Manhattan Resident Managers Club Newsletter-November 2018

Vol. 39 No. 186

November 2018

Dedicated to the Performance & Advancement for the Real Estate Manager

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 1st at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant located at 121 West 45th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues starting at 6:00pm.

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A

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PRESIDENT: joe cervini 917-588-4922 jcervini@mac.com

MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. ORgANizED 1980 P.O. Box 1144 New York, NY 10021

VICE-PRESIDENT: ben floreS 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com TREASURER: PatricK Mcenaney 917-699-5231

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE:

McEnaney.patrick@gmail.com

FIN.SECRETARY:

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 1st at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant located at 121 West 45th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues starting at 6:00pm.

Steve Mala 212-861-2073 Steve.Mala@yahoo.com

Please note that the only acceptable dress code for our monthly meetings is JACKET & TIE.

SECRETARY:

NO exceptions!

Steve KuKaj (917) 339-7166 kukaj01@gmail.com TRUSTEES:

Laszlo Karsai

John Szabo

Dean Berishaj

CLUB NEWSLETTER

Frank Pomponi

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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the resident’s essage

pm Joseph Cervini President

2018 Resident Manager of the Year

Welcome to the November Newsletter!

On behalf of the officers and trustees, I would like to thank all members & guests for attending our Annual Twilight Dinner Cruise around Manhattan aboard the Cabana Yacht. What started out as rainy, dreary afternoon, turned into a beautiful clear night; and spending it with friends made it even better! I already can’t wait for next year’s Cruise. Special Announcement about next year’s dinner cruise is coming soon. Stay tuned!

To all our beloved veterans out there, “Happy Veterans Day’’ and thank you for your service! This great country was built and is sustained by people like you. And to all the members & friends of this CLUB, have a “Happy Thanksgiving Day to All”!

All of us at the Manhattan Resident Manager’s Club would like to congratulate the winner and recipient of the William Key Award & our 2018 Vendor of the Year, Mr. Wilfredo Montano of Montano Wood Care Corp. We thank him for his continued support and contributions to the CLUB throughout the years.

REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS! The 2018 Three Hands Grand Ball is set for Saturday, November 3rd at Gotham Hall located at 1356 Broadway Between 36th and 37th Street. Cocktail hour begins at 7pm. Tickets are $375.00 and limited to 300 people. Please contact Grand Ball Chairman Mike McGowan for tickets. (We only have a few tickets left!) Stay tuned for the all new Club website getting ready to roll out soon! Remember the CLUB is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. These social media outlets are FREE to use, and you should all be utilizing them every day for business and pleasure. Always be NETWORKING! Don’t forget to get out and VOTE on November 6th. Any and all change happens in that booth.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 1st at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant located at 121 West 45th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues starting at 6:00pm.

Please note that the only acceptable dress code for our monthly meetings is JACKET & TIE. NO exceptions! If you are not dressed accordingly, you will not be allowed to attend the meeting. In conjunction with a CLUB-wide email, we will post on Facebook, LinkedIn and the CLUB’s website if the dress code changes for a particular event.

Please remember to support our Associate Members as they are the driving force 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, vendor or supplies, please refer to the Newsletter for their services and/or products.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on November 1st for our next monthly meeting at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.

Best Regards

Joe

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Sickness, Distress and Happy Times Happy Birthdays to CLUB Members Tony Classe, Dwayne Doucette, Amanda Haley & Brian Robins.

Congratulations to Regular Member Frank Morenzzi as he welcomes his 1st grandchild, Jackson Rosario Sounders.

It is with great sadness that we report to you the passing of Mr. Sixto Manuel Montano, father of our Associate Member Wilfredo Montano. We extend our deepest condolences & prayers to the Montano family. May Sixto rest in peace!

November 1st All Saint's day

November 14th World Diabetes Day

November 2nd All Soul's Day

November 6th U.S. General Election

November 22nd Thanksgiving Day

November 23rd Black Friday

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November 11th Veteran's Day

November 26th Cyber Monday

What not to share with employees

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In your first managerial role? A piece of advice: Never get personal.

It's lonely at the top and managers or leaders of a team can find themselves tempted to overshare information, but some things should never be discussed, according to Forbes Magazine.

Key idea: Never share information you know to be confidential or personal.

First, never discuss personnel matters.

Don't talk about another employee's personal life. It's appropriate to say a team member had to take a day off for personal matters. It's not appropriate to say their child is having discipline problems at school and they had to meet with the principal. Your team may be friendly with each other and they might even know the situation, but you should never discuss matters an employee told you in private.

Similarly, don't discuss an employee's work performance. If you have an opinion about that, discuss it with the employee, never one of his or her co-workers. Don't take part in silly team gossip: So-and-so makes bad coffee or hates to go out to lunch.

In the same way, never discuss wages, raises or bonuses which can breed resentment.

Second, never discuss your own work challenges, performance or aspirations.

Don't engage employees in your own quest for advancement. Never discuss your personal life in a way that compares your life to that of your employees. Getting a new car because of your new job? That's your business and yours alone.

Third, never discuss company challenges or your own opinion of the company leadership with employees. Doing this threatens your own career since confidential information will quickly circulate and it will be traced back to you. Even the most loyal employee should never be trusted with confidential information. Don't complain about company decisions.

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What is a homestead exemption?

Property taxes are a required cost of owning a home, but 46 states in the U.S. offer a homestead exemption that can help lower the tax burden if it is a primary residence, according to SmartAsset.

There can be an upper limit on the value of a home that qualifies, and there might also be more substantial exemptions available for those with low incomes, seniors, and the disabled. Once qualified, there will be either a percentage discount on property taxes or a flat dollar amount deducted from the bill. As an example, someone who owns a home with an assessed value of $200,000 living in a state with a one percent property tax would typically owe $2,000 each year. With a $50,000 homestead exemption, however, they would only owe taxes on $150,000 of the value, reducing the tax bill to just $1,500.

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Facebook ads can work for small business – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Facebook is the new media driving small business sales, marketing experts say.

According to Content Marketing Institute, a full 97 percent of all business-to-consumer marketers that use social media are using Facebook ads as part of their advertising strategy and 88 percent of those using it feel as though it is

their most effective platform for reaching customers and converting sales. With 1.37 billion daily active users and 2 billion monthly users, Facebook has a massive audience,

but it is the targeted nature of their ads that make them so useful, according to USA Today.

A local restaurant, for instance, could decide on Tuesday morning that they want to advertise a special on oysters that night and turn to a Facebook ad to drive traffic to the promotion. With a few clicks, the owner can target an advertisement to users in their zip code that like oysters and eating out and are over 21 so they can buy drinks. The cost of such an ad could easily be under $100. Meanwhile, traditional ad campaigns in print or radio would require significantly more planning time and cost.

Another feature, lookalike audiences, allow a business owner to automatically find people with traits similar to those who are already following their Facebook pages, according to Inc. Magazine. This approach generated $5 for every dollar spent on this type of ad.

The ability for small businesses to create inexpensive, targeted ads whenever they want creates a fantastic opportunity to market-test new promotions, sales, and other initiatives. They even have a Lead Ads service that lets companies without a website gather email addresses from potential customers that have shown interest in their ads.

The pros and cons of buying into a franchise

Buying into a franchise business of any kind allows the owner to go into business for themselves while providing the benefit of a proven business model but it can come with a substantial cost, according to Entrepreneur Magazine.

For those that have never owned a business, franchises can take much guesswork out of the equation because they will automatically receive the brand recognition, marketing, training, and all other resources that the corporate headquarters will provide.

Another benefit of being a franchisee is that they won't have to worry about new product development, design,

or even the financial systems necessary to keep the business fresh and their territory will be protected within their market. According to The Balance, they also typically benefit from the economies of scale that a large corporation enjoys so their inventory will be cheaper and they will have better access to employee recruitment. Essentially, a franchise owner is purchasing a turnkey business with a much higher success rate than a startup.

Unfortunately, companies understand the value that their franchises can provide to investors, and it often requires a substantial fee to get started as well as paying ongoing fees or royalties

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to continue using the brand each year.

Operating a unit within another person's company also means that the franchisee must conform to someone else's idea of how the business should be run and there won't be much room to change things or add a personal touch. Successful operators must also worry about how their peers are performing in units of their own as a product or human resources scandal in one location could have implications far outside of their local area.

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EASY WAYS TO SELL OLD SMARTPHONE

Americans are upgrading their smartphones at an average pace of every 32 months as of the second half of 2017, according to the NPD Group. Instead of sticking the old phone into a drawer or throwing it away, however, many consumers can recoup some of the original cost by trading it in or selling it outright, according to Consumer Reports. Those purchasing iPhones directly through Apple can take advantage of their trade-in program but nearly every major retailer and phone company, such as Best Buy or Verizon, will often offer an option to trade a phone in

to reduce the cost of an upgraded phone. Although these are the most accessible options, consumers can usually squeeze a little more value from their device by selling it themselves on sites like eBay, Swappa, or Gazelle if they are willing to do a bit more research and legwork.

The U.S. stock market is on fire, in the midst of the longest bull run in history.

Stock investors and holders of 401Ks have been looking at double-digit gains during the last year.

Can this monetary Shangri-La last forever? Heck, no.

What goes up will come down.

For pessimists, realists or those who are nearing retirement, there are ways to balance their portfolios to help them lock in their profits.

Traditionally, government Treasuries represent the most stable bonds. These conservative investments rose 1.4 percent and 5.2 percent in price, respectively, during the 2008 recession while large market cap companies fell by 37.7 percent. The downside to holding money in these markets is that during times of positive economic growth they will be some of the worst performers overall, offering minimal gains, according to Forbes.

For retirees, about 30 to 60 percent of a portfolio should be in stocks. Most experts recommend a mix of stocks, bonds and cash. Cash reserves should equal one to two years' living expenses. Determine the percentage that you can put in stocks by your risk aversion. For example, a 20 percent drop in the Dow would mean that their $150,000 stock market investment would lose $30,000, according to USA Today. If this risk is too great, then retirees should protect at least 20 percent of their investments with bonds.

Retirees can also consider annuities to generate a guaranteed income, but remember annuities tie up money in return for stability.

Young people on the other hand, with 20 or 30 years before retirement can keep their 401ks and other investments neatly tucked in the stock market. Though there will be bear markets, those typically don't last any longer than 14 months so young people have the time to wait.

Conservative mutual funds with a mix of bonds can be a good choice to avoid stock market losses.

The consumer staples sector has been the best performing asset in the late stages of a bull market. They also hold their value better than other areas during recessions because people tend to still buy the same amounts of things like toilet paper and toothpaste regardless of the broader market's problems. During the dot-com crash, the sector managed a 1.2 percent gain despite a 49 percent crash in the S&P 500.

Bull market rages, but it can't last forever, experts say

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Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: Nov. 4-11 – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Drive alert and arrive alive Falling asleep at the wheel is every driver's nightmare and it happens more than you think.

One-third of drivers surveyed say they have fallen asleep while driving in the past year, according to a new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

A drowsy driver is implicated in one out of every six deadly crashes and one in eight crashes involving hospitalization, according to the National

Sleep Foundation.

The AAA study also found that drivers ages 16-24 were nearly twice as likely to be in a drowsy driving crash as older drivers.

The study also found that, of those drivers who reported falling asleep while driving in the past year:

- 55 percent said it was on a high-speed divided highway.

- 59 percent had been driving for less than an hour.

- 26 percent said the incident occurred between noon and 5 p.m.

The solution, of course, is not to drive if drowsy. Take a nap before driving or, if you

become drowsy while driving, stop to sleep for about 20 minutes. Be sure you are fully awake before you resume.

Coffee or a caffeinated drink can help you stay awake.

If possible, avoid driving at times you would normally be asleep.

If you go on a driving trip, take a friend. The AAA study found that vehicles with a passenger were 50 percent less likely to be involved in a drowsy-driving related crash.

Use cleaning products with caution

Whether you are getting your house spic and span for Thanksgiving or doing janitorial work, use cleaning products safely to minimize chemical exposure.

Cleaning supplies can contribute to chronic respiratory problems, according to the American Lung Association. This is especially true of products like ammonia and bleach which, when combined, produce a toxic chloramine gas.

Some seemingly benign products can react when used together. An air cleaning machine might help clear out your uncle's cigar smoke, but the ozone it produces reacts badly with air fragrances. Together, the ozone and fragrance can produce formaldehyde and dangerous fine particles, according to the lung association. Keep rooms well ventilated and use fragrances sparingly, if at all, especially around people with breathing problems.

One way consumers and companies can limit exposure to harmful clean-

ing chemicals and dangerous particles is to look for the Safer Choice logo on cleaning products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an extensive chemical safety program that has certified more than 2,000 cleaning products. To be awarded the Safer Choice label, products must meet stringent human health and environmental criteria. They also must meet high standards for cleaning performance.

The EPA warns consumers that products labeled green or natural might not necessarily be safer. Generally, these products substitute a plant-based chemical for petroleum and label the product natural. The result is a natural product that is chemically identical to those made from petroleum, according to the EPA. The potential health and environmental impacts are actually the same.

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treatment and prevention of knee pain without medication Knees take much abuse as a person ages, and it is common for many people to experience pain there related to arthritis, injury, and repetitive stress, but there are ways to help prevent those problems from occurring and treating issues that have already emerged. According to Arthritis Foundation, the lifetime risk of a person developing osteoarthritis in the knees is about 45 percent, and this number has been increasing during the past few decades due to an aging population and growing problems with obesity. Meanwhile, according to the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, there were over 6 million knee injuries reported to U.S. emergency departments from 1999 through 2008, and at least some of them could have been prevented with proper care and preparation.

Although somewhat counter-intuitive, deliberate exercise is one of the best ways to improve the pain associated with osteoarthritis in the knees provided that certain conditions are met. There should be a focus on creating a full range of motion through flexibility movements and warming up with these basics lubricates the joints and prepares them for more work. Strength training or even aquatic-based training will provide resistance that builds muscles that support and protect the joints.

Performing these activities will also help decrease body fat, a primary source of pressure on the knee joints, compounding the benefits that the exercise is already providing. Avoiding hard impacts on the knees, such as those found during games of basketball or running on hard concrete, will also prevent causing further damage during productive exercise.

Laying the foundation of proper knee support through warm-ups, muscle conditioning, and weight management can also help avoid injury along with a few other sensible techniques, according to Everyday Health. Wearing shoes that fit well helps provide proper leg alignment and balance which will reduce the rate of knee accidents involving falls.

When starting a new exercise routine, start slowly and build up to higher intensities. Focusing on low-impact activities such as rowing machines, swimming, or walking provides maximum benefit with minimal downside.

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RESIDENT MANAGER

OF THE YEAR 2018

MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. IS PROUD TO HAVE SELECTED

JOSEPH CERviNi Resident Manager of the Year 2018 With gratitude & appreciation for the years of dedication and service to the CLUB — 20 —

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RECIPIENT OF THE WILLIAM KEY AWARD 2018

MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. IS PROUD TO HAVE SELECTED

WILFREDO MONTANO of Montano Wood Care Corp.

Associate Member of the Year 2018 In recognition of many years of support & friendship you have show to the CLUB — 21 —

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New tool could save eyesight of millions of diabetics

If discovered early, diabetic eye disease can be treated before it leads to blindness.

Now Google is developing an Artificial Intelligence diagnostic tool that can be used in a primary care physician's office. The AI tool is capable of rapidly reviewing eye scans and sorting out which patients need treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Worldwide, about 415 million people are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. In a country such as India, with 70 million diabetics, many patients in rural areas don't have access to specialists. The new AI tool could identify their risk at their physician's office, before they are in danger of losing eyesight.

The Google team hopes diagnosing diabetic eye disease will one day be as easy as taking a temperature.

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TYPES OF DIABETES

Three main types of diabetes affect 30 million people in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and 1 in 4 don't know they have it.

Type 1: An auto-immune disease commonly, but not always, diagnosed in childhood. The body's own immune system destroys the pancreas. Type 1 diabetics must take insulin injections.

Type 2: More than 90 percent of people with diabetes have Type 2. Usually diagnosed in adults over age 40, about 80 percent of sufferers are overweight. In Type 2, the pancreas produces insulin but the body becomes increasingly resistant to it and, eventually, production is decreased. Weight loss, exercise, diet and insulin pills can help people stay healthy.

Gestational diabetes: This occurs during pregnancy and often disappears after delivery, but there is an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Diabetes risk factors

Age: After age 45.

Weight: Fat increases the body's resistance to insulin.

Diet: Sugary food and drinks, white bread, and low fiber foods overload the body with sugar.

Smoking: Smokers are 50 percent more likely to develop diabetes.

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Think thin: IMAGERY

AND WEIGHT LOSS

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People lose fives times more weight when they imagine themselves thin, according to a September 2018 study reported in Science.

The technique called Functional Imagery Training (FIT) teaches people how to use their own mental imagery of why they might like to change, how it would look to them, how it would feel and how it might be achieved.

The study was by Dr. Linda Solbrig from the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth in the UK in conjunction with Queensland University in Australia.

In the study, 141 participants were divided into either FIT or Motivation Interviewing (MI). MI is a technique that uses counselors to support people to develop and focus on their need for change and reasons for wanting to change. FIT takes the idea one step further, teaching people to use rich sensory imagination to develop their own imagery.

After six months, the people who used FIT lost 10 pounds as opposed to the MI group that lost one pound.

After 12 months, the FIT group contin-

ued to lose weight, losing 14 pounds as opposed to the MI ground that lost just over a pound and a half.

The FIT technique assumes people agree that eating less and exercising more can help them lose weight. But it encourages them to think about their own life and imagine how a change in weight might feel.

One exercise to begin the process is imagining a lemon. People thought about seeing, touching and squeezing a lemon.

They thought about juicing a lemon and how it would feel if some of the juice accidentally squirted in their eye.

From those simple beginning imageries, people then were encouraged to use all their senses to ask how would losing weight look, sound, smell, feel?

One successful client went from

196 pounds to 170 pounds by incorporating personal motivations and imagery. Her mother died at age 60 and the client had now reached age 59.

She thought of her daughter and how she wanted to live for her. She thought of how she wanted to see her graduate. She imagined the dress she might wear to the graduation and pictured how she might feel being healthier and slimmer.

Thanksgiving by the numbers

* 46 million turkeys are eaten during Thanksgiving each year. (source: History.com) * Americans spent $14.2 billion on Thanksgiving and Black Friday in 2013. * About 50 million Americans travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (source: AAA) * The average American household spends $54.18 on Thanksgiving dinner. * The U.S. produces an average of 735 million pounds of cranberries annually, 435 million of which come from Wisconsin. (source: United States Department of Agriculture) * The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest single day of travel with 37 percent of travelers departing for their trips. * The average weight of pumpkins is between 6 and 18 pounds. * The U.S. produces around 5 billion pounds of pumpkins each year. * The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving meals is 16 pounds.

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Horoscopes

Aries 3/21 - 4/19: It's a promising month for career and relationships. But diffuse tension with a well-timed joke.

Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: You may hear financial news this month.

If you are worried at first, relax. All will resolve to your benefit.

Gemini 5/21 - 6/20: A mere sliver of the full moon is missing on Thanksgiving, the 22nd, but the night (and your heart) feel full .

Cancer 6/21 - 7/22: Your plans near completion as the stars align to bring opportunity.

Leo 7/23 - 8/22: The New Moon on the 7th will bring a dark night, but the day threatens to be fabulous. Enjoy.

Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: The family will be visiting, but why break the bank on new furniture? Perfect cleanliness and flowers fit into the budget.

Libra 9/23 - 10/21: A little something extra comes your way this month. It may sparkle or clink but don't judge.

Scorpio 10/22 - 11/21: Inspiration strikes! Don't let the idea pass. It will be crucial in coming days.

Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: Travel on your mind? A friend won't say but would love to go along.

Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: You find a happy groove by the light of the silver moon on the 24th. You have a chance to make a deeper connection with a friend.

Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: Your energy is on the rise by midmonth, just in time for planning family gatherings.

Pisces 2/19 - 3/2: Some around you may be heading off a cliff. You'll have to decide if you will follow them. Examine your heart.

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Giving mighty thanks for the little things – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

The great humorist Will Rogers once said of Thanksgiving: In the days of our founders, they were willing to give thanks for mighty little, for mighty little was all they expected. If they could gather in a few pumpkins, potatoes, and some corn for the winter, they were in a thankful mood.

Today we have mighty expectations even for the mundane.

When you think about it, it's a bit of a miracle that we rarely give a thought as to who grows the pumpkins and corn, but we expect them to be there when we want them.

So, on Thanksgiving, give a thought to the mighty little expectations of the founders and count your blessings.

Have a great holiday!

Foods with a very long shelf-life * White Rice: In an air-tight container in temperatures below 40 degrees, it lasts up to 30 years. * Honey: With an airtight seal, honey can last decades, if not centuries. * Soy Sauce: When sealed, it lasts for years. * Sugar: In airtight containers, it can last decades. * Dried Beans: Shelf-life 30 years. * Authentic, pure maple syrup: With proper seal, it can last for decades, if not hundreds of years.

Headphone jacks disappear

Apple stirred up a controversy back in 2016 with the omission of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7. Instead of the jack, the phone came bundled with wireless EarPods and a dongle that would allow users to plug in their old headphones.

According to data from the NPD Group, Bluetooth headphone sales started overtaking non-Bluetooth sales as early as 2016, boosted mainly

by Beats.

In 2018, Samsung is the only major player that has kept the plug, with their newest offering, the Note 9.

RENOVATION SERVICES Whether you are planning a small refresh or a total renova on, you can trust UMS to provide expert assistance from start to nish.

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Common ways to get discounts on homeowner's insurance The average homeowner should expect to pay nearly $1,100 per year for their home insurance and, although it is a necessary expense, there are several ways to reduce these costs with or without spending money on improvements, according to Nerd Wallet.

Some of the simplest reductions, such as bundling the home insurance with auto insurance through the same company or improving your credit score, won't cost a penny and will likely only require a short phone call. Similarly, raising the amount of the deductible on a policy or lowering the maximum payout for possessions can reduce the rate without any upfront cost. According to Bankrate, you can also receive

discounts between 1-20 percent for being a nonsmoker, over the age of 55, part of a homeowner's associa-

tion, and not having filed a claim in many years.

For those looking to spend money on home upgrades and renovations, there may be discounts available to help offset some of that

spending if the changes make the home safer or more durable. Many older homes, for instance, have older wiring that poses a much more significant risk of catching fire and causing property damage that insurance companies will often grant a 10 percent reduction in premiums to avoid the potential payoff.

In fact, home electrical fires cause an average of $659 million in losses each year while a wiring-related issue causes more than half of those reported. Meanwhile, wind and hail caused by powerful weather can wreak havoc on an unprepared or deteriorated roof, and discounts of 5-10 percent can be had for installing newer, impact-resistant roofing material.

Moving aging parents into your home

Aging parents are more likely to live with the kids today than they were 70 years ago, according to research.

Living arrangements that include elderly parents have been on the rise during the past 15 years after a precipitous fall starting in the 1940s, according to Pew Research Group.

Among those Americans aged 55 to 64, 24 percent live in multigenerational households. That number declines a bit among those aged 65 and older when about 21 percent live in such households. The trend is most pronounced among Asian and Hispanic families.

Merging households can be a big step that can impact relationships, finances, and living arrangements, according to AARP. The first step to take before moving parents into your home is to make an

you, your children, and spouse. Unresolved personal issues, bad habits like smoking, or unwanted pets will likely create problems down the road.

Medical issues such as chronic illness or physical

Decisions on merging households

honest evaluation of their current relationship with

limitations, meanwhile, can stress every family member

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and you must discuss ahead of time who will be responsible for pitching in to help.

Even under ideal conditions, families have to prepare for health changes that affect mobility and behavior.

Making room for someone new in the house might also mean children will end up sharing a room or even necessitating costly changes such as grab bars in the bathroom, wheelchair ramps, and railings.

Take time up front to discuss the costs as well as who will be responsible for paying for them. Depending on the situation, there may be local services available that can help cover costs.

Super-shot for flu ready for seniors

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A flu shot specially made for seniors combines high doses of immune stimulating antigens, targeted at three flu strains.

The shot, available for those over 65, was formulated with seniors in mind. According to the Mayo Clinic, older people produce 50 to 75 percent fewer antibodies than younger adults.

In one study, seniors who took the high-dose flu vaccine had 25 percent fewer cases of influenza than those who took the standard dose.

However, three clinical studies have also found that high-dose vaccine recipients were more likely to develop fever and soreness at the injection site a week after vaccination.

More than 90 percent of deaths from flu happen to people over the age of 65.

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Christmas delivered

If you hate debating over Christmas trees at the local lots, Amazon has an alternative. According to the Associated Press, Amazon will deliver North Carolina Fraser firs for $115, with Prime shipping and preordering. They promise that all live

trees will be shipped within 10 days of being cut down and will survive the trip to your door. Despite the convenience, the National Christmas Tree Association is skeptical that buyers will want a tree sight unseen.

Smart doorbells can help prevent crime

About 30 percent of Americans say they have had a package stolen from their doorstep, according to USA Today. Companies like Ring are providing camera-equipped security

lights and doorbells that connect to Wi-Fi, allowing users to view video and talk to visitors through their smartphones. A recent study from the Los Angeles Police Department showed these doorbells help to reduce burglaries by as much as 50 percent, spooking would-be criminals who realize they are being monitored.

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“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Anything you can't control is teaching you how to let go.

- Jackson Kiddard

Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energy moving forward together towards an answer.

- Denis Waitley In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.

- Deepak Chopra

We must be willing to let go of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

- Joseph Campbell Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny.

- C.S. Lewis

If you have learned how to disagree without being disagreeable, then you have discovered the secret of getting along - whether it be business, family relations, or life itself.

- Bernard Meltzer

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Pumpkins shine with many dramatic colors

The man who made Thanksgiving leftovers fun

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Pumpkins are so orange, even the name evokes the color.

But, in fact, this popular squash comes in many different hybrids and colors.

The most striking of all the many colored pumpkins is the blue Jarrahdale, a hybrid that is a cross between the Blue Hubbard and Cinderella pumpkin. The sweet, mild flesh remains bright orange, making it a delight to cut.

Not so distant from the orange variety is the red pumpkin. With many different textures and shapes, red pumpkins have their roots in France with the Rouge Vif d'Estampes pumpkin. This French stunner came to the US in the late 1800s and, with many hybrid varieties, the reds now come in many colors from rich cinnamon red to red-orange. Some typical varieties include the Red Lakota, from the midwest, and the Red Warty.

You can thank John Montague for making the Friday after Thanksgiving into a lovely feast of leftovers.

Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, invented the sandwich.

He was born 300 years ago, Nov 3, 1718 in London where he served as England's first lord of the admiralty, secretary of state and postmaster general. He was an important fellow and not just because he knew how to handle leftovers. Captain James Cook actually named the Sandwich Islands after him in 1778.

But the proper invention of the sandwich is said to have more to do with the Earl's vices than virtues.

Montague was a gambler and he regularly engaged in marathon sessions of cards and dice. Not wishing to leave the tables, Montague ordered servants to bring him a meat between two slices of bread. His gambler pals just ordered the 'same as Sandwich." Hence, the favorite world-wide lunch was born.

By the way, the Earl's biographer disputes this notion, saying Montague was more likely to have invented the sandwich at his desk during marathon bouts of work.

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Hot sales in cold weather:

Ramp up your listing now for brisk sales Q I am applying for a mortgage and my local lender told me to fill out the application online.

Should I feel insulted?

A Absolutely not! The Internet has changed many things about how people shop and apply for mortgages. One of the key changes is online applications.

Online applications can save time. You won't have to drive to an office, and you can gather your documents at home. The whole transaction will sometimes be handled online. The lender might ask you to submit online or email documents such as check stubs, bank statements, and tax returns.

In some situations, you'll still have to meet with a loan officer to close.

Q If that is the case, maybe I should just fill out a bunch of applications online? I can see which one has the best deal that way.

A Lenders like to have leads on loans, of course, but making a dozen applications isn't usually necessary.

Many applications won't change whether you are a good risk or miraculously lower an interest rate. People with great credit can choose from two or three advertised offers that have the right combination of interest rates and fees. For people with bad credit or debt and low down payments, reviewing online offers before applying can help find a lender that works with credit problems.

On the other hand, multiple applications can let you compare rates and fees and that can help you make the best deal. Just be sure to compare apples to apples. If you apply for a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with one lender, be sure to make the same application with another so you can make a good comparison.

If a mortgage application is approved, the next step is the mortgage application fee. These fees are expensive and, at that point, you want to decide on a lender.

One consideration about online forms: Be sure to be as accurate and thorough as possible. It is just like sitting with a loan officer.

Spring is the best time to sell a house, right?

Yes, it's a good time, but it's not the only time.

Many sellers have found it easy to list and sell deep into the winter.

Some evidence from Redfin might be surprising. In a study of home sales from 2011 to 2013, houses listed in winter were more likely to sell within six months than those that weren't listed until spring.

One of the reasons for this is the internet. Buyers do most of their browsing online, not traipsing around through the rain or sleet. The internet, it turns out, shows houses just as well in the winter as in the summer.

Sellers with lots of good pictures online can be a step ahead for the serious buyers during the winter.

After all, there are buyers in all sorts of situations that don't allow for waiting until there are chirping birds and mild weather.

Typically, winter buyers are those who have to move right away and have a deadline. Being transferred is one big reason. Or, because buyers have sold their existing home, or a lease is expiring.

Another reason to buy in winter: People have time off.

For sellers, there are also some advantages, prime among them that their sparkling new listing doesn't have a lot of competition.

According to industry sources, there is about 15 percent less competition in the home sales market from November to December.

The committed buyer hoping for a tax break for the year will have eyeballs on fewer homes.

That said, the seller still has to show a house to its best advantage and that is especially true in the winter.

Sellers want to emphasize the cozy and warm appeal in cold months: The fireplace crackling softly and lots of warm lights will help.

Christmas decorations should be subdued for the home sale. A simple tree with soft lighting plus a welcoming wreath on the front door should be all you need.

Crank down the outdoor light show, but turn up the outside walkway lights.

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