Archive for the 'People and Places' Category

MATTITUCK LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY THROWS ANOTHER BIGGIE!

July 20th, 2007 category: People and Places, Real Estate NewsNo Comments »

For those of you fortunate enought to be waking up on the North Fork on Saturday, July 21st. from 9-5, the Mattituck Laurel Historical Society is hosting another fabulous show and sale. On the agenda for Saturday is a display of antique furniture, available to admire or buy. If you love antiques, THIS IS THE BIGGIE!

Their ANNUAL ANTIQUE SHOW AND SALE. Exhibitors will offer antique furniture, Americana and much more. Indoors, at the Cutchogue East Elementary School on Main road, Cutchogue. Rain or Shine. Donation $6.00. For information call (631) 298-0020.

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Alzheimers And Real Estate

July 4th, 2007 category: People and Places, Real Estate News, Real Estate Philosophy, Southold Real Estate2 Comments »

One of the most difficult diseases for families to accept is Alzheimer’s Disease. It is also common enough to wreak havoc on the best of financial situations if denial is present. Having experienced it first hand with my Grandmother, I’d like to share an exceptional book that will guide you through the maze. Additionally, some pointers learned the hard way.

The book is titled, “The 36 Hour Day”, authored by Nancy L. Mace MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD. Some pointers (learned the hard way, in my own experience):If behavior becomes odd- repetitive communication, name confusion (in our case, Grandma would answer the phone, “hi, LyLauriSu”- a combination of all of our names) start paying attention. Alzheimer’s creates a “void” in the memory bank. Just imagine a space in your brain that is suddenly blank. Nothing there when called upon to remember. For an interesting view, please link to: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_4719.asp

Purchase the book to have all aspects of the disease illustrated. The purpose of this blog is to assist you with the real estate end of this devastating disease. If you REMOTELY SUSPECT that your loved one is dealing with this affliction, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of making sure that you are in possession of a DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY . This document CANNOT be procured once the victim is unaware of the implications, so act early. What many people do not understand is that a simple power of attorney is void if the individual is deemed “incompetent” with respect to decisions being made on their behalf. A durable power of attorney permits you to assist them regardless of their mental capacity.

HERE IS WHAT OCCURRED WITH MY OUT OF STATE GRANDMOTHER:Because of the insidious gradual nature of the disease, while things seemed odd, she was able to “fool” us for a time. Unaware of her day to day, the phone calls (while occasionally alarming) were often enough normal that we delayed action. Unbeknownst to us, the predators were in full swing in her daily life. Her “lawn guy” discovered that if he brought a full bag of leaves to the door, she’d pay him. He figured out that whatever afflicted her, he could bring the same bag to her door several times a day, and she would pay him again and again. Terminix, the pest control company, was employed by her to rid her of pests. The individual employed at the company (I’ll never forget his name on all of those checks- Robert Auvil) returned several times a week, and informed her that she still had “snakes in the crawl space”. At 400-800.00 a pop, he had the checks made out to himself, several times a month. Her banker became alarmed when she appeared at the bank to withdraw a large amount of money for new siding on her house- he was aware that just a few short years earlier,Unable to stop her, it was re-sided.All the while, the alarm increased as she repeated, over and over again, that it was sweltering hot, and that Readers Digest was going to be arriving any minute with the Grand Prize. Day after day.The end result was to put her in an environment that created safety. For most families, this is the most difficult decision- after all, if her memory was leaving, pulling her out of her home would surely create further damage, wouldn’t it?

We were absolutely shocked when she not only forgot all about “home”, but embraced the new living environment. Shocked.WE DID NOT HAVE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY. In order to provide her with the best care, her house needed to be sold, and the proceeds put into an account for her care. Without the durable power of attorney, control over the sale price, and the proceeds, fell to the state of Virginia.While this in and of itself was not impossible to work with, what was enormously stressful for my mother was working with the time line. The government is not known for speed. Documentation, court appearances, the sale of personal items via auction (all proceeds recorded and reported) and the ultimate sale of the house went from simple to extraordinarily complicated. All the while, Grandma was safely ensconced in her new environment, but the bills were piling up.

For the families going through the difficulty of the disease, the hours spent dealing with the system in place adds enormous stress to an already heartbreaking situation. It’s not necessary to go through the legal aspects if you get a durable power of attorney early enough in the progress of the disease. For anyone in this situation, my heart goes out to you. You’ll get through it, and have some surprises with your loved one that you never expected- I don’t recall ever laughing with Grandma as hard as I did during one of my last visits to her house. She was hilarious, despite the disease, and enjoyed roaring with laughter.

IF YOU SUSPECT THAT A FAMILY MEMBER IS IN THE EARLIEST STAGES OF THIS DISEASE, GET A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WONDERING IF THIS MIGHT EVER AFFECT YOU, PROVIDE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO A TRUSTED FAMILY MEMBER.

Speak with your attorney to assist you with the decision. Some available resource links:

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/seniors/pwrat.html

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgps2bbf_45d4qfmp&hl=en_us

http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_legal_issues.asp

Real estate is often the source of funds for future care. Don’t find yourself at the mercy of a state entity to make decisions that you would be able to resolve with integrity yourself. Having the benefit of fast action, if necessary, is paramount for the safety of your family member.****This is not to be construed as legal advice. This is a real life situation that became complicated due to ignorance of the disease, and available options. Talk with your family lawyer about preventative solutions.

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Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society Lawn Sale Approaches- The BIGGIE!

June 14th, 2007 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Real Estate NewsNo Comments »

To those in the North Fork of Long Island, New York that LOVE a great yard sale, the queen of sales approaches, featuring antiques, collectibles, furniture, bake sale and more. On July 7, 2007, from 8am to 4pm the Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society will be providing the creme de la creme- come one, come all!

An annual event, this is a sought after lawn sale, offering collectors of unique treasures the opportunity to locate anything from vintage linens, jewelry, clothing, china, and trinkets at amazing prices.
We’ve had the pleasure of attending this event, and it has never disappointed. The cars arrive early, so be prepared for a pleasant stroll along Main Road in Mattituck, New York to reach the sale. The sale is held on the lawn of the Museum grounds on Main Road (Rte. 25) and Cardinal Drive, Mattituck.
- and the number of participating vendors make this a “can’t miss” for those interested in items that are located on the North Fork.

Donation $1.00 – Rain Date 7/8 – For additional information, please call: (631) 298-0020 or 298-5248.

Take the weekend to look at houses for sale on the North Fork- Riverhead, Jamesport, Aquebogue, Laurel, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, and Orient, New York. We’d love to help!

Technorati Tags: Long Island, New York, North Fork, Southold

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Hello Bayview

June 7th, 2007 category: Buyers, North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Sellers, Southold Real Estate5 Comments »

Hello, Bayview, located in Southold, New York-

Options Realty is the “new kid on the block”- we are brand new, with something to PROVE.
We have a combined 32 years of real estate experience, receiving top accolades from some of the nation’s largest home builders. We know how to market properties.

Sean Stark, the owner of Options Realty, has a family with deep ties to the Southold area, and specifically the Bayview area. Sean’s Great, Great Grandfather worked a farm in Bayview in the 1850’s and 1860’s, and built a house on Pine Neck road. Sean’s parents were the original owners of one of the “red” houses that was beautifully re-done recently. It’s a connection to the area that lasts from generation to generation…

What we offer is an opportunity for you to try something different.

Technology is making a huge impact on the ability of buyers to locate your home. We provide a service that not only offers a local flavor, but shares this area with potential buyers across the country. We focus on EXPOSURE. It is our belief that real estate is a numbers game, and sharing your property with local agents, as well as agents across New York, and the United States, will provide you with the opportunity to get the most for your home. The more you know, and the more we offer, the more you’ll gain.

WE ALSO WANT TO SAVE YOU MONEY.
Below, please find information regarding sold homes in the Bayview area. These homes were listed with various agencies in the North Fork, and the information is gathered from the multiple listing service of Long Island.
We hope that this assists with your investigation of the market. Things change daily; these are the current statistics. Please contact us at 631-727-2227 for additional details.

AT OPTIONS REALTY, WE COMMIT TO RETURNING YOUR CALL, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 A.M. AND 8 P.M, MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WITHIN 1/2 HOUR. TRY IT: 631-727-2227.We are located in the Old Post Office building in Riverhead, New York. We live in Southold. We are committed to you, and anxious to prove it.

Our home selling/home buying services include the towns and hamlets of Riverhead, Aquebogue, Jamesport, Laurel, Peconic, Southold, Cutchogue, Greenport, East Marion, and Orient, New York, all located in the North Fork of Long Island. Call us to sell your home; call us to buy a home. Visit www.optionsrealty.com, or view a listing at www.2220depotln.com in order to check out our individual web sites. Yours can be next!

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Welcome Starbucks

May 31st, 2007 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Real Estate News, Real Estate Philosophy, Southold Real Estate1 Comment »

I had my first- in -forever Starbucks Mocha yesterday. At the Featherhill shopping center located in Southold, Long Island, New York, a store has just opened.

While the local community generally eschews the presence of visibly large chains and franchises, my favorite mocha flew under the radar somehow. As a small business owner, I can understand concerns about having large chains and franchises come into town- in addition to disturbing the delicate balance of charming, local venues with potentially garish looking entities that include a drive thru, it poses a genuine risk to the continued sustenance of local companies, not to mention the unique aspect of different shops with different local styles. As an area that experiences a high volume of summer traffic, disturbing the balance is a natural concern.

Interestingly, little is noted about the presence of another huge franchise entity, the Cendant Corporation. Having created a separate company that deals only in real estate, Realogy is the owner of several “local” companies, including Century 21, Corcoran, Sothebys International (Daniel Gale), and both ERA and Coldwell Banker. Quite a handful of New York real estate opportunities.

Agway is a large company, but that doesn’t detract from the wonderful store operated in Southold. The McDonalds in Mattituck gets frequent visitors that have a penchant for occasional fast food. While national drugstores are making an appearance, the Southold Pharmacy serves all of my needs, but perhaps I’ll visit the newly constructed CVS,also located in Mattituck (except, I’m always lured into the Love Lane shops, and find it hard to leave)…and what would we do without King Cullen in Cutchogue, when variety is sought? Large, and neccessary, at least to me.

Will I choose Starbucks over a local coffee provider? Yes, and no. If I want a fabulous mocha, Starbucks has my taste buds to a tee. A chain store rarely offers what the local businesses have to offer, and Starbucks doesn’t change that. It just offers a quality choice when the mocha craving hits-until now, it’s been a treat that’s been missing. That said, absolutely nothing can replace the quality breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and pastries offered in Southold- and I always order orange juice with them anyway.

I lived without Starbucks; I think that my quality of day to day would be compromised without our locally owned breakfast contingent. Another great place to stop, over coffee, and discuss your real estate needs: serving experience in real estate to Riverhead, Jamesport, Aquebogue, Peconic, Laurel, Mattituck, Southold, Cutchogue, Greenport, East Marion, and Orient!

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The True Story of The Patton Prayer - Memorial Day 2007

May 28th, 2007 category: People and Places, Real Estate PhilosophyNo Comments »

The True Story of The Patton Prayer

by Msgr. James H. O’Neill

(From the Review of the News 6 October 1971)

Many conflicting and some untrue stories have been printed about General George S. Patton and the Third Army Prayer. Some have had the tinge of blasphemy and disrespect for the Deity. Even in “War As I Knew It” by General Patton, the footnote on the Prayer by Colonel Paul D. Harkins, Patton’s Deputy Chief of Staff, while containing the elements of a funny story about the General and his Chaplain, is not the true account of the prayer Incident or its sequence.
As the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton, I should have some knowledge of the event because at the direction of General Patton I composed the now world famous Prayer, and wrote Training Letter No. 5, which constitutes an integral, but untold part, of the prayer story. These Incidents, narrated in sequence, should serve to enhance the memory of the man himself, and cause him to be enshrined by generations to come as one of the greatest of our soldiers. He had all the traits of military leadership, fortified by genuine trust in God, intense love of country, and high faith In the American soldier.

He had no use for half-measures. He wrote this line a few days before his death: “Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.” He was true to the principles of his religion, Episcopalian, and was regular in Church attendance and practices, unless duty made his presence Impossible.

The incident of the now famous Patton Prayer commenced with a telephone call to the Third Army Chaplain on the morning of December 8, 1944, when the Third Army Headquarters were located in the Caserne Molifor in Nancy, France: “This is General Patton; do you have a good prayer for weather? We must do something about those rains if we are to win the war.” My reply was that I know where to look for such a prayer, that I would locate, and report within the hour. As I hung up the telephone receiver, about eleven in the morning, I looked out on the steadily falling rain, “immoderate” I would call it — the same rain that had plagued Patton’s Army throughout the Moselle and Saar Campaigns from September until now, December 8. The few prayer books at hand contained no formal prayer on weather that might prove acceptable to the Army Commander. Keeping his immediate objective in mind, I typed an original and an improved copy on a 5″ x 3″ filing card:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.

(This article appeared as a government document in 1950. At the time it appeared in the Review of the News, Msgr. O’Neill was a retired Brigadier General living in Pueblo, Colorado.)

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How Yahoo is Like The Yankees Buying Roger Clemens.

May 7th, 2007 category: People and Places, Real Estate News, Real Estate PhilosophyNo Comments »

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow…
We have been getting calls all week from Yahoo, pitching me their curve ball “exclusive” 1 of 10 Realtor package ad campaign. Relentlessly. Daily. Computably. By using simple deduction, I easily figured that it was a call based on the direct result of our blogging and Jim’s training. It’s pretty simple. Let’s look at it in the frame work of before & after.
Before Options Realty started blogging, the site was stagnant because of our ignorance. Our web designers and hosting services certainly didn’t provide us with any direction, instruction, or creative support. All they wanted was the money.

That may sound harsh, but “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”. Wasting money only goes so far with me. One thing has led to another over these past few months, and I have to say how much this bloggin’ thang’ has helped the business and our effectiveness as Realtors. I have really come to grasp the value and appreciation of hard work and good people, like family and friends, getting behind this blog to garnish positive and productive results. And so, our oak tree grows…

Google Docs & Spreadsheets — Web word processing and spreadsheets. Edit this page (you have permission)

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Taxed Enough! Evidently not in Red Hook.

May 4th, 2007 category: People and Places, Real Estate NewsNo Comments »

NYSAR’s Government Affairs Department reported this week that…

The Red Hook transfer tax was approved by 31 votes - With 2,629 votes cast, a significant turnout for such a small community, Red Hook residents approved a 2 percent real estate transfer tax by a mere 31 votes on Tuesday, May 1. NYSAR and the Dutchess County Board of REALTORS were extremely active in opposing this proposal over the past several months and though we did not prevail, there are numerous lessons to take away from this effort. Those in support of the measure likely spent between $50,000 and $100,000 while NYSAR allocated $20,000 from its Issues Mobilization Fund to oppose the measure.

Comments from an article in Wednesday’s Poughkeepsie Journal show that NYSAR’s message of “enough is enough taxes” resonated with Red Hook voters. We learned much about the tactics of the pro-tax forces that will certainly be a great benefit as we move forward and address future transfer tax and mortgage recording tax proposals.

Judging by results, “enough is enough taxes” evidently did not resonate enough in Red Hook.
Better luck with the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act of 2007.

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North Fork Summer Repose

May 3rd, 2007 category: Buyers, North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Real Estate News, Riverhead Real Estate, Southold Real Estate1 Comment »

If you are looking for a summer home, there is no better place to be than the North Fork of Long Island. Check out Southold, Greenport, Jamesport, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Orient and Riverhead, for starters. I’ve included a map to make the decision a little easier.

This is an area full of age diversity, and The Suffolk Times newspaper is constantly full of activities for everyone, whether it be a Scrabble match (National Headquarters located in Greenport NY! ), science camp for the kids, play groups, bird watching tours, sailing lessons, days at the beach, visits to local vineyards for wine tastings and an education on the process…and the list goes on. And on- tag sales with REALLY cool stuff, great local restaurants (we like O’Mally’s and Modern Snack Bar ) and a feeling that the summer was created to spend in this enclave.

With the possible exception of church on Sunday, casual is the order of the day. No pomp expected here, no worries about leaving the house without make up. Don’t even bring it. People that summer and live in the North Fork are more interested in land preservation, walking, socializing (try a Lobster Fest for fun) and playing.

Boasting a rich history, Southold and the surrounding hamlets have families that have been here since the inception of the town.
Kids love it here. In Greenport, there is a terrific skate park for the skateboard contingent- shop at unique retailers while they enjoy their “thing”. Summer creates activities for families- bands play in the central park of downtown Southold in the evenings, there are sailing clubs that encourage friendly competition, and there are events nearly every day that encourage families to spend quality time learning about nature, about arts, and about a simple life.

We’d love to assist you in the investigation of a superb summer home in the North Fork of Long Island- click on homes, call us with questions, and let us know how we can share this amazing place. If you’d like to explore by spending a weekend here, we have a number of terrific Bed and Breakfast opportunities - let us know, and we’ll spend a weekend locating your summer retreat!

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Is Reydon Shores Bayview’s BEST Neighborhood?

April 21st, 2007 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Southold Real Estate2 Comments »

It was dark, and the dogs needed a walk, so we set off. Just around the corner was a long, wooded street. There were no streetlights, so the feeling was eerie- akin to that childhood adrenaline rush when playing hide and seek with flashlights. A “Lions and tigers and bears” experience. We KNEW that we were being watched. In a whisper speed , blinkandyoumissit moment, a herd of white tail deer appeared in front of us, crossing the street before us in silence, only to become invisible again.

Reydon Shores is a neighborhood with architectural integrity.

Reydon Shores is a neighborhood in Bayview that we accidentally “found” when we first moved to Southold.

Interested in seeing this neighborhood in the daylight, we returned the next morning. This is a neighborhood of small hills, lots of old trees, and the bay as its hidden treasure, complete with small marina for the boating crowd.

It was impossible not to be completely charmed with this diverse neighborhood- small, lovely older cottages with an occasional buoy yard ornament sit beside newer homes- well built, good looking, and respectful of the early architecture present in the area. While each house is completely unique, and the ages vary greatly, there is an integrity to this area. The yards vary significantly as well, yet the tie in seems to be the care taken to preserve this beautiful area. This is a neighborhood that is involved in maintaining the charm.
On the same day, we walked again at twilight. Kid’s voices, some happy, some frantic, accompanied us at various points, adding another special feature of this neighborhood- the presence of summer homeowners, giving their kids a fabulous vacation. Reydon Shores has an intimate feeling, set back enough to enjoy a wooded entrance, with the bay beckoning on the other side- a summer paradise for families.
The halfway point, before returning home, is the bay itself, available to all of the homeowners. There is a great beach area with ample room to enjoy North Fork afternoons, as well as a boaters paradise of dock space. Absolutely beautiful, especially if the sun is setting…

There are currently no homes for sale in Reydon Shores. With only 100 or so possibilities, the availability is limited. We are actively working on obtaining homes for sale in this neighborhood, so please contact us if this sounds like your own paradise. Home prices range from approximately $490,000. to the million plus range. We are happy to contact you when a home becomes available for sale…if we don’t buy it first! Please go to the contact page to request information about availability in Reydon Shores.

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