Daily Archives: August 6, 2011

Mt Kisco Real Estate | Will ‘cherished’ tax breaks face the chopping block? | Inman News

Will ‘cherished’ tax breaks face the chopping block?

Real Estate Tax Talk

Congressional approval to raise the debt ceiling will not end the war in Congress over taxes, spending and the deficit. Under the new law extending the debt ceiling, the federal government will reduce spending by $900 billion over a 10-year period and delegate responsibility for even more cuts to a bipartisan 12-member congressional committee, often referred to as the “Super Congress.”

The Super Congress, consisting of six senators and six representatives equally divided by party, will have until Nov. 23, 2011, to develop a plan to reduce the budget deficit by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

If the Super Congress can come up with a plan that seven members agree to, it will go to a vote in both houses of Congress by Dec. 23, 2011. The Super Congress’s proposal will go to an “up or down vote” — that is, it can pass with a simple majority of each house.

And in an exception to most bills that Congress considers, no filibustering or amendments will be allowed. If the Super Congress cannot agree on a plan, or it doesn’t pass Congress, draconian across-the-board spending cuts of about $1.2 trillion will be automatically triggered — something no one wants.

Bedford Corners Real Estate | Graffiti Costs Town Thousands – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

Graffiti taggers continue to plague the Bedford police department. They’re searching for perpetrators who have defaced traffic signs, buildings and even stone pillars in the town of Bedford causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Over 40 signs have had to be cleaned or replaced, according to Bedford’s highway commissioner, Kevin Winn, to the tune of about $10,000 in labor and supplies.

Bedford Supervisor Lee V.A. Roberts said that it was not a good use of town resources. “It’s time consuming for our officers and highway workers and it’s reprehensible. If people have artistic creativity, there are better ways to express themselves,” she told Patch. “We all have to be vigilant and report what we see.”

Last weekend, defaced traffic signs were discovered on Succabone Road, said Lt. Jeffrey Dickan, the latest in a string of graffiti incidents where taggers spray paint the letters “SMET.” The letters can signify a group or personal signature, he said.

There have been about 20 such incidents since March. Over 15 signs in at least six locations in Bedford and its three hamlets were damaged in April in one weekend alone.

Though three teens were recently arrested for spray painting graffiti in Katonah, they do not appear to be the “SMET” taggers. “We’re actively investigating these incidents,” said Dickan. “We’d really like to catch them [the taggers] and our patrol officers are out there talking to community members.”

Anyone with information related to the incidents is encouraged to call 241-3111.

 

 

Bedford Hills Real Estate | Bedford Police Issue Warning Against Western Union Scams – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

Bedford police are cautioning residents about a recent rash of telephone scams in the area.

What typically happens, according to police, is a resident will receive a call from someone who claims to be a relative of the victim, usually a grandchild, said Lt. Jeffrey Dickan. 

The caller then describes a situation where money is needed—for example, to cover damage to a car or to get bail for a drunk driving charge. In some cases, the callers have claimed to kidnap a relative of the victim, and asked for a ransom.

Then the requests the resident to send money via Western Union.

If locals receive these types of calls, police warn, they should phone the supposed relative that the perpetrator claims to be. In some cases, residents have sent the money—which has been picked up in a foreign country—and this intereres with police further investigating the matter.

“If anyone receives a call like those described, locals should first contact the relative, then contact the police,” said Dickan in a press statement. “We will assist you in contacting [the relative].”

Dickan cautioned that the caller has in some instances put someone else on the line, who might claim to be a police officer. “Gather as much information as possible before sending any money,” he said.

The police can be reached at (914) 241-3111 for any questions.

 

 

South Salem Real Estate | Open Houses August 5-7 – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

Here is this week’s edition of House Hunt, our weekly feature showcasing the homes that are open to the public this coming weekend.  Every Friday at around noon you will find that weekend’s updated list right here.

 

Why isn’t my Open House included?  We include Open Houses in and around Bedford of those real estate offices that have given us authorization.  If you’d like to include your Open House ask the office manager to contact Lisa Buchman (lisab@patch.com) at Patch.  We determine what towns to include based on each week’s open house volume but always include open houses in Bedford’s three hamlets.

Pound Ridge Real Estate | Meet Your Farm Market Vendors: Cascade Mountain Winery and Wave Hill Breads – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

Each week, Bedford-Katonah Patch will introduce you to two vendors from local markets serving the area: Gossett’s Farmer’s Market and the John Jay Homestead Farmer’s Market.

This week we introduce you to two vendors: Wave Hill Breads, which exhibits at both markets (though these photos are from John Jay Homestead) and Cascade Mountain Winery, which exhibits at Gossett’s.

Gossett’s Farmer’s Market is held at Gossett Brother’s Nursery in South Salem every Saturday year-round, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and the John Jay Homestead Farmer’s Market, held at the Homestead in Katonah runs Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. through October.

Wave Hill Bread

Vendor: Margaret Sapir

Items sold: Artisanal breads including Pain de Campagne (Country Bread), the original Wave Hill Bread shape; for farmers’ markets, the bakery supplies shapes made out of the same dough: demi (half-size) baguettes, round boules, small and large epis (which look like a sheaf of wheat or a collection of pointed rolls on a stalk).

Location: Norwalk, CT

Website:  http://www.wavehillbreads.com

Phone: (203) 762-9595

Cascade Mountain Winery

Vendor: Cody Cafiero, who is part of the family that founded the winery and is in the midst of starting his own vegetable farm. 

Items sold: Cascade brings six varieties of their wines, including their new Coeur De Lion, Seyval Blanc, Private Reserve White and their semi-dry white Summertide. In addition, they bring cheeses from a nearby Hudson Valley farm, and milk from nearby Ronny Brook Farm. The cheeses are probiotic cheeses from The Amazing Real Live Cheese Company. Featured in the photo gallery is the chaouce, which is a farmer’s cheese wrapped in a camembert and rubbed with ash and aged, making for a luscious cheese.

Location: Amenia, NY

Website: http://www.cascademt.com/

Phone: (845) 373-9021

Bedford Real Estate | Weekend Tag Sales: August 5-7 – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

We’re looking for basic tag sale information in our towns. Feel free in the comments section below this article, to tell us:

  • Where (street address and town)
  • When (time and days)
  • Whatever else (Is it an estate sale? Is it at your house? Got anything special? A fundraiser for a local nonprofit organization?)

We’ll add more rows to the table as we get more information from you to help our readers plan their outings. (Nobody needs to be spending more money on gas these days!)

Want to add a tag sale for inclusion on a future weekend? It’s easy! Just log into your local Patch (free account) and click on “Post Your Own Event” at the bottom of the calendar right there on the homepage.

Here’s what we’ve found so far — happy hunting! (And be sure to upload a photo of your great find to this article.)

Purdys27 First St. Fri., 10a.m.-4p.m.
ChappaquaTall Timber Rd.Fri., Sat., Sun., 10a.m.-4p.m.
Tarrytown88 Stephens Dr. Fri., Sat., 10a.m.-3p.m.
White Plains158 Longview Ave.Sat. 9a.m.-3p.m.
Mt. Vernon466 Dunham Ave.Sat., 9a.m.-3p.m.
Putnam Valley22 Pheasant Rd. Sat., 9a.m.-4p.m.
Mamaroneck222 Florence St.Sat., 10a.m.-4p.m.
Bronxvile36 Cross St. Sat., 10a.m.-4p.m. 
Stony Point79 Pine Dr.Sat., Sun., 9a.m.
Carmel22 Rambler Rd.Sat., Sun., 8a.m.-4p.m
Yonkers188 Oak St. Sat., Sun., 10:30-5:30  
Port Chester44 EllendaleSat., 12p.m.-6p.m.; Sun., 11a.m.-4p.m.
Patterson80 Bear Hill Rd. Sat., Sun., 10a.m.-4p.m.
Briarcliff Manor162 Dalmeny Rd. Sat., Sun. 
Pleasantville276-296 Mountain Rd.

Sat., 10 a.m.-2 pm.

Cortlandt Manor12 Stephen Ln.

Sat., Sun., 8a.m.-4p.m.

Katonah Real Estate | Hayworth Rallies Support for Bill to Save VA Hospitals from Developers – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

Rep. Nan Hayworth rallied support Friday, Aug. 5, from a Buchanan audience of more than 100 veterans and others for H.R. 2642, a bill she has introduced to protect hundreds of Veterans Administration acres along the Hudson River from being turned over to developers looking to use the land to build high-end condominiums.

“Decades ago a commision was was developed – with the best of intentions – to see how some of the VA campuses across the country might be repurposed,” Hayworth told the gathering on the front lawn of Village Hall. “A proposal, called an enhanced use lease, would lease 172 of the 184 acres of the Montrose VA campus for development. Our veterans have been very concerned about this plan and I can understand why.”

H.R.2642 would prohibit the disposal of land or buildings by any means at the Montrose or Castle Point campuses of the Hudson Valley Health Care System. Both are in Hayworth’s 19th District.

The congresswoman stressed the importance of the Montrose campus’s capabilities for treating patients from the ongoing war on terror for such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder. 

“We have, through our involvment in wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq, created a new generation of need, a new generation of veterans with disorders that were a result of their service, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Montrose campus has been proven to be particularly gifted by treating patients with these disorders,” she said.

Hayworth, R-Bedford, emphasized her sympathy for the veterans who vocalized their concerns to her about the use of 172 acres to build private condominiums on land that could be used to help those who fought and were debilitated in the line of service. 

“I felt we had to take a stand on this and I am delighted to have a district and a community who feel as we do and support this initiative,” she said. “What I have done, what we have done, is to introduce legislation … H.R. 2642. It is intended to protect the Montrose and Castle Point [in southwestern Dutchess County] campuses, and the rest of the Hudson Valley V.A. System, from being used for the enhanced use lease program.”

Following Hayworth at the podium was Karl Rohde, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and director of veterans affairs for Putnam County.

Rohde, nicknamed “Mr. Veteran,” likened the leasing of the V.A. hospital to putting sponsor names such as NASCAR on Air Force One  or advertising on national monuments.

“If they are going to use the veterans to make money, use other things to make money. It is the wrong way to go,” Rohde said. “We have been fighting this for years. This isn’t something that just popped up. We have tried to get our senators to agree but it has fallen on deaf ears.”

Rohde stressed the horrors of the injuries that have occurred and are still occurring to the troops still fighting in the ongoing war on terror.

“We have more and more veterans with catastropic injuries, injuries that my generation of Vietnam vets wouldn’t have survived. We would have been sent home in a box. These guys are surviving. They are going to need a lot of care. This is no time to scale down,” he said.

Rohde received a warm ovation as he concluded, “Do you know why we have freedom? There are five reasons — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard!”

Other speakers included Vietnam veteran Sal Rosario, Buchanan Mayor Sean Murray, Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi and Assemblyman Robert Castelli, R-Goldens Bridge, all of whom stressed the importance of the Montrose hospital to the community, neighboring communities and veterans. 

Castelli has introduced legislation in the Assembly, A1424, that would authorize the state to acquire by grant, lease or eminent domain, and use for veterans purposes, any portions of the Montrose campus that the federal government attempts to lease for non-veterans purposes.

Video of Nan Hayworth’s entire speech as well as segments from other speeches can be seen by clicking on the above video link.