A Currier and Ives Moment: cutting the holiday tree

Fairfield County is a wonderful place to experience wholesome holiday fun!  Whatever your religious leanings might be, a holiday tree is both inviting and a lovely addition to the home.  For those who love to make a family event out of cutting down a live tree, there are several in the area.  Jones Tree Farm in Shelton offers 200 acres of all varieties of evergreens. http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/.  One of my favorites is Maple Row in Easton, http://www.mrfarm.com/.  Our family spent many years coming here, visiting the snack bar, having hot cider, hot dog, and grabbing our handsaw.  A tractor rides would take us to the fields, and off we go, trudging through the snow, arguing about which tree is just the right one (we all have opinions) and lobbing a few well-aimed snowballs at each other. On bitter days, the choice would come very quickly ("does that one look OK?  Yes, great, let's cut it and go to the warming station") and in the balmier years, the workers would be out in nothing but a T-shirt, and we would spend all afternoon looking at trees. Prices at these farms vary, so check; but in previous years, a tree was about $60, just to give a ball-park.  I think there is a fixed price regardless of size, so if your house is large enough, go for the big tree! Maple Row is a large farm that gets loads of crowds, so if you want something really down to earth (no pun intended), try the Audubon Society on Sasco Creek Road in Westport.  One warming hut, not as much variety, but no crowds either.   There are several other cut-your-own places in the area listed on this area blog: http://ridgefield.patch.com/articles/fairfield-countys-cut-your-own-tree-parks-4
If you are not into cutting down your own tree, no problem.  Most of our local nursery shops have pre-cut trees, or live ones to decorate and later plant on your property.  Stew Leonards (http://www.stewleonards.com/) also has a good selection of holiday trees.  Many areas in the US have to ship their trees from long distances, only to sit in an empty parking lot, so this is real chance to enjoy a wholesome family moment - New England style!

Operation Tree Rescue

Remember my Oct. blog about the tree in Winslow Park with the vines covering it? Here it is now, after Operation Tree Rescue! 
It took a while to get those vines cut, but
hopefully they will not have a chance to come
back. With time, the dead vines will fall off and
the tree will be free of its deadly 'alien' invaders.

Do we enjoy fall foliage in CT? It is one of our crown jewels, isn't it?  People come from all over the world to view it.  This popular site tells where to go for best viewing, and when to time your trip: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2697&q=322764&depNav_GID=1631

Fall foliage was not in the cards for this tree in Winslow Park this year.  But with a little help from 'Cyndi Lopper' and friends, I think we might see its fall colors next year!  Most of the vines seen here are an invasive species called Asiatic Bittersweet, with trunks that are as big as your arm, or larger!! The trunks wrap around the tree, strangling it .  Homeowners, watch your property.  This stuff is everywhere!  Protect your investment! Don't let your trees look like these below.  You can't even tell what type of trees they are - the vines have covered it like a blanket.  Do you want to help?  Start with your own property, then take a look at our local parks.  If you have any questions about which plants are invasive (but I think we could tell with this one, couldn't we?), go to UConn's website www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwq



 

Global Experience offered in Westport - Rotary Exchange!

My son, Chris just graduated from Staples High School in Westport a few months ago.  Rather than go straight to college, he was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the Westport Rotary to spend a year in Brazil.  There, he will take classes with the local students in their native Portuguese (here's Chris with his Physics teacher), stay with 3-4 host families, take sightseeing trips to see the country, and immerse himself in the culture, language, food, climate and lifestyle of  that country!  What a wonderful experience!  I encourage all parents and students to look into this program.  The students are sponsored by their local Rotary Clubs from Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Stamford, Ridgefield and others.  Parents, you don't have to reciprocate by hosting a foreign student, unless you want to.  The application process begins in the fall for international travel the following summer/fall.  Students pick from over 46 countries in Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.  Parents pay a small fee ($300?  I can't remember), as well as the one plane ticket, health insurance and optional side trips.   Rotary pays for schooling abroad, room and board, trips with host families, and even a monthly spending allowance - FOR 10+ MONTHS.  What a fantastic experience!  Why aren't more students doing this?  I have no idea!!!  Details about the Essex Exchange Program can be found at http://www.exchangestudent.org/.  Also, visit the blogs of Westport's 2  2010 exchange students at http://www.sledgenobrasil.blogspot.com/ and http://www.alexinvenezuela.wordpress.com/

I'm not ready to drop the price....

I ran into someone at the park yesterday.  We knew each other's dogs, but not really each other. She told me that her house was on the market. The house has been on the market for over 3 weeks with NO showings. The interesting thing was she said "I HAVE TO SELL" and in the same breath, she said "I AM NOT READY TO DROP THE PRICE".  I steered the conversation to another topic, since I was not allowed to talk to another agent's client about a listing, and I make it a point to be a highly ethical agent.  But the statement reverberated in my mind: "I HAVE TO SELL BUT AM NOT READY TO DROP THE PRICE".  In a rising market like the one we enjoyed for 20 years, that strategy would ultimately work: if you wait long enough, the market will ultimately catch up to the price.  But with a flat or declining market, it means that the house is doomed from the start!  If the price is too high (as evidenced with NO showings), then you can wait until the cows come home - the house will only become stale, and the flat or declining market will never close the gap.   I bit my tongue and mentally wished that realtor good luck...

WASA Top Dog Event

Last Saturday was warm and sunny: a great day for Westport Animal Shelter's 2nd annual WASA Top Dog Event!  It was a fun-filled day a live DJ, food, silent auction, celebrity judges, and lots of activities for dogs and their owners.  Proceeds went to WASA (http://www.westportwasa.org/).  In the photo/essay contest, Nimbus and 91 year old "Grandmo" was chosen to be included in their 2011 calender. Calendars will be on sale at WASA in early December.  Nimbus the 10 year old beagle also took 2nd place in the Best Dog Trick contest, a fierce competition indeed! The inspiration for his many tricks was a juicy piece of hotdog.  Nimbus was interviewed by The CT Post, the Norwalk Hour and the Westport News.  Hopefully this won't go to his head!

"Cyndi Lopper" Speaks Out

Are you a property owner in Connecticut?  A significant portion of your property could be in grave danger, right under your very nose!!  What is in danger?  YOUR TREES?  Invasive plants and vines are taking over large swaths of our local landscape and smothering our 100 and 200 year old trees.  This photo is of a tree in Winslow Park in Westport, before the vines were cut  (now you know how I got my nickname "Cyndi Lopper"....)   Driving around the area, I have identified several invasive vines including Asiatic Bittersweet,  with yellow/orange berries - a vine that grows woody trunks that can get as thick as your thigh around the trees; or Asiatic Bittersweet with red berries, an especially nasty one because of its vicious thorns; and of course, the infamous Mile A Minute Vine, another Asian import which is taking over our native trees.  We can help a number of ways.  First and foremost, we need to WALK OUR PROPERTIES, especially the perimeter of our land and take a good look at our trees.  Not only do we stand to lose our 100 and 200 year old trees, but when they fall, we have a potential liability.  So really check your own property, even on the margins.  If you see your trees covered in vines, cut them down and keep them down, especially if your house is on the market. 

People come from all over the world to witness something we might take for granted: the glorious colors of fall foliage, spectacular reds and golds, and warm hues of orange which provide a stark contrast against a blue autumn sky.   Let's keep an eye on this precious resource while we still have time, and don't let these vines kill our valuable trees. 
Here are some helpful resources:
http://www.westportct.gov/agencies/landuse/conservation/invasiveplant.htm - Westport site
http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/ctcouncil/CT_Invasive_Plant_List.htm - list of invasive plants in CT

Darcy goes Global

It was a warm evening in September, and the setting sun was glinting off the boats in the Southport harbor.  I was being interviewed by a handsome Norwegian journalist and 'snapped' by another handsome Norwegian photographer. Passersby stopped to look.  I felt pretty special!  It is interesting to see that the luxury real estate market here in Fairfield County is considered a newsworthy topic to readers in Norway.  But then again, we are a global economy, and local events are certainly affected by economic forces across the globe.  This able Norwegian journalist is on assignment to cover news in the Tri-State area, and relay it to his readers at home. He will have plenty to write about!  'God kveld!'

A Realtor's Survival Kit

It occurs to me that there are things that I should always have in my car in order to be an effective realtor:
Tape measure - some clients will always want to measure rooms or windows
Flashlight - ever get a face full of cobweb when trying to find a light in the basement?
Note cards - to leave a handwritten note when you can't reach someone in person
Mints - always a good thing to have on hand. My client Hal likes them. His last name is Itosis (haha)
Spare batteries (for the flashlight, keypad, etc.)
Scotch tape - to tape those note cards in a high-visibility place
Note pad - not to take notes literally, but to remind me to always LISTEN!
Duck Tape (or what I commonly call duct tape) - why? Just because every survival kit has to have duct tape, right?

Westport Amendments to Planning and Zoning Regs

There has been a lot of talk about the proposed amendments to Westport's Planning & Zoning regulations. The proposed changes would reduce the amount of allowable coverage, and also affect the way decks, pools, and porches are calculated into the coverage. This is a thorny issue which touches many people. Some complain that Westport is losing its character and the town is evolving into a land of McMansions. Others counter that those McMansions are what buyers want, are paying top dollar for, and are therefore creating a positive effect on home values, not to mention the tax base. Another issue is that the new regulations would render currently conforming houses non-conforming, making it more difficult to sell or renovate. Make no mistake: any regulation that hinders an owner's property rights is going to meet with stiff resistance! Another issue relates to water run-off. Many homeowners who have lived here in a dry home for years, now find themselves with flooded basements. They blame it on the new construction nearby. Wet basements and lawns do render homes less likely to sell and more expensive to mitigate. Is the wet basement directly attributable to the new construction? Some would say no by virtue of drywells and other drainage systems installed in new construction. Others would say yes, due to cutting of trees, and insufficient drainage to get the job done. Will the new regulations make it more difficult to build a ranch style home - one that might be very popular with our aging demographic? It does appear so, doesn't it? So how does the town strike a balance? I don't have the answer, although I am glad that the issue is being studied, especially as it pertains to the runoff, which affects our drinking water as well as people's basements. A simple solution might be to give incentives for builders and homeowners to use materials that allow for drainage - for example, stone driveway as versus paved. Not a requirement, not a change to coverage calculations, but an incentive. We already have incentives for energy efficient appliances, windows, solar panels and other environmentally friendly improvements. For right now, the debate rages on.

Marketing a lifestyle

Hi all you sellers! Despite the press saying the market is soft, there are still people looking to buy real estate! Have you noticed lately the number of buyers coming from urban areas, especially New York? I have. One thing I think they are attracted to, is the Fairfield County lifestyle, which combines sophistication with healthy and wholesome living. What do I mean by that? Organic markets, top quality restaurants, wonderful shopping, lots of 'happening' events in the arts, and a thriving commercial base all contribute to an environment of sophistication. But we also have our simple, wholesome pleasures not found in the city: pick your own apples, hayrides, harvest festivals, pick your own halloween pumpkins, real trick or treating where neighbors meet neighbors on the street to exchange greetings and treats, nature walks, local volunteer efforts, booster club car washes, scout popcorn and cookie sales, and parades where half of the town children are participants. Westport has a Halloween afternoon parade just for the toddlers and young children. Main Street is blocked off and shopkeepers dress up and pass out free candy.Fall is the perfect season to highlight the "lifestyle" of living here: get out those fall decorations for the house, pumpkins, and candles redolent of apples and spice. Change up the minor decor using warm colors of the fall. Anything that evokes of nature, harvest, family, neighbors, thanks-giving (not just Thanksgiving) will strike a note that will resonate!