88th Annual Academy Awards
Hollywood`s finest in film came together Sunday night to celebrate another wonderful year of film. This glamorous event took place at the beautiful Dolby Theatre in sunny Los Angeles. This is the most highly anticipated night in film especially for the cast and crew of The Big Short, Bridge Of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight who were all nominated for Best Picture, which was won by Spotlight. Although these are just a few films from the night, there was so much more to the 88th Academy Awards ceremony including fashion, celebrities and unforgettable performances.
Along with the prestigious award of Best Picture, there were many awards given out that night. Best actress in a Lead Role was won by Brie Larson for her performance in Room. Actor in a Supporting Role went to Mark Rylance for his performance in A Bridge of spies. Actress in a Supporting Role went to Alicia Vikander for her performance in The Danish Girl. The Best Animated Feature Film went to Pixar for the third year in a row. And the most anticipated win of the night went to Leonardo DiCaprio for his performance in The Revenant. His much awaited win began with a standing ovation followed by his brilliant speech which touched on the issues of climate change and other natural issues. These were just a few of the honorable awards given out that night.
The night was also filled with inspiring performances from Sam Smith, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga to name a few. Sam Smith gave a beautiful performance of “Writings On The wall”, which later won for Best Original Song. The Weeknd performed his nominated hit “Earned It” from the film Fifty Shades of Gray. His performance was accompanied by dancers, gymnasts and trapeze artists which closely mimicked his music video for the song. Lady Gaga was one of the last performers to take the stage. She lit up the stage with her performance of “Till It Happens to You”. This performance was introduced by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., he then addressed the crowd and asked viewers to take a pledge: “I will intervene in situations when consent has not or cannot be given. This star filled event not only acknowledged the hard work and dedication put into the current film season but also current events that not only impact the world but also the world of film. The countdown is already set for the 89th Annual Academy Awards and the much anticipated year of film that has just begun.
Written by Sandra Costanzo
Adding Value To Your Home
As your home grows in age, the value of your home starts to drop. If you are looking to increase the value of your home, consider some of these home renovations to help add value to your home.
Invest in your kitchen: A kitchen update and remodeling your kitchen is a safe bet when it comes to adding value to your home. Even if the rest of your home is in excellent condition, a poorly functioning kitchen can detract from the overall value. Consider putting in new cabinets and counters to give the kitchen a whole new look.
Look to paint: One of the least expensive improvement materials is painting! Neutral and modern colors can help liven up any space. If you paint with low-VOC paint, you can also advertise your home as an eco-friendly home.
Put in another bathroom: Multiple bathrooms are an attractive retail point, especially in older homes. Finding the space to add a bathroom may be hard, but consider closets, areas under stairs or taking space away from another room. If you do not have the rooms for a full bath consider adding a half bath.
Add illumination to rooms: A dark room in a home is a dull room. Adding overhead and accent lighting can really make a difference in the appearance of your home. Under cabinet lighting in your kitchen is also a nice touch.
Improve curb appeal: Adding attractive landscaping outside of your home and freshening up the entryway to your home can add considerable value to your home, as buyers judge the home from its exterior look. Well placed planting and an inviting front door can do wonders to a home.
If you are a homeowner and recently have, or plan to complete renovations to your home, don’t forget to call your Insurance Agent to discuss possible discounts on your Homeowners Insurance. If you are interested in a quotation for your home, give C.H. Edwards, Inc., a call and one of our courteous Homeowners Insurance Specialists will be happy to assist you. 516-249-5200 www.chedwards.net.
Written by: Amanda Haase
Child Passenger Safety Awareness
Did you know, that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19? Although this is a leading cause, there are many ways that we can prevent injury and death among children, while they are passengers in our vehicles.
Here are some helpful safety tips to follow when driving with your child(ren):
- Tug on your kid’s car seat where the seat belt goes. If it moves more than 1 inch at the base, be sure to tighten it.
- Make sure your child is using the proper car seat. Using the proper seating based on your child’s age can very well save their life in case of a crash. You can view proper car seat choices at http://www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/Right-Car-Seat-Age-Size.htm.
- Make sure your child’s car seat is installed properly. Studies show that about 75 percent of car seats are improperly installed. To properly install your car seat, carefully follow the instructions that come with your seat. After installing your car seat, be sure to get it inspected. You can find local inspection sites near you at http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm.
- DO NOT text and drive. Not only does texting and driving put you and your child’s life at risk, but it teaches young ones, bad habits. Avoid being distracted by beeps and buzzes by putting your phone in airplane mode, turning the volume down or completely turning it off.
- Never leave children alone in or around cars. More than 600 children died from heatstroke in vehicles between 1998 and 2013. Many children also die from playing near cars and getting struck by a car backing up. Be sure that you know where your children are at all times when traveling with them.
Please be cautious, attentive, and safety minded with children. Not only can you help make sure they are safe in and around vehicles, but you can save their life.
For more information on child passenger safety please visit http://www.safercar.gov/parents/index.htm.
Written by: Amanda Haase
Disney Pin Trading
Are you looking for a way to make your 
next trip to Disney a little more magical? Have you ever tried pin trading? With all the collections and series to choose from, there are pins out there for everybody. And what makes it even more fun is that you get to interact with the cast members while trading. Each cast member at every merchandise location has a full lanyard of new pins. They are always excited to trade with you and sometimes they even make a game out of it. If you see a pin with the back facing forward then you found a mystery pin. Depending on the cast member you can either choose that pin or answer a trivia question to see it. Whether it’s a mystery pin or a visible pin, it’s always fun to find all the pins you need to collect the set.
Even though the cast members are always eager to trade and interact with you. There are always rules to this fun filled game. Here are the top 7 rules to remember while pin trading.
1. Make sure to ask the cast member to see their lanyard without touching or grabbing their land yard without permission.
2. Don’t feel obligated to trade. If they don’t have a pin you need, it’s okay! Just thank them anyway.
3. If you would like to trade, tell the cast member which one you need and which one you are trading.
4. There is a limit of 2 pins per trade.
5. Make sure to put the pin back on the pin before handing it to the cast member. This prevents anyone from getting poked.
6. Keep your hand open so the cast member can place the pin on your hand without dropping it.
7. Thank the cast member for the trade and they will do the same.
Pin trading is fun for all ages and the perfect way to interact with the cast. You can purchase starter packs of pins that come with lanyards at most merchandise locations. You can also buy individual pins and lanyards. There are also pin specific locations in each park that have exclusive pins. Next time you are in Disney, don’t forget to check out the pin trading works. Happy trading!
Written By: Sandra Costanzo