Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Lexington School Information


Lexington Public Schools Information for the 2015-2016 School Year


Click click here to explore new courses for Fall 2015 being offered by Lexington Community Education!

UPCOMING EVENTS
August 31, 2015
September 1, 2015
September 2, 2015
8:00 AM - 11:00 PM SCHOOL OPEN - CHECK SCHEDULE
September 3, 2015
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCHOOL OPEN - CHECK SCHEDULE
September 4, 2015
September 7, 2015
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCHOOLS CLOSED/OFFICES CLOSED


LPS Parent Notification System

Lexington Public Schools (LPS) has implemented a high-speed parent notification solution called Code-ED, a service of Emergency Communications Network (ECN). LPS will use Code-ED to quickly and effectively keep parents and guardians of LPS students, as well as faculty and staff, informed of both routine and emergency information that impacts LPS students and campuses.

For more Lexington School Information please visit their website: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Lexington Citizens' Academy


“It is a tribute to the town that so many dedicated municipal employees shared their expertise with citizens beyond the scope of normal business hours.  Speakers were enthusiastic, well prepared, and clearly dedicated to their respective departments and quality service.”-2013 Lexington Citizens’ Academy Participant

The 7th Annual Lexington Citizens’ Academy has been scheduled
for this fall!

The 2015 Academy begins Tuesday evening, September 15 and features eleven evening sessions. 
Do you know:
  • Who builds trails on Conservation lands?
  • What is inside the Police Station?
  • Where you can buy a rain barrel?
  • When you need a building permit?
  • Why a Fire engine responds along with the ambulance?
  • How many different types of Public Works vehicles there are?
  • How the public schools are using technology in teaching?
Participants have the opportunity to engage with Town departments, learn more about the services provided by their local government, and discover new opportunities for public involvement.
There is no fee to attend the Academy, but early registration is recommended as it will be limited to 30 participants!  
For more information, please contact Deputy Town Manager Linda Vine by email, or by calling 781-698-4540.


Topics include:
  • Town Financials and Budget
  • Public Works
  • Economic and Community Development
  • Police Services
  • Human Services
  • Library
  • Recreation
  • Schools
  • Town Meeting
  • Town Clerk
The first Citizens' Academy, held in the fall of 2009, was a joint initiative of the Lexington 2020 Vision Committee and Lexington Community Education.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Lexington Police Explorer Post 1575 Summer Youth Academy

The Lexington Police Department will be hosting a five day youth summer academy to introduce the many facets of Law Enforcement Explorer program and Public Safety.


Free for kids ages 12 to 16

Dates: 
August 17 – 21, 2015
8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
The academy will be held at the new Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road in Lexington

Topics covered over the week:
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Team Building
  • Introduction to Law Enforcement/ LPD history and programs
  • Fun and Games
Space is limited to twenty participants. 
Time will be spent indoors and out.
Application forms are available online (but must be printed and signed):
or pick them up at the Police Department, 1575 Massachusetts Ave.
Applications must be received by August 10.
A parent orientation evening will be held on August 13.
If you have any questions, please contact Detective Evelyn or Detective Sowle at 781-862-1212

Friday, August 7, 2015

Moving Tips for Lexington Home Buyers and Sellers

Ready to buy a Lexington home, to sell your Lexington home, or to do both at once? As your Lexington real estate agent, I am here to help you through the process! Contact me when ready to get started.

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, you’re going to have to go through the moving process. While this can seem stressful and time-consuming, some simple preparation tips will help make the process go much smoother. Here are a few to keep in mind:

1.  Pack a bag with essentials. You won’t want to unpack boxes immediately after moving, so have the items you need on a daily basis ready to go in a duffle bag or suitcase, as if you were traveling on vacation and packing the same essentials.

2.  Wrap breakable items in clothes or towels. Rather than wasting money and space with bubble wrap, tissue and newspapers, use clothes or towels to wrap around dishes, décor and more, and stick clean pairs of socks inside glasses. You have to pack these items anyway, you might as well give them a double use!

3.  Label your boxes. Use a permanent marker to not only label what is in the boxes, but also what room the items belong in. When unpacking, this makes it really easy to bring the boxes directly to their designated room, saving you an extra step later.

4.  Prevent spills and breaks. One trick is to take the tops off of your opened toiletry items, cover the openings with saran wrap, and then put the tops back on. This will help prevent them from leaking. Another trick is to pack plates vertically, like records. This will prevent them from breaking more so than stacking them on top of each other in a box.

5.  Keep items in place with Press’n Seal. This plastic wrap works great for covering drawers, in order to keep clothes and other items in their place inside the drawer, and also to keep jewelry in its place on jewelry displays. Sandwich bags are great for storing small items in.

6.  Take pictures. If you think you’ll forget how something looked before you had to take it apart, take a picture. This is a great tip for electronics! Take a picture so you remember how and where all the wires go. It’s great for remembering how items were stored on shelves, in cabinets and on counters, too.

7.  Pack clothes fast. The best way to do so is to cut a hole in the top of a large garbage bag and place the bag over a pile of clothes from the closet, hangers intact. This way, you can hang them right back up in your new closet after the move! For folded clothes, use a vacuum seal so they take up less space.

For more excellent packing and moving tips, check out the 33 tips available in this Buzzfeed article. They are sure to save you time and stress during the relocation process!

When ready to achieve your goals in the Lexington real estate market, contact me, your Lexington real estate agent! I am here and ready to help you.

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

How to Clean Your Hard Wood Floors

Although installing hardwood flooring is usually more expensive than rolling out new carpet, it’s an investment worth considering, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. Surveys show that 54 percent of home buyers are willing to pay more for a house with hardwood floors. The question now: What’s the best way to clean and care for that popular flooring and keep that natural beauty (and value) shining through? Here’s how.
It’s not the wood — oak, maple, mesquite, bamboo, engineered hardwood or something more exotic — that determines how the floors should be cleaned, but rather the finish.
Surface finishes, often referred to as urethanes or polyurethanes, are among the most popular treatments today and are usually applied to hardwood floors after installation to protect them and make them more durable and water resistant. These finishes create a protective barrier. There are four types of surface finishes, according to the American Hardwood Information Center: water based, oil based, acid cured and moisture cured.
Homes built before 1970, including historic residences, may have original wood floors that were sealed with varnish, wax or shellac. These require a different approach to cleaning. The American Hardwood Information Center says these types of finishes work by penetrating the wood to color the planks and form a protective shield. Using a wax coating after staining provides a barrier against wear and tear and gives the floor a beautiful low-gloss satin sheen. The classic look requires a little extra TLC, however, since water-based products and mopping can damage the finish.
How to Determine Your Wood Floor Finish
To figure out whether or not your wood floors are finished with a polyurethane, shellac, wax or varnish, or have a finish that has worn away and is no longer providing coverage, the American Hardwood Information Center suggests these tests:
Run your hand over the wood. If you can feel the texture of the grain, the floor has a “penetrating” finish (usually a combination of a natural oil, such as linseed or tung oil, mixed with additives for drying) topped with wax.
In an out-of-the-way spot, dab on a little paint remover. If the finish bubbles up, it is a surface finish, like polyurethane, which coats the floor in a protective layer.
In an out-of-the-way area, place a few drops of water. If the water beads up and does not soak into the wood, the finish on the floor is intact. If the water is absorbed into the floor or leaves a dark spot, the wood is unfinished or the protective layer has worn away.
If you sprinkle on a few drops of water and white spots form beneath the droplets after about 10 to 15 minutes, the floors are sealed with wax. To remove the white spots, use a piece of fine steel wool lightly dampened with wax and rub gently.
If you suspect a varnish or shellac, take a coin and scratch the surface of the floor in an inconspicuous corner. If the floor has been sealed with one of the older finishing methods, it will flake off.
Click to finish reading article… topics include Preventing Dirty Wood Floor, Regular Wood Floor Cleaning, Vacuuming,Sweeping, Damp Mopping, Unfinished or Waxed Floors, Engineered Wood Floors, Painted Wood Floors.