When I was a child, Memorial Day meant attending the parade on Forest Avenue and having a barbeque in the back yard afterwards. As I got older, Memorial Day meant walking/running the Memorial Day race, the parade and hitting the sales advertised at every store imaginable. My mom would remember her cousin, Eugene Wasielewski, who died in World War II at the age of 23.  My dad, uncles and aunt served proudly in World War II.   

In 2005, Memorial Day became personally meaningful to me.  On August 4, my godson/nephew, Private Nils George Thompson, was killed in action by a sniper in Mosul, Iraq, one day after his 19th birthday. This young man grew up on Staten Island, and in 8th grade, moved with his family to a 100 acre farm/Bed & Breakfast in Confluence,…

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Years ago, when I worked in Corporate Real Estate, I would take Branch Managers on site selections in their geographic area.  In the smaller cities, one of the manager’s main requirements would be how many traffic lights it would take to get to work!  The New York City team (who commuted one to two hours a day to work) would quietly shake their heads in disbelief.   Sometimes these folks had occupied an office for a number of years, had outdated furniture, no lunch room, a neighborhood with limited shopping.  When shown updated office space with sharp-looking systems furniture and great vistas and malls nearby, they frequently could not resist expressing their enthusiasm.  I reminded them that the more excited they acted, the less meat I could negotiate…

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If you missed Fleet Week in 2013, I did, too.  Unfortunately, it was scrapped due to government budget cuts.  Do not despair!  Fleet Week will be back from May 21 through May 27.  Visiting New York for the 26th year will be members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.  Fleet Week began in 1984 and serves as a way for residents of New York City and the tri-state area to meet members of the service and to learn the latest capabilities of today’s military.  You do not want to miss the parade of ships on May 21.  It is the most beautiful display as they pass under the Verrazano Bridge.

It seems like just yesterday that I remember Dad bringing his four children down to tour the aircraft carriers--these huge Navy ships docked in St. George.  I was in…

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Have you been involved in your community lately?  Have you participated in a civic group, attended a Community Board meeting, volunteered to help beautify your neighborhood, assisted an elderly neighbor bring in his/her trash cans?  Are you interested in adding to your contact list, making new friends, getting out of the house and breathing some fresh air, feeling good about yourself or feeling good about helping others? 

Awhile ago, I blogged about “The Importance of Volunteering”. (See March 10th Blog).  It is a key part of my life; I feel great reaching goals that will benefit myself but more importantly other people and organizations. 

 

Every day in the local newspapers or on-line, you can discover groups that are seeking new members to add…

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If you are looking for something fun to do with the entire family, don’t miss the 8th Annual St. George Day which will take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 26 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. at Tompkinsville Park, at the intersection of Victory Blvd. and Bay Street where St. George and Tompkinsville meet (a mere 3 blocks from the Staten Island Ferry). 

To celebrate Earth Day and community arts, you will find plenty of activities, exhibits, arts, crafts, entertainment, to participate in.  Check out the Kids craft stations, interactive craft fair, live street performances throughout the day and especially the "Free Store" where you can give and take free goods to repurpose, recycly, reuse.

Among the highlights are:  

Noon – Xialon Dragon Dancers 

…

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Today is April 5, but it is also opening day for the North Shore shopping experience at Gerardi's Farmers Market at 561 Richmond Terrace in New Brighton. 

Enzo Gerardi established this landmark in 1985 at the former Gypsum Plant on Richmond Terrace.  Since then , I have been a loyal customer of Gerardi's.  Enzo and family own a 40 acre farm in NJ and sell fresh fruits, vegetables and grocery items (milk, eggs, etc., fresh bread) at great prices. 

The displays of a huge selection of flowers and plants abound together with the green house across Richmond Terrace.  You can park right in front of the market or across the street where you will be closer to the shrubs and trees if that is what your pleasure is.  Check out the lion and horse!  The traffic…

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When was the last time you visited the Staten Island Zoo in West Brighton?

As a native Islander, I have visited the Zoo over these many years with my son, niece, nephew, friends and family.  However, last summer I was fortunate to visit the Zoo with my grandson and experienced the fascination and wonder through his young eyes. 

The Zoo has a spectacular assortment of wild animals, reptiles, birds, bugs, a petting zoo for the young (and the young at heart), exhibits, events (Breakfast with the Beasts, Farm Day-Shear Madness--you get to see horses being shoed and watch sheep shearing and wool spinning, Eggstravagant Breakfast with the Bunny, and ZooFari, to name a few), educational programs and of course, Groundhog Day with the famous Staten Island…

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On April 10, 125 Staten Island restaurants will open their doors for breakfast, lunch and dinner to the Dine Out campaign.  They will donate 20% of the day's proceeds to benefit Project Hospitality. 

The Rev. Terry Troia, executive director of Project Hospitality, noted that massive federal cuts have hit food benefit programs as more borough residents become dependent on pantries and food kitchens.  She stated that in 2013, Project Hospitality provided a record 2.2 million meals at its soup kitchens and food pantries and more than 38,000 folks of all ages availed themselves of their services. 

In the last three months of 2013, nearly 109,300 meals were served in the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged zip codes 10305 and 10306.  Most of those emergency meals…

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 If you missed any of the previous Sneak-Peak tours of the Freshkills Park, you have a chance to participate in one on April 13.  The former landfill and current Freshkills Park will be opened to cyclists as part of the Tour de Staten Island--a 25 mile run and a new extended 40 mile route that takes riders around the entire Island.  Both routes will include the optional 5 mile loop around the Park for the first time during the ride-at-your-own pace event.  If you are thinking that this sounds distasteful--riding a bike through the former landfill--you are sadly mistaken.  
The Freshkills Park, which is usually closed to the public, had its fourth annual Sneak Peak event in September 2013.  I attended with my son, daughter-in-law and two-year old…

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If you are in the real estate business or if you are buying or selling a home, you know exactly what “curb appeal” is.   If you are not any of the aforementioned type of folks, the expression is self-explanatory.   

When you drive through your neighborhood, some properties are adorned with shrubbery, trees, plants, flowers, hedges, chain link fences, white PVC fences, American flags, gnomes, all year round wreaths on the door, pavers, brick or stone walls.  As real estate professionals, we advise our clients, when listing their property, what should be looked at by a “different set of eyes” inside and outside of their homes.   

 

One of the first things I do after the contract signing is ask the client if they have any questions or concerns…

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