Photography shows are fun for the photographer as well as the public.  It allows people to enjoy actual prints of the work rather than viewing them on a computer screen.  Since I started with digital photography online, it has always surprised me how images seem a bit more "alive" in print.  So I am happy to report that samples of my photography will be on display and for sale at Vintology of Scarsdale  from now until Nov. 17. Below is a short video of the photos that are currently on display.  Fair warning: they do have a different feel in print.  The current collection emphasizes the Hudson River and a few additional photos from the upper west side of Manhattan.  They run the gamut between all black and white, to black and white with a shot of color to very vivid color.  If you like ... 11/03/2013

THURSDAYS ARE BETTER THAN HUMP DAYS...I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CAMEL SAYS ON THAT AD...IT'S CLOSER TO FRIDAYS IN SCARSDALE NY 10583.   HERE'S WHY...even Atlas, our Servpro office dog -- who terrorizes the UPS, FEDEX and UPS delivery people says that it's been a long week.  Must be the colder weather or just more to do, during a busy fall season, plus invites to our Keller Williams pals' office party for Halloween fun tonight.  It's also a benefit for the Eastchester Children's Library section, so a great cause, too! All we know is that Atlas and I need naps...at least HE got one on our "executive power couch!"   that it  10/24/2013

MUMS 4 MONDAY ~ On Day 1 of our week, we all should stop, see and smell some flowers   Thought I'd share our blooming mums outside the office...yeah!  Followed soon by our saga of a new sign.   After 4.5 years keeping the door open, we are finally OFFICIAL, with our streetside sign for a local, family owned biz in Westchester NY -- Hoorah!  See sign escapade that took 2 hours when it should have been a 10 min install on a separate blog. If you are too far away to visit us in the Scarsdale 10583 area, then visit us sometime at: www.servproscarsdalemountvernon.com\company_profile   Caption:  2 year old planted Mums that thrived this year!     10/21/2013

  Good Evening, this is Justin Datino of the Village of Scarsdale, Village Manager’s Office.  Please be advised that the Village Manager has declared a Water Emergency effective immediately, applicable to all Scarsdale Water users.  This is due to a double water pump failure at the Village’s main water pumping station (Reeves Newsome).      All outside use of water and unnecessary water use is prohibited until further notice.  Please turn off all automatic sprinkler systems, refrain from washing vehicles and refrain from filling swimming pools.  Village water department technicians are working on the pumps throughout the weekend and are doing everything possible to restart the pumps.  The Village will advise the public when repairs are made and the water emergency is lifted.   For more... 10/12/2013

Fire damages homes, apartment buildings and businesses from Yonkers to Scarsdale, NY 10583     Effects of Fire and Smoke Damage   Behavior of Smoke   I was at a pretty heartbreaking fire on Friday night, on the way home from work with our Servpro dog, Atlas -- who guards the office and scares our sweet mailman.     I had just picked up a nice, cool bottle of Chardonay after an unusually hot and hardworking work week.  Atlas and I REALLY wanted to get home, but then my husband sent me an alert for a first alarm fire in my coverage area, near a street that is very familiar.      So, being a trooper for our local family owned startup company and wanting to help any and all fire damage victims, I parked our Subaru and Atlas the wonder Lab UPWIND of the fire.   It was a hot, humid night and ... 10/12/2013

JUST LETTING EVERYONE KNOW VIA SCARSDALE CHAMBER OFCOMMERCE ABOUT:     BRONX RIVER PARKWAY NORTHBOUND MIDDAY CLOSURES NEXT WEEK FROM YONKERS TO WHITE PLAINS   Hey everyone, this is work that is part of the ongoing Crane Road Bridge Replacement Project at the Village of Scarsdale exit. Chamber members are supposed to alert our clients, other business owners and savvy motorists that there will be limited access to northbound Bronx River Parkway from the Sprain Brook Parkway in Yonkers to the Westchester County Center (Exit 22) in White Plains   That's weekdays starting this Monday, October 14 and continuing through October 18.  Delays and roadway impact will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Northbound Parkway closures ~ in case you or clients / customers need details:  ·         All north... 10/11/2013

I have to tell you that I'm extremely disappointed with the parking attendants for the Village of Scarsdale NY 10583.  I just got a ticket...for get this...the meter NEXT to my car being expired.  I paid the meter.  I still had extra time left.  The person next to me did not pay their meter.  In fact, they left a note a for the attendent begging to not have a ticket.  And, instead you leave a ticket on MY car!   The ticket was written by A Delorenzo Shield #805 for meter EP47.  I was parked at EP46 and I have pictures citing that as well as the fact that there was extra money in the meter. Perhaps A Delorenzo needs glasses or else A Delorenzo needs to be more careful.   This is disgraceful.  I called your office and I was told that the only way to solve this is either for me to pay $20 ... 09/13/2013

STORMY WEATHER MAY FLOOD HOMES & BUSINESSES in WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY 10583 THROUGH 10p TONIGHT!   Just passing on the chance for dangerous winds and hail in our Tri-state area, Westchester County and north to Boston. Even though we're rainmakers, please be careful.  We are "saddling up" at the office this afternoon, in case of heavy rains that sometimes flood basements from Scarsdale to Yonkers, NY.  Since we're on 24 hour call and the storms should be done by 10pm, we are likely to get a midnight call...if a home or business owner looks in their property's basement.   The alert states:  Severe Thunderstorm Watch for our area remains valid until 10 pm this evening for four nearby counties in southeast New York  -  Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.   So, how do we prepa... 09/12/2013

Hurricane season has hardly begun in the Atlantic, but Americans are experiencing flooding, wildfires & tornados!  Scarsdale, NY 10583   Superstorm Sandy lands in New York City region     In recent years, many different types of disasters have affected the U.S., including Superstorm Sandy nearly one year ago.  Tornado outbreaks, wildfires in our national parks, river and flash floods plus hurricanes have affecting millions of Americans...for days at a time.     What's up....climate change?  Whatever the cause or atmospheric source, we all need to take an important step, if you have not already done so: Get Ready & Prepared!       We are national partners with the American Red Cross as of 2013.   So, along with the Department of Homeland Security's FEMA team, it's time to get out the por... 08/29/2013

  SCARSDALE VILLAGE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCES WATER EMERGENCY, SO NO WATERING LAWNS, CARS OR POOLS!       Late last week, Justin Datino of the Scarsdale Village Manager’s Office called for a Water Emergency throughout Scarsdale.  Essentially, the Village Manager has declared a Water Emergency, effective immediately, and alerted all Scarsdale Water users to stop all unnecessary water use this weekend.  That's until further notice.     If you didn't get the memo, the emergency is due to a double water pump failure at the Village’s main water pumping station.  So, all outside water use and what is considered unnecessary use" has to stop until further notice.  The village is prohibiting all automatic sprinkler systems, washing vehicles and filling swimming pools.        Datino noted that Village ... 07/21/2013

  Yes, folks it's an official heat wave through Friday, with heat advisory in Westchester County, including scarsdale, NY 10583       We have a real heat advisory and they aren't kidding people -- meaning this is "dangerous hot," as we say in my family.  The National Weather Service warned that this oppressive air and heat could worsen by today and Friday, when the heat index may reach 105 degrees in parts of the tri-state area and Westchester County.  Our home, business and car air conditioners are going to be working overtime. (Call me if you end up with condensation and a water puddle, or bit of flooding from a failing air conditioner or HVAC system.  We have great HVAC and plumber contacts on our go-to contractors list, too!)    This week's heat advisory remains in effect through Fr... 07/18/2013

Like the song says, "Who'll Stop the Rain" so we can enjoy a rain free 4th of July and the Fireworks ~ Scarsdale, NY 10583    Our 4th of July May be Saved for Fireworks in a starry night sky!:   Flooding rains since Monday's "microburst" event raised the water table and flooded basements, but will T-storms dampen the fireworks on the the 4th? Survey and forecasters say "No,"...we'll by high and dry on Independence Day.   Note the "Good weather for our southern area of New York State...Sorry Buffalo!   So, good news party goers ~ the severe storms that drenched our week and raised the area's overburdened water table may have passed...until Friday.  But, more importantly, we'll get to enjoy relatively dry fireworks in Westchester County and at the Macy's display in NYC!   Here's the lates... 07/03/2013

07/02/2013

Usually, I'm the first one to state that Rainmakers offer professional, safety and other ideas that we can all share, and not grovel in politics, but grrrr!   Heckling ANY First Lady or statesperson in this country is completely uncool.  All politics aside, yesterday's news bites of our current First Lady being rudely yelled at a private home / meeting was apalling.     So, in the interest of peace and prosperity -- that may be on the way again, we hope -- I wanted to offer this thought for the day:  No heckling.  I wasn't always in the fire, water and mold cleanup & restoration biz.  As a former writer / broadcaster, I am a constitutional journalist who believes deeply in free speech and the 1st and 4th estates. Ellen Sturtz, Gay Advocate, who heckled First Lady-Courtesy: Examiner   We... 06/06/2013

  After a water damage from all this spring & summer rain, of after a fire -- especially if firemen water suppressed a fire on your property -- you need professional restoration help in Scarsdale, NY 10583   There is nothing so stressful as having our home, business or commercial property damaged by "Sandy," heavy rains, a pipe burst or first responders, who save the structure in a fire.     Most of us at Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon have had one or more of these disasters happen to our properties and families -- can you say water damaged baby photo album...boo hoo!   So, even though our initial reaction may be to grab a few towels and mop up the mess that may not prevent mold growth down the road.  Or, if there's soot on all surfaces from a fire, just putting a box fan or two ne... 05/28/2013

  Servpro has teamed up with American Red Cross, to aid disaster victims, after flooding in Fargo and tornados in Oklahoma leave destroyed and damaged homes.       In a few seconds, a disaster can change someone’s life forever. A tornado can ravage your house, but leave a neighbor’s untouched; the fury of flood waters may burst, overlowing river banks or breaking a levee that previously held steadfast against storms; a powerful earthquake can topple a home that has stood for more than 100 years, or more.       In a matter of seconds, you too have the ability to change someone’s life.      By making a donation to American Red Cross's Disaster Relief, you empower this non-profit to provide immediate assistance to those affected by disasters down the street, across the country and around t... 05/26/2013

Back in January, I received a very nice phone call... someone wanted to view a listing of mine..  All good. I showed the home, and explained that if interested, she would have to know that I represented the sellers!, but I would/could have someone represent her from within my office. She looked at me for  what seemed like ages, and thanked me. The following day, she called me, and asked me to show her homes that were priced in the $7-12 Million Dollar range! Oh my goodness! I then embarked on a wonderful journey, for I did not realize who the lady was, (of course I soon discovered) , and I could well understand why she was reluctant to announce her name upon first meeting. She wanted anonymity. I worked on her behalf for probably 10-15 hours each week thereafter until we centered upon a... 05/21/2013

  After years of bad news in the housing market, a corner has been turned.  The cooperative complex of Scarsdale Manor  on Garth Road in the Scarsdale PO is an example of such a turn around.   This popular pre-war cooperative complex suffered from the malaise with slow sales and decreasing prices.  Things are now leveling and we appear to be well on our way to healthy price increases.   Scarsdale Manor – Sales History: The sales history at Scarsdale Manor reflects the general market on Garth Road in the Scarsdale PO.  Prices for both 1 and 2 BR units fell sharply during the crash and took another leg down when the $8000 tax credit expired in 2010.   However, we are now seeing signs of a sharp turnaround.  Both inventory levels, current contracts and pendings indicate a rather healthy se... 05/19/2013

Our overnight rainstorm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain on our area, flooding basements or threatening to, in Scarsdale, NY 10583   In fact, parts of Brooklyn and Hoboken are underwater already and parts of lower Westchester County are in the eye of the storm, even though it's passing to our south.     On Dopplar, this storm sure looks like a Spring "Nor'Easter' and it may rain through Friday morning! If so, be careful on the roads and keep an eye on your basement and any full dehumidifiers on lower levels in your home and businesses.       Depending on where you live or work in the Tri-state area, between 3/4 and 1 1/4 inches of rain has fallen across the area since 6 am.  Forecasters are already reporting heavy rain and flooding in towns like Hoboken, where more than 2" fell in the pas... 05/08/2013

This evening I had an appointment for sanding and refinishing hardwood floors in Scarsdale.  My customer hasn't closed yet, and he made a special trip from Queens to meet me.   We both met there, and than the real estate agent called to say she forgot the key!  What?  So, he had to drive home and then get it, and meanwhile we had to wait a bit over an hour.  I was kind of astonished.  My first reaction, was "What?  I thought there was a lock box?"  (And, of course there was...up until 3 days ago, when she removed it.)   She was kicking herself because this was so avoidable. It was a waste of time for her, and for us.  Thankfully, though, we used the time to chat and go through a few things.  (It was much more time efficient to wait rather than reschedule...not to mention how difficult t... 04/26/2013