Contact MargaretCrofton Garden Club Sends Gift Bags to U.S. Troops
October 24th, 2012 Categories: Crofton Organizations
Crofton Village Garden Club members jumped into action last year when I mentioned my annual efforts on behalf of Operation Christmas Stocking. Their hands-on participation this year was even greater than last. Thank you!
Harriet Kiilehua, Shirley Townes, Jane McClanahan, Gillian and Roy Myers (pictured with me in white), Shirley Levendoski, C.J. Salisbury, Marcia Richard and Pat Stevenson helped to sort and count items for the 180 holiday gift bags. Many other members donated money and gift items, including paperback books, toiletries, and snacks. When the bags were finally filled, with the help of many Long & Foster agents and staff members as well as the garden club, I was able to ship 8 cartons to Operation Give who, in turn, will send them overseas to the troops.
Last year, we were delighted to hear from service members in Korea that had received our gift bags.
Crofton Village Garden Club will honor our troops again in November when we make red, white and blue flower arrangements for recuperating soldiers at the Loch Raven VA Community Living and Rehab Center in Baltimore.
Visit Crofton Village Garden Club website to learn how you can join this community organization.
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Holiday Gift Bags for Deployed Troops
October 15th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
Santa’s Workshop will be open for business in Crofton MD this week, as 180 holiday gift bags are filled with goodies and shipped to Operation Give for distribution to deployed U.S. troops.
Girl Scouts, Crofton Village Garden Club, and Long & Foster agents, staff and families have been preparing for weeks, including many hours of counting and sorting to organize nearly 5,000 donated and purchased items.
Each gift bag will be filled with a bag of toiletries, safety pins, a holiday greeting card, dental care kits, candy and healthy snacks, socks, tissues, wipes, a puzzle book and mechanical pencil, toy or gag gift and a unique items such as a paperback book, flashlight, reading lamp or manicure kit.
Santa’s helpers at Long & Foster will be packaging everything for shipping on Friday, so there’s still time for others in the community to participate if you’d like to drop off small bags of individually wrapped hard candy or bubble gum, healthy snacks such as protein bars or nuts, paperback books or a toy/gag gift. The location is 2191 Defense Highway., Crofton, MD 21114.
Here’s a video created by Crofton Patch during Santa’s Workshop last year at Long & Foster. Be sure to check it out.
Photo: Ginnie Dooley, Mary Lee, and Rose Marie Jung (by Margaret Woda)
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Early Voting in Anne Arundel County MD
October 12th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
November 6 is election day across the United States, but you can vote early in Maryland on Saturday October 27, Sunday October 28, Monday October 29, and Thursday November 1, 2012. The hours on Sunday will be 12 noon to 6 p.m., but 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the other three days.
There are five locations in Anne Arundel County, Maryland:
Annapolis – Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, 121 South Villa Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401. Directions
Edgewater – Edgewater Library, 5 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037. Directions
Glen Burnie – North County Library, 1010 Eastway,
Glen Burnie, MD 21060. DirectionsOdenton – West County Library, 1325 Annapolis Road
Odenton, MD 21113. DirectionsSeverna Park – Severna Park Library, 45 McKinsey Road
Severna Park, MD 21146. Directions
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, voting early is the same as voting on election day: when you get to the early voting center, you will check in to vote and vote your ballot.
You will vote on the touchscreen voting system, just as you would on November 6. With a touchscreen voting system, you touch the screen to make, change, and review selections and cast a ballot.
There will be instructions available at the early voting centers to familiarize you with the ballot. You may ask an election judge to explain how to vote, but you must cast your vote alone, unless you are unable to do so because you have a disability or are unable to read or write the English language.
Posting originally to the Maryland Real Estate Blog on Activerain.
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Crofton Home Sale Report – September 2012
October 10th, 2012 Categories: Market Updates
MRIS has released real estate sales statistics for September, and the numbers for Crofton are somewhat mixed. Generally speaking, they indicate that the market has improved over September 2011, but didn’t live up to the terrific numbers we saw in August 2012.
Eighteen homes closed during September in Crofton MD (21114), up almost 6%% from from September 2011 but down significantly from the 37 sales we had last month.
Median and average home prices enjoyed a turnaround and went up -to $328,950 and $325,288 respectively. That’s an increase of 22% over last year and 18% over last month for the median sold price, while there was a 9% increase in the average sold price over last year, and 6% over the previous month in Crofton.
Average days on market for closed home sales (66) were down 63% from September 2011, but they increased 35% from August.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, September 2012 was a good month for Crofton real estate, compared to recent years, but it’s a bit of a roller coaster from month to month this year.
Home Sellers: This advice is timeless… Location, list price, and property condition are the three primary factors influencing home sales. It’s more important than ever to make sure your home is uncluttered, clean, updated, and in good repair before you put it on the market. I highly recommend professional staging and photographs, as well, to showcase your home at its best online and in print media. If you’re unwilling or unable to get your home into “top” condition for selling, don’t expect to get top dollar.
Home Buyers: What will happen to interest rates after the election? It’s anyone’s guess. For now, Crofton remains affordable for home buyers with today’s low 3.25% interest rate. Low down payment loan programs are available (95% Conventional loans and 96.5% FHA loans, not to mention zero-down VA loans) and many sellers will provide closing help. Prices seem to be declining in the 21054 zip code, so this really is a GREAT time to buy a Crofton home.
Next week: Real estate sales statistics for Bowie (20715)
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Busy Tuesday in Crofton This Week – October 9, 2012
October 8th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
There’s plenty to do in the greater Crofton area most weekends, but this is a busy week, as well, with two important events tomorrow night:
Meet the Candidates, 6:45 p.m., Village Commons Community Center at Waugh Chapel Rd. and Rt. 3.
Many of us are eager for the presidential election to come and go, but let me ask… how much do you know about the congressional and senatorial candidates on the ballot?
Greater Crofton Council is sponsoring a “Meet the Candidates” event at their monthly meeting. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet Congresswoman Donna Edwards (4th District), congressional candidates Faith Loudon, Eric Knowles and Tony O’Donnell, and Senate candidate Dan Bongino.
I attended a similar even two years ago, and it was a real eye-opener for me.
School Re-Districting, 7 p.m., Crofton Meadows Elementary, 2020 Tilghman Drive.
What are the options for alleviating overcrowding at Nantucket, Crofton, Crofton Meadows, and Crofton Woods elementary schools and their associated secondary feeder schools? This is your opportunity to participate in dialogue with the committee of parents, community residents and school officials who will make a recommendation to Superintendent Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell later this fall.
Dr. Maxwell will forward his recommendations to the Board of Education no later than the first meeting in December. The Board will conduct public hearings on the plans before reaching a decision no later than April 30, 2013.
Additional meetings will be held at neighboring schools, as follows:
October 16, 2012, at Crofton Elementary, 1405 Duke of Kent, Crofton October 23, 2012, at Crofton Woods Elementary, 1750 Urby Drive, Crofton October 30, 2012, at Crofton Meadows Elementary, 2020 Tilghman Drive, Crofton
Coming later this week:
Crofton Real Estate Update – September 2012
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