I just came back from a fun meetup at UNO Pizzeria in White Plains.  The flooring girl, Debbie Gartner hosted.  We had a number of new people including two new bloggers, Kathy Dagostino and René Alfano.  Kathy is a coach and a home stager and René is a home inspector.  They are both still working on their profiles and we will be seeing their first blog soon. From left to left Grace Borrani, Kathy Dagostino, René Alfani, Dagny Eason, Debbie Gartner, Bill Primavera, Grant Schneider.  Taking the picture is Judy Medeiros.     08/06/2014

I work with many Woman and Minority Owned Businesses in Westchester County New York.   Tonight I would like to call your attention to a free informational session being held at the White Plains Library.  You will hear numerous speakers including Liz Kallen of PTAC (Procurement and Technical Assistence Corporation).  Hear how some have grown their businesses, hired employees, and have obtained the Federal, state, and county governments as customers.  The doors open at 5:30 Tuesday, July 29, 2014   6pm to 8pm White Plains Library Auditorium 100 Martine Ave White Plains, NY      For more information contact Mark McLean at 914-384-1895 RSVP with abridgetoabridge@gmail.com     I hope to see you there.    Contact me with questions about growing your business.   07/29/2014

Single Family Homes Sales There were 20 unit sales in June. This is down 9.1% from 22 in June of 2013. This is the highest unit sales have been since 26 in December, 2013. Sales/list price ratio in June moved up to 98.6% from 97.2% in May.   Prices Median price in June was $673,250. This is up 16.6% from $577,500 in June of 2013. This is the highest median price has been since August, 2012. 3-month median price of $625,000 in June was up marginally from $600,000 in May and up a little from $532,000 in June of 2013.   Inventory Inventory of 109 in June was down 10.7% from 122 in May and down 24.3% from 144 in June of 2013. New listings of 27 in June were down considerably from 52 in May and down substantially from 47 in June of 2013. Months of supply of 5.8 in June was down slightly from... 07/16/2014

Clock Tower – downtown White Plains NY One of a series of photos I took in downtown White Plains at dusk.  Some things just have a different look at twilight.  The clock tower looks quite dramatic all lit up with the vibrant sunset in the background.  Wish I could say it was more inspiring by the light of day.  I was somewhat lucky because I happened along at the right time of day and was able to park my car about a block away from the site that I wanted to shoot.  Since the sky changes rapidly at that time of day, being able to find a spot for the car that wasn’t far from the location was absolutely essential!  I was also fortunate that the new camera that  I have been breaking in has such a great sensor.  My previous camera would have required a tripod for this to work at all and I d... 05/28/2014

I'd like to share a tale, as it were, of two different salesmen I recently met in Westchester County, and of which won the dinner event business we were bringing to the table.  I was shocked at the differences. Our client was looking for a great venue in the White Plains, NY area to book an evening dinner event for a group of approximately 100 attendees.  Quite a nice little gig for most venues. The first stop on our site visit was the property of the first salesman.  Rather than show us around rooms himself, he had his younger counterpart show us the space. Thankfully she was knowledgeable and pleasant. When finished with the tour we were brought to the office where we could sit and chat with the salesperson...to talk about pricing, possible menus.  I, as a diligent and careful event p... 05/20/2014

Westchester County New York has some great entrepreneurs.  Eight of these entrepreneurs have just completed 12 weeks of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Excellence.  They are ready to take their businesses to the next level. The Academy is a joint program of The Business Council of Westchester and Westchester Community College’s Gateway to Entrepreneurship.  The participants attended 12 weekly sessions in all areas of business ownership with the goal toward taking each person’s business to the next level. Each session covered a different subject taught by an expert in that subject. Each person was also assigned a business coach for the 12 week period.  Finally, each participant had a private meeting with a panel in which they pitched their business plan and received questions and feedbac... 05/13/2014

Pets are such an important part of the family, and we recognize it.  We have many customers that ask us about what types of floors work best for dogs, cats, and pets in general.  Below is a collection of several articles that should come in handy for pet owners so that you can optimize your choices.  Sometimes, this may involve what type of flooring to use; other times, it may help in selecting colors that work best for your pets.   What types of hardwood flooring are best for dogs?   What types of carpet work best with cats?   Why are carpet runners important (esp for your pets)?   How to eliminate pet stains in hardwood floors   I hope these come in handy.   If you live in the Westchester NY/Fairfield CT area and need help with your flooring, give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2... 03/31/2014

Feng Shui WestChester NY Feng Shui Consultations with Laura Cerrano Is the energy in your home, apartment or buisness feeling stagnant or stuck?  Or perhaps you are simply looking to renovate or redesign your space utilizing the principles of Feng Shui.  This beautiful ancient practice can help awaken your higher consciousness thus teaching you how to follow and listen to your intuition, which gives great  insight into life's challenging situations while at the same time offering resolutions. Approaching Feng Shui wholeheartedly allows you to be honest with yourself and see areas of your life that need to be addressed which allow you to see doors of opportunities with clearer eyes.  Feng Shui creates a unique "plan of action" for life and makes any redesign or renovation project that m... 12/23/2013

This is my latest installment of “Sights Of The Season” – even if it is a bit of a cheat….It was just the other day that I got a call  from a client requesting twilight photographs of a listed home.  This is the first time I’ve worked with twilight photography on a home that was decorated for the holidays.  But, I agree with the the saying  ”When you’ve got it, flaunt it!”    Certainly this house has “got it”.  It was tastefully decorated in a way that appeals to almost anyone.  They didn’t go over the top, but they didn’t do too little.  The home has wonderful large windows that offer a warm glow at dusk.   Twilight photography is generally done for higher-end homes and they offer a really great “pop” that home buyers notice when they are cruising through photos on the MLS.  It makes t... 12/21/2013

My latest and greats on my “Sights Of The Season” series – Previous installments can be accessed through my Holiday Season Archive of this blog which includes photos from Halloween onward. Some photos are just plain FUN to take.  Santa is visiting White Plains on his vintage tractor!  After all, getting out all those Reindeer can be a challenge so backup transportation is sometimes in order.  And his presence certainly breathes new life into this great vintage tractor! Love the imagination that went into this! © 2013 – RGHicks – http://fotosonthefly.biz – All rights reserved. - See more at: http://fotosonthefly.biz/969/sights-of-the-season-santa-visits-white-plains-on-his-flying-tractor/#sthash.a91S539D.dpuf 12/19/2013

    Would you like to grow your business and take it to the next level?  How have your employees performed under your leadership.  Are you a member of a great business organization that can help you grow your business? These topics will be discussed today when I sit down with Dr. Marsha Gordon, CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. Tune in today at 2pm on WVOX 1460 AM.  If you are out of the area or prefer listening over the Internet it is www.wvox.com   12/15/2013

This is the 3rd installment of my “Sights Of The Season” series.  You can see the first two installments by clicking the links:  A cozy corner by the fire  and Holiday lights. This was taken at H Carlson’s Florist a couple of weeks ago.  They decorate their trees like nobody’s business and its truly amazing how their creativity just makes shop so very unique.  Whatever the holiday or special occasion, you will always find something different at Carlson’s.   I love these cardinal ornaments because they are so pretty and so holiday -like that they really warm the heart.  I think they are quite simply  joyful! They also take me back to my childhood where my Grandparents had dozens of blown glass bird ornaments.  We had a big assortment in white, red and green. I don’t think they are very c... 12/14/2013

I went to a wonderful party on Sunday afternoon.  The home had a large number of happy people celebrating the holiday season.  As the party wound down, I became aware of the cutest cat that I’ve seen in a long time.  Apparently, she had been keeping a low profile while so many people had invaded her home.  But as the celebrations quieted down, she came out of hiding and made a beeline  for the warmth and comfort of the fireplace.   Happily content, she wasn’t the least concerned about the crazy person snapping her picture.  She knew a good thing when she saw it and that nice warm cozy spot in front the crackling fire was exactly what she needed after the excitement of the day.  I don’t have cats, I have dogs, but it truly is amazing how relaxed a lounging cat can look.  They are a study... 12/13/2013

Happy Holidays Everyone! For the next couple of weeks,  I will be trying to post a photo every day from that depicts the sites of the season.  They won’t necessarily be all about Christmas or any of the other holidays.  They will just be symbolic of this special time of year.   This first photo was taken of holiday lights.  This house  in White Plains NY did a nice understated job.  It is from the Gedney Farms neighborhood in the south end of White Plains.  An area noted for its large lots and pre-war homes.  But I really wanted to emphasize the red door which is so welcoming so I converted the photo to black and white while keep the red door – well – red.   Adding a shot of color to a black and white photos adds impact.  It can add a real “wow” factor to an otherwise ho-hum photo.  The... 12/12/2013

MEETUP - Westchester County with Debbie Gartner's great group!   I had missed a few in the past year, for conventions, one mini vacay and a minor surgery.  It seems that Debbie Gartner's great invites to our Westchester Rainmaker meetups just could not jive with my startups schedule and personal stuff this year.  It was so great to see everyone in White Plains!   So, at long last we met at Debbie Gartner's much anticipated Meetup today, at City Limits in downtown White Plains.  It was lovely to share breakfast with great Rainmakers friends...old and new!     I got to see and hug Grant Schneider, a Westchester biz insitution in human form. Also, Joanne was back from Peru with great stories and plans for a Morrocan trip -- be sure to check out her amazing pics on Wordless Wed's!  I met ou... 12/04/2013

If you need special arrangements for the holiday season – H. Carlson’s Florist’s is a great place to visit for both inspiration and to order any special arrangements for your holiday decor.  Nancy Schellhas has been creating numerous arrangements like this every year and he customers have come to rely upon imagination and impeccable taste. When you walk into the store, you feel like you are in another world.  You leave behind  the high-tech digitize iPad way of life and find yourself enjoying the holidays the way they used to be before technology and big-box stores took over in a big way. The arrangement above is an example of one their special orders for the Thanksgiving season.  This fantastic arrangement  potted in a carved out pumpkin is but one example of what they can do.  I actu... 11/24/2013

These days, with so much on the internet, local businesses benefit from the use of professional photography.  As much as local businesses have relied on word of mouth over the years, many shoppers go to the internet first.  If they like what they see, they may actually put the business on their list of stops. H Carlson Florist is a wonderful example of a local business that has thrived over the years because they are truly unique.  Nancy Schellhas has  a way of creating arrangements and offering quality goods for the home and hearth so that it leaves your local Pottery Barn in the dust.   Outside, seasonal plantings dominate.  During the fall season there are the traditional mums along with a healthy dose of pumpkins, gourds and corn.  It is a natural place to come for the most famous h... 10/29/2013

  How are you managing all of the people processes in running your business?  There is much going on from motivating staff, hiring people, providing benefits and complying with the law.  You should consider attending the Human Resource Leadership conference in White Plains on November 12, 2013.  The Westchester Human Resource Management Association, in partnership with the Business Council of Westchester, is holding a conference and marketplace scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2013  at  the  Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains. The theme for this year: Building Connections: Strengthening Relationships Among Employees, Leaders and Customers. This program is geared for   HR Professionals, Executives, Small Business Owners, Non-Profit Organizations, and Business Leaders interested in max... 10/16/2013

Porches can help sell homes.  This year I had several homes with impressive porches to photograph.  I see a lot of agents attempting to photograph porches and they almost always try to capture the porch from the street level as part of the money shot of the house, with perhaps a close-up closer to the front door.  And that's great as far as it goes.  And its very important to photograph that porch so that buyers can see the full potential of this amenity. However, beyond the porch itself, is the view from the porch.  If the view is a good one, you need to show it in all its glory....After all, if you've got it, flaunt it!   Now, it doesn't matter if the porch reveals cityscape suburbia or countryside.  After all, some buyers are really into the new urbanization and would be thrilled wit... 10/04/2013

Today, September 29, 2013 is the last day this year for Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway in Westchester County.   On Sundays from 10-2, the Parkway is open for bicyclists, joggers, roller bladers and even walkers (and strollers).  Cars are not allowed.  Generally, the Bicycle Sundays are in May- June and September, so look forward to a new kick off next May.   This is for the section of the Bronx River Parkway from the County Center in White Plains to Scarsdale Rd in Yonkers - a 13 mi round trip.  There is a portion of the highway under construction around the Crane Rd Bridge where it is only open for 1 lane each way.   There is parking at the County Center in White Plains for $5, but since it's Sunday, most of the towns will also have free parking.   Enjoy it while you can.  ... 09/29/2013