library Café, 274 Main St., Farmingdale. lessings.com Free. 9 p.m. Oct. 28.

Halloween Party
Featuring local rock band Sunburst Jalopy and friends this Halloween party will have lots of spirits! Mr. Beery’s, 4019 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage. mrbeerys.com 9 p.m. Oct. 28.

Halloween Costume Party
Show off your costume and your dance moves while listening to some of NY’s top DJ’s! Ladies enter free until 12. Club Oasis, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. $10. 10 p.m. Oct. 28.

Halloween Cruise
Featuring a costume contest as well as a chance to explore Bug Lighthouse, this two hour cruise is adorned with ghoulish decorations and Halloween surprises. Adult version Saturday, family friendly version Sunday. East End Seaport Museum, 103 3rd St., Greenport. eastendseaport.org $10-$49 4-6 p.m. Oct. 28, 29.

Halloween Parade
March in costume along Lake Avenue to the St. James Gazebo where judges will reward the best dressed. Begin the festivities by lining up in the parking lot of the former Capital One Bank at 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Woodlawn and Lake Avenues in St. James. Goody bags for all. You are invited back to the Deepwell’s Haunted Mansion afterward where your scary costumes may even give the ghosts a fright! stjameschamber.org Free. 1 p.m. Oct. 29.

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Come for the movie, stay for the Halloween after-party and character themed costume contest. Suffolk Theater, 118 E. Main St., Riverhead. suffolktheater.com $12.50. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29.

Coffin Race
Show off your supernatural speed in the first annual Halloween Fest Coffin Races! Gather a team of five and start designing your coffin for a chance to win prizes for “best themed” and “gravekeeper’s choice” . Check in is at 1 p.m. for racers. Pre- registration required by Oct. 20. . Griffing Avenue, Riverhead. $20 3 p.m. Oct 29.

For this article and more visit Long Island Press.

 

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6 Ways to Rate Your Next Neighborhood When Moving

Posted on October 22, 2017 by hsrny

Finding the ideal home or apartment to rent can be tricky. Even though there’s less financial commitment than with buying, you’re still selecting a place that will be home, sweet home, for what could be years. That’s why you want to make sure that the property, as well as the neighborhood, suits your needs. Keep an eye out for these neighborhood red flags; they’ll help you figure out what it’s really like to live there.

1. The overall rental market

Do you see a plethora of properties sitting vacant? That can be a worrying sign, says real estate investor Brian Davis, who teaches courses in rental investing at SnapLandlord.com.

“Healthy neighborhoods should have only a handful of vacant properties at any given moment, even if they are being marketed for rent or sale,” he says.

When you’re browsing listings, pay attention to how many apartments are actually up for rent. If the number seems suspiciously high, the neighborhood could be a real dud.

2. The condition of other properties in the area

If you see too many homes in obvious disrepair that aren’t being renovated, it means the properties in the neighborhood aren’t worth fixing up, Davis says.

Also, watch for the general level of upkeep among homes in the areas. Eyesores worth paying attention to are trash on the lawn or sidewalk; blinds or curtains hanging outside of the window; cars parked in the yard; and holiday decorations up year-round, says Roslyn Lash, an agent with Realty Select in Rural Hall, NC.

3. The commercial property scene

You want to see most of the commercial spaces occupied with healthy-looking businesses, says Davis. This not only reflects well on the vibrancy of the market, it can also make your life easier when you have grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities close by.

On the other hand, you also want to make sure there’s not too much of a good thing, notes renter Shane Lee, who lives on the Lower East Side of New York City.

“While it’s convenient to live in a neighborhood full of restaurants and bars, don’t forget you will also have to deal with the trash and noise,” he points out, adding that his apartment often smells just like the restaurant downstairs.

4. The area’s crime rates

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you check out how prevalent crime is in the neighborhoods you are considering. A few resources that will give you the 411 are AreaVibes, SpotCrime, and NeighborhoodScout.

5. 24/7 activity on the streets

In addition to touring the property on a Saturday afternoon, it’s smart to take a look at the neighborhood at different times of the day.

Check for daytime loiterers, Davis advises.

“It’s a good sign to see neighbors shooting the breeze in the evening, but think twice if you see a pack of unemployed-looking people just hanging out on the street in the middle of the day,” he says.

Visiting the neighborhood at night can give you a sense of how safe you’ll feel—and, of course, what the noise levels are.

Lee has one other practical tip: look down. He was annoyed by all the dog waste near one apartment he was considering: “It made me feel that the neighborhood was dirty and residents there didn’t really care about hygiene or how other people feel.”

6. The scoop from neighbors

Finally, seek out neighbors to really get the scoop beyond what you read on the property listing. If you don’t run into any people, quiz the landlord or ask for some references.

“Talking to people who live there is a sure way to gain inside knowledge about the neighborhood,” notes Lash. “You’ll also get a good idea of whether people are short-timers, which could be a red flag in itself.”

For this article and more visit Realtor.com

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Fire Safety Tips for Your Home

Posted on October 15, 2017 by hsrny

These are a few fire safety planning tips. Please spread the word to help keep other’s safe. Another tip not mentioned in the article is to be careful of wire wick candles. They emit smoke and other carcinogens such as lead. It’s safer to go with braided wick candles.

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Lobster Dinner Cruise Friday

Posted on August 16, 2017 by hsrny

The Lobster Dinner Cruise is a 5-8 pm sunset cruise on Friday, August 18th, plying the scenic coastline of Long Island Sound, with views of lighthouses and Fishers Island Sound coastline. If it’s a nice night, the experience is hard to beat – you can help hoist the sail, then settle in for a surprisingly generous dinner – clam chowder, a steamed lobster with drawn butter, and dessert. (Grilled chicken and vegetarian options are also available.) It’s a big schooner (110’), so don’t expect to be alone, but the crowd, the captain and the crew get consistently great reviews. Children 5 and over are welcome. $95 per adult (13+) and $47.50 for children ages 5-12.

If you want to make a full weekend of it, there is a Sunday Brunch Cruise on August 20. Lobster Cruises are also offered on additional dates, including August 25 and 26. See www.mysticwhalercruises.com or call for schedule and availability.

One additional tip: those arriving from Long Island can take the Cross Sound Ferry passenger service, as the Mystic Whaler dock is within walking distance of the New London dock where the Cross Sound Ferries arrive.

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