Is the enthusiasm to head to camp or the pool beginning to wane? Well, take your children and go “Make a Splash & Read!” at The Bedford Hills Free Library! At the Bedford Hills Free Library there is “Wacky Wednesdays” for those aged 4 and up at 4 pm - just when we all begin to fade on these hot summer days. Enjoy a story, a game or a craft. Knowing the storytellers at the Library, they are in for a treat!

Then there is a “Summer Reading Game” which continues until August 13 with the promise to take a folder of good reads back to school in the Fall! There are reading incentives, prizes and a wrap-up with an end-of-Summer Party. Contact the Library for more enrollment information: 914-666-6472 BedfordHillsFreeLibrary.org

Read more about the happenings at the Katonah Library and even more at the Bedford Village Library.

Posted by:  Karen Benvin Ransom

Perched on a hilltop, this private retreat offers tranquility with simple sophistication yet is so near to the Toney Town of Bedford. The twenty mile views of the Hudson River Valley and the outdoor living space make for a serene living experience. The beautifully landscaped gardens surround the house and are completed by a Pergola, terraced decking, towering trees, annuals, perennials, herbs and stocked fish pond with a waterfall.

The home’s rustic elegance offers a great room/stone fireplace/Palladian windows for year-round outdoor views, a St. Charles kitchen, formal dining room and den/office. The vaulted ceilings and wooden pegged floors add additional character to this rustic space. Chose the way this purchase will work for you: the rustic retreat with 9.66 acres for $2,200,000, the rustic retreat and 5.66 acres for 1,250,000 or you may purchase the 4 acre BOH approved building lot for $950,000. Your opportunity and your choice. The property is located at 440- A Haines Road, Bedford Corners, NY.

If you would like to view or have any question regarding this spectacular property, please call me 914.450.6566 or e-mail rstengel@houlihanlawrence.com

Posted by:  Renee Stengel

This week The Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors released the first quarter statistics for home sales in Westchester and Putnam Counties. And just what does that mean to buyers right now?

The number of annual home sales for the first quarter of 2010 has ticked up 54% over a ten year low for first quarter of 2009. The rise in closings can be attributed to the The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, lower home prices and lower interest rates. This was the second consecutive quarter for increased sales.

I believe some homes are attractively priced right now. There are good deals to be made. So, just get out there and look! You just might find the home of your dreams to be affordable. Smart sellers should realize that we are back to 2003 - 2004 prices if they want to sell. And buyers have an opportunity right now.

Contact me at any time for more statistics and/or information on how your neighborhood did in the first quarter.

Posted By: Renee Stengel

As a Realtor in The Town of Bedford an inquiry which leads to a home search oftentimes includes the question of Child Care in the area. My children are of college age now and when they were tots we enjoyed Katonah Playcare and American Gymnastics both of which we enjoyed.

There has been a “New Kid in Town” since 2001 and I thought it was time to explore and find out about the latest venue for families and their children. The Bedford Discovery Early Childhood and Infant Centers at 190 Harris Road in Bedford Hills has grown quickly. They are licensed by New York State.

It boasts the first and only dedicated center in Northern Westchester for Infants from 6 weeks to 18 months. It is in a new 3000 sq ft facility. So when Mom goes back to work there is support for her and care for her baby. There are indoor and outdoor protected play areas and the activity rooms have sleep areas. The whole facility is protected with a state of the art Security System.

I was escorted through “the upper school” which welcomes 18 month old-3rd graders. There are also full day Toddler programs, full and half day programs for pre-schoolers and before and after school programs.

The center has an almost 9,000 sq. ft. facility and three sprawling playgrounds of over 10,000 sq. ft. which they enjoy twice a day. I toured the facility with the Administrator, Phyllis Di Francia and owner Kerri Pritchet.

It is a very cheerful environment. All of the hallways were decorated by muralist Elizabeth Hartstein. The mural scenes are of blue skied farm and forest scenes with a rushing waterfall appropriately at the water fountain area. A peek into one of the classrooms showed a room with an Eric Carle themed decor. I wish I had a penny for every time I read “The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar” to my fruit loving daughter!

Science, art, music, story time, math manipulatives, computers, physical activities, dramatics, puzzles, meal, snack and rest times are all a part of the day. Nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) plus three snacks are included every day at no extra cost.

This center will not let you down with lack of coverage. They follow a corporate calendar which means that they are open year round and only close for 10 days per year. They are open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. They are very flexible for full and partial week coverage.

They have a great location - only a few minutes away from 684, The Saw Mill River Parkway, plus the two train stations of Bedford Hills and Katonah make it easy to commute and return to your loved ones at the end of the day!

Call Phyllis DiFrancia for a tour and information.

Bedford Discovery Infant Center - 914-666-7200 | Bedford Discovery Early Childhood Center - 914-666-KIDS (5437) | www.bdecc.com

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

In 1947 the construction of The Bedford Playhouse in Bedford Village, N.Y. was monumental in many ways. It was considered to be a new country style “shopping center.” Still today it is home to several shops and businesses. It also has a floor above it full of apartments which was seen as a boon to the returning Vets from World War II. Of course those of us that have enjoyed it over the years know it is a far cry from a shopping center in a strip mall! It currently is home to that favorite “The Meetinghouse” restaurant which at that time was “The Carousel” confectionary and lunch room. The beloved Stewart’s Market was a new tenant as well.

The editorial board of the local paper then reminded and fortified their readership that as Bedford Villagers they could withstand the onslaught of others from other districts encroaching on their village. It was planned and built by a local design company, a local investor and a Bedford construction company. To top it off, a mural which graced what is today’s snack bar wall was painted by a Bedford artist, Tom Johnson. I wonder if they were to tear out the snack bar if they would still find the mural. They brought in the talent of a company that excelled in incorporating the new technology of surround sound and distortion free projection. It had only one large screen with a stage. It was managed by a company that had opened a Playhouse in nearby Ridgefield, CT prior to their expansion into New York State.

It had an opening night of April 30th, 1947. It was an invitation only event. The first film was “Boomerang” - a “Factual Film” shot in Stamford CT, and the Court House of White Plains. Elia Kazan was the Director. It starred Lee J. Cobb, Dana Andrews and Jane Wyatt. It was a factual film in that it told of an actual murder and subsequent trial in nearby Bridgeport, CT.

The top ticket price was in the evening in the loge - where smoking was permitted due to “scientific air conditioning” - for the premium price of 80 cents - 25 cents more than the regular adult ticket price of 55 cents.

It is still a favorite of movie goers in the area. My parents used to come over from “The River Towns” to enjoy Bedford Village for dinner and a movie when I was young. The character and charm of the area still remain. Bedford Playhouse will be getting a make over during the next few weeks and I look forward to the rebirth!

If you would like to have more information that I have not included in this article, contact me @ KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

The Bedford Historical Society is actually located in “The Bedford Store” on Route 22 in Bedford, New York and faces the Village Green. I stopped in the other day after going to the library because I wanted to know when the courthouse was open. I was disappointed to learn the courthouse doesn’t open until April.

While I was there I enjoyed talking with the Executive Director of the Bedford Historical Society, Evelyne Ryan. We discovered our children graduated the same year from Fox Lane High School, and knew our paths had crossed but not connected until my visit. The current exhibit on display is very interesting; it is: Back to School. There are workbooks from children who attended school there in 1800 and old storybooks that date back to 1700. My favorite part of the exhibit is the collection of games children played that includes jacks, a wooden yo-yo, and a spelling board.

Since my husband has always been curious about the Village Green and wondered if anyone was ever hung there, I had to ask. The answer is no, and in fact the jail didn’t have many prisoners and court was only held three times a year.

The Historical Society has preserved and maintains 10 properties in the area, each with their own stories and roles they played during the early settlement. The efforts in preservation of these historic places are what give Bedford its Colonial charm and rich history. The Bedford Store is open to the public and has a small gift shop filled with Bedford memorabilia. How much do you think they sell penny candy for?

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

While at the Shop Rite Shopping Center in Bedford Hills I spoke to a store owner about all the renovations and new face-lift that is currently taking place. He told me, rumor had it that Marshall Shoes and Panera Bread have signed leases and will be joining the other merchants in the Shop Rite Shopping Center.

Just to make sure, I called the leasing office to confirm, and it’s affirmative. In addition, there are a couple other vendors lurking and are expected to jump in once Marshal Shoes and Panera Bread move in. I can’t wait for the construction to end and see the final design and shopping center come to life!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Traditionally, the Spring Real Estate Market has not waited for the daffodils or tulips to bloom. It was the Monday after Super Bowl Weekend!

This year, with tax incentives and lower interest rates, Buyers may be back in force before the thaw. Sellers, if you are thinking of marketing your home to enjoy the new level of home prices in a new locale or a downsizing/upsizing situation - perhaps it is your time!

For access to professional services from start to finish feel free to contact me: KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

In December of 1680, twenty-two men from Stamford, Connecticut founded the town of Bedford. They met with Chief Katonah and purchased fur coats, blankets, and a tract of land that was three square miles. That area is known as “Hopp Ground” and is on the Mianus River. They then set out to settle, what is now known as Bedford, and built a grist mill, a cemetery, and a meeting house. There was a large area in the center known as the Village Green, which remains today, but 1/3 the size of the original Green. Many of the buildings around the Village Green are of historic value and have been preserved, adding to the Colonial charm of Bedford.

Most people are not aware that Bedford was part of Connecticut in 1697 and it wasn’t until England’s King William issued a royal degree in 1700, to settle a boundary dispute, that Bedford became part of New York.

The town continued to grow during the Colonial period and served as the Westchester County seat during the Revolutionary War. The county seat was shared with White Plains until Bedford was burned by the British on July 11, 1779. Not only were the town buildings burned, but all the surrounding houses. The Court House in Bedford Village, built in 1787 and renovated in the 1960s, is Westchester County’s oldest government building and is maintained by the Bedford Historical Society. The town of Bedford now consists of three separate and distinct hamlets, Katonah, Bedford Hills, and Bedford Village. Bedford Village is known for its elegant country estates, horse farms, community neighborhoods and weekend hideaways. It is a very desirable place to live because it has maintained its historic buildings and Colonial charm. Let me know if you would like to explore Bedford Village. SonjaLovas.HoulihanLawrence.com

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

In my quest of Local History in our area, I have discovered The Bedford Hills Historical Museum.

I am often at the Town Hall checking property and tax information for my clients and had found it closed when I would be in the area. I then learned it is only open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.

I had seen an article on it when it first opened and thought it was just recently. I finally was in the area at the proscribed time and I met Katherine Nelligan. She is a Board member and is the dependable person that you will meet that puts out the banners and the flags when they are indeed open. Mrs. Nelligan was also secretary to 5 Town of Bedford Supervisors in the adjacent Bedford Town Hall.

I then learned that they had been open for 5 years! Let me tell you - no reason to take the kiddies to Williamsburg! Keep this in mind for school break and vacation times! There are multiple cases and displays that will keep you entranced - even as an adult, for quite some time.

For example, you will find a case dedicated to the dairies that were in the area. Did you know that the current Bedford Police Department Building was a dairy/milk processing plant?

There is a great deal of memorabilia and many documents about the earliest families i.e. Haines, Buxton, Harris and Burbank in the area after whom many of the roads were named. The photos are intriguing. I enjoyed the photos of the Bedford Hills District Nursing Association - DNA - the young Bedford Hills Blue Birds, and the corps of Volunteer Nurses during both World War I & II. The maps alone may take an afternoon. Of course there are the glam society shots as well.

There is evidence also of some of the large homes that were lost over the years. One was owned by Seth Low who was a former Mayor of New York City and President of Columbia University! He was one of the parties involved in changing the name from Bedford Station to Bedford Hills. Another major property was the Metcalfe Estate on what is still known as Lake Marie. Mrs. Metcalfe (Bessie Tyree) was a famous actress who married the theater critic for Life Magazine and they summered in Bedford Hills.

Upon my return I met another Board Member, Richard Schmitt. His family goes back 9 generations - over 400 years! Dingee Rd in South Salem is named after a branch of his family. His family members are buried in Buxton Cemetery and he piqued my interest in exploring that for a story!

They love to share their knowledge about the area and your delight in the large exhibit. Perhaps if they get busier they will expand their hours!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

According to Jaap Ketting in “Bedford Hills – a Brief History of Bedford Hills. Town of Bedford, NY” it took a train to make a Town.

Prior to the advent of the Train, Cherry Street was the hub of local activity in the area south of Katonah. There the needs of the residents were met by Squire Wood’s General Store. Squire Wood owned a mill, a saddling place and organized the local farmers to sell their produce to New York. He delivered it via two sloops on the Hudson from The Village of Singsing - now known as Ossining. He also served as Postmaster for many years. There was the Cherry Street School House and the older students went to Katonah for High School. School was part time so that the children could help on the family farms.

The arrival of the train in 1847 brought about the naming of the stop Bedford Station which was comprised of merely a platform for the waiting passengers and freight bound for New York City. Now farmers were able to ship produce directly from their local farms and include fresh milk. Eventually cattle cars were added to the freight trains en route to the New York City slaughter houses. The Post Office then moved to the Station in 1848. There was a stage coach that would run between Bedford Village and the Station to pick up and drop off passengers. The first station car?

The street was then known as New Street until after 1935 when it was renamed Adams Street after the “Adams Brothers General Store” the largest general store in the area. It stood along the tracks where we have the Post Office today. There also was a large Hotel run by Mrs. O’Brien where the large brick Depot Plaza Building now stands.

Bedford Station was renamed Bedford Hills in 1910.

The Bedford Hills Station area has had a renaissance over the past few years complete with stylish shops and restaurants.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

I had a radio show on the other day while I was packing up Christmas. The topic was how both buyers and sellers of Real Estate should prepare for the start of activity once they feel they are ready to get back into the Real Estate Waters!

For Home Sellers, part of the conversation was conventional wisdom in that a house on the Market should really stand out and be very welcoming. The best way to do that was that it should be staged - or at least to some degree if you think you cannot afford a professional stager. As a Realtor, of course I have known this and had put this to practice with clients many times. One participant on the show was more in favor of a professional job.

Her Standout comment was:

“The cost of a Professional Staging is less than what your first price reduction would be.”

That stopped me in my tracks - of course! A typical first price reduction is easily $10,000 - at a drop of a hat and you know a stager could be/would be less than that! As a Home Seller - words to the wise and to agents out there what a great thing to tell your sellers! To the point and easy to remember! Don’t let your home languish out there and be passed over. Be a Star!

As a Realtor, we see many homes that are showroom ready to go on the Market, so if expense is a problem we can give you very good advice. At our office we even have gone out together with other agents from our office and then share our opinions with the homeowners as they prepare to put their home on the Market.

What do YOU think and what is your experience?

If you need any further advice and/or names of stagers that we have used - feel free to contact me: KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

During our office meeting this week I learned that Bedford and Katonah have gained favor with the banks. Mortgage companies and banks have different ratings on areas based on a number of economic factors. Angelo DiMichelo, with Thoroughbred Mortgage, reported our home market is now considered “soft.” A year ago this area was considered to be in a “distressed” area so that’s another indication the market is improving.

There are 4 categories of ratings:

• Severely distressed
• Distressed
• Soft
• Normal

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Happy New Year! I believe in building blocks - do not think that your resolve for a better year had to end at the stroke of midnight! One New Year’s Resolution that is a great way to improve your outlook, daily performance, relieve tension and tune into your higher positive power is to sing! Sing away the last year! Or two!

As a Realtor for Houlihan Lawrence and a long time resident of the Bedford/Katonah/Mt. Kisco area I am concerned with helping families new to the area find what is of interest to them. It is always more than just finding the right house. Of course there are the schools and after-school activities, where to get the dog groomed, and sometimes there is someone that has to find a knitting shop. That is a snap!

Something almost stumped me once was when a family was being relocated by Jet Blue from Toronto, Canada to the New York area. The Mother enjoyed singing with the “Sweet Adeline’s” in Toronto. Due to the Magic of The Internet I found them! It was the early days of the Internet and there were very few websites, but I had to search within articles to look for leads. In this area they are known as “The Golden Apple Chorus.” My client was MORE than delighted.

The GOLDEN APPLE CHORUS was founded in April, 1969, as an a cappella ensemble of women singers in barbershop harmony. They are a local chapter of Sweet Adeline’s International. There are 600 groups worldwide. They rehearse weekly year round at the Hawthorne Reformed Church, 65 Broadway, Hawthorne, NY. Visitors are welcome anytime. Their selections cover a great deal of The Great American Songbook and are delightful. After a few sessions there is a gentle audition with a few of the members. Their Motto is “Real Women, Real Harmony, Real Fun!” I have been to their “Holiday Harmony Concerts” plus their annual performances. I know they have won regional awards and they have an incredible director, Dr. Anastasio (Stash) Rossi. I also found out that the head of the group and I both attended Our Lady of Victory Academy in Dobbs Ferry. Can’t keep a Victory girl down! Love those small world stories! Once my daughter is off to College I hope to join. The counterpart for men would be The Chordsmen in White Plains.

If you prefer classical choral music there is THE MASTER SINGERS OF WESTCHESTER. They were founded in 1981 and practice for 8 months of the year at The Fox Lane Middle School in Bedford. When it is concert time either at the Bedford Presbyterian Church or the Westmoreland Nature Sanctuary, they perform with an orchestra and professional soloists. Men and women may join without an audition. Just have a love of singing! They will help you with Baroque and Classical techniques at the rehearsals.

The singers live throughout Westchester and in nearby Connecticut. New singers are welcome. Recent Concerts performed Vivaldi’s “Magnificat,” Haydn’s “Missa Brevis in F Major” and a Manhattanville College Chorus favorite of mine: “Faure’s Requiem.”

I was not able to attend this December’s concert at the Bedford Presbyterian Church to hear Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” due to the ice storm which blanketed the area. It was sad to miss that part of my Christmas Tradition.

I know it seems like a lot to do after a long day or even life - but it is refreshing, positive and you may also find that everything falls right into place after such an uplifting evening and may just be what the Doctor ordered! Due to their proximity to my home in Katonah how can I not join this wonderful ensemble?!

Plus the outfits for the performances for each group are to die for!

For great attention to all the details of finding your future home contact me. Happy New Year!

Golden Apple Chorus

Master Singers of Westchester

The Chordsmen

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

All the Repression, affairs, smoking and non-stop drinking on the job aside, the episodes of Mad Men give me flashbacks to my childhood in The Tarrytowns on the Hudson River. I lived in those neighborhoods amidst the executives with the exciting advertising jobs, the women limited to their Garden Club meetings and volunteer work for either the Junior League Nearly New Shop or at Phelps Memorial Hospital. Some women had lunch at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club and enjoyed either an afternoon of tennis, riding or time by the pool. Homes rarely had pools in that area since homes were much simpler those days in size as well as decor and the small lots did not allow for a pool. I know they call it Ossining in the series but the references are also just south into Sleepy Hollow and Philipse Manor territory. John Cheever, nicknamed “The Chekhov of the Suburbs” lived in Scarborough Manor and Ossining. All Mad Men Country. Perhaps he was the inspiration with his chronicles such as “The Sorrows of Gin.”

Episodes give me a start when a scene opens with the barware and glasses in the Draper home - exactly the same glasses my Father owned. Or when Betty Draper leans against her kitchen counters and the windows have the same “Cafe Curtains” my Mother had.

The train station was Philipse Manor on the Hudson which has a beautiful old stone Station House. I used to hear that the fireplace was lit for the evening return and there were leather wing chairs and Oriental rugs in the waiting room. Yes, drinking cars were big back then and perhaps this is where they waited for the wives to pick them up after their long day with their three martini lunches. Or one last drink before they went out to their station cars.

Community meetings for the residents of Sleepy Hollow Manor were held in the Rockefeller Family “Playhouse” up in neighboring Pocantico Hills. Perhaps this is how and where Betty used to meet her new love, Henry. She also mentions going into Tarrytown for a decorating project. I know the large hop she was referring to. The series is perfectly crafted with impeccable details with the use of cultural archives and resources.