Daily Archives: October 30, 2014

Down to Earth Farmers Markets | Bedford Corners Real Estate

JAN2014-DTE-E-Mail-Masthead_(722x226pxl)FRESH-2-(1

Wave Hill Breads Debuts Honey & Walnut Croissant
in Larchmont & Croton-on-Hudson;
Order Your Thanksgiving Turkey with Karl Family Farms in Rye;
Try Winter Flounder from American Pride Seafood + MORE

October 30th-November 5th, 2014

DowntoEarthMarkets.com
Apple Banner Photo
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week
Apple Crisps
Wright’s Farm

Honey & Walnut Croissants
Wave Hill Breads

Kabocha Squash
Alex’s Tomato Farm

Macoun Apples
Alex’s Tomato Farm

Mutsu Apples

Alex’s Tomato Farm

Pears
Mead Orchards
Shizuka Apples
Alex’s Tomato Farm

Thanksgiving Turkeys
Place your order this weekend! 
Karl Family Farms

Winter Flounder
American Pride Seafood


Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…                  

Westchester
County

Rockland
County

Ossining

Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm

ALL YEAR AROUND

Larchmont

Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm

Through Dec. 13th

Piermont

Sundays
9:30 am-3:00 pm

Through Nov. 23rd

Croton-on-Hudson

Sundays
9:00 am-2:00 pm

Through Nov. 23rd


Rye

Sundays
8:30 am-2:00 pm

EXTENDED!
NOW through Dec. 21st

Spring Valley

Wednesdays
8:30 am-3:00 pm

Through Nov. 19th


Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow

Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm

Through Nov. 22nd

New Rochelle

Fridays
8:30 am-2:30 pm

Through Nov. 21st


Headed to the city soon?

Visit a Down to Earth
Farmers Market in NYC!

Announcements
Ossining

In celebration of the effort to Bring Your Own Bag to the market – BYOBag – Mead Orchards is offering a FREE reusable bag with all purchases of $5 or more. Also, John D. Madura Farms is selling reusable bags for $3 each. These bags are great alternatives to one-time use plastic bags – thank you all for helping us eliminate plastic shopping bags at the market. Over 300 people have signed the pledge at the market to bring their reusable bags back every week. Keep ’em coming.

Fall Back

Just a reminder – this Sunday marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. Clocks turn back by one hour at 2 am on November 2nd. All our Sunday markets will open on the usual schedule – see you there! 

For additional events, visit our Down to Earth Markets Event Calendar.

Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page
and follow us on Instagram and on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.

Corporate Food Companies Spend Over $30 Million to Defeat GMO Labeling Initiatives in Colorado and Oregon – Will They Win? 
OR label law propaganda
This just in … in the Oregon mail

On Tuesday, November 4th, eaters in Colorado and Oregon will vote on whether or not to label Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in foods sold in their states. For the record, these types of organisms are distinct from the age-old art of plant breeding and other agricultural refinements. GMOs occur when scientists manipulate plant DNA and are now found in many common foods.

As told by Vanity Fair in 2008, this kind of manipulation wasn’t legal in the United States until 1980. Before then, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office “had refused to grant patents on seeds, viewing them as life-forms with too many variables to be patented.” This changed, however, in 1980 when the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 that patent law could cover “a live human-made microorganism.” 

The following year, a team of Monsanto scientists became the first ever to “genetically modify a plant cell.” Thus, in 1981, genetically modified organisms were invented. Along with the invention came the patent — for the first time in human history, seeds carried a patent. Seeds were no longer solely part of the shared human heritage. 

Fast forward to thirty years later, in Colorado last August, where the group, Colorado Right to Know, submitted 167,950 signatures – far exceeding the 86,105 needed – to bring the GMO label vote to the ballot box. Yet in the months since then, groups opposing the measure, including Monsanto, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, and others, have raised over $12 million for the campaign against Proposition 105. In contrast, the pro-labeling groups have raised over $600,000. Not surprisingly, the poll numbers reflect the David vs. Goliath scenario in fundraising: As of two weeks ago, 49% of 500 Colorado voters polled said that they oppose the GMO labeling bill. 29% support it and 21% said they are undecided.

The poll numbers in Oregon, however, are much closer. According to Bloomberg Politics, as of early October, “an Oregon Public Broadcasting/Fox 12 poll found that 49 percent of voters supported Measure 92, while 44 percent opposed it. Seven percent were undecided.”

In the weeks since the poll, the chemical giant, Dupont Pioneer, has given over $4 million dollars to oppose Proposition 92. Now as of this week, a new poll came in listing the numbers as 48% opposing GMO labeling and 42% supporting it, with 7% undecided.

All told, corporations that oppose GMO labeling have spent over $30 million to defeat the measures in Oregon and Colorado, and the vote is still days away. It is notable that the Oregon-based chain of food stores, New Seasons, has launched a campaign in support of labeling. Whole Foods has voiced their support for these labeling initiatives, too.

One of the arguments by food corporations against GMO labeling is that it would be too costly, both for them and for consumers. Yet – 1) They change their labels all the time, such as “new and improved” and 2) they already export foods with GMO labels to countries around the world that have GMO label laws. There are 64 countries currently require labels, including the European Union, Russia, China, and Japan. 3) It’s unlikely that GMO labeling will deeply impact consumer prices.

At Down to Earth Markets, as stated on our website, it is our vision “to build a strong regional food system, built by independent farms and food businesses, that provides everyone with an alternative to industrial food.” We don’t know the environmental or health risks of GMO crops at this point. Perhaps they are fine; perhaps they are not. The impact of these crops will be revealed with time.

What we do know now is that we do not want corporations to have exclusive rights to our food. Yes, the GMO labeling debate is about the right to know what is in our food. We also strongly believe that it is about the right to say NO to corporate ownership of our food.

To support GMO labeling efforts in Colorado and Oregon, you can donate to the work of Food Democracy Now! and the Center for Food Safety. To support non-GMO foods in our area, shop at Down to Earth Farmers Markets. All of our farms are independent, small businesses that grow non-GMO crops. Thank you for coming out to buy from them this weekend.

Mortgage Rates at 3.98% | Chappaqua Real Estate

Fred Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates moving higher across the board this week and rebounding from the lowest rates of the year.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.98 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending October 30, 2014, up from last week when it averaged 3.92 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.10 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.13 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.08 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.20 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.43 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.41 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.51 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for theRegional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates grew across the board this week, rebounding from the lowest rates of the year. New home sales grew at an annual rate of 467,000 sales in September, the fastest rate observed during the recovery. Meanwhile, the National S&P Case-Shiller House Price Index grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.4 percent in August.

Tankless Water Heaters | Armonk Homes

Several months after my husband and I and our two kids moved from the US to a space-efficient flat in London, I dragged our contractor into the back of one of our bathrooms to show him a strange, small silver box mounted on the wall and asked if he could remove it. “Not a good idea,” he said. “It’s your water heater.”

Long favored in Japan and Europe where square footage is at a premium, tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand when you need it. According to the EPA, residential electric water heaters are the second highest energy users in American households: “The energy consumed by your refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer combined use less energy than your current standard water heater.” Tankless water heaters offer big savings in energy use and space. The question is: Can these little units cater to the water heating needs of larger homes? Read our primer to find out if a tankless water heater should be on your house remodeling or tank replacement short list.

Michaelis Boyd Architects Bathroom, Remodelista

Michaelis Boyd Architects Bathroom, Remodelista

Above: A London bathroom by Michaelis Boyd Architects.

With the help of a demure tankless water heater that barely took up any space in our London flat, four of us bathed, showered, washed clothes, and otherwise ran hot water without ever experiencing shortages or wars over water pressure.

What is a tankless water heater and how does is work?

Unlike standard water heaters that keep water hot and ready for use at all times in insulated 20- to 80-gallon tanks, tankless models don’t store hot water, they heat on demand. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water runs through a pipe into the unit where a flow sensor turns on a gas burner or an electric element to heat the water to the desired temperature. When the hot water tap is closed, the flow sensor turns off the burner.

Tankless Water Heater Diagram, Remodelista

Tankless Water Heater Diagram, Remodelista

Above: The inner workings of a gas-powered tankless water heater. Image via Better Water Heaters.

How are tankless water heaters powered?

Tankless water heaters can be fueled by gas (natural or propane) or electricity. Gas-powered units require venting (just like standard tank heaters). Most gas models also have electronic controls, so an electric outlet is needed. Full electric tankless heaters don’t need venting but have minimum voltage and AMP requirements—consult a professional to be sure your power is adequate.

Steibel Tempra Plus Electric Tankless Water Heater, Remodelista

Steibel Tempra Plus Electric Tankless Water Heater, Remodelista

Above: The Steibel Tempra Plus Whole-House Electric Tankless Water Heater doesn’t require venting, which allows for location flexibility.

Are there different types of tankless water heaters?

Two types of heaters are generally offered: whole house and point of use. Whole-house systems are powerful enough to generate hot water at flow rates to serve a household. Point-of-use units have low flow rates and are designed to supply hot water for a single appliance or location. These compact contraptions are typically installed directly adjacent to wherever they’re needed, such as under a sink; they’re most often used to augment a system when instant or additional hot water is needed.

How much hot water can a tankless heater generate?

Unlike standard water heaters, which draw on reserves, tankless water heaters provide a continuous supply of hot water. Sound too good to be true? Well, sort of. While the stream of hot water is unlimited, tankless models can only heat and deliver water at a certain flow rate. That output, or capacity, is measured in gallons per minute (gpm). So, while a tankless water heater won’t “run out” of hot water like a storage tank can, there may be an issue of not being able to pump out enough hot water for multiple uses at the same time. 

read more…

https://homes.yahoo.com/news/remodeling-101-tankless-water-heaters-090000458.html

Haunted Houses in New Orleans | Mt Kisco Homes

8 Haunted Houses in New Orleans That Will Scare Your Pants Off

 

The Hermann-Grima House in New Orleans’s French Quarter is said to be alive with pleasant, friendly Southern ghosts. They’ve been known to scatter scented rose and lavender around the rooms and light the fireplaces to make it cozy. Built in 1831 for prosperous Creoles, it’s now a museum and one of the most significant residences in New Orleans.

Source: Flickr user wallyg

read more….

https://homes.yahoo.com/photos/8-haunted-houses-orleans-scare-slideshow-133930238/

 

 

 

Rate on New Home Loans Stays Just Above 4 Percent | North Salem Real Estate

Earlier today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that mortgage interest rates declined in September.  That was true as well for the subset of mortgages used to purchase newly built homes, but the changes were very small.  On conventional mortgages for new homes, the average contract interest rate edged down by just 2 basis points, to 4.11 percent.

Contr Rate Sep14Meanwhile, the average initial fee on mortgages used to purchase newly built homes dropped from 1.15 to 1.09 percent—the lowest it’s been since August of 2013.

Fees Sep14However, the decline in the average fee was not enough to drive the average effective interest rate (which amortizes the initial fee over the estimated life of the loan) down by more than 2 basis points, to 4.23 percent.  Except for these minor fluctuations, the average terms on conventional new home mortgages have been stable for the past four months.

Eff Rate Sep14Also in September, the average price of a new home purchased with a convention loan, and the average amount of the loan, both increased. The average loan amount went from $314,200 to $319,800, while the average new home purchase price went from $411,800 to $422,300.  Each has been hovering within a relatively narrow band since March.

 

 

read more…

 

http://eyeonhousing.org/2014/10/rate-on-new-home-loans-stays-just-above-4-percent/

 

Home Improvement Project Prep | Waccabuc Real Estate

We’ve all heard horror stories about home improvement projects gone wrong. In fact, many of us have likely lived through renovations and the headaches they can entail, including delays, shoddy work, unacceptable messes and fights with contractors.

For most people, buying a home is the biggest financial investment they’ll ever make, and, understandably, homeowners want to keep their dream home feeling as fresh as the day they got the keys. But before you embark on a project to update your kitchen, spruce up your bathroom or switch out the paint and trim, it’s important to understand the legal issues you may encounter with a home improvement project.

Is a contract really necessary?

The simple answer is yes. Legal advisers strongly suggest homeowners sign a contract with any contractors that, at the very least, outlines the following:

  • The scope of the work and total price
  • The legal name of the parties and the physical address of the contractor
  • The contractor’s license(s) and tax ID number
  • The labor and materials being provided to complete the job
  • The timeframe in which the project will be completed
  • The homeowner’s responsibility, which may include the selection of fixtures, paint colors, etc.
  • The days and times the contractor(s) will have access to the property.

North Andover, MA attorney Ramsey A. Bahrawy says it’s important to list the start and end date in the contract. “If the contractor does not substantially finish the work by the date stated in the contract, he can be penalized a specified amount for each day he is late,” Bahrawy says.

If the contractor will be using subcontractors, the contract should state that all contractors and subcontractors are registered, and their license numbers should be listed in the contract so a homeowner can inquire about them if needed, Bahrawy adds.

Chicago attorney John R. O’Brien, who has 30 years of experience in construction litigation, says the contract should also specify that contractors are independent contractors and not employees of the homeowner.

Confirm that workers are insured

“Each contract should also require the contractor to carry workers’ compensation insurance and show the homeowner proof of insurance,” O’Brien explains. “For larger jobs or more hazardous ones (like roofing), have the contractor get an endorsement on their workers’ comp insurance listing the homeowner as an additional insured.”

Call the insurer to verify that the policy is still in effect

If workers are injured while on the job, who is liable?

Injuries to independent contractors and their employees are generally not the property owner’s responsibility. However, exceptions could occur, such as if the owner told the contractor he would turn off the electric power to the work area and then didn’t, or if he told the contractor’s employee to use the owner’s rickety ladder. If the contractor or employee was injured in such a circumstance, the homeowners insurance policy likely would cover it, O’Brien says.

Bahrawy urges homeowners to call their insurance company to ensure their homeowners insurance covers such events.

Krista Dawkins, partner at Pyka Lenhardt Schnaider Zell in Santa Ana, CA says it’s wise to choose contractors who have their own workers’ compensation insurance. If they don’t offer workers’ compensation, it may mean they’re using laborers who are not legal residents of the state.

“A savvy homeowner would ask, ‘Do I want to run the risk of going with a cheaper, uninsured, fly-by-night operation because I have my own homeowners insurance, or spend more for a contractor that includes workers’ compensation insurance as part of his business plan and margins?’”

Make sure you’re covered for contractor damage or issues

Be sure every contractor has general liability insurance in addition to workers’ compensation insurance. Again, you can call the insurer to determine that the policy is in effect and get details of the type of coverage and deductibles.

Bahrawy says homeowners should also protect themselves from subcontractors or employees who have not been paid by the contractor. “That person can place a mechanic’s lien on the homeowner’s property to protect his or her right to payment. The contract should include a clause that will hold the homeowner harmless from claims by employees and subs.”

O’Brien says this would apply to any job that includes subcontractors.

 

read more…

 

http://www.zillow.com/blog/cover-legal-bases-home-improvement-162553/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZillowBlog+%28Zillow+Blog%29

Houses groan, creak, and pop on a regular basis | Cross River Real Estate

Homes make strange noises. They’re built from many different materials — glass, concrete, wood — that expand and contract at different rates.

“[But] the most noise your house should make is a popping sound, like your knuckles cracking, and only once in a while,” said Bill Richardson, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and owner of Responsive Inspections in Bosque Farms, N.M.

If your home is making noises that rival the best of Metallica, then it may be sending you signals that there’s a problem. We asked the experts to catalogue some of the more worrisome pops, hisses, groans, creaks and knocks, and tell us what they mean and how they can be remedied.

Here are the top seven problem noises and how they can be solved.

1. What is that clanking sound when I turn on the heat?

The problem: When most homeowners first turn on their heating system in the fall, they hear a little moaning and groaning as the heating system expands and rubs against the frame of the house, says Mike Kuhn, the New Jersey owner of HouseMaster inspection service and coauthor of “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Home Inspections.” With a baseboard hot-water system, you can also expect “normal clinking and knocking,” says Kuhn. The circulator pump or pumps to the system, however, “should be silent when they run,” says Kuhn. If you hear knocking or clanking, typically located at the boiler itself, it might be a sign of impending failure of the circulator pump, he says.

The solution: Get a repairman out to check on it, pronto.

2. There’s a strange scratching sound coming from behind the walls.

The problem: If you hear strange noises like scratching and possibly chittering coming from places where no one lives in the house, you could have mice, squirrels, raccoons or even bats sharing your quarters, says Richardson. “Any kind of wild critter could be up in the attic,” he says. And these freeloaders aren’t just a nuisance; bats can carry deadly rabies. In the Southwest, the droppings of mice can spread hantavirus. Some animals will tear up insulation to nest or chew through siding and even electrical wires, causing fires.

The solution: As soon as you suspect an intruder, get on it: Set traps. (Call in a pro if the animal is stubborn or large.) Finally, prevent the problem from reoccurring by sealing up the entrances to your house with steel wool, metal sheeting, caulk and/or hardware cloth.

To keep raccoons away, put garbage in sealed, secure metal cans that can’t be tipped. Bring pet food inside. After pests have been removed, make sure vents and chimneys are securely covered with mesh or a grille, so those spaces can still breathe.

3. There’s no one in the house and I can still hear running water. How can that be?

The problem: “You definitely don’t want to hear water running if nobody’s using anything,” says Richardson. The sound could indicate many things — a busted pipe in a wall, under the floor or even in the irrigation system.

The solution: If you hear running water when you shouldn’t, shut the main off and see if the noise goes away, says Richardson. If it does, you’ve got a leak somewhere — and a problem in need of fixing. Unless you’re really handy and ready to do surgery on your home, call in a plumber.

4. I hear a bubbling (or cracking) sound coming from the water heater. Is that normal?

The problem: A gas-fired hot-water heater works pretty much like boiling a pot of water: A fire is lit and the water inside is heated until it’s ready for use. “A lot of sediment builds up at the bottom of a hot water tank, and that sediment works like an insulator,” forcing the burner to work harder, Kuhn says. The strange noise you hear is the bubbling sediment — and a sign that the tank is probably experiencing fatigue and may be facing premature failure, he says.

The solution: Ideally, you should flush out your hot water tank every few months, using the drain valve near the bottom of the floor. “However, nobody does it,” says Kuhn, because it can be a pain to do. If your water heater is already making these noises, draining it might help. “It could (work) a little bit longer, [and] it could go a lot longer,” but the damage is probably done, says Kuhn.

5. My furnace is making a whistling (sucking) sound that it’s never made before. Is it going to need to be replaced?

The problem: “What that can connote is that your filter hasn’t been changed,” says Richardson. “And your furnace is trying to pull in air from around it.” That’s not good, he explains, because it means the furnace is working too hard. “What it will do is start sucking exhaust gasses from the furnace into the house.”

The solution: Install clean filters regularly — “anywhere from three months to monthly, depending on atmospheric conditions,” says Richardson.

 

read more…

 

http://www.zillow.com/blog/7-creepy-house-noises-163176/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZillowBlog+%28Zillow+Blog%29

 

 

Nuclear Plant Sirens Will Be Tested Thursday | Chappaqua Real Estate

There will be a test of the Indian Point sirens in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange Counties on Thursday at approximately 10:30 a.m, according to an announcement on westchestergov.com.

This sounding is only a test and no action by the public is necessary, the announcement said.

The sirens would sound continuously at full volume for four minutes, followed by the broadcast of an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message on radio and television stations during an actual emergency. Sirens are not a signal to evacuate, but rather for people to tune to an EAS radio or TV station for information and instructions.

read more….

 

 

http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/news/indian-point-sirens-will-be-tested-thursday