This past July was recorded as the hottest on record for the Ocean State. That is according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was also the second hottest July for the entire globe. However, that is not the only hot news in Rhode Island.

The sizzling Cumberland Little League National team is one game away from going to Williamsport, PA for the Little League World Series.  They play Fairfield, CT in the regional final tomorrow night at 7:00 pm in Bristol, CT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.

This is all possible because of a come from behind victory last night in a game against the team from Vermont. Jack Edwards made the call of the winning homer for NESN. (I apologize for the advertisement in the front of the call, but I couldn’t find a version without the branding.)

Let’s hope we see these youngsters continue to the World Series.

Today was Career Day at Residential Properties. We hosted two career-oriented high school students, Pamela Gonzalez and Paola Peña. Through the Volunteer in Providence Schools (VIPS) organization, the Classical High School students gave us the opportunity to show them what they could expect to do in the real estate industry. We spent the morning with them, and, hopefully, they departed with a well rounded perspective of what to anticipate working in real estate and relocation.

Personally, I look forward to this event every year, it’s a great opportunity to introduce students to our industry and provide them with first-hand knowledge of what they would expect by choosing a career in real estate. Liz Messier, Director of Relocation Services, joined me in guiding the students through a typical day in real estate. We were introduced to this program through the Rotary of Providence.

Liz was shadowed by Paola Peña, and immersed her in the Relocation Division of the company. Paola learned how Liz communicates and delivers our relocation services message to corporate relocation clients.

Pamela Gonzalez followed me for the morning. I showed her how we would present a few of the homes listed by Residential Properties and taught her how to handle showing a house to prospective buyers. We also went to the Cumberland Office to meet my sales team and see how a typical real estate office operates.

VIPS is an award winning non-profit educational organization dedicated to enabling our city’s public school students to succeed in school and build a good foundation for their future. We were fortunate to have been given this opportunity by VIPS to provide these exceptional students with knowledge of a career path our agents have chosen, allowing them to begin deciding what they want in a career.

Looking for fun things to do with your kids? Here’s our list of our favorite things to do in the Northern Rhode Island Area.

1. Try the pastries at Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery

2. Swim and hike at Lincoln Woods

3. Hunt for quartz at Diamond Hill State Park

4. Treat yourself to some old fashion ice cream at The Ice Cream Machine located on 4288 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI

5. Take a day cruise or spend the night aboard the Samuel Slater Canal Boat

Did we forget something? Feel free to add to our list in the comments section!

Residential Properties Ltd. would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s “Deck Your Doors” contest.

Our first place winner was Karen Bergevine at 735 Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland.  In second place was Maureen Burke at 75 Fairhaven Rd, Cumberland and third place winner was Sheilah Figliolini at 12 Westbrook Way, Cumberland.  We saw fabulous responses to this year’s theme: Let’s think Green this Holiday season!!  Cumberland homeowners creatively decorated with fresh greens.

“Deck Your Doors” began in 1995 when I joined the Cumberland office of Residential Properties as its new manager.  My agents wanted to think of a way to give back to the community during the holiday season.  Since people put so much time into decorating their homes, we thought it would be fun to highlight this creativity.  We organized contests for 10 years, donating the entry fees to local non-profit organizations.

We haven’t organized the contest in a few years.  In view of this year’s trying times, we decided to waive any entry fee and allow people to come together in creative spirit.  In the past, charities that have benefitted from the contest include Children’s Friend and Service, Cumberland Library, Cumberland Senior Center, Blackstone Shelter, DARE, Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland/Lincoln, Cumberland High School, Home and Hospice Care of RI, to name a few.

In the past, holiday themes have included “Holidays for Children”, “Celebration of light”, and “A patriotic Holiday”.  Every year we are so impressed with the imagination of our fellow Blackstone Valley residents.

We would like to thank our three judges: Peter Dandurand, real estate broker and former owner of Dandurand Flower Shop, Marcia Green, Managing Editor-in-chief of The Valley Breeze, and Tracy Lee of Interiors by Tracy Lee.  The judging took place on Thursday night, December 18th.

Click here to read the story on “Deck Your Doors,” printed in The Valley Breeze.

Next year, we will be changing this contest to include tours of holiday decorated interiors of homes in Cumberland.