As the snow has melted this week, it brings to mind that spring and summer will soon arrive.  Have your teens started thinking about time off from school and hanging out with their friends OR perhaps obtaining a summer job?  Staten Island teens and young adults, ages 14-24, can now apply for summer jobs through the 2015 Summer Youth Employment Program. This program will provide young people with PAID summer employment for up to six weeks during July and August in a variety of entry level jobs.  Applicants must be able to provide working papers if under 18 as well as ID and documents.  Programs for disabled, foster care, runaway/homeless and court-involved youth are also available.  Contact DYCD Youth Connect at 1-800-246-4646 or e-mail…

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Recently, one of my fellow New Brightonites approached me regarding the notice from New York City Department of Finance regarding her new tax assessment.  She said that one of her neighbors received a statement that her house was worth so much more than last year.  My friend stated that her assessment went down and she was concerned and annoyed because her house was so much BETTER.  I asked her if she was planning on selling any time too soon.  Her response was, "No".  I told her not to worry.  Even though her assessment went down, her taxes willl MOST CERTAINLY INCREASE!  My personal home assessment went down $9,000.  I know for sure that my taxes will go up.  

As a real estate broker, I acknowledge that whatever is stated on your assessment does…

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As I watch the last snow fall of the season from my home office (yes, this is the last, hopefully), I dream sweet, pleasant dreams of warmer days, my garden and how much fun I’ll have digging in the soil, planting vegetables, new plants and flowers.  Positive thinking always chases the doldrums away!

This Saturday, 3/7, a blood drive will be held from 9-3 at the gymnasium of Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, 23 Summit St. in memory of Firefighter John G. Chipura, who died a hero on September 11, 2001.  I met “Chippy” on a real estate showing a few days before 9/11.  His buddy was interested in buying a commercial building and accompanied him for a second opinion.  He told me he had been a police officer at the 72nd Pct. in Brooklyn; after a few…

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In this past Sunday's Staten Island Advance, our very own Dil Gillani said a brief few words to SI Advance writer Tracy Porpora and contributed to their article titled Baby Boomer housing bust: Will Staten Island Market Suffer?


The article talks about how all the baby boomers that kept the housing market alive for so long are now moving into retirement - and how the following two generations are in no way prepared to keep the housing market up and running like the baby boomers did. Generation X was hit hard by the recession, and the Millennials are swamped with student loans and credit card debt. 

As a result, the sales of higher end homes are suffering because most of them were previously owned by baby boomers. In the article Dil GIllani says "We…

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This Saturday, 2/28, girls (I prefer to call them young ladies) ages 16 to 18 years old can participate in a free day-long conference on “Girls Empowerment”.  Beginning with a light breakfast and check-in at 8:30 a.m., a who’s who of female power hitters will be speaking and leading these young ladies to explore their talents, strengths and learn from these inspirational leaders of our community.  The program will conclude with a fitness session on yoga and zumba. The conference takes please at CSI High School, 100 Essex Drive.  To pre-register call 718-370-6900, ext. 2401, or e-mail Annette Lentini at alentini@schools.nyc.govhttp://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/girls_empowerment_to_be_focus.html

The Parkside Boot Camp takes place at Silver…

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As if we haven't already had enough of the bad weather, it doesn't look like it is going to be ending anytime soon.

According to weather.com, we're expecting approximately 1 inch of snow this Saturday, followed by frozen rain, automatically turning it into a sort of icy slush mixture! The Staten Island area is under "Winter Weather Advisory" until 8am Sunday morning. 

Homeowners - take extra care to protect your home from all the possible mishaps that can take place in such extremely cold temperatures! Make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed, your heater is working correctly, and that you have enough salt to keep the outer areas of your home from building up ice. Stay off the roads if at all possible, and definitely mark this weekend as…

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Chain restaurants pop up everywhere - but why are they the most popular in New York City? Our friends at The Real Deal magazine have provided us with some interesting numbers.

Dunkin' Donuts has the most chain retail locations in all of New York City.

There are only 4 Zip Codes out of all 74 Zip Codes in Manhattan that contain zero chain retail outlets. Last year, the city saw an increase in chain retail stores of 2.5%. That's an incredible 185 new national retail storefronts! 

But why New York City? According to a quote provided by The Real Deal, Chase Welles, executive vice president of SGG Retail, said it's more than just the money. Although companies to like to put themselves "where the financial industry that backs them can see their…

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How many of you attended the Pink Carpet Affair Girls Nite Out at the NYC Cypher Arts Building on Saturday?  Did you plan your Italian vegetable garden at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Sunday?  Did you celebrate Fat Tuesday at a local pub or eat pancakes at one of the Staten Island churches on Shrove Tuesday? 

I am happy to announce that Spring is on its way, and I look forward to saying “adios” to Winter.  I started my seedling garden in my windowsill with herbs to get a head start this year.  It’s good to get our minds off of boots, heavy coats, long johns and instead think tulips, crocuses (or croci) and warm weather.  How’s that for positive thinking?

Do you know a child between the ages of 5-12 who needs help with his/her…

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Another snowy week embraces Staten Island and the Northeast (How many weeks has it been?), and we look for ways to enjoy life and stop kvetching about the weather!  I stopped in to visit my friends at Wicked Stitches at 840 Castleton Ave. in West Brighton during a brutally cold day. 

These two charming ladies, Nancy Nix and Carolyn Buckheit, welcome their customers as friends.  Are you looking for a unique anniversary gift? Wicked Stitches should be your first stop.  How about a wedding gift, birthday, bridal party, house warming gift?  You will find it at Wicked Stitches.  They custom embroider every gift.  You will see sweatshirts with neighborhood names embroidered on them.  Who isn’t proud of their neighborhood?  Westerleigh, New Brighton,…

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In my last blog I commented that, like me, many of my readers are watching their budget with some even living pay check to pay check.  To that end, I try to showcase events each week that are free or low cost.  I wrote about a City Harvest presentation at the new Key Food in Port Richmond on Saturday.  Between real estate showings, I took a self-guided grocery store tour.  Stations where set up where you could sample healthy foods; recipes were also available.  The employees were very knowledgeable and showed us how to shop economically and healthily.  After speaking to the City Harvest folks, I discovered I am remiss in reading labels. Where I thought I was buying whole wheat “lite” bread as noted on the front, the back showed that it contained enriched…

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