Witches and Goblins and Ghouls…oh my!

As the month of October comes to a close, residents throughout our towns are preparing to open their doors to the scariest, creepiest, and most ghoulish of visitors…visitors who will be interested in posing one question, and one question alone…who will you be voting for on Tuesday?  Just kidding! The real answer is….trick or treat!

That’s right–throughout the weekend, expect to see pirates and princesses taking to the streets of our lovely communities…and be prepared, because if you don’t give a goblin his treat, you never know what kind of a trick he may have in store for you!

Here is a list of some of the local festivities:

1. Maplewood–Friday, October 29th–3-5 pm

The Annual Maplewood Village Halloween Parade & Costume Contest, sponsored by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce and the Village Alliance, will feature a parade through Maplewood Village, music, prizes, and trick-or-treating in the Village shops.

2. Summit–Saturday, October 30th–beginning at 3:30 pm

Join the Summit PAL Halloween Parade as it makes its way from the Bouras Parking Lot at 25 DeForest Avenue through Summit’s Business District to the Village Green, where refreshments will be served and prizes will be distributed. All participating costumed cuties are invited to trick or treat in the shops and businesses before the parade, including the Lois Schneider Realtor office at 431 Springfield Avenue.

3. Madison–Saturday, October 30th–beginning at 12 pm

Come out to Madison, NJ, where the local Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the 2010 “Halloween Hoopla,”  which will include a costume parade, magic show and trick-or treating! The parade takes off from Green Village Road field  on Kings Road and ends at Waverly Place. Trick-or-treaters are invited to stop in local shops and businesses for treats-just remember to look for the bright orange and black jack-o-lanterns in store windows of participating merchants.

4. Millburn/Short Hills–Sunday, October 31–12-3 pm

Superheroes and rescue heroes can join in the 60th Annual Edward J. O’Brien Halloween Parade on Sunday afternoon at Taylor Park, sponsored by the Millburn Fire Department. The event, which is usually held at night, has been switched to the afternoon this year, but will still feature a parade and prizes. Other activities will include a hay ride, a DJ and lots of food!

Check with your local communities Chambers and news outlets for Halloween happenings in your town. And to all of you little pumpkins out there–Be careful and be safe. Wear something that will reflect the light, hold a hand while crossing the street, and stay with your group. Have fun!

Is This Picture Worth A Thousand Words?

Yes, believe it or not, this picture IS worth a thousand words…give or take! What do you see when you look at this image? Is it an inkblot test, a complicated maze, or a pacman video game screen shot? Guess again! This image is, in fact, a link to the Lois Schneider Realtor mobile website!

Pretty cool, huh!

This image is known as a “QR” Code (“QR” stands for Quick Response).  Allan Hoffman of the Star Ledger provides this quick explanation for the quick response code. “It’s essentially a special type of square bar code in a matrix with other squares, like those on display here. But rather than being used by retailers to scan items at checkout, like other barcodes, QR codes are for your own use, with a camera-equipped mobile phone. By using an application known as a QR code reader on your phone, you’re able to scan a code with your phone’s camera, and then view a website, text or contact information.”

Now that you know what it is, expect to see them everywhere! QR codes are now featured on packaging, print ads, billboards and t-shirts.  They are a fun,  free, “quick” way to send mobile phone users to more detailed information about your business and your product.  QR codes can be linked to websites, informational flyers, movie previews, restaurant menus…EVEN a photo slide show of a real estate listing. The information can be stored on your phone, which eliminates the need to write down or remember website addresses, phone numbers, etc. It’s all right there at your fingertips! There are many options for QR readers for your smartphone. According to Hoffman,  NeoReader (for the iPhone) and Barcode Scanner (for the Android) are popular choices.  And you can generate your own QR code at www.qrcode.kaywa.com!

So point, shoot, and let these cool little pictures open a link to a world of words about your business!

And The Winner Is….

…Susan Hairston!  Sales Associate Ginny Jordan (pictured on left) presents Summit resident, Susan Hairston, with a Tiffany Key Pendant, courtesy of Lois Schneider Realtor. Despite the weather last Thursday evening, Susan visited our Springfield Avenue office during Summit’s Girls Night Out to drop off her contest entry form for the Lois Schneider Realtor Tiffany Key Giveaway.  It was worth the trip!

Congratulations to Susan Hairston!