February 2018 Setalker
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HOA News and Information
As the Holiday Season and the celebration of the New Year fades, we transition into a quieter period at Setauket Meadows. Many folks have left for warmer climes and community activity is at low ebb. Wow! So far, this has been a cold winter with a couple of significant snowfalls. We hope that you who are ‘wintering over’ are keeping healthy, warm and safe. 4-D has been doing an excellent job of keeping up with the snows and we thank them. DID YOU KNOW that Suffolk County has a mini bus system (Suffolk County Accessible Transportation –(SCAT)) for people with disabilities? You are eligible if you have a permanent or temporary disability which prevents you from using your car or the regular bus system. This mini-bus is able to pick you up at your home and take you to any type of trip requested, including social, recreational, non-emergency medical, work or even shopping. To be eligible, you need to fill out a complete application. For applications or questions, call 631-852-5200. As a reminder, HPM has notified the community that the dehumidifier in the clubhouse attic for the indoor pool room malfunctioned and requires a major repair with the replacement of parts. The Board elected to repair the unit, at a cost of approximately $14,000, for the last time and hopes to get three or more years before we have to replace the entire system that is estimated to cost over $80,000 and would require a special assessment from the community. This process can take almost a month and to offset the humidity in the room we have lower the temperature of the pool and spa. As always, our website (setauketmeadows.com), maintained by Ray Dawson, is a great tool for all kinds of information. Questions that come occasionally to mind are often easily answered by referring to the website – up-to-date-resident lists, minutes, agendas, meeting dates/times and news articles, financial info, etc. are all there. Ray has also done a great job of including pictures of residents and events and special scenes of our community- all set to music. Check it out! Please note from the schedule published on the website, the next HOA meeting is Thursday, February 15 at 7 P.M. in the Clubhouse. Wherever you may be this winter, watch out for black ice, stay safe and be well! Social Committee Update
Hello from Florida to my Setauket Meadows Neighbors! On behalf of our Social Committee, I want to remind you that Wednesday Cocktail Hour, 5-7 PM, in the Great Room, will continue throughout the winter months. Please check your email regularly to find out if a particular "official" Wednesday Get Together will be canceled. Many thanks to Josephine and Carl for keeping this tradition going. Please stay warm. Frank and I will do our best to send warm weather your way. We're trying to work that out with the Post Office. Recipe of The Month
by Pat Dawson KUNG PAO SHRIMP This Weight Watchers lightened version of this dish is super delicious. Looks like a lot of ingredients but you probably have some of them in your pantry already. INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Computer tip of the Month
by Ray Dawson For FACEBOOK Users If you are a user of Facebook or considering using Facebook in the future, account security may be on your mind. With all the reports of companies getting hacked, information being stolen, as well as the whole personal identity theft issue, you may be left wondering whether Facebook is safe to use. Overall, Facebook as a website can be a safe place. There is built-in security that helps to protect you and your information. One primary level of security that Facebook uses is called Secure Socket Layer (SSL). In a nutshell, this type of security encrypts(protects) any data transmitted while using Facebook, from login credentials to chat conversations. The Facebook servers, where you data is stored and protected, have their own security built-in as well. There are anti-intrusion systems in place, to help thwart hackers from getting in, or intruding, and stealing your data. They also employ anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to keep their systems clean and free of security threats that can arise from virus & spyware infections. Basically, Facebook works hard to keep your data locked up and safe from others who might attempt to use your information in a threatening or illegal manner. There are also ways that you can help protect yourself and your data while on Facebook, beyond what Facebook already does to protect you. When you log in to Facebook, you provide a password. This password is something you have complete control over and can make it difficult for others to gain access to your account. By using combinations of capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers, you can create a password that would be difficult to figure out. Your goal is to make your password something that only you could figure out. You also should never give out your password to anyone, not even someone you know. That password is for you and you only. Keep it close and help keep your account safe. Be familiar with phishing techniques. For example, if you receive an email that looks like it is from Facebook, asking for your username, password, or any personal information, delete it immediately. Facebook never asks you for this information. Emails that ask for this kind of information are common ways for other people to gain access to your account. Another way to help keep your account safe is to make sure that your Internet browser, browser plugins, and operating system are up-to-date. Doing so will ensure that you have the most current security features on your system. Lastly, it's important that you have an anti-virus and anti-spyware program installed on your computer. Keep this program updated at all times, which helps prevent virus and spyware infections, greatly reducing the chances of your personal information and passwords from being stolen. Tip: Regardless of Facebook's default level of security, you should be vigilant about protecting your privacy. If you're a Facebook member, make sure to review your account privacy settings and adjust them if necessary. It is recommended that your settings allow only your friends (not friends of friends) to view your profile, pictures, and information. 
2/2 Al Cipollina
2/3 Lawrence Kick 2/4 Lee Stein 2/5 Ann Stein 2/6 John McFerran 2/7 Bill Negra 2/10 Clare Pi 2/10 Joan Pompei 2/10 Emily Lester 2/14 Doranne Metz 2/14 Lucille Weber 2/20 Barbara Frawley 2/21 Collette Goralski 2/22 Frank Silverman 2/26 Pat Hickey 2/26 Harriet Kirshner 2/27 Christine Muffly |
Speaking of Sports
by Joe Polizzi What has happened to “nicknames”? I’m not only referring to nicknames in sports but also nicknames in general. Growing up it seemed that most athletes had another name that highlighted their abilities and for the most part became their name. There was Babe (George) Ruth, Yogi (Lawrence) Berra, Scooter (Phil) Rizzuto,Whitey(Edward) Ford, PeeWee (Harold) Reese, Duke (Edwin) Snider, Say Hey Kid (Wille Mays), Stan “the Man” Musial, Jolting Joe Dimaggio, and the list goes on. I’m sure you can add many more to it. In my family, there were nicknames. Their were my uncles: Tudy, Gappy, Chubby and my father was Jimmy but his real name was Gasper, go figure. I guess all this started because so many people in a family or even a neighborhood had the same name. We all remember the movie “ My Big Fat Greek Wedding” when the father is introducing his relatives; there was Nick, Nicky, Nicholas, Nick etc. etc. Even in my own family there were at least four Joe’s. So we had Big Joe, Little Joe, Pip, Pepe. Can you pick which one I was? Recently while vacationing in Florida for a month Alice and I made some friends. And guess what; three of the five acquaintances were named Jim along with Anthony and Joe. I think we were all born in a time when things were simple and everyone wanted to fit in and be that “All-American” type. Today I go to my grandson’s basketball games and here are some of the names: Hunter,Cooper, Brady, Declan, Liam, Lance, Colin, Noah, Mason, Jaxon, Hudson and some too hard to pronounce or write. Listen I do not want to disparage anyone’s name choice or familial meaning but none of them have a nickname. Not one has a hint at a shortened form or a peculiarity that makes them stand out and thus get a nickname. For example, back when I grew there was “Muscles” the weight lifting friend who had good muscular definition, and “Campy” the rotund teammate who was our catcher, and “Squeaky” the kid whose voice had not yet deepened and was high pitch, and “Cat” the friend whose favorite pet was a pussy cat, and on and on. Joe Girardi, ex-Yankee manager, seemed to attempt to give his players nicknames: Gardy, Tex, Jeet, Sori, Phelpsie, Tank, Los, D, C, and more. I can sympathize with him because when I was a Junior Varsity Baseball Coach I also used nicknames. I did not formally assign them names, it just happened and it was easier and faster to refer to them and I think the players liked them. It made them feel a little special and unique. Major League Baseball this year sensing the lack of “Nicknames” had a “Funny Nickname Weekend”. For one weekend on the back of their jersey was a player derived nickname: e.g. All Rise, Sugar, Dude, I Don’t Know, Mr Smile, get the idea. I don’t like it because it lacks the spontaneity and ownership that goes with a real nickname. For me nicknames provide an identity and a special distinction and I hope they come back and are around for a long time. As always, stay healthy and hitt’em straight….. “Big Joe” Polizzi Auto Advice
by Joe Sarro When people are looking for cars the biggest mistake is they rely too much on people that really don't know that much about your situation. The local guy at the service station might say that's a really good car, but he really doesn't know your needs. Do your own research. Start by figuring out exactly what you want out of a car. I've noticed people driving hybrids who do very little driving.They pay extra for hybrid but cannot take advantage of the gas savings, and the amount of emissions they reduce is not going to affect global warming. What you should do is make a list of your must haves which could be things like backup camera, blind spot monitoring or extra trunk space. Do you need a comfortable back seat for your friends or room for grandchildren? Make a list and decide on exactly what you need. Do not purchase unnecessary things like heated rear seats if they will not be used or navigation if you just go the the local supermarket. Another mistake people make is purchasing a car with so many features that they drive off and don't know how to use any of them. Take the time with your delivery coordinator and make sure you know the basics. Learn about the other features over the following week and go back to the dealer if necessary to refresh yourself. They will be happy to assist you. The Spring is a great time to buy a new car. There are plenty of good deals out there, and its a great time to feel alive again after a long and cold winter. Everyone has a different situation so leasing or buying is an option. I personally don't care for putting hard earned money into a car. With the investment opportunities today, a car is not where you should put your money. Its worth $30,000 today and $15,000 in three years. There are better investments out there. In closing my 3 tips are :
Real Estate News
by Phyllis Colby Why Remodeling Can Bring More Joy to a Home The expected tenure of homeowners in a home continues to increase, according to the latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Last year, the expected tenure was 12 years - this year, it jumped to 15. And, with tightened inventory in many markets, people are staying put in their homes for longer. As a result, remodeling one’s current home is an increasingly popular option for those who want their dream home, but are unable or unwilling to move. The 2017 Remodeling Impact report shows that remodeling can bring more enjoyment to a home, and that certain projects have high returns both in terms of the joy they bring to the homeowner, as well as the amount of expenses that are recouped when the home is sold. The projects that yield the most joy and recoup the most expenses might come as a surprise. According to REALTOR® respondents, the number one project is a complete kitchen renovation. The top reason homeowners renovate the kitchen is for better functionality and livability, according to 44 percent of respondents. When the project is completed, 91 percent of respondents have both a greater desire to be in the home and have a greater sense of enjoyment when they are at home. Overall, a kitchen renovation receives a 10 out of 10 Joy Score and REALTORS® estimate that $40,000 of the cost can be recovered at resale—approximately 62 percent of the estimated cost. Complete Kitchen Renovation 
Kitchen Upgrade 
The third project on the list of most popular projects is a bathroom renovation. Forty percent undertake the project for better functionality and livability, while 38 percent want to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials. When the project is completed, 78 percent feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think about the project. The project has a Joy Score of 9.6 out of 10, and Realtors estimate that $15,000 of the cost can be recovered at resale—50 percent of the estimated cost.
2/19 Richard & Andrea Kozlowsky
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