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When Life Gives You Lemons......Make Lemonade!
By Charlene Burton
I remember the first time I heard that phrase, I thought it was so clever. Then as I grew older, I genuinely tried to implement the concept into my life. It's such a simple idea, and never so timely as it is today.
Faced with skyrocketing fuel costs that are impacting all facets of our lives our nation is at a difficult moment in it's economic history. People are fearing for their future in ways that they never have in recent memory. It was just yesterday that home valuessubstantially increased weekly, building was at an all time high, and jobs were abundant.
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But as with all things, the pendulum must swing back in the other direction. We need to remember that just as we saw no end to our era of abundance, it feels like the woes we face now will be interminable, however neither is the case. Times will move forward and things will improve, hopefully soon. In the meantime, each day is a gift and we need to make the most of them without letting our concerns dampen our spirits.
With this in mind, our villagers have submitted some great insights gleaned from our theme. I hope you enjoy this edition of the threevillagepeople.companion and wish you all a safe and happy summer.
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Featured Business:
Fitzpatrick Exteriors
Born and raised in East Setauket, Jim Fitzpatrick prides himself in taking care of his customers needs throughout the entire building/renovating process. He and his wife , both alumni of Ward Melville High School, own and operate Fitzpatrick Exteriors, specializing in roofing, siding and windows. "What's nice is when you use our company, you are dealing with one of us from beginning to end," Christine Fitzpatrick tells me in a light hearted phone conversation. She is always a pleasure to speak with and if you call Fitzpatrick Exteriors her pleasant voice is the one that will greet you This local family run business operates in a way that heralds back to old times. With a focus on customer satisfaction and strongly personalized service they work with integrity in the very community that they live and raise their three children. |
You can visit their page to see examples of their beautiful work. Fitzpatrick Exteriors
by Charlene Burton
Villager in the Spotlight/ Good Shepard Hospice |
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At the end of a bout of terminal illness most patients are treated in their own homes. Thanks to Good Shepherd Hospice patients requiring more care will now have a beautiful
acute-care inpatient facility with hospice services. It hopes to be the perfect setting for those individuals in need of more skilled care. It has been carefully designed to have the look and feel of a home. The new Good Shepherd Hospice Inpatient Center will be located at Port Jefferson. It will be the largest freestanding inpatient hospice on Long Island, providing state-of-the-art hospice care, as well as the only one located on a hospital campus serving as an academic teaching site for students enrolled in multiple
higher education health care disciplines. Residents loved ones will also have the ability to visit 24 hours a day, which is an important feature for an impatient center. Many people have worked very hard to make this center a reality. Our own East End Interiors donated their talents to ensure that the hospice would be a beautiful place. We thank all the people involved in this project for helping to bring this wonderful center to our community.
Volunteers Wanted
On Saturday, September 6, 2008, Good Shepherd Hospice will host its 6th Annual Anchors Aweigh Sunset Cruise aboard the PT Barnum/Port Jefferson Ferry. I am looking for volunteers in the Three Village and Port Jefferson area who can assist me by serving on a committee. Meetings will be held once every two weeks in the Good Shepherd Hospice Port Jefferson Station Office from July through August. Dates and times TBD. Interested individuals can contact me at 631-474-5500 or a jovanna.little@chsli.org.
Visit Good Shepard Hospice
Don't just make Lemonade, DrinkWine!!!!
By Suzanne Caputo
Summer is here! Barbeques and get together's are in full swing. This is a great time of year to share some wonderful wines with your friends and family! And what better way to do that than to Host a Complimentary In-Home Wine Tasting Event! |
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The Traveling Vineyard was founded in 2002 with a simple premise: the best way to buy wine is to taste it first in a fun and relaxed atmosphere with your friends and family. My goal is to create an atmosphere that basically turns your living room into a tasting room. I will lead you and your guests through five different wines, educate you on the four steps of wine tasting and why they are important and we will also pair foods with the wines. The wines are all boutique wines and they are hand picked by The Traveling Vineyard wine specialists in California,Europe and Australia! Check out my website below for more information or feel free to call me and book your wine tasting event now!
Cheers!
Suzanne Caputo
Click here to visit me in the Culinary Court on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS.....................
Take a break with a poem!
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a birds day
a bird's day starts so early.
they start chirping at four am;
if you have not noticed.
they wake up early and
then they have this whole
long day before them.
it can be such a long day
if you are a bird or a person.
what is to be done with this day?
if only birds could speak instead of chirping.
we would know.
Michael Domino
May 22, 2008
Strong's Neck
Setauket, NY
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Stress and Exercise
by Jen Lang and Lee Cirillo
Let's face it, we live in a fast paced, high tech, competitive and often troubled society. Often the result is chronic stress. Too much stress can causes serious problems. First, researchers have found that the people most likely to be stressed, those with a Type A personality, are two to three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease. Second, and related, stress can actually make you fat.
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Before discussing why exercise is the best antidote for stress, We think it is helpful to understand why stress has these effects on us. It boils down to the simple fact that our bodies cannot tell the difference between stress caused by a physical threat, one we must physically fight or run away from, and the chronic, emotional stress we are most likely to face everyday. Since our bodies can't tell the difference, they react the same way to both. Our bodies react by providing maximum strength and energy to fight or run. This is done by releasing the hormones adrenalin, cortisol and insulin. The result is 5 - 10 minutes of quick energy due to the release of stored fuel in the body (fat and glucose). That's great if you must fight or run away from a physical threat, but when was the last time you did that?
Unfortunately, when we face our most common stressors, we are sitting at our desk or behind the wheel. We don't physically fight or run. Instead, we remain sedentary. So what happens to all that fat and glucose in our blood stream that was supposed to give us quick energy? Well, the job of the third hormone released by the body, insulin, is to get the fat and glucose out of the blood stream and store it for future use. The insulin often does this so well that we feel hungry. So the insulin stores the fat and glucose as fat, most of it saved in the middle section of the body. We eat more because we are hungry, and that gets stored too. If we face prolonged or chronic stress, this cycle is repeated over and over, storing more and more fat on our midriffs and sometimes even leading to an additional problem from insulin resistance and type 2 diabetesResearch has proven that the very best treatment for stress and all of its negative effects is NOT found at the drug store, but in the gym. Exercise is the cure, plain and simple. Physically, exercise burns fat and glucose, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, improves all cardiovascular functions, and keeps hormones balanced. It helps our bodies work efficiently and well. Mentally, exercise calms our negative emotions and actually stimulates positive biochemical changes that improve mood and relieve pain. A fit person can deal with stress much better than people who are sedentary.
Research has proven that the very best treatment for stress and all of its negative effects is NOT found at the drug store, but in the gym. Exercise is the cure, plain and simple. Physically, exercise burns fat and glucose, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, improves all cardiovascular functions, and keeps hormones balanced. It helps our bodies work efficiently and well. Mentally, exercise calms our negative emotions and actually stimulates positive biochemical changes that improve mood and relieve pain. A fit person can deal with stress much better than people who are sedentary.
So, exercise IS the answer. BUT be careful. Too much exercise will only add to the stress. Doing an exercise improperly or doing the wrong exercise could hurt us. In addition, we need a proper balance of aerobic and weight resistance exercise for optimal results. Variety and periodic change in the exercise routine is also important. The best advice is to seek the help of a professional, a certified personal trainer. And, if you have not exercised recently, consult with your physician before starting.
The researchers continue to find more evidence of the harmful effects of chronic stress and its resulting, serious consequences to our health. That's the bad news. The good news is that, with each discovery, the best cure is the same, a properly designed exercise program. We may not be able to eliminate the causes of chronic stress, but we can deal with it better. The sooner you start, the better.,
Click here to visit us on Health and Beauty Street on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
What is Acupuncture?
By Jessica Gregory, L.Ac., M.S.A.O.M.
Carriage House Chiropractic
631.689.7848
Jessica@CarriageHouseChiropractic.com
Carriage House Chiropractic, located in East Setauket, is a multi-specialty practice focused on wellness; CHC offers chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, nutritional supplementation, and homeopathy. The following discussion provides a brief overview of acupuncture. |
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Acupuncture has been practiced around the world for thousands of years, and is part of a comprehensive health system called Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture is just one of the forms of therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Others include oriental medicine (herbal remedies), moxibustion, body work (such as tui na, gua sha, and cupping), eastern nutrition, and exercises (such as tai chi & qi gong).
In traditional Chinese medical theory, disease is believed to arise from imbalances in the body's energy flow, or qi (pronounced "chee"). The goal of acupuncture is to help reestablish the body's natural flow of qi to maintain or restore good health. Though acupuncture is perhaps best known for its ability to relieve pain, it promotes health and alleviates suffering from a variety of conditions by helping the body heal itself. Reproductive issues, digestive difficulties, circulatory and respiratory challenges, and emotional issues are among the many ailments acupuncture may treat. In addition, it is effective for preventing illness and managing stress.
Qi travels in meridians or channels along the body, and collects in specific areas known as acupuncture points, or acupoints for short. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into selected acupoints points on the body. Since acupuncture is a complex system of diagnosis that views the person as a whole, treatments are balanced as well. For example, a patient who has headaches will most likely receive needles on their head, arms and legs.
Insertion of needles is typically painless for most patients; those who feel something often describe it as slight pinch that goes away quickly. Once the needles are inserted, patients often feel a mild ache, numbness, or heaviness at or near some of the acupoints or a tingling sensation traveling along the meridians. Patients don't always feel it, but when they do, it's a confirmation that the patient's qi is balancing itself. The needles are typically retained for fifteen to thirty minutes. Patients often feel a sense of calmness during treatment, and some even relax enough to fall asleep.
I welcome you to visit Carriage House Chiropractic for a complementary consult to find out if acupuncture is right for you. I am available to answer any additional questions or to schedule an appointment by calling 631.689.7848 or e-mailing Jessica@CarriageHouseChiropractic.com.
Click here to visit me on Health and Beauty Path on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Your Health, Not Your House, Is your Most
Valuable Asset
By Dr. Henri Rosenblum
POWER ON
Chiropractic and Nutrition
Health and Beauty Way
Suite #7 Holistic Health Care Court
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Research carried out jointly by Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School, published in 2001 in the journal of Health Affairs, stated that half of the 1,458,000 personal bankruptcies filed in the USA were caused by illness and medical bills. Surprisingly, three-quarters of those bankrupted by illness had health insurance at the time they became ill. The majority of those medical bankruptcy filers were middle class, owned a home and had attended college. The reason this happens is because todays health insurance policies, with their high deductibles, high co-pays and many exclusions offer little protection during a serious illness.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your family from becoming a medical bankruptcy statistic, or worse, becoming an unexpected death statistic like 58 year-old news reporter Tim Russert? Take a proactive approach to your health that will help you to avoid getting sick in the first place. Since the top killers and money drain illnesses in the USA today are all diseases that are essentially preventable, start making choices that build robust health.
As an expert in wellness my practice offers anyone willing to start making a few simple lifestyle changes the opportunity to get off the sickness bandwagon and join the wellness revolution. And your children will benefit from these positive lifestyle changes as well. If you understand the wellness concept at all, then you are aware that the time to begin is before you get sick. Take your reasonably healthy self and improve, because there is no standing still on the sickness/wellness continuum. Either you are becoming more well or becoming less well on a daily basis. Either you are improving toward vibrant health or sliding slowly toward your final destination. If you are already suffering from some diagnosed condition, relying on drugs that never actually get you well, cause side effects that lead to more pills, watching your health disappear well, you could ask Tim Russert, except that he is gone!
Locate and utilize the services of a wellness expert, where the goal is to get you strong and healthy, and keep you strong and healthy. Ask yourself, on my current path, will I be more healthy one year from today, or less healthy?
I can personally guide you toward how to eat properly, supplement properly (with highly absorbed, pure, clean Isotonic nutrition - visit www.nutraMetrixPowerOn.com), how to exercise properly, keep your metabolism and energy up and your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other costly, life threatening illnesses down. One client of mine has lost 50 pounds and lowered her percent body fat by 20% in just 6 months. Staying well is about boosting your immune system and keeping all the systems of your body working at their best, especially your nervous system, the master system that controls all the other systems.
Protect your health, your most valuable asset. Without your health you will have a difficult time maintaining anything else you value. Start today! By being proactive you can avoid getting a preventable illness.Click here to visit me in Culinary Court on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Click Here to Visit me on Health and Beauty Way.
Learn new ways to look at things!
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Beyond Bagels and Coffee -
New Ideas for Networking
By Jennifer Ross
It's 8 a.m. You're sitting at a table with other entrepreneurs, business cards at the ready, sipping coffee and chewing a bagel. As the networking event's speaker drones on, you rehearse your 30-second elevator speech in your head. You hope the meeting will be fruitful, but wonder if there's a better way.
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Sound familiar?
As entrepreneurs, we need to network. It's a vital tool to grow our client base, learn from our fellow business owners and build other key relationships. But how can we go beyond the coffee, bagels and elevator speeches to network more effectively?
Know Your Purpose
There are a variety of networking options available, but before you choose which one(s) may be right for you, think about your purpose for networking:
• Are you looking for direct clients?
• Are you looking to learn from other business owners?
• Are you looking for referrals to your target market?
• Are you looking for a social outlet to combat isolation?
Explore Your Options
With your purpose(s) in mind, research your networking options -- traditional face-to-face networking groups in your area, online networking and non-traditional options.
Traditional networking groups may include Chamber of Commerce meetings, BNI, civic associations, women's groups, Ladies Who Launch, eWomen Network and Small Business Association (SBA) meetings. Depending on your purpose and how you approach them, these groups can be helpful to your business. Another option, online networking, allows you to network outside of geographic and time boundaries.
Other, non-traditional networking groups are also becoming popular. These organizations are typically formed around lifestyles or common interests and can include book clubs, hobby groups or active networking.
Tip 2: Dedicate 15-20 minutes per day, or a three to five hour block per week. You will be amazed how quickly it gets done!
Tip 3: Hire a ghostwriter! (It’s cheaper than you think.)
Tip 4: Make it about your business so you can take everything off your taxes!
Active Networking
Active networking is a term coined by ActivEntrepreneur (www.activentrepeneur.com), a national business networking group focused on entrepreneurs who strive to lead active, healthy and eco-friendly lives. Active Networking mixes business networking with walking, biking, kayaking and even salsa dancing. It's networking on your feet, instead of in your seat.
"It's a funny thing about exercise - the endorphins are kicking in, you feel more relaxed, your guard is down, and you're immediately launched into this comfort zone that no other networking environment I have experienced provides," said Linda Pace, owner of The Life of the Party, a party and event planning consulting service in Long Island, New York.
Throw Out the Elevator Speech
Regardless of which type of business networking you choose, effective networking lies beyond your 30-second elevator speech. That's not to say that you shouldn't be able to define who you are and what you do in 30 seconds or less (you should), but make it a natural part of conversation, not a rehearsed speech. And listen to what the person you're speaking to says, rather than worrying about your "speech." Have conversations, get to know people, and don't worry about how many business cards you collect. Instead, focus on the quality and depth of the connections you make.
Actively Participate
When you find a networking group that's a fit, take the next step by signing up and proactively participating. Make the effort to build relationships within the group. Go beyond the monthly or weekly events to build stronger relationships. Networking in a forum you are comfortable with will allow you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and make meaningful connections that offer support and help you grow your business.
About Jennifer Ross
Jennifer Ross is the co-founder of ActivEntrepreneur (www.activentrepreneur.com) and a strategic marketing professional with more than 16 years experience. During her career, Jennifer has held senior strategic marketing roles at JPMorgan Chase and has consulted for startups, solo entrepreneurs and large corporations. Jennifer has also served as a certified speaker with a division of Monster.com called "Making It Count," volunteers at the Stonybrook University Career Development Center and the Sachem Student Business Alliance, and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator. Jennifer is focused on creating a flexible and successful work life, strives to be active and healthy and will continue to inspire others to do the same.
Click here to visit us on the Professional Avenue on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Let the Truth Be Told- Let Your Mind Be Sold- Live It Before You Grow Old
by Keystone Consulting
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In times of stressful circumstances you must ask yourself is this what you worked so hard for in your life to lead up to where you are now? Under all truth and circumstances can you as a person trust that your character will help lead the path to where you want to be? Battling your past to keep living in the future doesn't move you forward.
Everyone talks about finding the right "fit" whether it is in your personal or professional life. To find the right fit doesn't come easily. In fact it takes a lot more brain power than you can imagine. It is the price you must pay in order not to settle. Decisions become reflections on your character and an insight to what you value and believe which can benefit you. You look out for your own goal before others that is how you can focus. If you are constantly taking care of others goals and objectives then your very own starts to become obsolete.
Others can influence your ability to "think straight" you may sometimes convince yourself that you are focused when in fact you might be thrown off the beaten path. Watch out for these types of situations. It's smart and it's efficient to always reevaluate what you are focusing on. If you find yourself jumping from thought to thought or one subject matter to the next, that is when you know you've lost focus.
Sometimes you need to walk into situations that you otherwise would have avoided. Assessing situations that are presented to you too harshly can overcome the mind and can cost you an opportunity that could lead you to success. It's just saying, "What have I got to lose". Building character takes time. Your character is about who you are to yourself and how you want other to perceive you.
Click here to visit me in the Professional Avenueon ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Lemonade = Lemons, Water and Sugar
By Eileen Koff
You can always assume we will be given lemons, and sometimes we may be blessed to have received sugar and water to make such a fabulous drink on a hot summer's day, but it takes initiative and understanding to pull it all together. Even if you're sweltering under the sun, even if the business is slowing down, there is always a new way to look at the life of your life or business. Putting it all together will not be very hard if you understand the importance of organization and the productivity organizing can bring especially in an economic downturn. Getting proactive during the hot summer months with what I call the Pareto Principle will equip you for the coming months ahead.
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The Pareto Principle
An effective management tool
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule,
but to schedule your priorities."
-Stephen Covey
In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20 percent of the population. After Pareto made his observation and created his formula, many others observed similar phenomena in their own areas of expertise.
In the 1940s, Quality Management pioneer, Dr. Joseph Juran, recognized a universal principle which he called the "vital few and trivial many." A lack of precision on Juran's part made it appear that he was applying Pareto's observations about economics to his own observations. As a result, Juran's observation of the "vital few and trivial many" became known as Pareto's Principle - commonly known today as the 80/20 rule.
The 80/20 Rule means that with anything -- time, resources, space, etc. -- a few (20 percent) are vital and many (80 percent) are trivial. In Pareto's case it meant 20 percent of the people owned 80 percent of the wealth. In Juran's initial work, he identified that 20 percent of the defects caused 80 percent of the problems.
Here are some examples of how we can apply the 80/20 rule. See if you recognize any that hold true for you.
• 80% of what you file away is never referenced again; the other 20% is what you use regularly.
• 20% of your products account for 80% of product sales.
• 80% of your measurable results will come from 20% of the items on your "to-do" list.
• 20% of your people produce 80% of your results.
• 80% of decisions come from 20% of meeting time.
• 80% of your managerial concerns are caused by 20% of the problems.
• 80% of a manager's interruptions come from the same 20% of people.
• 80% of customer complaints are about the same 20% of your products or services.
The value of the Pareto Principle is that it reminds us to focus on what matters. Focus 80% of your time and energy on the 20% of your work that is really important, since only 20% of your activities really matter. Those 20% produce 80% of your results. The key is to identify and focus on those things. If something isn't going to get done, make sure it's not part of the "vital few" activities you are putting on the back burner.
Today we have more responsibilities and choices pulling at us than ever before. Consistent application of this rule will lead to dramatically improved productivity. While the rule is not an absolute, you can use it as a guide and reference point to ask whether or not you are truly focusing on the 20% (the Vital Few), or the 80% (the Trivial Many).
True progress results from a consistent focus on those top 20% of your most critical objectives.
July is Cultivate Your Character Month... a great time to take inventory of areas in your life that need your attention.
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4. In a physical sense, most of us enjoy freedom. In an emotional or psychological sense, however, an estimated 80% of the population put them-selves into a self-imposed prison cell on a regular basis (another 80/20 rule!) We forfeit our freedom of choice through our own thought processes.
Ready to bust loose?
I guarantee that if you do these three things, you will break free of past limitations and experience dramatic results in your life:
1. Create a list of daily or weekly rituals that will support you in attaining the milestones you want to accomplish over the next twelve months. Commit to forming new habits with these rituals.
2. Carve out 96 minutes a day to focus on your most important projects or focus for the day.
3. Work with an accountability partner who will support you as you form new habits.
I love to hear about your progress. Please e-mail me at Eileen@tothenextlevel.net to share your transformational changes as you break free of past limitations and form new, productive habits. I'd love to hear how these ideas are working for you; now that you've been given the sugar and water to go with those lemons...keep sipping!
Click here to visit me in The neighborhood Services House on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Go Green!!
Go Green!!
Make Lemonade from LIPA's Lemons
By William Dzvonar
Owner of Bass Electric. |
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So here we are. Another summer and yet, another inevitable LIPA Increase. Well, its time to make some lemonade from those lemons!!! Did you know solar power energy will reduce and/or eliminate your LIPA bill? Imagine that! By using clean green solar power, YOU CAN. Not to mention, up to $7,000.00 in tax credit from the state and federal government. Also, LIPA's rebate will pay for approximately ½ the system. For more info go to www.willsbasselectric.com, go to the related links and click on K-Star solar. Dont forget to mention threevillagepeople.com.
Click here to visit me in the neighborhood Services House on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Forget your troubles for an afternoon!
Hot Dawg...and Lemonade?
Step into a Stress-Free Zone this Summer
by Marie Gilbert,
Communications Manager
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization
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Coney Island was considered the world's premiere amusement area during the first half of the 20th Century. It was the advent of the amusement park as we know it today. Luna Park, Steeplechase, Dreamland and countless other attractions drew people to this area by the millions. Visit our extravaganza exhibit, "Hot Dawg...Celebrating Coney Island, America's First Amusement Park" July 11 through August 24 and transport yourself to another time. A large dose of nostalgia and fun for the entire family! Memorabilia and artifacts from one of the world's largest collectors and much, much more! Ward Melville Heritage Educational & Cultural Center, Stony Brook Village Center, Main Street on the Harbor, 631-751-2244
Click here to visit us on Shopping Street on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Enter a contest to transform your bedroom!
Lavender Fields Bedroom Makeover Contest
Lavender Fields Home Boutique is holding a nationwide Bedroom Makeover Contest. Contestants submit two photos and an essay of 150 words or less. Photos will be posted on our website and people will vote for which bedroom will be the winner. One Winner will receive a bedroom makeover, which will include a Pine Cone Hill complete bed set, decorative pillows, lighting, a Dash and Albert rug, wall art and accessories. [approximate retail value: $3,000.00.] The designers at Lavender Fields will also provide paint selection assistance and general room layout assistance. Submit your bedroom to lavenderfieldsonline@msn.com. |
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We offer a large selection of top name bedding such as Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic, Bella Notte Linens and Pine Cone Hill. The store and online store is filled with furniture, rugs, home décor, baby bedding and décor. Visit our website for more information. Lavender Fields is located at 230 Traders Cove/230 East Main Street in Port Jefferson Village. 631-474-5461.
Click here to visit me on Shopping Street on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Make Sure Your Finances are in Order!
Omega Planning
by Camille Dilieto |
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Summer is coming and there are signs everywhere. The trees are turning a lush green, the flowers are blooming a variety of brilliant colors and the warm feeling of the summer air is blowing in the breeze.
This scene I just created in your mind is one of peace and tranquility, not worries or difficulty. Just the way the seasons are cyclical, so is the economy and the financial markets. The same way you make the best of a hot, humid summer day, so to can you make the best of these difficult times by using a financial advisor that can eliminate your worries.
Steven Pagartanis LUTCF, RIA of Omega Planning Associates is the right financial advisor for you because he can turn things around quickly and get you extraordinary results. He can help you find money in places where you wouldn't think of, and has strategies to free up your money which everyone needs. What clients find truly amazing about Steven is that he can create wealth without any additional out of pocket expense.
What have you got to lose? Call Steven Pagartanis at 631-689-5900 for a no obligation consultation and find out how he can help you.
Click here to visit us on Professional Avenue on ThreeVillagePeople.com... your Neighborhood Networking Site!
Planning Beyond the Numbers
While it's never a bad time to revisit the fundamentals of investing, it's an especially good time to do so when volatile markets start making investors feel anxious and uncertain. It's during times like these that you'll hear a lot about asset allocation.
The whole point of asset allocation-the spreading of funds across different asset categories, such as stocks and bonds-is to achieve your long-term financial goals with less risk. But in order for your asset allocation to be truly effective, your goals must be based on more than just market returns, industry sectors or the interest rate on a bond. Instead, your financial goals should correspond to your lifestyle, family and passions. Only when you've identified what you want to get out of life can you begin to build an appropriate long-term investment plan around that insight.
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How do you get started? Get ready to have a number of intimate conversations with your spouse or partner and other integral family members. These discussions should help clarify the lifestyle you wish to maintain when you are no longer in your peak-earnings years. In addition to funding your vision of retirement (do you want to live like you do today, more modestly or more extravagantly?), you should consider how you will cover tuition expenses, charitable outlays and anything in between near and dear to you, while still having enough readily available to jump on new opportunities.
Let's Talk About Risk
Risk is a notion that gets thrown around a lot, in terms of how much of it can you tolerate for that extra bit of return that may come with it. But when you are thinking about your long-term plan, it's important to consider risk. Ask yourself these questions:
• How would I fund a large, unexpected expense or face a job loss, illness or other catastrophic event that occurred before the end of my investment time horizon?
• How do I respond to every market swing? Maniacally, or steadily?
• What do I worry about when it comes to dispersing my money among various asset classes?
• What would make me feel more secure about my financial future?
Also ask yourself if you are more of a conservative or aggressive investor-and why. If you consider yourself conservative, for example, is it because you had a bad past experience? Do you understand how issues such as the possibility of living longer than expected factor into a conservative allocation? The more you can articulate who you are and what matters to you, the better equipped you will be to put together a portfolio that aims to help you fulfill your goals and ideals.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks
Now that you've done the hard part-the architectural plans, let's say-you can get started building the foundation, and that begins with a thorough look at all your holdings. This evaluation should include any illiquid holdings (such as real estate or a business) and concentrated positions (say to one stock or one type of asset class) you may have. You might be surprised just how undiversified you could be despite all your "diversification." Also, remember that life events-such as retirement, divorce, the sale of a business, a child's marriage or the death of an elderly parent-will affect not only your asset allocation but also your entire financial picture, so a regular review of your investment strategy and overall situation is highly recommended.
If all this assessment, planning and monitoring sounds daunting, it doesn't have to be-there are many qualified professionals with a host of resources at their disposal to help you with more than just investment choices. Because as important as a sound asset allocation strategy is, it's only as good as the goals and ideals you've identified. The performance of your investment portfolio has to do more than just look good on paper-it has to also be good enough to allow you to get what you want out of your life.
Rene Tidwell is a Financial Advisor with Smith Barney located in Melville, NY and may be reached at 631-755-8874.
Citigroup Inc., its affiliates and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Tax-related statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the "promotion or marketing" of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED ? NO BANK GUARANTEE ? MAY LOSE VALUE
Smith Barney is a division and service mark of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Member SIPC.
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Welcome to our new "neighbor" The Tudor Deli, celebrating 35 years in the community this year.
Coming soon to Culinary Court!
Make sure to look for our next newsletter coming out in October!
Featured Business: Marylou Paccione ChildTherapist
Villager in the Spotlight: Evolve Fitness and their extremely generous work with breast cancer survivors (coming soon to Health and Beauty court!)
Time to Cruise! With Expedition Travel
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