This is the second in a series of posts of the Westchester County Area.  We are focusing here on recreational activities.  Some like last weeks post on The Performing Art Center at Purchase has been curtailed by the Covid restrictions.  But the outdoor parks, for the most part, are open.The County of Westchester has 12 parks spread throughout the county. Westchester's parks offer some of the most beautiful scenery you will find anywhere.  We have hills including the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains and plenty of water from Hudson River to Long Island Sound and in between the magnificent waterways and dams that supply New York City with water.  From the Sound Shore to the Hudson, from Yonkers to Yorktown, visitors can enjoy Westchester County parks in every season. Some have miles of... 04/20/2021

Those living in Westchester County and especially Armonk, NY have a real gem right at their doorsteps. It is a world famous college with a performing arts center.  Purchase College is part of the SUNY (State University of New York) system.  The tuition is low for in state students.  However, if you apply for the performing arts program majors you face some very stiff competition.World famous performers, editors, producers, and film makers have graduated from Purchase College.  I remember taking my older daughter to colleges and she was interested in theater arts.  We took a tour and the dean of the school spoke to us.  He said that this is a studio school.  If you are majoring in film editing you will be in the dark for 4 years.  Needless to say, it takes commitment to graduate.What doe... 04/13/2021

This is the third of my posts from Anna Banana Kruchten CRS CRB, Phoenix Broker and Carol Williams December holiday challenge. I am reflecting on the different Christmas traditions of Phyllis' family and my family.  I grew up in Bucks County Pennsylvania northeast of Philadelphia, German Lutheran.  My wife grew up in Mt. Vernon NY, Italian Catholic.Christmas Eve for the Schneders included having some friends stop by or going out, attending 11pm candlelight service and then going over to someones home afterward.  No Gifts.  That was for Christmas morning.  We would spend the day at home and have my aunt, uncle, and cousins for Chistmas Dinner.  Although I can't find a photo from those times here is one from 26 years ago.One thing I loved when I married Phyllis was family, family, family.... 12/15/2020

It is now the height of fall here in Armonk New York.  This is a shot from our front yard.The green leaves are still on the Canadian Maple tree but the bright yellow leaves are now covering the lawn.  Our area always has bright fall colors.Fall is a very colorful time of year.  Soon the trees will be bare.  10/27/2020

This is my third post for the October challenge hosted by Anna Banana Kruchten CRB, CRS, Broker, Instructor and Carol Williams .  My first post related to what I was doing professionally in my personal business because of the pandemic.  Then my second post was about changes I had made in my personal life.  But in my business, I am the catalyst that helps others change.  This post highlights some ways I have helped my clients deal with change brought on by this pandemic.Just like the reactions I have read on Active Rain there are three sets of reactions in play. First of all, I have to meet people where they are.  There is always an initial loss of productivity but when change is managed properly then the new outcomes will be better than what the outcomes were before the change.  You may... 10/20/2020

What would 4th of July have been without our annual backyard BBQ with friends?  This year presented a challenge.  We usually host at our house but we were concerned about being able to social distance.Our deck is long but narrow and the lawn behind it drops off into the woods.  There are 4 couples and we came up with a solution.  We would hold it this year at another couple's house.  Their house has a large back yard and we would have things that were packaged rather than sharing lots of food.Voila!So we celebrated but we improvised this year.  Whatever it takes!  How was your Independence Day celebration?  07/07/2020

I have been on a new Zoom Tuesday but it is not on Active Rain.  We have a great Italian Restaurant near us in Armonk.  During the shutdown in addition to delivery the owner Chef Christian Petroni starting cooking demos.  By the way, Christian is also a winner in 2018 of Food Network Star.Here is what happens.  Every Sunday we get an email like this one:This is the first one for me.  It was a rather simple one but delicious and we have enough left over for tomorrow.  I will be looking again on Sunday.With all the recipes we have on Active Rain maybe someone will think of doing a Zoom cooking demo.  06/30/2020

I needed to go out today to get a prescription filled.  After I left the pharmacy I went around the corner to our local Decicco's Supermarket.  It is a great local store with top quality fresh meat, poultry, fish, and produce.  Oh and I can usually jump in get what I need and jump out. Not TodayAs you can see there is a social distance line 6 feet apart.  When someone came out of the store someone else went in.  It look a little while but once inside I stocked up.  Now we are set for awhile.  04/21/2020

This post has been inspired by three of our friends in Active Rain.  First, Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 commented on my post that it would be great to share my uses for Zoom in our businesses (and personal life, for that matter).  I thought that was a great idea and planned to do it.Today I read a great post by Ron and Alexandra Seigel  Marketing Savvy: The Importance of Marketing Perspective! The take away - Be kind, caring, and compassionate.  Give freely to help others in this time of need rather than taking advantage.  They linked to another post by Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD   And now for some good news...I want to do my part, give back and present good uses and information that will improve your business and even your personal life.  Why Zoom?  Let me show yo... 04/01/2020

I have a choice of writing about one of two communities for this contest. I love them both.  However, I have much more to write about our home for 32 years - Armonk, NY  10504, in the Town of North Castle.We were attracted to this community for the same reason many are attracted today.  Armonk is a jewel in Westchester County NY.  It is a desired location along with Chappaqua, Scarsdale, and Bronxville.  These are all fine communities with top rated schools but Armonk has a great advantage to buyers over the other communities.  Years ago Armonk attracted corporations to the town most notably the world headquarters of IBM.  Companies like IBM, Swiss Re and others are clean responsible corporate citizens who ease the the property tax burden.The taxes per assessed value are the lowest of t... 03/25/2020

I have been blogging on Active Rain since 2011.  Today, I want to show my gratitude today to the Active Rain community.  I was encouraged to join by Debbie Gartner .   Although I was not in the Real Estate business she told me about this great thing called blogging.  As a coach consultant she knew I wanted to connect with lots of people and she had attended some of my seminars which I had presented at office suites.  So I first put my toe in the water, then a little more, and then a year or so later I was all in.I learned that blogging good information similar to that in my seminars created great engagement.  Within a year and a half of joining I had my entire website redone and committed to blogging every week.  I have been doing that consistently.  What I learned from Active Rain was ... 12/17/2019

Today we received a blanket of snow in Armonk.  Snow looks great but wouldn't be nice if it weren't on the roads.  Take a look!The roof tops of the shops in Armonk Town Square have a nice cover of snow.The trees have a nice clean coat of white snow.Have a great Day! 12/11/2019

I am sure that everyone knows the song, Frosty the Snowman. "Frosty the Snowman” was written by Steve Nelson, who had just bought land in Armonk, NY and by Jack Rollins, a then-resident of  nearby White Plains, NY.Every year for the last 10 years there has been a Frosty parade in Armonk.  It happens rain, sleet, snow or shine.  This year, Sunday, December 1st promised snow but it turned out being sleet.This year the lady that inspired the song came from Ohio to be in the Parade.  Here is the story:When she was a child living in White Plains, NY there was an early snowfall.  She went out to play and her Grandpa Rollins went with her.  They built a snowman.  Because it was an early snow the next day the snowman had melted away.  She was upset.  Grandpa Rollins comforted her by saying, "Do... 12/03/2019

In your real estate brokerage or any other organization you need management and leadership. While management organizes and controls, leadership charts the way, innovates, and inspires the organization to new heights.  As a leader your role is to navigate your organization or your team through the uncertainties. Sometimes the good and necessary management skills such as planning, directing and controlling create roadblocks because they are missing the inspirational leadership.Sometimes heads of organizations spend too much of the time on controls.  When this happens inspiration and innovation falters.  For example, a newer person with new ideas might be answered with,  "that probably won't work, we tried that before, or this is the way we have to do it."You may be a great manager, but yo... 11/18/2019

Just like the song I started off all alone but I am grateful for all of the friends that I have acquired along the way.  Before I was married more than 41 years I had friends but my dear wife multiplied the friends we have many times over.  I am so fortunate that my wife is such giver and a loved person that we have always many friends.For years my wife was pitcher for a women's softball team and that group of friends is still together.  In a few weeks, they will be baking Christmas cookies together.  Yum!  She also had many work friends.  Every Christmas we threw a big catered party for her work friends.People with children have a great opportunity to build friendships through their children.  From the time our daughters were in nursery school we were developing those relationships.We ... 11/12/2019

According to records Halloween is one of the biggest holidays for commerce. Yes, trick or treating has become big business.Christmas is the biggest holiday for commerce.  It includes all of the house decorations.  But did you know that some areas go all out for Halloween.Here in Armonk we have two streets that are house to house decoration.  In fact the police close off the streets and ride around on bikes.  People come from all over.  Phyllis and I will be at a party at one of these houses.  Here is some more.Have a safe and happy Halloween! 10/31/2019

This is a fun challenge for me to show off my home town.  Actually I have two of them but I will start with my home town for the last 31 years, Armonk, NY  10504.We have fun in Armonk all year--Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.  Just three weeks ago the Lions Club hosted our Annual Fol de Rol.  This is a fun fair with rides, exhibits and events, and live entertainment.  Everyone stops by for a good time and the proceeds collected by the Lions help fund great projects in Armonk.And here is this year live group Kidgoldie - Sage  Next up is the Armonk Concert Series.  These concerts are heard in the beautiful Wampus Park near the center of town.  In the past we have had local artists perform including veteran New York Yankees player Bernie Williams.  Bernie lives in Armonk.   The Wampus Br... 07/03/2019

Would you like to reach your true potential? Then do something that may sound counterproductive. Stop worrying about your weaknesses. Although it is foolish to try to improve your weakness you have been told the opposite since you were in grade school. Even if you attempt correct your weaknesses you will never be fully satisfied, and you will be in a constant state of stress. But isn’t that what many of us try to do?   When your child comes home from school with his or her report card and it shows, for example, an A in math, B’s in history and science, and a C in English, what is your response?That’s right. Most people will talk to their child about raising the grade in English. But what if your child might have a real talent in math? He or she might become a great math genius. But it m... 03/04/2019

Halloween is upon us again.  Did you know that this holiday is commercially as big as Christmas.  The evidence is all of our neighborhoods.  I sneaked out tonight just to take pictures.  These streets really are lit up like Christmas.Come tomorrow night it will look like this.  Have a safe and Happy Halloween Everyone! 10/30/2018

When I facilitate leadership development groups I always start by asking what makes a good leader. Some feel that there are traits that make good leaders. But when I speak with my Westchester County NY business leaders about traits that make a good leader no one can agree. The only trait that is agreed upon is having empathy. Well then, what do have successful leaders have if they don’t have similar traits? All successful leaders have the ability to set goals and inspire achievement of results.This really what is meant by “management by objectives.”    Start with a clear strategic vision—a strategic plan that inspires. Then create goals that support that vision. Next, what are the desired results from your team members? Define them. Align your people and your processes and make sure tha... 10/15/2018