Setalker For January Through March 2020
HOA Board Information and News
The HOA Board wishes each and everyone a very Happy Holiday season and a Healthy New Year. As 2019 draws to a close, we can reflect upon another good year at Setauket Meadows. Our community continues to be a very desirable place to live as evidenced by the continuous increase in property values and the short time for the resale cycle. As a community, we endeavor to maintain the buildings, grounds and amenities and when necessary make the difficult decisions for major repairs, upgrades and improvements. From a financial standpoint, Setauket Meadows has never been in better position. Due to very careful financial management, there will be NO increase in maintenance fees next year as our HOA fees meet all of our recurring obligations. Most importantly, our reserves are approaching $500,000. The new community, Setauket In The Woods, has started this year and although the construction phase is inconvenient and at times noisy, the end result will be a new Private Retirement Community ( PRC ) of 90 plus units. We anticipate that this complex, although not being part of our community, will be a compliment to Setauket Meadows. Additionally, we hope to see the Estate Fence erected next year and we can then begin the beautification plantings in conjunction with the plans approved by the Town. Both the new community and the perimeter improvements will enhance our community ( as well as the real estate values) as opposed to the former site of the distressed houses and the continual unsightly mess along the approach to Setauket Meadows. All the best, HOA Board Reminders From the HOA Board RESIDENTS: Since we are all connected, here are some reminders regarding keeping us safe.
Recipe of The Month
by Pat Dawson CHICKEN ORZO SOUP WITH GREENS THE PERFECT COMFORT FOOD AFTER A HOLIDAY OF OVEREATING! INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Joke of The Month
by Pat Dawson YOU MIGHT BE OLD WHEN………
Our Holiday Party
Majestic Gardens on December 12, 2019 Slideshow 
Computer or Security Tips
by Ray Dawson Recently several residents have had their computer hacked. The best computer hackers can and have broken into the systems at many top notch companies. I'm sure you have read about it. However, the best hackers get hired by companies to identify their computer vulnerabilities. The highest paid employed hacker (yes they get paid by companies) is 14 years old and earned over $1,000,000 this year. It's a good thing this youngster got hired because he/she could have caused a world of damage to many companies. These expert hackers are being hired by major corporations to break into the company computer systems to determine if they are vulnerable. They are paid based upon the number of problems identified by the hacker when they successfully break into the company's computer system. Once the hacker identifies the hole in their system then they can repair it. The hacker gets paid, the company fixes the problem and everyone is happy. The average hacker who has not been hired by the company, when successful, costs the company $8,000,000 in damages. It's no wonder why major companies are hiring hackers. Hackers know where to hack. They chose major corporations, particularly financial organizations where your personally identifiable information lives. Here is a few simple things you can do to reduce the possibility of getting hacked.
Sharing personal information with others you do not know is one of your biggest risks online. Sharing sensitive information such as your address, phone number, family members’ names, car information, passwords, work history, credit status, social security numbers, birth date, school names, passport information, driver’s license numbers, insurance policy numbers, loan numbers, credit/ debit card numbers, PIN numbers, and bank account information is risky and should be avoided. That's a very broad brush principle to avoid. The key is to change your passwords periodically. For heavens sake don't use the same password for every one of your internet access points. Use passwords that can't easily be guessed. Some computers, Apple is one, will assign a different password, if you choose, for each web site you visit. It will remember it the next time you visit the at same web site. The Federal Trade Commission advises: Related to the previous tip, there are many impostors who attempt to trick unsuspecting consumers into giving out their sensitive personal information by pretending to be the individual's bank, credit card company, or other entity. This can happen by phone or online, via phishing emails or websites designed to mimic the authentic company's look and feel. Make sure you know who is getting your personal or financial information. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or know who you’re dealing with. If a company who claims to have an account with you sends email asking for personal information, don’t click on links in the email. Instead, type the company name into your web browser, go to their site, and contact them through customer service. Or, call the customer service number listed on your account statement. Ask whether the company really sent a request. Just today, while talking on my phone, my financial company wanted to verify who I was so they sent me a text with a 6 digit number on it which I had to repeat back to them while I was on the phone. This is called "two step verification" and it assures the company they are dealing with you. I discuss this item in my October Setalker column. How do you know you have been hacked? Read on:
There are things you can do. Use your BACKUP device to restore your system!!!!! If you don't have a backup device, then we need to have a conversation. Pulse many other techniques that I will discuss in the next issue of The Setalker. Once again, please re-read my Computer Tips column in the October Setalker for more tips on data security. It's a dangerous world out there. Stay safe! 
1/4 Joe & Roseanne Falcone
1/7 Joyce and Tom Needham 1/8 Rocco & Lenore Ilardi 1/9 Richard and Emily Lester 1/18 Fred & Fran Gross 1/21 Ken & Linda Hasenmeyer 2/19 Richard & Andrea Kozlowsky 3/9 Bob & Pat Rice 3/11 Frances & Alvin Miller 3/14 Bill & Virginia Ehlers 3/16 Allen & Barbara Frawley 3/16 Frank & Ellen Silverman 3/28 Ralph and Jeannette Fresolone TIP:
Review the Calendar of Events for January, February and March. There are many activities every week at Setauket Meadows. The Calendar of Events is always part of the Setauket Meadows web site. Check back frequently to see what's new. Also check the Announcements Section of the Setauket Meadows web site for frequent updates to the issues of our Community. |
Speaking of Sports
by Joe Polizzi Like the Setalker, which has gone from a monthly to a quarterly newsletter, my go-to sports publication, Sports Illustrated, is going from weekly to a monthly magazine. But fear not the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball issues and the much heralded Swimsuit edition will still be published. At this time of the year many of these journals and newspapers issue a year-in-review summary. But since a decade has passed the year-in-review has become decade-in-review, thus staying with their strategy this article will be a decade-in-review of “Speaking of Sports”. Please be aware that whenever SM appears it means Setauket Meadows. 2009
Social Committee Update
by Ellen Silverman Those of us who attended Rheumatologist Dr. Godhwani's presentation on November 16 are looking forward to his return visit in the spring. He will give us further information about tick diseases due to the fact that he will be here at the height of tick season. Needless to say, I will provide you with the information you need as soon as we firm up a date and topics to be covered. By the way, if there are any topics that you would like to have Dr. G discuss, please let me know and I will let him know. I should mention that we are grateful not only for his expertise, but for being generous enough to bring refreshments: bagels, pastry, yogurt, coffee, hot chocolate, water. As you know, during the winter months, your Social Committee takes a bit of a siesta, in terms of major events. However, during that time we're planning for the spring, summer, and fall. Let me take this opportunity to remind you that certain activities continue on through the winter months: Every Wednesday throughout the year from 5-7 PM is designated our Happy Hour Time. Please feel free to grab a couple of friends, a beverage of choice, and some snacks to share. I promise to let you know when special themed Happy Hours are going to take place. On the last Thursday of every month, at 1:00 in the great room, you will find our Whatever You Want to Read Book Club. It's really fun and enlightening to find out what your friends/neighbors are reading and enjoying (or not enjoying). An important reminder: Our open door policy means that anyone can join us at any time. If any of have ideas for Social Committee Events (on or off "campus"), please let us know. As 2020 is now upon us, let me wish every one of you a fulfilling new year that brings you endless smiles. Thinking of you even when I'm here in Delray Beach, Ellen S, on behalf of your Social Committee 
Real Estate News
by Phyllis Colby Remodeling Stats and Spending Trends to Inform Your Improvement Plans Thinking about remodeling? You're not alone. According to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, home improvement spending in the U.S. is up more than 50% since 2010. The study found that, "Spending on improvements and repairs to the US housing stock continued on an upward trend in 2017, setting a new high of $424 billion. This represents a 10% increase from 2015 and more than 50% gain from the low in 2010." According to their analysis, 22 million homeowners across the country completed at least one home improvement project in 2017. "The report[…] attributed part of the increase to a shortage of new construction and a reliance on aging housing stock that requires upkeep and repair," said the New York Times. "Other factors include higher housing prices that have increased the available equity for home improvement loans, and a growing population of older homeowners who are financially equipped to pay for renovations." The primary "spenders" fall into three main categories: Homeowners using surging equity to make improvements, homeowners playing catch-up on deferred maintenance and updates, and rental property owners. The average expenditure on home improvement was rather modest; 40% of participants reported spending less than $2,500, and almost 75% spent less than $10,000. Most common improvements The most common project in 2017 was adding or replacing flooring, with 5.2 million homeowners, or 7%, upgrading their floors. The next most common projects were:
1/2 MaryAnn Trombetta
1/5 Rosemarie Primavera 1/8 Dianne Muratore 1/9 Frances Miller 1/10 Ron Dreyfus 1/12 Chris Stabile 1/16 Leonore Ilardi 1/18 Debi Pereira 1/22 Raymond Dawson 1/30 Michael Goralski 1/30 Alice Polizzi 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 2/25 Robert Snicklemark 2/26 Pat Hickey 2/26 Harriet Kirshner 2/27 Christine Muffly 2/27 Joyce Needham 3/2 Joan Famularo 3/3 Janice Cerullo 3/3 Tony Forte 3/4 Marilyn Ebert 3/4 Virginia Harley 3/7 Carol Zanca 3/8 Cynthia Russell 3/8 Pat Rice 3/9 Bill Metlay 3/10 Joseph Pleva 3/12 Alice Bradin 3/12 Gerry Holly 3/14 Mario Carravetta 3/16 RoseAnne Finamore 3/17 Carole McTigue 3/19 Diane DeRosa 3/19 Nick DeRosa 3/19 Joe Sarro 3/22 Joan DeMaio 3/24 Karen Maddas 3/24 Joe Pereira 3/26 Joe Polizzi 3/31 William Connors |