Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in their own homes and workplaces. The feelings of security and safety are paramount to being able to rest and relax comfortably at night and during the day when you are away. Suffering through break-ins are probably the worst wake up calls. If you have or know someone who has gone through a break in, you will be aware of how traumatic and disturbing the violation of privacy can be. Not only is it an unpleasant emotional consequence, but just a financial one.
The first step to maintaining your security is to invest in a good safety lock. Home security is critical. If you are in the process of changing homes or moving cities, you should seriously start considering the benefits of upgrading the preexisting locks on the doors and windows to increase the security. If you are unsure how to do this, you could contact a reputed locksmith, like Seymour Locksmiths and request a consultation to amp the safety of your property from all aspects, and not just the main door. You could consider upgrading your locks to comply with the standards set by insurance companies so that you are financially secure in the long term.
Let us look at how you can reinforce the security of your locks to keep your property safe from thieves and burglars.
Check all locks:
The first thing to do is to always take stock of how easy it is to break into your own house. Try to jimmy a window open or kick the doorjamb a few times to test how well they hold against external force and pressure. Many times, you will realize that with a few strategically placed kicks to the main door or back door, it is relatively easy to force open your way into the house.
Most burglaries happen by kicking in the main, front, back, or garage doors since these are not always secure. Old locks, without any reinforcement, can be detrimental to the safety of your house rather than remaining instrumental in protecting your home. Get a reputable locksmith to evaluate the feasibility of your doors and which locks would suit your home the best.
Replace the deadbolt:
Start your upgrade journey by replacing the old deadbolt. Mostly all deadbolts are held together by 2 screws on the interior and two more on the faceplate. Unscrew and remove the old one, measure it, make a note of the hole size and distance of the back set. These measurements will help you decide the correct size to buy a new deadbolt to replace the old one. Rebore the hole by clamping ¼-inches plywood over the current hole location. Once done, make the markings for the earlier measurements and bore the hole with a hole-saw.
Once done, you can start installing the new deadbolt. Chisel out any additional wood to get the perfect fit for your new bolt. Once you’re done, insert and screw the new deadbolt cylinder. Now, clean up, and test the new deadbolt. This is the most crucial step of the process. You could also have a reputable locksmith come and do this for you at a fee.
Reinforce the security strike plate:
Don’t just pay attention to the locking mechanisms and the deadbolt. You should also reinforce or upgrade the strike plate on your doors. The Strike plate houses the entire door lock and is made of metal. Often, when a door is kicked in, the strike plate tends to dislocate first. Professional locksmiths will inform you about the importance of the strike plate since regular strike plates have relatively small areas and cannot transmit force all over the surface structure.
Ideally, to prevent this from happening, you should buy a security strike plate to secure the door, jamb, deadbolt, and locking mechanisms. Security strike plates are more robust to break and last longer than the normal ones. The help in transmitting the force of a kick or excessive pressure throughout the door and do not shatter upon impact.
Apart from just upgrading your locks on the door, you should also look at securing the windows and installing protective shatterproof glass. Outfitting your doors with mortise locks that cannot be bumped or picked open can help secure your house. Mortise locks ensure that the discs inside the deadbolt locks are difficult to tamper with. Many manufacturers also have patented design on their keys which increases the overall security of the bolts and prevents key tampering and copying.
It is hard to believe that summer is officially wrapping up. But as days get shorter there is still plenty of time to toast the season in style with these favorite white wines.
Kenwood Vineyards Six Ridges Chardonnay 2019
This refreshing chardonnay crisp apple and crunchy peach flavors is electrifying and oh, so yummy! It brings out the feeling of velvet caressing you. This is simmply all of the best the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County has to offer.
Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Divinely balanced wine with zesty aromas and highlights of pink grapefruit, melon and gooseberry. It refreshing and perfectly sweet. Every sip will have you singing praises to the wonderful summer you just had.
I was taken to City Winery by Eli Marcus for the Beatles Brunch with Strawberry Fields. 
This show plays every Sunday with an unlimited brunch buffet that includes coffee, tea and juice, starting at noon. A bottomless brunch cocktail package is also available and children get in free. Here tourists mingle with New Yorkers, eating scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, dried out French toast, spicy potatoes with onions and peppers, perfectly done chicken, salad and fresh fruit. What is so nice, is that everyone seems happy to to be here, to see and hear the Fab Four.
Eli Marcus, Suzanna Bowling
The show starts off without fan fare. The lights dim and four men enter, not quite looking like the originals. Tony Garofalo (John Lennon), Billy J. Ray (Paul McCartney), Ira Siegel (George Harrison), and Michael Bellusci (Ringo Starr) and their costumes and wigs have seen better days. Then the music starts. You can watch one of our video’s here.
From the early hits like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “Ticket To Ride” “Eight Days A Week” and more the first act is nostalgia at it’s best. It was adorable to watch the audience, especially the young ones “Twist and Shout.”
After a break in came the Sergeant Pepper era, clothing and all. From that we got “Nowhere Man,” “My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “When I’m 64,” “Penny Lane” and songs that dig into your soul. They are done well and the Beatles live again. You can see our video here.
Then the later songs like “I Am The Walrus” and “Don’t Let Me Down” end a show that is almost two hour long of music, that is classic. I have to admit I wanted to hear “Blackbird” and “Norwegian Wood,” but what you get is a well rounded assortment of those songs that shaped several era’s.
Billy J. Ray, Ira Siegel
Ira Siegel stands out with his guitar playing that is out of this world. I really loved all the songs he sang as well.
Michael Bellusci
Michael Bellusci, gives Ringo a run for his money on the drums.
Tony Garofalo
Tony Garofalo is the founder, creator and producer playing rhythm and lead guitar and singing lead vocals along with Alan LeBoeuf from the original Beatlemania playing bass guitar. Ray looks the most like the Beatle he is playing.
Alan LeBoeuf, Ira Siegel
Alan LeBoeuf, Ira Siegel
Alan LeBoeuf
Strawberry Fields has been covering The Beatles for over three decades. They used to have a residency at B.B. Kings, but these days their home base is City Winery and it is definitely a great way to spend a Sunday. All four are consummate musicians and obviously have a love for what they do and that rubs off on their audience.
For a souvenir up a City Winery Strawberry Fields Rose Wine and have it signed by the cast. With its is its strawberry pink color, you get a combination of kiwi, watermelon and the taste of strawberry that lingers.
City Winery is right next to Little Island, Chelsea Market, The Highline, the Meatpacking district, Chelsea, and West Village. Everything is nearby to make a perfect outing for the whole day and this is one brunch where you definitely get your money’s worth. Click HERE for tickets
Tickets are $65.45
Thank-you again to Eli Marcus and the staff of Dave and Buster’s, at 234 West 42nd Street.
Eli Marcus
Eli was sending the concierge’s to the show The Shark Is Broken.
The producers of The Shark Must Be Broken, Eli Marcus and the general manager of Dave and Buster’s
There were lots of new friends to be made such as Carol Mennie, Caroline Rosado from the Hilton, Dinnella Collado from the Washington Square Hotel, Benjamin Maddy from Dave and Buster’s and Maddie of Benjamin Steakhouse Prime
Maddie
This destination for sports enthusiasts, foodies, and arcade offers space, fun and some fabulous happy hour deals.
All across the multiple screens were football, basketball, and hockey games from across the sporting world. At the sports bar an impressive selection of drinks, including craft beers, signature cocktails await. I sampled some their tasty bites and was impressed.
wings
Pretzel Dogs
To sooth your inner child air hockey and arcade games are waiting to be played.
Margarita and I playing for Make A Wish
If you are looking for entertainment they have a legendary Trivia Night with fantastic prizes.
Double Pepperoni Flatbread
wings
BBQ Chicken Flatbread
This is actually a great place to throw your holiday parties.
Fire-Grilled Atlantic Salmon
Boneless Wings
Chocolate- and caramel-filled churros with chocolate and salted caramel dipping sauces.
I am so glad the Mayor of Times Square invited me to his event.
Margarita Parlionas and Eli Marcus
-Kent Walz, attorney & journalist
Diane Dimond’s book on the scourge of abusive adult guardianships is coming out very soon. It only took her 8 long years of investigation and countless interviews with affected people to get to the bottom of this extremely flawed part of the justice system.
People who have lived through this nightmare knows first hand what this “protective” part of the court system can do to rip apart families. But because it’s such a secretive system few Americans realize that they – or someone they love – could be guardianized without warning. It’s not just Britney Spears – up to 2 million people currently live under guardianship/court control.
All it takes is for someone (a vindictive relative, a greedy business partner, a former lover, even a landlord) to file a guardianship petition with the court saying someone is not competent to care for themselves. The judge usually agrees – often without ever seeing the targeted person – and the guardianship is established. Judges routinely appoint a total stranger as guardian to make all life decisions for the new “ward of the court.” All their civil rights are stripped away and, suddenly, the person has no say in their own life –they can’t even hire their own lawyer to fight it. There are many more horrific aspects to this “justice” system and Ms. Dimond spells it all out in the book.
We’re Here to Help – When Guardianship Goes Wrong not only reveals the predatory nature of the system (which controls a collective $50 billion in ward’s money every year!) but also tells what to look out for. It provides a guide for readers to protect themselves and those they love.
Diane Dimond is the author of four books including the upcoming, “We’re Here to Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong,“ published by Brandeis University Press, released Sept. 19, 2023
On September 18th at 7:00 PM at The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, Voices: Stars for Foster Kids a musical benefit for You Gotta Believe, a NYC organization specializing in helping older foster youth find permanent, loving families will take place. Hosted by SiriusXM’s Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, expect a plethora of Broadway stars and performers, who will come together to celebrate the power of love and family.
Performers include; Rosie Perez, Bellamy Young, Ta’ Nika Gibson, Charlotte d’Amboise and Terrence Mann, Sharon Catherine Brown, Griffin Matthews and Matt Gould, Krysta Rodriguez, Anika Larsen, Norm Lewis, Gracie McGraw, Patina Miller, Brenda Braxton
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