Christmas Eve 2006

Here are some photos taken around the area on Christmas Eve.

101 Classic Christmas Videos Online

For this holiday season, someone has taken the trouble and time to list (in categories) 101 Classic Christmas Videos that you and your family can look at online. Here is the link enjoy!

Season's Greetings

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Bedford Road And Katonah Avenue

Katonah, New York

A Walk Along Maple Avenue In The Fall

 

I come across many walkers, runners and folks out walking their dogs along
this great area to walk in Katonah - Reservoir Road and Maple Avenue. This shot is the incline on Maple Avenue that goes toward Route 22. It is about 5 miles to make the round trip walk/run from Route 22 at Reservoir Road to Route 22 at the end of Maple Avenue. An excellent calorie burner- hilly, slight inclines, straight sections. It is an especially delightful walk in the middle of the Fall season. 

Circular Spider Web

Sometimes you get lucky and the beauty of nature pops up in your own backyard.
I was eating breakfast on my deck last week and notice this beautiful circular
pattern being spun by a spider.

I grabbed my digital camera and captured this wonder in the making.

Any Local Filmmakers Out There?

Today, I came across this site TurnHere that is asking filmmakers to send them a 90-second video about a place – a neighborhood, a landmark, a bar, a street or trail . If they like your video they will put it up on the site.


You will also be on their talent roster when they commission new projects this fall.
The downside is the deadline is August 15, a week from today. Best submission will win $1,000.


Know of any local or aspiring filmmaker that might be interested in doing a video about the Katonah area?

Here is one video done about Poughkeepsie, NY. that is posted at Turnhere.

1910 Postcard Katonah Avenue Up For Sale on eBay

If you are or know someone who is a collector of local history,up for auction on eBay is this 1910 postcard of Katonah Avenue.

Auction ends July 1st.

Katonah Artist Needs Models For Series Of Religious Canvases

This weeks Record Review (June 23, 2006) has an interesting piece on Katonah's premiere portrait artist Mark Hass.

Mr. Hass needs to find models with a specific kind of look for a series of large religious canvases the he has been commissioned to paint for an Ohio businessman.

Mr. Hass has an on going search for models as:

A) Adult Jesus
B) 12-14 year old Jesus
C) Angel Gabriel. "I'm not sure what I am looking for with Gabriel. Someone androgynous looking, I think" Mr. Hess stated.

Potential models can email their photographs to Mr. Hess for consideration.

Find the Trend of Gasoline Prices at Katonah Gas Stations

Here is a link, provided by Westchester County of the trend of Gasoline Pricing here in Katonah.
Enter Katonah Zip Code 10536 and you will get the trend of Gasoline Prices here in Katonah by month.

Spring 2006 Trout Stocking Targets For Katonah Area

Brown Trout

The New York State DEC recently listed the Spring 2006 Trout Stocking Targets for DEC Region 3 of which the Katonah Area (Town of Bedford) is a part of.

The targeted Trout Stocking Targets for the rivers in the Katonah Area are over 8,000
Rainbow and Brown Trouts.

The rivers include:

• Cross River Reservoir
  
• Cross River Outlet
  
• Mianus River
  
• Stone Hill River
  

Here is the link to the detail to the Trout Stocking targets.

Other links of interest to local fishermen:

Although it seems not to have been active since last November, Bedford Sportsman.com message board is where you can post your local fishing reports, stories and other fishing talk.

Here is aLink to the Croton Watershed
Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Enjoy & Happy 2006 Fishing Season!

Use GoodSearchcom to Raise Money For Katonah Charities & Schools

GoodSearch is an Internet search engine with a simple concept and unique social mission. GoodSearch enables you to help fund any of hundreds of thousands of charities or schools through the simple act of searching the Internet.


It's simple. You use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine but each time you do, money is generated for your favorite cause.

How?

Each time someone searches, GoodSearch gives half of the advertising revenue that it earns from the search to the person's charity or school of choice.

Only some of the people who search actually click on an advertisement and thus generate income for the site, so the company averages only about 2 cents in revenue for each search conducted.

By that math, a charity with 1,000 supporters using the site twice a day would generate about $7,300 in total donations annually.

GoodSearch users need not worry about the site collecting potentially sensitive information about their charitable endeavors, because the company does not require users to register or otherwise identify themselves. Rather, the site's visitors specify a beneficiary before they search, and the site designates an anonymous donation for that search.


Think of local non-profit organizations e.g Katonah Village Library, Katonah Community Center ,Katonah Fire Department, Katonah-Bedford Hills Ambulance Corp, local churches and schools that might benefit from GoodSearch.com when supporters of these organizations use GoodSearch.

I have no vested interest in GoodSearch.com just think it is a good idea for
raising money for local non-profit organizations.

To learn more  about GoodSearch.com go here

8 Principles Of Having Fun!

Here is a link to eight wonderful principles of having fun...enjoy.

Bedford Audubon Society Scholarships To Be Awarded To High School Students

Bedford Audubon Society Scholarship Awards


Two scholarships to be awarded to high school students

for environmental science research with Audubon Vermont



Again this year, Bedford Audubon Society, located in Katonah, New York, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of two full scholarships for high school students to participate in Audubon Vermont’s “Take P.A.R.T. Program of Audubon Research for Teens.” This program is a unique opportunity for high school students (ages 15 -18) to be immersed in conservation research. It is a wonderful college preparatory experience for those interested in the biology, ecology or conservation fields of study. And it’s a great way for teens to enjoy the summer with like-minded young people!



1. HERPETOLOGY RESEARCH:
Led by one of Vermont’s leading herpetologists, your team will inventory several locations in Vermont for reptiles and amphibians. Working in a variety of habitats, from deep forest to vernal pools, you’ll learn about, search for, handle and document nearly all of Vermont’s “herps.” You’ll explore areas with few or no historical records for many species, some of which are rare or endangered, and your work will add much needed data to the State Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians. July 24- Aug. 2, 2006.



2. WILDLIFE OF THE NORTHERN FOREST RESEARCH:

In partnership with the NorthWoods Stewardship Center, located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, this team will work on contributing data to the Center’s Ecosystem Management Project. Staff ecologists will guide participants in monitoring and habitat restoration projects on their 3,000-acre property. Discover the richness of the northern forest, as you band birds, monitor salamander activity, improve wildlife habitat, and live-trap small mammals. Your contribution to the management project will enhance the understanding of wildlife populations and habitat health in the region. Aug. 10 - 20, 2006.



Student Criteria
High school student ages 15-18 years old
Preference to students planning to study the environmental sciences at the college level
Preference to students who have written a relevant scientific paper or have done relevant research
Preference to students who have done environmental and conservation-minded community service


Application Process

Each applicant must submit:

Completed application form
Personal statement of one page regarding his/her commitment to the environmental sciences
and how the trip or internship fits with his/her goals

One letter of recommendation from a high school science teacher.


Students may also submit any relevant research or a resume with a list of relevant research projects and/or community service.



Application deadline: MAY 5, 2006




For application and questions, contact:

David Albano, Bedford Audubon Education Committee

(203) 739-0846, email:dalbano@bedfordaudubon.org

Instant appraisal of Your Katonah Home

I just came across this new home site, Zillow.com that allows you to enter your
street address and city, state or zip code and gives you an instant appraisal
of your home. I tried it and was surprised at the results (in a good way) It is still in beta, but what a cool tool for getting some idea of what your house is worth or other houses in your neighborhood are worth right away! If any local realtors come across this post, would be interested to hear their comments re:
Zillow.com.

Katonah Resident Wins White Lie Short Story Contest

Here's a link to
the winning entry in the My White Lie short story contest, from Judy Blundell of Katonah, NY, called "Infrequent Flier"...striking up a conversation of little white lies at an airport bar, where nobody really knows your name or what you really do.

Vintage Katonah Fire Department Badge Up For Sale On Ebay!

Vintage 1930's Katonah Fire Department Badge 393 with old pumper truck on front,marked on back C.G. Braxmar Co 216 East 43th st NY,2 3/4" x 1 3/4" eBay Item No.7737133698
Auction Ends Jan-17-06 15:31:48 PST

Upcoming Bedford Audubon Events January 22 & 28

Winter Hike at Bedford Audubon’s Hunt-Parker Sanctuary
Sunday, January 22 at 9:00 a.m. Meet at Bylane, 35 Todd Road, Katonah

Bedford Audubon’s 318-acre Hunt-Parker Sanctuary is a beautiful place in winter. Wintering birds like nuthatches, chickadees and goldfinches are foraging in the trees for food, and red fox and coyote patrol the field edges for small mammals. Join Tait Johansson for a brisk winter walk and some hot chocolate afterward at Bylane, Bedford Audubon’s headquarters, located on the property. Bring binoculars.
Reservations: (914) 764–4320.


“Birds of the Adirondacks”
with nature photographer Jeff Nadler
Saturday, January 28, 2006, 2:30 p.m., Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah



Jeff Nadler's, "Birds of the Adirondacks," is a breath-taking show of big screen digital photography and relaxing music featuring the birds, wildlife, and wilderness scenery of New York State's Adirondack region. The program gives you intimate views of the many bird species found on wilderness lakes, mountain summits, boreal bogs, Lake Champlain, as well as those winter visitors from even further north. Enjoy intimate views of Common Loon, Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, Great Grey Owl, and numerous warblers, hawks, wading birds, and more. Jeff will also have an assortment of large framed and double-matted prints available to purchase, that were recently on display at art centers in the Adirondacks.



About the Speaker
Jeff is a part-time freelance professional nature photographer who specializes in bird photography. His work has recently appeared in Audubon New York's IBA book, the new Hudson-Mohawk Bird Guide, Adirondack Life, the Conservationist, Adirondack Explorer, and the Hamilton County birding guide. He is a regular contributor to Natural New England magazine, based in Portland, Maine. Jeff's work is used by the Cornell Ornithology Lab, the Boreal Songbird Initiative, the Wilderness Conservation Society, National Wildlife Federation, Lake Champlain Birding Trail, National Geographic Books, and NatureServe. He lives in Saratoga County and is employed as a financial analyst.



For more information and directions to Bylane Farm, visit www.bedfordaudubon.org or call (914) 232-1999. You can also email the Communications Committee, hraheem@bedfordaudubon.org.