HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! 


Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. On Staten Island, we celebrate by attending the 4th of July Parade in Travis,  barbecues, picnics, baseball games, family reunions, celebrating the history and traditions of the United States.  Patriotic songs such as "The Star Spangled Banner", "God Bless America",  "America the Beautiful", "My Country, Tis of Thee", "This Land is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever" are played and sung at events on this day and bring tears to my eyes.  I Love America, the best country in the world! 

The 105th 4th…

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Check out my new listing in New Brighton - 54 Pendleton Place!

This well kept two-family home on the North Shore of Staten Island is situated on a large 61' x 100' piece of property as many of our North Shore properties are.  The first floor apartment boasts hardwood floors, a formal living room, a formal dining room, a room eat-in kitchen with pantry, two bedrooms and means of egress to yard and garage. 

The second floor apartment is practically a carbon copy of the first floor and includes a small room that can be for a baby or a den/office with private door to second floor balcony overlooking the quiet tree-lined Pendleton Place.  A detached two-car garage is situated in the rear of the property behind home.

From both apartments there is a…

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Did you try those ribs at the Sandy Ground Festival last Saturday?  Aren't they to die for?  Even though there were parking glitches at the Richmond County Ballpark on opening day last Friday, how about those Staten Island Yankees?  The menu has improved and lots of fun was had that night against the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Check out Boardwalk Days at South Beach every Sunday from 4-8.  Enjoying the cool breezes off the ocean, you will have a splendid time.

Let me begin my blog today with “Has anyone seen Max”?  The heartsick family is offering a “large reward” for their silver and white Persian cat, Max, who bolted out of his carrier in the parking lot of Home Depot in Charleston Shopping Center last Sunday at approximately 10:15 a.m.  Please call…

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Did you meet your friends at the third annual FREE Atlantic Salt Maritime Festival on Sunday?  TheUS Coast Guard training ship Eagle was a beauty to tour.  It was a pleasure chatting with members of the crew who hail from all over the country. What a noble and terrific way to see the world!  There were plenty of activities for the kids—bouncy house, slides, arts and crafts, paper boat races, free watermelon, ices, hot dogs, cold water, music, dancing, entertainment.  Did you attend the concert “Saluting the Flag in Song and Dance” at St. John’s celebrating the 240th birthday of the U.S. Army ?  And did you fly your American Flag on Sunday, 6/14—Flag Day?  I saw many flags flying and was inspired.  Maybe patriotism and love of our country is returning. …

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Today is Flag Day:

Since early childhood, I recall an American Flag being flown each morning from my home and brought in each evening.  I continue to fly my country's flag each morning and bring it in each evening.

After the tragedy of 9/11, the trend was to show patriotism and love of America by flying flags from cars, homes and businesses, on highways from car dealerships to government buildings.  It was an inspiring sight. 

Recently, I began to wonder, "What happened to that show of patriotism and love of America?  How many Staten Islander's fly an American flag?"  I decided to take a ride through my neighborhood and was pleasantly surprised.  On one street, there were four houses in a row displaying American flags.  On apartment…

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Did you attend the Tribute to support and honor our NYPD officers as well as fallen officers? Or attend the Family Fun Day sponsored by the South Shore BID at the various Richmond County Savings Banks sites?  Did you dance till you dropped last weekend—ballroom, Latin, Country line dancing?  Or take a hike through Fresh Kills?  If you have photos of you or your family or friends at any of these events and would like to share, I will be happy to post them.

SSG Michael Ollis is a native Staten Islander who gave his life for his country at the age of 24.  He served one tour of duty in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. He left for his third deployment in 1/2013 and was due home in October. On 8/28, the base in Afghanistan where Ollis was stationed was…

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Did you attend Fleet Week and watch the ships approach the Harbor at Alice Austen House?  Have you put air in your tires and hit any of the bike paths on Staten Island?  Just in case you missed the bike maps, visit the following site:  http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/staten-island-bike-map   Some of the highlights of the Forest Avenue BID Spring Stroll: Afternoone’s, Café Milano, Pastosa Ravioli, Fab Cup, New York Finest TaeKwonDo, Nucci’s, Edelman’s Financial Services, art work by PS 45 school children on the windows of many of the store fronts. Photos below, Mom juggling baby and enjoying pizza from Café Milano and our hosts at Afternoone's.


It was a beautiful afternoon, and my family had a lot of fun tasting the food, meeting friends and making…

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Check out my new listing in New Brighton - 91 Franklin Avenue!

This beautiful, well-kept raised ranch on the North Shore of Staten Island is situated on a large corner property--42' x 150' and has had only one owner.  This house has three bedrooms, an L-shaped living room/dining room, eat-in kitchen, newer bathroom, attic storage and basement. 

It boasts a two-car built-in garage with new garage door opener, central air conditioning with a new 3 ton condenser and coil, new 40 gallon water heater and 2-year old dishwasher. 

With two means of egress--front entrance as well as side entrance--it is perfect for entertaining in the spring and summer.  The back yard patio leads to another level of yard that can accommodate additional seating…

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How many of you actually know the meaning of Memorial Day?  It is a federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.  Many people visit cemeteries and memorials.  Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national and local cemeteries.

When I was a child, Memorial Day meant attending the parade on Forest Ave. and having a barbeque…

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Have you begun polishing your communications skills at the “New Day Toastmasters” at the Regina McGinn Education Center?  The group meets on Thursday at 7.  John’s Pasta Party was a blast with much support being shown for a great cause—to help students with cancer stay in school during and after treatment.  If you would like to contribute to the John Dressler Scholarship Fund, make checks payable to the South Shore Rotary Foundation, with a note “for the John Dressler Scholarship”, and send to the South Shore Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 061068, Staten Island, NY 10306-0011.

As a middle child, I would invariably get my sister’s hand-me-downs.  Sometimes I hated it, but most of the time I cherished whatever my older sister had—books, clothes, toys and a…

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