I recently had the opportunity to participate in a tour of Mamaroneck High School given by the head of the Guidance Department for a prospective buyer. Though I always knew it was an exciting and dynamic high school (my children and I graduated from there), I was astounded and very pleased to see how the school has been brought into the twenty-first century. The diversity of programming and opportunity is astounding. In addition to the course offerings and extracurricular activities one would expect to see in a highly rated high school, there is an award winning fine arts program complete with a beautiful gallery for the display of students’ work, a performing arts curriculum with its own performance venue, a fully equipped television studio where students generate a daily broadcast, fully equipped science labs and an up-to-date library. What this means for the students is that, whatever their special interest or strength, they can find a niche where that interest can be fully developed. We happened to walk through the school on a rainy day at lunch time, and what I saw was a student body fully engaged in their high school experience–happy, healthy kids sitting on the floor of the hallways or in the cafeteria, chatting, smiling and laughing. They are very fortunate indeed–though I am sure they take it all for granted–because they are growing up in a rich and nurturing environment where their potential, whatever it is, can be realized to the fullest.

Posted By: Marjorie Weschler

You know Warhol and Chagall. You know Klee and Munch. What about Fereshetian? The name doesn’t ring a bell? Actually, I don’t know much about him either, except that I have hundreds of his paintings in my basement.

How did they get there? As real estate agents, we are quite often faced with new situations. One day last year, one of my colleagues told me her “situation.” She had just sold a house and there were hundred of paintings, drawings and sketches left from the owner who had passed away. His children were not interested and she was afraid that his artwork would just be trashed.

We got into my Jeep and drove over to New Rochelle where the house was located in Sans Souci, one of the neighborhoods on the Long Island Sound. This is the moment that I encountered the art of Mr. Fereshetian. I love the colors that he used, the fantasy, the silly little animals, and the grandiose bouquets of flowers. But what do I do with hundreds of pieces of art that don’t have an owner anymore? We are selling them for a good cause at $20 a piece. Half of the money will go to Rotary International and the other half to Fields for Kids, a local initiative to improve the play fields in the community.

So do you want to get to know Fereshetian? Contact me.

Posted By: H. Juergen Hess

Did you know that just outside the Town of Bedford - Northeast of Katonah - there is an enclave of homes surrounding “Lake Katonah” in the Town of Lewisboro?

Many of them were built as summer homes back in the 1930s and now have been winterized for year-round use. Over time properties were divided and new homes were built - so every era of American homes is represented there. No cookie cutter houses or McMansions! There are some especially charming ones that are very idyllic.

I was once showing my then very young children my new discovery on a Sunday ride (that sounds very 30s as well!) when we heard a distant chorus singing “The Sound of Music.” The lilting voices just traveled through the summer air. It was a private outdoor concert held at one of the homes there. Guests were seated at round tables on the various terraces and patios of the property. The chorus members were dressed in long white gowns.

Many of you by now may realize my obsession with The Sound Of Music - my trips to Salzburg and naming my small & white Bichon - “Edelweiss.” Sometimes he is “clean and bright” - and he is ALWAYS happy to greet me!

The residents are a very interesting mix of full time and weekend homeowners. Many are from New York City. There is a very charming log cabin clubhouse on the shores of the lake, a playground and a tennis court. There are day camps and activities for the children and community barbecues/get togethers for all of the residents. The clubhouse may also be reserved for private parties as well.

It is also a wonderful walking community - with or without your dog in tow.

There are some very charming homes on the market there right now - one having been an Inn and is now a wonderful 5 bedroom 4 bath totally renovated home!

The children are in the Katonah Lewisboro School district. The Metro North Station is in Goldens Bridge - the stop right before or after Katonah - and is about 1 hr to New York City. The hamlet of Katonah, The Katonah Museum of Art, plus 684 and The Saw Mill are all just minutes away.

If you would like to discover Lake Katonah just let me know!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

My pick of the week is a Contemporary that feels more like a Colonial - how can that be?

When you pack it full of more features than a traditional colonial can provide, yet it has a similar flow to the floor plan. Once you enter this house you would feel like you are in a traditional colonial so you get the best of both styles. This beautiful house boasts of 21st century updating from top to bottom. There is enough sunlight to grow a forest of ficus trees in the entry hall and living room. (And they have) The kitchen boasts of the finest granite and cherry cabinets with stainless steel appliances and your guests will love to use the powder room which has tumbled marble and glass vessel sink. There are two fireplaces, a new furnace, and 2 zones of central air conditioning. There are four bedrooms, a finished basement, but wait, wait, wait, there’s more! You could be swimming in a 20 x 40 ft. recently resurfaced Gunite pool and relaxing around the stone patio on opening day May 30th! This home is located in the town of Somers at the end of a long cul-de-sac street, so you’d meet lots of news friends and neighbors on the day you move in. Now, where else can you get all that for $679,000? To see this fabulous house, call me (914-552-0242) it is by far the best value for the money on the market today! I will be holding an Open House, Sunday March 22, 2009 from 1 - 4pm 35 at David Drive, Somers NY, so come see the new best buy on the market. I’m not the listing agent, but love, love, love this house!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

The Northern Star Quilt Guild which meets in Somers presents a quilt show every April. Quilters from around the area send their quilts to be judged and displayed for the public to view. There are also lectures, demonstrations, quilt vendors, a raffle for a beautiful quilt and the proceeds support a local charity. It is an amazing event, organized and run by the members of the guild and it is a labor of love given to the community! There are various categories of quilts and they are judged based on criteria ranging from hand or machine quilting, use of color, and representation of the theme. There is tremendous talent on display regardless of your preference for old and traditional or the newer artistic style quilts. This is an event you want to see, so mark your calendars and bring your friends. Husbands are welcome too.

For additional information contact: www.northernstarquilters.com.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Meeting clients for the first time always stirs up a little angst. We usually recommend that clients come to the office for the first face to face visit. One reason for this is that we will need to explain “agency.”

In the olden days, real estate agents always worked for the seller because the seller pays the realtor fee deducted from the sale price of their home. In everyday practice however, agents naturally became close to their buyers/customers for obvious reasons. Time was spent together looking for that perfect house. Often the kids were along and eventually the in-laws.

The way we dealt with this, before buyer agency, was to explain right away to customers that whatever they didn’t want a seller to know, they should keep to themselves. Our job was to facilitate the purchase and the sale of real estate……to help the parties come to “a meeting of the minds.”

Then along comes buyer agency. So, when these brand new customers come in we have to tell them that if they check and sign “buyer agency” we will indeed then be representing them with full fiduciary responsibilities. Otherwise, we work for the seller. Confusion sets in. Okay. “No, this is not a contract-you are bound to nothing.” “this document doesn’t mean you are stuck with me forever, it just explains agency relationships and by your signing you are acknowledging that you understand.” Sure.

Great…..you show them houses, get coffee and lunch with them, email them all week and make an appointment to go out again. You often will know their dreams and aspirations. And then….you show them a Houlihan Lawrence listing and they love it!! Their hopes are your hopes; you are THEIR realtor. And then you try and explain dual agency.

I think I liked it better the old way. We negotiated “a meeting of the minds,” and both parties wish they had done a little better. Trust is ever the important key.

Posted By: Drayton Gerety

Thursdays are busy days for Real Estate Agent in Katonah, Pound Ridge, Bedford, South Salem, and North Salem. That’s because agents scurry from house to house as quickly as they can to see as many new listings on the market as possible. The Seller’s agent hosts the Open House to make it easy for all agents to preview the houses and hopefully, take their clients back.

So, in the span of 3 hours I previewed 9 houses, snacking and grazing on food offered by the seller’s agents offer to lure agents in. Out of the nine houses I went to there was only one I thought was prepared for sale and properly priced. It is located in Pound Ridge and the asking price is $779,000. This house is so tastefully updated throughout and fits the description of what everyone looking for a house asks for. It is clean, updated, move in ready, private setting on flat level property, has a beautiful kitchen, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths.

As for the other eight, well, their owners will learn the painful lesson of what happens when a house isn’t staged, cleaned up, presented as a product for sale, and priced appropriately. You see what sellers don’t know is that not only do the real estate agents really know what a house is worth, but by the time the buyers are ready to make an offer, they do too!

Upon returning to the office other agents’ comments validated my opinions. I doubt any seller would like to be a fly on the wall in the real estate office Thursday afternoons.

Check back next week for a hot new pick or call Sonja at: 914-552-0242

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

You would not be the first to think of me, the friendly Realtor, as a better resource than the Yellow Pages for service providers and where to find the unique and unusual. I love hearing from my past and present clients requesting information and recommendations with a variety of questions. Working in the towns of Katonah, Pound Ridge, Bedford, Somers, North Salem, and South Salem, I am familiar with and know who does what well, and where to go for what you need. If I don’t I have the answer, I know who to ask who does. So, if you have any questions and can’t find what you need in those Yellow Pages, please feel free to give me a call: 914-552-0242 or email me at: slovas@houlihanlawrence.com.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest and most important investment they will make. A thorough home inspection, done by a licensed, experienced professional, is crucial to helping a buyer understand exactly what he/she is purchasing. The inspection should include exterior components of the house, such as the roof, gutters, drainage, windows, chimney, exterior buildings such as garages, walkways and masonry. Inside the home the inspector will look for any signs of interior leaks, and examine the plumbing, electrical, and heating and air conditioning systems. The inspector should open windows, test electrical outlets and note any potential safety hazards. There are strict regulations regarding proper drainage of roof and surface water as well as any sump pumps that may be present. In areas where homes either are or were at one time heated by oil it is critical to be sure there is no improperly abandoned oil tank still in the ground. Additionally, some buyers wish to do environmental testing, such as radon, water quality, and mold testing. The home inspector should have the ability to perform such additional testing.

While the purpose of a home inspection is usually informational and not a basis for renegotiation of price, there are times when the inspection uncovers something (such as a leaky roof or plumbing) that the seller needs to address. Any home is in constant need of maintenance, and the home inspection should give the buyer the comfort of knowing what they can expect when they become the homeowner.

Posted By: Marjorie Weschler

Hudson Valley Restaurant week kicked off on Sunday March 22nd and will continue through Thursday April 2nd. Participating restaurants will offer a fixed price lunch for $20.09 (beverage, tax and tip not included) and a prix-fixe dinner for $28.09 (beverage, tax and tip not included).

As a self proclaimed “foodie” it is wonderful to see this event now in its 3rd year. Let’s support our local restaurants, our local chefs and our local Hudson Valley products. Visit HudsonValleyRestaurantWeek.com for more information.

Posted By: Carol Dorado

Dear Diary,

Today my husband, Bill, and I went to our friend’s house to sit Shiva. For such a mournful occasion, we actually enjoyed meeting people from Larchmont that we didn’t know and that over the period of an hour, we came to like. We probably hadn’t met them because though our children are close in age (early twenties) they graduated in different years. It is so incredible to me that after 58 years in this town, I can still find new, interesting and befriendable people! Larchmont is such a jewel filled with many facets…..people, stories, chance meetings and memories.

Posted By: Drayton Gerety

Lately I’ve had buyers tell me they’ve heard that if they spend more than 10% (or 15% or even 20%) of the asking price for a house in today’s market they are not getting a good deal. This may be true in some parts of the country, but not in Westchester, at least not in my part of it. In fact, my impression has been that houses are still selling at close to the asking price, as long as the price is right. Overpriced houses tend not to sell at all. They have to lower their prices to a point where they are a good buy for the market, and then they sell fairly close to the final asking price.

To see if this impression was correct, I looked at sales figures in two of my primary markets, Briarcliff Manor and Croton-on-Hudson. Briarcliff and Croton are adjacent communities, about the same size in population and housing inventory but different demographics: in 2008, Briarcliff single-family homes sold at a median price of $942,450, while the median selling price of a house in Croton in 2008 was $520,000. I took all of the houses sold in both communities in the last six months and compared their selling prices with their final asking prices. In the period since Sept. 20, 2008, a total of 16 houses were sold in Briarcliff and 17 in Croton. In Briarcliff, the average selling price was 95.53% of the average asking price, while in Croton the selling price averaged 95.11% of the asking price. These numbers are remarkably consistent, both across the price range and across the two communities.

What lessons can we draw from this? For sellers, you need to find the correct price, the one that will attract buyers. Many sellers are reluctant to cut their price “too much,” fearing that buyers will simply low-ball their offers by the same margin they did at the higher price. But these figures suggest that the correct price will yield a selling price that is surprisingly close to asking.

For buyers, you need to adjust your expectations of what you may have to pay for the house of your choice. If a house is well priced, it is reasonable for a seller to expect to sell close to (within 95% of) the asking price. Anyone who expects to pay no more than 90% will probably be disappointed.

So how do you judge, whether you’re a buyer or seller, what the correct price is? This is where your agent comes in. It’s your realtor’s job to know the local market and to advise you when a price is right.

Posted By: Bruce Dollar

The John Jay Homestead was the home of the First Chief Justice of the United States who was one of the delegates present to oversee both the writing and the signing of the Treaty of Paris along with Benjamin Franklin, which signaled the formal end to the Revolutionary War.

The John Jay Homestead is on our Museum Mile midway between the Katonah Museum of Art just to the North and Caramoor Center for the Arts and the Rosen House Museum to the South. It is on the National Register. It is now a Museum and throughout the year special events from Book Clubs to Balls are planned there.

Several years ago there was an American Girl Doll Tea during which the girls brought their favorite doll to see the characters come to life as actresses came in full costume (matching that of the Doll of that particular era) to tell the story of their era of American History. It was a day to remember and the girls enjoyed their Tea with their friends and we Mothers enjoyed seeing them in their Sunday best! If only I could find those photos! (pre-digital days..)

One other favorite event we enjoyed when my children were younger was the Annual Country Fair which is held during the day and then the Family Barn Dance. It is held in September so we have one more chance to spend the entire day outdoors!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Now that the snow has melted and the ground is dry (before the Spring rains) I have begun to enjoy the Bedford Riding Lanes Association trails which cover the Town of Bedford - Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah plus Pound Ridge.

I walk them with my bichon, Edelweiss known also as “Eddy.” I also admit to only enjoying a very small portion of them since Eddy likes to sniff more than anything else!

The trails are just on the other side of my stone walls. I also enjoy seeing the riders as they cross over from the John Jay Homestead, or come up from Beaver Dam Road. The trails are mainly across private property and dirt roads. It is known to be the best system of trails in the Northeast.

The members of the BRLA have two main events known as Paces. They use the grounds of the John Jay Homestead as both their start and ending point. One Pace is in the Spring and one is in the Fall. Over 300 riders have their start there. They have come on horseback from the neighboring estates or by car with horse trailers in tow.

There is also a clean-up day in April when the members get down and dirty as they clear the trails of any debris or branches that would impede travel for the new season.

There is a nominal fee for membership in the BRLA and “Eddy” wears his tag proudly on his dog collar!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Living in Sleepy Hollow, New York is the best of all worlds. The commute to New York City is a 35 to 40 minute train ride to the city. If you work in the city, or if you are going in to see a show or museum, the ride along the Hudson River is as much fun as the city.

There are wonderful walking paths in nearby Rockefeller State Park. You will see cows, deer, and a wonderful place called “Stone Barns.” Love to talk to people about Sleepy Hollow.

Pictured to the right is a listing in Sleepy Hollow Manor, featuring 4 bedrooms, close to train and a wonderful family room and patio. Click here for more information on this property.

Posted By: Barbara Eisert

Last night we went to Sherwood’s for dinner. Sherwood’s is a restaurant/bar in Larchmont that boasts the best ribs anywhere. But Sherwood’s is really so much more………..My family has been celebrating birthdays at this Larchmont legendary watering hole for 20 years. When my parents were alive, my Dad would reserve the only table that could be reserved for six people. Otherwise Sherwood’s is famous for having to wait for a table or a prized booth while down by the bar. It doesn’t matter when you go…..if it’s after 6 o’clock you’re going to have to wait. And there are always so many waiting!!

My Father’s thing was the excellent selection of the beers on tap. I’ve always been a special hamburger fan while my children, when small, wanted the Tollhouse cookie pie for dessert. When my youngest son was in high school at Mamaroneck, he and his friend were sent to Sherwood’s for wings so they could write a review for the then fledgling online news site, The Larchmont Gazette. We had wings last night…..and a beer on tap…..and ribs….there was no room for Tollhouse pie. Age changes a lot, but Sherwood’s has fortunately stayed the same. It is one of the best things in Larchmont and about Larchmont.

Posted By: Drayton Gerety

If you ever ask a real estate agent specific questions about neighborhood demographics and don’t receive a direct answer, it’s because you have started treading in dangerous territory.

Real estate agents know the definition of steering:

the illegal funneling of home buyers to a particular area based on the desire to keep the makeup of that neighborhood the same or intentionally change it. Racial steering receives the most consumer complaints, but the practice is not acceptable for any reason, and it goes against Fair Housing laws.

A real estate agent’s job is to match buyer’s financial parameters with desired features of available properties, not to the racial (or other) makeup of the area. If you ask a Realtor to remove certain areas from your home search based on any of the protected classes, your agent cannot legally follow your request or instructions, even if they are a Buyer Agent. A real estate agent may not answer your direct questions as to the make-up of a neighborhood with regard to the following protected classes:

Protected Classes
• race
• color
• national origin
• religious preference
• sex
• familial status

SOLUTION: If you really want to know about a neighborhood then Rent-a-Dog and go for a walk. You will be amazed at what you see and observe while walking around the neighborhoods you are considering. The reason I suggest to Rent-a-Dog, especially if it is a Golden Retriever like one of mine, is they are like a magnet and cause people to stop and talk to you. You are perfectly free to ask any question about the neighborhood with anyone who is not a real estate agent.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Where can you find a home that offers a 48’ in-ground pool, cabana with his/hers dressing rooms and shower, 5 bedrooms with a bedroom on the first floor for those special guests or maid and a wonderful large a family room with a fireplace?

In New Rochelle of course! 999 Weaver Street is set away from the road and has a circular driveway which can comfortably park 10 or more cars! Then there is the 2 car garage.

The slate walkway leads to this charming Colonial home with its European tiled entrance foyer. There is a step-down living room, and a formal dining room. The home features central air, a central vacuuming system, gas heat and the largest surprise is the large room in the basement that offers a bar and separate entry to the pool and backyard. This room is not included in the 2719 square footage of the house. A raised patio overlooks the pool and is perfect for large gatherings. The granite countered kitchen offers a skylight, wide counters, and of course is an eat-in kitchen.

Four bedrooms on the second floor, a lovely hall bath with granite counters, another skylight on the stairway makes this home sunny and warm thoughout! The master bedroom has great closet space (as does the whole house) and the master bathroom also has another skylight. Built to please! There are three and half baths total, and the taxes including the STAR reduction are $22,112. However, the best news is that the taxes can be grieved - the house is currently assessed as if it were priced at $1,114,000…. and the owner - who wishes to purchase a smaller home as her children are grown (everyone always asks!) will give a $10,000 credit at the closing table. OH MY!!!!!

The MLS Number is 2904460; click here for property details.

Posted By: Gay Rosen

The German School of New York, located in southern White Plains, and the French-American School of New York, in Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, and Larchmont, bring many international residents to our area. An international move, however, is not as easy as moving from one state to another. There are many questions: What do I take? What are the other people like? Will I fit in? And, is my English (or as some call it, American) good enough?

One of the mistakes that is often made is that all furniture is brought over. Germans like to bring their kitchens, here it comes with the house. Besides, the electrical outlets have a different voltage anyway. Or coming from certain countries, the idea of moving overseas without your closets is unheard of. Well, here we have walk-in closets and the “clothes closets” from overseas are just going to be standing in the way.

Since in America everyone was at one point an immigrant, it is usually easy to make friends. It is important to make American friends. Too often foreigners stay within their own community, not exploring what America has to offer and what the American culture is really like. And is one’s English good enough? When immersing yourself in America, the language usually comes very quickly….just don’t forget your native tongue.

Posted By: H. Juergen Hess

Back in 2008, the U.S. Congress enacted a $7500 repayable tax credit to incent first-time home buyers to purchase a home. Obviously, they felt that it wasn’t enough and early in 2009, Congress increased that credit to $8000 and eliminated the repayment feature. To take advantage of this you’ll need to act soon as this tax credit is for purchases made between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

The IRS definition of a first time home buyer is not what you think. You may qualify if you’ve not had any ownership interest in a home three years prior to the purchase in 2009. That is as long as you are purchasing the property as your principal residence.

Of course there is also an income restriction and it’s based on the tax filing status of the purchaser. Those filing Form 1040 as Single or Head of Household are eligible to the tax credit provided their income is not greater than $75,000. Married couples that file a joint return are eligible provided their income is not greater than $150,000.

Maybe you’ve been sitting on the fence and can’t decide if now is really a good time to buy a home. If you’re a first time home buyer – as defined by the IRS – now may be the best time to buy.

You should consult with your accountant if you have questions about your eligibility. More information can also be found on FederalHousingTaxCredit.com and IRS.gov.

Posted By: Elizabeth Nunan

It may not be official until Friday, but signs that Spring has arrived are evident now throughout the lower Hudson Valley. Here at my Cortlandt Manor home the first to appear were the snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), noted as I walked the yard in mid-February with my favorite arborist assessing winter’s damages. The crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) were next with their pale lavender petals dotting the lawn outside the kitchen window. Then this weekend there were the Iris (Iris reticulata) perfuming the air.

Another perennial indicator of Spring’s arrival are the For Sale and Open House signs appearing around our neighborhoods. The increasing inventory of well-presented houses is as welcome to me as the sunshine and flowers.

If you are among those considering a move this Spring be sure to check out the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - you might qualify for an $8000 credit for purchasing a house. Click here for information or contact me to find out more.

In the meantime, the open houses offer a great opportunity for you to learn about a market area and the housing options available while celebrating the arrival of Spring in the Hudson Valley.

Posted By: Liz Pereira

Ever consider purchasing a house in South Salem or Pound Ridge with a pond or wetlands on the property and wonder how deep it is? That’s what Nancy wondered when I showed her a house to buy in the early spring with crystal clear wetlands on the property. Not knowing the answer I proposed a few solutions. I could take my two golden retrievers to the house and let them romp in the swamp. If they had to swim it was deep, if not it wasn’t. The other alternative was to put on a pair of waders and wade on in myself. My client opted for the second solution, so our next appointment included a pair of hip boots in my bag. As it turned out, the water was so clear it seemed bottomless, but it wasn’t deep. As a Realtor, you never know what problem solving skills are needed. Wetlands are a common feature of life in Lewisboro and Bedford. For more information on wetlands, visit: LewisboroGov.com/government/committeesandcouncils/conservation.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Chief Kisco points his spear to 54 Hillside Ave. in Mount Kisco, NY where you get the most value for your money! There will be an Open House on Sunday March 22 from 1 - 4. This house is a must see in Mount Kisco, NY! The house is beautiful and tastefully updated, yet leaving the charm of the 1900s and incorporating modern conveniences with style. It is walking distance to the Metro North Train Station, and shopping! Come see for yourself how much $899,000 will buy you on Sunday, March 22 at the Open House from 1 - 4 or you can call Sonja 914-552-0242 to see it another day. Check out the other details about this great house by clicking here!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I just received my announcement for…

The Master Singers of Westchester Spring Concert in Bedford Village, NY

“Sing My Soul” - Glorious Music of Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Zelenka with Chorus, Soloists, and Orchestra
Saturday April 18th, 2009 at 8pm | Sunday April 19th, 2009 at 4pm
Bedford Presbyterian Church - Village Green at the Intersection of Rt 172 & Rt 22

For Information and tickets - 914-232-8038 or mastersingers@worldnet.att.net

This group has been in existence since 1981. This coed group’s home is Bedford but participants are from all over Westchester and Fairfield Counties. New singers are welcome without audition! The selections for performance are classical in style. They also have performed at Caramoor.

I look forward to joining once my daughter is off to college - one down, one to go! I always performed in school groups - most notably the Manhattanville College Chorus. The most memorable time was singing in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and my proud parents were there to see me be the first one to walk out onto the altar steps where we all assembled to perform Faure’s Requiem with the Mens’ Chorus from Georgetown University…

There is also another singing group I look forward to joining - The Golden Apple Chorus, which is a chapter of the International Organization of the Sweet Adelines. It is a woman’s a cappella group and is similar to barbershop quartets in style. I found this group when I was finding a home for some executives from JetBlue. One of the wives belonged to The Sweet Adelines in Canada and was missing it desperately. So, I did my research and found a group that meets weekly in Valhalla, NY - about 20 minutes from Katonah. If you have a male baritone in your family there is the men’s group,”The Chordsmen.”

Another activity I look forward to returning to is Ballet and Modern Dance/Jazz for adults. I studied until I was 35 and then my children arrived… I even had a formal dance studio complete with mirrored wall, wood and barre in my condo. The group that my daughter has studied with since the age of 2 is the Arts Caravan Group in Katonah. They also have theater classes, tap, modern, and more! There is also a Mommy and Me class as well. I would take one of the adult dance classes that met while the children are in school. It is housed in a restored Victorian in Katonah Village. There is also the Katonah Art Center housed in the same building.

For your real estate wish list you can contact me at Houlihan Lawrence right in the heart of Katonah.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

What am I talking about? Age, waist-line (I wish) what? No, I am thinking in terms of room size….. There are many homes out there that offer wonderfully sized rooms but how many homes offer such room sizes when priced in the $600,000s? Not many… In fact, I can only currently think of one such home that is available and is located at 9 Vivian Drive in New Rochelle… It actually has a Scarsdale Post Office - which means the Davis Elementary School – and did you know that the Davis School was Number One in the County in 2004, and was ranked 95.7% in reading proficiency scores for the 4th Grade in 2007, and 98.3% in Math scores within the County. Not bad stats….. The school, by the way, is named after George M. Davis, a New Rochelle native born in 1895, who graduated from the New Rochelle High School in 1914. But, back to the 20!!!

When you have 3 bedrooms that are over 20 feet in length (oh my!) like 9 Vivian Drive does (MLS# 2906393), and then you have the lower level great space - so many splits have them - not included in the square footage so cannot be legally claimed, but they are ‘there’ (with a certificate of occupancy one can claim the square footage of such a “great room” on the Multiple Listing Service), it all makes for a good value. The developments were built with the thinking that the original buyers would finish the rooms (which they did) but also legalize them - which many people did not. Over the years, the homes were sold and resold, but today’s standards are different, and only the rooms that are cited on the property cards can be mentioned on the Multiple Listing Service.

I had originally wanted to research the names of the streets, but came up blank…I had called the City of New Rochelle, and was informed that the developers had the choice of naming the streets which one would expect. I do know that there are many interesting names in New Rochelle, Vivian (of course), Frederick, Dora, Alfred, Sara, Ernest, all reflecting on a different time and era… I guess if a developer were to name a development today - one could find street names like Madonna Circle, Lohan Drive, Bionce Boulevard, Mylie Cyrus Court but that’s another story and another blog!

My point? Research the area in which you would like to buy, and then go and view the available homes in your price range, they may have more to offer than is readily apparent, and THEN make your decision! It is a great time in which to buy.

Posted By: Gay Rosen

I am rather looking forward to the Class of 2009 Award Winners at New Rochelle High School, and to learn which colleges the top 25 students will be attending. My middle son, A.J., gives an award each year (this year will be his 4th year) to either a learning disabled or disabled student who to qualify, does not have to be the A, B, or C student, but someone who just has to work consistently and to the best of their ability despite their many challenges. It is called the “Power to Excel Award” and I offer it as my son is dyslexic, and at the time of his graduation, while awarded two very nice Special Education Awards, I had noticed that there weren’t many awards given to the learning disabled or disabled students (it has greatly changed thank goodness!), and I wanted to correct that in some small way. Since A.J. is also an Olympian (Turino 2006) and will be in Vancouver in 2010 in the sport of luge, I wanted to make the statement that no one should give up on their dreams. I can remember sitting at the Graduation for my son, and noting that so many of his classmates were recipients of wonderful awards, and yet there simply were not as many awards given to the learning disabled or disabled students, and yet knowing that these students had to work perhaps twice as hard as their contemporaries, and some recogniition was due.

As the proud parent of someone giving the award, I started attending the awards evening (the first awardee did not show up!!!), and I was proud to note the many wonderful colleges the New Rochelle students had been accepted to. I then noted a change from the 2007 to the 2008 school year, and I had commented at the time that I wondered whether it was because the top students were choosing colleges where they received more funding by way of scholarships for economic reasons or was it just by academic choice.

Class of 2008

1. University of Pennsylvania - Pre-Med
2. University of Chicago - Near East Languages
3. University of Pennsylvania - Math & Science
4. Cornell University - Human Development
5. Columbia - Pre-Med
6. Tufts - Journalism Creative Writing
7. Cornell - Biology
8. Northwestern - English & Pre-Law
9. Vassar College - sounds like Business - I couldn’t understand the announcer…
10. University of Virginia - Political Science & Government
11. Vassar - sounds like Vet I couldn’t understand the announcer…
12. Washington University of St. Louis
13. Columbia - Pre-Med
14. Skidmore - Environmental Conservation & Preservation
15. Fordham - Pre-Med
16. Columbia - Bio-Medical Engineering
17. Fordham
18. This graduate excels in music, foreign languages, history but is still undecided…
19. Cornell
20. Tufts - History & the Classics
21. Carnegie Mellon - Writer, lawyer, Film-maker
22. University of Pennsylvania - Pharmacology
23. Boston University - Labor Rights
24. St. Johns University
25. Manhattan College - Engineering

2007 List of Colleges and Universities
From the Class of 2007 (I know there were more great stats out there)

• 1 Student will be attending YALE
• 2 Students will be attending BROWN
• 1 Student will be attending PRINCETON
• 3 Students will be attending CORNELL
• 2 Students will be attending the UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
• 1 Student attending UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
• 1 Student will be attending DARTMOUTH
• 1 Student will be attending AMHERST
• 1 Student will be attending CARNEGIE MELLON
• 3 Students will be attending COLUMBIA
• 1 Student will be attending COLUMBIA as a John Jay Scholar
• 3 Students will be attending TUFTS
• 1 Student will be attending NORTHWESTERN
• 1 Student will be attending GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
• 1 Student will be attending UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
• 1 Student will be attending CALTECH
• 1 Student is receiving $15000 a year at RENNSALAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
• 1 Student received a full scholarship to the College of New Rochelle

It was wonderful to see how our great city and its diversity was well represented.

So, now the Class of 2009 is soon approaching with its Awards Evening, and I look forward to reporting those stats too - to both see if it is an economic climate indicator as I had thought last year, or whether I was wrong! Stay posted!

Posted By: Gay Rosen

Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc welcomes Carol Dorado and a panel of Westchester Real Estate experts as they guide Westchester home buyers on how to purchase a foreclosure.

This free workshop will be presented at the Yonkers Riverfront Library located at 1 Larkin Plaza in Yonkers New York on Wednesday, March 25th at 6:00pm.

RSVP is Required, contact (914) 428-4507 x303 or homebuying@wroinc.org

Posted By: Carol Dorado

New York might be a buyer beware state, but it can also be a Realtor beware state also! I was recently invited into a home to both price and possibly list same. When I informed the homeowner’s daughter (the parent is in an Assisted Living facility) that there was one room less than what was stated by a previous Realtor, she was quite perturbed! Not only that, but I also had to state the square footage was actually less than when it was listed before, and as the Queen of England might say (I am British) “She was not amused!” I would not have wanted such a listing. If a homeowner is suggesting I be untruthful, etc. then why would I want my reputation damaged? I had also noted that a stain on the ceiling was being painted by a workman, and I was informed that a leak had been repaired.

This home had been previously listed but with more rooms and more square footage. How could this have happened?

There are few places in the country where you can live 35 minutes from a city such as New York and yet have easy access to the recreation, fun and beauty of a large body of water such as Long Island Sound. Wherever you live in Larchmont, you can be out on the water in ten minutes, in a sailboat, power boat or kayak. Long Island Sound offers some of the best recreational boating, fishing, water skiing and swimming found anywhere. Manor Park offers a wonderful place to relax surrounded by magnificent scenery, and Manor Beach has been a source of summer fun and relaxation for generations. There are several beach and yacht clubs, a public launching ramp for small boats in nearby Mamaroneck Village, and several places suitable for launching a kayak. There is even a beach for canine residents, though only accessible at low tide, where dog lovers bring their pets for swimming, ball and frisbee chasing and socialization in a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere. Long Island Sound is a treasured resource–one of many reasons that living in Larchmont is so special.

Posted By: Marjorie Weschler

New York Times Review - Richard Gere’s “Bedford Post”

Congratulations! We have just gotten through the last weekend of the Winter! Perhaps now it is time to plan a trip back up to the Town of Bedford - of course you remember that it includes Katonah!

Click here for the review of Richard Gere’s Restaurant, “Bedford Post.” The historic main building is the only building to survive the “Burning of Bedford” during the Revolutionary War by the British when it was an inn. It formerly housed the long time local restaurant favorite Nino’s and then Hoppfield’s.

Richard Gere has restored the complex to include:

• The Barn - open 8am to 8:30pm
• The Farmhouse - Dinner - 5:30pm to 10pm
• The Bakery - open 6:30am - 4:30pm and then reopens for dinner 6:30-8:30pm - rumor has it that Martha Stewart comes on horseback from her estate in Katonah to have a fresh scone and coffee in the morning! There ARE places to hitch your horse for the riding community!
PS - Maybe Martha is delivering the scones!

Call for Reservations: 914-234-7800

Before or after a meal at Richard Gere’s Bedford Post - or any of the local establishments including The Meetinghouse in Bedford Village or Deer Park Tavern in Katonah, the Blue Dolphin (closed Sundays) or a kid friendly meal at Friendly’s in Mt. Kisco - perhaps…

You can visit the Katonah Museum of Art to see the current work of our Advanced Placement Seniors from Westchester Schools OR the new Lichtenstein Show - March 29th - June 28th. There is always a Hunt Sheet for the children! Plus the Learning Center….914-232-9555.

-or-

Visit the Caramoor Center for the Arts - The Rosen House Museum for a Docent led tour of the Rosen home and the Collections - similar to Hearst’s San Simeon in inspiration and pride of collecting for one’s own use (914-232-5035).

I am a Docent at both institutions and if you would like me to help in the planning of such a sojourn I would be happy to help!

Plus as the Credit Markets thaw, feel free to contact me for your real estate needs! 914-232-1212 x342 | kbenvinransom@houlihanlawrence.com | KarenFromKatonah.com

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom