Sandy Fenton ~ ABR*ASP*CDPE*GRI ~ Westchester NY ~ Condos to Luxury Homes

The Mount Kisco Library is hosting a quilt show entitled the “American Girl Quilt Display” through February 28, 2012. You will see classic patterns such as Sunbonnet Sue, Log Cabin and Victorian Crazy Quilts among others. Featuring Diana Sharkey’s First Lady Quilt & quilts dating from the historical time periods of the American Girl dolls.

On Saturday Feb. 11, there will be a special event featuring:

11:00 AM - Meet & Greet the Quilters
Noon: - Reception for Quilters
1:00 PM - A Time for Tea - meet Valerie Tripp & share a treat.
1:30 PM - Musical Medley - A Medley of Dances performed by Step Up Dance Company
2:00 PM - Writer’s Workshop - Author Valerie Tripp (who grew up in Mt Kisco) will be part of an interactive presentation.

This is an event sponsored by the Foundation for the Mount Kisco Public Library.

For more information call: Mount Kisco Public Library 914-666-8041
Fees: $ 5.00 per child or $10.00 per family

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As of June 1, 2011, Westchester County has added plastics coded 3-7 to the list of mandated recyclables. This is in addition to glass food containers, metal caps and plastics coded 1 & 2. They can be commingled. Plastic bags are not to be recycled with these items - neither are plastic toys, Styrofoam, and non-coded plastics.

Click here for a handy flyer to print out for your convenience. It reviews paper & cardboard recycling as well as other materials and how to prepare items for recycling.

The Community Center of Northern Westchester at 84 Bedford Road in Katonah helps neighbors in need of food and gently used/new clothing. They are able to supply these items largely from the generous contributions from people in the area. They are also sponsored by 28 organizations.

If you have gone through your closets & your kids' closets and have come up with bags of clothing, shoes & household linens that are in good to great condition, consider dropping them off at the Community Center of Northern Westchester.

When you are shopping for your family and have a little $ to spare in your budget, you can consider buying a few staples to donate.

Donations are accepted Tuesday thru Friday from 10:30 until 3:30 and on Saturday from 10AM until 12:45.

Make sure to ask for a "donation sheet" so you can keep track of what you've donated for tax purposes.

In addition to this they offer classes, career counseling, school supplies, Health Outreach Programs, and much more.

Check their website for more info and to check to see what is currently needed and how you can help.

I often tell people that northern Westchester is the best kept secret in Westchester County. Then I swear them to secrecy. ;-)

Westchester County is the first county just north of NYC and one of the obvious choices in the tri-state area to consider moving to when contemplating leaving NYC.

When considering Westchester, many people think of the bedroom communities of lower Westchester - they are charming, great villages/towns and have the added attraction of usually being about ½ hour away from mid-town Manhattan.

As most of my business is referral based, I have found myself working throughout the county and am pretty familiar with the different areas. My office is in the city of White Plains and I love how I can drive around in a city in the middle of the day and not get stuck in traffic - which was a given when I lived in Brooklyn. White Plains has it all - great restaurants, shops, neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown.

However, when I get in the car and point it north to go home, the second I hit I 684N I breathe a sigh of relief. I am heading towards open areas, little traffic, no horn honking, parking spots near where I need to be and the feeling that I am "almost" in "the country." There is a definite rural feel as you head north. And then, of course, there is the fabulous feeling you get when you're on your way home because, ultimately, it doesn't matter where you live as long as you have your loved ones near and you are happy. At the risk of being totally corny - home is where the heart is. And mine happens to be in northern Westchester. :-)

The northeastern towns have their downtown areas - some more commercial than others. Many were settled close to 2 centuries ago. Typically, the homes close to the town are older with all the charm that goes with older homes. As the towns expanded you'll find homes built throughout the decades with the differing styles that each decade offered. Often they are neighboring houses - few matchy-matchy neighborhoods here. There are some subdivisions built fairly recently, usually in the outlying areas. In the last 30 years, alternative housing such as condos & townhouses were built in many communities.

There are very few areas in northern Westchester with apartment buildings and cooperatives. The exception is Mount Kisco. Mount Kisco has a few cooperative buildings in addition to various condo and townhouse complexes. Long considered the "hub" of northern Westchester, Mount Kisco features lots of shopping, many restaurants, a movie theatre, a fabulous new "green" public library and much more. Mount Kisco also is home to Northern Westchester Hospital and the Mount Kisco Medical Group. There are also a few towns that have garden style coops as well. Not many though.

I'll be writing more about the different areas of northeast Westchester in the near future.

Shushhhh - don't tell anyone - it's a secret! ;-)

Contact Sandy Fenton for a no-obligation consultation to assess your real estate selling or purchasing needs.

Visit my website at: www.SandyFenton.com

Email: Sandy@SandyFenton.com

Call: 914-672-9429

NYS Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker ABR ~ Accredited Buyer's Representative ASP ~ Accredited Staging Professional GRI ~ Graduate Realtor's Institute CDPE ~ Certified Distressed Property Expert

Disclaimer:The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. My Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on my Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author. My Blog does not express the views of Keller Williams Realty, Inc or those of the operating principal broker.

Copyright © 2011 By Sandy Fenton, All Rights Reserved.*Northern Westchester County NY*

Frannie's Goodie Shop

I finally made it our village's newest enterprise - Frannie's Goodie Shop in Mount Kisco NY. Owned by Fran and Isi Albanese, who are also the owners of the very popular Bellizzi (located just across the street), this conveniently located yogurt cafe promises to be the hit of the season.

After a late breakfast and no lunch, I wandered in at about 4:30 to check it out. Along one wall are the self serve yogurt dispensers. In the middle is an island with all sorts of toppings. Wet walnuts, a few kinds of chocolate chips, fresh fruits, Oreo bits, granola - I can't even remember them all. Along the back wall are dispensers for such treats as chocolate covered peanuts and chocolate covered raisins and many more - probably 20 or so. I am a chocolate lover so I only remember the chocolate stuff! :-)

There were about a dozen flavors but I focused in on the Peanut Butter and Cable Car Chocolate. I didn't want too much as it was late and didn't want to spoil my appetite so I put a bit of each in my cup. Topped the chocolate with fresh strawberries and mini Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate chips on the P-nut butter. At that point, you take your treat to the register - you pay by weight. I'd served myself almost 8 oz (!!!!) however - at about 25-30 calories per oz, I figured the total was less than 300 calories and considering I hadn't had lunch . . . As far as spoiling the appetite, it went down smoothly and was easily digested and am not ravenous for dinner but could eat a little something 3+ hours later.

When I got home, I researched the website and found that the yogurt is supplied by YoCream - a company that ferments and cultures their yogurt on site daily. The yogurt contains high levels of active yogurt cultures (probiotics) and not only is it high quality - it is delicious as well. It is not cloyingly sweet nor does it contain high fructose corn syrup (exemptions on their website) and it has a pleasing texture. There is much more information on their website.

A fun place, great location and a treat that's healthy as well as delicious. What else could ya want???

Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this review nor was I "comped" for my special treat. :-)

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Contact Sandy Fenton for a no-obligation consultation to assess your real estate selling or purchasing needs.

Visit my website at: www.SandyFenton.com

Email: Sandy@SandyFenton.com

Call: 914-672-9429

NYS Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker ABR ~ Accredited Buyer's Representative ASP ~ Accredited Staging Professional GRI ~ Graduate Realtor's Institute CDPE ~ Certified Distressed Property Expert

Disclaimer:The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. My Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on my Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author. My Blog does not express the views of Keller Williams Realty, Inc or those of the operating principal broker.

Copyright © 2011 By Sandy Fenton, All Rights Reserved.*Frannie's Goodie Shop Mount Kisco NY*