One of the events in Mt. Washington Valley that I always look forward to is the annual “Bark in the Park”. If you’re an animal lover like I am, I bet you’ll enjoy it too.

Sponsored by the Animal Rescue League of NH-North, “The Bark” is on September 24 this year in Schouler Park. The festivities begin at 9:30 AM with the Walk for the Animals and continue throughout the day. Each year, we at JtRealty Lakefront to Mountainside enter the Annual Walk for the Animals, and we have been in first or second place for the past ten years. Won’t you join us in the Walk? Or, if you cannot join us that day, please consider helping us raise funds for our “Pet” Charity. It’s easy to donate to Team Tarbell by clicking here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/tarbellterriers/2011walkfortheanimals

A day full of fun for dogs of all shapes and sizes and their humans, “Bark in the Park” features games and prizes for Best Costume Dog, Best Ears, Nose, Tail, Coat and a Hot Dog Retrieve contest. I always enjoy watching the Police Dog demonstration.  These dogs have been trained to sniff out drugs or explosives and they never miss!

Dogs will enjoy testing their skills in the agility course or the jump chute, and there’s even a Doggie Kissing Booth. Stop at all the Expo booths situated around the park and meet a variety of vendors who will show off their pet products. And of course, there’s great human food too.

Please join us!

Suzie Laskin

Every September in North Conway, we have a wonderful fund raiser.  This year, Bark in the Park is September 25th at Schuler Park. Come join the many people and their favorite canine friends walking, playing and most importantly raising money for the Animal League of New Hampshire, North. This is a “no kill” shelter (they even save dogs and cats from other areas in the country), and funds are always hard to come by.

Personally, I have adopted two of the nicest cats from this facility and hope you can join us, or send what you can to help them.

Thank You!!

Abby& Buck

Buck

Abby

Rona Ahearn

This home in Fryeburg is picture-perfect

Sometimes all you have to do to make a ho-hum property really sparkle are a few little inexpensive tricks.

You know the saying, “you only have one chance to make a good first impression”. When a buyer walks up to your home, make sure it is inviting. If necessary, paint the front door.  If your doorknob is old, invest in a shiny new one. Make sure the front steps are swept clean of debris, and of course, shoveled off in winter.

In summer, a potted plant on the top step and window boxes full of flowers are very welcoming. In autumn, decorate the entrance with pumpkins or mums.

In winter, make sure the ski paraphernalia is put away and not lying around the mudroom. Buyers will want to make sure that there is enough storage for their winter gear.

When a showing is scheduled, turn on all lights and leave the house.

Inside, add touches of luxury. Place fresh flowers, beautiful linens and large, white fluffy towels throughout the home. Set the table with your good dishes, as if you’re expecting company.

Use slipcovers on mismatched furniture. If a piece of furniture is an essential part of the room but it doesn’t match well, or if the upholstery is worn, slipcover it.

Clean out the closets. Buyers will poke around the closets in the house to see if there is enough room for their clothing and personal items. Throw out or donate anything you haven’t worn in two years and put dryer sheets between clothing to maintain a fresh smell. (Conway Area Humane Society  accepts donations at their re-sale shop, ReTails in Norcross Circle).

Invest in new light switch covers. Most buyers will interact with several of the light switches throughout the house. Worn and dirty switch covers show inattention to detail.

Make traces of your pets disappear. Do not remind the buyer of the smells, hassle and daily toll a pet takes on a house.  Vacuum carpets with a pet freshener product.

Play soothing music during a showing. Instrumental or jazz music will provide harmony throughout the house which will help to muffle the sounds of traffic and life outside the walls of your home.

Clean anything a buyer will possibly touch. Buyers will touch different parts of the home to get a feel for what it would be like to actually live there. Thoroughly wash all doorknobs, cabinets, cupboards and hand rails.

Of course, it goes without saying, make sure that the entire home is spotlessly clean and uncluttered.  Now is a good time to start packing up anything that you do not use regularly. Pack away all the clutter and store it in cartons in the garage or basement. Let the buyers imagine their own belongings and furnishings in your home. Don’t distract them with your family photos and memorabilia.

It doesn’t have to cost you a bundle to make your home welcoming and buyer-friendly.

Supporting the Conway Area Humane Society

We have 3 cats and one dog, though we’re going to the shelter Sunday to see some new puppies that are coming in. I’d like a companion dog for our 5-yr-old. We had our dog run expanded this summer in anticipation of getting a 2nd dog. Our Golden died last summer – she was 13!

Each year we participate in “Bark in the Park” where we “Walk for the Animals” and raise money for the Conway Area Humane Society. This year’s Bark in the Park is September 26. Team Tarbell has been the top fundraising team for the last six years, and we intend to win again with your help. Our goal is to beat our previous record of $5,400 for the Conway Area Humane Society (CAHS).

As a Board Member for Starting Point, I am especially grateful for the CAHS working relationship with the area’s domestic violence organization, to house animals of abuse victims. Animal and child abuse go hand in hand. Suzette Indelicato, Executive Director of Starting Point, says, “Many people don’t make it to the shelter because they won’t leave their pets.” The CAHS, with a referral from Starting Point, will house the animal victims of an abusive situation while the family gets its life back on track. All such housing is secure and confidential. The owner is required to check in every two weeks for a situation update and to discuss future plans for both humans and companion animals. For more information about the Conway Area Humane Society shelter, visit www.conwayshelter.org.

Let your pets run on this beautiful 8.4 acres in Jackson NH.  I took Skye with me to the showing I did here last week and she had the BEST time romping all over the fields, woods, and through the trees. It’s well off the road and is perfect for pets. 8+ acres with amazing views. Perfect for dogs. Better for people.

Meet some animals form Conway Area Animal Shelter.

Well, it has been a week since we kicked off our fundraising campaign for the Conway Area’s Humane Society’s annual “Bark in the Park” fundraiser.

The checks and online donations have started coming in, and the Team Tarbell Terriers have raised $588 so far, 12% of our goal. With only 2.5 weeks left until the big day, we have a lot of work left to do!

We all our feeling the effects of a slack economy, but any money that you can contribute will really help the animals at the Conway Area Humane Society, even if it’s just 5$. Just click on button to donate!

Or mail a check made out to “CAHS” to

Joy Tarbell Realty
CAHS
3641 White Mountain Highway
North Conway, NH 03860

THANK YOU!!!

We really appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Joy Tarbell and the Team Tarbell Terriers

Join the Team Tarbell Terriers and Donate to the Conway Area Humane Society

For the past 12 years Joy Tarbell Realty has been participating in “Bark in the Park” the Conway Area Humane Society’s annual fundraiser. The Team Tarbell Terriers have been the top fundraisers for the past 6 years, and we hope to keep that tradition alive. To visit our donation site click here.

Those of you who have visited our office at the Scenic Vista in North Conway NH know that we are a very pet friendly office. Currently we have 3 resident cats (Hobbes, Polly, and Ginger) and a dog (Skye). Polly, Ginger and Skye are all former residents of the Conway Area Humane Society!

If you hadn’t guessed already, it helps to be an animal lover to work in our office. Aside from our adopted office pets (well they are actually Joy’s) several of the agents in our office have also adopted their pets from the Conway Area Humane Society. Suzie Laskin is a member of the Board of Directors for the Conway Area Humane Society, and her “Ella” is CAHS alumna as well.

Ginger is the feisty little 6 lb sweetie that we adopted on New Year’s Eve 2008, after being in a cage at the shelter for 7 months. She didn’t get along with the other cats so couldn’t be allowed in the cat social room. She’s doing fine with our cats now, though they all have their own “territories”.

Polly is our Gemini Twin from the constellation “Pollux”, though her brother “Castor” died of a tumor awhile ago. She’s the kisser and loves to be held close to your face.

Skye was the first dog adopted from the dog house, 2 weeks before the dog shelter opened. She was left there at 8 weeks old and Joy came down and took her home that night. That was 5 years ago! Graduated at the head of her class in Obedience School.

Here’s Ella after her graduation from Obedience Training taught by Brian Ahearn of Four Your Paws Only. Ella was adopted from CAHS after she was transported here from a shelter in Kentucky where she would have been euthanized. Ella went to her forever home with Suzie Laskin where she’s been happily living with sister, Abby, a big black shaggy dog.

Adorable Bucky adopted by Rona Ahearn from the Conway Area Humane Society

Cute little Abbycat is the newest addition to Bob and Rona’s family. She’s another CAHS alum, 8 months old. She loves Bucky and everything that sits on a countertop!

All of these animals, and countless others, are living proof of what an amazing job the Conway Area Humane Society does to rescue pets and find them new loving homes and owners.

We really hope that you can help us raise money and awareness for the animals by donating to the Conway Area Humane Society. It is really easy to do, and will only take you about 1 minute! Click on this link to get started: www.FirstGiving.com/TeamTarbellTerriers

And of course, you are always welcome to join us at the Bark in the Park “Walk for the Animals” at Schouler Park in the Village of North Conway on Saturday, September 26^th! For more information visit the CAHS website: www.ConwayShelter.org

How quickly time flies! You hear it all the time, but let’s look at the changes.

Jay Leno has spent 17 years at the Tonight Show, now changing to an earlier time.

After a drought in world series for 86 years, our Boston Red Sox have now won 2!

The shopping district in North Conway now has a Home Depot, Lowes and Starbucks on the main strip.

And, my cat, Rosita, turned 18 and passed away.

Where did the time go?

The good thing about a pet living a long life is that they have the best home available to them,  and good genes! Now, it’s time for us to get another cat.

We have a wonderful shelter in the area. The Conway Animal Humane Society is a no kill pet shelter, and I’m planning on getting another cat to keep us company. Bob and I really appreciate the love and attention you get from a pet, and let’s face it, pets need good homes.

We have numerous fund raisers for the CAHS throughout the year, one that I always participate in is the Bark in the Park fundraiser.

People and their dogs get together the 2^nd Saturday of every September for a great day of fun with your pets! We do a short loop at Whitaker Woods in North Conway and back to Schuler Park for treats, games, and food for you and your dog.

JtRealty Lakefront to Mountainside “Power Paws” team is always among the top leaders in fundraising for this event, and I’m happy to be a part of it. If you would like to participate this year, or make a donation to help the Conway Area Humane Society just send me an email.

Tune in next time for cute pics and commentary on my new cat. We haven’t found her yet, but I can’t wait to go the CAHS and find her!

Rona Ahearn

by Suzie Laskin

One of the things I love about working at Joy Tarbell Realty is that we’re a “pet-friendly” office. We have three cats (Polly, Hobbes and Ginger) and a dog (Skye) who live here, all of whom are alumni of the Conway Area Humane Society. Anyone visiting our office is given a warm, friendly welcome by at least one of them. Over the years, many of the employees have brought their pets to work, and our customers really seem to appreciate the pet-friendly atmosphere here in the office.

As a Board member of the Conway Area Humane Society, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about some of the wonderful work that CAHS does for our community.  The organization has many dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly. The mission of the Humane Society is a “commitment to the human/animal bond, encouraging it through education and animal adoption, protecting it when threatened by violence, disaster, or medical emergency, and respecting it when broken by death.”

The Shelter has some wonderful programs, such as the Lifelong Friends program that matches senior citizens with older, adoptable animals. This popular program addresses many of the concerns expressed by seniors who desire a companion animal.

CAHS has an Emergency Medical Care Program, which is appropriate when an individual is unable to afford pet care while receiving medical or emergency care as a result of illness or an accident, or when a hospitalization or nursing home stay is required, but there are no family or friends available to help care for a pet.

The Maurice and Paula Lovejoy Learning Center provides a space for learning and training programs. Learning is the key to understanding, and understanding will help to break the cycles of abuse, violence and neglect.  

These are but a few of the many programs that the Conway Area Humane Society offers to our community.

Of course, all these programs require funding, and the Shelter depends upon support from the community. Recently, we held our most successful “Paddy O’Paws Brunch/Auction” ever, raising nearly $45,000!  One of the fabulous items that was auctioned was an African Safari Trip.  Stay tuned for more upcoming exciting events next fall:  Bark in the Park and the Fur Ball.

We now have two resale shops – the Harrison House in Conway, next door to the Shelter on route 113/302 and a brand new shop in Norcross Place in North Conway called Re-Tails that sells mens’ and womens’ clothing and accessories.

Right now, we are raffling off a brand new Subaru, donated by Profile Motors of Conway. If you would like to purchase a $50 raffle ticket, or make a donation of any kind, contact me or the Conway Area Humane Society.