Yes, as unbelievable as that may seem in today’s real estate market, such was the dictate given in the 1800s in New Rochelle when it was decided to develop some 70 acres of farmland, woods, orchard and un-drained marshland what was the then the outer edge of New Rochelle in Westchester County.

It is always interesting to find out how an area was developed. And New Rochelle’s Historic District is no different. In the early 1800s, an insurance company found that it had inherited through foreclosure, some 70 plus acres of land, and was then faced with the predicament - “what do we do with it?” The insurance company contemplated personal sacrifices in order to escape from the heavy tax burden of the property. They had thought to create small city lots but the grading of that would have been too expensive, and they didn’t know whether there would be interest in residence properties there, but with mounting interest charges, they realized that some form of action was required. It was decided to convert the land into a park, a well thought out community where there would be standards of size, and so they consulted with a landscape architect, Nathan P. Barrett, and civil engineer, Horace F. Crosby whose determinations were that if additional monies were spent to create the community, then success would surely follow. The cost at that time was reputed to be about $75,000 and it was believed that much money had been saved by allowing the natural rock formations to remain where possible. Quite astutely, they realized that the businessmen would wish easy access to the trains, and so rather than have a central entrance on North Avenue to the park and community, they utilized the southwest corner which would offer the most direct route to New York.

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite family activities in the summer was to go the “drive-in-movie.” Growing up in Portland, Oregon provided several drive–in theatre locations to choose from within a relatively short distance from where we lived. For those of you who have never been to a movie in the family car, it was pretty exciting.

My family (6 in total) would start getting ready by making lots of popcorn. We’d wear our PJs, grab our pillows and load up the station wagon for a “night out”! When we arrived we’d head for the snack shack for a cold soda and candy, then return to the car and wait for it to get dark enough to watch the movie. The sound came from a speaker that was hung on the window and the quality was pretty lousy. Oftentimes the car next to you had people “making out,” so my parents always tried to park next to another car with a family. I can’t remember ever watching the entire movie and usually fell asleep but it sure was fun!

The drive-in movie is a thing of the past, but the family adventure of watching movies outdoors isn’t! The Pound Ridge Recreation Department has recreated the excitement of the drive-in movie with “Movie Night at the Park”! Now you can load up the car with your swimming suit, lawn chairs, pillows and a blanket, and head for the Pound Ridge Town Park. Thursday, September 3rd, is movie night at the Park and what a great activity for everyone! The swimming pool is open to members and non-pool members from 3:30 – 6:30 PM. There is music entertainment from 4 – 6PM featuring “The Saints,” and the recreation department and the PBA will have a Bar-B-Queue starting at 6:30 PM. Free Willy is the featured movie and it begins at dusk. Given the choice of the back seat of the car vs. Pound Ridge Movie Night at the Park I’d rather go to the park.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Cameron’s 24/7 Deli, located in Cross River New York, fame has been extended to Michigan. A Middlebury Lacrosse teammate of my son came to visit for a weekend and where do you think the first place he went to eat was? If you guessed Cameron’s 24/7 Deli, you’d be correct. Check out what he had to say about the famous Cluck’en Russian sandwich. Ryan was one of the players on the bus that was drooling over the sandwich we took for my son and his roommate at an away lacrosse game.

I found myself hungry at lunchtime yesterday without anything to eat and after receiving so many comments about my previous posts about the Cluck’en Russian (every word being true), I decided to make a Cameron’s run. I found it to be too much of a sandwich for me so I shared it with a co-worker, who agreed, it was very tasty and memorable. So, the next time you are in Cross River New York, stop at Cameron’s and try the Cluck’en Russian.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

If you are coming to Katonah for the Katonah Fall Festival on September 26th, you may want to arrive early and wear your running shoes. There is a 5K run or walk beginning at 8:30 AM, September 26th, and the starting line is Parkway and Bedford Road in Katonah. The running/walking trail will take you on a 3.1 mile path through beautiful Katonah. After you cool down, grab a bite to eat and you can also enjoy Katonah’s Fall Festival which begins at 10 AM. For more information about the run you can call: 914-232-2668 or register here.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Save the date, September 26th, 10 AM – 2 PM for the Katonah Fall Festival and you won’t be disappointed! It’s a great day to visit the Hamlet of Katonah and take your time strolling through the town. You’ll find all the merchants have great sales, there’s lots of food, music and entertainment.

One of my favorite festivities of the day is the Fashion Show. This is not your typical fashion show with twiggy type models, but rather, residents and customers of the Katonah merchants who volunteer to model the new fall fashions. It’s the kind of show where you can see what the clothes would look like on the people who actually shop at the store. There’s a wide range of models participating, including children, men, young girls, and seasoned women walking down the runway. The fashion show is a labor of love and is produced by Sara Zipp, a Licensed Real Estate Agent with Houlihan Lawrence in Katonah and active member of the Katonah Chamber of Commerce. It’s a very fun event for the fashion show viewers as well as the participants so save the date so you don’t miss it!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

At long last, a red ripe heirloom tomato! The process started over a year ago when I saved some seeds from a wonderful heirloom tomato I bought at the John Jay Farmer’s Market and started plants from their seeds in February. Six months later, the first tomato ripened and I ate it on August 24th. Wow! It was yummy!

In a previous post, I described the process of seed to plants. Here are the results. The tomatoes I put in the raised beds with screening to keep the varmints away grew like a weed, over 8 feet high, then died and did not produce any tomatoes. What a disappointment that was! I think it had more to do with improper amount of sun than anything else. The first tomato believe it or not came from one I planted along the side of the driveway in a flower bed. The plants on the deck in pots have also started to yield some red ones, but I have to protect even the green tomatoes from our Golden Retrievers because think they are balls. I feel lucky to have any tomatoes at all because many of my friends had their tomato plants die due to blight in the Northeast.

My brother recently joined Facebook and I saw a photo of his tomatoes in raised beds with a great trellis and was quite impressed. I wrote on his wall that we had to talk about how he made them. Much to my surprise, he sent me a link to his blog which gives detailed information about his method of growing tomatoes including the construction of raised beds, how he made his trellis and the tips on pruning. Check this out! From his last report, the plants are loaded and almost ready to pick. The harvest is upon us so remember to visit your Farmer’s Market and eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Deeply set back from the street, awaits an idyllic and creatively converted former dairy barn. Superbly restored, this exceptional residence awaits those searching for a property with character and history amidst a setting of natural beauty.

Original and contemporary elements have been incorporated into this charming and rustic conversion. The barn configuration has been restructured and extended into a two level, 4500 square foot residence, including an intact silo. The home is laid out into first and second floor open great rooms, four bedrooms and three totally renovated full bathrooms. Several large northwest facing windows on the first and second floors allow for abundant natural light and unspoiled views of the pond and surrounding habitat. Robust renovations have been completed by the current owners between 2007 and 2009.

Seeing the potential for a truly unique and elegant home, the current owners purchased the property as a primary residence in 2007, and have completed extensive interior and exterior renovations. The couple’s interior renovations include restoring the hardwood on the top floor, renovating and repainting every room, total renovations in each bathroom and replaced most of the windows and nearly every door (interior and exterior). The front portion of the .98 acre lot was fully cleared and reclaimed, and several overgrown trees were removed. The owners also restored the original garden area. The rear lawn of the property, also reclaimed and re-leveled, extends out generously until it meets the shore of Price’s Pond, providing serene water views. The large lot provides a possibility of a 1/3 acre subdivision fronting on North Ridge St.

This time of year, many people visit farmers’ markets and Salinger’s Orchard Farm Market, a short distance off I- 684 & Hardscrabble Road, is definitely one you do not to miss. Unlike your local farmers’ market where vendors bring their crops and products to various locations during the spring and summer months and set up shop, Salinger’s is open all year. Their produce varies from season to season and peaches are being picked now and are in plentiful supply! Salinger’s is also well known for their quality and variety of apples. If you’re not sure which apple to select for baking, making applesauce, or crisp eating, they provide a handy reference guide for you to take and keep in your cookbook. The guide gives you a list of the apple varieties, uses and the approximate dates they are available at the farm, I refer to mine often.

I first learned of Salinger’s Orchard Farm Market after moving to Pound Ridge NY from Oregon when I was searching for orchards that sold fruit by the bushel. I was very glad to find Salinger’s and have been a loyal customer ever since. You can find seasonal fruit, plants and flowers, a large gourmet section with honey, homemade jams, fresh pies, pastries and condiments. The fall is fabulous with beautiful mums, pumpkins, fresh cider and a large variety of apples. I just picked up some fresh vegetables including red ripe tomatoes and a 1/2 bushel of peaches. I made my grandmother’s peach cobbler for my family and the office and everyone thought it was delicious! If you come to any of my Open Houses in the fall, you’ll always find a bowl filled with a variety of fresh apples from Salinger’s for you to eat. Check back soon as I’ll be reviewing another orchard you’ll want to visit. Here is my grandmother’s peach cobbler recipe for you to enjoy as well (click the image for a larger version):

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

“Doreen and I really appreciate how meticulous your research is. I love how every time you look into something you discover incorrect data!” Chris S., Cross River, NY

Well, I do not love finding inaccuracies but I do know that it is my responsibility! What I do love is being thorough. If I find a discrepancy I contact the agent for the seller to have them know that we discovered it. Perhaps they will admit it and or correct it. Many times I enlighten them! Then it is up to my client if they care to go ahead in pursuing the property or pass on it.

As Realtors, at times it seems that the hardest part of what we do is taking our clients to see homes. Our clients may also think that is the worst part of the process of buying a home. I am very serious about the process. To start, to hear that the owners “entertained a great deal” does not mean a thing to me. I want to know where you do your laundry and where you bring the groceries in! Knowing what is important to a family on a daily basis will garner many thanks down the road by an appreciative Buyer.

The truth of the matter is that once you find a home of interest the journey has just begun!

Stewart Heights co-op is a wonderful complex located in Mount Kisco, New York, 2 blocks from the Metro North Train Station and shopping. There are 102 units between the two buildings consisting of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units. They are very well maintained and offer the convenience of apartment living with ownership. The “Super” takes care of everything inside and out!

So what’s a co-op? By definition according to Wikipedia, it’s an “association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. It is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit.” As it relates to Real Estate, it is an apartment you buy but don’t really own. Instead, you are issued shares in a corporation based on the size of the unit. There are maintenance fees that cover heat, water, employee salaries, property taxes and other building expenses. Part of the maintenance fee is applied toward taxes and is therefore tax deductible, but the amounts vary, once again based on the size of the unit and the number of shares owned.

More than ever with today’s needs for conserving energy as well as maintaining a safe home environment, yearly service, tune-ups, and safety checks are strongly advised on all fossil fuel fired heating systems. They are important for gas fired systems and essential for oil fired systems, for both safety and efficiency reasons. Though it is still air conditioning season, soon fall will be here. It is best to have the heating system serviced before it becomes necessary to use it. Many people find it convenient to arrange for an annual service contract with a licensed plumber or heating systems contractor, who is familiar with the system, and can recommend simple maintenance and repairs that will keep the system in top operating condition. Investing in a relatively small amount of money in yearly maintenance can extend the life of your heating system, and prevent an untimely system failure that necessitates replacement.

Posted By: Marjorie Weschler

Governor Patterson just sweetened the pot for first time home buyers by announcing the Federal Income Tax Credit program which gives a dollar for dollar tax credit for 20% of the annual mortgage interest amount. This Mortgage Credit Certificate program is not a one-time offering like the $8,000 Federal tax credit; it’s a gift that keeps on giving and giving, year after year for as long as you own the house and live in it. Homeowners taking the dollar for dollar credit will still be allowed to deduct the remaining 80% interest on their Federal Income Tax returns. The benefit to the first time home buyers can be huge! Click here for the term sheet.

There are of course guidelines for those who wish to participate in the tax credit program such as purchase price limits, household income limits, and there are even special target areas that provide additional incentives. The requirements vary for the different regions in the state as well. For the Westchester guidelines click here. So, first time home buyers, if you’re thinking of buying a house, get out there and find it soon because time is running out! If you need help just ask Sonja. If the house you want isn’t in Katonah, Pound Ridge, South Salem, or Somers, she’ll guide to another great Houlihan Lawrence agent in her network who can help you.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Time is running out for first time home buyers to claim the $8,000 tax credit when they purchase a home. Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s plenty of time with the November 30th deadline. Mortgage companies were given new marching orders on how loans are processed and that adds about another 2 weeks to the previous 45 day process. Combine that with the time it takes to negotiate with the seller, complete inspections, attorneys negotiating the final contract and the mortgage company loan process, and you’ve got about 3 weeks to find your house. Now is the time to start making offers, and if you haven’t started the process hoping to wait until September, the phrase “Snooze you Lose” will apply to you. To determine if you are eligible for the $8,000 tax credit, and to find a home in time to claim it no matter where you live you can ask Sonja Lovas. Because of her affiliation with the large Houlihan Lawrence network of associates and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, she will be able to guide you to a top notch agent who can help you no matter what city or town you want to live in.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I was privy early in August to attend a reception at Cafe Des Artistes in New York held by my honorary group Les Dames d’Escoffier, a philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. It was to honor and attend a private screening of the movie “Julie & Julia.”

“Les Dames d’Escoffier is a leadership culinary organization composed of women who have not only achieved success in their profession, but who contribute significantly to their communities. Since its incorporation 25 years ago, Les Dames d’Escoffier has followed its mission to elevate the profession through mentoring members and helping worthy students succeed in their culinary careers. I am very proud to be a member.”

- Julia Child

It was during the latter part of the movie that I had a sudden flashback. I had been in Julia’s home on Irving St. in Cambridge! I knew I had a letter from her hanging on my smokehouse office wall, only to lose it in our fire in 1988. I just had not remembered why she had written that letter to me. There must be a purpled copy of that letter somewhere in my attic.

Long before I became a Realtor with Houlihan Lawrence, I had quite another life - just as Julia did before entering the Culinary Arts. I started a smoked trout company in my backyard in Purchase NY in 1976 with my fiancée, Peter Heineman. Homarus Incorporated.

I hate being locked out of houses I am trying to show and sell. Homeowners and/or their listing agent should park their car in the driveway, walk to the front door and open it using the key left for the buyer’s broker to make sure everything is working properly. Many would be surprised how difficult it is to gain access to their house because the owner enters through the garage or a side door and are therefore unaware of the problem. It is really annoying when you have to wiggle the key up and down, side to side, while pushing or pulling the door knob trying to get the door to open. Struggling to open a door for 30 seconds or more seems like an eternity especially if it’s raining or freezing cold and it’s really embarrassing when the prospective buyer tries to help and also fails. That’s when I get my tool kit for stubborn locks that I keep in my car. It consists of a small can of WD-40, a screwdriver, small hammer, flashlight, and pliers and it comes in handy and I eventually get the door to open. A small investment in a new lock, properly cut key, or lubrication will make showing your home a pleasure from the beginning. For more information on how to prepare your home for sale, contact Sonja Lovas: HoulihanLawrence.com/SonjaLovas 914-232-1212 x 214

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

The old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” has a lot more teeth when it comes to selling a home than you can imagine! First impressions are hard to change, yet many sellers think that impression begins when a prospective buyer opens the front door, wrong! While the inside may be beautiful, if the driveway approach is bumpy, deteriorated, and full of pot holes it takes the sizzle and ohh ahh factor away from the inside. I strongly advise and counsel my seller clients to include the necessary curb appeal repairs before putting their home on the market. Remember, when it comes to selling your home, the first impression is also the LAST impression! Which driveway would you like to see when approaching your next home? For more information on how to prepare your home for sale, contact Sonja Lovas HoulihanLawrence.com/SonjaLovas 914-232-1212 x 214.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I know I usually blog about very pretty local attractions such as Caramoor, The Katonah Museum and the Hamlets of Katonah & Bedford. Complete with VERY pretty pictures….

Well, what I am going to share now is something very pretty in its own way: Saving Money & Not Wasting Natural Resources (being VERY Green). This applies to wherever you may live!

It is just over a year ago that I heard during the dog days of Summer, the furnace going on several times throughout the day. When we are out of the house we may not notice it but the furnace is going on to maintain hot water!

I went down to my furnace room and found a dial on the hot water heater/holding tank. I now keep it at the lowest setting (below 1) and go down the stairs in the morning (after I put my coffee on) to put it up to between 2-3 which is still low but gives us the temperature we want/have always had. I believe it goes up to 9. Within 15 minutes we have all the hot water we need for our showers for several hours, the water is replenished and reheated while we are in the process and then I have it turned down again. We still have enough hot water to wash our hands during the day and the pots and cooking items that do not go into the dishwasher. Most things do go into the dishwasher, our clothes are washed mainly in cold water and we fill the kettle with cold water as well! Only if I have a project such as bathing the dog or cleaning will I have to turn it up again. Also if someone wants an evening shower the holding tank has held enough for just that! We may also jack it back up again in the winter when someone later in the day needs to shower. I may also keep it at perhaps 1 on the dial during the bitter cold days of winter just to keep the pipes warm. Some people will say - well it takes more to start it up from scratch. I say, well if it is not on for 21 hours and it only needs 15 minutes to heat I am still saving a great deal!

I would think that I have reduced my oil consumption by half. My monthly budget amount to the oil company kept getting reduced and when the balance was once again building it certainly was nice to get a big fat check back from them! When I think back to all the years I did not do this it is quite upsetting. The Oil provider is not going to tell you - they LOVE selling you more oil. I remember seeing the oil man actually scratching his head when he came to fill the tanks last winter and he was reviewing my greatly reduced bill!

Friends have told me they would love to do it but there is not a dial on their tank. I say - turn it off at the circuit box! We may even be extending the life of the hot water heater. When it is time to replace the heater insist on a model with a dial. Perhaps you would still be ahead of the game if you were to replace the heater now with a cost effective model. Why wait to save money as well as natural resources!

These are the tips I enjoy sharing with my real estate clients - they are thanking me well after the closing!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Everyone has heard of how you should “stop and smell the roses,” and in Pound Ridge you can add, “stop and eat the raspberries.” While out for a walk this weekend we passed some raspberries that I have been anxiously waiting to ripen. Saturday was the perfect day to grab a few nibbles along the way and they were so delicious. You can see wild raspberries along the side of the road, and if you slow down, you’ll see they’re ripe and ready to eat. Pound Ridge is such a wonderful place to live!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

A long private drive leads to this gem where you will find a delightful 3 bedroom multi-level home located in the highly sought after area of Katonah Ridge just minutes from town. Click here for more details. Built in 1958, the interior features a versatile floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors and new crown moldings that add a beautiful finishing touch. There are skylights to bring the sunlight in all year long and every window has a view of the woods. Freshly painted inside and out makes this home ready to move in and start enjoying life. (no projects!) A large deck offers wonderful opportunities for enjoying the privacy and beauty of the outdoors that surround this park-like 2.5 acre property with a stream.

Located in Katonah, it is approximately one hour from Manhattan via Metro North, I-684 or the Saw Mill River Parkway and is within easy commuting distance of most areas in Connecticut. The recreational opportunities include the Katonah Memorial Park, Lewisboro Town Park, and numerous nature preserves including the Pound Ridge Reservation that offers 4700 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. There are also cultural pursuits that can be enjoyed at Caramoor Center for Music and Arts and the Katonah Museum of Art.

Call Sonja Lovas for a private showing: 914-232-1212 x 214

Posted By: Sonja Lovas