Did you ever wonder who lived in your house before you, or maybe before the last owner or 5 or 10 owners before that?  Was it merely a house or was it a home?  Did they have many children, were they educated in a one-room school house or taught by a tutor at home?  Were they rich, poor?  Did they have servants?  Did they have a farm, horses, chickens, cows?  What kind of "real estate" was trendy and sought after in those days of yore?

I own a home on the North Shore of Staten Island where three generations of my own family have lived, died, been born, had Thanksgiving dinners, opened gifts under the Christmas tree, laughed, cried--all in these very rooms.  The fourth generation was born and a sibling on the way, and I cannot wait to share the…

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Check out my new listing in Westerleigh--281 Kingsley Avenue!

This large, roomy well-maintained 100 year-old house on an 82 x 92 lot, designed by one of the foremost North Shore architects, James Whitfield, Sr., boasts six bedrooms (4 on the second floor, 2 on the third floor), living room, formal dining room, 3 baths (one a 6' jet tub), hardwood floors throughout, in friendly established Westerleigh.  Plumbing, electricity and heating have been upgraded over the years.  The roof and trim are about 10 years old (30-year roof).  Exterior shingles have always been stained, never painted which has kept them in top condition for almost 100 years. 

Picture yourself snuggled up in your favorite chair in front of a roaring fireplace reading a book on a…

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Gillani Homes would like to give a big thank you to the Staten Island Board of Realtors for throwing such a great party last night! Everyone had a great time and we're looking forward to more fun events in the future!

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It's a wee bit early for Paddy's Day talk, but there's no time like the present to pop 'round to this new tavern in Port Richmond.


[Photo source: silive.com]

Owner Michael Regan and his wife, Cori, opened O'Neill's earlier this month. The new bar/restaurant is located on Forest Ave, and is filled with eccentric decor and authentic pieces that give the space "an Old World, comfortable feel." Each piece of furntiure and decorative item was hunted down carefully by the pair of owners.


[Photo source: silive.com]

Some unique design features include high back, hand-crafted wooden booths, tables featuing designer woodwork, a custom milled anc ured bar top, pendulum lamps with antique bulbs and pulley controls. There are ten televisions over the bar, plus…

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As yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the New York Mets baseball team officially lent a hand to a local school that took a serious hit due to the storm. P.S. 52 on Buel Ave, in between the Midland Beach and South Beach areas, was flooded with 17 feet of water and remained closed for five weeks in late 2012 due to damages and unsafe conditions. 


[Photo source: silive.com]

Mets pitcher Vic Black, team COO Jeff Wilpon and mascot Mr. Met joined Borough President James Oddo and Principal Jane McCord for the unveiling of a new baseball diamond in the school's playground, as well as the installation of new fencing.


[Photo source: silive.com]

The team also donated sports equipment such as baseballs, softwalls, wiffleballs, and…

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Before I tell you about the events of the weekend, let me remind you that Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend.  You should turn your clocks back an hour before you retire on Saturday night.  Your Smart Phones will automatically adjust the time.  If you don’t want to be late or miss the events on Sunday, remember to adjust your clocks.  Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.  My alarm started beeping a few weeks ago so I’m ready for anything! Halloween is on Friday, 10/31, and I’m ready for Trick or Treat from the neighborhood kiddies!  However, I would like to share what three dentists on Staten Island are sponsoring--a Halloween Candy Buyback.  The dentists noted below will buy back candy at $1 a…

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After the trick-or-treating is done and the sun goes down on Halloween Night, the gates to Fountain Cemetery in Port Richmond, one of Staten Island's oldest and rumored most haunted cemeteries, will be opened for a spooky walking tour.


[Photo source: flickr.com]

Ghost enthusiasts and those seeking a scare will be led by torchlight through the deepest, darkest parts of this 213-year-old cemetery. According to Staten Island/Fountain Cemetery Association President Lynn Rogers, this cemetery has been the location of many reports of spirit sightings over the years. The cemetery rests over what was once a sacred Lenape Indian burial ground, which accounts for the sight of a phantom wandering Native American man. Other recurring sightings include a woman in…

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Geologist and professor at the College of Staten Island, Dr. Alan Benimoff, will be leading a walking tour through Conference House Park in Tottenville this Sunday, November 2nd, beginning at 11 am.


[Photo source: bridgeandtunnelclub.com]

This educational tour is designed to increase awareness of the park's natural environment. During the tour, Dr. Benimoff will discuss the landscape's unique geological features, such as "the bluffs," or steep cliffs. The "walk and talk" will also provide insight into some of the resiliency initiatives being taken to prevent the coastline from future severe storms.


[Photo source: thatlongyellowline.com]

This walk is just one in a series of tours entitled "Dunes, Drawing and Dendrology," a program sponsored by…

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About 80 youngsters from P.S. 39 finally got to harvest their crops on Monday, which they had planted earlier this year as part of a structured lesson on gardening and eating right.


[Photo source: silive.com]

The school, in partnership with the American Heart Association and the YMCA, opened the borough's first Teaching Garden alongside their building on Sand Lane in South Beach. The students harvested tomatoes, mint, basil, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. They then learned how make healthy lettuce wraps with their fresh harvest, with the guidance of AHA volunteers. 


[Photo source: silive.com]

The American Heart Association provided the school with the materials for both the hands-on growing and the classrom aspects of the lessons. The in-class…

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As the cool winds pick up and our noses begin to run, we find that fall is currently in session and Old Man Winter is just around the bend. A hot cup of Joe can combat the harsh seasons, but instead of the usual big-name shops, try one of these local cafés to warm you up.

Beans & Leaves in West Brighton is the quinessential, cozy café. This snug shop on Forest Avenue opened its doors in May of 2012. Customers keep coming back for the relaxed atmosphere, warm service, and free wi-fi. Grab a seat at a table or in a comfy lounge chair. Beans & Leaves serves a full coffee and tea menu, as well as Coffee of the Day, with mouthwatering flavors such as toasted marshmellow, graham cracker, and cinnamon bun. The shop also serves snacks and desserts with gluten…

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