Real Estate Blog - October, 2012

Thanksgiving Entertaining Tips

Getting ready for Thanksgiving is exciting, but it can also be stressful, especially if you’re going to be hosting the event. With a little bit of help and preparation, though, all that stress can melt away. Here are some ideas to help make your Thanksgiving season as relaxing and enjoyable as it should be for both you and your guests.

Everyone Brings a Little Something

One of the best ways to take the pressure off as you prepare to host Thanksgiving dinner is to ask each of your guests to make a small contribution to the spread. You can still provide the main course, but letting each guest bring their favorite side dish, desert or appetizer is a great way to round out the menu while making sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Start…

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Preparing for a Snowstorm – What to Have on Hand

During a typical winter on Staten Island, you expect to have to ride out a snowstorm or two. That will be infinitely easier if you have the proper supplies and equipment on hand ahead of time. This is especially true because Staten Island is most easily accessible by bridge, and in the event of a major storm that shuts down those bridges for any period of time, what you have on hand is what you’ll have to live on until the roads are cleared.

Plan Ahead

While it’s unlikely in this part of the country that you’ll be stuck in your house for more than a day or two even after a severe storm, it’s important to have at least a few essentials on hand. Water and medications are the most important, followed closely by non-perishable food and battery-powered…

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Exploring the Staten Island Greenbelt

One of the true treasures of Staten Island in the Greenbelt – a system of parks that are connected by trails and provide all types of recreational opportunities for visitors and residents alike. The Greenbelt occupies space right in the heart of Staten Island, and visiting it lets you feel like you’re stepping into a different world as you turn off the bustling commercial streets that encircle it into the tranquility of the forest and wetlands.

Greenbelt Nature Center

The best place to start your exploration of the Greenbelt is at the Nature Center located at 700 Rockland Avenue. This facility is open year round and offers plenty of excellent programs and exhibits that will capture the imagination of explorers of all ages. This is also a great place…

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Upcoming Running Events on Staten Island

Even though it’s getting colder outside, there are still plenty of fun running events coming up in the Staten Island area. While the weather can be a challenge this time of year, there are lots of nice days left in the year and most events allow you to register even up to the day of the race. You may have to pay a bit more when you register late, but that way you can make sure you’ll be able to participate.

Richmond Rockets Halloween Run

The 8th annual run is scheduled for October 28th in Silver Lake Park and participants are encouraged to come ready to run in costume. The main event is a 5K that begins at 9am, and there will be awards for the top three finishers in each age group as well as the top man and woman overall. There is also a one mile race…

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Bayonne Bridge Project

If you live on or near Staten Island, you’ve probably heard something about work being done to raise the Bayonne Bridge. In fact, the aim of the construction is to increase the clearance under the bridge from 151 feet to 215, a difference of 64 feet. While it may seem like a daunting project to undertake, it will provide many benefits to area residents and the local economy once it’s completed. 

Why it’s Happening

The reason this bridge work is being done is to make it possible for larger ships to pass through on their way to ports in Newark and Elizabeth, NJ and Howland Hook, NY. The increase in the size of ships using these channels is a result of a widening of the Panama Canal that will be completed in 2014. The city is also undertaking a massive…

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The NYCEDC Promoting Business Growth in Staten Island

New York’s fifth bureau has often been left out of the rampant development plans that have surged throughout the city in recent years. With recent discussions and announcements about the new Ferris Wheel that will be built near the St. George Ferry Terminal, this is changing quickly. Combined with other development efforts, Staten Island is seeing an influx of city projects that could change it in a number of ways. 

One such change, recently announced by the City’s Economic Development Corporation seeks to build a new business incubator in easy travel distance from the Ferry terminal by bus or train. The goal of this will be to find a development project or developer that can create an incubator - like many of the business-friendly spaces located…

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The World's Tallest Ferris Wheel

Although construction won’t begin for another couple of years, it’s not too early for Staten Island residents, and the rest of the city, to look forward to taking a ride on the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. This attraction, which will be installed on the waterfront near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, will provide many benefits to the borough, its residents and any visitors who make the trip on the ferry.

A Few Stats

The new Ferris wheel will be 625 feet tall when complete. That’s 84 feet taller than the current record holder, the 541 foot tall Singapore Flyer, and 182 feet taller than the London Eye. The Staten Island wheel will also have a record-setting capacity for passengers. The plan is that 1,440 people will be able to ride it at once, an…

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More Winterizing Tips for Your Staten Island Home and Family

Winters on Staten Island can be harsh at times, but there are some things you can do now to get yourself ready for what’s ahead. Preparing for the cold before the worst months are here can make your life easier when the snow starts to fly. Here are a few tips to consider.

For Your Car

Getting a tune up for the winter is a good idea, especially since it can get so cold here. It’s important to know you have the right weight of oil, you have plenty of antifreeze and your battery isn’t getting old. If you’re not sure what shape your battery is in, any mechanic or most auto part stores can do a load test on it. This will let you know what you can expect during normal driving conditions and also what you can expect of your battery in the worst conditions.…

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The Brand New Select Bus Service in Staten Island

There are dozens of bus routes on Staten Island, enabling riders to get just about anywhere from anywhere – provided you have enough time. But with the introduction of Staten Island Select Bus Service, starting with the S79, travel times may be getting a lot shorter for many people.

This new service has drastically cut stops along the S79 route running from the Staten Island Mall to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn down to 22 to allow for faster travel.  The goal is to get riders to their destination between 15 and 20 minutes faster than was previously possible. Select Service began operating on Sunday, September 2nd, which gave the MTA a slower day with lighter traffic to test things out.

To accommodate the Select Busses, there are bus lanes clearly marked with…

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