Maintenance Monday – hurricane sandy

This week’s Maintenance Monday tip is, you guessed it, about preparing for Hurricane Sandy. Hopefully you have already gone to the store and gotten your water, batteries and canned goods because Maryland has declared a State of Emergency and is advising everyone to stay home and off the roads. With the high winds and heavy rain that we will be experiencing the next 48 hours, there is a high possibility of power outages and flooding across the region. Please unplug your electronics, secure everything on your patio or balcony, and remove any precious items off the floor if you’re in a ground level apartment. Also, please check on your neighbor, especially those who may need a little extra help during this time. All malls and schools are closed, so please stay home and off the roads.

“Current predictions call for 25 mph sustained winds increasing throughout the day Monday to 40 mph with gusts of 60 mph or higher. Heavy rain and sustained winds will continue through late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Temperatures will drop into the 40s with wind chill close to freezing.”

Please be safe during these next few days of Hurricane Sandy.

Halloween kicks off the Holiday Season!

Most people consider the Holiday Season Thanksgiving through New Year’s. But right or wrong, the Holiday Season really begins with Halloween. People no longer wait until after Thanksgiving to do their holiday shopping – they start at Halloween. And stores certainly do not wait until after Thanksgiving to start their holiday marketing – they start at Halloween. Not that the Holidays are all about consumerism, but unfortunately it does seem to fuel the season. The day after Halloween people start listening to holiday music and putting up their holiday decorations. People just want to have that fuzzy and warm Holiday feeling as long as they can, so they get a head start with Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

There are many Halloween events in the Baltimore area, especially since we live in the land of Edgar Allan Poe. Every year on Halloween, people in costume wait in line to tour Poe’s house and grave on Fayette Street in Baltimore City, just a few miles from our Old Orchard Apartments. A little less scary event is this Saturday Octover 27th at The Avenue in White Marsh, right around the corner from our Burnam Woods Apartments. It is the Annual Trick-or-Treat complete with fun and games for adults, kids and dogs. There are many Halloween events on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City, right down the street from our Chatham Gardens Apartments. There is a Halloween Party for the adults at Diamondback Tavern on Halloween, a Halloween Spooktacular for adults and kids at the Pottery Stop and Coffee Shop this Saturday October 27th, and of course Ellicott City Ghost Tours the last weekend of October and first weekend of November. However you celebrate, have a safe and happy Halloween!

According to the History Channel, “Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.”

Maintenance Monday – prevent plumbing problems

Today’s Maintenance Monday tip is brought to you by SF Gate.

To prevent plumbing problems, keep drains flowing freely. Avoid pouring oil, coffee grounds or other solids into the kitchen sink. In the bathroom, remove hair from the sink and tub promptly so they’re not washed down the drain. Sink and toilet clogs usually can be unstopped with a plunger. Fill the clogged vessel with water and then push the plunger straight down in a quick, firm motion. You may need to repeat a number of times before the clog is removed.

Are You a Good Neighbor?

People usually don’t comment when they have a good neighbor, but they almost always do when they have a bad one. Are you a bad neighbor? Do you keep odd hours, slam your doors, play loud music, blare your television, drive too fast through the community, or leave trash in front of the dumpsters? If you answered yes to any of these questions, keep reading to see how you can transform from a bad neighbor into a good neighbor.

are you a good neighbor?

A good neighbor is considerate, helpful, and most of all treats others the way they want to be treated. A good neighbor is aware of shared walls by keeping their music and television volumes low, carefully closing their doors, and not stomping through their apartment in high heels. A good neighbor practices parking etiquette by parking in front of their own building, not blocking anyone’s access forcing them to pull out of a very tight spot, not reving their engine, not shining their headlights into the neighbors’ windows, and carefully closing their car doors. A good neighbor welcomes new neighbors by introducing themselves, sharing where the kids are to play with, and pointing out the best restaurants and shops in the area.

So, are you a good neighbor?

Maintenance Monday – preserving your washing machine

Today’s ‘Maintenance Monday’ tip comes from several work orders we have had recently. Please make sure to carefully close the lid to your washing machine. Carefully lower the lid and allow it to close easily rather than letting it go and allowing it to drop closed. When dropping the lid closed, undue pressure is put on the washing machine lid switch. This can cause damage to the lid switch, which will cause the washing machine to not complete its cycle as well as not allowing any further operation of your washing machine.

carefully close your washing machine lid

October is Pinktober for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help!” –  National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

go Pink in October

According to the National Cancer Institute:

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Over 220,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• When breast cancer is detected early (localized stage), the 5-­year survival rate is 98%.
• Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage.

Early detection of Breast Cancer is crucial. Make sure to perform monthly breast exams to detect changes or abnormalities such as a lump, nipple tenderness or discharge, or any change in appearance or texture of the breast or nipple. It is equally important to get a yearly breast exam from your doctor as well as a mammogram. And it should go without saying that a healthy lifestyle will help prevent breast cancer: eat fruits and vegetables, stay active, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and maintain a healthy weight. For more information on early detection of breast cancer, click here.

October is Pinktober

People all over the world show their support, promote awareness, and raise money for Breast Cancer in October. There are walks, people wear pink ribbons, buildings are lit in pink, and NFL players wear pink throughout the month. October has been dubbed Pinktober.

White House in Pink

Ray Lewis in Pink

Graceland in Pink

Find out how you can donate to Breast Cancer and/or participate in a Breast Cancer walk at http://www.komenmd.org

Maintenance Monday – taking care of your floors

Today’s Maintenance Monday tip is brought to you by SF Gate.

Take care of your floors to make them last longer. Dirt is a floor’s worst enemy. When embedded into rugs and carpets, it wears out the fibers. On harder surfaces, like wood, laminate and vinyl, dirt causes scratches. Vacuum low-traffic carpets at least once a week; vacuum high-traffic areas more frequently. Protect wood, laminate and vinyl floors by sweeping every day and mopping weekly with a product recommended for the floor type. Use the minimum amount of fluid needed to clean wood and laminate, as saturation damages wood’s finish and causes laminate to warp.

Burnam Woods Apartments Resident Appreciation Fall Festival

Everyone had a great time Friday at Burnam Woods Apartments Resident Appreciation Fall Festival. Our staff showed our appreciation for our residents by serving hamburgers and hot dogs (provided by Comcast), hula hooping and pumpkin painting with the kids, and hosting an apple pie baking contest.

who’s hungry?

hula hoop contest

pumpkin painting

Apple Pie Contest
(#3 won)

let the judging begin

the runner up

the winner of the apple pie baking contest

comcast

social media at Burnam Woods

Along with the food, games and contests, there was also a table showcasing all of the social media sites that Burnam Woods Apartments are on, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, foursquare, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. If you ‘like’ our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BurnamWoodsApts , you could win $50. – one ‘like’ equals one chance to win $50. If you check in with us on foursquare at https://foursquare.com/v/burnam-woods-apartments/4fb69ce30cd6c7f906a52dd9, you get a free gift. Just show your check in to the leasing office when you visit to receive your free gift, while supplies last. These Facebook and Foursquare specials are also available on our Old Orchard and Chatham Gardens Apartments’ sites.