Events include live music, polar bear swim, games, local vendor booths, and fireworks to end the night.

For more information and for the full schedule, visit the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce:

http://www.sagharborchamber.com/harborfrost.htm

Research shows that bouts of vigorous exercise followed by weeks of inactivity can increase fat levels and put excess strain on your heart. In effect, leaving us exhausted both mentally and physically.

So what do we do? How do we stay interested in fitness?

Adopt a sustainable routine.  As a health and fitness nut I recommend that you adjust your mindset and adopt an effective, yet sustainable routine. Draw and erase and redraw the routines that you create for yourself; move slowly to create a masterpiece that is right for you until you feel it reach out and envelope you.

Rotate your workouts. We move to new cities, we change our jobs and clothes, so why not our workouts? If you wore the same sweater everyday, wouldn’t you grow sick and tired of it? Your appearance wouldn’t change and your mental attitude wouldn’t either.

Have the right playlist. Music changes the soul, it can help soothe our sore muscles and wakeup our legs & lunges for running. So remember to have the right playlist, the one that best suites what your body needs today. For the beautiful sculpting of Pilates, my students and I flow from one move to the next along to Adele and Diana Krall; we feel the burn, we are relaxed and in complete control of our breathe and thoughts. This improves blood flow to relieve cramping and keep us alert.

*Swap playlists with your friends or download Pandora to keep things fresh & fun!

The next time you decide to jump back on the wagon for good, remember to choose a lifestyle that is realistic to you. You will feel and see results if you adjust your mind set and carefully create your fitness routine. Remember to rotate workouts to challenge the body and energize your mind. Be patient and enjoy this new journey. Look forward to each new workout, playlist and muscle defined as you walk a little taller, longer and leaner.

“Walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving. And movement is life.”

– Carrie Latet

Get to know MSH’s October Harbor Hound ~ Lincoln!

Owners: Jim and Evelyn Poitras

Where did you find Lincoln? Or did Lincoln find you?

He was a rescue from a “puppy mill” in the Midwest, and was adopted from ARF in July of last year. He was used for stud services for the first two years of his life and was tied to the side of a cage for that time. The group that rescued him gave him the name Lincoln because he was sold for two cents at a dog auction.

What type of dog is Lincoln?

He is Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and part Cocker Spaniel. He was the result of the puppy mill trying to create a “designer dog”. He loves everyone, but is still a little shy, especially with men, probably as a result of his previous life.

And his treats of choice?

Lincoln likes apple flavored treats, but will generally eat anything that does not try to eat him first!!

Where we can find him lounging about?

Lincoln has made the space under the dining room table his “man cave” and brings all of his toys under the table. He also brings Ev’s slippers and socks there on a regular basis, usually when she leaves them within reach. He is a good alarm clock and makes sure everyone adheres to his schedule. In fact, he is beating me with his paw as I write this e-mail.

Favorite toy?

His favorite toy is Mark’s (Poitras’) dog Rudder. The fact that Rudder is 75 pounds and he is 22 pounds does not seem to bother him.

Who do you think Lincoln would most like to meet?

He has not told me the one person that he would like to meet, but I would assume that it would be the person with the most treats in his or her pockets!!!!

Baystreet Theatre - picture courtesy of http://www.baystreet.org

BAY STREET ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS FOR
LITERATURE LIVE’S
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

September 30, 2011 (Sag Harbor, NY) – Bay Street Theatre is getting ready for the LITERATURE LIVE production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Nov. 7-26. Local equity and non-equity actors are encouraged to audition. The production is adapted from the book by Harper Lee and will be directed by Murphy Davis.

Equity Principal Auditions:
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Bay Street Theatre
2 PM – 6 PM Corner of Bay & Main Streets
Sag Harbor, NY 11963

No appointment necessary. The producer will run all aspects of this call. Equity audition procedures will NOT be in effect, and no Equity Monitor will be provided.

Sides will be provided at the audition. Beginning 10/7/11, visually impaired actors may pick up an advance copy of sides at the Bay Street Theatre box office (open Wed.-Sat, 11-5).

Please bring a picture & resume, stapled back-to-back.

Equity Principal Auditions:
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Actors’ Equity Association Audition Center
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM 165 West 46th Street, 2nd Floor
New York City

Sides will be provided at the audition. Please bring a picture & resume, stapled back-to-back.

Seeking (all roles are available unless otherwise specified):

Jeremy Finch (Jem):
Age 12. Scout’s older brother.

Calpurnia:
African American, 35-50. The housekeeper. Proud and capable. Standards are high. Self-educated. Raised the motherless Scout and Jem.

Miss Maudie Atkinson:
40s-60. A neighbor. Sensitive, wise and compassionate.

Charles Baker Harris (Dill):
8-12. Small. Wise beyond his years.

Heck Tate:
30-50. The sheriff.

Mayella Ewell:
19-25. Lonely and overworked woman.

Mr. Gilmer:
Prosecuting Attorney. Age 40-70.

Walter Cunningham / Judge Taylor:/Boo Radley
40-60. Three roles for one actor.

Tom Robinson:
African American, 23-27. Handsome, vital. His left hand is disabled.

Bob Ewell:
Age 40-50.

Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Atticus Finch are CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible (emergency) replacements, should any become necessary. Girl, 9-12 years old. Atticus Finch is nearly 50. Scout and Jem’s father. Quietly impressive. Reserved. Civilized.

Notes/What to bring: No phone calls in advance. No advanced appointment necessary. A sign up sheet will be posted at the theatre on the day of the audition. Sides for those wishing to audition will available at the Bay Street Theatre Box Office during normal hours of operation beginning Oct. 5.

Bay Street Theatre is a not-for-profit institution presenting new, classic and contemporary works with a commitment to challenging and entertaining our diverse community. This commitment extends to educational programs for all ages to foster the continued value of theatre as a vital art form for future generations.

Baystreet Theatre - picture courtesy of http://www.baystreet.org

So, once you’ve shopped around and found your dream house, you can still score a better deal by negotiating on the price. The Apple, Peeled blog suggests not walking away after one or two bids. Keep negotiating until you’re at the point where you put forth your final offer or the seller is not willing to go any lower.You never know exactly how low the seller is willing to go. As for getting a loan, Zillow says to be aware of the conforming limits. If your loan is close but just over the boundary between a standard and jumbo loan, try to increase your down payment so you qualify for a standard loan and, in turn, qualify for lower interest rates. Two other things to be aware of…bigger down payments (i.e. 20%) and higher credit scores will get you the best rates.

As you’re shopping around, you might think that buying a foreclosure could be the best option for your budget. Buying a foreclosure could be a good deal but there are a few things you should know first. Zillow gives us an overview of what to look for. First of all, the definition of a foreclosure is a property that has been repossessed by the bank because the owner, for whatever reason, stopped making mortgage payments. According to Leonard Baron, a foreclosure is not necessarily a good deal just because it’s the lowest priced property on the block- it might need a lot of repairs that are best left to a professional. If you think a property is a really good deal, make sure you do your homework because there’s usually a reason a home is priced extremely low and you want to find out that reason BEFORE you close, says Baron.

However, don’t get too nervous. A foreclosure can be a great deal for many reasons. First of all, you should plan on owning the property for at least 5 years, just as you should plan on owning any home for at least 5 years to hit the “break-even point.” Also, the house should be in good shape. Repairs can get expensive quickly and are best left to the pros. In addition, you should do your research and, if you find that the price of your home is in line with that of other homes in the neighborhood and most of the other homes in the neighborhood are occupied, then you’re likely making a smart purchase. As with any deal, it’s best to have a broker who is an expert on the neighborhood you’re interested in to get the maximum bang for your buck.

The plans call for ice cream, kids games, grilled hot dogs, cold drinks and an auction of wonderful items donated by local merchants.
Admission includes an ice cream sundae and will be $3 for kids, $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors.  Game tickets are $1, raffle tickets $2 each , or 15 for $25.

Ever heard of a lock, stock and barrel listing? It’s when a house is sold fully furnished and decorated. Everything is included- often down to the pots and pans in the kitchen and the linens in the bedroom. One woman is trying this approach to sell her Westport, CT home, according to the New York Times. This type of listing represents a very different approach compared to what many realtors tell homeowners. Usually people are told to remove any personal items from their home so prospective buyers can envision themselves living in the house- it’s called ‘staging’.

Candia Fisher, the Westport, CT seller, tried the same approach with her Martha’s Vineyard home several years ago- and the home sold in 8 months. She got her asking price too. She hired an interior designer to redo the whole house. Ms. Fisher’s approach is not a very common one but it allows buyers to just bring themselves, drop their bags and get on with their lives. There are no worries about decorating. It’s literally a turn-key house! I don’t know about you it seems like a lot less stress- I’d go for it. And there’s always the option of making it your own in the future, when you have more time to decorate.

What do you think about this new trend? Do you think it will catch on in the Hamptons? It can be difficult to find the right buyer for a fully furnished home though. The buyer has to be able to picture him or herself living in the home as is. But this type of house could be perfect for he Hamptons where business moguls who don’t have time to redecorate their new Hamptons abodes- they just want a place to drop their bags on the weekend and be able to relax. These spectacular Sag Harbor waterfronts aren’t fully furnished but they definitely get the job done! Call 631.725.4357 to talk to one of our experienced brokers.

The site is very simple to join, just pick the Hamptons (or you can pick the other vacation-focused areas that they support like Nantucket), provide your email address and that’s it – they start sending you emails every day with a different deal on the East End.

One of the first deals I received was for Sag Harbor’s very own Bay Burger, where you spend $12.50 and receive a certificate to spend $25 at the restaurant.  At this point I figured this was just like Groupon where I’ll get an email coupon to print and I’m done.  I was wrong.

TownPool adds one other dimension into their social commerce approach requiring other people to also buy the deal (or “Jump In” as they call it) to make it an active deal.  In other words, tell your friends to buy it or you don’t get jack.  This is not a bad approach – it forces the users to publicize the deal further (win for the business offering the deal) and it also further spreads the word about TownPool, building their email inventory even higher (win for TownPool).

Luckily, the Bay Burger deal reached critical mass and I received an email congratulating me that the coupon could now be used.  I printed the deal and brought it over to Bay Burger the other night and presented it at the counter upon ordering.  The register clerk cross-checked my name from the coupon with a printed list of all people who “Jumped In” to the deal, which was probably provided to them by TownPool.  My name was crossed off, $25 deducted from my total, I paid the difference and enjoyed my meal.

TownPool.com – great idea to keep it so focused on hot summer locations and I will definitely keep “Jumping In” if the same deals keep arriving in my inbox.

After hearing that news, maybe you’re wondering how you can get your (probably more modest) home sold? Here are a few tips that you might not have thought about…First, your neighbors can be an important selling point. No one wants to have crabby neighbors. It might be a good idea to talk to your neighbors, if you’re friendly with them, to let them know you’re planning on selling. Your neighbors might have friends looking to buy in your neighborhood- a win-win situation! Second, pull back the curtains so potential buyers can see the views outside your home. If you have a water view, let buyers see it! Having the natural sights, smells and sounds is important.

Next, give the feeling that you enjoyed the time you spent in your home; without having tons of knick knacks lying around. Evidence of well-tended rooms and maybe a garden as well can give the impression of happiness. Lastly, close proximity to a freeway, train station or other public transit isn’t necessarily a bad thing anymore. Being “green” is trendy, gas prices are ever increasing and being close to public transit is efficient for your commute! Speaking of convenient, this house is a cozy, 4 bedroom right in the Village of Sag Harbor. Walk to the beach or bike to town! Contact an agent because this deal won’t last long!

Now that I’ve mentioned what you should do, this article describes what NOT to do to get your home sold…First off, sellers who think their property is unique and, in turn, ask too much money for their house only create problems. The house could end up sitting on the market for months and could end up selling for less than it would have sold for if it was priced appropriately from the start. Additionally, a seller who doesn’t clean up their home is decreasing the chances of their house getting sold. No one wants to see a mess or trip over your knick knacks. Speaking of cleaning up, sellers who don’t clean up before turning over the keys are just inconsiderate. No one wants to move into a dirty house!

Fourth, don’t stick around when an agent is showing your house- it’s awkward. You might make potential buyers nervous or uncomfortable. Lastly, sellers who hold out for extra money at the last minute only create stress for both the buyer  and the seller. If a potential buyer’s offer is within $2,000 of your asking price, why argue over such a small amount of money?

For more tips on what to do, or what not to do when selling your home, contact one of our experienced brokers. (631) 725-4357