My New Blog

May the spirit of this day be with all who take the time to stop and read. This time of year is wonderful for all the tidings and good feelings of fellowship we share with our friends and loved ones.

From our home, Cauna and I wish all a Merry Christmas and may you enjoy the friends and family you spend the day around.

Best wishes also from our special Christmas Santa, Raphael Michael Antonacci, our 10 month old grandson.

Yesterday, 12/16/09 was the grand re-lo-Christmas Extravaganzaput out by the people at the Prospect Pages here in Prospect, Ct 

Our local paper does publish all the news anybody here in Prospect would want to read and of course it's all 'FIT TO PRINT'.

For the 13 years that I've been a resident of this town, I've seen them through at least 4 moves. Each one has seen the paper grow even more. And I for one know that even when someone finds it necessary to move out of town, they are always looking for a copy of this little paper just to stay current with news of the 'Best Little Town' in the country, right Mom?. 

The staff of Nannette Commendatore, Deidre Moutinho and owner Gwenn Fischer always have a smile, even though for this Open House Luncheon it might have been aided by some extra holiday cheer.

If it's happening in Prospect, Ct it can be found in the Prospect Pages, or on their website, www.prospectpages.com

Want to see whose having a birthday or anniversary, it's in the pages.

What's happening in the regional school district #16? Again the Prospect Pages.

Looking to get a copy of the Town Directory? Pick it up at the pages at their Crosspointe Plaza North location!

The Prospect Pages is also a source of info for:

• Local Blood Drive, which will be held Dec 18 at the Prospect Fire House
• The local Craft Fairs
• Events for the local VFW post 8075
• Locations of the Toys for Tots collection boxes
• News of the local Boys and Girls Scout troops
• Events for the Prospect Library
• Seniors events
• and even social and church events from local towns that recognize the reach of the Prospect Pages

They can also be reached at their phone number of 203-758-6934 fax, 203-758-5213 and their email address of ProspectPages@aol.com.

Stop by and say hello. Are you an advertiser looking to get some additional exposure, joint the numerous local and area advertisers that know the Prospect Pages bring results!

Tis the season and there are celebrations of Christmas all over the world. Here are a sampling of some of the trees that are displayed around the world.

 

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states.

 

 

 

 

   

 

A token of gratitude for Britain's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

 

 

 

    

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer Frankfurt's city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

 

 

The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy's Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient city. 

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower

 The U.S. Treasury on Monday set long-awaited guidance on a plan for mortgage companies to speed "short sales" of homes and other loan modification alternatives to stem a rising tide of foreclosures. The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program provides financial incentives and simplifies the procedures for completing short sales, a growing practice in which a lender agrees to accept the sale price of a home to pay off a mortgage even if the price falls short of the amount owed.

Guidelines address barriers that have often sidelined short sales by setting limits on the time it takes a bank to approve an offer, freeing borrowers from debt and capping claims of subordinate lenders.

Financial incentives for completing short sales or similar deed-in-lieu transactions -- in which the deed is simply transferred to the lender -- include a $1,000 payment to servicers, and a maximum of $1,000 to go to investors who sign off on payments to subordinate lien holders, the Treasury said. Borrowers would receive $1,500 in relocation expenses.

Real estate agents and community groups favor short sales over foreclosure because they can preserve the borrower's credit rating and leave the property in better condition than when a homeowner is evicted. Even though a primary lender will realize steep losses on a mortgage, their recovery with a short sale is typically far better than under foreclosure.

Short sales have been very frustrating for borrowers, real estate agents and prospective buyers as the transaction is often hung up by negotiations with multiple lien holders and mortgage insurance companies. Real estate agents have complained that sales fall through as lenders bicker over the sales price, what they should receive from the proceeds, and whether the borrower will be held accountable for the debt in the future.

Among requirements, mortgage servicers have 10 days to approve or disapprove a request for short sale, and when done the transaction must fully release the borrower from the debt. By releasing the borrower from the debt, the borrower can quite possibly move on with their credit rating only being moderately scared.

In one of the most contentious issues gumming up negotiations between lenders, the guidance caps the aggregate proceeds to subordinate lien holders at $3,000. Second lien holders in recent months have begun demanding more money from the first lender, seller, buyer or agent in exchange for releasing their claim, agents have said. Because primary lenders would face larger losses in a foreclosure, some subordinate lenders have felt empowered to demand more money in order to be bought out of the property using this as their leverage. That leverage has quite possibly been removed.

Do you know anyone who is behind on their mortgage and doesn't know what to do? I may be able to help them.