Happy New Year 2016!

Kiplinger's 10 BEST STATES FOR TAXES ON RETIREES

Source:  Kiplinger.com 
Article by Sandra Block

"Retirees have special concerns when evaluating state tax policies: Are Social Security benefits taxed? Does the state impose its own estate tax? Are there property tax breaks for seniors? The answers can greatly affect the financial well-being of someone living on a fixed income."

Click HERE for Kipplinger article on 

10 BEST STATES FOR TAXES ON RETIREES.

Click HERE for state-by-state guide to taxes on retirees.
You will be able to click on any state. 

You will also find the following information.

Best Wishes for Peace and Joy This Holiday Season

As you are surrounded by family and friends, and as you think about those who may be separated by distance or circumstance during this holiday season, may you find peace and joy in the beauty and blessings of your life.

Best wishes for a holiday season filled with love and a New Year blessed with good health, good friends, and good times.

2015 Remodeling Impact Report

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

This information is only an estimate and actual costs will vary by location and by the specifics of any project.

Categories:

• Projects With Greatest Cost Recovery
• Projects That Make Owners Happiest
• Projects That Appeal to Buyers

Guide to Holiday Events Around Charlotte

Thanks to The Charlotte Five and Charlotte on the Cheap for this great guide to holiday events in the Charlotte area!

 You can feel the holiday spirit every day of the week with this day-by-day guide.

Know of an event we missed? Let us know by emailing charlottefive@charlottefive.com. And bookmark this story as we’ll be updating it regularly as we learn about more events.

http://www.charlottefive.com/a-day-by-day-guide-to-holiday-events-happening-around-charlotte-this-year/

HAPPY THANKGIVING

As you are surrounded by family and friends, and as you think about those who may be separated by distance or circumstance on Thanksgiving Day, may you find peace and joy in the beauty and blessings of your life. 

 From my family to yours, best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Fondest regards,

Pook Bellini

VETERANS DAY MESSAGE

It is with grateful appreciation that we give heartfelt thanks to the men and women who have served in our armed forces, protecting our nation, and preserving the freedoms we cherish.

When I was a child, we celebrated "Armistice Day" to recognize the signing of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I and to honor those who bravely served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice on foreign soil.  The main hostilities of WWI were properly finished at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, with Germany signing the Armistice.   Red poppies were distributed by members of the American Legion Auxillary, as a remembrance of the sacrifices of those who served during the war.  

The symbolism of the red poppy began with the poem IN FLANDERS FIELDS,  penned by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) of the Canadian Army, after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier and being moved by the poppy flowers that grew in the Flanders battlefields on the southeast edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium.  The imagery created by that poem remains an important symbol of the sacrifices of war today.  On June 1,1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.  

The following explanation of the poppy story comes from the American Legion  Auxillary website.

The Poppy Story

From the battlefields of World War I, weary soldiers brought home the memory of a barren landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that had soaked the soil. By that miracle of nature, the spirit of their lost comrades lived on. The poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war and represented the hope that none had died in vain. The American Legion Auxiliary poppy has continued to bloom for the casualties of four wars, its petals of paper bound together for veterans by veterans, reminding America each year that the men and women who have served and died for their country deserve to be remembered. The poppy, as a memorial flower to the war dead, can be traced to a single individual, Moina Michael. She was so moved by Lt. Col. McCrae's poem, "In Flanders Fields," that she wrote a response:

. . . the blood of heroes never dies
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders' Fields.

On impulse, she bought a bouquet of poppies – all that New York City's Wanamaker's Department Store had – and handed them to businessmen meeting at the New York YMCA where she worked. She asked them to wear the poppy as a tribute to the fallen. That was November 1918. World War I was over, but America's sons would rest forever "in Flanders' Fields." Later she would spearhead a campaign that would result in the adoption of the poppy as the national symbol of sacrifice.

In Flanders Fields

"In Flanders Fields" is a war poem in the form of a rondeau, written during the First World War by Canadian physician and Lt. Col. John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Alexis Helmer, who died during the Second Battle of Ypres.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

–Lt. Col. John McCrae

HAPPY 240TH BIRTHDAY TO THE USMC!

As in years past, it is my honor to share the annual birthday tribute to the United States Marine Corps presented by Bob Parsons, Founder and former CEO and Executive Chairman of Go Daddy.  Please click HERE to view this 240th birthday presentation.     

In addition to Bob Parson's annual birthday tribute, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, with support from Go Daddy, is partnering with the Semper Fi Fund and  America's Fund to raise money to help critically ill and injured members of all of the United States Armed Forces and their families.  This matching campaign has the potential to raise $20 million for wounded, critically ill and injured veterans.  It is one of the largest matching campaigns in the history of veteran non-profits. Beginning November 5th through December 31, 2015,  up to $10 million in donations will be matched, dollar-for-dollar.

You have the power to make a difference!
Click HERE to help the heroes who have given so much for our freedom.

SEMPER FI!

With love and thanks to my husband and his Marine Corps brothers for their dedication and service, and with heartfelt thanks to all who have served or are currently serving.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF BOB "HEAVY" PETRELLA

Today and always we remember with deep love and affection our dear friend, Bob "Heavy" Petrella, who was a USMC Captain during the Vietnam War and was a recipient of 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for Valor.  

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I invite you to check out this website for a painting titled

VIETNAM ELEGY

created by our dear friend, renowned artist, 

Denham Clements.  

https://semperfifund.org/match

2016: Homeowner’s Net Worth Will Be 45x Greater Than a Renter

Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog Posted: 26 Oct 2015 04:00 AM PDT Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400). In a recent Forbes article the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts that in 2016 the net worth gap will widen even further to 45 times greater. The graph below demonstrates the results of the last two Federal Reserve studies and Yun’s prediction: Put Your Housing Cost to Work For You Simply put, homeownership is a form of ‘forced savings’. Every time you pay your mortgage you are contributing to your net worth. Every time you pay your rent, you are contributing to your landlord’s net worth. The latest National Housing Pulse Survey from NAR reveals that 80% of consumers believe that purchasing a home is a good financial decision. Yun comments: “Though there will always be discussion about whether to buy or rent, or whether the stock market offers a bigger return than real estate, the reality is that homeowners steadily build wealth. The simplest math shouldn’t be overlooked.” Bottom Line If you are interested in finding out if you could put your housing cost to work for you through homeownership, meet with a real estate professional in your area who can guide you through the process.

N.C. is becoming a 'craft beer powerhouse'

I've shared information about great BBQ in the area... now it's time to share news about North Carolina craft beer!  

Click HERE for an article by Rebecca Troyer that appeared in The Charlotte Business Journal.  The article called discusses the shout-out given to NC breweries by INVERSE, a Denver-based news and culture website.  The INVERSE blog post, named North Carolina as becoming one of the top 6 craft beer producing "powerhouses" in the country!

Many folks will tell you that there's nothing like BBQ and beer!   

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