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

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

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.

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 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

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