Real Estate Blog - Joan Coogan

WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (6/28 - 7/1/18)

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis organized/hosted the Staten Island Tax Protest on Saturday attended by over 200 people.  Noting that Staten Island residents are being driven out of their hometown by exorbitant tax increases, the protest also brought up the fact that the formation of a property tax commission by Mayor de Blasio did not include a Staten Islander.  A number of elected officials and candidates were on hand to voice their support for Staten Islanders. As a result, de Blasio announced the next day that Islander Allen Cappelli has been added to the commission.  At least it’s a start!

The 10th Annual Polish Festival organized by St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Sunday at Snug Harbor was a great success!  The traditional dancing was in full…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (6/22/18 - 6/24/18)

I'M BACK!  Actually, I didn't go anywhere.  Over a year ago, I had an accident at home which had me hospitalized and undergoing physical therapy throughout the remaining year.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you to my family, friends, Facebook friends, who wrote to me, called me, brought me food, sent frequent messages of encouragement and visited.  I also thank all of you who reached out to let me know they were missing my "Weekend Events" blog.  I learned first hand what it is to be handicapped and discovered that the young as well as the not-so-young have much empathy and tolerance. But that's past history!

I promised to post pictures a year ago of the Opening Reception of: Art By The Ferry Art Exhibition. Below are some of the photos.  Past history, I know, but maybe you will recognize yourself if you attended that evening.

Children up to age 10 can practice their reading and communicating skills on Friday, 6/22, 3:30 at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. Whether they are nervous in front of crowds or want to polish their reading skills, kids will read aloud to JJ, a licensed therapy dog. For info, visit sigreenbelt.org

Because this is near and dear to my heart, I'm highlighting the Staten Island Tax Protest on Saturday, 6/23 at 10 a.m. at Miller Field picnic area in New Dorp, between New Dorp Ln. and Capodanno Blvd.--rain or shine.  I've been to a few protests over the years; this one is needed.  The real estate taxes on Staten Island are inordinately higher than any other borough.  If you own a home and are paying exorbitant taxes, join in this protest!  Even if you rent, you can and should participate. Rents continue to soar because of the high cost of taxes, insurance, etc.

On Saturday from noon-3, an exhibit “Immigrants: The Root of Innovation” featuring equipment from the period, maps and prints from the Museum of Maritime Navigation and Communication and more will take place at the Biddle House, 70 Satterlee St. Call 718-227-1463 for more info.  Admission is FREE.

The Alice Austen House welcomes all to Community Day on Saturday from noon to 3 featuring food, family-friendly arts activities and live music. The Nicholas Muellner’s exhibit, “In Most Tides an Island” debuts on Saturday and will run through 9/2.  The event is FREE.

On Saturday and Sunday, 6/23 and 24, beginning at noon, the Third Annual Food Truck Festival, sponsored by Catholic Charities of Staten Island, takes place at Mount Loretto, 6581 Hylan Blvd.  You will enjoy live music, Beer garden, Sangria garden and more.  Tickets are $5 which you can purchase at mountloretto.org or Text the number 313131 for your chance to win free tickets!

With all the rain we have experienced lately, I look forward to the sun and great weather at the 10th Annual Polish Festival, on Sunday from 12-8 at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terr.  Dancing, ice cold beer, kielbasa, pierogi, musical performances and more is on tap as well as many attractions for the kiddies, including bounce houses, face painting, ice cream trucks, NYPD police car to check out all day long.   You can view the FIFA World Cup 2018 soccer game Poland vs. Colombia on a large outdoor screen at 2:00 p.m.  Join the fans who are just as passionate and cheer in a group during thrilling moments of the game. The event, organized by St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church of New Brighton, is staffed each year by their parishioners.  Admission of $10 includes one free raffle.  Kids under 12 are FREE.  Don’t forget to stop by the Gillani Homes booth for some fun raffles and give-aways! 

I welcome comments and photos at events you have attended.  If you want to share events for me to post, email or call me. 

NOTE TO MY GENTLE READERS: If you enjoy reading my blog--“Weekend Events on Staten Island” and are not a friend of mine on Facebook but would like to be, you know what to do—friend request.  If you would prefer to be on my mailing list, please contact me at joan.coogan@gmail.com or call me at 646-258-9696; I will forward it to you each week.  Nevertheless, will you do me the honor of sharing the blog with your friends, either on Facebook (click “Share” underneath the blog) or e-mail?  I would appreciate it.

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NEW LISTING – ONE-FAMILY HOME – NEW BRIGHTON, STATEN ISLAND

Check out my new listing in New Brighton—54 Henderson Ave.!

This is a great one-family fully detached home with good bones on a lovely block, situated on a  34’ x 108’ lot, featuring three bedrooms, formal dining room, living room and enclosed heated porch, kitchen with access to deck, patio and back yard!

Picture yourself drinking your morning coffee on your deck and listening to the birds in the trees serenade you or enjoying cocktails before dinner.

With two means of egress—side entrance as well as rear entrance, it is perfect for entertaining in the spring and summer. The enclosed back yard deck and patio can accommodate seating during your summer barbeques, perhaps a relaxing hammock or a swing set/jungle gym for the kiddies.

Check out the full unfinished basement with laundry room and existing work bench for that do-it-yourselfer; it can be a blank canvas to finish into a man cave, work-out room, kids play room, arts and crafts area or whatever you wish.  The attic is currently being used for storage.

Only a few blocks to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, you will enjoy leisurely walks through the Tuscan Garden, Chinese Garden, picnics at Neptune’s Fountain, classes at the Art Lab and much more or visits to the Children’s Museum for many hours of fun and activities.  Bus transportation is just blocks away on Henderson Ave. or Prospect Ave. and only a ten-minute ride to the Staten Island Ferry, SIRT (Staten Island Railroad) shuttle to CSI, St. John’s University and Wagner College and the future Wheel and Shopping Outlets.

54 Henderson Ave. is a gardener’s delight—lots of land to plant flowers, vegetables and fruit!  If you need assistance in your landscaping needs, you can visit Gerardi’s Market and Nursery on Richmond Terr. just minutes away for an experience like no other.

Don’t hesitate to call me at 646-258-9696 today for a personal showing of this home on the North Shore of Staten Island; you and your family may discover North Shore living and all it has to offer.

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (5/17 – 5/21/17)

Did you take a Spring Walk through the Perennial, White and Pond gardens at Snug Harbor or the walk to Explore Richmond Town Old Mills or the Richard Buegler 10-Mile Greenbelt Walk this past weekend? Or did you bring Mom to the Flora/Fauna/Feathers of Richmond County art exhibit at the Conference House (which continues through 8/17) or the Third Annual Island of Art Juried Exhibition at St. John’s University (continuing through 5/27) or Emergence at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum (which officially opens on Sunday, 5/21 from 2-5)?  Whatever you did in this hit-or-miss-weather-weekend—rain, wind,sun, wind, at least there were no surprise snow storms!

Calling all creative fiction writers! Do you want to learn to develop memorable characters that leap…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (5/10 – 5/14/17)

Were you able to dispose of your harmful household products last weekend at the DSNY Disposal Event? Did you Help Build Up the Callaloo Patch Community Garden on York Ave. and build some bird feeders and bird houses? Or did you attend the First Restaurant Crawl and Street Festival on Forest Ave.  I bet the food was yummy. 

I want to wish all you Mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, adoptive Mothers who have stepped in for birth mothers, step-Mothers, godmothers, aunts, sisters, women who were mentors to children, friends, neighbors who have kept an eye out for the safety and betterment of children a fantastic MOTHER’S DAY on Sunday, May 14.  I know from experience, it is not an easy “profession”.  Just because your child has grown up, you still…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (5/3 – 5/7/17)

Did you become one with nature this week?  Did you receive a FREE Rain Barrel at Snug Harbor or go on the Bird and Nature Walk on Wednesday, join the St. Francis Catholic Singles on a Hike through the Greenbelt, take a kayak tour of Fresh Kills, start seedlings on your window sill, or visit Jay Weichun’s site: http://www.growingfoodonstatenisland.com/ to see how gardeners on Staten Island enjoy their hobby?  Or did you attend the Integrated Pest Management workshop on Thursday? 

I attended the workshop at the Joe Holzka Community Garden on Castleton Ave. and Barker St. which was hosted by the Parks Dept. and attended by people from community and personal gardens.  It was very informative describing all kinds of pests such as aphids, whiteflies, slugs…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (4/26 – 5/1/17)

Did you attend the Stapleton Library session last Wednesday, “Growing Healthy Eaters”?  This is a 6-session series to educate young children and their caregivers about the importance of eating well through a series of interactive, entertaining and delicious sessions.  Visit the Library at 132 Canal St. or call 718-727-0427 to attend on Wednesday at 4 and for more info. 

Staten Island is a great place to grow vegetables, and the presentation by Jay Weichun "Growing Food on Staten Island" yesterday at the College of Staten Island was proof.  He spent five years documenting and interviewing home gardeners from different backgrounds and nationalities throughout the Island. Convinced that home vegetable gardens are a means of understanding Staten Island and…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (4/19 – 4/23/17)

Who among you, my gentle readers, were able to meet with Mayor Bill de Blasio this past week?  Did you express your concerns to him and his staff of commissioners about issues you may have?  Were you satisfied with the Mayor’s response?

Recently, I encountered a Department of Sanitation street sweeper coming down a nearby street and was in awe along with other residents on the street.  I have only seen street sweepers in Brooklyn, never on the Island. This particularly street is filled with potholes, broken pavement and an actual crater; I would prefer to see these streets repaired first!  Did you know that you can report any problem you may have to New York City’s "311" Complaint Line?  I have kvetched about that particular crater many times and also…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (4/12 – 4/16/17)

If you know one thing about me, my gentle readers, it is that I frequent thrift stores—Nothing New Thrift, Bay Street Thrift, the Salvation Army, Marie’s Two Timer to name a few.  I’ve been known to find antique jewelry or clothes with price tags affixed and never worn or designer pocketbooks barely used.  I don’t particularly relish shopping at the Mall or stores where a dirt-cheap bargain isn’t an everyday occurrence. My daughter-in-law introduced me to Rent-the-Runway clearance sales and high end design house sales where I have snatched designer clothes, accessories, jewelry that were so cheap that I’m almost embarrassed to admit it—almost!  The thrill is in swapping clothes, shoes, knick-knacks with friends, garage sales, estate sales and recycling.…

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WEEKEND EVENTS ON STATEN ISLAND (4/5 – 4/9/17)

Did you know that two ring-tailed lemurs, an endangered species native to the island of Madagascar in Africa, were born to different mothers this week at the Staten Island Zoo?  Every day, there is something new and wonderful to discover at the Zoo.  Plan your trip soon and experience this wild animal exhibit close up and participate in many different, exciting events throughout the year.  Admission is as follows: Children 2 and under – FREE, Children 3-14 - $6, Seniors (60 and over) - $7, Adults 15-59 - $10.  After 2:00 on Wednesday, admission if FREE for all.  Check out their website www.statenislandzoo.org or call 718-442-3100 for info. The Zoo is located at 614 Broadway, directly across from the YMCA.

Need a dress for the prom?  The Nothing New…

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