The Livingston County Community Alliance

The Livingston County Community Alliance is an anti-drug coalition that wants to raise awareness of and prevent underage drug, alcohol and tobacco use.  They have a lot of resources available and they conduct a ‘Run Against Drugs’ 5K every year to raise money for their efforts.  This year the 12^th Annual Run Against Drugs will be on August 29^th at the First United Methodist Church in Howell.

Perhaps one of their most visible programs is the Big Red Barrel Project, where they provide a location to safely dispose of unused or outdated medications.  Throwing meds into the landfill or flushing them into the water treatment system is not a good solution.

Big Red barrels are permanently located at a variety of municipal police stations, including Brighton’s Michigan State Police post, the police stations in Fowlerville, Hamburg, Pinckney, Unadilla, Green Oak, Brighton and Howell, and the Livingston County Jail.  There are also single day collection sites that can be found on the LCCA web site. 

Please note that you should bring the meds with their original labeled bottle and a baggie to the location. Dump the pills into the baggie on site, seal it then drop the baggie into the barrel.  Liquid meds can be poured onto paper towels until it is fully absorbed, then place the towels in a baggie, seal it, and dispose of it at the barrel.  No syringes or needles are accepted. 

All Red Barrel locations are provided at no cost to you and are ‘no questions asked’.  One of the next public event locations will be at the Senior Power Day (see my blog post about it) on August 7, 2015 at Pinckney High School.  If you’re planning to attend, the Red Barrel will be there!

LCCA logo courtesy of LCCA website

Senior Power Day for Livingston County 2015

For the 28th year, the Livingston County Consortium on Aging is presenting its Senior Power Day. The event is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2015, from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Pinckney High School.

There will be vendors from 9:00am-1:00pm and entertainment from 1:00-3:00pm.  Free transportation to and from the event will be provided by the Livingston Essential Transportation Service (L.E.T.S.) by calling 517-546-6600. Call your local community Senior Center to pre-register for lunch, which is provided by Senior Nutrition.

A document shredder truck will be present to dispose of sensitive old documents, and Red Barrell will be present for medication disposal, both from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The Key Note Speaker this year is Detroit Tiger Historian Kerrie Ferrell.  Please join the group for a day of fun, food, information and door prizes provided by the vendors.

As a Senior Real Estate Specialist, I take pride in being able to direct my clients to trustworthy and able service providers.  Meet some of them at Senior power Day. And feel free to call me with any real estate problems or needs.

image courtesy of Livingston County Consortium on Aging

Senior Citizen Day at Michigan State Fair

The Michigan State Fair opens Friday, September 4, 2015 with a Senior’s Day, at the Suburban Showcase in Novi, Michigan.  Your local Senior Group can get reserved tables, continental breakfast and box lunches, and admission to the fair for free if you’re 62 or older and part of a group.  Ages 50-61 are just $6 as part of a group or $8 as individuals.   This does not include individual parking, fair rides, circus or tickets to events.  However, there is free bus parking if your senior center has or hires one to transport your group.

Special senior programming happens from 10am-2pm, with open fair exploration from 2pm-6pm.  There will be door prizes, games, contests and tote bags for participants. 

Have your group leader register your group online here. 

As a Senior Real estate Specialist, I have knowledge and skills that many real estate professionals lack.  If you have real estate questions, or need real estate services, please feel free to contact me.

image courtesy of Michigan State Fair

Exterior Home Improvements That Increase Resale Value

There’s no doubt that ‘curb appeal’ plays a big part in getting a home sold.  I’ve had buyers call me after I set up an appointment that they requested to say that they drove by a home and were no longer interested.  Something can either grab you and pull you in or turn you upside down and make you run away.  Here are a few ideas for making your home look better AND getting a good payback.

Replace Your Front Door.  This can be huge, even if it costs a bit more than $1,000.  If you judge your door to be alright, I’d like you to still take a critical view of it.  Remember that buyers will be standing there for a few moments while their agent deals with getting the keys out of the lockbox.  Clean it, repaint it, replace the tarnished doorknob and lock hardware with new, shiny stuff.  Don’t forget to look at the entire entryway to see if it needs power washing, a touch of paint or some bright flowers.

Landscape Update.  A good landscaping makeover will not only get you a higher sales price, it’ll help sell your house faster, too.  Consider talking with a local landscaping company to see what you can do that fits your budget.  Generally a company will get things done quicker than you can yourself, if your time frame is short.

Exterior Repaint.  This is a great time to inspect your siding, too.  Some composite sidings have had issues with product breakdown, so be sure to check it over, replace sections as needed and be sure the caulking is intact.  A home inspector will find the issues, so it’s better to head it off.  Vinyl siding?  Consider a good power wash to brighten things up.

Read the rest of the suggestions here.

More sellers come onto the market in the summer (60% of all homes sold in 2014 entered the market from May to August). If you're looking to buy - now's the time! Contact me for help with your search.

image courtesy of lawnstarter.com and RISMedia

Walk or Run Safely To Prolong Your Life, Not Shorten It

Running and walking are popular ways to get some exercise, stay fit, and to lose weight. Having been an avid runner I'm hyper-aware of staying safe where pedestrians and motor vehicles or bicycles intersect.  That's why a recent local incident was so hard to read.

A runner on a rural road was found some hours after a hit and run accident.  Still alive, he suffered life threatening injuries.  As I read the report I was immediately upset that the driver didn't stop; that they didn't try to make an anonymous call to emergency services; and then with the injured runner.

You see, the runner was clipped by the passenger side view mirror which means he was running WITH traffic instead of AGAINST traffic.  Because the police recovered the mirror itself they determined it was from a GMC truck or large SUV.  

Here are a few tips for everyone on foot, running or walking:

·         Use sidewalks or hike/bike paths whenever possible

·         Always face the traffic and stay as far left as possible

·         Wear lighter colored or reflective clothing and even carry a headlamp or flashlight if it's dark

City settings have other guidelines, too:

·         Cross streets at corners

·         Stop at the edge of a parked car and if traffic is present, make eye contact with the driver before you step into the roadway

·         Obey traffic signals, again making eye contact with drivers is a good idea before stepping into the street

·         NEVER let young children (10 and younger) cross alone

·         Older adults may need to allow more time to cross a busy street, too

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the pedestrians are killed or injured in over 80% of those incidents.  Go out and get your exercise, but please take a few precautions to stay safe.

image courtesy of Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos.net

Brighton & Howell Upcoming Events - Week of July 6th

Wow! There's a lot going on locally in the next week or so.

Let's be musical first.  Howell's Concerts at the Courthouse on Friday, July 10th, 7pm will feature the Rhythm Society Orchestra.  This 15 piece group has won the Big Three Battle of the Bands 7 times, including this year. This is a free, family-oriented and pet-friendly event on the lawn of the Historic County Courthouse on Grand River in Downtown Howell.  Bring your lawn chairs.  Hosted by the Livingston Arts Council and the Historic Howell Opera House. Free.

Switch over to Brighton on Sunday, July 12th at 7pm for the Kiwanis Gazebo Concert.  This date will feature the Whatabouts & the Whoevers, a 60's girl group band. Pre-show at 6:30pm, FREE, food available, no dogs allowed.  Main Street in Downtown Brighton at the Millpond. Note that Main Street parking is reserved for classic car parking only.

How about the eats, you ask?  Glad you did!  A Taste of Brighton is running Friday & Saturday, July 11-12, from 10am to 10pm.  Street performers, family fun zone, arts & crafts, wine & beer gardens - and of course, GREAT FOOD!  Voted one of Michigan's Best Festivals by Detroit A List. Crack the bank vault combo at the State Bank Safe Booth and win $10,000.  Hey, it's worth a shot. More info here.

And don't forget the local Farmers' Markets.  Brighton has its market on Saturdays from 8am-1pm in the Municipal Lot off First Street, by the Municipal Building.  Hartland's is also Saturday, 9am-2pm at the Old Hartland HS, on M-59 just west of US-23.

Howell's Farmers' Market is Sunday, 9am-2pm, on State & Clinton Streets, next to the Historic Courthouse. And so is the Green Oak Farmers & Community Market, at 11299 Grand River, 48116 - at Alan Drive (between US-23 and Pleasant Valley Rd). They're open 10am-3pm.

Fowlerville has a Farmers Market, too. Wednesdays at the parking lot of the Village Office, 2pm-7pm.

If you can't find anything to do the weekend after the Holiday, it's not our fault.

Is Your Contractor Licensed - Does He Need To Be?

This time of year a lot of people have projects that they hire out.  Did you know that in the State of Michigan, any residential construction or remodeling project that costs more than $600 requires a licensed contractor?  Many people don't! (Homeowners working on their own residences are exempt.)

There are two categories of licensee - a residential builder, and a residential maintenance and alteration contractor (M & A).  A builder can start a home from the ground up or do any kind of repairs.  An M & A contractor is licensed for specific trades and services and should only work in those areas.  All licensees receive a pocket card that they are supposed to keep on their person.

So what are the trades that require an M & A license?  

• Carpentry
• Concrete
• Excavation
• Insulation
• Masonry
• Painting & Decorating
• Siding
• Roofing
• Screen & Storm Sash
• Gutters
• Tile & Marble
• House Wrecking
• Swimming Pools
• Basement Waterproofing

It's not hard to spend more than $600 on repainting, for example, so make sure if you hire it out it's done by a licensed contractor.

Things like fences, awnings, pavers without mortar, carpeting and vinyl floors (not wood) and even house moving do not require a license.  A short but helpful document from the State of Michigan can be found  here:  http://goo.gl/Pr8MN6

A clue that your contractor isn't licensed is when he asks you to write your payment check to him personally, not to a company name.  Always, always, always insist on seeing proof of insurance, and their license to protect yourself.  You can do your own licensee search here:  https://www.lara.michigan.gov/colaLicVerify/lSearch.jsp