In late 2008, I leased a corner storefront on Bay Street.  It was one of the best real estate deals I have ever made and not because of the commission.  On that day, I met and became acquainted with a group of people who have touched my heart.


 

The Bay Street Thrift came to life at 1090 Bay Street, in the Rosebank section of Staten Island and is sponsored by Baltic Street AEH Inc. whose mission is--Advocacy, Housing and Education for people with mental illnesses.   

The Bay Street Thrift offers training in retail sales, stock work and maintenance to consumers of mental health services who are then prepared to work jobs in competitive employment. 

 

 Shortly after the Thrift opened, I popped my head in to see how they were doing.  The…

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Do you know what your teenager is going to be involved with this summer?  Are you afraid of what your teenager will be involved with as soon as he/she leaves school?   

When I was a kid, we played outside from morning until night.  Basketball, punchball, arts and crafts, Tompkinsville pool, Goodhue pool, hanging out in the woods at the end of our block, being tortured by the boys who found snakes in the woods at the end of our block.  Our parents never had to worry (too much!) what we were doing.  First of all, there was always the voice of conscience in the back of our minds whether we knew it or not.  My Dad was a police detective so I suspected he had eyes everywhere; we had to stay safe and not get into trouble. 

Today, it is a different world. …

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This Friday June 27th, Gillani Homes will host it's annual charity BBQ. The event has become a notable networking opportunity for the real estate community on Staten Island. Each summer brokers, real estate agents, clients, family, and friends from all over the island join together to support a great cause.

The event is free to attend but features a number of raffle baskets with some great prizes available to win. All proceeds from the raffles will benefit The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

We hope to see you there!

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In Febuary & March of 2014, 3 properties sold in Grasmere ranging from roughly $120,000 to $570,000. Below is a breakdown of sales on the North Shore's Grasmere Section by property type with prices in ascending order.

Condo-

1. 755 Narrows Road N #1209- $120,000

One Family Attached-

1. 96 North Railroad Avenue- $365,000

One Family Detached-

1. 632 Britton Avenue- $571,500

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Many of you have probably made vacation plans already.  Whether it be a cruise, a vacation to see family across the country, day trips, long weekends at the lake or shore, summer is an exciting time of the year.  Packing is easy--throw a bathing suit and suntan lotion into a tote and off to the beach you go.  Sit in a park, people watch, bring a bag lunch and a good book—mini-vacation.  There are so many possibilities and many that are FREE.  Activities abound around the City and particularly, on Staten Island for the summer. 

The outdoor concerts at the parks are always a favorite of mine.  When I was a child, my Dad would pack the kids up and off to Silver Lake we would go.  He would spread a blanket in the grass, we would snack on fruit—grapes,…

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Last week, I wrote about a business on the North Shore that had recently opened up.  Today, I want to tell you about their neighbor at 840 Castleton Ave. 




What can I say about “Boutique 840”?  The owner of this unique boutique is Michael Spence, an affable gentleman who has been in the fashion biz for quite some time.  He began his business on Staten Island over ten years ago as Michael’s Pocketbooks.  I discovered him the week of Christmas over five years ago in a store that brightened up the neighborhood.  I entered only to find gorgeous pocketbooks at reasonable prices, jewelry that was unique, scarves, hats, and other winter items and an invite to have a glass of wine with him.  Wow!  I purchased earrings and returned later on…

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In Febuary & March of 2014, 6 properties sold in Grant City ranging from roughly $270,000 to $500,000. Below is a breakdown of sales on the Mid Island's Grant City Section by property type with prices in ascending order.

1 Family Detached-

1. 476 Lincoln Avenue- $271,000

2. 20 Colfax Avenue- $385,000

3. 73 Midland Avenue- $392,500

One Family Semi Attached-

1. 456 Hunter Avenue- $323,000

Two Family Detached-

1. 376 Baden Place- $465,000

2. 246 Sanilac Street- $499,000

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In Febuary & March of 2014, 5 properties sold in Graniteville ranging from roughly $66,000 to $1.5 Million. Below is a breakdown of sales on the North Shore's Graniteville Section by property type with prices in ascending order.

Condo-

1. 22 Anita Street- $210,000

One Family Attached-

1. 48 Adrianne Lane- $229,000

2. 19 Benjamin Drive- $290,000

2 Family Semi-Attached-

1. 301 Jules Drive- $290,000

2. 53 Ada Drive- $363,700

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I recently had the pleasure of meeting the proprietors of the “Wicked Stitches” at a Realtor trade show.  While having my nails done recently on Castleton Ave., I noticed “Wicked Stitches” was directly across the street.  I walked in and was thrilled at what beheld me.  A beautiful store front, artful displays of a variety of personalized embroidered gifts for simply every occasion and a counter with two comfortable chairs to leisurely look at everything these two terrific women have to offer. 

Nancy Nix and Carolyn Buckheit, the co-owners of “Wicked Stitches” and native Staten Islanders, welcomed me into their store as if I was a friend or a sister--I felt like I have known them forever.  They custom embroider anything you can imagine—gifts for…

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In Febuary & March of 2014, 3 properties sold in Fort Wadsworth ranging from roughly $66,000 to $1.5 Million. Below is a breakdown of sales on the North Shore's Fort Wadsworth Section by property type with prices in ascending order.

Condo-

1. 50 Belair Road #5G- $155,000

2. 6 New Lane- $183,000

One Family Detached-

1. 1490 Bay Street- $345,000

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