5 Millburn-Short Hills Area Events This Weekend!

How are you enjoying your summer so far in the Millburn-Short Hills area of New Jersey? Is it flying by for you? It is for me, your North Jersey real estate agent! To ensure that you enjoy ever free moment you have left this summer, I’ve gathered information about five upcoming events in the area.

Check out what’s happening and see what you might like to attend:

1. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket and a bottle of wine to the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit, NJ tonight at 7 p.m. for Shakespeare in the Garden! Tonight’s performance is Henry V and is the last performance this summer. A short 15-minute question and answer session takes place after the performance with cast members. 
2. If you’re looking for an outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy, gather the kids and head to Summit, NJ for Screen on the Green tonight! This is the second night of the outdoor film series. The night begins with a pre-movie Family Dance Party with Summit Soundz, and then there is a screening of Toy Story! Plan to be there by 7:30 p.m. 
3. Flamenco Nights has arrived at Galeria West, an art and music gallery in Westfield, NJ. It’s a bi-monthly concert that features music and dance artists that portray and celebrate this popular genre from Spain. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, July 26. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids. 
4. Considering adopting a pet to your New Jersey family? Jersey Animal Coalition in South Orange, NJ will host a Take Me Out of the Shelter community festival this Saturday, July 28, beginning at noon. You can “name your price” for any animal that has been at the facility for more than a year. There will also be a barbecue, ice cream, face painting and more! 
5. On Sunday, July 28, enjoy a gorgeous day outside at the historic garden of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum in Morristown, NJ. Gary Reed will be performing 21st century songs, with roots in the 60’s and 70’s, while you wander through the garden or enjoy a picnic on a blanket. Tickets cost $12 for nonmembers and can be purchased that day. 

For more events in the Millburn, Short Hills and Summit area, visit the Millburn-Short Hills Patch or Summit Patch! They’ve got daily events listed.

Enjoy this last weekend of July! When you’re ready to buy a New Jersey home or sell your New Jersey home, contact me! As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’m always here and ready to help you achieve your real estate goals.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

How to Beat the Heat in Your Millburn-Short Hills Home!

It has been an extremely hot, humid week in New Jersey, and it's not over yet! Forecasters say today and tomorrow will remain in the 90s but will feel like 105 degrees. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I can assure you, that is hot.

What can you do to make sure you’re cool and safe in this heat? For one, make sure your air conditioner is working properly! If the air begins to feel less cool, or you notice it not kicking on, call someone immediately. With units working so hard, repairers might be quite busy.

As NorthJersey.com states, this heat poses the biggest threat for the very young, very old, disabled and pets. You can do your part by checking on elderly or disabled neighbors, to make sure their air conditioning is on and they are comfortable. Also, be sure they are drinking lots of water, as are you! If you have pets, don’t leave them outside for any length of time.

You could also visit a local pool! The Millburn, NJ swimming pool is located at Gero Park and includes a main pool with a water slide, and a wading pool. The Summit, NJ community pool is located at the Summit FamilyAquatic Center, with pools, slides, interactive water toys and a diving board. Some cities, like Hoboken, have set up sprinklers in community parks.

While in your home, these are great tips from Yahoo Homes on how to cheaply keep cool:

• Window film can be stuck to windows to block infrared light while still allowing visible light into the room. It minimizes heat so it can save you 30 percent on cooling costs!
• Solar shades or special screens can also help keep heat from the sun out. Solar shades are mounted on the outside of windows.
• Exhaust fans are great for placing in windows at night when it cools off, just to filter out some of the air with fresh air. This only works when the evening air is cool, though.
• Turning on ceiling fans are a great way to keep the air circulated and to feel a cool breeze.

If you’re looking to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home soon, don’t lose curb appeal by allowing your lawn to wither and die in this heat. Plant Solutions in NJ shared these tips:

• Keep your lawn uncut a little longer than usual, to help it retain water and stand up to heat.
• Skip the lawn fertilizer. You could damage your lawn with fertilizer. Wait until the fall!
• Water it in the early morning. This way, you’ll prevent evaporation, which dries out the lawn.
• Water deeply. Longer watering two or three times a week is better than light, frequent watering, because the water is able to get down to the roots deep in the soil.

Hope these tips help you stay cool and keep your house in great shape for a home sale! When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

5 Upcoming Events In & Around Millburn, NJ!

Did you just buy a Millburn home? Have you lived in the Millburn-Short Hills area your whole life? Either way, summer is a great time to leave the comfort of your home and socialize with other local residents at local events! Warm weather brings markets, festivals and annual traditions that you won’t want to miss. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’d like to fill you in on what’s coming up!

Mark your calendars for these five upcoming events around the Millburn-Short Hills area. If you attend one, leave a comment and let me know how it was! When you’re ready to buy a Millburn home or sell a Millburn home, contact me. I’ll be ready for you!

1. The Millburn Farmer’s Market starts back up this week! The first day of the 2013 season is tomorrow, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Hall on Essex Street. It’ll run every Friday at that time until Oct. 25. Local farmers will be present with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. USDA certified organic products will also be available. Want to start eating healthier? The market makes it convenient and easy to do so! 
2. On Saturday, take a drive to Primrose Farm in Morristown for the first organized public event since the site opened! Between 10 a.m. June 8 and 10 a.m. June 9, you can capture a photo of nature that holds “The Essence of Primrose.” Professional photographers will be present between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday to offer tips. Submit your photo to see if you win the photo contest! 
3. Not sure how to keep your kids busy this summer? Visit New Horizons Day Camp’s Open House on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.! New Horizons is located in West Orange and accepts children entering kindergarten through 9th grade. While kindergarten and first graders are in a traditional camp program, kids in grades two through nine can choose their own schedule from a plethora of activities!
4. Mark your calendars for the Millburn Sidewalk Sale and Stroll on June 13, 14 and 15! Downtown Millburn will be bustling with local residents during this annual event, so it’s a great time to meet new people if you just moved to Millburn. Local business will bring bargain items and new merchandise out onto the sidewalks for a casual, festive atmosphere. 
5. Love to run? Want to shape up for summer? Start training for the 34th Annual President’s Night Race in Millburn, NJ on Monday, June 17! This 5K is open to people of all ages and usually attracts around 1,500 runners. The race begins at 8 p.m. and starts and finishes at Charlie Brown’s Restaurant parking lot. Call Sneaker Factory in Millburn at 973-376-6094 for details and to register!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

Millburn, NJ Business Feature: Paper Mill Playhouse!

Paper Mill Playhouse

Are you new to the Millburn or Short Hills area? The housing recovery is making it easier for Americans to relocate, so many new residents have made their way to this area! As a Millburn real estate agent, I want to make sure you’re enjoying your hometown as much as possible! If you are new and aren’t sure what there is to do around here, let me introduce Paper Mill Playhouse.

Paper Mill Playhouse is one of Millburn, NJ’s premier attractions. It’s a not-for-profit theater with 1,200 seats, bringing Broadway to your backyard, so to speak! The schedule is always changing, with Broadway performances and plays just for kids. Everyone will find something that sounds interesting to them.

When you get hungry, you can stop into the Carriage House Bistro & Bar at Paper Mill Playhouse. It’s open Thursday through Sunday for dinner and Sunday brunch. The bar remains open after each performance, and once in a while, they host a special dinner occasion.

Want to check out Paper Mill Playhouse? Here are upcoming events to mark in your calendar:

• Live Jazz Night takes place every Friday night at the Carriage House Bistro & Bar, from 6 to 9 p.m. This is ideal for workers who’d like to kick back, relax and begin their weekends immediately. It doesn’t cost anything to attend and drink specials are available all night!

• A Five-Course Wine & Food Tasting Adventure is scheduled for May 22 at the Carriage House Bistro & Bar. This fancy dinner experience is sure to break up your workweek nicely! It’ll include the tasting of five wines, a five-course dinner menu and live piano music. It cost $100 per person and reservations are strongly suggested.

• The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse will arrive and take place from May 29 to June 30. This ageless story is about a young mermaid who falls in love with a human and goes above and beyond to find a way to be with him, despite their circumstances. Whether you’ve seen the Disney classic or not, this Broadway rendition will touch your heart!

• Seussical is coming up June 8 at Paper Mill Playhouse. Every kid loves Dr. Seuss books, so when the storybook characters come to life, even better! This performance is geared toward children ages four and up. They’ll love the musical adventure by Broadway veterans, where they get to see Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and of course, the Cat in the Hat.

Check out Paper Mill Playhouse and get to know local business in the Millburn, NJ area. When you’re ready to buy a Millburn home or sell your Millburn home, contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

How the "Fiscal Cliff" Could Affect Home Buyers in Millburn-Short Hills

If you have plans to buy a Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home in the upcoming year, you may be a bit concerned about the "fiscal cliff" debate that has been going on in Washington D.C.  While there is still hope for a compromise between lawmakers, if there is no deal before January 1st, 2013, a ream of automatic tax increases and Federal budget cuts will occur.

These could affect home buyers in Millburn-Short Hills and  Summit, NJ in several ways. Most immediately, payroll tax withholding will go up, which will affect wage earners across the board. Next, your income tax filing in 2014, for the tax year 2013, could result in fewer deductions and a potentially higher tax bracket. These changes won't directly prevent you from buying a home, but it could mean changes to your budget.

I'm sharing this infographic from Bankrate.com, which explains the impact of the fiscal cliff to individual taxpayers.

It should also be mentioned that if you sell your Millburn-Short Hills home any changes to capital gains tax rates will not change the allowed exemptions. For example, if you have lived in the home at least 2 out of the past 5 years, the first $250,000 in profit is exempt for single filers. If you are married filling jointly, that exemption becomes $500,000. So far, nothing in the budget debate affects this.

Naturally, all this information could change if a new Federal budget deal is approved in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, this gives you a basic guideline so you can discuss any concerns you may have with your professional tax preparer.

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I can help you buy or sell a home no matter the market conditions! Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your market advantage!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

Halloween in Millburn, NJ

There are many Halloween events that Millburn, NJ home owners can enjoy. Families and children of all ages--from tiny tots to teens--will find something fun to do this Halloween in the Millburn, NJ area.

Check out 2012 Millburn, NJ area Halloween events:

Pumpkin Patch at Wyoming Presbyterian Church
Throughout the rest of the month of October, there will be at pumpkin patch at Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn, NJ. It will be open from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays, 10 am - 5:30 pm on Saturdays, and noon - 5:30 pm on Sundays. Proceeds go to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey. For more information, click here.

Newcomers and Neighbors Adult Social Halloween Party
On Friday, October 19th at 7 pm, there will be a Halloween Party for adults only in Short Hills, NJ. Tickets cost $35 and the party will keep going until 11 pm. It takes place at the Racquets Club of Short Hills. For more information, click here.

62nd Annual Millburn Halloween Parade
On Sunday, October 28th there will be a lot of fun from 11 am to 3 pm in Taylor Park, at 100 Main Street in Millburn, NJ. In addition to a parade, there will be pony rides, a petting zoo, hay rides, and pumpkins for picking. Kids under age 15 in costume may have a free hot dog; other food will be on sale for everyone else. For more information, click here.

Wyoming Club Halloween Party
There will be games and food at this Halloween Party for kids. It will take place on Sunday, October 28th, at 2 pm at the Wyoming Club. For more information, click here.


Pre-School Trick or Treat
This trick-or-treat event is specifically for the pre-schoolers and will take place in downtown Millburn, NJ on Wednesday, October 31st. For more information, click here.

Have a fantastic fall season and Halloween holiday in Millburn, NJ this year! If you have any questions about the local community or real estate opportunities, be sure to contact me.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me