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Things to Do in WNY this Holiday Season

November 30, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

Western New York is the kind of place that’s magical during the Christmas season. When the snow comes– and it almost always does– there’s something so beautiful about being outside in it, whether you’re hanging up twinkling lights across your front yard trees and bushes or taking a walk at an area tree farm looking for the perfect Christmas tree.

Have you ever been to Jurek Plantations this time of year? The Jurek Family has been raising and selling Christmas trees for three generations. They have three area locations where you can either cut-your-own tree or get a pre-cut one to take home. A lot of people opt for the fun of cutting their own tree down, and why not? It’s the kind of thing that makes the season memorable! Pre-cuts are available at 9170 Transit Road in East Amherst, while you can go into the woods and cut-your-own at 6600 Strickler Rd. in Clarence or 11370 Hunts Corners Rd. in Akron. Visit http://www.jurekplantations.com/ for details.

While a nice, quiet walk in the country is great this time of year, Western New York is also fortunate to have lively Ice at Canalside in downtown Buffalo near the waterfront. Bring your own ice skates or rent some there, with open skating available for countless hours during most of December. While there, check out the “ice bikes” if you can– something different, for sure. You’ll want to check the Canalside website before your visit for details: https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/

As for music concerts and plays, December is chock full of holiday themed events. See A Christmas Carol on stage at Buffalo’s Alleyway Theatre, hear the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus perform a Classical Christmas concert at Kleinhans Music Hall, or scroll through the many other fun things to see and do here: http://buffalo.kidsoutandabout.com/category/activity-type/performance

Though the weather may turn a bit frightful, there’s plenty of delightful things to see and do around Western New York this holiday season.

Starpoint Athletic Teams Continue to Excel

November 4, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

Starpoint Football One of the great things about life in Western New York is people’s love for sports at all levels. Of course there are the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres to cheer for, but there are also plenty of local school teams, like Starpoint, who are worthy of admiration.

Take, for instance, the Starpoint hockey team. They recently managed to beat the Depew Wildcats 4-1 in order to take the state title. It was Starpoint’s first state title in 18 years and the biggest game in the school’s history. Of course the team had to overcome challenges along the way to winning the title, with good competition from larger schools like Orchard Park. Jordan Meisenburg, Josh Krupczyk and Patrick Miklinski scored plenty of goals to help make the Starpoint hockey team finish strong this past season.

Besides hockey, the Starpoint football team also had a banner year. Sophomore Justin Mott ran 62 yards for a touchdown in the big game against the McKinley Macks. Starpoint won 20-13 in that Section VI Class A semifinal game. And guess what? That put the team at 9-0 for the season. Not bad, huh? Starpoint’s football team advanced to the Class A championship game. Held at New Era Field, the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, this was/is a big deal for Starpoint. Good luck, boys!

Western New Yorkers love football and hockey, that’s for sure. Starpoint is a school system in Pendleton. It also serves the nearby communities of Cambria, Lockport, Wheatfield and Royalton in Niagara County. Donna Littlefield can help you find a nice home in the Starpoint school district. If you have kids who are into sports, you should definitely consider living in the area due to Starpoint’s stellar sports’ programs.

To find homes for sale in the Starpoint school district in Western New York, call realtor Donna Littlefield at 716-578-1788 today.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Community to Live In

September 8, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

Finding a Community to Live In In real estate, it’s “location, location, location.” Why are some houses really expensive while others aren’t? Usually it depends on their location. There are other factors, but location matters most.

How do you decide what community to live in? You make a list of what you want around you, and then you have a real estate agent like Donna Littlefield help you find a neighborhood that meets those needs.

Most people want to live close to where they work. A commute that’s twenty minutes or less is ideal. Few people want to live somewhere that’s over an hour commute to their work, unless they’re willing to live far from a city simply because they value nature more than the convenience of having stores and lots of people nearby.

Consider a location’s amenities. People love living near parks– even if they don’t use them! There’s something nice about living near a park, which is a dedicated green space that helps “up” property values. Other neighborhood amenities to look for when deciding where to live include community pools for the summer, gyms for the winter, malls for shopping, and a nice variety of restaurants for when you don’t want to cook at home.

If you have kids or plan to have kids, then schools become a major factor in deciding where to settle. You can do some research to find out how certain schools rank in the region and discover the ideal ones.

Besides schools, parks, and amenities, the other major thing people care about is safety. How much crime does the area have? What kind of crimes happen there? Basically, no one wants to live in an area where their car will be broken into or they’ll be robbed on the street. They want to be in a well-lit place where neighbors look out for one another and they don’t have to fear for their life.

If you’re looking for a nice place to live in Western New York, contact Donna Littlefield at 716-578-1788 today. She can find you a great, safe location with quality schools, parks, and amenities nearby.

Starpoint Central School District Continues to Draw Rave Reviews

August 4, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

School Districts People typically move somewhere to be near good jobs and/or good schools. If you have kids, you most likely want them to attend reputable schools where they’ll get the best education possible, right?

When looking to move to a new place “for the schools,” you should consider places where children are used to/known for excelling. In other words, you want to put your kids into schools that have an expectation of success, where getting an “A” is encouraged and academics are taken seriously. Look for districts who care about art, music and sports, too, which help “round out” the educational experience.

The Starpoint Central School District, which covers the Towns of Pendleton, Cambria, Lockport, Wheatfield and Royalton, serves about 7,000 students. Dr. Sean M. Croft is the Superintendent, a role he recently stepped into after serving for nine years as the assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Assessment and Staff Development. Under his leadership, Starpoint continues its rich tradition of academic excellence and community support.

Indeed, Starpoint is a school district on the rise, ranked eighth highest performing school district in Western New York. For the record, it went from number 26 in 2011 to number 8 in 2015.

What makes Starpoint stand out from the competition? They place an emphasis on supporting students throughout their whole educational experience and family involvement is key. The schools are community hubs, and people are friendly toward one another. Of course, Starpoint owes a lot of its success to its teachers. There’s an attitude of continuous improvement in the district, with more STEM classes being offered in order to meet the needs of jobs young people will seek after they complete their studies.

Realtor Donna Littlefield can help you find the right house for your family with school-aged kids so they’ll attend Starpoint schools. With offerings in Wheatfield and Pendleton, call Littlefield today at 716-578-1788.

How to Reduce Your Stress Level When You’re in the Process of Moving

June 9, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

If you could just wave a magic wand and say, “I wish everything got moved from my old house to the new without any stress,” wouldn’t that be great? Unfortunately, moving is rarely easy like that. In fact, it can be among the most stressful times of a person’s life, because everything is in a state of upheaval. Normalcy and routine are out the window. Change may be good, but it does bring stress with it!

How can you reduce your stress level when you’re in the process of moving? For starters, figure out a way to have less stuff before the actual move. While it’s easy to accumulate stuff over time, it’s also fairly easy to get rid of stuff quickly. Have a yard sale or donate a bunch of stuff you never use to your local charity/thrift shop. Throw away junk and/or pay to have someone come and haul it away.

Next, clear your calendar so that you’ve set aside dedicated dates and times for all that the moving effort entails. It’s better to know exactly when you’ll give your focus to moving than it is to be stuck with a whole bunch of extraneous chores and obligations at the same time you’re supposed to be packing and moving. Planning ahead is a good thing; waiting until the last minute is bad.

Involve your friends and family with the move, because having help is essential. Otherwise you’ll easily get stressed out and overwhelmed. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Don’t be afraid to delegate.

If you know you’re going to be moving in a couple weeks, get into moving mode. Collect boxes and bags from area stores, as well as neighbors who no longer need them. Make lists of what you want to accomplish. Remember to pack a suitcase or two of essentials that can easily be found that first night you’re in your new place because chances are there’ll be plenty of unopened boxes in the rooms and you’ll have neither the time nor inclination to search for certain stuff like deodorant and medicines you take daily.

Finally, anytime you feel overwhelmed, take time to breathe, spell out the word r-e-l-a-x audibly, and do something like watch a half hour sitcom to get your mind off the stressful situation. Little breaks from the moving process go a long way in helping reduce a person’s overall stress levels.

Would You Consider Solar Panels on Your Property?

June 2, 2016 by dl2 Leave a Comment

Solar Panels A recent article in the Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune mentioned that the Wheatfield Town Board is taking time to figure out a town law to regulate the installation and location of ground-mounted solar panels. As solar panels become more commonplace, even in places like Western New York where it’s not always sunny, towns, villages and cities have to figure out what they’ll allow because some people like the looks of solar panels while others think they mess with aesthetic value.

Because solar panels are a relatively new development, governments need to determine what’s best for their local municipality. For instance, in Wheatfield, a family wanted to put a standalone solar unit in their backyard. While it might have been fine for them, what would the neighbors think? Would they want to stare out their window and notice this solar unit everyday?

Interestingly, at this point in time, the Town of Wheatfield would probably tell that family that putting the solar panel unit in their backyard is against the law, simply because there’s a brief mention in a town ordinance that says no to solar farms or ground-mounted solar systems. However, solar panels made specifically to be placed atop roofs are allowed. Indeed, you’re much more likely to see rooftop solar panels on homes around Western New York than to see personal, residential ground-mounted ones.

If you were thinking of “going solar” you’d want to approach your town’s building department and inquire what rules need to be followed. You might need a permit, too.

Solar panels use energy from the sun to create power. If someone has an issue with them, it’s usually about aesthetics and/or awkward glare coming from them. Some panels are like mirrors while others are very low glare.

Would you consider solar panels on your property? Do you think they’re the way of the future?