INDEPENDENCE DAY 2020 – CELEBRATE ALL THAT IS GOOD

On July 4^th, we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the document that marked the emergence of the United States as an independent, self-governing nation, guided by the principle of liberty.

We remember the men who signed the declaration, but we should also remember those men and women who also played an important  part in our history, like the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat, who came to America’s aid and fought valiantly beside George Washington to win our independence. Lafayette was an American hero who was outspoken with his most-cherished American friends — including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson — in his belief that slavery was an abomination and should be abolished.

 It’s important to remember that the freedom we value today was earned by the bravery of many men and women putting their lives, reputation and personal property at risk, to collectively affirm:  

         

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
        
            In 1776, as copies of the Declaration spread through the states and were read aloud at town meetings, religious services and public assemblies, Americans marked the occasion with celebratory rituals. They lit huge bonfires, "illuminated" their windows with candles, fired guns, rang bells, removed the symbols of the monarchy from public buildings, churches and taverns, and decorated the walls of their homes with newspaper copies of the Declaration of Independence.
       
            This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, our celebration will require us stay socially distant, to use masks, to gather in safe, small groups, and even quarantine ourselves if necessary.  All actions that are meant to protect our friends and family and yes, strangers, to stop the spread of this unseen enemy.  So even though we will celebrate in a different way this year, let us toast to our country’s independence and teach our children the reason for the celebration and the responsibility we have more than ever to be our brother’s keeper. 

May God Bless America. May God Bless us all.

IN MEMORIAM

CHRISTOPHER WYATT DRUM

                                              May 25,                                                           July 2, 

                                                1972                                                               2014 

A PRAYER FOR THIS FATHER'S DAY*

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless our earthly fathers for the many times they reflected the love, strength, wisdom, and mercy that You exemplify in Your relationship with us.

We honor our fathers for putting our needs above their own convenience and comfort; for teaching us to show courage and determination in the face of adversity; for modeling the qualities that would turn us into responsible, principled caring adults.

For those fathers who did not live up to these ideals, give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.  Give us the grace to forgive them like You forgive us.

For fathers who have lost a child through death, console them, give them hope and support from their family and friends.

Help new and future fathers raise their children grounded in a love for God and other people. Remind these fathers that loving and treating their spouses with dignity, compassion, and respect is one of the greatest gifts they can give their children.

We pray that our fathers who have passed into the next life have been welcomed into Your loving embrace, and that our family will one day be reunited in your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

*Source: Three Minutes a Day, The Christophers, Volume 48.

UPDATE ON REALTOR OPERATIONS ESD AND PHASE 2

On April 9, 2020, Empire State Development (ESD)  determined that, “real estate services shall be conducted remotely for all transactions, including but not limited to title searches, appraisals, permitting, inspections, and the recordation, legal, financial and other services necessary to complete a transfer of real property; provided, however, that any services and parts therein may be conducted in-person only to the extent legally necessary and in accordance with appropriate social distancing and cleaning/disinfecting protocols; and nothing within this provision should be construed to allow brokerage and branch offices to remain open to the general public (i.e. not clients).”* THIS IS STILL IN EFFECT UNTIL PHASE 2.
              

Because it may become necessary in limited circumstances for a real estate licensee, inspector, appraiser or other third party to access the Property, such access raises the possibility of potential liability resulting from exposure to COVID-19. The New York State Association of REALTORS has mandated that sellers, buyers, inspectors, appraisers or other third parties sign a disclosure that states the following: “by agreeing to permit such parties to enter the Property or by agreeing to enter the property, all parties acknowledge there is an assumption of exposure to COVID-19 and any and all consequences and/or injury which may result from such exposure, including but not limited to, physical and/or psychological injury, pain, suffering, illness, temporary or permanent disability, death or economic loss.”

Thankfully, the coronavirus has been subsiding, since the March 7^th   state disaster emergency, and the Governor has announced gradual loosing of restrictions in Phases.  Phase 1 is underway for Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Retail - (limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off), Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade.  Real Estate is part of Phase 2.

So, until we reach Phase 2, we must continue to conduct business as follows:

1.      Realtors can continue to list properties remotely and work with buyers remotely.

2.      No open houses.

3.      Realtors can take photographs, videos of properties for clients. Seller should leave the property to avoid person-to-person contact.

4.      Appraisals and home inspections are allowed but with minimal person-to-person contact – purchaser cannot be present.

5.      No in-person final walkthrough. Realtor can video for buyer or buyer can do final walkthrough without the Realtor.

6.      No unsolicited telemarketing for listings/sales to the public.

7.      Sellers and buyers can agree to showings after signing the COVID-19 DISCLOSURE noted above, acknowledging assumption of risk to exposure of COVID-19 and the consequences from such exposure.

Bottom line, we are doing business but with limitations and in a different way.  We wish to thank our clients- sellers and buyers and prospective buyers for their cooperation and understanding. It’s only by working together with patience and respect for the health guidelines, that we will stem the tide of this virus so we can move forward to our “new normal”. 

We have several wonderful properties listed. We’d love to chat with you about selling or buying here on the North Fork. The demand is high, don’t lose out!  Please give us a call at 631 765 5333 or email me -  marie@beninatiassociates.com 

A million thanks to our heroic Healthcare, Emergency Care, Fire Department, Police, Food & Beverage Services, Post Office and Town personnel who are on the front lines…God Bless you all!

* ESD Guidance on Executive Order 2026, Section 14, as Amended April 9, 2020

Memorial Day 2020…A Time to Remember Our Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day is a time to remember all the men and women who lost their lives serving our country.  This year, we have a special group of heroes to add to our Day of Remembrance – those brave, dedicated doctors, nurses, EMT’s, firefighters, policemen and women, hospital workers…all the people who have lost their lives to save others during the Coronavirus Pandemic, fighting a war against an unseen and more deadly enemy.

This May 25, 2020, let’s honor our country’s war dead and these COVID-19 heroes by the symbolic wearing of poppies. This tradition goes back to one of nature’s phenomena that occurred in war-torn battlefields during World War I, where the red field poppy (papaver rhoeas) was one of the first plants to grow. Its seeds scattered in the wind and sat dormant in the ground, only germinating when the ground was disturbed—as it was by the brutal fighting.

The practice of wearing poppies was further inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by Canadian soldier John McCrae when he saw the poppies in burials around his artillery position in Belgium.

Here is an excerpt from “In Flanders Fields,” by John McCrae, May 1915:

 In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields...

The torch; be yours to hold it high...

Today, poppies are both a symbol of loss of life and a symbol of recovery and new life, as we care for our servicemen damaged physically or emotionally and those who have been stricken by the coronavirus.

Please join us in honoring them all.  

_____________________________________________________________

Happy Birthday, Chris. You are our hero! Miss you ever so much, every day!

A MESSAGE TO OUR 2020 GRADUATES

The whole world is on pause right now, a truly an unprecedented time in all of our lives.

You have been asked to forgo the formal celebration of your graduation.  It’s a big disappointment for sure.

But when life serves you setbacks, the important thing to focus on is that you may not be able to control what happens, but you can control your reaction. You can choose how you will respond. Here are a few other things you can choose:

Choose to be JOYFUL - even in the midst of setbacks. Don’t let anyone steal your joy.

Choose to be GRATEFUL- greet every day with a ritual of gratitude for all your blessings.

Choose to be ETHICAL - even when you’re surrounded by others who are not.

Choose to be OPTIMISTIC  -  always look for the silver lining…

“Look for the silver lining,

Whenever a cloud appears in the blue.

Remember somewhere the sun is shining

 And so, the right thing to do is make it shine for you!

A heart full of joy and gladness,

Will always banish sadness and strife.

So always look for the silver lining,

And find the sunny side of life!” *

*This song was written during the Influenza Pandemic, 1918-1919 , by Jerome Kern and BG Sylva.

A PRAYER FOR THIS MOTHER'S DAY

We thank You God, for our mothers: the ones who gave us life, the ones who chose us through adoption and foster care, and all the unofficial mothers in our lives, who are a strong and compassionate presence and source of support and wisdom.

We remember the love with which they cared for us when we were most vulnerable; the tears they dried and fears they soothed when we were troubled; the encouragement they offered when we had little faith in ourselves; the guidance they provided when we felt lost; the worries they endured when we were growing up; the strength it took to hold us close, yet let us fly.

We pray that our mothers who are no longer with us are embraced by Your love; that future mothers, expectant mothers and new mothers experience the joys that come from caring for a child and putting his or her needs ahead of their own, even when the sacrifices seem challenging; that our mothers who are still living experience Your enduring and ever present love through the appreciation and gratitude that we, their children, show them not just on this day, but honor them throughout the years.

We ask You during this global pandemic, to keep our mothers and all our family members safe and sound.  We pray not to be consumed by fear, but act with prudence in all we do and be aware that everything we do also affects others.  Help us to do what is right for the greater good - to keep everyone safe, stop the spread of this coronavirus and bring us all together soon.  AMEN 

Source: Three Minutes a Day, The Christophers, Volume 48.

Wishing every mom out there a very Happy Mother's Day!