R E N T A L READER
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860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
OCTOBER 2019
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND YOUR LOCAL DENTIST
More Similar Than You Thought
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with dentists for as long as I remember. I don’t have great teeth, and I really don’t like people messing with my mouth. Braces weren’t fun, and when I finally got them off, I was given the present of my first set of cavities in my life. There have been many since. When I lived in New Jersey, I went to a local dentist and shared that I was having tooth pain and thought I might have a cavity. He went on to show me my X-rays to “prove” I had no cavities — like I would know what to look at anyway. Well, sure enough, six months later, at my childhood dentist that I trust, I found out I had four cavities. Ouch! I asked if they could have formed in such a short period of time. The answer …“No way.”Oh, and I didn’t have dental insurance at that time because of a job change. Double ouch! With that as a backdrop, you would think that I am a very infrequent visitor to the dentist. But nothing could be further from the truth. I am a “twice a year for cleanings” kind of guy and have been for my entire life. Why in the world would I so consistently go to the dentist when I really don’t like it? Yes, I could ignore everything until I had real pain and then go, but then I would have more cavities, or worse, I’d be in root canal territory. With teeth, if ignored, little problems can become big problems. But if things are caught early enough, it is minor and easy to address — and hurts less too. Property problems are incredibly similar to that. So often we find small problems, that, if addressed right away, are no big deal. However, when they are ignored, they can become big issues. Property reviews are our equivalent of the dental checkup. In fact, we sometimes call property reviews “checkups.” And frankly, we recommend they be done every six months, like dental checkups. The reason is that we want to catch things early, when they are a small issue and can be addressed easily. When they are put off too long, much more time and money is required to make things right. We feel so strongly about the importance that we now require annual reviews. Simple. Because not going is much worse.
are keeping the home. We make sure there are no pets or people that aren’t supposed to be there and keep an eye out for any other potential lease violations. We flush toilets and check for leaks. We check connections. We look for rot. We actually have a checklist of well over 50 items your property manager is looking for during the review. We do all that, and so much more, because we want to be thorough, and we want to find small issues before they become larger ones, which saves money in the end.
Most of the time, we do a property review so the “patient” (the home/tenant living there) gets a clean bill of health. In essence, there are no cavities. Or maybe something is identified that we only need to “watch.” But sometimes you find out you do have a cavity (property or tenant issue). We know nobody likes to hear they have a cavity. And we know that nobody looks forward to what you need to do to address the cavity — the Novocain and the drill and the filling. We know that and we work to make addressing “the cavities” as painless as possible. We let you know what we found, what we think should be done, and then we go do it. We know that is what you want because you picked a proactive property manager as your partner for your rental. We hope your property is always free of cavities. But if you find out you got one, please know that we are going to take care of it for you and that your property will be back to normal as soon as possible.
Yours in “clean teeth,”
P.S. After being a way for a while, I am back to my childhood dentist even though it is a bit of a haul to get to. “Why?” you ask. Because I trust him. I truly hope Robert C. White earns that level of trust with you over the years.
These checkups are very extensive. We look throughout the interior and exterior for any potential issues or deferred maintenance. We look to see how the tenants
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HOW’S THAT FOR ODDS? Reggie ‘Mr. October’ Jackson’s Legendary Game
The leaves are turning, the weather is changing, and the holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to bring out the fall decor! To make this season especially memorable for your family, create your own decorations with these fun ideas below. PINE CONE PAINTING Go on a family walk through the park to pick up a few fallen pine cones or take a quick trip to the store to buy a bag. Once everyone has their own hand-picked pine cone, grab a paintbrush and a few colors and have at it! For extra flair, add some fixings like glitter, beads, sequins, string, and more. LEAF PAINTING Take a trip outside with the kids to pick out some large, unbroken leaves, then head back inside and get creative! You can pull out the construction paper and paint trees, using handprints and “arm prints” as the trunks and branches. Paint the leaves you found to spruce up your trees or use them as decorations on their own. You can also use them for leaf printing or leaf pressing. FUN FINGER FOOD When you’ve got multiple friends and family members coming over and you need snacks, edible decorations are the way to go. You can get a little creative and make elaborate treats, or you can opt for delicious and easy-to-make finger foods with your kids. A good starting treat for your family is a batch of pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats. Add orange food coloring to the mix and get your kids to shape the treats like pumpkins before using a few pretzel sticks to make sturdy stems. THANKSGIVING CRAFTS Thanksgiving is only a month away, and your possibilities for holiday- themed crafts are endless with just a few supplies like paper, scissors, markers, and string. You can make turkey placemats, tissue paper trees, pumpkin garlands, paper pumpkins, or leaf mobiles to hang from the ceiling. Compile a list of ideas and have your kids pick out which craft they want to do first, then get to work together to create as many decorations as you want to display for Turkey Day. FALL FAMILY FUN Decorate Your House With Your Own Creations!
“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” –Reggie Jackson
Some people shine brightest in the spotlight. When put to the test, they deliver every time. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is one of those people. During the sixth game of the 1977 World Series, Jackson hit three home runs in a row, securing the Yankees’ victory over the Dodgers and winning them their 21st World Series title. The legendary playoff game also earned Jackson the nickname “Mr. October,”which has stuck to this day. Like many stories of greatness, Jackson’s featured a lot of hard work behind the scenes. He dedicated himself to his sport and constantly worked to improve his play. Growing up, Jackson played baseball, basketball, and football and excelled at all three, though football was his strong suit. He was scouted and given opportunities to go pro straight out of high school, but, on the advice of his father, he went to college on a football scholarship. Thanks to a $5 bet, he tried out for the baseball team at Arizona State University and made it. Jackson was the first black person on the team, and, even though he experienced discrimination, he never let it stop him.
From the minor leagues into the majors, Jackson’s ambition got him through many tough times, as did the constant support of his father and
of Oakland A’s manager John McNamara. Jackson always dreamed of playing for New York, and, eventually, his dream came true when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1976. To this day, Jackson holds many prominent records, including being the first player to earn more than 100 home runs for three different teams
(the A’s, Yankees, and Angels). He even has his own candy bar, the “Reggie! Bar,”which debuted during a Yankees game in 1978. Let’s see if any of this year’s playoff games stir up as much excitement as Reggie
With these engaging craft ideas, the whole family will be eager to make their own decorations and show them off for months to come!
Jackson’s did in his heyday.
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TAILS FROM THE PAST Mythical Cats of the World Most owners will tell you their cats act like ancient deities. Majestic, scrupulous,
FREYA’S SKOGKATTS — NORWAY
and utterly unpredictable, these fascinating creatures have long captured our imaginations. Even before cat videos took the internet by storm, humans have been idolizing felines, placing them alongside some of their most important mythological figures.
In Norse folklore, the goddess Freya had a unique means of travel: a chariot pulled by two cats. These were skogkatts, or Norwegian
BASTET — EGYPT
Of course, a list of mythical cats has to start with Egypt. While many people know the pharaohs and their followers thought cats were sacred, you may be surprised by how deep the connection goes. The earliest depiction of Bastet, the feline deity of protection, is a lion-headed woman in battle. But, over the course of 2,000 years, Bastet evolved to resemble the domesticated, pointy-eared cats we know and love today.
Forest cats, that were only a little larger than your average house cat. Still, these small felines towed Freya around battlefields as she gathered
招き猫 (MANEKI-NEKO) — JAPAN
Legend has it that in the 17th century, a monk living in a small temple in Edo (now Tokyo) was struggling to survive, but he still split his meals with his cat, Tama. One day, Lord Nakaota Ii got caught in a rainstorm while hunting and took shelter under a tree near the temple. Nakaota spotted Tama near the temple, and the cat raised its leg, beckoning the noble to come toward him. Curious, Nakaota complied, stepping out from beneath the tree just before a bolt of lightning struck it down. The lord’s life was saved, and to this day, the Maneki-Neko (the beckoning cat) is a symbol of wealth and good fortune.
warriors to send to Valhalla. On top of being the goddess of war, love affairs, and magic, Freya may well have been Midgard’s first cat lady.
LEFTOVER CANDY SNACK MIX
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
This recipe fromMomofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers.
Ingredients
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2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken
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1/3 cup dry milk powder
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1/4 cup light brown sugar
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6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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2 tbsp granulated sugar
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12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
Directions
1.
Heat oven to 275 F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.
Solution on Page 4
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57 DODGE AVE, STE. 107 NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473 860.613.6290
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INSIDE 1
Property Management and Your Local Dentist
2
Fall Crafts for the Whole Family ‘Mr. October’: The Legendary Reggie Jackson
3
Amazing Cat Tales Leftover Candy Snack Mix
4
The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow
HAYRIDES AND HEADLESS HORSEMEN Halloween Celebrations in Sleepy Hollow
In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home
Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows”will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins. Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman’s Hollow, an experience not for the faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive! But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.
alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving.
This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of
North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big
If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!
Halloween party during the month of October.
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