Robert C White & Co July 2019

R E N T A L READER

YOUR

860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM

JULY 2019

EVERYDAY SUPERHEROES Batman, Superman, and the RCW Team I came home recently to my youngest two sons, James (4) andWilliam (2), running around outside “saving the world from bad guys.”William definitely looks up to James and mimics almost everything that “Jamie-brother” says or does. I don’t know how long they were at it, but, by the time I got home, they had most of the world’s bad guys under control and quickly asked me to take their picture. (See them in the photo on the left.) It made me smile and immediately remember a family photo of me and my older brother, Matt. (See us in the photo on the right.) In the picture, Matt and I were almost at the identical age that James andWilliam are. I also mimicked almost everything that my big brother said and did. As you can tell from the picture, we were saving the world from bad guys too. I am clearly a Batman man, unlike William. Superman is good, but Batman is great. I remember going to my grandmother’s house when I was young and watching the ‘60s TV version of “Batman,” starring AdamWest. I loved it. I guess my preference for Batman is largely due to the fact that he doesn’t really have any superpowers but is clearly a hero. (I probably really liked the Batmobile and his other secret gear too.) To me, there is something special about a “mere mortal” who achieves so much more than other mortals, especially in the service of others. When we advertise for new property managers and other team members, we are looking for superheroes too. Part of our ad reads “Our property managers act as landlords for our owners. They are the superstars of our company. They are faster than a speeding bullet and leap small buildings with a single bound. They are our heroes!”

James and William & Luke and Matt

The sheer number of quick move-ins, collection problems solved, great tenants they find for less-than-perfect properties, and smooth handlings of upset tenants is staggering to me.

I’m proud of my team, and I am proud of how they deliver for our clients. I hope you know how hard they work to get you a great result and give you peace of mind.

They are real superheroes!

Tune in next month — same Bat-time ... same Bat-channel,

P.S. I have a nice mix of superheroes in my house. Evelyn prefers Wonder Woman, David prefers the Hulk, James prefers Batman, Spiderman, or Ironman, andWilliam prefers Superman. It’s nice to know that they will keep us all safe against the world’s bad guys for years to come! P.P.S. The next time you talk to someone on the team, ask them who their favorite superhero is. It may lead to an interesting conversation, and you may even catch them off guard (which is hard to do).

And they really are!

Day in and day out, I am amazed as this team I have the pleasure of leading goes above and beyond for our property management clients and tenants. This time of year, I am especially reminded of that because leasing activity is so much more active.

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SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY 3 Tips for Swimming in Open Water

WILL DISNEY+ GET YOUR KIDS TO STOP WATCHING UNBOXING VIDEOS?

There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun.

NEVER SWIM ALONE

When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. KNOWWHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO

Ever since Netflix changed the way we consume movies and TV shows at home, studios have been locked in a streaming war. Amazon Prime and Hulu shook up the scene, along with more niche services like CBS All Access, DC Universe, and Crunchyroll. Is there room for one more? Disney seems to think so, and their new service is shaping up to be the king of streaming.

WHAT IS DISNEY+?

Disney has always prided itself on its family-friendly brand. This is the first major perk of their new streaming service, Disney+. There will be no R-rated films or TV-MA television shows anywhere on the platform. This is a great relief for parents who have had to deal with their kids accidentally navigating away from“Peppa Pig” videos on YouTube and finding more adult content. Keep in mind that “family-friendly” doesn’t mean limited. Disney+ boasts a massive offering of original content, such as the live-action “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian” and “Loki,” a show starring everyone’s favorite trickster god. There will also be live-action remakes of Disney animated classics alongside original movies, including a Christmas movie starring Anna Kendrick. New isn’t always better, which is why Disney+ will also house decades’ worth of classic content. Every single movie in the Disney catalog will be available on the service, from“SnowWhite and the Seven Dwarves” to “Frozen 2.” All “Star Wars”movies and Marvel movies will also become available along with over 5,000 episodes of old Disney Channel shows.

WATCH FOR RIP CURRENTS

These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of

beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly

pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy by swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current.

IS DISNEY+WORTH IT?

That depends entirely on your family. If you don’t care for Disney, don’t waste your money. However, if you share a soft spot for classic Disney movies, enjoy new Marvel content, or secretly long to rewatch every episode of “Kim Possible,”Disney+ might be the streaming service you’ve been waiting for.

Disney+ launches in the United States on Nov. 12, 2019. Visit Preview. DisneyPlus.com to get notifications. Happy binge-watching!

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THE GUARDIAN WHO WOULD NOT LEAVE HIS WATCH Odin Lives Up to His Legendary Name

Amid the devastation of the wildfires that tore through California in the fall of 2017, a few heroic tales rose up to give people hope. One such tale was of Odin, a loyal Great Pyrenees guard dog. Along with his sister, Tessa, and eight rescue goats, Odin is part of the Hendel family. It was mid-October when the Hendels were awoken by the smell of smoke, a fierce orange sky, and sounds of destruction — urgent warnings from Mother Nature. Gathering everyone as quickly as they could, the Hendels got their human family members and Tessa in the car, but Odin, seated proudly next to the eight goats, refused to get in. Try as they might, the Hendels could not get him to come with them, and there wasn’t enough room in the car for the eight goats. With the firestorm quickly approaching and the risk of losing even more family members increasing with each passing minute, the Hendels made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Odin and the goats behind. The family made it to safety with Tessa in tow, relieved to be together but heartbroken that Odin and the goats weren’t with them. After several agonizing days, it was finally safe enough for them to return home and survey the destruction. What did the Hendels find? Ashes, rubble, their barn and home burned to the ground — and Odin. There he was, still guarding his eight goats and some small deer that had sought shelter with the brave canine. Weakened, burned, and limping, but nevertheless steadfast, Odin had never left his goats, even as the fire

raged around them. Odin wagged his tail as he saw his family, happy to see they were also safe. The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and the Goatlandia Animal Sanctuary provided temporary shelter for the goats and pups while the Hendels rebuilt their

barn. Odin received all the care he needed, along with a lot of love and treats. Today, Odin and his goats are back with

their family, rebuilding their lives after this devastating wildfire. But the Hendels, and anyone who’s heard the story, won’t soon forget the bravery of Odin, the amazing pup.

JUICY LUCY SLIDERS

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground chuck beef, 20% lean

16 small potato rolls, toasted

8 slices melting cheese (like American, Swiss, Muenster, or cheddar)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Your favorite burger accompaniments

Directions

1.

Divide beef into 16 evenly sized balls.

2. Rip cheese into roughly equal pieces, creating 16 equal portions. 3. Using your index finger, create a small indentation in each ball. 4. Fill indention with cheese and pinch meat around to seal. Then gently form balls into 3/4-inch- thick patties. Season patties. 5. Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high. 6. Lightly coat skillet with oil and cook patties in batches. Brown one side undisturbed, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium. 7. Serve on toasted potato rolls with your favorite accompaniments.

Solution on Page 4

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107 E. MAIN ST., FL2 MERIDEN, CT 06450 860.613.6290

INSIDE 1 Everyday Superheroes

2

Disney Enters the Streaming War 3 Things to Know Before Swimming In Open Water

3

A Tail of Bravery Juicy Lucy Sliders

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The Madden Curse

ON THE TRAIL OF THE MADDEN CURSE

Truth, Lies, and Superstition

There is no urban legend in the world of modern video games as well- documented as the so-called “Madden Curse.”The curse cover spot of the popular NFL video game “Madden NFL,” formerly known as “John Madden Football.” While the games date back to 1988, the curse is said to originate with the revolves around the highly sought-after

in the rumor gaining traction. Soon, the idea that the game’s seemingly innocent cover could have devastating effects on a player’s career was widespread. Once a substantial honor in the world of football, the Madden cover spot has become one of the sport’s most feared superstitions for fans. The players, however, seem to find the correlation more amusing than scary. Most of the athletes in contention for the spot still consider it to be a great honor, choosing to brush off the rumors as coincidence. Despite the ambivalence of many players, there does seem to be a correlation between the cover and player issues. Of the 22 players who have been featured on the cover, 16 of them have suffered from significant issues in the season that followed. While the causes varied, with severe injuries, contract disputes, and personal issues all afflicting different players, something about the spotlight appears to have disturbed the powers that be. In fact, sometimes these issues occur shortly after the game is released in stores. Whatever the true cause, the curse seems to have taken a dip in recent years. Only one of the last five players has been affected, a stat that bodes well for this year’s star: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The real answer probably lies somewhere between fact and fiction. The increased pressure of national attention is bound to make players tense up every once in a while, and in a game as physical as football, any distraction can end in disaster.

1999 version. Garrison Hearst, a popular running back at the time, broke his ankle shortly after being featured on the cover of the 1999 edition. This was the first in a long line of injuries and personal issues that resulted

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