“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face…”

Why do the words of “The Irish Blessing” come to mind each time I picked up the book “Move on Without Me” by Bedford resident, Susan C. Beer?

It started out as a book about her new journey after the loss of Andrew, her husband of 28 years. His parting words, “move on without me,” both encouraged and empowered her to move on with her life. Begun 2 days after his passing, it became a book that reflected her growth and her empowerment, and the power of positive thinking.

It is not a book about grief or bereavement but one of the steps and lessons to self recovery and discovery, clarity of self, and an appreciation of how the Universe provides.

There are many times in our lives that we experience great loss. Our marriages and our jobs do not last the traditional twenty five or thirty years. For most of us, there are no gold watches or gold anniversaries. There are times of financial loss: shrinking investments, nest eggs and home values. There are major times of reevaluation, self doubt, loneliness and even fear that can have you in its grip. This is a book about starting over. She also has a gentle sense of humor - especially when she throws off the Hood of widowhood.

Her journey over this first year was a time of keen observation. Outside her bedroom window, a Paloma Picassoesque heart appeared in the overlapping of trees’ boughs and branches. Was it a symbol of her husband’s love for her or an evolving love and appreciation of one’s self. Or is it “All you need is Love?” And, then, shortly before year’s end, there appeared a second smaller heart above the original. They remain there today.

Her format is divided into the Four Seasons, the heart photographed in each season by her business partner, the artist, Henry Bismuth. Winter, when she lost her beloved husband, with its heavy cloak of snow and ice which freezes us in our steps. Then we realize that the dormancy leads to growth and the coming of Spring when the branches and buds begin to appear. Then comes the Summer in full blossom with its occasional bee bites and the unexpected thorn which then leads to the richness and harvest of Fall. Friends, too, have their seasons - those that will go by the wayside, those that will remain, and the delight of the new.

There is the mystery of the universe and the rhythm of life which runs through all of the seasons. When she needed a writing desk, Susan found a neighbor putting one out on the road for pick up. She offered to buy it, but was told to enjoy it and then pass it on to someone else that will have the same need. Once home, the desk fit perfectly! She deals with each topic with such grace and style. Each entry holds a nugget of truth and strong encouragement.

Just this morning I would have loved to have just stayed in my room puttering around and taking time to read, but I had to get on with the day. Surface from my room, put the coffee on, take the dog out. It begins as simply as that. Feet on the floor. Then I review the outline of my day and relish my minor victories through the day as it progresses. We have to keep moving on!

What do I have to add to my list of “things to do?” Get to know her dog, Monty!

The book is available on Amazon.com, and at Barnes & Noble and Borders & Books.

Posted by:  Karen Benvin Ransom

Summer camp started June 27 and it was a perfect summer day! 82 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, hot and humid, just like summer is supposed to be.

A previous post about summer camps outlined of some of the activities at the camp and now that camp has started you can see the fun in the sun at Bedford Memorial Park. This is the first day of summer camp at Bedford Memorial Park:

Posted by:  Sonja Lovas

In 2008 the town of Bedford opened a dog park on Beaver Dam Road off Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York. The dog park is over 1.5 acres and has 3 separate fenced areas for the dogs. There is an area for small dogs weighing less than 30 pounds, and one for large dogs, (over 30 pounds) but little dogs that get along with big dogs are welcome in the big dog area as well. The third area is used for agility training and classes are offered for different levels of experience in the spring and summer. It’s a fun way to develop confidence, negotiate obstacles and dogs and their owners have a lot of fun!

I went to visit the park on a beautiful spring day and there weren’t many dogs playing, but it was also in the middle of the day. I’ve been to the park around 5 pm and it is usually a buzz with a variety of dogs. The fenced enclosed areas have a double gate entry/exit so that you can lead your dog through one gate and then the second without fear of letting someone else’s dog on the inside escaping.

Permits are required to use the park but they are very reasonable $10.00 for the 1st dog, $5.00 for the second, and $3.00 for the third. To obtain a permit all dogs must be properly licensed with New York State. Unfortunately, the park is only for Bedford residents and their dogs. If you do not live in one of Bedford’s three hamlets, you are a non-resident and will need to obtain a day permit, $5.00 per dog, and you must be accompanied at the park with a Bedford resident with a current dog park permit.

Before taking your dog to any dog park, I would suggest you read the Westchester Dog Park Safety Tips and then go out and play!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

As a Parent, I am soon sending my youngest child off to college. I have had the benefit of not only the local schools but the variety and quality of local after school activities.

As a Realtor, I very happily share these experiences with my clients coming into our area.

The popular Hub for classes in the Arts for both children and adults right in Katonah is housed in a beautifully restored Victorian at 131 Bedford Road in Katonah - across from the A&P shopping center.

There you will find both the Arts Caravan Performing Arts Studio and the Katonah Art Center.

After School Activities Part I: Arts Caravan Performing Arts Studio in Katonah, New York

Since the age of two, my daughter Allison has danced. We had tried a couple of different venues at the start but 10 yrs ago we discovered The Arts Caravan with “Miss Dana” Merritt. It is a school that is noncompetitive and is taught by dance and theater professionals. They inspire and encourage confidence. The students learn to respect and to be respected for their efforts - very important for these young students as they navigate through the teen years. In the theater classes they all have equal parts and are taught all creative aspects. They also have the experience of a final show at the end of the year. Miss Dana also had the venue of The Tarrytown Music Hall for several years so the students could enjoy performing in an actual theater - the oldest in Westchester - complete with dressing rooms!

There is also onsite character formation! They have them break out of any possible cliques and engage in a new environment. It has been said - “It takes a Village” and I do feel that if anything would have been detected during these teen years it would have been brought to my attention. The administration and faculty are very beloved by the students. One teacher is also a mother of one of their peers! Parents enjoy viewing the classes while they are in session and it is a good way to keep in touch with fellow parents - of course until their children start to drive! The year end recitals are so uplifting that I enjoy each class presentation. The costumes are festive and age appropriate - not revealing or garish - as I had seen in other schools of dance. The year end recital is also topped off with the Awards Ceremony - based upon each year of participation and done class by class - everyone gets a prized memento for their years efforts. This year my daughter will choreograph her solo “Senior Dance” - the culmination of years of study and pure enjoyment, which she will perform at the end of the program. Tears will be shed….

They accommodate each family’s needs and working families have help in that they also have a bus stop arranged within the school bus routes for after school classes. They have payment plans and also now accept credit cards.

The age range is 2 1/2 - 70 years of age! The classes include Acting, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern Dance, Acting, Musical Theater Workshop plus yoga for teens on Saturday… For adults there are classes in Modern Dance, Tap, Hip Hop, Yoga, Nia and hopefully Adult Ballet (since I danced until the age of 35 and I will continue to make the drive to Arts Caravan - this time for myself!).

They also offer Summer Programs including Camp “Thank You Very Much” a Fun Class in Etiquette & Manners!

If you have any other questions about after school activities feel free to contact me at KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com.

Visit the Arts Caravan Performing Arts Center website for more information or call them at 914-232-0424.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Just a few years ago, bidding wars were commonplace in our red-hot real estate market. Not bidding wars in the sense of a back-and-forth auction, where buyers were asked to top the latest offer until someone quit. Westchester’s more genteel approach was to give the competing buyers a deadline – “tomorrow by 5:00 p.m.” – to submit a sealed envelope with their highest and best offer. Highest in price, best in terms (how much in cash vs. mortgage, closing date, etc.).

Buyers hated this device. Basically, they had to bid blind, with no clue as to what the others might offer. I used to tell my buyers to figure out the most they could afford and the most the house was worth to them, then take the lower of the two numbers and offer that. Houses routinely sold for higher than the asking price, sometimes way higher.

Those days are so far gone, the market is so turned around, that recently I found myself contemplating a reverse bidding war: challenging two competing sellers to counter my buyers’ offer with their lowest and best. Here’s how it happened.

I was working with some high-end buyers who were looking in the Hudson River towns – Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Briarcliff Manor, Croton-on-Hudson. They had exhausted the available options in their price range and decided to just wait for new listings to come on the market. One house really tempted them, but price-wise it was too much of a stretch for them. A few months later, a house was listed that met all their criteria. They looked at it and, despite some minor drawbacks, they fell in love and put in an offer. The sellers countered, and while we were considering our next move, the house they had liked earlier dropped its price very close to the one they were now bidding on. What to do?

The buyers said that they liked the two houses equally well, they would be happy with either one. So it came down to price. They decided to buy whichever had a lower price. Hmm. A reverse bidding war. Give the two sellers until noon tomorrow to come up with the lowest price they would consider to sell their house.

I must confess, on some level the prospect of turning the tables on sellers was delicious. Don’t get me wrong. Nobody beats me as a champion of my seller clients. For at least two years I sold my listings at an average of more than 100% of the asking price. But in this case my clients were the buyers, and I couldn’t help feeling, on behalf of past buyers who’d been forced to jump through the highest-and-best hoop, that revenge would be sweet.

In the end, it wasn’t to be. I insisted that my buyers revisit both houses before launching our strategy (they hadn’t seen the first house for months), and when they did they had a clear preference. They signed contracts (!) by the end of the week. But in this buyer’s market it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that other buyers are pitting one seller against another in a reverse bidding war.

Posted By: Bruce Dollar

I’m sure you are familiar with the famous book Acres of Diamonds by the author, Russell Conwell. The book details story after story of people overlooking riches in their own back yard, only to spend their time looking elsewhere.

I had a similar experience last month when 3 nieces and my sister came to visit. We stayed 2 nights in the “City” and went to see a few plays and the days were spent shopping. My nieces have young children and their mothers wanted to find a special gift or toy for them so they were always in search of the perfect prize. They came up empty handed (the children, not the mother’s) in New York City but there was more shopping to be done once they came to stay with me in Westchester.

We left early in the morning for Woodbury Commons Outlet Mall in order to begin shopping right when the doors opened. Throughout the day, the search for the perfect gift for the children was still a major objective, but never met. After 5 hours of shopping, I told them about a wonderful toy store in Katonah, Try and Buy, and the game we bought to have on hand when other young children come to visit. We found this toy when we went to Try and Buy located at 196 Katonah Ave. Katonah, New York. We talked to the owner and told him what we needed; some activities and games to keep 4 young children occupied at our house on a rainy day. The games we purchased there were a bit hit, and we pull them out whenever they come to visit, rain or shine. After learning about the game they thought that would be perfect! We called Try and Buy to make sure they still had one, and then raced back to Katonah before they closed in order to buy it, and found other treasures as well.

That’s a perfect example of Acres of Diamonds, in search of something overlooked right in our own back yard. So, remember Katonah New York is the perfect place to shop for all your needs. Be sure to visit all the local merchants because odds are they’ll have the diamonds and treasures you are looking for.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Oftentimes, one equates great sushi to the city restaurants but we’ve got a gem right here in Westchester County, NY. It’s gotten to the point that my husband will no longer eat sushi anywhere else. Haiku Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar has three Westchester locations – Bronxville, Mamaroneck and Cross River. The latter being the one we drive to - 20 miles from home no less!

My favorites are the spicy salmon roll and the unicorn roll which is shrimp tempura on the inside and spicy salmon on the outside. If raw fish is not your thing there are plenty of great Pan Asian entrees to choose from. It seems to be a favorite with kids too. They serve the fancy Japanese soda with a ball in the bottle that kids love. For the adults they have some fun martinis such as the pomegranate martini and the white cosmopolitan and of course a great selection of sake.

According to their website www.haikuasianbistro.com they have a location opening up in White Plains soon. Hmmm – that’s not too far from my office. I hope they’ll be open for lunch!

Posted By: Elizabeth Nunan

Predatory Lending: “What You Should Know Before Re-financing”
May 6th, 6-7:30pm
MLK Center at 95 Lincoln Ave in New Rochelle

Learn about No Cost Energy Efficient Services and Potential Grants
Energy Consultants will present info on Energy Efficient Products,Utility Assistance Program, Energy Tips for your Home, Incentive Grant Programs for Home Owners, Renters and Landlords
June 2nd, 6-7:30pm
Yonkers Riverfront Library at 1 Larkin Plaza

Learn How to Protect Your Identity from Theft without Spending a Dime
June 3rd, 6-7:30pm
Yonkers Riverfront Library at 1 Larkin Plaza

RSVP for these Free Seminars at 428-4507 x303 or homebuying@wroinc.org

Posted By: Carol Dorado

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