Maggie Flartry-Kaminski

Broker, CEO - Century 21 Select Group

The month of May is not normally considered a peak time to visit the Poconos.  All the better to take advantage of the wildflowers, hiking trails and panoramic views with out the crowds.   Mountain biking at Brady’s State Game Lands – 25,000 acres or down the Lehigh Gorge trail,  can expose you to River vistas and wildlife.  Reminds me of the time my husband John and I were back in Bradys.  Bikes are quiet,  so it was no surprise when we stopped just short of two young bucks frolicking in the meadow.   We watched them for 10 minutes without being spotted.   Or the time John kicked up a flock of turkeys and managed to cycle down the road in the midst of them – it was awesome. 

 For the sportsman, Spring Gobler is in full swing and ends on May 31^st.  May 7 is opening day for walleye and saugeye.   Trout season kicked off on April 16^th.   Get loads of info and places to fish at http://www.fish.state.pa.us/  

 May 7^th – Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes  8:00pm at the Sherman Theater on Main Street in Stroudsburg. Southside and his band, the Asbury Jukes, worked on growing their reputation as a dynamic live blues band through the late 60′s and early 70′s.   www.ShermanTheater.com

If you are into hiking, check out the PoconoOutdoorClub.org.  May 7 they will be hiking Devil’s Hole.  I was lucky enough to know the people that owned the acreage adjoining the State Game Lands and spent much of the Summer I turned 19 and 20  camping along this pristine Mountain Stream with native brook trout.   Nothing like a group of good friends, acoustic guitars and a crackling fire, not to mention the tale of Devil’s Hole best enjoyed at midnight around a campfire!   What I found most interesting in hiking the stream was following it to its source at the top of a mountain. 

If you are into nature and hiking, check out Monroe County Environmental Education Center’s Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary near Bartonsville.  www.mcconservation.org

May 18 – A Spring Bog Walk through the blooming Tannersville Cranberry Bog will be led by a naturalist from the Monroe County Environmental Education Center from 1:00 to 3:30pm. The bog is special as it is a northern boreal bog, which is very unique for this part of the country. Protected by The Nature Conservancy, the Tannersville bog is a National Natural Landmark.

Ok – I know, this is a real estate blog!   I suppose I should speak to real estate in the Poconos.  Another reason to enjoy nature;  the real estate market has not bounded back yet – so take the time to enjoy your natural playground until sales pickup.    The winter was tough with all the snow and the cold temperatures.  Our Ski Rentals did well and the season went well into March.  But the resale market is struggling.  Thankfully our agents’ “per person production” is double our competitors.    And our core of Full Time, Professional Agents are loyal and hard working.  There is something to be said for a company where each office has a strong Team Spirit.

Two things that I attribute to our great company team spirit:

1.      A strong presence in 10 different markets of the Poconos.  When our sellers need to see their agent, they don’t have to travel 45 minutes – their agent is only 10 minutes away.  What makes a real estate office think they can have one centralized location to handle a geographic area as large as the Poconos?  What if my seller needs a notary, needs to meet with me to revise paperwork, wants to chat and get some advice or just needs to fax something or make a copy?   If the seller is in Blakeslee, do you think he wants to travel to Stroudsburg for this complimentary service, I don’t.   That’s not service – that’s disservice. 

2.  Seeing each other face-to-face.  I know some companies tout that you don’t ever have to come in the office.  That can work OK for the top agents that really roll at their own pace and don’t need a lot of interaction, support and learning.   But let’s face it, each office’s top agents are a select few.  What about the rest of the agent population, sharing and learning from each other.  The middle producers are the back-bone of any real estate company.  And the team grows stronger as they work together. Don’t get me wrong – we are a very progressive and technology oriented group and we supply all the tools to work from home – Forms online, Transaction Management with secured document storage allowing agents to access files from home,   free online training and webnars, fantastic 21online, web based resource center.   Combine that with the face-to-face interactions and you have a dynamic – unparalleled by any of our competitors.  It’s what we all need in a slow market.  I hear that some offices’ morale is really low.  The slow market can do that – but come into our office and find energy and enthusiasm with agents always looking to grow and find new ways to capture the business.

Terri Ditty
CENTURY 21 Select Group
570-689-2111
www.c21selectgroup.net

2011 Trout Season Opener

Saturday, April 16th, 8 AM…..Our Dyberry Creek in Honesdale, PA was featured with Don Jacobs on Pennsylvania Outdoor LIfe, WNEP TV, Channel 16.   My brother called to let me know to watch, I should be able to pick him out of the line of anglers….look for his orange hat.    And, there he was, all 6’6″ of him on the TV screen , in waders and up to his ……in moving water.

It certainly looked everyone was having a ball despite the cooler temperatures and the slight drizzle.  Note to self…..get a fishing license next year and join in the fun!

According to flyfishingconnection.com, the Dyberry Creek offers quality early-season trout fishing and is suggested as a good choice for an enjoyable day of fishing. The creek is a beautiful piece of water beginning with the East and West Branches, eventually joining and flowing into the Lackawaxen River.  Tree-lined banks help provide shade for the trout that are stocked heavily early in the year. 

I have many memories, as a child,   playing in the creeks in our area  with my siblings for hours on end.  My sister built a pond on her property next to the Five Mile Creek where we spent our childhood and hosts an annual fishing derby for all the children for their family and friends.  It is a great day for everyone and especially for me,  a time to relax and enjoy my grandchidren.   

Get out there and enjoy everything our beautiful area has to offer!

The joy of the Outdoors is a Family Tradition

TIRED OF SHOVELING SNOW? MAKE SURE YOU DO IT RIGHT

DO SOME LIGHT EXERCISE TO LIMBER UP.

DRESS PROPERLY-LAYERS ARE BEST. DON’T FORGET HAT, GLOVES AND WARM BOOTS.

USE A GOOD SHOVEL THAT IS COMFORTABLE TO USE.

PUSH SNOW INSTEAD OF LIFTING. WAITING TOO LONG AFTER THE SNOW FALLS WILL HINDER YOUR PROGRESS. NEVER THROW THE SNOW OVER YOUR BACK AS THIS WILL CAUSE UNDO STRAIN. IF YOU CAN’T PUSH THE SNOW AND MUST LIFT USE YOUR LEGS TO ABSORB THE STRESS.

TAKE A BREAK AND DRINK SOME FLUIDS. IF YOU ARE SHORT OF BREATH, HAVE CHEST PAIN STOP IMMEDIATELY.

 MOST IMPORTANT-THINK OF HOW BEAUTIFULLY GREEN THE GRASS WILL BE WHEN SPRING ARRIVES-AND IT WILL!

A friend, moving into an assisted living arrangement and clearing out his home of all kinds of stuff, gave me an old book, copyright in 1978 –The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette.  It covers everything from home, weddings, funerals and business.  Some of the business rules seem to apply to an office that runs like “Mad Men” and I doubt that many operate that way in the modern world.  Things like “Be a Neat Smoker.”

But under the heading “some Office Do’s and Don’ts”  I found some common sense items:

DO:

• Offer to do errands for others if you are going out
• Be creative in helping others in the office
• Send a handwritten note to the home of an associate who has received either good news or bad news.
• Do think of the night cleaners
• Keep the rest rooms neat and tidy

DON’T

• While on a business appointment, don’t stay too long. One should arrive on time
  state one’s case and be gone.
• No one should chew gum in the office
• The constant muncher looks very jarring
• Don’t borrow colleagues things from their desk
• Don’t drop by another person’s desk to chat just because you are not busy at the moment. That person may be too polite to tell you he is meeting a deadline and must be left alone.
• Don’t read magazines at your desk if you are not busy.  One can always pass free time learning more about company operations instead of finding out about the latest fashions.

A statement on letter writing was very poignant (remember this is 1978!):  “We are not living in a world of letter writers, but rather of fast communicators, with no motivation to pursue the beauty of expression.”  “There is nothing more pleasant than receiving a beautiful letter.” 

And these comments on Christmas cards seems very meaningful to me:

  “The only real card in the spirit of Christmas is one signed by hand or one with an engraved or printed name combined with a brief message.”  And “When the sending of Christmas cards begins to take on gargantuan and impersonal proportions, the time has come to reconsider the entire project.  If others notice you have stopped sending cards, they will probably cross you off their over-swollen lists with relief.”

Maggie Flartey Kaminski, CEO, CRB

Toll Free 877-646-7584 ext 31
CENTURY 21 Select Group
Blakeslee, PA; RM -419176
www.century21selectgroup.com

Submitted By: Lucille M. Richmond
Associate Broker/Managing Partner
Luxury Home Specialist
CENTURY 21 Select Group – Lake Harmony

By Roxanne Kiely

Thanks for visiting my Avon Walk page. I’ve committed to participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It’s a big commitment, one that will require me to spend the next several months training and fundraising. But breast cancer is a big disease, one that still affects far too many people, and I’m determined to do everything I can to help put an end to it. The money I raise will be managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade to help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures. I’ll be just one of thousands of people that will walk up to a marathon and a half over a weekend, raising awareness of the cause and educating even more people.

As I prepare for this exciting event, I plan to update this page frequently so that all my supporters can follow my progress, so please visit often. While you’re here, you might want to spend some time on the site to find out more information on why this event is so important, and the organizations and people that will be helped by the money we all raise.

Over two days Roxanne will journey 39 miles helping to forever alter the lives of thousands affected by breast cancer worldwide. Together, we will unite with one purpose and one goal – to end this deadly disease.
The money we raise will provide women and men the breast cancer screening, support and treatment they need regardless of their ability to pay, and so that leading-edge research teams across the country can be powered by the funds they need to fuel their quest for a cure – all because of you!

Are you In It To End It?

Take the first step today

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/Chicago?px=4646049&pg=personal&fr_id=1930&et=Xx_zGmdVimzJ6BHRbEdPxQ..&s_tafId=514866

 We finally got a decent amount of snow in the Pocono’s it brought back memories of growing up in the Pocono’s. However the snow that we got in my past was much more then we have seen in the last few years. I remember walking through snow that was up to my waste sometimes up to my neck it was awesome. We built many snow men some were extremely large. We didn’t have a day off from school because of the snow we sometimes had a week off from school. Roads would be closed. This was snow in the Pocono’s.

The last Pocono snow fall, I got together with my friend and the Broker of Century 21 Select Group in the Pocono’s Maggie and our three grandchildren and Dog Bear we played in the snow all day. We all had a great day sledding, building snowmen and just playing in the snow.

I enjoy the snow “but” I am now ready for the change of season it will be great to see the first sign of spring in the Pocono’s.

CENTURY 21 Select Group hosted their Annual Awards Luncheon at the Lake Naomi Clubhouse Restaurant to celebrate the achievements of their agents in 2009.  It was a tough year in the real estate market and Maggie Flartey-Kaminski spoke of the resilience and strength of their agents who weathered the storm.  More than 25 agents were recognized for increases in production from 2008, an outstanding fete considering the down market.  In addition to the individuals who exceeded their prior production of 2008, the Hazleton Branch and the Brodheadsville Branch were recognized for increased production in 2009 over  2008. 

The individual award winners included Dot Gallagher, Pocono Lake – Top Listing Units Agent, Daniel Seip, Blakeslee – Top Closed Units Agent and Buddy Vail, Hawley, Top Closed Volume.  Janet Pottieger, Blakeslee – Top Referral Agent.  Team Van Hine was recognized as the top Listing Units Team.   Rose Sawyer was recognized for earning her Associate Broker license.  Hope Fogarty and Neal Van Hine were recognized for earning their Accredited Buyer Representation Designation. 

Maggie Flartey-Kaminski added, “The strength of our company is reflected in the achievements of our members.  All of the owners of Select Group are so proud of their associates whose sincerity, hard work and integrity allow the company to remain a leader in the Pocono Real Estate market and the real estate industry. ”

Vince Caputo of Century21 Select Group of Broadheadsville is embarking on a state of the art way to reach out to new clients and the community at large beginning February 11^th and every Thursday night there after with the airing of ?Pocono Homes Live? via the internet. Vince will host the LIVE call in show which begins at 7:00 PM. The hour and one half hour weekly presentation will combine live call in customers and online text chat panels giving all participants the opportunity to ask questions about area real estate issues or possibly building on a new buyer/seller/realtor relationship.

The communication between Vince and all new clients will be predicated on abiding with all Real Estate laws and required Consumer Notices and also be restricted to those who are not already working with a realtor. With that said, even those customers of other realtors can call in to obtain very general and non-specific answers to questions.

Vince will also have a guest speaker each week from area businesses who?s services closely relate to home ownership and maintenance. The guests will cover various topics including security, home renovation tips, energy conservation and mortgage and financing questions. The website can be accessed at 6:55 PM on Thursday evenings at

http://www.stickam.com/poconohomeslive 

 The live broadcast will begin promptly at 7PM. Feel free to log in at 

http://www.Stickam.com

 Anytime prior to the broadcast to obtain a FREE user screen name should you wish to use the online chat panels.  

( PA Lic# RS311561)

 BLAKESLEE, PA : Sharon Ruggiero celebrated 25 years
with CENTURY 21. She was honored with a surprise party at the Blakeslee
office. Sharon started out as “OUR GAL FRIDAY” and did it all from front
desk, assigning leads, typing (ha ha) contracts and leases, bookkeeping and
receptionist. She recalls lugging in firewood to keep our woodstove going.
And she laughed about the “typing test” she had to take to get the job.
Sharon has been a loyal and hardworking employee over the years and there is
no way to truly thank her for all she does. Now she manages the accounting
for Blakeslee, Lake Harmony, Hazleton and Brodheadsville. Plus she is a
Super Relocation Director for our Relo Department for Select Group.

Sharon came on board when she was 18. We shared in celebrating her marriage
and birth of her two children Dylan and Cheyanne who are now 16 and 11. Boy
does time fly.

Congratulations to a great woman and a wonderful employee.

Brian McCardle, manager of the Hazleton branch stopped in to celebrate with
Sharon as they both started with the company around the same time. So we
gave him a little celebration too and crowned him.

 Maggie Flartey Kaminski, Broker Owner of Century 21 select group is proud to announce Hope Fogarty has earned the Accredited Buyer Representation designation from the National Association of Realtors.   The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, to real estate practitioners who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria. 

 There are four steps to achieving this designation. 

1.        Successful completion of the two-day Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Designation Course, including an 80 percent passing grade on the exam. 

2.        Successful completion of one of the ABR® elective courses, including an 80 percent passing grade on the exam.

3.        Documentation verifying five (5) completed transactions in which the ABR® candidate acted as a buyer’s representative. 

4.        Membership in good standing in the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) and the National Association of REALTORS®.

Hope has been affiliated with the Blakeslee office  since May of 2008 after a brief affiliation with a local independent. 

 ”I am truly proud of Hope’s accomplishments with our company. Her honesty, integrity and hard work are evident in her level of success with our company. Gaining her ABR is another step in building a highly successful career with us.” said Maggie Flartey-Kaminski, Broker Owner

~ Ivette Pigatt Joins the Century 21 Select Group Team ~

Moscow, Pennsylvania, November 2009 – CENTURY 21 Select Group is pleased to announce that Ivette Pigatt has joined the CENTURY 21® team working in the Moscow Office at 133 N. Main Street, Moscow. 

“We are thrilled that Ivette has become an integral member of the Moscow team.  Her professionalism and knowledge will definitely be an asset.” said Terri Ditty, Broker/Owner.  “It’s an exciting time to be with the CENTURY 21^® System as we continue to increase our presence in North Pocono.”

Ivette is a licensed agent in the State of Pennsylvania and has eight years of real estate experience.  She began her real estate career in Monroe County after spending 15 years as a Financial Specialist in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania financial markets. 

Ivette Pigatt

The Pigatt family relocated to Mt. Pocono in 1996 from New York.  They have resided in Clifton Township for the past four years.  

 Her transition from financial specialist to Realtor has been very rewarding.  She excels in working with clients and assisting them in buying and selling their homes and meeting goals for their future.  Client satisfaction is her main priority. 

 Buyers and sellers alike can trust Ivette to provide the insight, service, and support they need to make informed real estate decisions.  She has the expertise to make your real estate experience comfortable and pleasurable.  Give Ivette Pigatt a call at toll free 866-917-1818 or on her cell phone 570-801-8059 today.  She can also be reached at ivette.pigatt@century21.com.  You Will Be SOLD!

Hello everyone,

 I am involved in three businesses all of which I enjoy and look forward to on any given day. This fact is a true blessing especially since most people don’t even have one job that they enjoy.

 Whether I am at the office at Century 21—Select Group in Tyler Hill, singing at one of my gigs in the area or selling furniture at Rasmussen’s, I find that one thing is almost always true. It is the people around you that matter and contribute to making you successful and happy in your work.

 Networking is not new to anyone. Every person we interact with is a potential client or could connect us to a client. I believe that in order to gain loyal customers we must concentrate on the person before the sale. By that I mean listening to what they have to say, really hearing their needs and concerns and showing respect. If we take a genuine interest in someone and actually have something of value to offer them, then the rest will come naturally.

 On that same note, keep in mind that you also matter as a person in your business dealings. We all have a choice in how we act towards others. If someone treats you in a negative manner you might respectfully decide not to work with them. Sometimes the potential dollar amount to be made is not worth the personal expense.

 Make it a great day!

Albert Monaco’s “Hen of the Woods” wild mushroom

Al spotted the mushroom on September 30 while driving down a road in our area. Al will not disclose the location of this amazing find as this type of mushroom is known to reproduce annually in the same location for years.

Now, this particular type of mushroom is one of the best known of all edible mushrooms and it’s probably the one that offers the biggest harvest in many areas, for a single specimen of the “Hen of the Woods” can weigh 10 pounds or more. “Hen of the Woods” is most abundant in parts of the Northeast where there are many large oak trees, a single oak tree can yield as much as 100 pounds of this mushroom in one season.

Al cut the mushroom off of an Oak tree. He had to remove it in 5 parts. It is estimated to have weighed 65 pounds and was 3 feet in diameter. Approximately 30 pounds was root material and was discarded. Al soaked the mushrooms then par-boiled and canned it, reserving it for future consumption. This type of mushroom can also be easily frozen. ”Hen of the Woods” is considered a delicacy and the quality of the one Al found is remarkably close to fresh.

The name “Hen of the Woods” refers to it’ appearance, which resembles a hen with ruffled feathers. In Appalachian region it is called “Sheepshead” or “Ramshead” by many, these are similar visual metaphors. The Japanese name, Maitake, means ’ dancing mushroom’ - meaning a mushroom hunter lucky enough to find one is often inspired to dance gratefully at the discovery.

The Hen of the Woods is mostly a fall mushroom, but summer and even rarer, spring fruiting have been reported.

This species is typically associated with Oak trees so the best way to find it is to seek it during autumn around the base of large Oak trees, living or dead, and stumps. Other know hosts include Elm, Maple, Beech, Chestnut and Sycamore; lt has also been reported with larch , pines and other conifers. Especially under big Oak trees.

It is a very distinctive species with no dangerous “look-alikes” making it a very good choice for a novice mushroomer.

With a last name like mine, STRZELEC, it is a shock to see it any where in print or advertising. Most of the time I only see it on monthly bills or at the “Bottom of the Eye Chart” in the Doctors office, and then it is not always spelled right.

 You can imagine how shocked I was to learn that I am actually quite famous…in Poland!!!

Several years ago my kids started researching our family tree and one thing lead to another and we were all shocked to learn our roots can be traced back to a “Beer Brewery” that is still brewing Beer to this day.

 Well no more “Miller Lite” for me, I had to have a STRZELEC BEER. The search was on. My kids and I tried everything to get STRZELEC BEER with no luck. Years of writing the Brewery in Poland, contacting importers and searching collector clubs……no STRZELEC BEER.

 About a year ago I sold a home to a Polish couple who have been in America for about 15 years and asked them if they had ever heard of STRZELEC BEER. “Of Course” they said, “It was one of the biggest breweries in their country.” I told them that I had been trying to get some STRZELEC BEER for years with no luck and they just smiled and told me that they had not seen it since they left Poland.

What happened next was a shocker. I got a call from my Polish clients to come see their home and all of things that they have done to it. So I packed up the HEN…oops….Wife and off we went for a visit to their home. We walked in the front door and there on the table were 5 cans of STRZELEC BEER. We were floored. It seems that their sister was visiting from Poland and they thought enough of me to ask her to bring some STRZELEC BEER with her for their favorite Realtor.

 Some things you just can not put a price on. My clients thoughtfulness was hard to match with the STRZELEC BEER, my kids are already making plans for their STRZELEC BEER and everyone in our family is excited. Only got 5 cans that is all their sister was allowed to bring through customs. My kids will have to fend for themselves.

That's a Tall One