Donna Hansen Scymanski

We support the Spring Glen School Playground Fundraiser!

Spring Glen School, located in Hamden CT http://www.hamden.org/page.cfm?p=209

Just login/register at www.springglenneighbors.com

We will donate a dollar toward the playground for every new member (up to 200).

Upcoming Event ! 'Rock Your Baby'

The Diaper Bank - Join us for a celebration!

Celebrate this important and much needed organization.

Thursday, October 22nd 6-9pm - Save the date

Click on the link for details: http://thediaperbank.org/index.php/site/events

Join us for an evening of fun to celebrate the record accomplishments of The Diaper Bank and to honor those who helped lay the foundation for our success. Tickets are $30 each or 2/$50 and includes cocktails, hors d' oeuvres, dancing and silent auction. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for The Diaper Bank STROLL-A-THON!

The Diaper Bank Stroll-a-Thon is set for May 10, 2009 and we hope you will join the individuals and teams that will come out on Mother's Day to support our work with mothers and children. The event will start at East Rock Park in New Haven at noon...its going to be a really fun day!! News Channel 8 is our media sponsor and Chris Velardi will lead off the 3 mile walk!!

The Diaper Bank is a wonderful organization founded only a few years ago and has already made a huge impact in the lives of babies and their families. Take a look at this link for information on The Diaper Bank history and current events. http://www.thediaperbank.org/

The Facts:

Safety-net programs such as the Food Stamp Program and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) do not cover the cost of diapers.

The vast majority of licensed day care centers do not accept cloth diapers, and require parents and caregivers to provide a steady supply of disposable diapers.

Most people living in poverty do not have affordable access to washing facilities. Furthermore, most coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers for health and sanitary reasons.

An adequate supply of diapers can cost over $100 per month.

The Impacts:

In poor and low-income families, a baby can spend a day or longer in one diaper, leading to potential health and abuse risks.

Low-income parents cannot take advantage of free or subsidized childcare if they cannot afford to leave disposable diapers at childcare centers. If parents cannot access daycare, then they are less able to attend work or school on a consistent basis. This in turn leads to increased economic instability and a continuation of the cycle of poverty.

Without transportation, buying diapers at an inner city convenience store rather than a large retailer can double or triple the monthly cost for diapers. Many parents are already struggling to pay for rent and food and simply cannot afford the high cost of an adequate supply of diapers for their children.

-Sourced from The Diaper Bank website

Hope to see you at the Stroll-a-thon / Join me as a sponsor!

Thank you, Donna Hansen Scymanski

EARTH DAY is just around the corner - April 22, 2009!

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO EARTH DAY HISTORY/CELEBRATIONS/EVENTS.

Earth Day History http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html

Earth Day TV Videos http://www.earthdaytv.net/

The Green Generation http://www.earthday.net/earthday2009

CT DEP 'Celebrate Earth Day' Events http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2688&q=322374&depNav_GID=1511

National Earth Day Events http://earthday.envirolink.org/calendar.html?special=yes&city=blank&state=blank&country=USA

How do you celebrate? Large or small, share your ideas for what we can do as individuals or as a community to make your neighborhood a greener place. Let us know any Earth Day events/activities in our area which we can post on our website.

And beyond Earth Day, what can we do every day in our home, neighborhood, town, state, nation, world?

Prior to legislation creating Buyer Representation, the adage 'Buyer Beware' was in full force. When a Buyer was shown a property by a real estate Agent, the Buyer may have assumed that the Agent was working for him or her; in fact, the Agent was looking out for the Seller's interest.

On June 1, 1997 Connecticut Real Estate Agency law changed to address this fundamental inadequacy of the existing law.

In order to protect Buyers, the law allows the Buyer to be represented by an Agent. The Agent's responsibility to the Buyer is based on state law and the REALTOR Code of Ethics. The relationship between the Agent and Buyer is a fiduciary relationship - the Agent owes the Buyer confidentiality, loyalty, disclosure, diligence, obedience, accounting, and reasonable care.

The Agent can show a represented Buyer any Connecticut property, point out material problems, research recent comparable home sales, give advice on offers, and negotiate terms and conditions on the Buyer's behalf.

While the advantages of being represented are significant, some Buyers just want to see a property without obligation to work with a single Agent. In that case, the Buyer may sign a one day/one property agreement limiting their obligation while being represented for that showing.

In the event that a Buyer opts to be unrepresented, they may sign an Unrepresented Person form with the Agent. That Agent may show the Buyer homes listed by that Agent's Broker, however, the Agent will be representing the Seller.

Buyer Representation gives the Buyer the benefit of working with an Agent who will represent the Buyer's interest.