Tips needed for prepping my summer cottage for a New England winter.?

Any standing water should have antifreeze added...for instance, a toilet bowl with water still in the bowl, when the water freezes it will crack the bowl...I have left electronics in subzero temps, with no problems, however, like yourself was somewhat reluctant to do it...canned and dry food will do fine in the cabinets...make sure they are sealed tight, and no chance for mice or squirrels to get into them...good luck!

Use a safe anti-freeze for the toilets, not the automotive type. Turn off the water, flush out some of the tanks water, add the anti-freeze to the tank and partially flush again. You want to circulate the antifreeze throughout the toilet to protect it.

Most canned goods should be fine, we had a cabin way up north, that experienced -20 as a rule and we had no problems. But we also stored our canned goods at least 5 feet off the floor and kept our dry goods below that in metal tins.

Keeping the canned goods that high off the floor, can mean a difference of 10 degrees, from the floor. As a rule I wouldn't eat canned goods over one winter, just to be safe.

Electronics are fine. We keep radios and a TV at the cabin year round, we've had no problems.

Shut curb valve in street and blow out water lines. Put safe anti-freeze (not auto anti-freeze) in toilet bowl, tank, dishwasher and wash machine. Shut main electrical breaker. Go to Radio shack and buy a device that you hook up to your phone line that will dial three numbers and say that the temperature is below what you set the device for. Shut the main house valve in case someone accidental opens your curb cock. Insulate from the main valve back to as far as you can go. Consider low voltage pipe heaters which means you'll have to leave the electric on.

remove all canned food, most have water in them, soups, stews,Etc,

dry foods will be ok,