Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Patriot's Day Information


Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriot's Day. Patriot's Day is a special Massachusetts State holiday commemorating the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775.
The holiday (Officially observed on Monday, April 20, 2015), and the entire weekend, is celebrated with parades, reenactments and commemorative ceremonies.
For more information, please call (978) 318 - 7825 or e-mail us
Additional information is available athttp://www.battleroad.org/

Saturday, April 11th
Liberty Pole Capping
Wilson Park, Bedford
10:30 a.m.
Liberty Pole Capping ceremony consisting of colonial troops from throughout New England parading from Bedford Common to Wilson Park. A Bedford Minuteman will climb the pole and, in defiance of King George, place a red cap over the top.

Meriam's Corner Exercise
Meriam's Corner, Concord
1:00 p.m.
The Town of Concord, joined by area minute companies, fife and drum units, and the Concord Independent Battery, pay remembrance to the fight at Meriam's Corner that marked the beginning of the six-hour running battle back to Boston. Tour the Meriam House from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
Paul Revere Capture Site, Lincoln
3:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Minute Men and the Town of Lincoln, joined by other reenactment untis, observe the historic capture of Paul Revere with fife and drum music and a musket fire salute.

Saturday, April 18
"Armed as According to Law: Captain David Brown's Company of Minute Men
North Bridge, Concord, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Visit North Bridge and Concord Museum and see Captain David Brown's Company, a nearly full strength recreated minute company, demonstrate drill maneuvers and musket firings. Learn about militia duty in colonial Massachusetts and what it meant to be "armed as according to law."

Life on the Battle Road
Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith House, Battle Road Trail, Lincoln
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern and the Captain William Smith House will be open. Park staff and living history volunteers from the Lincoln Minute Men, the Guild of Historic Interpreters, and the Ladies of Refined Taste will be demonstrating various aspects of life in Massachusetts at the beginning of the 

American Revolution.
Battle Road: Returning to Lexington
Battle Road Trail behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m.
Hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors will engage in a tactical weapons demonstration showing the running battle that took place along this deadly stretch of road on the border of Lincoln and Lexington.
Junior Ranger Day at Minute Man National Historical Park
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington. Pick up your very own Junior Ranger Day Booklet. You will have fun exploring Minute Man National Historical Park while completing the pages in the booklet. When you are finished, show your work to a Ranger to earn your new badge. It's a fun way to learn!
Recommended for ages 8-11.

Sunday, April 19th
Dawn Salute
North Bridge, Concord
6:00 a.m.
The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery observe the opening battle of the American Revolution in a 21 gun musket and cannon salute. This year the fife and drum corps of the 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard" will be joining in the commemoration.

3rd U.S. Infantry, "The Old Guard"
North Bridge, Concord
7:30 and 10:00 a.m.
The 3rd U.S. Infantry, known as The Old Guard, is the oldest active-duty infantry regiment in the U.S. Army, serving our nation since 1784. "America's Army" will tell a story about America's history, beginning with the Revolutionary War era to the present day, with military music and a proud narrative inspired by the patriotism that fueled the heroic acts celebrated during Patriots Day.

Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
North Bridge, Concord
11:30 a.m. (approximately)
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute will make their annual march to North Bridge from the Town of Sudbury, in honor of their fellow townsmen who made a similar march on April 19, 1775. They will fire three musket volleys from North Bridge as a soldierly salute.

Warlike Preparations at the Barrett Farm
Col. James Barrett House, Barrett's Mill Road, Concord
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
In 1775, Colonel James Barrett of Concord was responsible for safeguarding all the military supplies in town. Searching his house was part of the mission of the British soldiers when they marched to Concord. Visit the Barrett House and learn about the intense military preparations that helped launch America into the Revolutionary War.

Monday, April 20th (Patriot's Day observed)
Lexington Battle Reenactment
Lexington Green
5:30 a.m.
The Town of Lexington celebrates the first shots of the American Revolution with a reenactment of the early-morning engagement between the town's militia and the Briitish regulars.
Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight, and Concord Parade
North Bridge, Concord
8:45 a.m.
British and Colonial reenactors will commemorate the "Shot heard round the world" with a dramatic re-staging of the North Bridge fight featuring marching and musket fire. The Concord Parade will arrive at North Bridge around 9:30 a.m. with ceremonies featuring minute man companies, British reenactors and music groups. NOTE: all of the roads in the center of town are closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 25th
Battle Road Heroes
At Hartwell Tavern Parking Area
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Tours leave every 15 minutes.
Listen to the personal stories of residents who lived along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775. Join the Guild of Historic Interpreters for a special evening of theater and history. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Admission: $5.00 per person, $10.00 per family. Children wearing their Junior Ranger Bages may attend the program for free.
For more information please visit: http://www.nps.gov/mima/patriots-day.htm




Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Four Simple Tips for a Stress-Free Home Buying Process

Did you know that most people consider buying a home to be one of the biggest stresses of adult life? It shouldn’t be! Here are four simple ways to make the home buying experience a much less stressful process:
1.      Get pre-approved. Once you have decided to buy a Lexington home. Your first step should be to visit a  mortgage lender! It’s the only way to know if you can truly afford to purchase a home, and how much home you can afford.
2.      Set goals. Know what you are looking for before you start your home search. A Realtor can help you set realistic goals based on your loan amount and the features you are looking for.
3.      Be flexible. Is a master bath on your must-have list? If you found a home that meets all of your other requirements — and has a new roof and furnace as well — it might be time to re-evaluate what you can live and live without.
4.      Use an agent.  This is probably the most important step! Your real estate agent can answer all your questions about buying a home and help reduce your stress by guiding you through the process. Leave it to a professional!


While some anxiety is a normal part of life, buying a home does not have to be one of the most stressful events in your life. Buying a new home should be fun! Let me be a part of making that happen. Call me today! I specialize in the Lexington area.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

St Patrick's Parades 2015




Below are a list of St Patrick's Day Parades for 2015 in Massachusetts and beyond!

Cape Cod:Saturday, March 7, 2015 - - 11:00 am
Worcester:Sunday, March 8, 2015 - - Noon
Walpole:Friday, March 13, 2015 - - 11:15 am
Newport, RI:Saturday, March 14, 2015 - - 11:00 am
Boston:Sunday, March 15, 2015 - - 1:00 pm
Scituate:Sunday, March 15, 2015 - - 1:00 pm
Abington:Sunday, March 22, 2015 - - 1:00 pm
Holyoke:Sunday, March 22, 2015 - - Noon
Lawrence:Saturday, March 28, 2015 - - 1:00 pm
Manchester, NH:Sunday, March 29, 2015 - - Noon
Dublin, Ireland:Tuesday, March 17, 2015 - - Noon 

Click here for a details for each parade.
Information provided by Boston Irish Tourism Association.

Friday, March 6, 2015

5 Upcoming Events in Lexington, MA!

We set the clocks back this weekend in Lexington, MA, which is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner! As your Lexington real estate agent, I’d like to help you prep for spring by filling your calendar with some upcoming local events. We’ve had a rough winter here in Massachusetts. It’s time to end your hibernation and to get out and have some fun in Lexington!

To help you plan, here are the details on some upcoming events around town:

1.  This Sunday, March 8, head to Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library (National Heritage Museum) for LIFE, a concert inspired by life’s journey from womb to grave. The Charles River Wind Ensemble will perform an array of colorful and diverse music, including two folk-inspired works about children in the first half, and three works about life, hope and love in the second half. It takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. 

2.  On March 12, head to the Lexington Venue for a free showing of The Wizard of Oz! The Lexington Venue is partnering with Cary Library to bring this film to the big screen free of charge for Lexington residents. Seats are limited though, so register ahead of time if you’d like to attend. It will begin at 7 p.m. Then on March 14, head to the library for brunch and a lecture with a literary scholar and expert on all things Oz!

3.  On March 14, view the seasonal art creations from Lexington Arts and Crafts Society! Decorative Artists and Basket Makers will display paint, basketry and upholstery reflected by the four seasons. You can vote for your favorite while also learning and experimenting with art from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Then on March 15, enjoy talks and demos from 1 to 3p.m. Admission and parking is free. 

4.  On March 21, bring the whole family to Hayden Woods for the Winter Twig Walk with Citizens for Lexington Conservation! The walk is geared toward adults and children above the age of eight who are accompanied by an adult. You’ll learn how to identify a tree in the winter, without leaves, by becoming a twig detective. Meet at the entrance of Valleyfield Street if interested!

5.  On March 30, beer lovers and foodies will unite at the ilCasale Lexington Beer Dinner with John Harvard’s Brewery! The two are pairing up to bring you a five-course beer tasting dinner. The menu was created first, and then the beers were being brewed specifically to pair with the menu. Cost is $60 and seats are limited, so make your reservation in advance. 

Enjoy these events, and many more events and activities, in the coming weeks here in Lexington! These are great ways to get out and meet other people from the area, especially if you’re new to Lexington.

Do you still need to buy a Lexington home? Are you ready to sell your Lexington home? Contact me, your Lexington real estate agent! I am always here and ready to help you.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Should You Bring Your Kid to an Open House?


I’m a mother of two and pregnant with another. We outgrew our two-bedroom apartment long ago but made do because it’s in a good neighborhood. Now, however, we really need a bigger place, and we’re finally ready to buy. I want to be able to visit open houses, but I worry about dragging the kids along. Are children even allowed at open houses?

Of course kids are allowed! There’s no agent worth her license who’d turn away a pre-approved buyer because she (or he) had kids in tow. The bigger question here is: Should you bring the kids? And I say: It depends on how old they are.

Toddlers, unfortunately, are out. It’s just not a good idea to have small children running around a stranger’s house. Not only does it prevent you from taking in the details of the house, it also presents a liability concern for the agent. What if the kid falls down a flight of stairs? Who’s to blame? You could blame the homeowner for having slippery stairs, but there is precedence for the broker being held responsible. While that may not concern you, when I was a Realtor® in Chicago, I was always extra-vigilant when clients brought children to showings and opens. There were usually multiple groups of people touring the house at the same time, and throwing in a pair of toddlers, even fairly well-behaved ones, can create chaos.

House hunting is challenging in and of itself. Adding small kids to the mix means adding the same level of project management that you use to navigate everything else in your world. If you know you’re going to have your kids during an open house weekend, ask your agent to inform the listing broker. If you don’t yet have an agent, call the listing agent yourself. (You could probably even text or email.)

Remember, bringing kids means the agent has to usher you through the house, room by room. Any loose floorboard or perched sculpture needs to be pointed out and traversed with the safety precautions usually reserved for construction sites.

Safety aside, small children get bored easily. They want to touch, explore, and express themselves. All of which is fine—except when visiting a stranger’s house. An agent shouldn’t have to both show off the home’s best features—the Wolf range, the free-standing tub, the antique bannisters—and protect them from little ones.

I once had a client who pushed her stroller-bound newborn to every condo building in downtown Chicago. She wanted to tour homes, and paying for a baby sitter was not in her budget. When it was time to nurse, the wife recused herself to the minivan. With newborns, it works.
Teenagers, on the other hand, are mini-adults (though it may not always seem like it). They have their own opinions and should be parties to the decision-making process. Teens are not just interested in what their room will look like, they also want to know what the area has to offer and who lives nearby. They often bring up good questions their parents forget to ask, like what type of Internet is available—cable or fiber? The only problem is, they too get bored. They might think visiting open houses is fun—at least the first weekend or two—then zone out.

Or you could have the opposite reaction. I once had an open house where the kids’ room was tricked out with bunk beds, a playhouse, a slide, and more toys than a childless woman like myself can possibly remember. It was a huge hit—until the parents had to physically drag their kids out of the pint-size tepee. Cries, screams, tears. In the end, it’s just not worth it. Get a sitter!

Got a searing open-house etiquette question? Send it to us at etiquette@realtor.com
Chrystal Caruthers is a Chicago native, former Realtor, TV news producer, and newspaper reporter. Chrystal, who covers real estate industry news at realtor.com, enjoys cooking, hiking, Bikram yoga, and cookies. Full article found at: http://www.realtor.com/advice/should-you-bring-kids-to-open-house/?cid=soc_20150213_40476126&adbid=10153120699157871&adbpl=fb&adbpr=35368227870