Project Hospitality, Staten Island's largest social agency, is looking for volunteers this monday to conduct a count of the homeless.

The Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, or HOPE count, aims to estimate the number of homeless living within the five boroughs. It also provides a rough figure of how many homeless are not accessing shelters or other services available. The data collected will also help the department determine the best allocation of funds. 

Volunteers are especially needed on the south and east shores of Staten Island to search for homeless who may have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy. While the homeless rate on Staten Island has not grown as much as the other boroughs, 279 new beds were filled as a result of Sandy.

To…

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A year ago, I received a letter from the DEP "inviting" me to purchase insurance to cover the cost of repair to the aging sewer and water lines that exist on Staten Island. I mulled it over, held on to the letter for a number of months and eventually sent it to the circular file.  

Recently, I again received the same letter from the DEP urging me to purchase said insurance which is being offered by American Water Resources.  Only 14% of all Staten Island homeowners have signed up for this program. Of the City's estimated 600,000 homeowners, only 103,021 homeowners have enrolled.

The cost is $4.49 a month for the water line protection and $7.99 a month for the sewer line protection. There are exclusions, naturally, to the insurance coverage.  The…

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How many of you made resolutions for the new year 2014 to get in shape, to feel young again? How many of you feel OLD?  Around Staten Island there are a multitude of sites to help you keep your resolutions.  Silver Lake Park on the North Shore of Staten Island is perfect at any time of the day. The sun rise and sun set on the water and throughout the park is breathtaking. Bloomingdale Park on the South Shore boasts scenic trails, a great play area for the children and a dog run for the pooches among other features.  Snug Harbor is a gem--the Botanical Garden, the Art Lab, galleries, the Children's Museum, the duck, fish and goose pond where you can sit and meditate. The boardwalk at South Beach is a perfect place to walk, run, meet people and breathe in…

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Deer have been spotted all over Staten Island over the past few years. First in the more wooded areas of the South Shore near the Charleston shopping center, then down in Prince's Bay by Mount Loretto. Recently, they've  been found as far north as South Beach and even up high in Todt Hill!

The abundance of deer has been a heated debate topic among islanders. Many accidents have been caused by deer unexpectedly darting out onto the roads. Others worry about the effects overpopulation would have on the environment and the possibility of deer carried diseases spreading to humans. 

The question remains- How do we control the deer population in the most humane and efficient way? Birth control may be the answer. This idea is not without it's challenges.…

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An additional $700 Million of federal funds will be allocated to the Build It Back program which has done wonders for Staten Islander's hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The funding comes from the 1.4 billion dollars the city was awarded for community devlopment. According to The Staten Island Advance, the breakdown is as follow- "Slightly more than $1 Billion will go towards housing- the bulk of it, $716 million, to rebuilding or repairing one to four family homes through Build it Back."

According to the city, the funds set aside for home repairs should be enough to cover damages incurred by "priority one" homeowners. The residual should cover some reimbursement to "priority two" homeowners. Even still, the city expects to see more money funded into the…

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According to Curbed NY, St. George has been named the best neighborhood in New York City.  Its close proximity to Manhattan and famously orange Staten Island Ferry boat make St. George a gateway to the rest of the city.  The win was an upset, beating out favorites like Greenpoint, Brooklyn for the title. With major developments happening throughout the area it’s easy to see why St. George is so worthy of the top prize. Here is a look at the projects underway which will be completed over the next few years.

A 625 foot Ferris wheel, dubbed the New York wheel, is set for construction in Saint George. Like the famous London Eye, the NY wheel will serve as an observation attraction for tourists and residents alike. Offering stunning views of the New York Bay…

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Staten Island has been making headlines in the culinary community of New York City. NYC is home to thousands of restaurants and where two popular Island eateries rank is quite impressive.

Denino’s Pizzeria and Tavern in Port Richmond has been a staple in the community since 1937. Highly reputed as the best pizza on Staten Island, the family-friendly establishment claimed the number 64 spot on the Zagat top 100.  The menu includes about 30 different varieties of pizza and other traditional Italian-American favorites like fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, and rice balls.

Bocelli’s Italian restaurant in Grasmere comes in at number 95 on the Zagat top 100. The restaurant guide describes Bocelli’s:  “With "delicious" seafood specialties that "aren't…

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Happy New Year and may 2014 bring all your dreams to reality!  As we leave 2013 behind us, many of you might be thinking how 2013 fared in the real estate arena.  More specifically, you may be wondering what the real estate climate was in our local market on Staten Island.  Well there is good news for both sellers and buyers of real estate on Staten Island.   Below you will see the latest statistics for the island overall as of November, 2013.   November 2013

November was largely another encouraging month for residential real estate. Our attention has shifted from multiyear high prices and sales volumes to seller activity, inventory levels and building permits. And let’s not forget the calendar effect. As families gather together, fewer house…

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New Yorker’s are known as some of the most hardworking people in the world. With our busy schedules and workloads, the last thing we need is a daunting commute.  Luckily, for Staten Islanders, officials have taken notice of our desire for a hassle free trip to and from work every day. The improvements will undoubtedly make getting “From point A to point B” less stressful and more enjoyable. Here is a look at the improvements coming to our borough.

(Photo by Lisa Bettany)

The first improvement comes to a service that we are very well known for, The Staten Island Ferry. Chances are, no matter where you live in the city, you have seen one of the bright orange ferry boats make a trip across the harbor.  According to The Staten Island Advance, starting…

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You may recall a blog we shared with you earlier this year about the transformation of one of Staten Island's largest parcels of land, Fresh Kills Park. Upon its completetion it will become the largest park in New York City, even larger than Central Park. The plans for the site are extensive and feature multiple zones dedicated to different outdoor activities. On top of all these grand plans, the park wants to focus on the importance of clean renewable energy. In that "light", a solar power facility will be built on the grounds. 

Nearly 50 acres of the park will be set aside for the project. It's currently the largest energy projected planned for New York City and upon completion could provide energy to power 2,000 homes. That figure is five times…

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