Roxanne & Team

PLEASE, homeowners...when selling your home, remove your dogs from your home when you have a showing appointment scheduled. YOUR DOG IS FRIENDLY? How do you know your dog is friendly to strangers when you aren't home?

I had an appointment to show a home, which I had scheduled a day ahead of time, due to pets in the home. I arrived punctually with my buyers, a great couple, and the day was enjoyable thus far. We walked up to the home, and I rang the bell and knocked, as I always do, in case someone was still home. No answer, so I proceeded to open the lockbox. As I opened the front door, I peered inside, Iandheard a BARK, so all 3 of us peeked around the corner down the hallway to the kitchen.

There was a small baby gate about 2 feet high across the doorway, and peering over it were FIVE dogs! I know I definitely saw the heads of a Rottweiler, a Doberman and a German Shepherd, all pushing againts the gate, growling, ready to leap over! Then suddenly they all turned around and disappeared out the back!

The adrenalin rush was INTENSE, as first, I felt relief that they were retreating, but then an eerie feeling came over me when I realized it was TOO quiet, and the dogs had some INTENTION!

The husband leaned back off the tiny front porch and looked down the gangway sidewalk leading to the backyard...HERE THEY COME! he screamed!!!

Well, I can tell you that was the quickest I EVER put a lockbox back together in 18 years of real estate!!!!

We scrambled and raced to the car like we were all in a 50-yd dash (thank god for that little auto opener on my key ring!) and the last car door was closed just as the snout of the doberman was about to be inside the car, and we were shaking and sweating and swearing....and finally, when it was all over - laughing!

Needless to say, that was the last house we DIDN'T see that day. We decided to regroup the next weekend.

Sadly, this is only story ONE of about 4 dog stories I have.

Owners, please, please, please...have pity! After all, we are there to help you!

Music in the Boston Metrowest area. I love music. I think most people love music. There is so much music out there, but it isn't always easy to find a good live band to go and see, so I'm offering my humble suggestions to those who are new to the area (and those who are not!) on some places that have some pretty good music to listen to.

Music in Acton MA:
One of the better places that has good food and good live is The Acton Jazz Cafe on Rte. 2A in Acton. Nice jazz for brunch, good jazz on Friday and Saturday, and a great blues jam on Thursday, run by BJ Magoon, from BJ Magoon & Driving Sideways.

Another place in Acton is called Daniella's, which is also on 2A. Wednesday and Saturday Karaoke at 9 and live music open mic on Sunday, featuring Alan Goodrich, from Alan and the Alligators. Come show off your talent!

Right near Daniela's is Scupperjack's, a seafood/steak place with a bar in the loft-style 2nd level. Live music in the bar area every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Music in Concord MA:

Another relaxing but fun place is the Main Streets Cafe in Concord. More than average bands on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday is open-mic night, so bring it!

There are a couple places in Maynard, which I consider to be the food mecca of the area. Maynard is a great town, known for it's very diverse food choices. 2 Thai restaurants, an Indian one, Korean, of course Chinese (Go, China Ruby! Great Super Mai-Tai's), several choices for American Pub food, and the list goes on and on...

ahem! Anyway, music. We WERE talking about music, weren't we?

Music in Maynard MA:

River Rock Cafe, which is located where the Sittin Bull Pub used to be, now has live music. Check out the Thursday night blues jam hosted by none other than the River Rock Blues Band, or come listen to Irish/Folk or jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Cast Iron Kitchen in Maynard is a new venue for live music. On Sunday nights you can hear nice jazz as you feast on one of their scrumptious meals.

Morey's Tavern, right down Main street, has live music as well, but not jazz. If you want more country/rock/blues you will go down there. They have pool tables set up, and everything. A good bar-like feel.

Music in Framingham MA:

There are many places in Framingham where one can find live music. After all, Framingham is the largest "town" in the country. Yes, it's true. It is still considered a township, although it is built up like a city. Crazy! But one of my favorites is the Chicken Bone Saloon. GREAT chicken, 6 different sauces to choose from. YUM! But that's not all. They have great live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when they like to have a dance party! Once in a while I see one of my favorite local bands, Beale Street Band there. Great Blues/Classic Rock band. Stuff like Credence, Tom Petty, etc. ANYWAY, that's a fun place. Usually has a good crowd.

Music in Ashland MA:

Stone's Public House has always been a favorite of mine. Not only is the food good, the music great, but it is HAUNTED! It is an old Inn built in 1834 and there are many stories of people seeing strange things there, even the help! But for the music, Tuesday nights they have Irish music, Wednesday Swing music, Friday Rock or Blues, Saturday Rock or Blues and the ever-famous blues jam with the great Pete Henderson on Sunday nights.

more to come...

617-966-7699

To search the MLS visit: www.roxyhomes.net

New Oil Heat Law took Effect July 1st, 2010. A new law designed to address oil leaks from home heating systems is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2010. Under the new rules, property owners will be required to upgrade their home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to a furnace by installing either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices. More info is available online from Mass. DEP

I hope you found this helpful. Sellers may want to consider a pre-inspection of mechanical systems in the home before putting your home on the market.

For more information or to compare heating oil prices in Middlesex county, visit my website and click on Heating Oil Prices tab.

...or visit www.roxyhomes.net to search the MLS or call ROXY with Roxanne & Team at 617-966-7699

for a FREE home value consultation!

Acton has a reputation for having a great school system. One of the reasons is that the elementary school program is such that as the curriculum is the same across the board, the methods of teaching vary from school to school. While one uses traditional methods, another uses very progressive methods. Acton has five elementary schools, each using it's own specialized method of teaching. This strategy allows parents to choose which method may work best for their own children's needs. (note: there are no guarantees that you will actually get your first choice)

When first moving into the area, you may be coming at a time when you cannot tour the schools. Trying to figure out which school is the best for your child may be an overwhelming task during a major move.

GREAT NEWS! Here is some help. Through the Great Education Choices program, developed by an Acton resident, a unique software is now available to help make your choice much easier.

For more info, and also to search for homes in Acton, call ROXY with Roxanne & Team at 617-966-7699

...or visit www.roxyhomes.net to search the MLS

One of the beautiful things about the Boston Metrowest area is that you can get to so many place in a relatively short period of time. A half hour to the city of Cambridge or Boston, less than an hour to a number of beaches, less than an hour to New Hampshire and Maine, less than 2 hours to beautiful Vermont, the list goes on and on...

Here are some of our favorite places to go:

Beaches:

Revere Beach - The oldest beach in the nation!

Scusset Beach

Coffin's Beach

Then let's take a little longer journey to The Islands:

Plum Island

Martha's Vineyard - We go here every year just before the rush of the summer tourists, in early spring. But if you like the hustle and bustle, it is a great place to see in the summer!

Nantucket (the home of many a limerick!)

Block Island - This is also a favorite. A relatively small island, but with plenty to do!

Camping. There are so many places to camp in this region, it's hard to know them all! But a few of our favs are:

In Massachusetts a campground we like is on Cape Cod, and is called Nickerson state Park. It is a great place in that it has several lakes for swimming, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, etc, and is very close to the ocean beaches, so there is much to do while camping. Be forewarned, one must reserve their camp site at least 6 months in advance! Very popular spot.

In New Hampshire there is a beautiful drive alongside the Swift River on the Kancamagus Highway. Stop at one of the parking areas on the side of the road and go rock-hopping on the river. It's such a blast! Then you may camp at several spots, one in particular is called the Covered Bridge Campgrounds. It is named that because to get to the campgrounds one must drive across the river on a one-lane covered bridge. It is so very quaint.

In Vermont our favorite is actually an old farm called Merck forest and farmland Center. They made this farm into a place people can go and rent rustic cabins for little money. One must hike all their things in to get to the cabins. The beautiful thing is that the cabins are approximately a mile apart among dense forest, so you rarely see another soul. Whenever we go we sit for the first ten minutes in silence listening only to the sound of birds and wind. No human sound!

To see camping in Massachusetts click here:

Hiking - There are so many places to hike that it is impossible to narrow it down to favorites, so here is a great link to see what's out there...

For more info and ideas, call ROXY at 617-966-7699

...or visit www.roxyhomes.net to search for homes in this area