Toys For Tots

For 71 Years The Marine Corps Has Been Making a Difference in the Lives of American Families.

Toys for Tots started in 1947, it was the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, but mainly his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration.

Since this idea began, more than 548 million toys have been given out to those children in need. As of today, we are counting down the days to Christmas. We here at PTRC are an official drop off location, which means are we accepting toys from the public.

Make an impact this holiday season and give, please feel free to visit us with a donation. If you want to look for another drop off location in your area, visit the official toys for tots site here.

                                         

Fun Places to Go During Winter in Long Island

It's winter and you're looking for fun winter activities to do outdoors with friends and family on Long Island. Below are several activities for adults and children.

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks

Outdoor ice skating provides exercise and an inexpensive way to exercise in the winter months. Some rinks rent skates and others you'll need to bring yours. The Christopher Morley Park Rink located at 500 Searingtown Road North in Roslyn is open from Thanksgiving to mid-March for skating. This outdoor rink is regulation size and has skate rental.

The Bucks Hill Winter Club in East Hampton has an outdoor rink that offers outdoor skating all year round. They have skate lessons, rentals, hockey games, and are open 7 days per week. Inside, is a cafe and fireplace a place to stop after ice skating. Check the schedule for public ice skating times. It is located at 178 Buckshill Road, Easthampton.

Tangier Outlet Ice Rink at the Arches is an outdoor rink with a shopping center close by. All ages can skate at the outdoor rink and children under 5 are free. Skate rentals are available, discounted skating on Tuesdays, and a DJ on Friday nights. Check open skate hours. It is located at 455 Commack Road, Deerfield.

Seal Cruises

On the Captain Lou Fleet Cruises, you will be able to take a boat cruise in the winter to see the seals. There are cruises in January, February, March, and April that run from 1- 3 p.m. during some weekdays and weekends. You will see seals and other marine life along the Hempstead Bay. There is a snack bar on board with burgers, hot dogs, turkey sandwiches, snacks, and beverages.

Hiking Trails

The Caleb Smith State Park Preserve has winter trails for hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoeing. It offers seal walks on weekends and hikes for adults in winter. It is located at 581 West Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge has hiking and winter activities. There are night hikes, winter bird watching, owl watching, full moon hiking, and nature courses indoors. It has seven miles of scenic hiking. It is located at 3 Old Country Road in Quogue.

Food Trucks in Winter

Walking in local neighborhoods for exercise is another way to get outdoor exercise. Stopping at a local food truck for breakfast or lunch along the way is another great winter activity. Many of these food truck listed by News 12 Long Island serve hot dogs, hamburgers, bake goods, pizza, barbecue and more. Take a walk nearby and stop at a food truck near you.

We hope some of these options inspire an outdoor fun time by yourself or with your friends and family! Happy Holidays from PTRC. 

Ways to Improve your Home this Winter

The long and hot days of summer are long gone. The leaves have fallen off the trees and the cold air is now a permanent feature of the climate. Winter has arrived for everyone, including local residents that reside in Long Island, New York. 

Homeowners who live in this area, you can do the following things to improve your property's value and to get your home ready before the snow arrives. 

Keep your Yard Neat and Organized 

You might be a homeowner who doesn't believe in doing that much yard work once summer ends. This is a mistake to think in this way. The fact is that your front and back yard areas should always be free from foliage, debris and garbage. Rake in remaining leaves that have been left over from the early fall.

Get rid of any branches or debris that lands onto your yard after a fall storm or from a windy fall day. Next, make sure that all remaining items from the summer have been cleared away. Make sure to remove leaves from your gutter to keep them in good condition. Once you do this, your yard will look well kept and ready for winter.

Give your Hedges and Bushes One Final Trim 

As a homeowner you might be tempted to think that trimming the hedges is pointless during this time of year. In most cases you are right. However, before the cold sets in for a while, you should give your bushes and hedges one final trim. Realistically, you should take this action during late October or mid November when we will get a few more warmer days. 

Plants will slow down their growth for the cold to conserve their own energy, one final trim before the holidays might be needed if you haven't done this yet. 

Final Cold Weather Improvements for Home 

Make sure you insulate your home and have your thermostat checked out before you need it the most. Get a good set of lights that conserve energy to brighten up your home for the long winter nights. Check you in home air filter as theys hould be changed every 30 to 60 days. Test your fire and carbonmonoxide alarms once a month. Call your local trusted HVAC technician to check out your heating system to ensure it's up and running efficiently. 

PTRC also encourages you to safely apply ornaments to your house and yard to avoid fire or shock. Do not overload your sockets with lights.  Also, touch up your home with paint if it needs before the cold sets in.  We hope this list of reminders is something that was of use to you. Happy Holidays from PTRC. 

What is Property Tax?

Property tax is the amount of tax that a homeowner needs to pay every year for owning that property. It is a type of ad valorem, a term derived from Latin which means 'according to value'. The tax of a property is calculated based on the assessment of the value of the property.

Local property taxes imposed on every homeowner in the locality is used to fund many public properties and service such as schools, libraries, and fire department. This tax is the major source of funding in most counties across the United States. Some property tax bills show how the funding is used and distributed and what portion of the money goes to any specific public expense.

Assessing property tax is done entirely by the local tax assessor's office upon the guidance of PTRC. It is calculated every year or once in five years depending on the state and local laws. The tax assessment is first sent out to homeowners which is followed by actual tax bill for the property. The final assessment is based on the estimation of the market value plus other elements such as sales comparison, cost method, and income method.

While comparing sales, your property is compared with other similar properties that were sold in the recent months or years. It is then adjusted to variables that may increase or decrease the value of your property such as home additions, improvements and renovations. In the cost method, the assessor will calculate the total cost of rebuilding the property from the ground up taking into account labor and materials used.

If the property is old, depreciation is factored in as well. The cost is then added to the value of the land. For business and commercial properties, the PTRC assessor will use the income method to arrive at the final assessment. Here, the income that the property would generate if it is rented out is calculated based on rental rates, maintenance cost and other expenses.

The property's assessment is finally multiplied with the local tax rate. This rate is usually called as mill rate. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1000 of the value of the property or depending on what the local or state government has determined. The final value of the mill rate may vary from one region to another. Local government often decide how much tax revenue should be generated in order to keep the public services up and running.