There were 84 homes on the Broker Open House tour Thursday, April 29th. Since it is impossible to see them all I pick and choose a few from each town and then scramble to get to as many as I can. After seeing what’s new, I pick my favorite based on price, condition, and location. My selection this week is 87 Harris Road, Katonah, New York. This wonderful ranch has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with a sunny, open floor plan. There is a spacious deck off the kitchen, which expands the living area in spring and summer by adding flexibility for entertaining. The eat-in kitchen has granite counters, a main floor family room and there are newly finished hardwood floors throughout the first floor. The Master Bedroom has a new bath and there are two additional bedrooms and a new hall bath. The upgraded Anderson windows and doors help to keep you warm in the winter and with central air, cool in the summer. The finished basement has an office, craft room, playroom, and laundry room. There is a lot of value packed into this house, which is why it is my Broker Open House pick of the week. Priced at $549,000 it won’t last long so call me today: www.guidemehome2westchester.com/sonja-lovas  

Posted by: Sonja Lovas

If you read the comments on the Leatherman’s Loop Facebook page you’ll get the feel and flavor of race day. The 2009 race was unusually warm, and 2010 will be remembered as unusually wet. The heavy spring rains created more mud flats than previous years and the rain at the start of the race deterred some registered contenders from participating, but for those that ran, it was wet and wild! A third river crossing was added this year much to the surprise of all the runners.

Anticipation for the race began in January with the registration. There was a snafu at the time of registration so the field was increased to accommodate those that had difficulty registering. The Leatherman’s Loop is not your typical 10K as noted by the Bedford-Katonah Patch days before the anticipated race.

My overall time wasn’t great, but decent. With extra runners on the trails, the increased mud flats and additional water crossing, minutes kept the race clock ticking longer than I had hoped. My husband decided to participate in the race this year rather than being a spectator and he took our two golden retrievers, which made it even more challenging. No complaints from the dogs in the mud flats or river crossings but they sure were tired at the end of the day. We’ll be back next year; rain or shine but we’ll each take a dog and stay together.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

The Bedford Free Library has an annual book sale to raise money for the library. On May 1, 2010 they will be accepting donations so start going through your bookshelves to find books you would like to share with others. Click here for more information.

In good condition, the library will accept hardcovers, paperbacks, books on CD or cassette, music CDs, DVDs, Cookbooks and travel, health, technical, financial, business and computer books that are 2 years old or less. They cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, underlined or highlighted books, condensed books, anything musty or mildewed or videos.

The Annual Sidewalk Book Sale is Friday June 11 and Saturday June 12 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in front of the library. Should it be raining that day they will move it to the courthouse.

Don’t forget, after you drop off your books at the library, you can continue down Route 22 to Crusher Road for the Annual Chowder Marching Club giant tag sale.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

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

Being a Realtor requires the ability to help clients with all aspects of making a change in location, whether moving cross-country, cross continent or within the same geographic area. Most agents have little knowledge about the physical aspect of moving and only provide a reference to a local moving company their previous clients have used. Houlian Lawrence recognized the frustration many clients face and have added a valuable resource for agents to offer their clients. Our new affiliation with specialized move management partner, RMR New York International provides that valuable solution.

My first opportunity to offer their services came at a critical time during the negotiation of a sale. The price and terms being offered were acceptable, but the unresolved issue creating the roadblock was the possession date. How on earth would they be able to arrange the move while living out of state? It took one phone call to RMR New York International who came to the rescue by providing counseling and management for the entire move. RMR made the difference in my seller being able to agree to the closing date and therefore, we have an accepted offer! Here’s a shout out for RMR New York International! I’ll submit a detailed follow-up post after the move with a full review and evaluation of the process from my client.

Are you looking for a full-service realtor? I’m only a phone call or email away.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Since my previous post on train station parking, in an effort to increase revenues, the Bedford town board has approved an increase of parking fees for residents and merchants. The current rates will jump from $350.00 per year for residents and $210.00 for merchants to park in Lot 1 on Jay St. to $450.00 for residents and $260.00 for merchants. The town will also be adding 12 non-resident spaces in the Railroad Ave. Lot ($1,000 each) and adding meters to some spaces in Lot 4 on Upper Railroad Avenue in Bedford Hills. The new rates will go into effect on June 30.

While it seems like a drastic jump there has not been an increase for six years. In the future the town will consider a more incremental approach.

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

Who do you think showed up in my backyard? It’s a black vulture, different than the well-recognized turkey vulture with a red beak, but big and black and a little scary looking. I was sitting at my desk this morning and noticed a big black shadow swoop down and then the dogs went nuts. I went to see what it was and sure enough, a big black vulture stopped by for a rest. It hung out on the deck railing for about 10 minutes before taking off and soaring through the air. I’m not sure what it was looking for, as there are no animal corpses on my property but it certainly was an unusual visitor, I’ve only seen them that close on one other occasion. Vultures migrate south for the winter, and since they are back it’s another sure sign spring has arrived and is here to stay.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas