Manhattan Resident Managers Club Newsletter-December 2017

Vol. 38 No. 177

December 2017

Dedicated to the Performance & Advancement for the Real Estate Manager

Our next meeting will be our Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Terrace 54 located at 1717 Broadway.

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

THE BEST HOLIDAY PARTY OF THE SEASON IS SET FOR

DECEMBER 7TH.

AND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES WILL ONCE AGAIN BE

"UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER NIGHT".

Dress code for this event is business casual or wear your best/worst Ugly Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa sweater or suit. This night is also our 2017 Associate Members Appreciation Night; so entrance is FREE for ONE member of your organization in good standing. Cost to attend is $50.00 for ALL Members & Guests. This includes Open Bar, a great buffet, music, dancing and some serious Holiday Cheer!! Prizes to be awarded for "Ugliest" Holiday outfit (both men & women) as well as a prize for the most festive outfit of the evening.

COME ONE, COME ALL... All are invited and you are more than welcome to bring some friends.

REMEMBER!!! NEW LOCATION.... "Terrace 54" is located at 1717 Broadway, North America's tallest Hotel.

Private elevator entrance to the event space is on Broadway. The Festivities start at 6:00pm and concludes at 9:00pm.

Be there! It's gonna be a lot of fun.

YOUR 2018 CLUB DUES ARE DUE!

This is just a friendly reminder to ALL Members that your 2018 Annual Dues Notice has been sent via the US mail. For Regular & Life Members, your payment is due no later than December 31st in order to remain on the CLUB's Group Term Life Insurance Policy. The CLUB will be accepting checks, cash & credit card payments at the Annual Holiday Party on December 7th at Terrace 54.

If you can not attend the Holiday Party and would like to pay your dues via the the US mail, please make check payable to:

Manhattan Resident Managers Club, Inc.

P.O. Box 1144 New York, NY 10021 ATTN: Financial Secretary

Regular Member Renewal is: $350.00 Associate Member Renewal is: $275.00 Affiliate Member Renewal is: $350.00 Life Member Renewal is: $200.00

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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PRESIDENT: ANTON MARKOLA 212-974-4650 Amarkola1@gmail.com

MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. ORGANIZED 1980 P.O. Box 1144 New York, NY 10021

VICE-PRESIDENT: JOE CERVINI 917-588-4922 jcervini@mac.com TREASURER: PATRICK MCENANEY 917-699-5231 McEnaney.patrick@gmail.com

FIN.SECRETARY: STEVE MALA 212-861-2073 Steve.Mala@yahoo.com SECRETARY: BEN FLORES 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com

OUR nExt MEEtIng wILL BE OUR Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Terrace 54 located at 1717 Broadway.

Festivities start at 6:00 pm.

Dress code is business casual or wear your Ugly Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza sweater or suit.

General Admission for All to attend is $50.00 per person.

TRUSTEES:

Laslo Karsai

John Szabo

Joe Vela

CLUB NEWSLETTER

Dean Berishaj

Steve Kukaj

Louis Parrilla Publisher 917-750-4117 resmgr524@gmail.com

Peter Guzman Business Manager 917-837-1390 pgu3911250@aol.com

Ben Flores Editor 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com

Any Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Manhattan Resident Managers Club,Inc., or its members.

The Manhattan Resident Managers Club Inc. reserves the absolute right, at its sole discretion, to accept or decline requests or submissions for advertising or other copy in its Newsletter or in any Club publication.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Anton Markola President

Manhattan Resident Managers Club, Inc.

Welcome to the December Newsletter!

On behalf of the Dais & Trustees of the CLUB, I would like to thank all our Members & Guests for attending our November meeting. Thanks to Mr. James Titterton from CNA Insurance and Risk Control on the educational feature. It was extremely informative and needed considering we are slowly entering the Winter Season, renowned for many slip & fall incidents and claims.

By the time you receive this Newsletter; Thanksgiving may have come and gone. The Dais and I hope that all Members, friends and extended family of the CLUB had a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving Holiday.

Have fun shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

A special thanks to our MRM Club, MBMA and SABMA Committee for organizing another spectacular Three Hands Grand Ball. On this night, it was my honor to officially recognize our 2017 Resident Manager of the Year, Mr. Ben Flores and the 2107 William Key Vendor of the Year, Mr. Phillip Levine of Major Air Service Corp.

Our next meeting will be our Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Terrace 54 located at 1717 Broadway. There is a private elevator entrance on Broadway. Festivities start at 6:00 pm. Dress code is business casual or wear your Ugly Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza sweater or suit. Prizes to be awarded for the ugliest outfit (men & women) and one prize for the most festive ensemble. This event is also our Annual Associate Members Appreciation Night; so entrance is FREE for ONE (1) member of your Organization in good standing. General Admission for all to attend is $50.00 per person.

Please remember to support our Associate Members as they are the lifeline that keeps our CLUB in existence. Most of our Associate Members take an ad in our monthly Newsletter, so when you’re in need of a contractor or vendor, please refer to the Newsletter for their services.

As 2018 fast approaches, the “Annual Dues” invoices will be mailed out to our entire membership roster. In particular, I encourage all Regular Members to make sure your annual dues are payed in full by January 1, 2018 to ensure your participation in the CLUB’s Group term life insurance policy.

Wishing you all a very Special, Blessed Holiday Season. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Holiday party on Thursday, December 7th. It’s gonna be a blast!

Fraternally yours,

Anton

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Top 10 Reasons to Join the MRM Club!

WWW.MRMCLUB.COM

DECEMBER 1ST wORLD AIDS DAY

HAnUkkAH BEGINS DECEMBER 12

10. Extra Curricular: Looks great on employment applications/resumes!

9. Networking: You will have the opportunity to meet and network with the BEST of the BEST in their field at our regular meetings on the 1st Thursday of each month.

8. Promote Awareness: The CLUB helps promote education and awareness about the NYC residential real estate market.

7. Life Insurance: Being a Regular Member of the CLUB affords you a personal life insurance policy in the amount of $125,000.00 6. Philanthropic: The CLUB participates and raises money for a number of local and national charities giving back to the community and those most in need.

5. Brotherhood: Being a member automatically gives you a feeling of closeness to other members. You share something that other people are not a part of and really can’t relate to.

4. Enrichment: Being part of a professionally ran Club or Organization is an en- riching experience. You owe it to yourself to at least try them out.

3. Exposure: The CLUB will expose you to real life every day experiences you and your peers regularly share and have in common 2. Growth: Members in Clubs/Organizations are encouraging and supportive of your personal growth. We all have a vested interest in each other.

1. Social: They are a BEST way to meet great people and have a lot of fun! With numerous events happening throughout the year; separate from our monthly meetings, it is impossible to not have some FUN!

DECEMBER 7 PEARL HARBOR REMBERAnCE

DECEMBER 25 CHRIStMAS

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DECEMBER 9 CHILDREnS DAY

DECEMBER 31 nEw YEARS EvE

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE EMAIL CAMPAIGN

ROBOTIC DISTRIBUTION SPREAD UNEVENLY

Robots are working in manufacturing but their use is heavily concentrated in the Midwest and upper South, a Brookings Institution study found.

The robotic cluster is led by auto manufacturing that is heavily concentrated in those regions, currently accounting for more than half of the robotics in use. Just 10 Midwestern states house this share of the nation’s 233,305 industrial robots.

Michigan leads the pack with about 28,000 robots, 12 percent of the nation’s total. Ohio is next with 20,400 (8.7 percent). Indiana has 19,400 robots (8.3 percent) and Tennessee has roughly the same number.

The Western U.S. accounts for just 13 percent of the industrial bots.

Detroit, Toledo, Grand Rapids, Louisville and Nashville all have large concentrations of industrial robots. Metro Detroit has 8.5 robots per 1,000 workers.

Small businesses can use email to drive sales, but competing for customer time and getting past spam requires five basic strategies.

1 Marketers must assume that customers will open an email on a mobile device, According to CMSwire.com. This wasn’t always true. Just seven years ago or so, customers probably first viewed email from their computer email using a service like Outlook. But all that has changed.

Today it is essential that emails be optimized for mobile viewing.

2 Email is a more intimate form of communication than pay-per-click advertising since prospects have already expressed interest in a product or service. Marketers should treat email as a way to forge new connections with prospects, offering special access to information or unique deals.

3 Subject lines must be lively. Don’t overpromise. Don’t create click bait that leads to a phony result. Instead, create calls to action to engage the audience. Email newsletters are part of this. The worst possible subject line for an email newsletter is November Newsletter. Tell people why they should open the email.

4 Take note of open rates over time and use the information to plan your campaign.

5 Compare open and click rates to the campaign objectives. Open and click rates for emails intended to generate sales will be different from those intended to reinforce brand identity. Be sure to segment your email list to identify those prospects who are interested in a sale.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Tips for preventing pipes from freezing; thawing frozen pipes Frozen pipes not only mean the inconvenient lack of water, they also can burst, causing an expensive repair problem.

Homeowners are often understandably frantic to get water pipes running again. But thawing the pipes improperly can lead to more problems.

Never use a device with a flame to thaw out pipes.

A little heat on the right pipe could get that water flowing. But a flame on the pipe is a very bad idea.

According to fire experts, flames under the house, even when directed at pipes, are a common cause of fire.

The open flame from a heater, especially a propane salamander, can instantly ignite insulation or flooring materials under a house.

Worse, pipes can heat up dramatically from flaming devices, with heat traveling along the piping systems inside walls. This heat can ignite wall materials, which can smolder for hours before being discovered, or bursting into flame. Alternatively, excessive heat on metal piping can cause water to boil, causing the pipe to burst, according to the Red Cross.

If you know where the pipes are frozen, first open the faucets and then apply heat with a hair dryer or electric heating pad.

Prepare ahead of very cold temperatures.

If you know your pipes are prone to freezing, take some simple steps ahead of cold weather.

First, give yourself a supply of water. Partially fill a bathtub with water when very cold temperatures are predicted. This can

provide water for pets, cleaning, or bathing. It will also give you some breathing room so you can take your time unfreezing pipes.

Next, keep the faucets open to a drip. This will help prevent pipes from freezing. Although this can put a strain on water pump systems, it is usually better than broken pipe disasters.

Close garage doors, especially if there are pipes along the garage walls.

Open your cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom to allow warm room air to circulate.

Don't turn down the house temperature during very cold nights.

Never set the thermostat to less than 55 degrees when the weather will be below zero.

Long-term prevention for frozen pipes One of the best ways to prevent frozen pipes is with heat tape or heat cable. These low-heat products usually can be plugged in at the beginning of the season and left until Spring.

This is especially good for pipes that are run along the outside of walls.

Be sure to unhook outdoor hoses and close valves supplying outdoor faucets.

If the problem with frozen pipes is persistent every winter season, consider moving exposed piping. Although this is a major project, it should prevent future problems.

Insulation in attics, basements and crawl spaces will help prevent frozen pipes, too.

SHOP CAR INSURANCE RATES

Car insurance rates vary significantly by insurer. Instead of sticking with your insurance company out of habit or convenience, you could save hundreds of dollars by simply shopping around.

Certain websites make shopping rates easy. Compare premiums at InsuranceQuotes.com or look for an independent agent at TrustedChoice.com, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

If you do find a better rate, call your current agent. The company might offer to match the lower rate.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

In 2018, you can contribute more to your 401(k)

There’s good news for 401(k) savers in 2018: They can put $500 more into their plan.

The IRS has announced that the 401(k) contribution limit has been raised to $18,500. That is the first increase since 2015.

The new limit also applies to 403(b), Thrift Savings Plan and 457 plans.

The limit on catch-up contributions for employees age 50 and over remains the same at $6,000.

The deduction phase out limit was also increased. This means that if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds certain ranges, the amount you can deduct is reduced (or phased out).

Single taxpayers: The phase out is $63,000 to $73,000, up from $62,000 to $72,000.

Married filing jointly: Phase out rises to $101,000 to $121,000, up from $99,000 to $119,000.

Individual contributors: The phase out range rises to $189,000 to $199,000, up from $186,000 to $196,000.

Roth IRA and traditional IRAs There was no change in contribution limits for IRA and Roth IRA plans. The maximum you can contribute to a Roth IRA is $5,500 per year (or $6,500 if you are age 50 or older).

There was a change to deduction phase-out, though. If your Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds certain ranges, the amount you can deduct is reduced (or phased out). In 2018, the phase-out levels are higher. For singles or heads of households, the Modified Adjusted Gross Income range is $120,000 to $135,000. For married couples filing jointly, the range is $189,000 to $199,000. The phase-out ranges for married filing separately have not changed.

2018 changes to standard deductions

* Note: These changes are for 2018 taxes to be filed in 2019 Married filing jointly: Standard deduction rises $300 to $13,000.

Single taxpayers and married filing separately: Standard deduction rises to $6,500.

Head of household: The deduction will be $9,550.

How investors allocate assets

The classic mix of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds is largely preferred by investors, according to a 2015 study by Dreyfus.

About 54 percent of investors believed the classic mix was ideal.

‘All-weather’ portfolio

Motivation expert Tony Robbins recently created an ‘all weather’ portfolio through his interviews with billionaire Ray Dalio.

The goal of this portfolio is not to make the maximum amount of money possible, but rather to minimize volatility and balance risk.

The model is based on the idea that certain types of investments will do well in different economic environments so the mix attempts to grow no matter what the economy is doing, according to Yahoo Finance.

The portfolio allocates 30 percent of investments into stocks that do well in times of prosperity. Then 15 percent go into intermediate Treasury bonds and 40 percent into long-term Treasury bonds, to guard against deflation. To round out the portfolio, 7.5 percent goes into both gold and commodities to protect against inflation and recession, respectively. When back-testing this portfolio from the period between 1984 and 2013, it had nearly double-digit actual returns.

What to do when an investment performs poorly

People often think their homes and other possessions are worth more than they are.

According to the Journal of Economic Perspectives, that’s why sellers of cars or homes usually ask a higher price than buyers are willing to pay for the property. It’s called the ‘endowment effect.’

From an investment standpoint, the tendency to hold on to things too long can cause problems, and the endowment effect is responsible for the poor decisions of many people.

With personal investments, Charles Schwab recommends taking the time to ask a few questions about an investment that is performing poorly.

First, determine if you would repurchase the stock at the current price.

Second, decide if the original rationale for buying the stock, such as a competitive advantage or unique strategy, still exists.

Third, look around for better options and consider reallocating the money to the better prospects. The best advice is just not to get overly attached to a portfolio.

The key is: If it no longer works, let it go.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Getting rid of household germs can help you avoid colds

You can give yourself a good chance to stay healthy this winter by thoroughly washing your hands and attacking germs where they hide.

In the kitchen: Sink handles, sinks, and counters are the biggest offenders. Clean sinks, sink drains, and counters with antibacterial soap at least once a day. Wash your sponge in the dishwasher to kill germs.

Fresh vegetables and fruits: They may carry salmonella, campylobacter, or E. coli, say microbiologists at New York University. Rinse them thoroughly.

In the laundry: Add bleach to a load of white clothes that includes underwear. It kills virtually all of the germs on underwear so they don’t spread. Move the load immediately to the dryer and dry at a high temperature.

In the bathroom: Use a disinfecting cleaner on the bathtub weekly. If someone with a skin infection uses the tub, wash it with bleach right away so you don’t pick up the germs.

Shared devices: Use antibacterial cleaner frequently on telephones, TV remotes, door handles, and shared keyboards, especially if someone in the household has an illness.

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE CAN BE RISKY FOR THE HEART

Everyone knows that high blood pressure is dangerous for the heart, but so is low pressure.

A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology focused on what happens as the systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) change.

For instance, most experts agree that if these numbers should go above 140 mmHg or 90 mmHg (hypertension), respectively, then they should be treated with medication. On the other end of the spectrum, levels that are too low, less than 60 mmHg (hypotension), could result in the heart muscles not receiving enough oxygen and eventually becoming damaged. These levels indicate an increased risk for heart disease and even death. Taking medication for high blood pressure could lead to a situation in which pressure becomes too low as well as highlighting the fact that doctors must monitor these cases closely.

Symptoms of low blood pressure can come in many forms, and The American Heart Association highlights dizziness, nausea, fainting, dehydration, blurred vision, clammy skin, and fatigue as possibilities. There isn’t a specific level of blood pressure that causes these symptoms and each person will measure slightly differently. Noticing any of these symptoms, regardless of whether or not they are related to blood pressure, is an excellent time to seek the advice of a medical professional.

Pregnancy is one of the most common causes of low blood pressure as a woman’s circulatory system expands for the growing child.

Underlying heart problems, endocrine issues, diabetes, blood loss, anemia, and certain types of infections and allergies can also be the culprit.

Age, as well, can lead to one form of low blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension that causes big drops after standing or eating.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

THE ADVENTURER AND THE CHRISTMAS FLOWER

Born to wealth in South Carolina in 1779, Joel Roberts Poinsett rejected the life of a southern aristocrat and, instead, traveled the world becoming an expert in foreign affairs and an amateur botanist, bringing to North America the lovely flower now known as a poinsettia.

His travels spanned hot spots in Europe, Asia, and South America. In 1806 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Poinsett speculated that pools of petroleum might be used for fuel. In Persia, he told a great Khan about the United States and President Thomas Jefferson. In Russia, he told the empress that her country could not industrialize so long as serfs worked for free, though as a plantation owner he presumably had slaves.

He later led an abolition movement.

Then in 1825, Poinsett, an avid botanist visited Taxco del Alarcon, south of Mexico City. There he saw for the first time the lovely, winter-blooming Flor de Noche Buena or Christmas flower. He sent samples back to the States where the flower immediately became popular. By 1836, the plant the Aztecs called cuetlaxochitl had another name: Poinsettia.

Although Poinsett was famed in his own time for military, diplomatic and domestic accomplishments, it is the Christmas flower for which he is commonly remembered today.

FACTS ABOUT POINSETTIAS

Red accounts for three-fourths of poinsettia sales today, but there are more than 100 varieties, including colors of cream, apricot, and white, according to Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor at University of Vermont.

According to the USDA Floriculture Crops report, 35 million pots of poinsettias were sold in 2014, accounting for 19 percent of all flowering potted plant sales. Total sales were $146 million.

California is the top US state to sell poinsettias, followed by North Carolina, Texas and Florida.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

MAnHAttAn RESIDEnt MAnAgER’S CLUB, InC. IS PROUD tO HAvE SELECtED

BEN FLORES Resident Manager of the Year 2017 With gratitude & appreciation for the years of dedication and service to the CLUB — 20 —

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

MAnHAttAn RESIDEnt MAnAgER’S CLUB, InC. IS PROUD tO HAvE SELECtED

PHIL LEVINE of Major Air Service Corp

Associate Member of the Year 2017 In recognition of many years of support & friendship you have show to the CLUB — 21 —

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

FROZEN VERSUS FRESH VEGETABLES

Frozen vegetables are just as healthy as fresh, and they’re less expensive.

According to a recent USDA study, a pound of fresh broccoli is about 70 cents more expensive than frozen.

There is very little loss of nutrients such as vitamins C and B during the freezing process of vegetables.

A recent paper in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that frozen foods lose only a small amount of nutrients. There is also very little nutrient loss in the freezer.

Frozen vegetables also keep longer, resulting in less waste

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Sign up for student aid

If you haven’t done so yet, sign up right now for student aid for the 2018-2019 school year.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid became available in October. If you haven’t signed up yet, there is no time to lose. Some colleges have deadlines for applications in January.

FAFSA uses students’ and parents’ yearly income, financial assets, brokerage accounts, and any savings in a 529 plan to determine how much a family is expected to be able to pay for college. If the amount is lower than tuition and other expenses, then grants, scholarships, and student loans will often be available to fill in the gap.

Starting on the government’s fafsa.ed.gov website, parents will now be able to use 2016 income and use an IRS retrieval tool to expedite the process. You’ll need social security numbers for parents and student, the 2016 tax returns and W-2 forms, and current bank statements to answer the more than 100 questions on the application.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Horoscopes

Aries 3/21 - 4/19: Focus on the future and don’t dwell on the past.

This is the way ahead. The New Moon on the 18th might herald sluggish days for some, but you might find it hectic.

Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: You have the magic in December as family life takes center stage while you still manage to meet deadlines at work.

The juggling act suits you this year.

Gemini 5/21 - 6/20: Complete your plans by the Winter Solstice on the 21st to fully enjoy the holidays. Balance is the key for December and into 2018.

Cancer 6/21 - 7/22: A chance to join an adventure comes your way. Unless the adventure is top of your bucket list, money should be the controlling consideration. Your needs in the New Year remain unclear.

Leo 7/23 - 8/22: You may be surprised and flattered by an unexpected flirt at a holiday party. Enjoy but the person you came with means more in the end.

Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: Money and romance rule December. You’ll catch up with the money early in the New Year. In romance, your heart takes a chance but keep in mind your brain says no.

Libra 9/23 - 10/21: You’ll be itching to make a firm decision by the Full Moon on the 3rd. If you don’t have all the facts, wait. If you prefer to go with your gut, be prepared to take the consequences, good or bad.

Scorpio 10/22 - 11/21: At a holiday gathering, spare some charity for the one who annoys you most. That person is fully loved by someone. Try to see why. You find it changes your whole outlook.

Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: The stars see you in flight by the beginning of the New Year. Could be in a plane or just on the wings of success. Relish the moment.

Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: Gather your joy and sense of humor to find a sense of goodwill for the season. A loved one is demanding, but you can handle it in peace.

Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: Go fully back into your loving relationship.

You know its value; don’t take it for granted. Go, run back. Don’t let pride stand in your way.

Pisces 2/19 - 3/20: Your partner needs more attention now. Give appreciation. Find things to do together. Offer support.

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Senior Health

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Holiday weight gain?

Not as bad as one would think

People gain weight during the holidays, but not as much as they think, according to dietitian Cynthia Sass.

Sass points to a 2009 study from Texas Tech University that followed 48 men and 100 women for six weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas. On average, the subjects gained one and a half to two pounds each.

While this gain isn’t terrible, it tends to stay on. Sass says weight creep is responsible for adults gaining 10 to 20 pounds over a 10 year period.

If you want to avoid that extra pound or two, Sass recommends drinking two cups of water before meals.

One study found that adults who followed this prescription were able to shed 40 percent more weight during a 12-week diet period. Drinking water also makes us less hungry.

Finally, budget your carbs. Holidays are carb heavy with potatoes, cakes, pies, breads, and cookies. Try to choose just one carb item each day so you can indulge, but not at every single meal. If banana bread is on the menu for lunch, skip the toast and potatoes at breakfast and dinner

Strength training improves quality of life

There is one good reason to stay active as we age: living better.

According to Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutritional Science and Policy, “it’s way more dangerous not to be active as older adults.” The reason for this warning is that decreasing physical activity over time is likely one of the leading causes of age-related disability and mobility issues.

According to Tufts, strength training increases muscle mass which helps support the body, maintain balance, and promote increased bone mass. These perks directly aid in preventing falls. Research at the University of British Columbia shows that strength training can also boost brainpower. Memory tasks and executive function, along with higher-level abilities like juggling multiple tasks both saw improvement with a mix of cardiovascular and strength training.

Despite the benefits, strength training should be approached with caution by seniors who are not used to that level of physical activity. Silver Sneakers highlights the fact that many older people have pre-existing injuries or muscle tightness and imbalance caused by years of inactivity. Work with a personal trainer and avoid leg presses, crunches, running, bench presses, and shoulder presses — at least at first.

Walking encourages better posture and continuously works the connective tissues between joints. Squats are another simple exercise that promotes hip mobility. Starting the movement with a backward push in the hips, keep the chest up and be sure that the knees don’t travel far past the feet. Pushups can be made easier with knees on the floor, which is a better start for beginners. Rounding out a basic program, try a rowing machine to get the unused back muscles safely in the mix while helping to strengthen spinal support.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

MRMC Health Tips !"#$$%&'()*"+,'-(%&'$"./,-"0/12"+%%1$" !

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A# B-'(%+!!R#2(5+'(-#(:#"(3%%4)(3&$*#2$(:##0/(<2$(5+'A$(-#(9+)$(.#"%($*+'(+(:%3(0+6)(3&$*#2$(3+$%"7(( >+$%"(&)(+<)#92$%96(5"25&+9(:#"(%,%"6()6)$%.(&'(6#2"(<#067((W$A)(+9)#($*%(.+&'($*&'-(6#2(+"%(.+0%(#:7(( K<#2$(IX(;%"5%'$(#:(6#2"(<#06(3%&-*$(&)(3+$%"7(

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

The reality of same-day deliveries The days — plural — of waiting for packages ordered online are quickly coming to a close as several of the most prominent online retailers are leading the charge to make same-day delivery a reality. According to Forbes magazine, Amazon and other retailers are flexing their industry clout and expertise to reset consumer expectations around how long it should take to receive a package. Amazon, especially, has made grand steps to reach this milestone and their sameday deliveries continue to grow as they add more distribution centers and improve their logistics.

In its essence, same-day delivery isn’t a compli-

cated idea. According to Time Magazine, Amazon simply has the massive scale required to build warehouses in major cities that give them a feasible distance to work with. Once an order is placed, they then use a sophisticated algorithm, honed with decades of fulfillment experience, to give the warehouse picker the best route to find all of the items needed to get the order out the door almost immediately. Having that edge allows for issues that might come up with local delivery services or, in the case of one-hour shipping, even traffic jams.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

STUDY: SOCIAL MEDIA CAUSES FATIGUE IN KIDS

Despite the convenience of full time online connection, it is likely causing youth extra stress and fatigue.

According to Dr. Bratt of the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis, social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can wear people out because of its continually updating nature. Notifications pour in at all hours of the day and night, and the fear of missing out creates a false sense of urgency among users. Absorbing all of the information can make a person feel overwhelmed, and over time this leads to anxiety and trouble sleeping.

Further research in the Journal of Youth Studies recently analyzed the night-time activities of school children ranging from 12 to 15 years old; specifically how often they were checking messages on social media.

In the study, 20 percent of subjects said that they ‘almost always’ woke up in the middle of the night to check their accounts. These same students were three times more likely to say that they were tired during school and were also not as happy, on average, as the rest of the children. Researchers at San Diego State University have shown that this reduction in quality sleep can lead to lowered performance in school because students are not able to concentrate and pay attention as easily.

A recent study from the Council on Communications and Media found that social media can also trigger negative emotions that can lead to a lowered sense of well-being, jealousy, and perceived social isolation.

This isolation has even caused what some researchers have dubbed ‘Facebook depression’ because of how teens and tweens have been shown to exhibit the classic symptoms of depression after spending a considerable amount of time on the site. Depression can lead to other health issues including a lack of sleep and fatigue.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

Picking a plane that will arrive on time

You have a better chance of your plane arriving on time if you follow some simple rules of thumb in choosing your flight.

- Choose a 737 over a 757.

- Avoid planes with fancy lie-flat seats that are often the cause of delays.

- Choose a large carrier.

- Choose younger planes over older planes.

According to a recent analysis by The Wall Street Journal, it is possible to avoid some delays by picking a particular type of aircraft and carrier for the flight. United’s 737s, for example, arrived on time 82 percent of the time ver-

sus only 70 percent with their 757s.

Bigger carriers avoid delays by having additional planes waiting in reserve that are in the same family as the originals. Carriers routinely swap planes out when there are problems or delays. These swaps are quite easy if the aircraft are the same because the seating arrangements and flight crews will be the same as well.

Having many different kinds of planes on a route reduces the amount of flexibility carriers have with those swaps and leads to more cancellations and delays.

When it comes to individual plane reliability, a carrier’s maintenance pro-

Real-time translation possible with earbuds

No longer confined to the realm of Star Trek, realtime language translation has arrived in the mainstream with new wireless earbuds.

According to Wareable, many companies have jumped into this space including the well-established Google and upstarts Bragi and Waverly Labs. At this point, Google's Pixel Buds are the most polished as they are integrated seamlessly with their own Google Translate software. The earbuds themselves only act as the medium through which a smartphone's software does the work, however, and it requires the user to hold their phone up between themselves and the person with whom they are conversing.

Newer player Waverly Labs should be shipping their entry, the Pilot, before the end of the year and their hard-

tocol can dramatically affect the amount of downtime it will experience. Case in point; a comparison of on-time arrival rate between the same aircraft from Delta and American showed that the former boasted 82.8 percent versus 69.1 percent for the latter. The reason for this considerable difference revolves around how Delta uses data to predict which parts are likely to break in the future but also actively redesign parts and proactively replace them ahead of recommendations. They also use traveling maintenance bases to go to where the aircraft sit overnight rather than wasting flight time by bringing them into headquarters.

ware promises to take translation to the next level. The smartphone still handles the grunt work wirelessly, but the buds themselves will be able to hear what is being said to and from the conversation partners. Each person will take one of the earbuds to use, and being able to eliminate the visible presence of a phone will help provide a more intimate and immersive experience for both users.

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~ Charles Dickens, 1836 Pickwick Papers Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~ W.J. Cameron And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~ Dr. Seuss

Christmas is forever, not for just one day.

For loving, sharing, giving, are not to be put away Like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

The good you do for others is good you do for yourself. ~ Norman W. Brooks

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

CLUB SUDOKU

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– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~ Larry Wilde

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“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Alas! How dreary the world would be if there were no Santa Claus. ~ Francis P. Church

– MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

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Selling in December can be merry after all – MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. –

When the weather outside is frightful, selling your house is not so delightful.

That’s what folks say, anyway. But is it always true?

Real estate agents say not necessarily. As with most things in life, it all depends.

Weather is, in fact, a factor and when frightful weather means a lot of snow, showings could slow down. But, on the other hand, a warm winter can be a boon for sellers as home buyers get an early start on the season.

The strength of the local real estate market also comes into play. A strong market can be good even in December.

There are always buyers who, for many personal and business reasons, must find a home during the holidays. Those kinds of buyers are motivated.

Here are some considerations for selling during the fall/winter holidays: - You don’t have to keep your house dark during the season of lights. Decorate, but do so modestly. A Christmas tree can make a home look warm during

the cold winter season. Display just a few gifts under the tree. Too many begin to resemble clutter and buyers need to be able to look past decorations.

- Avoid flashing lights inside and out. Stick to simple, classic decorations.

- Limit decorations to the main living area. Although some families go all out decorating every room, as a seller you want to keep decorations of all kinds to a minimum.

- Most agents say that sellers should avoid religious displays, but in some areas of the country this would be acceptable, especially if done modestly.

The key is not to overwhelm the house.

Make it easy for the buyer to see the rooms.

- Make the most of the season by enhancing curb appeal. Although the

trees might not have leaves, the garden won’t have weeds either. Some decorations are seen as welcoming, no matter what the season: A wreath on the door or outdoor lights that emphasize the walkway or special parts of the property.

- If your property looks especially glorious in Spring and Summer, consider leaving out a photo album.

- Play muted classical music to add to the overall ambience, according to HGTV. - Use light holiday fragrance. Avoid heavy floral scents that make some people cough or sneeze. Don’t overdo it.

One scented candle is probably enough.

- Light the fire. Winter is also a great time to show off your fireplace.

So spread the warmth!

Don’t stay home alone during the holidays

Make the holidays a special occasion this year by getting out to the local senior center, volunteering, or just enjoying activities in your area.

According to the AARP, the number of Americans who say they’re lonely has doubled since 1980 from 20 percent to 40. What’s more, about one-third of citizens over the age of 65 are living alone while half of those over 85 do so.

Social isolation has been linked to immune system issues, depression, disrupted sleep, higher levels of inflammation and stress hormones, and even increased risk of heart disease and stroke. All of these issues are serious on their own and some of them, such as depression, can lead to other problems like cognitive decline and dementia which contribute further to a cycle of poor health and isolation. All told, according to a recent study at Brigham Young University involving 3.4 million people, isolation and loneliness showed about a 30 percent increased likelihood of dying from any cause over the next seven years. This effect was most pronounced in middle-aged people and carried over into the aging population.

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ROSENWACH TANK

THE FIRST NAME IN QUALITY WOOD AND STEEL TANKS

718.729.4900 • ROSENWACHGROUP.COM • 43-02 Ditmars Boulevard, 2nd Fl. • Astoria, NY 11105

MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC.

Mr. Louis Parrilla, Newsletter Publisher 524 East 72nd Street New York, NY 10021

TO PLACE AN AD IN THE NEXT NESWSLETTER PLEASE CALL Louis Parrilla 917-750-4117 • resmgr524@gmail.com