Ruthmarie's Blog

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Aftermath – Views of White Plains after the storm

The power restoration process is slowly progressing.  Five days after the storm  there are still over 7000 county residents without power as of this morning.   Greenburgh town supervisor, Paul Feiner, will be writing the Public Service Commission asking them to investigate the methodology Con Ed used to commit de-energizing and restoration crews.  NYC appeared to be first in line for help while it was obvious that the lions share of the damage was in Westchester County.

Personally, I was out of power for about 72 hours and the damage to my own property was consderable even though I had had the foresight to have a couple of vulnerable trees removed prior to the storm.    Several people I know were dependent on sump pumps to keep their basements dry. When the power went off – so did the sump pumps and the resulting damage was severe.

Here are a few photos taken from my iPhone yesterday.   The are pictures taken in the Prospect Park neighborhood and on Soundview Ave. in  White Plains – an area that was severely impacted.  As you can see, the trees came up by the roots.  The same is true for a very large tree that I lost on my front yard.  The ground was already so saturated with water the trees were just pulled out by the roots.

Uprooted tree in Prospect Park White Plains NY

Uprooted tree in Prospect Park

Soundview Ave White Plains - Restoration crews

© 2010 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchester view.  All rights reserved.

Aftermath – Views of White Plains after the storm

 

8 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • March 18 2010 03:29PM

Living in the 19th century until Con-Ed restores power…

Early Saturday evening,  much of Westchester NY was plunged into darkness by a major storm.  The storm was severe enough for me to cancel my last appointment.  It was nothing short of treacherous on the road.  I made it home safely and  counted my blessings. Then suddenly – ZAP!!! All the lights went as well as the heat (which is triggered electrically) As the storm raged on I heard an ominous THUD in the front yard.  A tree that I had had scheduled to be removed this next week had decided to beat its executioner to the punch and came down across my front lawn.  I was very fortunate that it didn’t hit my house.

Because of the enormous amount of wet weather that we have had the roots of large trees have become rotted and the trees have literally been dropping willy nilly in every direction – like very large and dangerous flies.  Today I went out on the road in search of band width and ended up at Coffee Labs.  The devestation was everywhere and the power outages were apparent with police at every corner directing traffic.  According to Con Ed – there are over 60,000 residents still out of power in Westchester County.  This was a reduction from the over 100,000 with no power initially.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the bandwidth and am trying to make do.  I'm being told I could be out of power along with many fellow citizens for as long as a week.

Dry Ice is available at:

516 North Ave. in New Rochelle NY

Empire City (Yonkers Raceway), Yonkers NY

Saxon Woods Pool Park – White Plains NY

For additional information regarding White Plains go to The White Plains Citizen Net Reporter for updates.

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.

 

Living in the 19th century until Con-Ed restores power…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • March 15 2010 05:24PM

Carlson’s Floral & Gift – White Plains NY

Carlson's Floral & GiftYes, these old Timberland boots were used as flower pots!  It’s an example of how out-of-the box thinking can transform something that would find its way into the the trash, can be turned into a spring time arrangement.

Whether  buying or selling Westchester NY real estate, clients often need help with curb appeal.  When selling, landscaping creates an inviting atmosphere that invites buyers into the home.  Buyers, on the other hand,  are often eager to put their own personal stamp on their gardens and may often be at a loss as to what to do or where to go.

Carlson’s in White Plains has expert advice and marvelous arrangments for both home and garden a like.  The arrangments can run the gamut from highly formal to totally funky.  I particularly like to go there during the different holidays – such as Easter, Christmas, New Years, Halloween  to see what they have.   Over the years  I’ve mentioned Carlson’s in several blogs. I’ve taken many photos of the arrangements. So I compiled the photos into a video.  I thought it would be a nice diversion from the rain and wind we are expecting this weekend.  Enjoy.

 

Carlson’s Floral & Gift is located at 625 Dobbs Ferry Rd., White Plains NY 10607 – 914-684-6084

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved.

2 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • March 12 2010 04:08AM

Siberian Huskies in White Plains NY Winter Wonderland…

 

Its STILL SNOWINGFor many on the East coast Friday was a snow day.  White Plains NY was no exception.  Let’s put it this way – people were not exactly calling me  for showings on Friday.  It took several hours for me to dig out – my walkways were covered with the white stuff.  I actually spent about an hour cutting back branches that were hanging so low, they were in danger of pulling down a couple of small trees.

When I finally finished, I found that my Siberain Huskies (Jade, Tundra, & Buddy) were eager to play in the yard with me.  I grabbed the camera and decided to create a video from some of the photos.  Siberian Huskies and snow go together like ham and eggs.  They were having a ball and I think it shows.

Enjoy the video, I put it together rather quickly, but I still think its fun!

 

 

To see the still photos that helped make up this video go to my Flickr account:

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com.  All rights reserved.

Siberian Huskies in White Plains NY Winter Wonderland…

 

2 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 27 2010 02:34AM

Freaky Friday - Yet more snow - Need I say more.....

trees in ice & snowOK, so crazy snow is now a part of our lives.  I mean seriously, I have seen enough of the white stuff for the next five years.  I usually like snow.  But I think that there can be too much of a good thing. Certainly the East Coast has had more than their fair share this year. New York had avoided the trouncing that the many of the mid-Atlantic states had been subjected to.  One big storm became a rain event for us.  But this time, we got hit!

After shoveling - I spent some time cutting back branches that were hanging very low and threatening a couple of trees in my front yard.  There was a coating of ice under the snow weighing everything down.  But these two photos are the view from my back yard.  Its pretty - but treacherous for the plants.  Lines and trees were down all over the place making travel treacherous.

Trees in ice & snow

2 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 27 2010 02:26AM

Pet-Friendly Cooperatives - Scarsdale Country Estates - Scarsdale NY

Scarsdale coopsScarsdale Cooperatives:

Scarsdale coops are very popular for commuters and long-time residents alike.  When people think of coops in Scarsdale, they are often thinking of the famous Garth Road.  Unfortunately, there are no longer any dog-friendly cooperative complexes on Garth.  However, nearby on Central Ave, there is such a complex.

Scarsdale Country Estates:

Scarsdale Country Estates is located on Campus Place and Sentry Pl.  off of Central Ave. Although they have a Scarsdale, P.O. address, it is important to clarify that they are actually located in the town of Greenburgh in the famous Edgemont school district.  These are lovely old world garden style units with fine moldings, hard wood floors and fireplaces.

Being located directly off of Central Ave., these units offer easy access to the Express Bus to Manhattan as well as Shuttle service to the Scarsdale Train Station.  Their location is definitely convenient many forms of shopping and within just of few minutes of the hustle, bustle, shopping and entertainment that downtown White Plains, NY and the City Center has to offer.

Cost of Living:

The units themselves are generously sized with loads of charm. 750-900 sq.ft. is customary for  a 1 BR or Jr. 4 while 1250-1350 sq. ft. is the norm for a 2 BR. Many of the ground floor units offer private entrances complete with private patios and are very appealing for people who have pets or for those who just enjoy being outdoors in warmer weather.  Parking is available but unassigned and storage is available.

There are several units under contract and in pending at this time. Although the final sales price is not known, the average sales price is about $178,000 for a 1 BR/1BA unit with units having a private patio having a correspondingly higher price.  The average maintenance is $731 a month without STAR savings.  Using a 30-year 5.5% loan and a 20% down payment as a basis, the outlay for such a unit after calculating standard tax deductions would be about $1250/month – more than  competitive with rentals in the area.  2 BR units are selling for about $277,000 with maintenance fees running $1050/month.  The outlay is correspondingly higher at about $1920/month but still very competitive with  rentals.Scarsdale Coops

Pet Friendly Status:

One dog is allowed.  The dog can be any size or breed but must pass the board.

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks.  http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved.

Scarsdale Coops – Pet-Friendly Scarsdale Country Estates

7 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 24 2010 02:35AM

Let it snow…at least that’s what my Siberian Huskies say!

white plains ny weather - my dogs love itJanuary was a quiet month for snow.  Westchester NY weather  was cold, but after months when I thought it would never stop raining – we had a reprieve on the amount precipitation.  The result was a calm January.  A lot of residents had their fingers crossed for February – but it was not to be.  And although we all grumbled about digging out, my pups were as pleased as punch to have some quality time with the white stuff.   I was out with them this afternoon watching the cavort and play like they had never seen snow before and it was a lot of fun to see.  I took a few pictures with the idea of making a new video, but this time, they didn’t come out the way I anticipated.  So I’m settling for a remix of the video I prepared in December of them playing in the first snow of the season.  The picture above, however was from today’s snow…

 

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks - http://thewestchesterview.com - All rights reserved..

Let it snow…at least that’s what my Siberian Huskies say!

8 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 17 2010 03:46AM

Larchmont Tavern - Larchmont NY

Larchmont TavernAnother Larchmont restaurant that is a real hot spot among the locals is the famous Larchmont Tavern.  The LT dates back to the Great Depression.  It opened in 1933 – at the height of the depression.  Today it is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Located at 104 Chatsworth Ave., its central location makes it a draw for families and commuters a like.  It is practically across the street from Metro-North making it a convenient destination for commuters looking to grab a bite or a drink after work. The place is always packed and the reason for that is obvious.  The food is basic family fare – but done well and with excellent service.  Personally, I love their salads particularly the Spicy Southwestern.  No need to order extras – the salads are huge and there is always plenty for a second meal the next day.

For more information as well as a menu  go to http://larchmonttavern.com/

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reseverd.

Larchmont Tavern – Larchmont NY

0 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 14 2010 04:04AM

Westchester Real Estate Shakeup - featured in Inman News...

You know that your real estate market is expereincing a shakeup when an article about it in Inman News.  The post was actually a reposting of an original article written by "The Real Deal" by Amy Tennery called Westchester real estate shake-up: Brokerage world sees shuffling of agents as firms shutter and consolidate during downturn.

In the post, the details of the shake-up were described in detail - particularly with respect to Sotheby's and Better Homes and Gardens Rand.  Many have been affected by the changes that have roiled our market.  I was briefly with Prudential Rand (before it became Better Homes & Gardens Rand) when they acquired Nelson-Vrooman GMAC in the spring of 2008. My initial brokerage at Century 21 Wolff was also acquired by Rand.  So agents have been reshuffled like playing cards in a very large deck.

This fall out from this may signal a changing of the guard away from the large franchise model to smaller independents  - or - it could consolidate the power of the few left standing.  Although I belong to a fairly large franchise, it is my hope that some of the smaller independents start to carve a nice niche for themselves where they can level the playing field and keep a lively competition going.  In general I have been quite hard on the large franchises because some (not all) have sat on the laurals of their name brand. All the while doing little or nothing in the way of customer service.  New agents were often "on their own" which also wrecked havoc with customer service. 

But to those in our area that had a favorite brokerage that is now gone - I will offer the following advice.  Agents sell homes - not brokerages. If your brokerage of choice is gone, but you had an agent that you worked successfully with in the past, I suggest you track him or her down.  It is more than likely that the agent is still in business with another brokerage.He or she has not changed just because they are no longer with the same broker.  If they did well by you in the past, they will continue to do so.

© Ruthmarie G. Hicks - http://thewestchesterview.com.  All rights reserved.

Westchester Real Estate Shakeup – featured in Inman News…

0 commentsRuthmarie Hicks • February 13 2010 03:31AM

Chat 19 – a very popular Larchmont restaurant

Chat 19Larchmont restaurants are very popular places for the locals to gather.  Larchmont is very much a bedroom community – and after a long day in the city, many of the residents like to eat out.  One of my favorite places to eat in Larchmont is the famous Chat 19.  Chat 19 is one of a cohort of Westchester restaurants by Mario Fava – who saught to bring New York City to Westchester.   This is one of the most popular places to dine in Larchmont.  The place is generally packed and in the summer, the crowd spills over to the sidewalk for outdoor dining.  I particularly like eating outdoors.  Larchmont is charming and its a wonderful experience to watch the crowds on the street on a warm summer night.  Chat 19 is popular for a good reason:  the food is wonderful.  The cusine is American Grill.  The decor could best be described as So-Ho style.

The food is excellent as is the service.  I particularly enjoy the spaghetti squash where squash is shaved into “angel hair spaghetti” with diced vegitables, pine nuts and nice tomato sauce.  It may sound a bit strange but it is a wonderful meatless meal.   I’ve also enjoyed the Jambalaya which is nicely spicy without going over the top.

For more information and a menu go to www.chat19.net.

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks.  http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved.

Chat 19 – a very popular Larchmont restaurant

1 commentRuthmarie Hicks • February 11 2010 03:46AM