On Saturday December 4th I took my daughter to see Santa at The Southington Elks Lodge. The cost of admission? A non-perishable food item or monetary donation for Southington's Bread for Life.  At this wonderful event we got a FREE picture with Santa, enjoyed many fun arts and crafts and listened to a great performance by the Southington High School Band!  And I almost forgot the goodies at the bake sale - they were yummy!  We are grateful to the sponsors of this event: The Southington High School Band Backers and The Southington Elks Club.  All this to support a great cause - the Southington Bread for Life... Feeding the hungry has been Bread for Life’s number one priority for over 25 years.  Their mission, of course, is made possible because of the generous support received from the S... 12/07/2010

The Haunting on Connecticut. The Season of Spirits.     You'll find it all here in Southington Connecticut!  There is a home right here in Southington that was the inspiration for the movie, The Haunting of Connecticut.  The presence of demons in a house that was a mortuary years ago, has been the subject of books, documentaries and movies.  (Go here to learn more about the history of this house.)  There has been much debate over whether the events of this "true" story actually took place.  While no one really knows for sure - it's sure fun to talk about ESPECIALLY this time of year!   I'm sure it will be discussed on Thursday night at another great program that is being offered at the Southington Public Library .... The “Season of Spirits” program will be presented by The Connecticut P... 10/26/2010

There's still time to pick your own apples at Karabin Farms.  It's one of the many great things to do in Southington Connecticut!   It's our family's tradition to go to Karabin Farms in Southington Connecticut every Columbus Day. I can tell by the crowds that this is a tradition for MANY Southington families - we ALWAYS see lots of people we know when we're here! We started with a wagon ride to the apple orchard.   Wagon rides to Pick-Your-Own apples, peaches, and pumpkins begin Labor Day thru late October on Saturday, Sunday (and Columbus Day) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  We picked lots of fresh delicious apples. They have many varieties to choose from like Empire, Cortland, Jonathan, Macoun, Gala, Red Delicious, Gala and Cameo. We couldn't wait to get home to start baking lots of apple pi... 10/26/2010

 A place you and your horse(s) would love to call home!   5 Acre Horse Property in Bristol Connecticut w/ 2-3 BR Ranch ... a rare find! 458 Allentown Road Bristol Connecticut 06010 This 2-3 bedroom ranch home boasts all new siding and windows! A sprawling private 5 acre parcel with barn zoned for up to 5 farm animals.  Board your horse in your own yard!  FEATURING a 60 ft. HAM RADIO TOWER that can reach over 900 miles away ... a spcious eat-in kitchen ... and hardwood flooring under carpeting! Priced to sell at $239,900 MLS# G574098 Directions:  Wolcott Street to Townline Road to 458 Allentown Road Bristol, CT Brought to you by, Karen Bernetti, 860-302-0333 Realtor & Stager on behalf of North Star Real Estate in Southington, Connecticut North Star Real Estate, LLC Linda Tosta, Broker/Ow... 10/20/2010

Here's my shot at the "Proof that I can blog about anything!"  contest created by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector.  We've been instructed to look under our kitchen or bathroom sink and pick an item to blog about while finding a way to relate it to whatever our profession is.  I have to say that given MY profession, this challenge was just a little too easy!  (BTW I did not read the contest entries, so this may have already been done).  As a Professional Home Stager I am always telling my clients .... CLEAN SELLS!  Nothing turns off buyers faster than a dirty and/or smelly house.  So when I'm asked, how clean a house that's for sale REALLY needs to be, my answer is always the same .... strive for cleaner than its EVER BEEN.  Seems like a lot to ask, doesn't it?  That's because... 10/18/2010

Fun Things to do in Southington Connecticut! Today we picked out pumpkins at St Pauls Pumpkin Patch on Main Street in Southington. They had a wonderful selection of pumpkins at great prices too!           When you get your pumpkins at St. Paul's Pumpkin Patch, you are helping to support not only the Southington Social Services but also Navajo Nation in New Mexico ... ...               You'll find the St Pauls Pumpkin Patch located at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 145 Main Street in Southington Connecticut       Be sure to check out the Family Fun Day at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Saturday Oct 16, 9:00 am-3:00 pm.    During Family Fun Day the following items will be for sale:  Used Books for children and adults, toys, games, DVD's(music and movies), and Baked Goods (cookies, sweet brea... 10/11/2010

Southington Apple Harvest Festival 2010 ... It's all about those apple fritters!  The first weekend of the Southington Apple Harvest Festival went off without a hitch.  Some rain on Friday night's kick off celebration gave way to chilly but beautiful fall days on both Saturday and Sunday.   If you missed your chance to get your APPLE FRITTERS (or if you just didn't want to wait in those crazy long lines over the weekend) - don't worry, there's still time!  Here's the Zion Lutheran Church Apple Fritter Booth on a COLD AND RAINY Monday (October 4th 2010 at 2:00pm) LOOK AT THAT LINE! It was like this all day - I drove by here several times and the line for those fritters never ended ...  they REALLY ARE that good!!  The Zion Lutheran Church APPLE FRITTER BOOTH (the only booth that stays op... 10/04/2010

"Lights .... Camera .... APPLES" is the theme of this years Southington Apple Harvest Festival. It starts this weekend on Friday October 1st, 2010 at 5pm!   We LOVE the Southington Apple Harvest Festival.  This annual family friendly eventspans the first 2 weekends in October.  It's time to get ready for 6 days of fun, food, live entertainment, crafts and so much more!  This very special community event couldn't take place without the generous support of local organizations, businesses and volunteers - which makes Southington a wonderful community to visit and even better place to live. Admission is FREE!    Live Entertainment is FREE!    Fireworks display is FREE!     There will be FREE parking at Southington High School on Saturdays and Sundays and FREE Shuttle Service to the festival... 09/29/2010

CHFA Mortgage Rates are still at record low! Now is a great time to buy! Check Out NORTH STAR REAL ESTATE, in Southington Connecticut BEST BUYS Condos, Condos and more Condos!  $146,900 Desirable Location!  161 Cynthia Lane Middletown, CT 06457 MLS #: G571060 $209,900 Price Reduced! 697 South End Road Southington, CT 06489 MLS #: G224900   $109,900 Cheaper Than Renting!  560 King Street Bristol, CT  06010 MLS #: G572866     Call Karen Bernetti at North Star Real Estate, in Southington Connecticut 860-302-0333 to arrange a private showing. The following CHFA Mortgage Program 30 year fixed interest rates are in effect until Thursday, September 30, 2010:  Homebuyer Mortgage Program:  3.875 % (APR range 3.975 - 4.375 %); Up to One Point (1%) Origination Fee* Urban Rehabilitation Homeownersh... 09/23/2010

Don't forget that this Saturday from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. is the Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Highway Garage on Mulberry Street  -- If you don't know the way, Click here for area map ITEMS ACCEPTED      Pesticides and poisons, herbicides and weedkiller, oil-based paint, paint thinners, varnish, rechargeable batteries, automotive batteries and lubricants, antifreeze, waste oil, gasoline, hobby and photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, household cleaners and disinfectants, fertilizers and mercury. ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED Latex paint, medical waste, smoke detectors, tires, propane tanks, computers and electronic equipment, appliances, bulky waste, explosives, fire extinguishers, empty containers -- and waste from any businesses. IF YOU HAVE computers and electronic equipment or app... 09/16/2010

Fun things to do in Southington, Connecticut .... Thank you to everyone who supported the Southington Valley Midget Football League Bake Sale & Raffle sponsored by SVMFL CHEERLEADERS! The event took place on a Saturday September 18th, 2010 from 10am-4pm at the SVMFL FIELD HOUSE at  Recreation Park in Plantsville CT.  It was a gorgeous, sunny and warm day!  There was an amazing display of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, breads, cakes, & candies and MORE.  The "Megaphone Cake" was the winner of the TEAM SPIRIT Creative Cake Contest!  Over $500 was raised! WAY TO GO CHEERLEADERS!!!! Thank you to everyone who helped out that day, especially the bakers who brought all the wonderful goodies and all the helpers who sold them throughout the day.  A very special thank you goes out to the many vendo... 09/13/2010

There's a big push going on at Southington Public Schools promoting School Bus Safety.  The administrators at South End Elementary School in Plantsville, CT have sent home several notices reminding us to NEVER pass a stopped school bus.  Aparently there has been an alarming increase in the number of pedestrian child fatalities around buses nationwide making this is a growing concern. Southington Public Schools would like to remind drivers that they must stop if they encounter a bus heading in either direction - whether following it or oncoming - if the warning lights have been activiated. Never pass a stopped school bus when its warning lights are on ... this is not only a very serious traffic violation resulting in fines and/or license suspension, but it could also kill someone!   The ... 09/08/2010

ATTENTION SOUTHINGTON, CT PARENTS! The first day of school for Southington Students is August 30, 2010 and this will be a full day.  Find your schools' Start and End Times HERE.   School Bus Routes are posted HERE. Have your children finished their Summer Reading?  Go to Southington Public Schools website to get your copy of the Recommended Reading Lists for Elementary, Middle and High School students. You'll find Middle School Summer Math Packets HERE and High School Math Packets HERE. The School Lunch Menus have been posted HERE. Find Directions to all Schools HERECheck out Southington Public Schools other Resources for Parent HERE If you need to register your child contact the Board of Education for an appointment at 628-3204. The Southington Public Schools website is updated regular... 08/23/2010

Southington Community Services FOOD DRIVE   SATURDAY AUGUST 21, 2010 91 Norton Street, Southington, CT 06489 8:00 a.m. - 12 Noon Items in need: Cereal (healthy choices) Peanut Butter Jelly Pasta & Sauce Snacks (kid friendly) Juices (canned or boxed) Canned Meats (chili, tuna, chicken, Spam, Vienna Sauages)   If your family can give a helping hand to those in need right here in Southington CT, please stop by on Saturday with a food donation to show your support!   08/19/2010

Libraries will get you though times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." Powerful words! That old adage was quoted in a great e-newsletter I received from The Southington Public Library today.    If money's tight, you can always head to the library and check out a book, a movie or one of the many free programs for children AND adults! Maybe it's time to learn a new skill or perhaps a whole new language.  You'll find everything you need at the library. Search the online catalog here.   And if you can't find the book you want at the Southington Library, you can search the Statewide Online Database and they'll get it for you if you.  Learn all about the many wonderful special events going on at the library Calendar of Events page of their website.  Che... 08/17/2010

A Broker Who "Gets It" in Southington Connecticut!  Linda  Tosta, Broker/Owner of North Star Real Estate in Southington, CT is always on the cutting edge ...When I started my Home Staging business a few years ago, most Realtors in the Central Connecticut area didn't know what staging was, and those who did, think think much of it.  Today there are plenty of Realtors and Brokers today that STILL don't have much use for it.                   Serious sellers know they need to do everything they can to make their home stand out.  Home Staging [my way] is a very simple AND affordable way to do that.   That's why Linda Tosta at North Star Real Estate offers FREE Home Staging Consultations for all North Star listings.  Home Staging is MARKETING pure and simple.  It means - properly preparing a... 08/10/2010

The Mid-State Association of Realtors is conducting it's annual Back Packs for Kids school supplies drive as part of it's Wishes for Kids Community ProgramTimes are tough and a lot of families need our help!  This is a great chance to make an impact on the lives of children in need ... get them off on the right foot as they start a new school year.  We are collecting back packs and all kind of school supplies for students in all grades that will be donated to the New Britain Board of Education.  North Star Real Estate located at 722 West Street in Southington, CT is now accepting donations!  If you'd like to make a donation, please do so before August 15th.  For more information contact Linda Tosta at North Star Real Estate at 860-621-0077By the way, North Star Real Estate has moved!  W... 08/07/2010

I have a friend that operates a school here in Ct for real estate basics and for Broker and CE licensing. He occasionally calls me to take over a class for a day with my presentation being on Internet marketing. I was a guest speaker this past Wednesday for one of his Principles and Practices classes in Southington Ct. The class I had this week was only moderately attended and I thought of taking a photo of the class after half had run out. Having been in the business a few years, and more importantly having been exposed to the benefits of SEO as appreciated by the exposure here on ActiveRain, my presentation was well armed with techniques and hints on reaching out to potential clients on the Internet. The presentation covered the basics of a web site for agents, what to avoid with mark... 05/26/2010

What is the 2022 Maximum FHA Mortgage Loan in Southington, CT?The maximum FHA Mortgage Loans is different for each county and also for a 1, 2, 3 or 4 family/unit house.  So here is the maximum FHA Mortgage Loan limits for Southington, CT in 2022 is: Single Family Home $420,680Two Family Home $538,650Three Family Home $651,0504 Family Home $809,150The FHA loan limits are similar in Middlesex and Tolland County.  They are lower FHA loan limits in Litchfield, New London, New Haven and Windham Counties.  The FHA loan limits are higher in Fairfield County. What is an FHA Mortgage?An FHA Mortgage loan is a loan that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA does not actually provide the loan; it insures the mortgage for the mortgage lender. This is similar to how VA loans an... 05/19/2010

Will Home Staging REALLY Get Me More for My House? I recently met with a lovely couple in Southington Connecticut for a home staging consultation.  The skeptical husband asked me "if I do all the things you're telling me to do - remove wall paper, paint, de-clutter, etc. - will I really get MORE $$ for my house?  Well Mr Seller, you're smart to be skeptical.  You see, I cannot make your 30 year old 3 bedroom colonial on its 1/2 acre parcel sell for more than its worth.  It is still going to be a 30 year old 3 bedroom colonial on a 1/2 acre parcel when we're done staging it.  But here's what staging can do for you .... Staging WILL make your home stand out from its competition.  Cleaning, de-cluttering and inexpensive upgrades like painting, WILL make your house feel more modern and spac... 04/12/2010