Local Activities and Community Events
Properties with resident services, please see bulletin board/flyer holders for upcoming programs and services.
Local Activities and Community Events
DC Metro Hiring Event: January 11th 11:00a - 1:00p
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW, Washington, D.C
20008
Jobs include Police Officer, Dispatcher, Personal Banker, Bank
Teller, Financial Services Representative, Retail Manager,
Service Manager, Sales Manager and more!
Must register to attend.
Visit eventbright.com and search D.C. Metro 2017 Hiring Event.
Your Washington Wizards
Check out the Washington Wizards at home this month!
With the Redskins regular schedule now over, you can check out the
Washington Wizards this month.
Financial Saving Tips
Financial Savings Tip: All Cash Diet
Consider an All Cash Diet.
If you’re consistently
overspending ditch carrying your
debit and credit card and bring
cash only.
Source: muse.com
Tax Season Tips
Avoid a Tax Refund Delay: Plan Ahead!
As tax filing season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
is reminding taxpayers about steps they can take now to ensure
smooth processing of their 2016 tax return and avoid a delay in
getting their tax refund next year.
The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have all the documents
they need, such as W-2s and 1099s, before filing a tax return. You
may also need a copy of your 2015 tax return to make it easier
to fill out a 2016 tax return. Beginning in 2017, taxpayers using a
software product for the first time may need their Adjusted Gross
Income amount from a prior tax return to verify their identity. Learn
more about how to verify your identity and electronically sign your
tax return by visiting www.irs.com. The IRS will begin accepting and
processing tax returns once the filing season begins.
Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH
Act), any Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) issued
prior to 2013 or that haven’t been used for tax years 2013, 2014
and 2015 will no longer be valid for use on a tax return as of Jan. 1,
2017. For more information, visit the ITIN information page on IRS.
gov.
If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child
Tax Credit (ACTC) on your tax return, the IRS must hold your refund
until February 15. This new law requires the IRS to hold the entire
refund, even the portion not associated with EITC or ACTC. This
change helps ensure that you receive the refund you are owed by
giving the agency more time to help detect and prevent fraud.
The IRS always cautions taxpayers not to rely on getting a refund by
a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying
bills. Though the IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less
than 21 days, some returns are held for further review.
Washington Wizards Basketball Schedule (Home)
Friday, January 6th, 7:00p v. Minnesota Timberwolves, Verizon Center
Tuesday, January 10th, 7:00p v. Chicago Bulls, Verizon Center
Saturday, January 14th, 8:00p v. Philadelphia Sixers
Monday, January 16th, 2:00p v. Portland Trailblazers
Wednesday, January 18th, 7:00p v. Memphis Grizzlies, Verizon Center
Monday, January 23rd, 7:00p v. Charlotte Hornets
Recipe
The easiest way to avoid common errors that delay processing a tax
return is to e-file. E-file is the most accurate way to prepare a return
and file. There are a number of e-file options:
•IRS Free File
•Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the
Elder¬ly programs
•Commercial tax preparation software
•A tax professional
Source:Servicecoordinators.com
January Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
•2 whole chickens, cut fricassee style (breast
cut into 2, legs separated from thighs, wings and
back discarded)
•2 tablespoons olive oil
•1 head garlic, broken into whole, unpeeled
cloves
•2 cups chicken stock or jus
•1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, roughly
chopped in a food processor with juice
•2 roasted red peppers, peeled and sliced into
strips
•2 branches rosemary, leaves picked
•4 branches thyme, leaves picked
•1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
•Sea salt
•Crushed black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Season chicken on all
sides with salt and crushed black pepper.
2. Situate a large roasting pan between two
burners over medium-high heat. Add olive oil.
When pan is hot, roast chicken pieces skin side
down and cook until brown. Pour off fat, turn
chicken pieces over and add garlic, chicken
stock, tomatoes, peppers, rosemary and thyme.
3. Place roasting in oven and cook until chicken
is cooked through and sauce has thickened.
4. Place chicken on a serving platter. Add vinegar to sauce, stir to combine (if sauce is too thin,
place roasting pan back on stove top situated
between two burners and cook down until it
reaches desired consistency.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.
Source: https://www.citymeals.org/news-more/
in-the-kitchen/on-the-menu/meat-poultry/chicken-cacciatore
Housekeeping Tips: Protect Your Joints
To minimize trauma on your body and joints while cleaning, first warm up by walking around the house. Then follow these
joint-friendly easy cleaning moves.
Back-Safe Bending
Common mistake: Bending from the waist.
Typical tasks: Unloading washer, dryer and dishwasher; gathering and picking up items; washing dishes; ironing; cleaning
under furniture; scrubbing tubs; making beds.
Safe solutions:
• Follow the old saying, “bend with your knees, not your back.” Slightly flex knees, and keep a hollow in your back.
• When standing, minimize back pressure by placing one foot on an elevated surface, such as a stepstool or bottom shelf.
• When unloading, use a “golfer’s lift.” Simply kick back the leg opposite your extended arm.
• Kneel or get help for floor-level or awkward tasks.
Reach Right
Common mistake: Reaching with your arm fully stretched.
Typical tasks: Dusting; washing dishes; reaching overhead shelves; cleaning windows or walls; picking up objects.
Safe solutions:
• Keep arms close to your body to minimize strain on shoulders.
• Bring objects to waist level instead of reaching out with arms.
• Utilize wands and poles with extended handles.
• Avoid excessive back and arm extension by using a sturdy stepstool when reaching for overhead items.
Knee Know-How
Common mistake: Kneeling on both knees.
Typical tasks: Washing floors; cleaning low cabinets; scrubbing tubs and showers.
Safe solutions:
• Kneel on one knee and switch knees often to minimize and disperse pressure.
• Wear kneepads or cushion knees with a piece of clothing or a mat.
Source: The Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org
Never Write a Rent Check Again!
It’s the beginning of the month-you got things to do, places to be,
and bills to pay. We understand how busy you are and how long
that ‘to-do’ list can get.
That’s why we’ve made it as easy as possible to mark “pay rent”
off the list every month with our convenient and secure, electronic
payment and mobile app option! You can make a one-time rent
payment online or with our app without purchasing a money order
or standing in line. It’s fast, easy and can be done when you want,
from where you want.
CPM Connections
Columbus Property Management Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 4
Table of Contents
Page 2
Local Activities and
Community Events
Page 3
Financial Tip
Tips for Seniors
Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
Page 4
Housekeeping Tips
Pay Rent Online!
Monthly Quote
Grievance Policy
Plus it’s FREE! That’s right, FREE! Save time and money by
paying your rent online or with our app!
Please contact Susan McMichael at (215) 557-8414 x3211 to sign
up today!
Grievance Procedure for Residents
A resident may ask CPM to reconsider any adverse decision should a dispute not be resolved through normal procedures at the site
level. Request for reconsideration must be in writing and must set forth the specific reasons why the resident or prospective resident
believes the decision was in error. Any reconsideration request must be limited to the allegation and issues directly related to the
alleged adverse action. The complainant must identify all relevant information that he or she believes is incorrect or that was
omitted from previous consideration. The request must include all new and material information believed to support the
reconsideration request. All grievances will be reviewed by a company officer and will be responded to within 10 business days of
receipt.
Please direct all grievances to: Columbus Property
Management, Attn: Grievance/Complaint, 2042-48 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103 or by email to: [email protected]
Brought to you by Columbus Property Management,
a member of Mission First Housing Group
January 2017
Five Ways to Stick with Your New Year’s Resolutions
With 2017 quickly approaching, it’s time to consider the things we want to change in our
lives next year. For many of us, these aspirations come in the form of New Year’s resolutions. But keeping these resolutions often seems impossible.
Here are a few ways you can stick with yours.
1. Clearly Define Goals
The problem most people have is that they don’t set the right goals. In order to increase
your chances of actually accomplishing your resolution.
• Goals need to have specific outcomes.
• You need to have a way of measuring your results.
• Goals need to be realistic and achievable.
• Good goals are relevant.
• Goals should be time-bound.
2. Set Check Points
It’s one thing to have a goal that says something like, “I want to lose 25 pounds by
December 31, 2017.” It’s another thing to say, “I want to lose 2 pounds per month, every
month this year.” The latter gives you something to work with. You need to lose 2 pounds
every month, which keeps you on pace. If your goal is to lose 25 pounds by the end of
the year, it’s easy to put things off until October or November (when it’s almost too late).
3. Keep a Calendar With Reminders
If you’re a visual person, you need to keep a calendar with reminders on it. Find a calendar that you like, hang it on your wall, and place little notes and progress reports on it.
This allows you to look ahead and see what needs to be done during any given week or
month in order to help you realize your resolution for the year.
4. Allow for Flexibility
One common problem people have is that they feel as if their resolutions are “all or
nothing.” In other words, if you can’t fully check something off the list, they won’t do it at
all. This is a dangerous way of thinking and you need to avoid it.
“The difference between doing something rather than nothing is huge,” leadership coach
Kevin Kruse says. “If you don’t have a full hour to workout at the gym, just decide to
make it the best 20-minutes you can. If you have a slight cold or minor injury, decide to
just walk the track for a couple miles. If you have a financial emergency and can’t save
your full 10% this month, just save what you can. The bottom line is, any effort towards
your goal is better than no effort.”
5. Have an Accountability Partner
The final tip is to have an accountability partner. When someone else is aware of your
goals and resolutions, you’re much more likely to stick with them. Connect with someone
you trust and ask them to hold you accountable.
You Can Do It! Keeping your New Year’s resolutions (especially one that’s mentally or
physically challenging) can seem impossible. However, once you accomplish your first
resolution, you’ll realize that it’s not only possible – it’s also rewarding and fun. Follow
these tips and you can be sure to make progress with your resolutions in 2017.
Office Closings
Property Management and Resident
Services will be closed in observance of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday,
January 16.
Offices will reopen on Tuesday morning.
Management and Resident Services wish a “Happy Birthday” to
all residents born in January!