Operation Hope For Haiti

It was six weeks ago today that the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Caribbean island country of Haiti, reportedly the worst earthquake the country suffered in nearly 200 years. As we watched the devastation unfold on our televisions and our computers, we were reminded of the destruction of so many other natural disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Ike (2008), and the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004). As is our nature, we wanted to help; so we tuned in and waited to be told what we could do and where we could donate.  And then in a flash (on our collective screens) it started. Facebook users and bloggers posted numbers where  $10 donations could be sent directly through text messages from our cell phones to the American Red Cross and other Haiti Relief organizations. News reporters listed addresses and phone numbers of agencies that were accepting donations. School children collected loose change. Religious organizations collected medical supplies, food, and monetary offerings.  Local community businesses held drives to collect new and gently used clothes and toys. We couldn’t all go with the search and rescue teams or the medical professionals who would be involved first-hand, but we could send a little help and a little hope. 

At Lois Schneider Realtor, we were so proud to join with other Realtors from our area to gather what we could to send with Danny Jahns, a former Short Hills resident and current documentary filmmaker, as he went to Haiti to help the children. We invite you to follow his blog, www.operationhopeforhaiti.wordpress.com, for the story of his time with the doctors and nurses who have given so generously of their time. We advise that some of the medical images are graphic and difficult to view, but the images of the smiling children with the toys and clothes that he was able to deliver from our corner of the world are absolutely priceless.

Countdown to the 2010 Census

“Starting in March, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico.  The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years.  The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year.

What does this mean for you? Well, in addition to helping your communities receive federal funds for things like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, and emergency services; the Census will arm you with statistics to better know your community and your home buyer. The resulting data gives you a better idea of trends in the market, who’s buying homes, and home ownership statistics. To see recent reports on housing topics from the Census, visit U.S. Census Bureau Housing Topics. 

People view their Realtor as a representative of their new community.  Often, the Realtor is the first person they meet when moving to a new town.  By encouraging participation in the census, you ensure your clients will receive funding for programs and services in their new community.  And, of course, the data collected by the census also helps determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, further ensuring your client’s voices are heard.

For our Canadian readers, your census is coming up as well. The Canada 2011 Census is scheduled for May 10, 2011. Planning is underway. The 2011 Canadian Census will be the 15th decennial census since required by the Constitution Act of 1867.”

The information contained in this blog first appeared in a newsletter provided by Move Advocate.  For more information, go to www.MoveAdvocate.com.

Souper Bowl of Caring

 

Super Bowl Sunday has become a day of festivities and parties, and delicious food and drink  is as important to football fans as their big screen televisions and team jerseys.  As homes across the country prepared for Super Bowl parties and celebrations on February 7th, 2010, the youth of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Summit, NJ, took a different approach to gathering food for “Game Day” by participating in the “Souper Bowl for Caring.”  Armed with large soup pots, the youth gathered after both Sunday services to collect donations.  The $306 collected will be donated to Loaves and Fishes, Summit’s community food bank.

The event, sponsored nationally by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), uses Super Bowl weekend as a time to mobilize youth to fight hunger and poverty in their communities.  This year, 8,406 groups (a total of 194,222 young men and women) participated and raised more than $7.5 million.  Participants collect both monetary donations and donations of food—which they count as $1 for every pound of food collected.

(Pictured are St. Johns Youth Max Braden and Zach Bowman, with Rev. Dr. Andrea Walker and Vicar Fred Becker)

DeBary Inn Is Ready For Business

The DeBary Inn, located at 265 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ, will be open to the public between 5-8 pm on Wednesday, February 17th.  The Open House is a celebration of recent renovations and reopening of the Inn to the public.  The DeBary Inn is a grand and gracious Victorian that first served as a place of lodging in the 1920s. Purchased in 2009 by 5 Summit families and renovated with meticulous attention to historic details, while still offering the most up-to-date amenities, the DeBary Inn now serves as New Jersey’s newest Executive Boutique Inn.  Located among other stately Victorian homes on historic Springfield Avenue, the DeBary Inn is a convenient stroll away from restaurants, shopping and New York City trains. 

The public is invited to stop by and meet the new owners, taste a delicious sampling of appetizers, and tour this beautiful treasure in the heart of downtown Summit.

For more information, visit www.TheDebaryInn.com or call 908-277-0005.

Go Red!

On February 17th, 2010, the American Heart Association and the Summit Medical Group-Cardiology will hold a “Go Red Day: Heart Disease and Stroke Awareness” Expo at the Summit Medical Group Cafe, located at 1 Diamond Hill Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ.  Visit the team of experts at this free event to learn how you can raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and stroke–the number 1 and number 3 killers of women in the United States. 

The free event will offer information, screenings, and demonstrations on preventing heart disease and stroke—important information you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Please stop by the “Go Red for Women” table to make a small donation ($5 suggested) and receive your “Go Red” pin.  Proceeds will be used to help raise awareness for heart disease and stroke prevention.

Please visit the Summit Medical Group website for more information about the demonstrations, screenings, and education available at the Expo.

*Information courtesy of the Summit Medical Group

Just Another Ordinary Day

Today is President’s Day–a day where banks and post offices are closed, the weekend is extended, and most likely, unless they are making up a snow day, children are home from school.  In my experience, the day-off goes something like this…your child wakes up much too early (only wanting to sleep late on school days, of course); complains that “there is nothing good to eat for breakfast” because you have prepared something wonderful and home-cooked and they want hot fudge sundae Poptarts; and as the second hour of the vacation day begins, echoes of “I’m bored” begin to reverberate throughout the neighborhood!  Before you start fantasizing about the moment the little ones head back to the classroom, take a few minutes to watch this video.  It’s best-selling author Katrina Kenison reading to a group from her latest book “The Gift of an Ordinary Day”.  It’s a sweet reminder that amid all of the “special” days that we photograph and document in our children’s lives, it is the ordinary days and the everyday moments–the mess, the noise, the afternoons spent playing a board game, watching a movie, or walking in the snow–that we will miss when they grow up and move on. So dust off the Monopoly game or slip on the snow boots and enjoy your ordinary day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0

Post your comments about how you spent your President’s Day weekend and your favorite “ordinary day” moment!

A Breakfast a Week for a Year!

On Tuesday, February 16th, the first 100 guests at the opening of the new Manhattan Bagel in Summit, NJ, will receive coupons for 52 free breakfasts–that’s one breakfast every week for a full year! Hurry on down to 25 Union Place (between Beechwood Road and Summit Avenue) and support our newest local business!  Doors open for commuters at 5:30 am…will you be the first in line?

Post a comment and let us know if you were a winner at the Grand Opening of Manhattan Bagel in Summit!

Blizzard of 2010–The Morning After

For some in New Jersey, yesterday’s blizzard was the first big snowfall of 2010, and for some, it came quickly on the heels of a blizzard that landed just 5 days ago.  On Wednesday, streets were blanketed in the quiet stillness of a winter’s day, schools and offices were closed, and most of us just watched and waited to see exactly how much snow we would get and whether or not we would lose power.  Most in our area got about 15 inches, and compared to the record-breaking accumulations in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., that seems like a lucky break!  More than 40 inches have fallen in the Philadelphia area in the last two weeks, almost 55 inches reported at Reagan International Airport, and over 72 inches on the ground in Baltimore this winter.  Although much in New Jersey is still closed, today we will begin the process of cleaning up and digging out.  Children will make their way to the sledding hills and grown-ups will try to make it to the office or the grocery store.  On your way out, stop and check on your neighbors–the elderly who may need help clearing the walks, the ill who may need medicine picked up from the pharmacy, the new mom who needs a few things from the grocery store.  And before we get back to “normal,” let’s take a moment to thank all of those who had to go out yesterday–the road workers, the emergency responders, police officers and fire fighters, doctors and nurses, and anyone else who works so hard to keep us moving and keep us safe.  We appreciate your service.

How did you spend your “snow day” yesterday?  What are your plans for today…staying in or going out? Send us your comments and let us know!

Oscar Worthy!

Congratulations to Tom Heller, Summit NJ’s own native son, who was an Executive Producer (along with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry) of the Golden Globe and Oscar nominated film, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”  Not only has the film been nominated for Best Picture, but actress Mo’Nique, who portrays Mary Jones, Precious’ mother, won the Golden Globe for best supporting actress for her outstanding performance.  Both Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe, who plays Precious, are nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively.  Other nominations for “Precious” include Lee Daniels for directing, Geoffrey Fletcher for writing the adapted screenplay, and Joe Klotz for film editing.  Have you seen the film yet? What did you think? Feel free to send us your comments and recommendations for other Oscar picks.

 “Life is hard. Life is short. Life is painful. Life is rich. Life is….Precious.”

Still A Good Long-Term Investment

We’ve all read so much lately about the decline in the real estate market.  Prices are reported to be down across the country–in many areas by double digits.  But let’s add some historic perspective to the discussion.  Though real estate may not always be a great short-term investment, especially during turbulent economic times; it has usually been a wise long-term investment.   As this chart from “Keeping Current Matters” illustrates, an investment in real estate in 2000 would have out-performed the same investment in the Dow, S&P or Nasdaq over the past decade.

Good news for long-time homeowners!  The Otteau Valuation Group reports that if a New Jersey buyer invested $180,000 in a home in the year 2000, today that home would be worth approximately $311,000–a gain of approximately 52%.