Manhattan Resident Managers Club Newsletter-March 2019

Vol. 40 No. 190

Dedicated to the Performance & Advancement for the Real Estate Manager

Our next meeting will be held on

Thursday, March 7th, 2019, starting at 6:00pm. at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant

located at 121 West 45th street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

March 2019

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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2019 Election of Dais and Trustees

The nominating committee of the Manhattan Resident Manager’s Club recommends the following candidates for election to office for the year 2019.

Dais President:

Mr. Francis McLoughlin

Vice President:

Mr. Steve Mala

Treasurer:

Mr. Sevdet “Steve” Kukaj

Financial Secretary:

Mr. Scott Hudgins

Sergeant-at-Arms & Asst. Financial Secretary:

Mr. John Szabo

Secretary:

Mr. Ben Flores

2 Year term as Trustee Trustee:

Mr. Fabio Progni

Trustee:

Mr. Brian Purovic

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PRESIDENT: Joe Cervini 917-588-4922 jcervini@mac.com

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

VICE-PRESIDENT: ben floreS 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com TREASURER: Steve KuKaJ (917) 339-7166 kukaj01@gmail.com

Our next meeting will be held on

Thursday, March 7th, 2019

FIN.SECRETARY:

at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant

located at 121 West 45th street between 6th and 7th Avenues starting at 6:00pm.

Cost for members in good standing is $40.00; while all others will pay $60.00 for entry. This includes food buffet and open bar. Professional dress attire is required for this meeting (jacket & tie). No exception!

Entry will be denied if not dressed appropriately.

Steve Mala 212-861-2073 Steve.Mala@yahoo.com SECRETARY: John Szabo 914-672-50887 izirajders@verizon.net TRUSTEES:

Dean Berishaj

CLUB NEWSLETTER

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

Frank Pomponi

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

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

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

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

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

the resident’s essage

pm Joseph Cervini President

2018 Resident Manager of the Year

Welcome to the March Newsletter!

On behalf of the Dais & Trustees of the Manhattan Resident Manager’s Club, I would like to thank you all for attending CASINO NIGHT last month. What a fantastic night! Congratulations to all the raffle winners. Thanks again to all our great vendors who sponsored the gaming tables and all the prizes!

Congratulation to our 2019 Resident Manager of the Year, Mr. Steve Kukaj and the Manhattan Resident Manager’s Club Vendor of the Year and recipient of The William Key Award, Mr. Jim Simpson of Northeast Plumbing Specialties!

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 7th, 2019 at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant located at 121 West 45th street between 6th and 7th Avenues starting at 6:00pm. Cost for members in good standing is $40.00; while all others will pay $60.00 for entry. This includes food buffet and open bar. Professional dress attire is required for this meeting (jacket & tie). No exception! Entry will be denied if not dressed appropriately.

At our next meeting, we will hold elections for the new dais and trustees for the upcoming year.

I personally ask that you all support the slate put forth by the election committee. The slate has been placed in this Newsletter for your serious consideration.

Unfortunately, if you are a Regular or Affiliate Member and have not paid your 2019 dues, you have officially been dropped from our membership roster and the $150,000.00 term-life insurance policy.

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

Reminder to mark your calendars for these special upcoming CLUB events: The Sunset BBQ in June, the Annual Fishing Trip in July, the Golf Tournament in September, the Sunset Dinner Cruise around Manhattan in October and the Three Hands Grand Ball in November.

It took a lot of time and effort to create our new website, but it’s finally complete and launched at the end of February. All of us at the CLUB can be proud of our representation. The site looks great and is very easy to navigate. I hope everyone enjoys utilizing it. I would like to give a special thanks to my daughter, Lena, who put in too many late nights and weekends to create this sophisticated and professional website. And a special thank you to my wife Lisa, who helped gathering information together about the CLUB and writing much of the verbiage.

Don’t forget that the CLUB is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. These social media outlets are FREE to use, and you should all be utilizing them every day for business and pleasure. Always be NETWORKING!

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on March 7th for our next monthly meeting at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.

Best Regards,

Joe

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MRMC Building & Maintenance Tips – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Stove Knob Covers Reminder - Local Law 117

Reminder that effective December 6th, 2018, per Local Law 117, the owner of multiple dwelling must provide stove knob covers for gas-powered stoves where the owner knows or reasonably should know that a child sixyears of age resides. Owners must also provide stove knob covers in a unit without a child under six if the tenant requests them.

Along with this requirement, owners must distribute a notice annually advising tenants of their right to request stove knob covers.

Happy March Birthdays to the following Members of the CLUB: Regular Members: Bill Ammatuna, Peter McGoey, Peter Guzman, Patrick McEnaney Sr. and Patrick McEnaney Jr. And let's not forget our Associate Members: Bob Hortsmann, Jason Fell, Eddie Dowling and Sam Ajman. Happiest of birthdays to you ALL...

March 5th Fat Tuesday

March 6th Ash Wednesday

March 8th International Woman's Day

March 15th Ides of March

March 17th St. Patrick's Day

March 20th Purim

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March 10th Daylight Savings Day

March 20th First Day of Spring (Vernal Equinox)

The qualities of leadership and how they evolve – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

According to Inc. Magazine, the fundamental reason for the years and sometimes even decades it takes to produce an extraordinary leader is the learning curve.

For example, instead of focusing on the daily grind, the burgeoning leader is combining daily work with extended goals. The person who is growing in leadership is trying hard to understand the strengths, weaknesses, goals, and desires of others.

Often, leaders don't seek to be liked: They

seek respect. While the aspiring leader knows cordiality is necessary for the here and now, he or she may well have to sacrifice short-term likability for enduring respect.

Real leaders encourage others to reach goals, happy when a team member achieves something worthy of praise.

The developing leader will empower people

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with honesty and transparency. All things being equal, he or she demonstrates respect for them and helps them do good work.

A natural leader understands that if the team falls short, he or she is responsible -- regardless of who screwed up. When it is obvious who's the root of a problem, the emerging leader will privately meet with the employee and inspire the entire team to do better.

Natural leaders are not always concerned with process and instead focus on promising results.

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Cube versus open work space debated

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Since the introduction of cubicles to the workplace a half-century ago, the pros and cons of their existence have been well-debated.

But today cubicles are being compared, often favorably and sometimes fondly, to open work spaces.

Open work concepts save floor space and encourage camaraderie, they also convey a false sense of productivity, in which movement and sound translate to only intermittent concentrated quiet, according to the International Facility Management Association.

On the other hand, open work spaces are often most suitable for telecommuting employees who only visit offices occasionally.

But those who work in the open office tell IFMA surveys that privacy is at an all-time low and 74 percent of workers are concerned about it.

The question is whether gains in office communication, brainstorming and camaraderie justify the open space. According to Business News Daily, a cubicle environment can also foster a

sense of community, motivation and accountability. Open offices and cubicles also are easier to manage.

Separate office space ranks highest in terms of concentration, privacy, and personalization. But ranks lower in community.

Legal issues crucial when forming small business Entrepreneurs are busy people.

They've got a ton of things on their mind from marketing and advertising to customer service and phones forever ringing to business appointments -- and more.

Unfortunately, legal and technical issues have to be attended to at the same time.

According to Entrepreneur magazine, small businesses need to take some basic steps as they grow.

1 Set up the proper business structure. There are sole proprietorships, LLCs, S corporations, C corps, and partnerships. Choosing the correct one means learning the advantages and disadvantages of each. For example, as a sole proprietor, the business owner and the business are considered as one in the legal system. If your company is sued, all your personal assets are at risk. Corporate structures and LLCs offer protection of personal assets, although this protection isn't a guarantee. Talk to a lawyer and accountant about the structure you need.

2 Set up and follow customer serv-

ice policies. When you access com-

pany websites, especially those that provide services of some sort, you'll usually see a Terms and Conditions agreement. Included in this agreement are all the specifics for the use of your products or services and the customer's obligations in that use. If you do not have this policy in writing and a box for a customer to check before a purchase, you are wide open to inclusion in a lawsuit should that customer become a defendant.

3 Set up accounting and tax sys-

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tems. Is your business subject to sales/VAT taxes? When must you file your business income tax returns? Do you need to make quarterly payments?

Business tax laws are complex. You need a good business accountant--or at the very least, proven accounting software--to keep accurate records and file your taxes on time.

4 Obtain appropriate and complete contracts with outside vendors. When you use the services of, or purchase raw materials from someone outside of your business, demand iron-clad contracts. Never agree to anything with a contractor without a legallybinding agreement with the terms and language set out clearly and properly.

5 Get the proper documentation on employees. At minimum, before hiring, document and verify past employment. After hiring, document work hours, complaints, responsibilities and attendance issues such as sick days, personal days off, and vacation.

Be sure to specify, in writing, work expectations - including whether work can be done remotely.

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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Starting a family business has unique problems – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Starting a business with a spouse, parents, siblings, children or other family members is not like the typical startup.

According to the Family Firm Institute, family-owned businesses comprise two-thirds of the companies worldwide. However, only 30 percent endure into a second generation, 12 percent to a third, and 3 percent to a fourth.

The typical snare of a family business is putting too much weight on family and not enough on business. Rarely are the qualities of a healthy business entirely compatible with family harmony. When the business is going well, there will be jealousy. When it is going badly, there will be blame.

The earliest stages of a family business are the most ominous. Family members can join the promise of a new venture without clear definitions of their roles, duties, compensation-and, should they become problematic, exit arrangements.

To avoid miscommunication and hard feelings in the future, advises StartupNation.com, always put family business relationships in writing.

While various family members may qualify for similar duties, they must be divided up to avoid conflicts. Significant decisions can be reached together, but disputes over minor procedures impede the overall progress of the business.

The dominant structure of a thriving family business is having one person serve as the ultimate leader of the endeavor. When this leader is resilient and competent, he or she can persevere; stay focused, and proceeds with their responsibilities and intentions despite the obstacles and challenges.

These capabilities are especially essential in a family business where professional and personal issues frequently become intertwined.

Leaders of strong family-owned businesses know that setting boundaries among participating family members is critical to continuing success. Precise methods of communication must be installed.

Since business quandaries and differences of opinion are inevitable, consider weekly meetings to assess current progress and plans, air differences, and resolve disputes.

Moreover, keep family issues out of the boardroom and office.

Keeping pace with the times is vital to any business, more certainly those with multigenerational roots. Regardless of age, family members must continuously evolve and deliver or risk alienating both employees and customers.

Furthermore, so-called sympathy jobs should not be open as a last resort to children, cousins, or other family members for any reason. Employment must be based on the experience, knowledge, or skills a family business demands.

For leadership and staff positions the business demands, look outside for the qualities family members do not possess.

Is debt consolidation wise?

According to ConsumerCredit.com, people thinking about consolidating debts often have one question: Is debt consolidation wise or not?

The answer is maybe. As one might expect, the wisdom of debt consolidation depends on several factors: - The interest rate on the new loan.

- The consumer's goal in taking out the new loan.

- The consumer's resolve not to take on any more debt.

With a debt consolidation, you move your debt to a new loan serviced by one lender instead of many.

In theory, with a new loan at a lower interest rate, the money saved on interest each month may enable you to pay off your debts faster. Or, if the new loan has a longer term, you may be able to lower your monthly payment. Either way, debt consolidation might be useful in some situations.

But debt consolidation isn't always effective.

Debt consolidation is useful for people who are disciplined enough to make the payments without taking on new debt. That's the key. If you consolidate, but don't change spending habits, you'll be in deeper debt in a few years.

With debt consolidation, good credit can make a big dif-

ference.

Trying to consolidate debt with bad credit is usually not wise. With a bad credit rating, it is unlikely that you can get a loan with low enough interest to make a difference in paying down debt. While having only one monthly payment may be a temporary source of comfort, consolidating debt to a high-interest loan hurts finances rather than improving them.

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For Americans, it's still saving versus spending – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

American economic growth is high and appears to be reliable, but a warning light is flashing: Personal savings are falling.

Consumers comprise roughly 70 percent of the economy -- a crucial force in economic growth.

Overall, economic growth climbed by 2.6 percent on a quarterly basis at the end of 2018. Personal consumption increased substantially in the fourth quarter of 2018 just as the savings rate slumped to 2.6 percent as a share of disposable income, its thirdlowest on record.

A new study finds the median American household has $4,830 in a savings account, and almost 30 percent have less than $1,000 saved.

As of June 2018, millennials had saved less than baby boomers. Of course, older Americans have had more than three decades longer and larger salaries from which to save.

By age, these figures show millennials (born 1981-1998) saving $2,430; Gen X (1965-1980), $15,780; and baby boomers and older (born before

1964), $24,280.

MagnifyMoney, a company that provides consumers with comparisonshopping information for financial products, uses data from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

According to Northwestern Mutual's 2018 Planning & Progress Study, Americans now have an average of $38,000 in personal debt excluding home mortgages -- a $1,000 increase from a year ago.

Meanwhile, the study reported

According to the company, its results indicate that while half of all U.S. households have more than $4,830 in savings, half have less.

Among households having at least some money set aside, the median savings is about $73,000.

But, Americans may still owe more in debt than they save.

fewer people said they carry no debt this year compared to 2017--23 percent versus 27 percent.

According to Emily Holbrook, Northwestern Mutual's director of planning, the typical American's purse strings are in "a mini tug" between enjoying the present while saving for the future.

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. ~ Dolly Parton

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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Diet sodas okay for diabetics, but study sheds some doubt

Diet sodas are still okay as an alternative to sugary soft drinks for people with diabetes. However, a new study sheds some light on whether frequent consumption can harm the eyes.

Published online in the Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology journal, a new study reports a link between adult patients with diabetes who drink more than four cans of diet soda weekly and a higher incidence of developing proliferative diabetic

retinopathy (PDR).

The study's researchers sought to determine how diet soda consumption often marketed as a healthier alternative to regular soda Luck abounds if you do find a four-leaf clover Like the discovery of a heads-up penny or the act of tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder, finding a four-leaf clover is considered good luck to those of us with a superstitious bent. But while your chances of stumbling upon the penny are 50-50 and you can toss that salt any old time, what are the odds of finding the four-leaf clover? About 1 in 10,000!

Dr. John Frett, professor of Landscape Horticulture and Director of the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, was quoted on marthastewart.com as saying the 1 in 10,000 chance is for a typical group of plants that represents the statistical norm for the population. On the other hand, in 2014, a woman in Sydney, Australia, happened upon 21 of the lucky clovers in her front yard. So there's that.

One website devoted to clovers warns against buying imposters. The real deal, according to clovers.com, comes from the White Clover plant, or the trifolium repens. The site even includes diagrams to educate the public on genuine versus fake four-leaf — 18 — clovers.

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

RESIDENT MANAGER

OF THE YEAR 2019

MAnhATTAn RESIDEnT MAnAgER’S CluB, InC. IS PRouD To hAVE SElECTED

SEvDET “STEvE” KUKAJ Resident Manager of the Year 2019 With gratitude & appreciation for the years of dedication and service to the CLUB — 20 —

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

RECIPIENT OF THE WILLIAM KEY AWARD 2019

MAnhATTAn RESIDEnT MAnAgER’S CluB, InC. IS PRouD To hAVE SElECTED

JiM SiMPSON

Northeast Plumbing Specialties

Associate Member of the Year 2019 In recognition of many years of support & friendship you have show to the CLUB — 21 —

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

20th anniversary of Dow 10,000 - March 29, 1999

How things were as the Dow Jones hit iconic highs With the Dow Jones Industrial Average bouncing between 24,000 and 25,000, it's easy to forget that in 1999 traders were jubilant about Dow 10,000.

It took 18 years to double that 1999 high. But it happened in January 2017: Dow 20,000.

Incredibly, just one year later, the Dow had reached 26,000.

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ASTHMA INHALERS GET SMART

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Your asthma inhaler is going online.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first inhaler that can measure how much and how well you use the inhaler -- and send the data to you and your doctor.

The new inhaler is approved for use in people aged four years and older.

According to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, patients will download a mobile app that connects via bluetooth to the ProAir Digihaler. Sensors in the inhaler will detect how often patients use the inhaler and how effectively they breathe in. That data is sent to the app. Patients can then share data with their doctor.

The ProAir Digihaler contains albuterol sulfate powder for inhalation, helping to relax the patient's airways so they can breathe easier. It also delivers a warmer, less forceful, longerlasting spray that allows patients more time to inhale and provides a consistent dose of medicine when needed.

Teva said its Digihaler would be available in 2019 through a small number of programs but a national launch is planned for 2020.

No information was immediately available on cost.

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March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Simple steps can help keep vision healthy for life

The delights of vision can hardly be overstated and it's worth taking a look, so to speak, at problems that can harm your vision.

That's why the American Optometric Association started Save Your Vision Month way back in 1927. Professional eye care, through regular exams, they say, is important at every age.

Here are some of the major causes of vision loss and harm:

Disease: For diabetics, diabetic retinopathy is an ever present possibility. More than 40 percent of adults with diabetes have some form of retinopathy which, at its most serious can cause complete vision loss. There are treatments and people with any type of diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at

least once a year.

Glaucoma - Caused by a cluster of diseases that damage the optic nerve.

Cataract - Clouding of the eye lens. Treatment is quick and easy if discovered early. Get eye dilation exams.

Trauma: According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2,000 workers per day suffer injuries to

the eye. About 40 percent of these occur in the construction industry. in fact, the academy says that 90 percent of on-the-job eye injuries can be avoided with the proper eye protection.

Always wear safety glasses suitable for the situation;, face shields might be required for working around chemicals, for example, while respirators with a

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full face piece would be required for working in situations where dust flies and air quality is questionable, such as in below-ground work.

Safety glasses with foam or rubber around the lens might be required around flying particles.

Dry Eye: Adults especially are susceptible to dry eye which, while it doesn't result in loss of vision, nonetheless frequently occurs with age. Low testosterone could be a cause just as menopause frequently is. Dry eye causes gritty pain, itching, blurry vision, redness and light sensitivity.

Medications, from antihistamines to blood pressure pills, can cause dry eye. Certain medical conditions related to thyroid, vascular diseases and rheumatoid arthritis can cause dry eye.

Special drops and certain surgeries can relieve severe symptoms.

Computer Eye Strain: Red, dry, itchy eyes can often be traced to digital screens. For computer work, position your monitor 25 inches away. Eliminate glare on digital screens. Try floor lamps with full-spectrum fluorescent light. Adjust your monitor brightness to match the brightness of the room.

Corneal Abrasions: They can occur by accident from a fingernail or mascara. A pain reliever can help. Some serious abrasions are caused by contact lenses. See a doctor about how to

– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

Horoscopes

Aries 3/21 - 4/19: Love eases a jealous moment as the moon waxes on the 10th. A decision looms.

Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: A little chocolate soothes your inner child -but it does nothing for the outer grown-up! Stars say add some variety to your routine.

Gemini 5/21 - 6/20: St. Pat's Day isn't the only thing happening at mid-month. The first quarter moon on the 14th is especially bright and full of promise. A surprise is coming.

Cancer 6/21 - 7/22: Skepticism may not be part of your nature, but an easy request this month may lead to more conversation.

Leo 7/23 - 8/22: Slash those small expenses that are raiding your checking account and save the money. Stars hint at unexpected news -- and expenses this spring.

Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: You long for something different, perhaps a new experience. Work is all you see for now, but start your plan. Lastminute efforts make it happen.

Libra 9/23 - 10/21: A great bargain tempts Libras to break their budgets, but the full moon on the 21st casts light (and maybe regret) on purchases.

Scorpio 10/22 - 11/21: Look back on your hopes for the New Year.

Are you following through? If not now, when? Stars say now is the time to put your plan in action.

Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: Collaborate now, and you could run the show later on. Circumstances dictate that you reorganize priorities.

In the hectic last week of March, find time for fun.

Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: An ethical question arises; but examine it closely. Is the issue really as it seems or are you reading the motives, or beliefs of another person incorrectly or even unfairly?

Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: Happy Aquarians rarely stay angry, yet a long-term issue has anger at its heart. Sort out whether this is really warranted. The answer won't be obvious at first.

Pisces 2/19 - 3/20: Aren't you lucky? Home life is more enjoyable and interesting than ever. At work, go ahead and suggest your idea. Chances are that it is a good one.

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –

“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Don't turn around. Don't look back. Keep moving forward. Keep pushing. The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow, not the beginning. ~ Ziad K. Abdelnour

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– MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. – Soda You should avoid soda because of i’s high sugar content, but the caramel color in many soda pops, especially cola, is even more cause for concern. it may give your drink a rich, enticing color, but it’s also a known carcinogen. For a healthy alternative to soda pop, try a fruit juice press. Mix a splash sweet fruit juice like apple or white grape with a full glass of bubbly soda water. No refined sugar, no caramel color, and best of all, no cancer.

White Flour Like sugar, nature never intended starches to be as refined as we are able to make them today. Simple carbohydrates like white flour are easy for your body to break down into sugars which we’ve said, can feed tumor growth. in addition to this, white flour is bleached using chlorine gas, another carcinogen to avoid. Chose whole grain cereal and breads and if you are making a treat that requires white flour, be sure to get it unbleached. The difference is only in the color and even then, it’s negligible.

Alcohol Liver disease, dehydration, loss of cognitive function, heart failure, and now you can add cancer to the ever-growing list of reasons not to drink. Alcohol damages the lining of the mouth and throat, leaving you vulnerable to all kinds of oral cancer, not to mention stomach cancer, bowel cancer, and even brain cancer. There is evidence that a glass of red wine can help fight cancer because of the antioxidants it contains, but you know what? A handful of blueberries is just as good.

Farmed Fish The ocean is big for a reason. Animals need lots of room not just for their own comfort, but to help stop the spread of disease. On fish farms large populations of fish share a very small space where they eat, grow, and easily spread diseases to one another. To combat this, fish farmers load their livestock with antibiotics and pesticides, many have been linked to cancer. The fish don’t live long enough to develop cancer from these chemicals, but the carcinogens are still there when the fish makes it to your table. Choose wild salmon harvested through sustainable methods for your health and the environment.

Grilled Meat Frying isn’t the only cancer culprit when it comes to high temperature foods.

When meat is grilled, heterocyclic aromatic amines are formed. What this basically means is that the char marks on your burger or chicken breast are bad news. Lightly grilled meat eaten in moderation is okay, but if you like your steak well done it may be better idea to skip it all together. Try roasting instead.

Hydrogenated Oils With the rise of industry came the rise of the aesthetic. Food manufacturers want to make sure their product looks the best, and that means putting them through a cocktail of chemical processes. Chemicals aren’t all bad, in fact you are made of chemicals, but the balance of chemicals in the body is delicate and hydrogenated oils can throw it right off. Hydrogenating oils keeps them from separating, giving foods peanut butter and salad dressing a more pleasant, uniform look. Unfortunately the chemicals used in the hydrogenation process can cause cancer and lawmakers have yet to ban their use. So get the all-natural peanut butter, the benefits to your health are worth stirring for.

Microwave Popcorn Popcorn is a healthy snack (as long as you keep the butter and salt to a minimum) but microwave popcorn contains a whole bunch of additives to help make it pop. Unfortunately many of these additives are problematic. The bags are lined with chemicals to keep steam from escaping that have been linked to cancer.

And the kernels themselves are coated with oils and additive’s to make them pop faster. When these additives are heated they release diacetyl fumes which are very harmful. if you love movie night, an air popper is a good investment for your home and your health. it saves money in the long run to.

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Refined Sugars Refined sugars don’t cause cancer directly, but it does help cancer to grow.

Sugars occur naturally in all plants and they are essential part of the food chain.

They provide all life with the energy it needs to survive. But when sugars are refined, way too much energy is concentrated into a very small amount-more than we were ever intended to ingest naturally. That’s why foods that are high in sugar cause weight gain. All that extra energy has to go somewhere and is stored as fat. But that extra energy can also feed existing cancer cells. Cancer cells require nutrients to grow just like healthy body cells. When there is an abundance of sugar in the bloodstream, that sugar feeds cancer cells and helps them grow into full-fledged tumors.

Fried Foods When we think of the reasons fried food is bad for us, the first thing that comes to mind is its high fat content. While it’s true that that certain fats can heighten cholesterol and blood pressure, these fats and oils become even more dangerous when then are quick-cooked at high temperatures. When oils and fats-even good fats like the ones found in fish and olive oil-are heated to frying temperatures their molecule structure changes, creating a new substance called acrylamide which has been shown to cause cancer in rats.

Processed Meats Red meat should be eaten in moderation but processed meat like hot dogs, bacon, corned beef, and ham should be avoided altogether. Sodium nitrateknown carcinogens are added to these meats to preserve them to “enhance” their color. Have you ever tried to cook some canned corn beef or mutton and notice how long it sizzled in the pan it never lost that pink color? That’s preservatives at work. For a cancer-free meat choice, try fresh poultry, organic fish, and fresh, uncured red meat in small amounts.

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The importance of reading aloud to your children

Reading aloud to your children is a great way to entertain them and help them get to sleep, according to The New York Times.

It can even help improve their behavior.

Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine led a study of 675 families with children that were tracked from birth to age 5. A random selection of 225 families received intervention during their pediatric visits in which they were given books and toys. Parents were videotaped reading to their children and then given coaching that encouraged them to read with them frequently at home.

When the study looked at all of the children at ages 3 and 4, kids in the group that received the

intervention were found to have significantly fewer problems with aggression and hyperactivity. They were also found to have longer attention spans.

The doctors leading the study believe that reading aloud also helps children to learn to use

words to describe their feelings more easily, helping them to control anger and sadness.

According to PBS Parents, it helps to start early with babies and read often throughout the week. Making it a part of a daily bedtime routine is an excellent cue

for both parent and child that it's time to read. Although it can be tempting to rush through a book and turn out the lights, intentionally take time to ask questions, explain stories, and generally keep reading time interactive.

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C H O O S I N G

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safe toys for eye and

brain development

Electronic devices are kid magnets, but they aren't always the best choice for development, doctors say.

According to doctors of optometry, Kellye Knueppel and Mary Gregory, of the American Optometrics Association, parents should try to avoid electronics in favor of more developmentally beneficial toys.

Many games and other applications on smartphones and tablets are likely to overstimulate the senses of developing children and don't provide

many opportunities for actual thinking and processing skills.

For example, building toys are a great way for children to improve their eye-hand coordination starting at around one year. They can begin with wooden blocks or Mega Bloks at that age, move to Lincoln Logs and TinkerToys at around three years, and then tackle more advanced toys such as LEGOS, erector sets and basic robotics as they are able over time.

These toys also encourage creativity and allow children to experiment in imaginative ways.

Toys that develop visual thinking are important because this skill is fundamental to school subjects such as math, reading, and spelling.

Classic games like Battleship encourage visual memory and sequencing while strategic board games like chess, checkers, and Chinese checkers promote visualization for future moves.

Rounding out the list, puzzle-style games like the Rubik's Cube will add pattern recognition and visual discrimination into the mix.

ReTIReMeNT: Men suffer boredom, loss of identity, studies say John is a successful family man: Married for 25 years, he supported his family as a truck driver, always on the road. In his last year before retirement, he dreamed of being at home, improving his guitar skills, jamming with his brother.

Then, a retired friend tells him: "Don't be surprised that there is nothing to do. Winter is the worst. It is so boring."

So this is how retirement is? Boring? Disappointing?

Aimless?

For many men, boredom is first and depression is second. It may come as a surprise because they were looking forward to free time. According to a 2012 study by University of California, men experience satisfaction the first year followed by a steep decline. In fact, a 2013 study showed that retirement alone increased the probability of depression in men by 40 percent.

Lindsay Greene, author of "Ready to Retire? What You and Your Spouse Need to Know About the Reality of Retirement," writes that the happiest retirees have multiple selves -- hobbies and activities that keep them busy.

Some psychologists say the happiest retirees are those who spent the last three years before retirement hating their job. While they inevitably lose their identity as the breadwinner, at least they don't go back to the hated grind.

But, for those who love their job, it's probably best to ease into retirement. either work part time at your job before official retirement or take a part-time job. either way, in retirement men (and women) need social relationships, scheduled activities, and meaning.

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“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

The heart of an Irishman is nothing but his imagination. ~ George Bernard Shaw

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. ~ Adrienne Cook

A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. ~ Popular saying

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night. ~ Irish Blessing Never iron a four-leaf clover because you don't want to press your luck. ~ Popular saying

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MARKET REPORT:

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Millennials become buyers as market normalizes

Eleven years after the real estate crash that triggered a recession, there's good news: the market appears to have normalized in recent years.

Sales prices have rebounded but are not extreme, and loans are more readily available than in those first few panicstricken years. Meanwhile, the Millennial generation (ages 22 to 36), are aging into home buying range just as baby boomers age into retirement sales -- although that tradeoff has not been fully realized.

Even a steady stream of interest rate increases since 2015 hasn't dampened the mood -- 30-year fixed rates are still in the historically low to average range, hovering between 4 and 5 percent.

Lower inventory of homes for sale and the higher cost of materials and labor means sales prices have risen and conditions have favored sellers; additionally, many homeowners have opted to remain in place, finding it cheaper to renovate or add on rather than sell and find a replacement home.

In fact, in November 2018, the National Association of Realtors said that yearover-year contract signings -- an indicator

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of pending home sales -- had dropped for 10 straight months. At the same time, the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a rise in rentals, which it expected to continue.

But that doesn't mean home buying has stalled, either. In fact, opportunities are still plentiful, as are the number of buyers, especially millennials seeking their first homes.

According to Trulia, 21 percent of Americans aged 18 to 34 said they plan to buy within the next 12 months.

And in the end, a quarter of a percentage point here or there doesn't equate to a big difference in the monthly payment -- it can be as little as $20 in many cases. According to some forecasters, home prices adjust to accommodate the change. In other words, prices could actually come down a little.

So if you are considering a purchase, 2019 is expected to provide plenty of opportunity.

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“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”

Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level.

- Dr. Joyce Brothers

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How to drink more water when you hate water We all know we're supposed to keep hydrated and that no, red wine or coffee unfortunately do not count. But the problem for a lot of people is that they simply have trouble with plain old water.

So how can you drink more water when it bores you silly? Here are some tips to get a little more creative with it:

Invest in a water filter. You might not be totally picky, after all - your water may just taste a little funny, whether due to minerals or chlorine or any number of factors. And a filter could be all you need.

Stick a straw in it. Get a reusable straw if you'd like to avoid the plastic ones, and sip on water throughout the

day.

Drink some water first thing in the morning. Your body gets dehydrated overnight, and a glass of water is a great pick-me-up. It can taste surprisingly good in the morning (you were probably thirsty anyway, and you can still go for the coffee once it brews).

Freeze some fruit and add it to your water. Cold water is refreshing, and the fruit will add a nice flavor. They even make infusion bottles if you feel like kicking it up a notch.

Try vegetables or herbs for a different flavor altogether; cucumbers or celery, basil or mint are all good choices.

Play with different types of water, like coconut water or maple water.

Get a high-tech water bottle that tracks your water intake and can even customize how much you should drink.

Or download an app onto your phone to track your consumption.

TIPS FOR GREENING UP CLEANING

Have you ever thought about making an all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, or drain unclogger that didn't have so many harsh chemicals in it? freshen things up, and you can use a half of a lemon and salt to scrub your wooden cutting board. tea tree oil is considered among many to be an effective antibacterial and antifungal ingredient, and you'll find it in a host of natural cleaning products.

Try making a homemade laundry detergent with some combination of baking soda, washing soda, castile soap, and your favorite essential oil (like lavender).

There are tons of variations online.

There are plenty of options to do so; that are easy, inexpensive, and - perhaps best of all -- that actually work!

Here are some tips for household cleaners: Vinegar, baking soda, water, and your favorite essential oil can clean almost anything around the house. And some of us never tire of the way the baking soda and the vinegar fizz up when they meet. lemons make a great disinfectant and smell great, too. Toss one into the garbage disposal to

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