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Ludlow VT

Aubuchon helps the people in NY and NJ affected by Sandy.

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The below is a Press release from Aubuchon Hardware to their Stores; I spoke to Tom in Ludlow store and he told me that money can also be contributed and receipts will be given.  So stop in and donate what you can!

MANY TOWNS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE SANDY. THE DEVASTATION IS HISTORIC AND MANY FAMILIES ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING. AS YOUR HOME TOWN HARDWARE STORE WE WANT TO SHOW THOSE IMPACTED THAT OUR COMMUNITY CARES. AUBUCHON HARDWARE HAS PARTNERED WITH SPARKRELIEF. ORG TO PUT FAMILIES WHO WANT TO HELP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILIES MOST AFFECTED BY THIS DISASTER. SPARKRELIEF.ORG IS A NON-PROFIT COMPANY THAT IMPROVES DISASTER RELIEF WITH A SIMPLE SYSTEM FOR POSTING AND FINDING RELIEF INFORMATION. THEY PROVIDE A PIPELINE OF PEOPLE IN NEED TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO HELP. AUBUCHON HARDWARE HAS OFFERED THEIR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE LOCATIONS AS DROP CENTERS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF MATERIALS TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. PLEASE DONATE CANNED FOOD, GRANOLA BARS, FLASHLIGHTS, BATTERIES, AND GENTLY WORN WINTER COATS TO YOUR LOCAL AUBUCHON HARDWARE STORE, THESE ITEMS WILL BE PICKED UP AND DELIVERED TO THE TOWNS HIT THE HARDEST BY THIS STORM. LETS SHOW OUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY THAT OUR HOME TOWN CARES ABOUT THEIRS.

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Irene Gaffigan - Southern VT Real Estate

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying Southern Vermont Real Estate, please give me a call at 802-353-1983 or email me at [email protected]

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Irene Gaffigan
Broker, CRS, e-PRO
36 VT Route 30
Bondville, VT 05340
Direct: 802-353-1983
Toll Free: 800-659-1819
Fax: 802-779-0152
Web: www.isellvermontrealestate.com

Ludlow Tent comes down!

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Shaw’s Supermarket in Ludlow will be closing it’s temporary (tent) location at 7 p.m. on MONDAY January 16th and will celebrate it’s Grand Reopening at 7 a.m. on FRIDAY January 27th. During this 10 day closure the temporary store will be removed from the parking lot, making way for a totally renovated and expanded store.
We look forward to getting back into our permanent location and hope to see all of you there on opening day.”

This month’s featured town – Ludlow, VT

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Main Street, Ludlow Vermont

When I decided to write about the town of Ludlow this month I envisioned a completely different blog from the one I am writing.

 I would have told you about the 250th celebration of Ludlow’s charter and posted a picture of the new flag designed to represent the occasion.  I might have mentioned the two kinds of coffee from the Vermont Coffee Company in Middlebury that Java Baba’s sells.  I could have told you that the Ludlow Shipping and Copy Center has relocated to 100 North next to Bella Luna and introduced you to Pam Timmerman.  I might have mentioned that the Coleman Brook Tavern is one of four Vermont Restaurants to receive the Wine Spectator Best of Award Excellence in 2011.

I could have given you the basic information about Ludlow.  It is a town in Windsor County, Vermont with a population of 2,449 in the 2000 census.  The village was well developed before anyone thought of skiing on Ludlow Mountain.  Now Ludlow is proud to be the home of Okemo Mountain, a very popular skiing area.

Ludlow is a town of natural and historic wonders, self – reliant and community – spirited people and shops and galleries that feature local favorites.  On Sunday August 28th, Ludlow was hit very hard by Tropical Storm Irene.  The Black River could not hold the steady and constant rain over a 24 hour period and overflowed its banks quickly and devastatingly in many parts of town.  You’ve seen the devastation to homes, businesses and our roads on television in the newspaper and on the internet. 

What you don’t see is the community spirit, the banding together and the progress that has been made so quickly!  Neighbors checked on neighbors and assisted when needed.  Second – homeowners called upon locals to check on their property – by car or on foot.  DJ’s opened their restaurant on Monday night offering a free buffet for anyone who needed food.  Knight Tubs was open for business on Wednesday even though their parking lot was destroyed and their basement flooded.  Shaw’s supermarket opened just one week after they were flooded – in a temporary tent set up in the parking lot. The Ludlow Health Center made the Dental Center its temporary home.   There are many businesses that didn’t flood and remained open.  The Local Ski Shops traditionally open on Labor Day weekend and so they did – business as usual in Ludlow!

These resilient and spirited people of Vermont are moving quickly to get their businesses open to be able to serve the community and return the town of Ludlow to the vibrant little village it is.  Kudos to everyone for working hard and fast, finding creative and temporary solutions and keeping the Vermont spirit alive!  Come visit!

Until next time, Irene

 

Ps:  and I’m NOT taking the name of this tropical storm personally!

Celebrating a South Central Vermont Thanksgiving

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Ode to Thanksgiving

To our national birds
The American Eagle
The Thanksgiving Turkey
May one give us peace in all our states
And the other a piece for all our plates

What did the Pilgrims eat on Thanksgiving?

It is commonly believed that the first actual celebration of the harvest and blessings from God took place in Plymouth in 1621. The festivities lasted three days and included feasting, entertainment, and competitions. For more about the holiday’s history!

Who Doesn’t Love a Parade?

The first annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924. That first year, it was known as the Macy’s Christmas Parade. It was created to launch the holiday shopping season. Today, the parade is attended by an estimated three million people each year. Approximately 44 million people around the country watch the parade on television.

Other large parades which commemorate the holiday are the IKEA Thanksgiving Parade in Philly, McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, and the UBS Parade Spectacular in Stamford.

Find holiday-themed wallpaper or screensavers here!

Want some holiday music to enhance your gathering? Get free, fast downloads of 30+ songs.

“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.”  …. Gerald Good

Thanksgiving Around the World

Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony.

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in the month of October.

India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions.

Other Thanksgiving traditions around the world.

Money-saving tips for Thanksgiving–something we would all be thankful for!

1.      Have a BYOD (bring your own dish) celebration. Asking your guests to contribute to the meal is a great way to save on expenses–and on your own cooking time.

2.      Keep it simple. Cut down on the number of side dishes you have. A festive table doesn’t have to be extravagant.

3.      Serve boxed wine or large bottles of soda. Cans and individual bottles are far more expensive.

4.      Use natural items for decorations–leaves, fruit, squash, gourds, pumpkins, and dried flowers from your garden. A large candle and colorful fruit make a lovely centerpiece. Visit a dollar store for inexpensive holiday items.

5.      Check store ads for sales and coupons before you shop for Thanksgiving Day goodies.

6.      If time and your schedule allow, bake it yourself. Baking all your pies at one time will also save energy costs.

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Celebrating Christmas In South Central Vermont

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       “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
                                                                      ~ Burton Hillis

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated festivals globally and is no longer viewed as a purely religious holy day. It is now a time enjoyed by people of many countries and faiths, and there are numerous universally recognized icons which we associate with the yuletide. In fact, these symbols have become so commonly associated with the celebration of Christmas that when we see Santa riding on a reindeer, a mantle hung with stockings, coniferous green trees decorated with tinsel and ornaments, or houses festooned with evergreen wreaths and mistletoe, we know that the magic spirit of the season is upon us.   

The tradition of the Christmas stocking dates back to approximately 250B.C. in Asia Minor. There Nicholas, rich man who became a very generous Christian priest and a saint, is said to have secretly filled the stockings of three poor sisters with gold, thus giving them a dowry and allowing them to marry. Legend has it that after that “miracle,” neighbors of the fortunate women followed suit with their stockings, and the tradition slowly spread across the globe. Children throughout the world now hang stockings–or even put out shoes–to be filled with small gifts and food by Santa (Saint) Claus (Nicholas). Many people create their own stockings, personalizing them for themselves or for others and often providing a family activity that is fun for all. Find instructions for making your own Christmas fireplace stockings.

 

Along with the Christmas holly, laurel, rosemary, yews, boxwood bushes, and, of course the Christmas tree, mistletoe is an evergreen displayed during the Christmas season and symbolic of the eventual rebirth of vegetation that will occur in spring. But perhaps more than any other of the Christmas evergreens, it is a plant of which we are conscious only during the holidays. One day we’re kissing under the mistletoe, and next day we’ve forgotten all about it (the plant, that is, not the kisses).

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Using Feng Shui To Sell Your Ludlow or Rutland VT Home

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feng shuiTo put the best face on your Ludlow  or Rutland VT home and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Get more information about selling your Ludlow  or RutlandVT home at ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

What’s the value of your Ludlow or Rutland VT home?

Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001) Reprinted with permission Realtor Magazine.

450 Ideas To Help Sell Your Rutland and Okemo Mountain VT Home Faster

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ebook-coverYou will want to be as prepared as possible when you place your Rutland VT home on the market. I offer a FREE eBook, 450 Ideas…To Help Sell Your Home Faster, which tackles important issues you need to know to make your Rutland VT home competitive in today’s tough real estate market.

Through these 450 Ideas you will learn how to capitalize on your investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible.

You’ll discover how to avoid financial disappointment or worse, a financial disaster when selling your Rutland Vt home. Using a common sense approach, you get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home.

You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your Rutland VT home sold fast and for the most amount of money.

Simply click here, fill out the form and your FREE eBook, 450 Ideas…To Help Sell Your Home Faster, will be emailed to you.

Energy Saving Tax Credits Help Ludlow VT Homeowners

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The ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009‘ which became law on February 17, promotes energy independence and green jobs through tax credits and government grants. This is part of an effort to make Ludlow VT  homes and buildings more energy efficient. 

Energy saving provisions include: 

  • $6 billion to state and local governments for energy efficiency and conservation grants for energy audits, retrofits and financial incentives. 
  • 30% tax credit (increased from 10%) to homeowners for new furnaces, windows and insulation. 
  • $5 billion to modernize the nation’s electricity grid and install smart meters on homes, saving homeowners money. 
  • $5 billion for weatherization assistance for low income households. 
  • $2 billion for federally assisted housing (section 8) efficiency efforts.  

This bill is good news for Ludlow VT homeowners wanting to make their homes more energy efficient. Interested in buying a Ludlow VT home? Visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. 

Search all Ludlow VT homes for sale.

Ludlow VT Real Estate Market Report

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Ludlow VT Real Estate Market Report

Trulia reports the average listing price for homes on Trulia in Ludlow Vermont, ZIP code 05149, was $646,657, for the week ending Feb 11, which represents a decline of 1.6%, or $10,317, compared to the prior week and a decline of 6.4%, or $44,355, compared to week ending Jan 21.

There are currently 208 resale and new homes in ZIP code 05149 on Trulia. The average listing price for homes for sale in 05149 was $646,657 for the week ending Feb 11, which represents a decrease of 1.6%, or $10,317, compared to the prior week.

Are you thinking about selling your Ludlow VT home? Get a complimentary Market Analysis.

Ludlow VT Home Buyers Going Green

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Ludlow VT Home Buyers Going Green

Today’s Ludlow VT home buyers are looking for green features in the homes they buy. The green trend is a means of lowering costs, becoming more environmentally friendly, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. 

The average green buyer will shell out an average of$12,400 for green features, according to the National Association of REALTORS. National Association of Home Builders green-building standards program manager Kevin Morrow expects the market share of green-certified homes to rise to 20 percent in 2010 from about 10 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2006.

Green features Ludlow VT home buyers are looking for include energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality and include such elements as Energy Star appliances, low-flow shower heads, carpets and paint with low volatile organic compounds, and building materials procured from local suppliers.

Today’s Ludlow VT home buyers benefit from tax credits and other financial incentives. 

Learn more about buying green by visiting ISellVermontRealEstate.com or give us a call anytime. 

Search all Ludlow VT homes for sale.

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