Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Spring Break Events at Wilson Farm

LEXINGTON SCHOOL VACATION WEEK AT WILSON FARM



Birdhouse Decorating Workshop
Tuesday, April 18th • 12pm - 2pm • $20 per person
As the warm weather returns, so do our feathered-friends ...and they need a place to live! Join friends and family on Tuesday, April 18th for our Birdhouse Decorating Workshop. Included are all the materials, hardware, glue and tools needed to build an awesome home for our bird buddies. The class is just $20 per person. RSVP today by calling 781-862-3900!

Kids Baking Class
Wednesday, April 19th • 11am - 1pm • $15 per person <
Take the kids down to the farm for a fun baking class! Kids will make their own pizza and then decorate a fun pastry with the help of our Bakery Team!
Call 781-862-3900 now to reserve your spot today.

Kids Cooking Class
Thursday, April 20th • 3pm - 6pm • $20 per person <
Chef Jeff and his team are teaching kids how to make another three-course meal that they can take home. This class Jeff is showing the young chefs how to make:
·  Enchiladas
·  Tacos
·  Fried ice cream
Call 781-862-3900 now to reserve your spot today.

Picadilly and the Waltzing Wind Book Signing
Sunday, April 23rd • 1pm - 3pm • $20 per person <
Back by popular demand, local author and resident Lisa Anne Novelline returns to the farm with copies of her book,"Picadilly & the Waltzing Wind". Lisa will be signing copies of her book, which you can purchase at the farm stand.

For more information or to make reservations please visit WILSON FARM WEBSITE


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

You're Cleaning Your Lexington Home Wrong!


You probably think you know all there is to know about cleaning your Lexington home—after all, you’ve been doing this all your adult life, right? But it turns out that creating a gorgeous, dust- and grime-free space is a lot trickier than it looks, especially if you’re not hip to professional cleaners’ sneakiest tactics.

1. Dry mopping
What’s the best way to get all the dirt and crumbs out of the way before you wash down the kitchen or bathroom floor? Dry mopping (aka “dust mopping”) might seem to make sense, but you’re better off busting out the Hoover. Trust the pros on this one.
Vacuuming removes two times more debris. And you want as much debris as possible out of the way—otherwise it will just get spread all over your kitchen when you wet mop. And that will make getting rid of it the next time even harder.

2. Not emptying the vacuum receptacle
Before you dig out the vacuum for your spring-cleaning escapades, get rid of the evidence from the last time you cleaned. All of it. If your dust buster’s canister or bag is more than half-full, empty it before you start sucking.
A too-full vacuum makes a much less efficient cleaner, meaning you might have to go over your living room two or three times just to remove your dog’s latest layer of hair. Emptying the bag at the start (or if it gets too full mid cleaning) means much less work for you.

3. Going rogue
Cleaning might not seem like a science, but it’s certainly simpler if you treat it like one. If your lemon floor cleaner says you need only 1 tablespoon per gallon, follow that instruction. You’d be amazed (or perhaps not) how many people think more is always better.
“If more worked better, they would recommend more,” Smallin Kuper says. After all, it’s in their interest to sell more product. So why would they tell you to save when they could tell you to splurge? Because their stuff is made to work a certain way.
Pay attention when you read (not skim) the manufacturer’s instructions, and follow them closely to save yourself time, sanity, and money.

4. Using paper towels and rags
Ditch the paper towels—and don’t use rags in their place.
Microfiber cloths are far more effective at removing dirt and grime than cotton cloths, and you can pick up these miracle workers in every shape and form—including gloves that fit over your hand for easy general-purpose dusting to varieties specifically designed for cleaning electronics or wood floors.
As a bonus, microfiber clothes catch dirt and dust (and even bacteria!) between their super thin threads, letting you clean most surfaces without the need for chemical cleaners. Of course, heavy-duty stains may require some additional work, but as a general rule you’ll be cutting costs in your cleaning cabinet.

5. Not wiping down your light bulbs
Cleaning your old bulbs isn’t just an aesthetic- or allergen-related requirement. It actually helps you keep your home cheery and bright—and your electricity bill under control.
Dirty light bulbs emit 20% less light than clean bulbs. And that’s not just wasted light—it’s wasted energy.
Before cleaning, make sure the lights are turned off (no shocking surprises here). Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean off your bulbs—water or cleaning sprays can affect the electronics—and enjoy the sudden rush of brighter light when you flip the switch.

6. Storing things in cardboard boxes
Boxing up your seasonal odds and ends? While it might be tempting to use the pile of leftover moving boxes accumulating in your garage, you need to a trip to the store.
One cleaning mistake frequently seen is “storing things in cardboard boxes in the basement, attic, or garage instead of waterproof, insect-proof plastic bins.” Mold, termites, or just dampness after a rainy spring can damage your precious belongings. Pick up some heavy-duty plastic boxes instead.

7. Not decluttering first
We see you eyeing that dust rag. Wait! If there’s still a layer of clutter around your home, don’t even think about cleaning.
If you don’t pick up things first, you’ll be making multiple passes through a room, putting toys on the couch to clean the floor, pushing them in the corner to clean the couch, then realizing the dirty toys left another layer of dust, which requires another quick cycle.
Make sure there’s nothing out that shouldn’t be visible. Only then do you have our permission to start cleaning.

8. Spraying the glass
Cleaning glass-framed artwork or mirrors? Here’s a less-than-obvious tip: Make sure you’re spraying your cleaner onto the cloth, not the glass itself.
“The cleaner can drip or spread into the frame and damage the artwork,” Smallin Kuper says.
We’re sure you’re quick with your hands, but it’s better to be safe than sorry—especially when it comes to high-value artwork.
You’re forgiven if nothing makes you like cleaning. But with some help from the pros to smooth out the onerous process, hopefully you can start having a little bit of fun cleaning your Lexington home!



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Lexington Historical Society Upcoming Events

Tuesday, March 21, 6 PM at the Depot  –  Book Group dinner and discussion of The Civil Wars of Julia Ward Howeby Elaine Showalter.
$30 members/$35 non-members.


Local Attractions Opening Soon

Buckman Tavern
1 Bedford Street
781-862-5598

Closed for the Season

Opened March 11, 2017

Self-paced audio tour.

Hancock-Clarke House
36 Hancock Street
781-861-0928

Closed for the Season

Re-opening April 1, 2017

Tours on the hour.

Munroe Tavern
1332 Massachusetts Ave
781-862-0295

Closed for the Season

Re-opening April 1, 2017

Self-guide or guided tours available.


Patriots Days is just around the corner!



Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Positive Health Impacts of Lexington Homeownership

Health Homeowners in Lexington, MA
There are so many perks to homeownership in Lexington, MA, financially, socially, educationally and healthfully! As your Lexington real estate agent, I’d like to share with you the health perks of homeownership today. If you’d like to improve your health, one way of doing so may be to buy a Lexington home in the near future!

Here are some of the health perks found in the recent Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing study:
  • Homeowners are generally healthier than renters. Renters tend to experience more respiratory issues, such as asthma, along with toxic exposures, injuries and mental health issues.
  • Increases in housing wealth were associated with better health outcomes for the homeowners.
  • Low-income people who had recently become homeowners reported higher life satisfaction, higher self-esteem and higher perceived control over their lives once they owned.
  • Homeowners report both higher self-esteem and happiness than renters. In the study, homeowners were more likely to believe they could achieve things as well as anyone else, and they report higher self-ratings on physical health.
  • Renters report a higher satisfaction in their housing situation, even when they become owners of the same place they rented.
  • Homeowners are 2.5 percent more likely to have good health than renters. When broken into demographics, the homeowner advantage becomes 3.1 percent healthier.
As you can see, these are sure signs that your health, happiness and self-esteem levels may improve once you buy a Lexington home!

This same study also found that children of homeowners tend to do better in school, go on to higher levels of schooling, and then find jobs that make more money. These are examples of the educational benefits of homeownership.

Homeownership also proved in the study to increase community involvement and a feeling of oneness with others in the neighborhood, school system or community as a whole. These are some social benefits of owning a Lexington home!

Many studies find that homeowners have a net worth much higher than renters, because they are building equity and wealth for their future. Plus, with fixed-rate mortgage loans, your monthly mortgage payment never increases, unlike rent payments, so there is an increased feeling of security.

Are you ready to buy a Lexington home and to begin experiencing some of the many perks associated with it? Contact me, your Lexington real estate agent! I can answer any questions you may have, and I would love to help you through each step of the home-buying process in the Lexington real estate market.

Theresa D'Antuono

FRENCH AROUND THE WORLD 2017

Friday March 10 from 9:30am-4:00pm at Cary Hall, 1605 Mass Avenue

Franco-Fête des écoles de Nouvelle Angletterre - New England Schools Franco-Fete
The largest French student gathering of New England will take place at Cary Hall. This event is organized by the French Consulate, Lexington Antony Sister City working group, and several other organizations. The students will participate in activities from Twitter contests to dancing. The morning will end with a large parade of more than 500 students between Cary Hall and the Green.
This is the first day of a two-day festival.

Saturday, March 11 from 11:00am-3:00pm
Join us for our 6th annual Voyages en Francophonie - French around the world, an educational, family oriented event organized by the  Lexington-Antony Sister Cities Working Group of the Lexington Tourism Committee, EFGB, the Délégation du Quebec, the French consulate, the Haitian Consulate General in Boston and Swissnex.
Several French-speaking countries will be represented with workshops showcasing local cultural highlights and traditions. There will be a variety of micro-events throughout the day such as a puppet show, and food sale, all aiming at entertaining children and adults alike and showing how rich and diverse the Francophone world is.
Admission: suggested donation: $15 per family for the whole day!

Voyages en Francophonie - French around the world
Contact: Marie-Tristan Rago, 781-775-5594mtrago@efgboston.org

Family event
VEF is a fun filled family event for all ages: scavenger hunts, artistic workshops, puppet shows and many more engaging activities are held throughout the day. Bertrand Laurence and Davey the clown will entertain you all day long. With food stalls and stands representing  francophone countries, you will have plenty of fun traveling the francophone world with friends and family!

8 Country-Stands
Voyages en Francophonie aims at promoting the vitality of the francophone community in Boston. Visitors can virtually travel  to Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, France, Haiti, Lebanon, Morocco and Seychelles, where they can speak with natives who will explain their traditions, discover spices and culinary specialties, and listen to stories and legends.

Window Decorating in Lexington
This year we are partnering again with businesses throughout Lexington for a window decorating contest. Associations and artists will decorate store windows with a Francophone theme between March 1st and March 9 th. A panel of juges from the Lexington Center Alliance will juge the windows the afternoon of March 10th. Winners will be announced at Voyages en Francophonie.

Check out the windows of Marcello Salon and MA France in East Lexington to be introduced to some of our participating artists. Lexx and RE/MAX will also participate in this project.

Partners
Since 2014, Voyages en Francophonie has taken place in Lexington with the support of Lexington-Antony Sister Cities  which is part of the Lexington Tourism Committee.
With the participation of tens of volunteers and professionals, as well as other francophone consulates and associations and  the Lexington Public Schools language departments, Early Language School from Sudbury, and close to two thousand visitors, Voyages en Francophonie lets Boston's francophone community showcase their incredible diversity and talent. 



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Community Nursery School Open House


Community Nursery School (CNS) — a cooperative preschool in Lexington that nurtures children in a play-based environment — has openings in its 4-year-old classrooms for the 2017-2018 school year, and is holding an open house for interested families on Sunday, March 5th, 11am-1pm.

Come and learn how CNS engages children to be creative, inquisitive, independent, and ready for elementary school, and fosters a community that enriches the whole family. Parents and children will be able to meet Director Liz O’Neil, tour classrooms and the studio, and explore the 2-acre playground and property.

CNS is located at 2325 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington. For more information, visit cnslex.org or call 781-862-0741.