A previous post about the Independence Day Celebrations provided a list of venues to attend. My family loves to participate at the Pound Ridge Town Park where we meet with friends for a barbeque before and then head to the park and wait for the show to begin. We have never been disappointed and this year was no exception. I decided to take some video to give a better perspective of the sea of people that gather well before the show begins with their picnic dinners and favorite beverages. I was also able to capture part of the fireworks show itself, which is really fun to see.  With this celebration and the others in the area it’s so great living in Westchester.

Posted by:  Sonja Lovas

The warm humid days are a reminder it’s June and the end of school is around the corner. Local Westchester Day Camps sponsored by the Parks and Recreation departments will be starting soon so be sure to check out their programs. The camps offer a variety of special events and activities for the campers. Arts and crafts, athletics, science and nature, and music round out the camper’s day. In addition, daily swimming lessons complete the well-rounded day camp programs. Here are links for Bedford Village, Bedford Hills, Katonah and Pound Ridge day camps.

Pound Ridge Day Camp begins June 28 and Bedford Day Camps begin Tuesday, June 29. In addition to the camp activities there are optional trips planned that are age appropriate, for an additional fee.

You will find a handbook, camp certifications, information about the directors and counselors, and camp rules at each website. In addition there is a list of activities the campers will experience. Here are just a few:

• Red, White, and Blue Day
• Mario the Magician
• Tie Dye Day
• Crazy Hat Day
• Miss-Match Day
• Camp Olympics
• Jump rope contest
• Camp Carnival
• Share a Joke Day

Summer camps are another reason Northern Westchester is a great place to live.

Posted by:  Sonja Lovas

Our family plans are already underway for celebrating Independence Day at the Pound Ridge Town Park. There are many options in Westchester to celebrate and watch fireworks display. They actually start in June so you can you will be able to attend several. Here are a few for you to consider.

June 26, Town of Somers The Annual Independence Day celebration starts early and includes the Lynn Adams Memorial 5 K run & 1 mile Walk and Talk-a-thon. The Lions Club will have their famous Barbeque, there’s an Italian American Club Classic Car Show, Wright Reis Homestead Tours, SYSO All Star Games, Children’s and Family Games, Skate Park Competition, Waterslide, Entertainment, Music and Fireworks! Reis Park, 81 Primrose Street, Somers, NY.

June 26, South Salem Fireworks Spectacular Onatru Farm Park This is an evening of entertainment and fireworks provided by the South Salem Town Board to celebrate the 4th of July. It’s a great way to enjoy fun and excitement with friends, family and neighbors. Bring your picnic dinner; blanket and a flashlight would also be a good idea.  Picnicking starts at 6 pm, music starts at 7 pm and the fireworks are at 9:15 pm The cost is $20.00 per car. (Rain date is July 1st)

July 2, Playland’s renowned fireworks display. Fireworks display start at 9:15 and the cost is $5.00 for parking. Playland Park, Playland Parkway, Rye, NY

July 3, Kensico Dam Music Fest and Fireworks – Gates open at 5 pm for picnicking but no grills. Music starts at 6 pm with the Wanderers, then the Gerard Carelli Orchestra at 8 pm and Fireworks at 9:15. It is free a free event at Kensico Dam Plaza, Bronx River Parkway in Valhalla, NY.

July 3, Pound Ridge Park will be holding their fantastic Fireworks display. Come early to pick your spot and bring a picnic dinner to enjoy while listening to music and visiting with neighbors, family and friends. Parking is at the Pound Ridge Elementary School on Rt. 172 or at Scott’s Corner Market where there is a shuttle bus to the Pound Ridge Park. Donations are appreciated

July 4, Old Fashioned Fourth at Muscoot Farm. You can buy hot dogs and hamburgers at the concession stand or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the afternoon playing old fashioned games and churn some ice cream.

Posted by:  Sonja Lovas

Bedford Hills - Monday 9 a.m. at Babbitt & Glen Roads, down Church to Main Street then just North to The Memorial just past the Bedford Hills Fire House. County Legislator Ursula LaMotte, speaker.

Bedford Village - Monday 11 a.m. starting at Seminary Rd - off Rt 172 - ending at The Village Green. Lee Roberts, Town Supervisor, Chief Joanne Aquilino and other speakers will be present.

Katonah - Monday 10 a.m. starting at the Firehouse on Bedford Rd through the business area along Katonah Avenue. Parade will then continue along the shops towards tracks and up The Parkway to Lawrence Circle - named after Lawrence of Kellogg & Lawrence. Guests and Veterans Of American Legion Post on Rt 22 will speak. Then back to the Firehouse for Ice Cream!

Lewisboro - will have their Parade on the 31st at 12:15 starting at Lakeshore Drive & Spring and culminating at the Town Hall.

Mt. Kisco - will have their Memorial Day Parade on SUNDAY the 30th - at 2pm starting at Smith Avenue which is between Rt 117 and Lexington Avenue.

Pound Ridge - Noon on the 31st starting at The Pound Ridge Elementary School down to Westchester Avenue. The Parade will feature the Mt. Kisco Scottish Pipe and Drum Band. School children will recite their patriotic essays and Ruth Newell, a long time Pound Ridge Resident and Veteran of WWII will speak. There yoiu will notice those Famous Finger Pointing Signs!

Somers - The Lasdon Park Antique Show will be held - Lasdon Park Rt 35 Somers. For more information and for hours - call 273-4667

South Salem - will celebrate with a Fair on the 31st including a 5K and 10K race and a 4.3 mile walk around Lake Truesdale at 8:30 a.m. This will be followed by the Pee Wee Races. The Fair will be from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on the grounds of the South Salem Presbyterian Church on Spring Street.

Posted by:  Karen Benvin Ransom

Mother’s day memories have a special place in my heart. When I was a child my mother loved to go to the nursery and select a new rhododendron shrub for the yard. Through the years I watched them grow and bloom every May. I’d also help make breakfast and dinner and vow not to fight or argue with my brothers and sister. As I was expecting my first child in 1987, my due date was May 1st. I thought for sure by Mother’s Day, which was on May 10th that year, I’d be holding my little baby and be a new mother. Wrong – he was 12 days late so I had to wait another year.

This year as I look forward to Mother’s Day my husband has been inquiring what I’d like do to celebrate. My sons are away at college so it’s just the two of us. Here are some things I’m considering.

Mother’s Day Brunch

1. The Bedford Post
2. 121 Restaurant
3. LeFontane Restaurant

Storm King Art Center - a famous outdoor sculpture park integrated into a 500 acre park.

Local Nurseries for bedding and garden plants. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Pound Ridge Nurseries
2. Perennial Gardens in Bedford
3. Gossett Nursery

A day in NYC would provide an endless list of places to go.

What do you like to do on Mother’s Day?

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

There’s been a time change in the Leatherman’s loop sign up. Here’s what they said on Facebook:

“Leatherman’s Loop Registration Opening Time Change – We’re going with a 10AM registration opening on 1/1/2010. We love the idea of a midnight opening but it could become a problem. We have to really track the registration #’s closely as they come in and are worried that we might hit the course limit while the Harriers are asleep in the wee hours… Have a great New Year’s Eve celebration and don’t forget to register in the morning!”

You can join them on Facebook for new updates.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

The Leatherman’s Loop is my favorite running event of the year! I’m writing about it now because the sign up for the event is January 1, 2010 at 12:01 am! That’s two months earlier than last year and since there’s a limit of 900 entrants, runners should probably hold off on the bubbly until after logging in and registering online for the run. If you have never participated in the event, you’ll want to sign up to be put on the email list for the registration link.

The Leatherman’s Loop is a 10K run held the last Sunday in April which is April 25, 2010. It takes place at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY. If you’d like to see what the race is all about, check out this brief video.

My first experience on the trails occurred 3 years ago when a colleague who knew I liked to run suggested I sign up. I signed up but knew nothing about the run other than it was at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Was I in for a big surprise! It’s not your normal 10K run, as this one includes running through mud flats (sometimes up to your knees) and two river crossings (waist deep water) along with the hill climbs and trail running. I was apprehensive at first, but at the end of the race, it was a ton of fun and I’ve continued running every year.

There’s a Navajo/Celtic blessing they give each year before the run that accurately describes the feelings on race day!

Beauty before me as I run
Beauty behind me as I run
Beauty within me as I run
Beauty all around….

Be sure to sign up early, and I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Leatherman’s Loop!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I love to take prospective buyers that live outside the area on a tour of Katonah, Bedford, North Salem and Pound Ridge so they can get a feel for the different communities. As we drive around various neighborhoods, they are always surprised when we end up on a dirt road. The question is always, “why doesn’t the town pave the dirt road?” Anyone who lives in a metropolitan area finds dirt roads unusual, but then so is the sign with the horse.

Dirt roads provide the perfect opportunity for me to explain that many of the homeowners who live on a dirt road have barns and paddocks for their horses. They like to avoid paved roads when they ride their horse from the barn to access the Bedford Riding Lanes Association trails that are intertwined throughout the area.

The trails were originally cleared about 100 years ago for the Fairfield-Westchester Fox Hunt. In 1920 a group of property owners started a Private Lanes Association and the system continued to grow and now has over 100 miles of equestrian trails. It is now referred to as the BRLA (Bedford Riding Lanes Association). They have several annual pace events for their members and cleaning the trails is a volunteer spring event to keep the trails clear of brush and debris. When driving on a dirt road with horses and their rider on board, please remember to reduce speed to a crawl as you pass so as not to spook them.

The towns continually maintain the roads and re-grade them after rain and/or snow when the roads start to get ruts and holes in addition to plowing, so they are serviceable all year. When you are on the dirt roads just remember, Happy Trails To You! If you have a horse, would like a horse and want to ride to the trials from the barn, give me a call as I can help you and your horse find the perfect home!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Ten years ago, Pound Ridge Elementary School gave my son, Tyler, a very warm welcome! We moved from Oregon to New York with only 6 weeks of school remaining. Before deciding which community to live in we went to visit schools. There’s a lot to be learned by visiting a school and taking a tour that can’t be discovered by merely looking at and reading statistics on a web site. After deciding on a house in the Pound Ridge Elementary boundaries, I notified the school we would be arriving mid-April.

My son Tyler was assigned to Dr. Laura Sgroi’s classroom. As a creative writing assignment all the students in the class wrote a letter about their interests and the school. I can’t tell you how exciting it was for my son to receive a large envelope with letters from all his soon to be new classmates in New York (keep in mind, this was before Facebook, email, and MySpace). I thought my son should reply to their letters so I gave him small sheets of stationary and he began the task of answering each of their letters. When finished, we mailed them all together and proceeded with the move.

On the day he arrived at Pound Ridge Elementary School, he knew something about each of his new classmates, the only thing he had to do was put a name with a face. The end of his first week in school I received a phone call from his teacher and my heart skipped a beat, worried there might be a problem. Instead, she was calling to report how well he had adjusted in the new class, telling me it’s “as if he had known them all for years.” I thanked her for breaking the ice and allowing the transition to be so smooth and I know it was because of the letters exchanged between the students.

My son has maintained the friendships he made at Pound Ridge Elementary. Tyler is now a junior in college and before he left for college where he plays Lacrosse for Middlebury College, he was with his friends. One of them told him he still had the reply letter Tyler wrote 9 years ago. A warm welcome and friendships that began with a letter, continues to grow, and will be remembered for years as those friendships become stronger. What else can I say about, “how to select the best school?”

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Another option for fitness seekers in the Westchester area of Katonah, Pound Ridge, Mt. Kisco, Bedford Hills or North and South Salem is to hire a certified personal fitness trainer like Meg Coco. The nicest thing about working with Meg is that she comes to your home. You don’t need a home gym or special equipment for her to design a program, any room will work. Meg will review your overall fitness level, design a program specifically for you, then coach and motivate you to reach your goals. Meg is the perfect example of fitness and has always been active in tennis, biking, skiing, running, and weight training. Meg is very knowledgeable, motivating, and teaches by example.

Having a coach like Meg Coco come to your home will save you time and time is often the culprit and demise of well intended exercise programs. While the social aspect of attending a club may be appealing, the 15 – 20 minute drive to the club, 10 – 15 minute social chit chat at the club, and the 15 – 20 minute trip back home, all adds up. The extra hour added to your day might not allow your fitness plans to be successful or fit into a busy schedule. Meg has had numerous success stories she can share with you which is what makes her job very rewarding. You can find Meg on LinkedIn or contact her directly at: getfitwithmeg@aol.com or leave a comment on this post.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

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

“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!

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

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

Weekend walks in Pound Ridge are wonderful! We have 2 Golden Retrievers who love to run and swim so Pound Ridge New York is the perfect place for that! Since my husband and I are early birds we start our walks before most people are awake. We let the dogs run and romp off leash on weekends. The dogs have developed a pattern of hitting every swamp and marshy area, then running back to us before taking off through the woods the other direction and into the next wet area. Although they are off-leash on weekends they always come and sit next to us when called, if we hear a car. After we’ve walked about 2 miles, we are near a nice deep pond and then it’s time for a running leap and splash down! Before reaching the pond, the dogs are two toned and often look more like a black labs than Golden Retrievers. The pond is great for washing off most of the black mud they have collected up to that point. They love water and it’s a race between them to see who can get to the stick, ball, or ducks. Check out my video to see the happy dogs swimming:

From there it’s time to shake and hook up (that’s dog speak for sit, and wait for the leash to be put on) for the walk home where they get hosed off and a quick shampoo. It is delightful to see running dogs so happy! Summer is not the only time they run and romp; it’s a year round activity only in the winter I have to use warm water to thaw the icicles that form on their fur after swimming. They are water dogs after all, so they don’t care.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

When we first moved to Pound Ridge I really enjoyed being in the woods and seeing the deer. It didn’t take long to realize they are not enjoyable to have around at all. Many of my neighbors completely fenced their yards, which makes mine the easy target for vegetation devastation. I now refer to the deer as Westchester rats! Although I have planted shrubs and flowers they aren’t suppose to eat, it doesn’t matter, because depending on how cold it is, and the lack of other things to eat, they still devour everything that’s not protected with a spray or fence.

Last fall I received a survey in the mail from the town asking how many deer we saw in a week. I kept track, filled out the survey and sent it back. A week later I had a list of bow hunters I could call that would like to hunt on our property. I didn’t think too much of it and never got around to calling, but this spring a nice couple came to our door and asked if they could hunt on our property and I said sure! They are licensed bow hunters and apparently there is a large organization of active bow hunters. They left a brochure and said they’d call and set up an appointment to talk about the process, which they did. We discussed the best place to park, when they would be arriving, and where they would exit with any deer.

I decided to do some research about the deer situation in my area as I am always concerned by the number of dead deer on the road side in addition to my plants being eaten. Westchester’s deer population is 2.5 times greater than the habitat can support. A healthy average is 12 – 15 deer per square mile and in Westchester it is closer to 30 – 50. This leaves the deer subject to starvation and disease unless controlled. Bow hunting is a very safe way to reduce the population since there are not enough natural predators. NY bow hunters have donated over 500,000 lbs. of venison to the Venison Donation Coalition which feeds New York’s homeless.

Bow hunting season starts October 15th and I am hoping my bow hunters will be successful and there will be more food for the homeless and more leaves on my trees and shrubs.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Living in lower Westchester County combines two great lifestyles. On one hand there is the City…New York City about half an hour away by Metro North which will bring you right to the center of it all…Grand Central Terminal, the busiest train station in the world!

On the other hand, you are in the country. Meandering through New Rochelle, Larchmont and Mamaroneck you have the Leatherstocking Trail. Granted, although there are places where you might think that you are away from it all, you still see houses here and there along the trail. However, coming from New Rochelle, the trail ends up in the Saxon Woods Park – and here it is like you have left suburbia for good.

When I want to get further away, I have the choice between the Rockefeller State Preserve which my wife and my dogs love and the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation which is much wilder. The Rockefeller State Preserve reminds me of Acadia National Park in Maine with its carriage roads, but much closer to home. The Rockefeller Preserve has 20 miles of carriage roads and over 1,000 acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation with more than 4,700 acres, is the county’s largest and most beautiful park. The reservation features over 35 miles of hiking trails through meadows, pine plantations, vernal pools, hardwood forests and sandy moraines. Actually, it has been designated a Biodiversity Reservation Area and an Audubon Important Bird Area.

For the ultimate hiking thrill, I believe that unfortunately you have to leave Westchester and drive up to the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, just a few miles after you go through New Paltz. Although it is 1 1/2 to 2 hours away from Larchmont, it is magnificent. Here over 20,000 acres of public park owned by the State of New York are crisscrossed by carriage and hiking trails. Our Labrador Retriever loves to hike for almost two hours and then take a cool swim in Lake Awosting and on the way back there is Lake Minnewaska, a perfect spot for another swim. Minnewaska is connected to the Mohonk Preserve, famous for its grandiose Mohonk Mountain House, a resort hotel and spa. But to their demerit, according to our Lab, they won’t allow dogs.

Now, don’t you feel like heading out to explore nature this weekend…or maybe it is just me, a kid that grew up steps from the Black Forest.

Posted By: H. Juergen Hess

Now that your flowers are blooming, what do you do with them? If you’d like to learn how to arrange them into something unique rather than plunking them into a vase with water, then attending the Pound Ridge Garden Club meeting at the Hiram Halle Memorial Library in Pound Ridge is a must.

On June 9, 2009 at 10:45 (seems like an odd start time to me) Michael George is the guest speaker for the Pound Ridge Garden club, and he will be demonstrating his floral arranging techniques. He owns two florist shops, one in Pound Ridge, the other in Manhattan and he is willing to share some of his trade secrets. Michael George has also written a book, Simply Elegant Flowers, that gives step by step instructions on his approach and unique style.

The Pound Ridge Garden Club was founded in 1941 and they have monthly educational meetings March through December. They also participate in the community with beautification and conservation. If you would like to join the club, or attend some of the meetings which are open to the public, email susetka@aol.com.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Mother’s day is over which signals the end of frost danger so I’m ready to put flowers for my garden on the deck. Living in Pound Ridge where the deer love plants it seems the deck is the only safe spot for my favorite flowers.

While planning my flower garden I make sure I have lots of Impatiens (I usually buy red) to attract my favorite little hummingbirds! I don’t wait until the flowers are potted to start attracting the birds so I set out the feeders the end of April to catch the early ones. It is such a delight to see them return year after year and I can’t resist setting out new and decorative feeders. I place my feeders in places that give them room to fly up, down, and around the feeder and they are close to branches of trees that give them camouflage cover. Some feeders have a ring for them to perch and drink without using their wings, others hang and offer the option of landing or hovering.

I make my own nectar and change it frequently when the summer heats up. By the middle of summer I also hang a bee trap away from the feeders (filling that with beer) to keep the yellow jackets from attacking the birds and competing for the sweet stuff. Here’s my recipe for the nectar:

Combine 1 part white sugar (be generous) to 4 parts water. Bring it to a boil for 2 minutes to dissolve the sugar and then let cool before putting in feeders. Keep any excess in the refrigerator for refills. Never ever use honey or artificial sweeteners, and do not use food coloring! The feeders and your flowers are the magnet to attract these sweet birds.

If you live in Pound Ridge, Katonah, South or North Salem, get yourself a hummingbird feeder and enjoy these wonderful birds. Capturing them with the camera takes patience, but I wanted to share with you what I see all day, every day!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

When you live in Pound Ridge, Bedford, Katonah, or Lewisboro, the seasons provide you with distinct different points of view. It was amazing to me after moving to Pound Ridge (from Oregon where it’s just always green) that the change of seasons not only brought a change of weather but of the views outside. Those living in the city will notice subtle changes with the foliage on the trees or flowers planted for the summer, but when you live near the woods the scenery really changes dramatically and always displays its beauty. The points of view I am sharing with you were all taken from my deck, looking into the backyard.

You can also enjoy the beauty of the seasons. Just take a drive through the country in the summer months, you’ll see lush green heavily wooded trees, but you’ll never know of the beautiful estates hidden by the trees and leaves. Take the same drive in the winter and you’ll see houses in places you once thought were forests. Fall provides a blanket of gold, while spring surprises everyone with the lacey leaves, distant views and the beautiful wild dogwoods.

For city dwellers who want to enjoy my points of view as a visitor you can check out Walking Wild Lewisboro, for a guide to Lewisboro’s trail system. You can pick up your own guidebook at Houlihan Lawrence in Katonah for a contribution of $5.00 which only covers the printing costs. After you take a few hikes, I am sure you’ll want to contribute more (vi@westchesterlandtrust.org) to help preserve the land. If you would like to find a home for year round enjoyment near the woods, call Sonja Lovas.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I love looking at the variety of stonewalls while driving through Bedford, Katonah, Somers, Pound Ridge, South and North Salem. Some of the stonewalls are historic (especially those around cemeteries) and date back to the 1600s when settlers cleared the land for farming. As the land was cleared the stones were placed around the perimeter of the property to create fences. Since small rocks or stones made plowing difficult, they were moved and placed around cultivated areas while the larger rocks were used to contain livestock in pastures. Rocks and stones were also used as foundations for barns and houses. The size and shapes of the stones are varied, as well as the construction methods used to build stonewalls.

When the water levels are low in the surrounding reservoirs you can still see the stonewalls and where they they were before the land was used for water shed.

In an effort to preserve these stonewalls, many local towns require building permits and have ordinances regulating stone walls, everything from repair, new additions, and setbacks. Here’s a little slide show with some do’s and don’ts to building stonewalls.

While there are many methods used to build stone walls, my favorite walls are always the original rather than the uniform perfectly shaped and placed stone.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

While I spent time in Bedford Village last weekend and enjoyed the artwork on display throughout the Village I picked up a flyer of future additional Saturday Events sponsored by the Bedford Village Business Association.

Some of the Merchants include: Bedford Wines, Jewel Corner, Bubble & Tweet Kid’s Clothes, Bedford Florist, Bedford Gourmet, Perennial Gardens “Plants & Things,” Consider the Cook - Food Accessories and Near & Natural Foods. Additional Sponsors are Carol JW Kurth - AIA Architects, and Margaret Wilson & Co. Interior Design and The Bedford Historical Society.

On Saturday May 23rd - there is the “Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend w/ Pizza & Tasties” - Wood Fired pizza and various tastings around Bedford Village.

On Friday-Saturday-Sunday June 12th-14th - it will be Bedford Sales Days with sales tables from the local merchants.

On Saturday July 11th - Revisit “The Burning of Bedford” - a reenactment of an event which occurred during the Revolutionary War. Details will follow on this event. Perhaps start or end your day with a meal at Richard Gere’s restored “Bedford Post Restaurant” which is housed in the only building in Bedford that survived the fire set by the British throughout the village.

Of course it may be the perfect time to see and enjoy our entire area: Bedford Village, Bedford Hills, Katonah, Pound Ridge, Bedford Corners, Mt. Kisco, North & South Salem and Waccabuc. There are many lovely properties on the Market right now so just let me know your “Real Estate Wish List” in advance!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Did you ever take a ride through Pound Ridge and notice that instead of the usual metal street signs there are signs seemingly hand made and carved of wood? Even more interesting is the fact that they are not a simple pole with a small rectangular name plate for the street but resemble outstretched arms with a hand and a finger pointing to the road it is meant to mark. The name of the street is in black block letters along the arm.

There is an article in the March 2009 “Bedford Magazine” about the “finger pointing” signs of Pound Ridge. They are from the early 1950s when Guy Rainsford, an advertising art director, suggested the motif after seeing similar signs in his travels across the country and the signs were crafted by local men from the Pound Ridge Highway Department. Then again there was such a sign on Mead Street in Waccabuc to the North since the 1940s so perhaps it was just a local influence. They were made by local handymen of wood and later were replaced by metal. They grace the rambling country roads of Pound Ridge and enhance the ambiance of the town. Nonetheless, it gives the feeling that they were from Colonial Times!

They may have been post-Colonial but Pound Ridge actually was a busy center of industry in Colonial times and throughout the decades that followed.

Pound Ridge was settled in 1640 and the industries that became important to the area were basket making, the sale of the oysters and clams brought to the hamlet from the shores of Long Island and the Hudson River to the West, and even factories that made shirts and shoes and employed scores of people.

At the end of the 19th century Pound Ridge became known as Basket Town and the Restaurant “Blind Charlie’s” is named after one local man so deft at basketry that although he was indeed blind, he became a local legend at his craft.

Then the age of “Mad Men” came to the hamlet in the 1950s and breadwinners headed to the Big City of New York, Stamford, CT, Mt. Kisco and White Plains, New York.

Pound Ridge today is a mix of charming original Colonial homes through the age of contemporaries that are juxtaposed against the natural settings. Scotts Corners is named after one of the founding families of Pound Ridge that were the predominant business owners and remains the center of business and services for the hamlet today. Pound Ridge shares a border with Connecticut and the children enjoy the schools of the Bedford Central School System.

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