Long Island HOME - Fall 2021

L O N G

I S L A N D

HOME

PR E ISS MIE UE RE

REAL ESTATE • DESIGN • LIFEST YLE Fall 2021

WELCOME

Home!

Seasonal Style Timeless Looks and Fall Projects for Your Favorite Spaces The One

Piece of Advice

Every Home Buyer (and Seller) Needs

Right Now

Your East End Weekend Escape

Awaits

Plus

: • Hidden History • Gorgeous Gardens • Property Tax Primer • And More InsideLIHome.com

DELIVERING THE 277 LINDENMERE DR MERRICK

Prestige One Of A Kind Brick/Slate Executive Tudor Overlooking Cammanns Pond! The home is known locally as The Castle. Prime location house sits on 2 professionally landscaped lots plus 5 car detached garage perfect for a car collector! This home is Currently set-up as 3 Car plus gym/office plus loft. Stately Manor Home Boasts Traditional Charm with All Opulent Amenities including 3 fireplaces, radiant heat, and Viking appliances. This is a perfect Example of a successful marriage of traditional architectural detailing with the finest modern conveniences. Lavishly Appointed Garden with gas heated inground 20X40 pool/spa/spill-over waterfall sweeping property surrounded by a paved secure secluded courtyard. 400 AMP electric service, whole house generator, and taxes grieved annually.

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DREAM OF HOME 19 MUIRFIELD RD RVC

A true Rockville Centre Classic Colonial 7 room | 9 finished plus full unfinished basement 3 Bed 2 full bathrooms the tall front door makes a statement when entering into a generous living room with a unique double mantle wood-burning fireplace, spacious FDR off the updated kitchen with Granite countertops and solid wood cabinets and breakfast nook with sliders to enclosed sun-room fully windowed plus a den off LR, full bathroom, fills out the first-floor. The upstairs full bathroom boasts a vaulted ceiling with 2 skylights, 1 Open (over tub) and 1 Fixed. Wood floors throughout. Professionally landscaped property with wood fencing completes the charm and character inside and out. 1 car detached garage with deep driveway. Do not miss viewing this exceptional home with excellent value.

It's Time to Partner with an Expert

Kevin Leatherman Real Estate Broker 25 S. Village Avenue Rockville Centre, NY

Direct (516) 362-1828 Cell (516) 984-1815 Client Text (516) 271-2236 kevin@leathermanhomes.com

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Meet Kevin Leatherman…

Owner/Broker of Leatherman Homes, Kevin was voted 2020 Long Island Board of Realtors “Broker of the Year” • 2021 Treasurer – Long Island Board of Realtors • 2020 New York State Agent Ranked 166 out of over 60,000 Agents • 2018 Honoree – Long Island Business News – Top Broker/Owner Nassau County • Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) is truly an asset to any consumer • Previously served as 2013 President Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (now known as Onekey MLS) • Board Member - Long Island Board of Realtors & past Grievance Committee Member Also serving on Condominium and Cooperative Residential Buildings • Member – Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce and interchange Business Organization (IBO)

Kevin Leatherman Real Estate Broker 25 South Village Avenue Rockville Centre, NY Direct (516) 362-1828 Cell (516) 984-1815 Client Test (516) 271-2236 kevin@leathermanhomes.com 4

About Kevin…

About Leatherman Homes…

Enthusiasm, Passion, Knowledge – The qualities you want in your Broker Kevin was raised in Commack, graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Banking and Finance. While having a successful career selling and trading Foreign Exchange for top Wall Street firms, he pursued his true passion by attending a real estate broker licensing course at New York University.

His education and work experience in the financial markets have afforded him the expertise to assess the current market value and understand its fluctuations. It is by exacting these keen skills that he is proficient at pricing strategies, thereby getting his clients the best attainable price in the shortest time with the least inconvenience.

Being a life-long resident of Long Island, he is well-versed and confident in brokering deals with buyers and sellers in Nassau County from the Gold Coast Communities of the North Shore to the South Shore Communities fronting the Atlantic Ocean and also offer a unique familiarity with Western Suffolk County and Eastern Queens.

Kevin is a well respected real estate professional with years of local expert experience, savvy negotiation skills with immense referral resources. He is the

ESTABLISHED IN 1996 RESOURCES / SERVICES Professional photography, aerial shots when appropriate, customized floor plans, virtual tours, videos and 3D Matterport.

First-class scheduling system to coordinate all showing activities including agent and buyer feedback Digital Marketing Platform Powered by Curaytor, a Fortune 500 Company that advertises on Facebook, Instagram, Google Pay per Click and You Tube.

All listings are distributed to websites such as OneKeyMLS.com (search in 21 Languages) Realtor.com, Homes.com, Homesnap.com, Zillow.com and Trulia. com plus numerous others.

Well-developed social media has a reach of over 25,000 people including the following platforms instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin, Twitter and Pinterest. Plus Leatherman Blog.

LoopNet is used to promote Commercial Listings Home Search Account with a real-time listing notification that affords you to search like a REALTOR with customtailored criteria.

Staffed with licensed professionals to provide clients with top-notch service and aid them in achieving their real estate goals whether it be Residential Sales including Co-op, Condo and Waterfront, Commercial, Rentals and Short Sales

Voice of Real Estate In Nassau County & Beyond

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INSIDE

What’s New in the New New

Normal

Local Experts Reveal the Right-Now Trends for Fall 2021

page

24

Paint

Misbehavin’ Breathtaking artwork and breaking a few rules with mural maven Arlene Mcloughlin

page

38

Our Town

A journey through Long Island’s past in historic Hempstead

page

44

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INSIDE

L O N G

I S L A N D

HOME

Welcoome

HOME

Issue 1 Fall 2021

Pineapple Expression

STAFF

page

12

Editorial Team Karen Bloom Lee Meyer Kate Nalepinski Publisher Stuart Richner

• My L.I. Home 14 • Real Talk 18 • How To 48 .... ....

....

Vice President Sales Rhonda Glickman Vice President Operations Michael Bologna Director of New Business Development Eric Feil Creative Director and Designer Jeffrey A. Negrin Cover Photo Barbara Lassen

Escapes

L O N G

I S L A N D

HOME

PR E ISS MIE UE RE

REAL ESTATE • DESIGN • LIFEST YLE Fall 2021

Gateway to the East End

WELCOME

Home!

page

52

Seasonal Style Timeless Looks and Fall Projects for Your Favorite Spaces The One

Piece of Advice

Every Home Buyer (and Seller) Needs

Right Now

Your East End Weekend Escape

Awaits

Plus

: • Hidden History • Gorgeous Gardens • Property Tax Primer • And More InsideLIHome.com

Home Sweet Home HOME Is Where Is the

page

58 10

Long Island HOME Magazine is published by Richner Communications, Inc. and is distributed

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No part of Long Island HOME Magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from the publisher.

The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or staff of Long Island HOME Magazine.

Long Island HOME Magazine 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 Voice: (516) 569-4000 • Fax: (516) 569-4942 © 2021 Richner Communications, Inc.

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Welcome

HOME

Pineapple Expression A red door. A candle in the window.

The symbols welcoming guests into a home are many, but few have the enduring power of the pineapple.

A symbol of wealth and status in Europe in the 1500s due to the difficulty in obtaining even one of the crown-topped fruits from the Caribbean, the pineapple found itself adorning everything from church entrances to fine china over the next few centuries.

Some historians say that the rarity of the tropical fruit in America during colonial times made it the ultimate symbol of generosity, while others recount that a pineapple was often placed in the front of a house when New England sea captains returned safely from a journey, alerting neighbors that they were now invited to visit.

Throughout Long Island today, the pineapple stands as a symbol of hospitality, of welcome to any and all. Please, come on in…

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One of these things is not like the others.

Our philosophy sets us apart. Simply put, changing your address is more than a transaction.

It means establishing community, raising family, building connections and branching out.

And giving back is key to who we are.

That’s why 2% of our gross sales commissions are given to local charities.

We don’t just work here. We’re here to make a difference.

Ready to explore your options? Give us a call. We’re excited to meet you.

Dawn Costello

Molly Deegan

Karen Richter

John Breen

Megan Branigan

Kristen Hertler

Andre Temidis

Greg McMahon

Ellen Schwartz

Mike Forbes

Alyssa Hagstrom

Daniel Dickson

Kellie Deegan

Teddie McGinley

Jennifer DeSane

Steve Buerger

Justin Nutall

branchreg.com

•

516.671.4400

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My L.I. Home

Planting Fields of

Dreams

By Lee Meyer

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All places have stories, but the Planting Fields in Oyster Bay has 409 acres of them. And Gina Wouters wants to help those stories.

“I didn’t know anything about the larger story behind it,” says Wouters, Executive Director of the Planting Fields Foundation.

“So many people have never heard of it.”

The Planting Fields Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded

by W.R. Coe in 1952, was created to “preserve and make relevant to all audiences the heritage of Planting Fields, an early 20th century 409-acre estate, designed as an integrated composition of the built and natural world,” according to the group’s mission statement. The property, which includes the Planting Fields Arboretum, Coe Hall and many other buildings and land, is one of Long Island’s most beloved historical sites.

Wouters joined the Planting Fields Foundation in 2019 after her time at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami. A curator

continued on page 16

We believe the best work comes from the heart.

The 650 sales professionals at Coach Realtors live by this ethos.

Our sales agents take a personal interest in the wellbeing of their peers, customers and the community.

We are proud to be ranked within the nation’s top 125 largest non-franchised firms by Real Trends and within the nation’s top 225 most successful brokerages by RIS Media and Real Trends.

Founded in 1954, there are over 6 decades of experience in every word we speak. We are motivated to put this knowledge to work for you.

Work with us 800.321.7356

LP Finn III, Whitney Finn-LaCosta & Bob LaCosta Owners of Coach Realtors

Founded in 1954 | 19 branch offices throughout Long Island | 650+ sales associates

coachrealtors.com H E R E YO U C A N

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continued from page 14

and art expert, she’s familiar with the site thanks to a famous by Robert Winthrop Chanler mural, found in countless art books but actually residing in Coe Hall, yet she wasn’t aware of the depth of its history.

Wouters realized she was not alone.

“People in the industry who really should know about it have never heard about it. To me, it was just a real opportunity to figure out how we get this place nationally recognized for its important heritage. It’s most known as an arboretum—which it is, of course—but it was designed as the quintessential example of a Gold Coast 16

estate of Long Island.”

A large part of telling the story of Planting Fields, for Wouters, involves preserving its unique architecture and landscape. The original acreage of the property, a staggering 409 acres, is still with the Foundation, “which is so rare,” says Wouters. One of Wouters’ primary goals has been to restore the landscape to the original vision of the Olmsted Brothers, the architectural firm known for designing Central Park, the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and more.

Born in Holland, Wouters has lived a life infused with travel and

multiculturalism from the start, having moved to Miami as a child. “Being a hodgepodge of things or a mix of things has always been a part of me,” she explains, noting her parents’ Indonesian and Dutch heritage. Since moving to Long Island, Wouters and her family have lived in Locust Valley and recently moved to a house in Cold Spring Harbor. “It’s a total fixer-upper,” she says. “We are completely immersed in all these details of making our own space. Right now we have one room that I think is beautiful, that I love. We have all our artwork and cool stuff.”

And in keeping with her natural ability to tell stories, “I like books, they are

really important to me. I love reading books. I love looking at books, but I also love the way books look like a design element.

When we finish our living room where we have these built-in bookshelves, they’re historic. I can’t wait to have all our books together.”

Just as Wouters and her family have been gradually exploring the island and discovering new places, she hopes more people and their families will visit the Planting Fields. Among the attractions are two large greenhouses, hundreds of acres of hikeable land and Coe Hall.

There there are docents who give tailored house tours to families, and fun scavenger hunts can be found in brochures.

The stories of places like Planting Fields need to be told, says Wouters. “They’re not just beautiful buildings, but they’re building stories where certain craftsmanship and vision was applied that you lose today,” she says. “We want to make this site, and this also has been my MO with the other sites, culturally vital and vibrant, so that is activity, so that it’s both the place that is deeply rooted in history, but also a site that people make their own stories at, make their own histories at.”

Read more about Gina Wouters’ L.I. home at InsideLIHome.com.

Photos courtesy Gina Wouters

Page 14: The Planting Fields Aboretum in Oyster Bay Page 16: Executive Director Gina Wouters in her Cold Spring Harbor home Page 17: There is much to discover throughout the expansive Planting Fields property

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Location Location…

Location

Real Talk

There is no shortage of advice when it comes to buying and selling homes, especially here on Long Island. Quality advice, however, is always at a premium.

Our real estate markets are ever-evolving, and the true expert knowledge and insight needed to navigate the waters are more valuable than ever.

Some tenets, such as noting the omnipresent power of a home’s location three times, are always going to hold true.

But as we continue through this cycle that has seen record-setting prices and

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issues of inventory, a time when terms such as “over ask” and “bidding war” have entered the everyday lexicon, not all ageold wisdom still applies. There seems to be more questions than ever. Happily, we have some answers.

As we head into the heart of the fall season, we’ve brought together a gathering of Long Island’s real estate experts to impart their wisdom and share key pieces of advice they are offering buyers and sellers right now.

KENNETH KRONCKE Realty Connect USA For buyers, you have to be open minded. What you think you’re going to get is probably not what you’re going to wind up with. Be open to different styles of homes and locations.

Sellers, your highest offer is not always your best offer.

Terms—such as appraisal, down payment, flexibility— are so important in today’s market.

CATALINA GUTTILLA Catalina Fine Homes If you are a first-time home buyer, don’t be afraid and don’t give up! It’s a tough market right now. Things happen for a reason, and eventually with patience and the right broker who can build a great offer with you, you will find your forever home. Perseverance is the key to your new home.

If you are a seller, congratulations—this is your time.

Don’t give up your equity. The right broker will get you the most money

KEVIN LEATHERMAN For sellers, they should price responsibly.

We’ve had this mass exodus out of the metropolitan area and onto Long Island, but at this point, while there is still a migration happening, the buyers are interested in properties that are being priced correctly. The climate has changed.

friends, and now they’re looking, so you have people in transition. The real issue is in a market where you have less than normal inventory—and normal inventory is defined as six months of inventory, and the power of buyers and sellers is equal, nobody has the upper hand. So if you have two or three month’s supply of single-family homes in Nassau County, for example, then that’s a seller’s market, still.

I think the appreciation is leveling off, so don’t anticipate the appreciation you’ve had the last 12 months to be duplicated over the next 12 months. I don’t see that happening.

Price responsibly and you will get more showings, a higher probability of more offers, and you’ll get the job done quicker. And if the market is strong enough, then you’ll get above asking price.

When somebody wants to be selling and buying, it’s very tricky for them to line up all the details of both transactions, so they move their family from Point A to Point B, sometimes even to a hotel. As a result, some buyers, if they are in the financial position to do so, have gone into contract on their purchase before they’ve even put their property for sale.

Leatherman Homes

Some people have sold and they’ve gone into temporary rentals or are staying with

MOLLY DEEGAN Branch Real Estate Group

willing to compromise on things that are less important to you.

For a buyer, the best advice I have is to not rush into a decision. The market has changed. Panic buying has subsided, so there is time to take a breath and be thoughtful with your approach. If you absolutely need to make a move now, be sure to prioritize your “must haves” and be

Sellers should understand the changes in the market and that buyers are not necessarily in the same rush they were a year ago to make a move. Be realistic, patient and price your property to sell. Your realtor will be your best ally in this process, because we know the market and can be objective.

NATALYA MIKINBERG

house of your dreams with an historically low mortgage rate!

V.I. Properties Team, Compass Real Estate Buyers, act quickly! Have all your financials ready and available to support your offer.

Houses sold very fast with multiple offers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to buy the

Once again it’s a seller’s market! If you want to sell your property in the near future, it is the time now! Be prepared—have all your documentation checked, find the real estate broker to evaluate and market your property. continued on next page

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continued from previous page

ANGELLA TCHIREMU HomeSmart Cross Island Real Estate Buyers, be prepared with solid financing and realize that, in this seller’s market, the asking price is often just the starting point. Do not become discouraged if you are faced with numerous offers being rejected—continue to be diligent in your home search and you will eventually prevail.

GRACE MERRELL SLEZAK Destiny International Realty Whether it’s commodities, stocks, all the markets are a little erratic right now—I just think real estate is topping the erratic list.

Don’t panic. Yes, there are situations where people are lining up around the block and there are 30 offers on a house, and obviously only one can get it. People are bidding over ask, and even then they aren’t necessarily getting it. But don’t panic. It’s not the last house on the planet.

ANGELA DOOLEY The Colombos-Dooley Team, Compass Real Estate

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The single best piece of advice I could give buyers today would be to get preapproved for a loan before house-hunting. This could save a lot of time, especially in these economic times when the sellers are getting multiple offers and they must choose one buyer.

Having your preapproval in place puts you in a great position. Also, the greater the down payment, the more favorable your offer becomes. Start saving now!

Sellers, don’t be overly aggressive in pricing your home. Pricing your home at the suggested Comparative Market Value will draw the maximum credible buyers to your property, and will generate maximum competition. This will lead to more offers and offers well over the asking price.

I can understand sellers being worried about the fact that, ‘If I sell my house, where am I going to buy?’ It’s a really difficult time, because there is such a shortage on inventory—there is such an unrealistic and unprecedented ratio between the buyers and sellers, and this is creating a very unrealistic situation. My advice for them is the same: Don’t panic.

The best advice I could give sellers would be to never underestimate the value of first impressions. No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and some colored flowers—you can typically get 100% return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal!

From the community.

For the community.

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“

“

Rooms We Love

There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.

—Sylvia Plath

Photo by Barbara Lassen

“Begin your own traditions!”

– Esther Fortunoff

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What’s NEW—and NEW Aga

Experts Share Right-N

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ain—in the NEW NEW Normal

Now Projects, Fresh Takes and Timeless Tips for Your Long Island Home

A home is more than a place to live. It is the center of your life and lifestyle. It is the foundation of family memories and the destination for building dreams big and small. With the renewed sense of appreciation we all feel for everything that time at home can mean— entertaining and playing outdoors, planting a garden, creating a workspace—a gathering of experts step inside (and outside, of course) to share their insights and inspirations for making your home an oasis whether at work or play.

Reporting by Kate Nalepinski and Lee Meyer Photos 123rf.com

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The New New Normal (con’t)

What’s New Is

The Kitchen

Old Again

Long Island knows how to nail old-school charm while keeping up with modern movements, a melding that experts often see coming together in the heart of the home.

According to the U.S.A. Cabinet Stores, most homeowners renovate their kitchen every 10 to 15 years, and many wonder how to upgrade an older kitchen while maintaining its historic integrity.

The answer, in many cases, is going with new materials that can still offer a classic appearance. “There are plenty of designs out there that appear old-school, traditional or classic, but are made with today’s quality and technology,” 26

says Will Griffiths, co-owner of Forest Kitchen and Bath in Glen Cove.

Wood cabinets and raised-panels, for example, are indicative of more traditional styles, and elaborate cabinet moldings can also be considered to keep an old-school look. An oil-rubbed bronze finish can make appliances look more like antiques, and when it comes to kitchen countertops, he suggests marble or quartz with brown tones. “Mable is always in style, so it’s a safe bet,” he says. “It just looks classic and timeless.”

The Garden

The New New Normal (con’t)

SPRINGS

Hope

The sight of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths sprouting is one indication that spring has sprung. To ensure that these bright blooms pop through the ground in a few months, it’s best to plant them in the fall, says Frank Venezia, owner of Venezia’s Garden Center of Mineola.

“There’s really two times of the year that you can plant bulbs,” Venezia says. “The problem is—and this is where people sometimes go wrong—if you want spring flowers, you plant them in the fall. If you want summer bulbs, you plant them in the spring. So you always need to be one season ahead.”

Venezia notes that bulbs for spring flowers should be planted as early as October but no later than December, before the ground is frozen. The most popular flower that Long Islanders buy in the fall? Mums, Venezia believes.

An extra tip: mums are perennials, not annuals. This means that even if they appear to be dying, they’ll always bloom year after year. “They’ll definitely come back,” he says, “they just won’t be in the perfect shape so they may need to be trimmed.” We’ll have tips on that come next year.

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V.I. Properties is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented her withdrawal of the property from the market without notice. Compass makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy thereof. All measurements and square footages are appro

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The Season

The New New Normal (con’t)

SIMPLY

BOO-tiful It’s time to decorate for the big holiday season! Woah, slow down, not those holidays. At least not yet.

In nearly every neighborhood, there’s always that one homeowner who goes all out for Halloween. Orange and purple lights and pumpkins illuminate the front lawn, where tombstones are scattered in disarray. Wacky skeletons are hung from shingles, and the structure begins to feel less like a home and more like the Haunted Mansion.

Some homeowners may find it challenging to decorate without going over the top—in the U.S., more money is spent on decorating for Halloween than any holiday other than Christmas—especially when it comes to knowing how to make your space look perfectly autumnal and spooky without jeopardizing your everyday interior style.

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Michelle Galante Zangari, interior designer with MZ Interior Design in Rockville Centre, says regardless of the season or space, the key is keeping numbers in mind.

“Holiday decor and display look best when grouping items in odd numbers,” Zangari says. “It’s more visually appealing and is a good rule of thumb whenever you are decorating your home, whether its pumpkins for Halloween or picture frames on a side table.”

Further, she says, Halloween decor doesn’t need to “match,” but homeowners should try to find a common thread. “It could be a color that appears in every item or the material it’s made out of,” Zangari says. “Most of all, choose decor that makes you happy and creates a festive mood in your home.”

From a cozy cottage to a palatial mansion...

From waterfront to verdant meadows...

From individual building lots to land of signi cant magnitude...

From your dreams to reality...

Let Destiny Be Your Guide IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU TO SELL YOUR HOME OR BUY ONE? Do you know what your home is worth in today’s market?

I invite you to contact me to discuss your options and all your real estate needs. I will also do a thorough and extensive FREE COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS for you.

Meet Grace Merrell Slezak, B.A., M.A. Grace is the Licensed Broker/Owner/President of Destiny International Realty with 30+ years of exemplary, outstanding, award-winning, professional experience in the real estate industry. Renowned for her integrity, knowledge, excellent service, dependability, compassion, guidance, kindness and powerful work ethic, she has won the loyalty of her clients and customers who recommend her to their family, friends, business associates and colleagues.

“Grace Slezak is an extremely honest, candid and compassionate broker. She has vast knowledge of the real estate business and provides very helpful guidelines for both the buyer and the seller throughout the course of the transaction. I have sold and purchased properties with Grace as my agent…there is absolutely no one else I would call.”

Memberships include: • Multiple Listing Service of Long Island • New York State Association of REALTORS® • National Association of REALTORS®

Grace Merrell Slezak, B.A., M.A. 516-768-1000 Grace.Slezak@gmail.com DestinyInternationalRealty.com 31

The New New Normal (con’t)

TICK TOCK,

The Outdoors

TICK TOCK

Time is running out on warmer weather, but that doesn’t mean Long Islanders can let down their guard when it comes to one of the most important aspects of home safety: tick defense.

“You may think ticks disappear in the winter months, but the risk of being bitten never goes away, and ticks will remain active when temps are above freezing,” says Brian Kelly, owner of East End Tick & Mosquito Control.

“Blacklegged [deer] ticks have the ability to survive harsh weather, and while some ticks die at 14 degrees Fahrenheit, 32

many can survive all the way to below -7 degrees. Unfed adult ticks have the strength to resume questing for blood once temps hit above freezing.”

Professional treatments are an option, but there are also steps homeowners can take on their own, Kelly notes.

“Tick survival is enhanced by shade and moisture, and leaf litter provides both, so it’s ideal for tick nests and should be removed from your property to help limit the tick population for the 2022 season.”

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The Workspace

The New New Normal (con’t)

For Kids

Home Office Upgrade…

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down Long Island schools and those across the country, parents and educators shifted gears to help kids learn remotely. Although most students are back to in-person schooling, learning in the home remains a part of everyday life, and a dedicated space can help students excel.

Khan Academy, an online resource for grades K–14, notes that parents should choose a location based on a child’s learning preferences and needs. If they’re younger, you can opt for a more centralized location such as the living room, where they can be easily checked on. Students using Zoom 34

more regularly may prefer a workplace in their bedroom, since it’s a more private space.

No matter the specific room, a well-designed at-home workspace for kids is essential for creating an atmosphere that inspires learning, thought and creativity—even when they’re taking a break. If they love music, put some instruments in there. If they love art, put up an easel. The space should be organized and dedicated to work, but can also reflect each child’s unique personality, style and interests.

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The Other Kitchen

The New New Normal (con’t)

FIRED UP

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Burgers and chicken sizzle on the grill as the crisp fall air blows across the yard, carrying the scent of grill-roasted corn and veggies to friends seated at a table on the patio. You are officially the host with the most!

Outdoor spaces continue to be more important than ever for Long Island homeowners, and a well-planned outdoor cooking space—equipped with cooking appliances, prep areas and more—can transform your backyard and make it a hotspot to host guests not just this fall but in any season. And a multifunctional backyard kitchen elevates the experience for barbecue bashes on a sunny afternoon, at-home tailgating all through football season, and even elegant evening dining under the stars.

For homeowners who simply want to start with the perfect grill, the first step is determining where the fuel will come 36

from. “If your house has an external gas line, you can go with a gas-powered grill, so you won’t have to keep replacing propane tanks,” says Pierre Farrow, longtime sales associate with P.C. Richard & Son. If you don’t have an external gas line, he adds, opt for a propane-fueled grill, which offers a cooking surface with a more even temperature.

Most restaurants use high-end, stainless-steel grating, Farrow notes, but hard-anodized aluminum and porcelain are other excellent options. Smoker boxes can be incorporated to give your food that smoky flavor, and for authentic barbecue lovers, he suggests a propane-powered smoker, a high-quality appliance that allows chefs to slow-cook ribs, chicken and more. Farrow also notes that many homeowners opt to add on a side burner parallel to the grill for boiling lobsters in the summer or making chili in cooler months. Now we’re cookin’!

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38

Paint Misbehavin’ Breathtaking artwork and breaking a few rules with

Mural Maven Arlene Mcloughlin

By Lee Meyer

Photos courtesy Arlene Mcloughlin

continued on next page

39

“

“

continued from previous page

When the room was revealed, the sheer joy on this family’s faces was so rewarding…

When Long Island native Arlene Mcloughlin was in sixth grade, she made her first mural for a school project at St. Boniface Elementary School in Elmont. Not everyone can look back on their grammar school days and point to such a seminal career moment, but, of course, Mcloughlin isn’t just any artist.

The Massapequa resident has run Arlene Mcloughlin Murals for 27 years, yet she has garnered raves and a reputation well beyond the expansive works for which her business is named. A Fashion Institute of Technology graduate who originally studied fashion illustration, she embraced her true calling only after first trying her hand at something else.

“I started a bridal business but I realized that I enjoy painting more than sewing,” she says, “so when I got pregnant with my daughter in 1994 I painted a mural in her room, and it kind of exploded after that. I started and haven’t stopped since.”

That is something of an understatement, as Mcloughlin has continued on page 42

40

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41

continued from page 40

diversified into faux-finishes, exterior brick painting, decorative ceilings, and even furniture and cabinet painting. Over the years, she has built a vast portfolio of both residential and commercial creations across Long Island, working with clients including Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo and fashion designer Jenna Lyons. Her range is so eclectic, some of the projects she’s most proud of are completely different from one another.

While her Day of the Dead–inspired art at Dirty Taco in Woodbury and her intricate, stirring re-creation of Sicily’s St. John the Baptist Church ceiling in a residential home may seem like disparate projects, for example, the polish and precision on display are uniquely her own. For the church ceiling re-creation, she recalls, “The client grew up in Sicily and wanted to bring his hometown parish church here. He specifically had a ceiling built to accommodate the mural. I have to say, it really is amazing.”

42

Mcloughlin’s artistic process involves both craft and careful research, and her husband, Dale, has also gotten involved with the business, helping with whitewashing and carpentry—not to mention some of those projects that reach 40 or 50 feet into the air.

“My husband and I assess the situation as far as carpentry and heights and then I gather visual resources—other artists’ work for inspiration, my own sketches or stencils,” she explains. “Then I’ll show the visual aids to the client and

we’ll go from there.”

A five-time winner of the American Paint Contractors Awards, and a member of the Society of Decorative Painters, Mcloughlin is never one to rest on past laurels. The future is particularly top-of-mind these days, as she plans to bring her son, Owen, and her nephew, Dante, into the fold as apprentices. “I’m hoping at some point when I retire they can carry the tradition of excellence.”

Not that she is thinking of stopping. There are still dreams to fulfill. One project Mcloughlin has always wanted to work on is a large-scale outdoor mural that goes along the side of a large building—she recently submitted a bid for a community project to make that dream come true (we’re keeping the location a secret for now). Yet the intimacy of a mural in somebody’s house remains special to the artist, who understands just how important such a work can be to a homeowner.

“People love to have some sort of uniqueness to their home,” she says. “A mural, unlike wallpaper, allows people to really get creative and have something completely custom that no one else has. And if you find the right muralist and can make an artist’s painting or drawing their own, you’ll have something nobody else has.”

See more of Arlene Mcloughlin’s works at InsideLIHome.com and at arlenemurals.com.

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43

OUR TOWN A

Journey through

Long Island’s past Awaits in

Historic Hempstead

By Kate Nalepinski

“History is important—we learn from the past.” Hempstead Town historian Tom Saltzman speaks in understatement, of course, in assessing the value of our collective past, particularly when it comes to the centuries of wood and stone and brick and mortar that are part of the foundation of the most populous township in America.

The Town of Hempstead is the place more than threequarters of a million Long Islanders call “home,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it not only the largest township in the United States but one of its most diverse and historic in terms of the homes and buildings that have marked the time. From the waterfront bungalows in East Rockaway village on the south to Garden City estates in the north, Hempstead Town’s architectural offerings exhibit both a rich past and a vibrant present. The future, and how it will connect with that past through the plethora of historic landmarks, remains in question.

“It is our job to maintain the historic integrity of these buildings,” Saltzman says. “We are not in charge of maintenance, but instead the prevention of destruction of buildings that have withstood the test of time and…are of historical interest to the Town.”

And all of Long Island. Suburban growth, LIRR commuting, diverse houses of worship, families that go back generation “More and more historic buildings are being torn down after generation—the aspects of life on our island today and destroyed, by either neglect and or greed,” Saltzman have been building for hundreds of years in the buildings we continues. “Landmarking at least prevents the destruction of… buildings that have been important in the history of the celebrate here, and the many others awaiting visitors who will help ensure that they endure for years to come. town, its population and its families.”

44

Wantagh Railroad Museum 1700 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh

The Wantagh Museum is made up of three structures: the station, the “Jamaica” railroad car and the re-created 1904 Wantagh post office. The “Jamaica” car that sits on the property was built in 1912 for the Long Island Rail Road, although the station was constructed on Railroad Avenue by the South Shore Railroad in 1885. It was moved in 1966 to save it from demolition when the Wantagh Railroad service was expanded.

“The station was a blueprint that was used a number of times throughout Long Island back in the 19th century,” says Bob Meagher, former president of the Wantagh Preservation Society, which was established in 1965.

Photos courtesy Wantagh Preservation Society

The “Jamaica” car at the Wantagh museum was built in 1912 for the Long Island Rail Road.

A Feb. 1968 photo of the site on Railroad Avenue.

Franklin Square National Bank 925 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square

What is now a Chase bank branch on Hempstead Turnpike was once, according to historians, the wellspring of suburban growth on Long Island.

The Franklin National Bank financed approximately one-quarter of all homes built in the county between 1934 and 1970, and bankers claim the site was home to the nation’s first-ever driveup bank window. The white building, which was expanded in 1939 and features American-Colonial architecture throughout, was operated by notable L.I. banker Arthur Roth beginning in the mid-1930s.

Courtesy Library of Congress

The interior of the Franklin Square National Bank as it appeared in 1961.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

The Franklin Square National Bank on Hempstead Turnpike as it appears today.

continued on next page

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continued from previous page

Bedell House

2445 S. Saint Marks Ave., Bellmore The oldest house in Bellmore, the Bedell House was constructed in 1689.

The Bedell family were among the first settlers of the area, and town documents reveal that descendants lived in the house from the time it was built until 1950. The home serves as an example of architecture in the Federal Period, with additions that were made in 1778 and later in 1872. While the house is privately owned today, it contains an original fireplace, complete with its iron crane and kettle, that hearkens back to the days of the Bedells.

Courtesy Tom Saltzman

An old photo of the Bedell House, as it appeared in “Preserving Hempstead’s Heritage,” a text by the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Kate Nalepinski/LI Home

The Bedell House in Bellmore is the oldest house in the township. It was constructed in 1689.

Rock Hall Museum

199 Broadway, Lawrence The Rock Hall Museum is a “surviving example of Georgian domestic architecture,” according to “Preserving Hempstead’s Heritage,” a text by the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Preservation Commission under Supervisor Richard Guardino. Constructed in 1767, this two-and-a-half-story white mansion overlooking Jamaica Bay was originally the home of Josiah Martin, an Antiguan sugar planter who was loyal to the British crown. The mansion was purchased in 1824 by Thomas Hewlett, and in 1948, George Hewlett, a descendent of Thomas, surrendered the building to the Town of Hempstead. It is currently owned and maintained by the town and Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.

Courtesy Tom Saltzman

Lawrence’s Rock Hall Museum as it appeared in “Preserving Hempstead’s Heritage,” a text by the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

The Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence was purchased in 1824 by Thomas Hewlett.

46

Quaker Meeting House Wantagh Avenue and Twin Lane, Wantagh

In 1827, the Jerusalem Society of Friends (a codename for Wantagh Quakers, before they could meet openly) constructed a 34-by-28-foot structure that could serve as a place of worship for the local Quakers. A registered Town of Hempstead Historical Site, the building is now part of the First Baptist Church of Wantagh, located south of the Southern State Parkway.

Hempstead Town Hall records indicate that roughly 60 years later, neighboring land was purchased by the Quakers, and the property was used as a cemetery, which contains the graves of three Civil War veterans: Lt. H.R. Jackson, Gilbert Seaman of the 139th Regiment of the New York Volunteers, and Charles Wilson of the 119th Regiment of the New York Volunteers.

Photos by Kate Nalepinski/LI Home

The cemetery site at Wantagh Avenue and Twin Lane contains the graves of three Civil War veterans.

The Quaker Meeting House in Wantagh was used as a place of worship for the Jerusalem Society of Friends.

United Methodist Church of Hempstead 40 Washington St., Hempstead The United Methodist Church spire not only reaches higher than any other in Hempstead Village but is one of the tallest in Nassau County. This UMC was established in 1822 to accommodate the growing Methodist congregation, but by 1854 the congregation outgrew the structure and it was sold, which sparked the construction on the present building.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

The spire on the United Methodist Church of Hempstead is one of the tallest in Nassau County.

Courtesy Tom Saltzman

An undated postcard that displays the United Methodist Church of Hempstead, formerly referred to as the M.E. Church in Hempstead.

Find more historic structures in the Town of Hempstead at InsideLIHome.com.

47

How To

Y

ou’ve bought your house, furnished it, manicured the yard, put down roots…and you’ve likely learned that home ownership is not a destination, but a journey. Among the ongoing issues that come up time and again— perhaps even at the top of your list—are property taxes.

They spark a multitude of emotions and misconceptions, to say nothing of myriad questions, often beginning with one almost every Long Island homeowner ponders: Should I consider filing a tax grievance?

“A homeowner should not ‘consider’ a property tax grievance,” according to Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group Property Tax, LLC Supervisor John P. Frascella. “They should absolutely do it.”

Just Do It! “There is zero downside,” Frascella says of a grievance. “If a property tax grievance is not successful, a homeowner’s assessment cannot be increased. If we do not get them a reduction, there is no fee, other than a possible $30 court filing fee. Essentially, they have nothing to lose. If they do not file, their neighbors could certainly end up with lower taxes by comparison. It’s important to maintain a fair assessment of your home.”

Property tax

grievance

101

By Lee Meyer

48

“But the County Will Inspect My Home!” and Other Misconceptions “Common misconceptions are, ‘The County is going to come and inspect my home.’ That is not true,” explains Frascella. “A property tax grievance will not trigger an inspection by the Nassau County Field Division. Another misconception is, ‘My assessment is already too low’. There is no way to know that with confidence, two years in advance of the tax year at issue.” That is for the experts to determine. “We have creative, advanced ways of making arguments in these cases. Don’t count yourself out before you even start.”

Every Homeowner Can File a Grievance. But… Frascella says that every homeowner can file a grievance but notes that not every homeowner is eligible for Small Claims Assessment Review, also known as SCAR. “For SCAR, the property must be owner occupied.”

The Eternal Question: I Filed Last Year, Can I Do It Again?

“Yes, you absolutely can, and should!” says Frascella.

“Maintaining a fair assessment is undoubtedly a yearly process. The uphill battle never ends. We must challenge consistently in Nassau County. School and General tax rates have a tendency to rise on a yearly basis.”

Learn more about property tax grievances and other property tax issues at maidenbaumtax.com.

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Hidden HOME Towns

popular modern dance, opened the Long Beach nightclub Castles by the Sea in 1914. Tragically, Vernon would not get to enjoy Castles by the Sea for very long—after enlisting in World War I, Vernon was killed while piloting a plane in Texas in 1918.

The Rockaway Indians were the original inhabitants of the Long Beach barrier island.

Secrets of

Long City Beach by the Sea

By Lee Meyer

Photo by: Scott Heaney/iStock

We all have favorite aspects of Long Island’s myriad villages and towns, from pristine natural wonders to historic homes and beloved businesses. What we love most, perhaps, is that there is always something new to discover. Famous for its stunning Atlantic Ocean views, beautiful boardwalk and distinct real estate districts, Long Beach is affectionately known as the City by the Sea, but less known, perhaps, is that the moniker is actually there, written in Latin, on the city’s official seal.

First incorporated as a village in 1913, the City of Long Beach was founded by politician and real estate developer William H. Reynolds in 1922. Reynolds, who also developed Bedford-Stuyvesant, Borough Park, Bensonhurst and South Brownsville in Brooklyn, was Long Beach’s first president.

Elephants from Coney Island’s Dreamland were used in a PR stunt to help build the 2.2-mile boardwalk in 1914. The elephants “helped” with the physical labor of hauling building materials.

Long Beach is one of only two cities on Long Island (sharing the distinction with Glen Cove).

Legendary dancers Vernon and Irene Castle, who are known for reviving 50

Bayman Davenport Wright built the first house on the barrier island, in 1869. The first neighborhood, the Estates, went up in 1908.

The fictional Corleone compound from The Godfather was located in Long Beach, although the house shot in the movie was on Staten Island. Ironically, one of the editors of the Oscar-winning 1972 film was named William Henry Reynolds.

When the 1,100-foot-long Long Beach Hotel was built in 1880, it was the largest in the world.

Rock icon Joan Jett—a longtime resident of Rockville Centre and Long Beach—may have filmed the music video for 2006’s “Change the World” on the boardwalk, but she should be better known for her heroic act there in 1985 after hearing a mother’s cries for help.

Jett saved the woman’s little boy from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean surf.

Celebrities who have called Long Beach home include Billy Crystal, Derek Jeter, John Barrymore, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and Chuck Close.

90 Elegant Guest Rooms, Banquets, Weddings, Claude's Restaurant 91 Hill Street Southampton, NY | 631-283-6500 | southamptoninn.com 51

Escapes

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couple raises a pair of wine-filled glasses to the man gazing down at them, and about six others accepting a pour of hospitality at his bar, then turn toward each other. They clink and share a raised-eyebrow smile at the plates that have been placed before them. Some oysters and a cheese board. Another pour, and a plate of charred octopus, follows. And so it goes.

Take a few steps from that bar, an intimate affair that leads to an open-air space on the front porch with a view of the Long Island Aquarium across the street and the historic Howell House next door, and you may hear not another clink but a quick creak from the floorboards underfoot. Consider it a welcome from more than 100 years ago.

Gateway to the East End

By Eric Feil

Photos courtesy Preston House & Hotel

Welcome to the Preston House & Hotel in Riverhead. A center of hospitality at the entryway to Long Island’s East End, the Preston House has emerged as a must-

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visit locale merging history and accessible high-end since opening in 2018.

Its story is one of preservation and transformation, of a Long Island home brought back from the brink of being lost to history and given a new life that ties the past to the present with an eye always on the future.

“That has always been a part of who we are, from the day we opened the doors, even before,” says Jennifer Petrocelli, the Preston House’s Executive Director.

“Bringing something new here, with the hotel and the dining, and building that relationship with guests and the community here. Being part of the revitalization of Riverhead is important. The history of this house is important.” continued on next page

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The house that became an 88-seat restaurant was built in 1905 by Henry H. Preston, the first full-time sheriff of Suffolk County and a Civil War veteran, steps from the Peconic River. When Jennifer’s father, James, purchased the building in 2015, the restoration was not immediately in the plans, but now a two-floor dining destination and five-story NYCchic boutique hotel have not only risen on the property, but thrived.

A gateway to Long Island’s East End, where local vineyards of the North Fork and beaches of the Hamptons await, it has become an experience in its own right.

The hotel is replete with elegant, modern rooms featuring such amenities as plush robes, silk sheets and other niceties, while the restaurant and 1905 Lounge below feature modern touches amid original wood flooring, beams and stonework. Not to mention world-class fare from Executive Chef Drew Hiatt.

“We want to do something special here, all the time—the goal is to take classic elements and elevate them, local ingredients and so much of what is available right here on Long Island, and make them stand out as something you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” Hiatt says. “It should be memorable, something you want to come back for.”

continued on page 56

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We want to do something special here…

The New American restaurant received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2020 (the wine cellar and lounge are home to more than 800 bottles from around the world), and the food has earned raves for both its use of those prized local ingredients and its innovative yet accessible style.

The evolving menu plays to Long Island’s bounty with such dishes as Local Diver Scallops with Pea Foam, Potato Puree, Puffed Potato and Sauce Mornay, as well as Long Island Clam Vongole, Basil Tagliatelle, Summer Peas and Crispy Garlic, a salad of lettuces cut from the North Fork and more.

The couple at the bar has moved on from their glasses of Raphael wine (also owned by the Petrocelli family) and are now enjoying a few cocktails from a list that has also won numerous honors, led by The Henry—a curated take on the Old Fashioned with blackberry, lemon and mint accompanying the bourbon, an homage to the

Chef Drew Hiatt at the Preston House man whose portrait is gazing down from the wall. This time they raise their glasses Petrocelli’s way, then head into the dining room.

“They come here a lot,” she notes with a smile. “We love that we’ve created an environment where we have regulars who come in all the time, but also welcome somebody who has never been here and offer them something that makes them want to come back again.”

The Preston House & Hotel, 428 East Main Street, Riverhead. Learn more at theprestonhouseandhotel.com.

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Dr. Bekelis is a board certified fellowship trained neurosurgeon with subspecialty training in minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgery. As one of the most prominent, widely published stroke researchers in the country, with several national and international awards, Dr. Bekelis is the Chairman of Neurointerventional Services for Catholic Health, the Director of the state-of-the-art Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island, and the Co-Director of the Neuro ICU at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

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