Svish

Stormville is a part of East Fishkill in the southern part of Dutchess County. The hamlet is considered small even among the other small communities in the area, but it does have a big claim to fame – a huge flea market! With 600 vendors and a website and Facebook page promoting the flea market, this is way more than a small town, local affair! For those interested, the next flea market of 2012 is June 30 – July 1st. Whether you like browsing for antiques or are looking for hand-crafted jewelry, it promises to be a fun experience at Stormville.

Other than this very unusual fact, Stormville is a typical Hudson Valley small town in that it offers a naturally beautiful setting for a quiet life style. Hopewell Junction and East Fishkill at large offer dining and shopping options and there is also Wappinger Falls with a slew of stores. But Stormville is really quiet and best suited for those who are not looking for a hopping bar scene or a vibrant downtown.

Stormville students may end up going to Arlington, Carmel, Pawling or Wappingers public schools depending on the street address. All of them have fairly good reputations although there is the occasional criticism of some large class sizes. East Fishkill offers excellent park and recreation programs which can be very attractive to parents looking for organized sports programs. Their soccer tournament during the Memorial Day weekend is well attended from teams across the region.

You may hear that the Green Haven correctional facility, a maximum security prison, is in Stormville. While it does have a Stormville address, it is officially in Beekman.

If all these facts create a hodge-podge image of Stormville, the one picture really worth keeping in mind is of verdant meadows and expansive uncluttered landscape.

Putnam County lies north of Westchester County and is over an hour's drive from New York City. While some of the places in Putnam are past the point of convenient daily commute for Manhattan, many of the towns here are popular bedroom communities earning Putnam the distinction of being called an exurb or extra -urban county. Putnam County also has the distinction of being the 11th most affluent county in the country according to the median income of the people living here. This well-off county offers an attractive mixture of easy access to urban living in a rural setting.

Putnam County was a part of Dutchess County as recently as the 19th century. Putnam County was detached from Dutchess County in 1812 and like much of this general area it has a long history interwoven with the history of the nation. There are many landmarks from the National Historical Registry in this county that will be a treat from any history lover.

The other big attraction of Putnam County is the unspoiled stretches of bucolic beauty. Putnam was not farmland for many years because its terrain and the location made it hard to be an agrarian community. While this did change to an extent, there is still some of the charm of the rugged terrain to be seen in part of Putnam County.

There are many charming towns and neighborhoods which offer great housing and shopping options. The school districts have good report cards from state testing and the crime rate is not a source of worry or concern. It is possible to get a nice sized property with land and Putnam County has over the years become the place of choice for urbanites looking for some serious country living.

Dutchess County, which is mid-way between New York City and Albany, is an exciting mixture of the old and the new; the natural and man-made. There is much to recommend Dutchess County whether you are exploring it as a place to reside or a place to visit.

Those looking for homes here will appreciate the amount of land and house they can get for the money especially compared to some of the communities further down South in Westchester County. The housing range is extensive as there are lovely old homes with character and spanking new developments with the latest in upgrades. So, you can choose the kind of housing that suits your tastes. There are plenty of rental options also for those who are not looking to own a home.

Dutchess County's western border is actual 30 miles along the Hudson River. This combined with the many expansive parks and nature preserves, makes it a great place for every nature lover. Hiking and biking trails, fishing lakes and bird watching lookout points are plentiful and there is easy access to enjoy nature in all her glory.

The other fascinating part of Dutchess County is the history of this area. It has been part of American history from the time of the Native Americans through the European settlers and the Revolutionary War to modern times. There are many historical landmarks including the Roosevelt house that are worth a visit.

This county also offers many good schools, communities committed to offering high-caliber public services and extensive options for shopping and dining. Whether you think of it as living the American Dream or a chance to enjoy serene suburbia, Dutchess County can offer you real value for your money.

Harrison is a town and village - the board marking the town limits says: "Welcome to the Town/Village of Harrison, NY." A board made me curious and here's the story behind it. As I understand it, in 1967, John Passimodo, the then Mayor of Harrison, countered a move by some residents of Purchase to secede as a village from the Town of Harrison by re-defining Harrison as a Village and Town! While I do not know the technicalities of how this worked, it seems like he took the approach that if we are already a village, there's no question of a group splitting away to form another village.

Despite all this drama in its past and a fairly complex identity, Harrison Village is largely a charming and affluent neighborhood with some great homes. Purchase, which is a section of Harrison, also has the corporate headquarters of MasterCard and Pepsi. Despite this corporate presence, the area's overwhelming vibe is residential.

Harrison is fairly small but its proximity to Manhattan and ease-of-access via train and freeways makes it a popular choice for many people who are looking for a bedroom community to NYC. The good reputation of the schools and the extensive park and rec facilities combined with the good shopping and dining access in neighboring towns has made Harrison a great fit for many checklists.

Those who are looking for what exactly Westchester County offers will get an idea of the package if they explore Harrison. Here’s a place that holds the promise of high-quality suburban lifestyle, with a price tag to match.

Waccabuc is a small hamlet in the Town of Lewisboro. It is named after the lake that is a distinctive part of this neighborhood. This little known community has the distinction of having the highest median price of any zip code in Westchester County! This is partly explained by the fact that there is a two acre minimum for any property in Waccabuc with some streets having a four acre minimum requirement. So it is best to think of these as not just homes but as farms and estates. The Waccabuc Landowners Association, which is a collective of the area homeowners, has also bought 100 acres in an effort to preserve the beauty of the landscape and to ensure great hiking trails. As all this indicates, Waccabuc is a great place for people who appreciate the natural beauty of this area and can afford to pay top dollar for it.

There is not much by way of shopping or dining out options in Waccabuc. But it is in the heart of Lewisboro and not far from Danbury, CT and from Katonah both of which are great places for dining out and shopping.

The charm of Waccabuc, for those who choose to live here, is its rural setting and isolation. They enjoy the unpaved roads and opt to go pick up mail from the local post office as a way of catching up with the community. It is interesting to note that the Landowners Association owns the post office and the land around it – they did this when there was talk of closing down a Waccabuc post office and merging it with Lewisboro for cost-cutting. The residents like the area of their unique identity and small town feel strongly and so invested the money needed to keep things that way.

Waccabuc is not for everyone; but for the right person, it can be an incredible experience!

The Town of Lewisboro is in northern Westchester County bordering Connecticut. It is a gorgeous setting with up-and-down roads and many water-view possibilities as it lies near the Croton and Muscoot Reservoirs. The hamlets of Golden’s Bridge, Cross River, South Salem and Waccabuc make up this town. It is close to Interstate 684 and there is the Golden’s Bridge Metro North train station also for public transport options. Golden’s Bridge is over an hour away from Grand Central and maybe easier as a weekend outing rather than a week day commute.

Lewisboro has seven lakes and several beautiful Nature preserves including the largest in Westchester County, the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. There are many walking paths and hiking trails which draw locals and visitors to the park lands of Lewisboro.
Lewisboro offers some shopping and dining options but it is also close enough to Katonah and Danbury, CT, to get the benefit of the eclectic shopping mix of those communities. Lewisboro does not have a downtown area but there are shops for necessities such as the A&P for groceries. Unfortunately the D’agastino in town closed in 2011 and it is rumored that a Diccico’s Market will be opening soon in Cross River.

If the beauty and convenience of Lewisboro attract many people, the clincher for them is the reputation of the Lewisboro-Katonah School District. John Jay High School, the only high school in the public school system here, is ranked in the top 200 high schools in the country!

Lewisboro offers this wonderful lifestyle at more affordable prices than some other down county communities. Its slight distance from Manhattan can work to the advantage of folks who are not looking to commute into the city every day. Here is the possibility of the best of Westchester living within more nominal budgets also.

Bedford Corners is in the south eastern corner of the Town of Bedford right alongside Mount Kisco. Most people only think of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village and Katonah as Bedford hamlets largely because Bedford Corners is the new kid on the block, so to speak.
Bedford Corners has many of the swanky homes that are typical of this town and it also includes some more middle of the range properties. It is a little unclear why this is defined as a separate hamlet – and some people see it as a pure real estate game!
Stonecrest, a historic manor which is in the National Register of Historic Places, is in Bedford Corners. It is a Stick or Stick-Eastlake style house built in the early 20th century.

Bedford Corners offers great schools as it is part of the Bedford public school system. It also has easy access to the good shopping in Mount Kisco. There is above average diversity in Mount Kisco and so the elementary school serving this area is also less homogenous that some of the neighboring communities.

Dining out options exist in Katonah, Bedford Village and in Mount Kisco. There are also movie theaters and there is the famous Caramoor and Katonah Museum of Art to provide the cultural richness that is sometimes lacking in suburban living.

Natural beauty is without a doubt the real hallmark of this county and it can be seen in Bedford Corners’ rolling terrain. If you live here, you don’t have to travel far to get the full impact of the rebirth of spring or the gorgeous colors of fall.

Bedford Corners is a delightful combination of natural beauty and cultural richness, a true microcosm of the larger Town of Bedford.

There is little or no reason to pay Westchester County taxes if what you’re looking for is the joy of country living; the catch is that it can become a longer commute to NYC. However, for those who work in the Westchester or CT area, Mahopac is a great option - if offers lovely homes, a great school district and the joy of lakeside living for good prices by local area standards.
Mahopac is wedged in between Somers and Carmel and is a sort of border town. If offers a nice suburban location with a nice mix of commercial and residential development. Interestingly this is a town with enough townhomes and condos for it to be attractive for singles and seniors also.
Mahopac’s biggest draw for many home buyers is its high regarded public school system. This an dthe possibility of a home facing one of the lakes in town means that it holds the promise of a luxurious lifestyle while offering a great small-town ambience. Given its compact size, long-time residents really get to know each other well.
The Terrace Club with views of Lake Mahopac is a nice restaurant for a brunch or dinner. Summer meals, with seating outside, can make for a particularly memorable experience. Another good place for eating out is the Dish Bistro and Wine Bar which is also very vegetarian friendly. They also have nice draft beers!
Mahopac offers the kind of average shopping that one expects in a mid-sized suburb. It is very close the Somers Commons where there’s a nice Home Goods and Learning Express among several others stores.
Mahopac’s one down side is that it is not a great commuter town unless you happen to work in a place connected by Route 6 or Taconic State Parkway. Even TSP can be a bit of a drive, depending on your exact location in Mahopac. The nearest train station into the city is Croton Falls.
On the balance, Mahopac is visually beautiful and friendly town with much to offer people of various age groups.

As the other reviewers before me have pointed out, Heritage Hills used to be a retirement community with age restrictions for residents. This is no longer true and so the 1-3 bedroom townhomes are open to all. The Heritage Hills option is open to buyers and renters.
This well laid out hamlet is a part of the Town of Somers and has access to the town facilities. Because of its original purpose, there are no schools within the hamlet. This does not have to dissuade people who want to live in Heritage Hills because Somers has well-established, highly-regarded schools.
One of the benefits of it having been planned for retirement living is that there any many recreational activities and clubs available to all residents. A nice golf course, tennis courts, billiards and pool tables, bocce ball courts and heated swimming pools are but some of the amenities that residents can use. There’s also a shuttle service to the Metro North station which really makes life easier when Heritage Hills folks want to take the train into Manhattan.
Heritage Hills is close to shopping and restaurants such as Stage Coach Café, Hana Japanese Restaurant and Sweet Delite Bakery. There is also the Pinnacle Restaurant with nice views. This place is sometimes rented out for private parties.
This hamlet offers the coziness of a well-laid out neighborhood with easily reachable shopping and dining. Given that there are 50 floor plans to choose from, there is something for a range of budgets. If you are interested in a Westchester lifestyle, but don’t want the hassle of renting or of mowing your lawn and shoveling snow, Heritage Hills can be a great fit.

Bedford is a town that looks like its stepped out of a lush landscape magazine. Gorgeous homes with extensive grounds reflect the equestrian lifestyle of many in this area. There is an endearing mix of simplicity and elegance, natural and landscaped beauty all coming together in this picture-perfect town.

Bedford Village center reflects the town’s long heritage and everything about it from the boutiques to the Bedford Playhouse serves as a reminder of the good ole days! Charming is an over-used word when describing this neighborhood for a very good reason!

The setting is beautiful but what about the community? The schools are great; and there is an active community theater and the Bedford Chamber Concerts presented at the St. Matthews Episcopal Church are a source of justifiable pride for Bedford residents. This is a place where the village look is not just a matter of cosmetic prop but the real vibe of the place. While Bedford may not have the flash and dash of some cities, what it offers is a community that is inviting and engaging; a place where one can put down roots.

Bedford is home to many stars and you may even run into Glenn Close or Chevy Chase at the Bedford Playhouse while catching a movie. But the real local celebrity may well be the Bedford Oak, an old tree along Route 22 – there has been a concerted effort to preserve this tree said to be almost 500 years old. Bedford residents take their history fairly seriously, and is it any wonder with a Village Green that is in the National Register of Historic Sites?

While Bedford is famous for its sprawling estates, there are starter homes and even some condominiums in the area – so it is well worth checking out to see if there is a home that suits your needs. You can be sure that Bedford offers a lifestyle that’s truly one-of-a-kind!

Whether you are looking for a quiet walk down tree-lined avenues or an exciting afternoon of shopping and fun cuisine, Mount Kisco has a little bit of something for everyone. This Westchester suburb is an interesting mix of apartments and classic homes and offers a range of options for those looking to move into the area. This town is a mix of commercial and residential streets giving it more of a city flair than some of the neighboring suburbs. The public school system is rated well and there are also several private school options in the vicinity. The train station makes this a great commute suburb to NYC.

Mount Kisco offers a nice downtown shopping area and many great eateries. New additions making a real mark include Little Kebab Station and Little Spice Bazaar where President Clinton and Martha Stewart stop by to grab a bite! Then there are the more established restaurants like Café of Love and Thai Angel. Parking can seem like a challenge at peak times, but there is plenty of metered parking – come prepared with quarters!

Shopping in Mount Kisco includes everything from one-of-a-kind boutiques to the ever-popular Target and Kohls. And as it is right off of Saw Mill Parkway, it is also easy to get to other shopping areas nearby.

The entertainment options in Mount Kisco range from the usual to the extraordinary. The newly finished library building is a beautiful multi-story where you may see anything from a great art exhibition to a teenagers book club. And then there is the Grand Prix New York which is an indoor Go Karting facility which also offers bowling and arcade games.

There's much to recommend Mount Kisco as a place to live or visit!