About Dutchess County, NY

Okay, the last few weeks have for many of us put our nerves on edge. Today for the first time I met with my financial adviser but did not make a change to my portfolio. I am just going to ride it out. I couldn't believe that today the market also went in a positive direction. You could say the gains made some giddy. It could be short lived but taking it one day at a time is the only thing that can be done.

I know there are many stressed out people out there so here is my poor attempt at humor. It is a bear market so where did the bulls go? Well, I found them hanging out in Pine Plains and I have the pictures to prove it. This may not get a laugh but I hope you will enjoy the shots.

Okay, being a Realtor I did have a real estate question for my adviser. I asked him if he thought that the people with cash who are skittish about the market would now consider real estate investments. He thought they might and then we took it a step further and predicted that some would decide to leave Wall Street for a more peaceful life in the Mid Hudson Valley and I would be ready to help them make the adjustment.

Who really knows what the next few weeks will bring?

While driving home from my belated birthday celebration tonight, a few deer friends jumped out of the woods to surprise me! It was dark and we almost didn't see them. My husband hit the brakes just in time. We stopped and so did they - in the middle of the road they stood there staring back at us ...like deer in the headlights!

Yes, the headlights of a car will cause a deer to freeze.

It's THAT time of year once again. It's getting cold at night in the Hudson Valley. Cold months are the peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, especially given a soaring deer population for this time of year.

On the 2 1/2 mile country road approach to my subdivision, I am reminded every day that these animals are as much dangerous as they are beautiful. My son's first car accident occured 2 weeks after he got his license - it was this time of year too. He swerved to avoid a deer just one mile down the road from our neighborhood. He successfully avoided the deer but hit a tree head-on and totaled his sister's car. Thank goodness, he and his friend walked away without a scratch. My son only had to answer to our daughter and fortunately she was away at college. That was 6 years ago!

Don't find out the hard way. Some auto insurance policies do not cover damage to a vehicle for crashes involving deer. Be sure to check with your insurance agent about your policy. Auto accidents involving deer total 1.5 million a year according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports - and they result in 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in vehicle damage.

Avoiding Deer/Car Collisions (The Highway Safety Research Center):

• Slow down! In areas with a large deer population, or where there are deer warning signs, drivers should reduce their speed.
• Always wear your seat belt! It's your best protection from injuries in the event of a crash.
• Watch for eyes reflecting in your headlights. Try to look far down the road and scan the roadsides, especially when driving through field edges, heavily wooded areas, or posted deer crossing areas. The sooner you see a deer on or approaching a road, the better your chances of avoiding a crash.
• Remember that deer travel in herds. If you see one deer cross the road in front of you, don't assume that all is clear. Deer herds can be fairly large, and the animals often move one right behind the other.
• Do not place confidence in "deer whistles" or other "ultra-sonic" devices that claim to prevent deer collisions.
• Maintain control of your vehicle. It is important that you not lose control of your vehicle or veer into the path of an oncoming vehicle to avoid contact with an animal. Loss of control usually results in a more serious crash.

Hyde Park presently has about 135 properties listed for sale. During the month of September there were only 5 sales a drop from the previous month which had 13 sales. Most of the homes on the market falls between the 100's-400's range so there are many buying opportunities.

With such high inventory level I will give Hyde Park sellers the same advice I have given to other sellers, price right, stage and most of all provide access.

The existing properties ranged from $ 9000- $ 3,200,000

GROUNDS AT FDR LIBRARY

****Data for this report obtained from the MidHudson MLS System.

BY: Jennifer Fivelsdal Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty Team - jfivehomes.com 845-758-6842 Email

Tonight I attended a performance at the Frank Gehry designed Richard B. Fisher Center For The Performing Arts at Bard College.

To tell you the truth I was rather skeptical when I was told the dancing would be done on the roof. Now  when you take a look at the roof you will see just what I mean.

To me this looked like it would be sucidal however by the time the performance came to an end I had changed my mind, yes I can admit it, I really enjoyed it especially when the dancers did a piece which reminded me of riding on a train.

This performance is known as Rapture and was specially choreograph by Noemie Lafrance for Bard College.  There are still 2 performance left this weekend, 7:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

I was a bit annoyed with myself for leaving my video camera home but I was able to record a short clip on my regular camera, so enjoy this short video.

Courtesy: Jennifer Fivelsdal Associate Broker - keller Williams Realty Team - 845- 758-6842 - Email

Uh Oh ....Hold On, I See A Cop Up Ahead! I hear this phrase all too often. Don't worry, it's not that I am associated with hardened criminals who are running from the law. But, since 2001 talking on a cell phone while driving in NY is illegal. New York became the first state to prohibit drivers from talking on hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle.

I admit, it's a good law - I, myself have been distracted while talking on the phone before. I've had my share of near misses before the law went into effect. As a real estate agent, my car is my rolling office. I try my hardest not to talk on the phone but there's always the call I was expecting from a busy attorney who was to get back to me between closings or court sessions. There are times when I need to call my client to let them know I might be running late due to traffic. And, after playing phone tag with somebody all day long I hate missing the opportunity to connect when their number finally pops up. But, this is the law - and one I respect. And, it now makes me furious when I see other drivers talking on phones while driving erratically or simply not paying attention to the road and traffic signals. It's my life they are endangering! It's a law that everybody should respect. And, if I had to get in the habit of refraining, so should everybody else. It doesn't take much effort to switch my phone to speaker (I hate the headset). See, the law only refers to "hand- held devices."

I am afraid the fine is a slap on the wrist for some people. If you use a hand-held mobile telephone in NY while you drive, except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency, you can receive a traffic ticket and pay a maximum fine of $100 and mandatory surcharges of $60.

And, this is why so many New Yorkers are still talking on their phones when they are driving? To all those drivers who ignore the cell phone law: You can't hide...it's obvious to everybbody who can see you that you are on a phone. Of course, the first sign ususally, is that you're driving erratically and holding up traffic. HEY STUPID! GET OFF THE PHONE AND FOCUS ON DRIVING!