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Hello Villagers!
Welcome to the summer edition of the ThreeVillagePeople.companion. I know it hasn't felt much like summer some days, but in spite of the weather, there is still plenty of room for fun.
Our newsletter theme is simply that. Summer Fun.
We had lots of fun at Pentimento's last night. It was a different sort of Networking night. We are always adding new ideas and events to make our cyber village interesting.
We will be having a similar event the third week of August, combining it with a nature walk. Walk Talk and Be Happy. This will be held at the Raga Indian Restaurant and Bar in East Setauket.
Our next Networking dinner at the Three Village Inn will be on September 16th. Make sure to check your emails for upcoming events and promotions.
In addition to events, we are continuously working on the website to keep the content fresh and the visitors coming. We are looking forward to the new dynamic website that we will be unveiling in the fall. It will be offering a new flexibility to our members as far as editing content on their pages, and much more. Members can also add videos, twitter and a blog to their page for a small fee.
I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy summer.
Many Thanks,
Wendy Martin |
| 'Christian Avenue' - Stony Brook |
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Ward Melville Heritage Event
Grand Opening July 12!
RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CLOWNS
Llama Petting Zoo & much More - at Grand Opening Celebration
Free Admission to outside Grand Opening Festivities only
Full Exhibit runs: July 10 - August 23
In honor of his 200th birthday!
Featuring...The life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, known to most of the world as the “Great American Showman”
- 32 FOOT MINIATURE BIG TOP CIRCUS!
- Authentic Tom Thumb furniture
- Authentic Jenny Lind memorabilia
- Circus memorabilia
- 7 Hot Do g recipe creations from Village Center Restaurants
- Photographic montage of p.t. Barnum
-“The Life of P. T. Barnum” Speaker: Kathleen Maher, Executive Director/Curator, The Barnum Museum
Items on loan from The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT
Call for details, 631-751-2244
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| 'Village Center'- Stony Brook |
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| 'Stony Brook Paths' - Stony Brook Village |
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Villager in the Spotlight
Scott Heaney- Millcreek Agency
Uplifting Insight from Steven Pagartanis
1. What is the number one financial philosophy that will help people to safeguard their financial future?
Take advantage of the current market to build your portfolio. Buy quality products. Stay flexible, don't over commit to any investment. Make sure that you have liquid funds for emergencies and be efficient with whatever money you spend. |
2. What comfort can you offer, if any, to people who have watched their retirement accounts go down double digits?
Look at the glass as half full. This is an exciting time. Reorganize your financial life. I believe tomorrow's millions will be created today through proper positioning.
3. How is your approach different from other financial planners?
Before I ask for money, I super charge what you are already doing. I show you more value with your current plan. I help you feel better about where you are first, then show you how much more you are capable of.
4. What's the good news? Do you see this as an opportunity to buy?
As mentioned earlier, everything is a super-sale right now. A solid foundation along with efficiency concepts combine for unbeatable results. Organization is the key. You'd be surprised what you can accomplish by organizing your insurance, investments, income taxes and flows of money. After one appointment, you see opportunities you never knew existed.
Click here to visit Scott Heany on ThreeVillagePeople.com
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'Summer Flowers' - Stony Brook |
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Summer is Rejuvenation Time for Your Home
Summertime is great=2 0for outdoor fun and working in the garden. However, did you know it's also a great time to inspect your home's exterior painted or stained surfaces?
When you look over your home, you should look for:
- Any bare wood, cracks in painted surfaces, bare masonry, rust on metal surfaces?
- Cracked, loose or lifting edges of existing paint or stain?
- Chalky residue or dull paint? Dull clear finish on your front door?
- Gaps or cracks in the caulking around windows or doors 09
- Gaps or cracked putty on original wood windows
- Gaps in trim or siding caused by expansion or settling?
- Mildew, mold or algae on painted surfaces?
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Long Island home exteriors are subjected to harsh conditions for paint and stain due to the high moisture conditions and winter freeze/thaw cycles, especially this year!
Unfortunately, damage to painted or stained surfaces will not improve over time and the symptoms above are a clear and immediate call to action. Solving minor problems now can save you big expenses in the future. In addition to tried and true paints and stains from major manufacturers there are numerous new exterior products are designed not only to repair and protect exterior surfaces but also to maximize the life of your exterior paint job.
Contact us today to resolve your potential problems with high-quality paint or stain products and professional care.
CertaPro Painters of Port Jefferson: Local office 631-474-4679
Click here to visit CertaPro on ThreeVillagePeople.com |
Summer Fun- Ireland Gannon style
Maybe your back hurts. Maybe it comes and goes. Maybe the pain is chronic. Maybe you take Cleve to numb the pain and consider the problem solved. If only you understood the dire consequences of not taking care of your spine, and letting it wear out.
Like the hinges of a door, if the joints of your spine don't align properly for any period of time, they degenerate. This is called Osteoarthritis. This is not reversible! So realize that when you cover the symptoms of back pain with a pain killer, your spine is wearing out. And if you let it go, it will become worse. |
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IThis concept of ‘the right plant, right place’ means choosing plants based on their cultural requirements (sun, water, hardiness and nutrients) and their natural growth habit so you don’t have to constantly be fighting to keep them alive or prune them to prevent them from taking over. Picking reliable, proven plants and planting them properly will mean less work down the road. For that reason Ireland Gannon has more N.Y.S. Certified Nursery/Landscape Professionals on staff then any company in the state, so their experts can help you design and install that ‘carefree’ garden.
Having your beds mulched in the beginning of the season will help control weeds in the summer and keep the soil cool and moist in those hot summer months, and is another way to keep your maintenance down and your garden healthy.
And for maximum summer enjoyment, have the design team at Ireland Gannon create a summer retreat area complete with patio, seating, and shade trellis. (A pool never hurts either.) Enjoy your summer!
Click here to visit Ireland and Gannon on ThreeVillagePeople.com
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Summer is Here…..Let Your Life Makeover Begin!!
We all love the change of seasons and who doesn’t love summertime. Summer is the season where we scale back, relax, enjoy the beautiful weather and rejuvenate our soul. Just as seasons change, so do our lives. Our lives consist of seven areas and as a life coach, I help people look at their life through the Whole Life Model.
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These seven areas make up who you are and how you show up everyday of your life. As a life coach, I help people discover what area of their life they would like to make over and improve upon. Most of us stay in the status quo of discontentment, financial worry, boredom, loneliness etc... and are not willing to examine the areas of our whole life model more closely. When a person is willing to work with a life coach, they are ready to live a life of happiness, financial security, fulfillment, satisfaction, good health, and freedom of choice.
Take a moment to rate each area of the whole life model above from 1 to 10, with (1) meaning you are least satisfied and (10) meaning you are the most satisfied. Be honest with yourself so you can determine if working with a life coach would be useful to20you. How would you know? If you scored a 7 or less in any area of the model, you would benefit to speaking to a life coach. You owe it to yourself to live a life of satisfaction and joy each day. Summer is a great time to have fun, rejuvenate your inner voice and reclaim your life!
Contact Life Coach, Amy Mannarino at 631-686-5141 for a coaching session that will change your life.
You can find Amy in the school house on ThreeVillagePeople.com |
| 'Swan' - Sand Street Beach |
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Possible Tax Saving Strategies To Help Reduce Your Family EFC
(Expected Family Contribution)
If you are a business owner and are looking to save money on your taxes and send your child to college, any of these strategies may help you reduce your taxable income and therefore MAY reduce your EFC. Since your portion of what you are expected to pay for college is determined by the EFC, see if any of these may apply to your situation.
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First, start a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). This allows you to shield 100% of your family's health costs which will reduce your federal, state, and self-employment taxes.
Secondly, how about hiring your kids? This is a great tax planning strategy and it can help you fund your kid's education as well. You can hire kids in the family business as young as 7 years old as long as they do legitimate work.
Third, use the gift and sale/leaseback of assets. This is a strategy that shifts income to your children. One of the options is to lease equipment from the children.
Fourth, start an Education Assistance Program (EAP). This can be tax deductible to an employer and tax-free to the employee up to $5,250 per year.
These are just some ideas that may work. For further discussion on any of these issues, please contact us at Next Step Strategic Planning, Inc. While we are between school years, now is the perfect time to address your college planning issues.
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Summer Fun – Supporting Your Body with Good Nutrition!
By Jessica Gregory, M.S.A.O.M., L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)
Carriage House Chiropractic and Acupuncture
jessica@chcaa.com
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The classical texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) indicate that one should eat in accordance with the seasons. Now that the rain has stopped and the sun is shining, have you started to notice that you are craving cooler and lighter meals? Your body is trying to tell you something! Though Chinese nutrition focuses on the individual person, here are some quick, helpful hints for the summer season:
- Make sure you get sufficient fluids. Have a pitcher of water with slices of lemon or cucumber. For a tasty drink, blend some watermelon with water.
- In lieu of your morning coffee, consider drinking iced or hot mint and chrysanthemum teas, as these herbs are considered cooling.
- Quickly sauté, steam, or simmer foods and try to avoid fried foods. Add a small amount of spicy or pungent spices to balance the cooling properties of foods.
- Eat in moderation and in season. Visit your local farmer's markets or see what fruits and vegetables are displayed in the supermarket.
Though these are general summer nutrition tips for everyone, it is important to acknowledge that the strength of Chinese therapeutic nutrition is that it is tailored for each individual. For more information about how you can benefit from Chinese therapeutic nutrition, call for an appointment at Carriage House Chiropractic and Acupuncture.
Jessica M.S. Gregory practices traditional Chinese medicine at Carriage House Chiropractic and Acupuncture (CHCAA). CHCAA is a multi-specialty practice focused on health and wellness as well as acute and chronic conditions. We offer chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, nutritional supplementation, and homeopathy. Visit CHCAA online at www.chcaa.com or call 631.689.7848.
Click here to visit Jessica Gregory on ThreeVillagePeople.com
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| 'Stony Brook Shore' - Stony Brook Village |
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Emotional and Spiritual Fitness
We often focus on physical fitness, but any movement toward health must also include emotional and spiritual fitness. Psychologist Nancy Mramor, PhD, author of Spiritual Fitness (Llewellyn Publications, 2004), ties emotional fitness with our physical health and with our heart's expression. "There is evidence that the largest number of heart attacks occurs on Monday morning between 8 and 9 a.m.," she says. "This occurrence is
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related to the experience called joyless striving. It applies to feelings of having to force yourself to go to a job that you have no interest in, or even truly dislike. Clearly these feelings suggest a lack of emotional fitness in the match between the employee and the job."
The heart of the person pumps much more than blood, it also pumps our passion. It lets us know what we love doing and who we love doing it with,20it circulates our compassion and reminds us of our commitment to life. When we're emotionally connected to the work we do in a healthy way, and to one another in a supportive way, we not only survive, but we can also thrive because we have more energy available to become who we're meant to be. Physical, emotional, and spiritual fitness are all intimately related. In understanding this interrelationship, we can begin to move toward health.
Jennifer Graci
Fitness Together of Port Jefferson
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Solar Photovoltaic Panels |
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Solar Photovoltaic Panels supplement electrical power received from the local power authority. At times when the electricity generated from the panels exceeds the home's power consumption, the excess power is transferred back into the grid and the electric meter runs in reverse. Many states (including New York) have net metering laws that require power companies to purchase excess power back from their residential customers at the same market rate they charge for usage.
This type of system can further be augmented by adding a battery to store excess energy generated from the solar panels. This stored energy can then be used during power outages.
Solar Photovoltaic Panels are improving in quality and becoming more affordable every year. With the20rising costs of energy we have seen in recent times, the cost benefit ratio is always improving for these systems.
Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems
Domestic hot water heating is the second-highest energy consumer in a typical household. Using solar energy to heat hot water can reduce this cost by 65% or more in the Northeastern U.S. This type of system includes two or three solar collectors which absorb the sun's energy by warming a heat transfer fluid (propylene glycol). This fluid is then used to preheat incoming cold water before it is brought to full temperature by a conventional water heating system.
Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design integrates building components to harness natural energy flows and provide solar heating and cooling. Our designs have incorporated this simple, low-cost method to increase energy efficiency for many years. Passive solar design elements include day lighting strategies to limit the use of electricity, heat control techniques such as exterior sun screens, proper solar orientation, appropriate ventilation and window placement, and passive solar heating strategies.
Please visit www.BohlArchitects.com or contact me at 631.331.5933 or Jessica@BohlArchitects.com for more information. Bohl Architects has assisted many clients on both large and small projects make energy efficient choices for their homes.
Visit Bohl Architects on Three Village People.com |
Summer Organizing
by Eileen Koff
Hooray!!! It’s Summer! Summer can be one of the most popular times to get organized, but remember you can’t tackle your entire house in one weekend. |
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Here’s what you need to consider when planning a weekend organizing project:
- Be realistic. Be realistic with the amount of time you are really willing to put into the project. If you have a birthday party and an evening bar-b-que to attend in a given day, the chances are you may not have much time to get organized. Take a good look at the scheduled activities you have that weekend and determine how many hours you think you can actually dedicate to organizing.
- Choosing your project. Choose your project with the amount of time you have in mind. Here are some examples of how long a typical project can take: Kitchen, 10-12 hours; Pantry: 5-7 hours; Closet, 4-8 hours; and Home Office or Garage, 25 hours and up. Times will vary based on the size of your space but these are some general guidelines based on my experience with clients. Keep in mind this time does not include shopping, painting, any repair work, or dropping off donations.
- Shop last. Remember don’t shop=2 0for solutions until you have some answers. After you have reduced your belongings and you are left with only the stuff you need, use, and love then it’s time to start looking for containers and storage solutions to fit your needs.
Remember, you are never alone. If you need guidelines from a certified professional organizer, call Eileen at 631- 553-0068. I can stop by for a quick assessment and help you plan the project, or we can do it side-by-side.
Here’s to an organized summer!
Eileen Koff
Certified Professional Organizer
Click here to visit Eileen Koff on ThreeVillagePeople.com |
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| Samantha's Painting - Studio 703 |
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Studio 703
July 6th will be the opening date for summer classes at Studio703, which is housed in a charming old building at 703 Main St. in Port Jefferson. We will be offering two four week sessions for children as
well as adults.
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Classes will be taught by Genia Neuschatz the founder of the studio in 1980 and our newest associate Catherine Frost who will bring a new and
dynamic presence to our program.
Classes will consist of drawing, painting and clay sculpture. All materials are included for the children’s classes.
The studio is bright and spacious. It is fully air-conditioned with
parking on site
Please check out our schedule and prices on the website www.studio703art.com
Or call us at the studio 631-928-6270
Genia Neuschatz and Catherine Fros
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| below 'Aaron's Painting' - Studio 703 |
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Everyone looks forward to summer. As a child, you can't wait for school to be over to start summer vacation. As an adult, we work all year long in anticipation for summer vacation. The spirit of summer is light and airy, sunny days and warm, breezy nights.
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Vacation is the time when families can come together, relax and enjoy quality time. Of course the big question on everyone's mind is should I go on vacation this year and can I afford it? The answer is yes. Steven Pagartanis of Omega Planning Associates believes that vacation is important for everyone and reorganizing things can help find the money you need to get away. It's not to late to plan for this summer.
Now is an exciting time with many opportunities to reorganize your financial life. Steven can show you multiple ways to make your money grow without any out of pocket expense to you. Don't let another summer go by without taking a vacation because you think you can't afford it.
Call Steven Pagartanis at Omega Planning Associates 631-689-5900 for a no obligation consultation and let him show you the positive side of investing.
Visit Steven in the Financial District |
Michael Hanley has a new book!
Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness is a book devoted to tax savings, tax deferral, and tax planning strategies for the small business owner and self-employed individual with $1 million or less in annual sales/revenue.
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| 'Porpoise Creek' - Stony Brook |
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Tax planning is a key element in running a successful business. An effective tax plan for a business owner can be as valuable as an effective business plan.
The purpose of effective tax planning is threefold:
1. Determine what tax savings strategies will be available in the current year and plan to ensure that your business meets the criteria for the applicable strategies.
2. Identify ways to defer taxes to future years in order to improve current-year cash flow.
3. Calculate the amount of tax that will be due at the end of the year after all tax savings and tax deferral strategies have been exhausted in order to allow time to accumulate enough cash to pay your tax bill without having to work out a payment plan that will be subject to interest and/or penalties.
As part of the "30 Minutes With..." book series, this book is meant to be read in 30 minutes. The "30 Minutes With..." series was designed to fill the needs of a fast-paced world in which time is the most valuable commodity. The goal of the series is to boil down existing information 09into its key components, giving readers a comprehensive overview of a topic in a single 30 minute reading session.
Michael T. Hanley, CPA
Click here to visit Michael Handley on ThreeVillagePeople.com |
| 'Spring Magnolia' - Stony Brook |
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