Are you thinking of selling your house this spring?  I don't have to tell you how important it is to prepare your house for showings because you already know that.  To attract the attention of prospective buyers in today's market, your house must shine.

Imagine knowing who to call right now to make that happen.  Imagine having pre-screened, trustworthy professionals and experts who are dedicated to your success and available to work for you immediately.

• Pre-Listing Inspectors
• Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, Painting Contractors
• Handymen
• Landscapers and Gardeners
• Organizers and Stagers
• Movers and Storage Facilities
• Rubbish Removal
• Estate Sales

These are just a few of the people who can help you make the difference preparing your home for sale, getting you top dollar in today's market, and getting to SOLD!

Realtors build business rapports with all of these individuals daily.  As we complete sales, we grow our lists, select the best, and can recommend several for you to interview.  Loyalties are built, so when you call as our referral, these folks will answer.  Wouldn't that be great?

And so, call a Realtor long before you think you need one.  Make a plan together and take the steps necessary to prepare well now.  Let years of real estate experience guide your activities and move you forward.  It's dress-up time.  Time to get ready for the spring dance!  Call a Realtor today.

In Farmington, we've just experienced a near-miss with an ice storm while some of our friends to the Northwest are dealing with it directly.  They are experiencing inches of ice coating tree branches and causing electrical outages.  And tonight, widespread threats of black ice will make travel treacherous throughout Connecticut.

Imagine, selling your home this season, and your driveway slopes and curves.  Try to factor the loss of value that causes!  Thousands!

Enter Radiant Heated Driveways.  Cables installed in the driveway melt the snow and ice.  Some systems actually detect when the snowy, icy conditions arise.  The homeowners can activate a system manually when it starts to snow, or an automated system can switch on to respond to the undesirable conditions, and melt the troubles away.

Systems can be installed on walkways, too, protecting homeowners, their friends, family, and all visitors from potentially dangerous falls.  The stress and strain of shoveling snow is no longer a problem helping those with bad backs or bad hearts.  Even the driveway itself is spared the degradation and damage incurred by repeated snow removal.

Typically, the costs run between $12-21 per square foot plus the cost of the new driveway itself--- definitely substantial.  However, if the topography of your homesite demands it, it could be money well spent.  And  if you need to stand out from the crowd of other homes in the snowbelt, you can bet that the buyers will notice!

For more information about preparing your home for sale, call on me, and let my teams of professionals get you top dollar in today's market.

In Farmington, we've just experienced a near-miss with an ice storm while some of our friends to the Northwest are dealing with it directly.  They are experiencing inches of ice coating tree branches and causing electrical outages.  And tonight, widespread threats of black ice will make travel treacherous throughout Connecticut.

Imagine, selling your home this season, and your driveway slopes and curves.  Try to factor the loss of value that causes!  Thousands!

Enter Radiant Heated Driveways.  Cables installed in the driveway melt the snow and ice.  Some systems actually detect when the snowy, icy conditions arise.  The homeowners can activate a system manually when it starts to snow, or an automated system can switch on to respond to the undesirable conditions, and melt the troubles away.

Systems can be installed on walkways, too, protecting homeowners, their friends, family, and all visitors from potentially dangerous falls.  The stress and strain of shoveling snow is no longer a problem helping those with bad backs or bad hearts.  Even the driveway itself is spared the degradation and damage incurred by repeated snow removal.

Typically, the costs run between $12-21 per square foot plus the cost of the new driveway itself--- definitely substantial.  However, if the topography of your homesite demands it, it could be money well spent.  And  if you need to stand out from the crowd of other homes in the snowbelt, you can bet that the buyers will notice!

For more information about preparing your home for sale, call on me, and let my teams of professionals get you top dollar in today's market.

Nestled onto over 4 acres of meadows, woodland, and pristine gardens, this Georgian Colonial boasts the highest standards of craftsmanship with deep, traditional moldings, hardwood floors with inlays, a library with built-in cherry bookcases, and a sensational stone patio for entertaining or personal enjoyment.

41 Stonefield Road, Avon, Connecticut

Minutes from convenient, major highways, airports, and shopping, yet protected on a quiet knoll overlooking the Farmington Valley.  Enjoy the Western views and spectacular sunsets!

                      Offered at $1,750,000

• Private Master Suite with Gas Fireplace
• 6 Full Baths and 3 Half-baths
• Country Kitchen with Granite Counters and Butler's Pantry
• Family Room with Coffered Ceilings and Fireplace
• Large Formal Dining Room with Fireplace
• Grand Foyer Entrance 

• Maintence-free Brick
• 5 Energy-saving Heating Zones
• 3 Zoned Furnaces
• Exterior Garden Sprinkler System
• Interior and Exterior Sound System
• Generator, Intercom, Security, and CO Detection Systems

• 6498 Square Feet with 1800 Square Feet in Finished Lower Level
• Custom-built in 1996
• 4 Bay Garage

Zoned for Horses, and near the Avon Show Stables and Farmington Polo Grounds-- an Equine Paradise! 

For more information or to arrange for your own private showing, please call Debbie Gilbert,

Century 21 Clemens & Sons Realty

1001 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT  06107

Office:  860-313-4057 x 764

Mobile:  860-930-8615

At our meeting on November 20^th, the Valley Chapter of Business Network International (BNI) contributed over 50 pounds of non-perishable foods in a collection for Foodshare. My fellow members and I have pledged to continue bringing food items until December 15^th when I will bring them to Foodshare in Bloomfield, Connecticut for donation.

Other food donations have already been made at the Century 21 Clemens & Sons office located at 1001 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center, Connecticut.  I announced the food drive on my website, www.YourNewHomeInConnecticut.com, on November 1^st, and donations have been plentiful.  I expect to deliver many baskets of items to Foodshare on behalf of the Valley Chapter, my clients, friends, and colleagues.  Other donations are welcome between 9 AM and 5:30 PM at the Century 21 Clemens & Sons office.  Thank you for your contribution!

The Valley Chapter meets every Thursday morning at Fresko's Grill and Wine Bar, 5 East Main Street, Avon.  Business professionals network weekly to build teams of qualified, pre-screened partners. It is actively recruiting business partners from many professions throughout the Farmington Valley area.  Everyone is welcome to visit. 

More information about BNI can be found on the Connecticut website, www.BNICT.com or on the international website, www.BNI.com.  For additional information about the Valley chapter, or for membership details, contact the president of the chapter, Joe O'Donnell, at 860-651-7283.

Cello Partnership (Verizon Wireless) has applied for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the construction of a cell tower at 199 Town Farm Road in Farmington, Connecticut.

The parcel under discussion is 9.9 acres of open space currently owned by the Town of Farmington and known as the Simmons Family Farm. 

Design plans include erecting a 110 foot tower disguised as an artificial tree and enclosed within a 60 foot by 60 foot fenced area. 

Complete application details can be found at the Connecticut Siting Council website's Pending Procedures page, under Docket #356. 

A public hearing about the project is posted on The Town of Farmington website:     

199 Town Farm Road Telecommunications Facility
The Connecticut Siting Council will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 3:00 pm. at Irving A. Robbins Middle School, 20 Wolf Pit Rd., Farmington. Sworn testimony will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Public comment portion will begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact the State of Connecticut Siting Council at 827-2935.

True to its name, Collinsville Savings Society in Canton, Connecticut is teaching the value of saving money to the students at Cherry Brook Primary School and Canton Intermediate School through its "School Savings Program".  Elizabeth Kelly, Collinsville branch manager and Treasurer of the Valley Chapter of Business Network International, together with her fellow bankers, Casey Cahill and Tanya Barry, brought new life to an existing program.  It is meant to encourage students to open savings accounts and learn some basic banking procedures.

Every Wednesday, participating students deposit their savings in sealed, labeled envelopes which are collected at their schools and deposited at Collinsville Savings Society.  Receiving 0.54% interest, they learn the concept of interest rates and watch their savings grow over time.  Their parents are the custodians of the accounts for the children's benefit.  No minimum deposit is necessary, and so, the children are encouraged to save what they can.

It has been a resounding success.  Parents approve of the program as a way to establish good savings habits at a young age, and teachers can integrate a real-life application into their arithmetic lessons.  To date, 56 new savings accounts have been established.  "Customers, who we have served for a very long time, remember when they first opened their savings accounts," commented Ms. Kelly, "Many have been with our bank for over sixty years, and started saving as children."

At the end of the school year, participants of the program will be eligible for a drawing to win a teddy bear.  New accounts are still being accepted at Collinsville Savings Society.  For more information, please contact Casey Cahill, the School Savings Program Coordinator, at 860-693-5912. To learn more about Collinsville Savings Society, established in 1853 with branches located at 277 Albany Turnpike or 136 Main Street, Collinsville, visit the website at www.CollinsvilleSavings.com.      

It's a beautiful Fall Weekend in Central Connecticut with the Fall Foliage reaching toward peak color.  What's to do this weekend?  Here's a list of some of the local activities:

• The Hartford Marathon--- Hartford, CT
• Salisbury Fall Festival, October 10-12, Salisbury and Lakeville, CT
• Portland Fair, October 10-12, Portland Exchange Fair Grounds, Portland, CT
• Riverton Fair, October 10-12, Village of Riverton, Rte 20, Barkhamsted, CT
• Open Barn Tour at McCulloch Farms, October 11-13, 100 Whippoorwill Rd, Old Lyme, CT
• Granby Artists Association Open Studio Tour, October 11-12, Granby, CT
• Scotland CT Highland Games, October 12, Edward Waldo Homestead, Waldo Rd, Scotland, CT
• Lyman Orchards Corn Maze, August 30 - October 26 November 2, Part of the Proceeds goes to the American Cancer  Society, 860-349-6051, for more information
• Tenth Annual Renaissance Faire, September 27 - October 19, Weekends and Columbus Day, Hebron, CT

The Janet Jackson concert at Mohegan Sun Casino has been cancelled.  However, there are many other events this weekend throughout Connecticut-- something for everyone, young and old. 

Some of the best activities include meandering throughout the local Trails by bicycle or on foot, relaxing in the beauty of the local landscape. 

If you would like a copy of the Visitor's Guide 2008 for the Greater Hartford and Connecticut River Valley area, just contact me anytime-- 860-313-4057 x 764, or debbiewgilbert@hotmail.com.  It has information about local attractions, sports, accommodations, dining, and transportation, including maps. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

The members of the Valley Chapter of Business Network International (BNI) sponsored the cost of pediatric reconstruction surgery for a child in the Operation Smile program. As a member of the chapter for over 5 years, and currently serving as publicity chair, I'd like to tell you all about it.  Maybe the idea will spread--- it's certainly a worthwhile cause. 

Bobbie Renshaw, owner of Artistic Images of Canton and member of the Valley Chapter of BNI collected the donation from her fellow members at the weekly meeting on Thursday, September 25, 2008.  "We recognize the importance of smiles everyday", said Marianne Hebenstreit, photographer at Artistic Images, "We are honored to help a child smile his first smile."

Operation Smile, a not-for-profit organization started in 1982 by Dr. William P. Magee, plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen, nurse and clinical social worker, is made up of thousands of physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals worldwide.  The organization is dedicated to performing surgery and training around the world to treat children who suffer from facial deformities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate. To date, over 115,000 children have received these life-changing benefits. For more information, go to www.OperationSmile.org.

The Valley Chapter of BNI joined the efforts of Artistic Images of Canton and Professional Photographers of America to raise money for Operation Smile.  October has been designated as Family Portrait Month.  A total of $240.00 was collected at the BNI meeting which will pay for one surgery.  In addition to direct donation, Artistic Images will contribute $25.00 of every photography session fee during the month of October directly to Operation Smile.  

Other donations are currently being accepted by Artistic Images, and all contributions will be sent to Operation Smile by the end of November.  For additional information, contact Bobbie Renshaw at Artistic Images of Canton at 860-693-1414.  Donations can be mailed to Artistic Images at 163 Albany Turnpike, Suite 100, Canton, CT 06019, or made in person at the same address.

On a beautiful late summer day this week, I was treated to a delicious lunch at Apricots, one of Farmington's finest restaurants, located on the banks of the Farmington River.  The restaurant is a landmark for both the building's history and for its local cuisine.

Diners can sit al fresco at the Patio overlooking the river, or inside at the Pub, or in one of the formal, main dining rooms.  After sitting at the Patio for awhile, we chose to eat in the Pub.

Kevin Quinn, general manager, told me about some of the history of the building which was originally a trolley barn.  Folks in the early 19^th century would ride horse-drawn trolleys along Farmington Avenue when they traveled to and from Hartford.  This barn was used as a trolley turn-around. 

In January, 1983, Apricots Restaurant was opened after restoring the building, and Ann Howard, the owner, welcomed all to enjoy her sophisticated preparation of the finest of American and European foods.  The summer menus can now be seen on the restaurant website, ApricotsRestaurant.com.  You'll be tempted by Summer Vegetable Napolean or Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops with Fresh Mango Salad and Kiwi Vinaigrette. 

The Pub still has the historic feel of the trolley barn.  It's warm and cozy with its piano, dark wood bar, casual atmosphere, and friendly service.  The other dining rooms in the restaurant look out over the Farmington River with lovely décor, more formal white tablecloth settings, and fresh flowers.  The view and the overall ambiance is pure relaxation. 

There are rooms for private parties, weddings, and business dinners. A quiet elegance greets diners throughout.  Zagat's Guide awarded Apricots its "excellent" rating, and I heartily agree.  We enjoyed a chunky pub burger and a summer lobster roll, both with the most delicious potato chips, and we left wishing that we had tried dessert.  After all, Connecticut Magazine readers voted Apricots "Best in State" for desserts, as well as for Continental Cuisine.  Oh well!  Maybe another visit will be necessary very soon! 

Whenever you are in Farmington, be sure to stop by Apricots Restaurant and Pub, located at 1593 Farmington Avenue in Farmington, 3 miles west of the intersection with Route 10.  Whether for a quick, casual lunch, special dinner, or catered event, Apricots will serve you just what you want.