Looking for a house. We have to make a move. When can we come? It's still a buyers market, right? After viewing the local MLS and the Century 21 web site, call and make an appointment to view some property.  Call Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday for weekend viewings. Combine similar prices ranges and styles of homes. Give the seller time to get the house ready, Flowers, candles, music, garbage, the pets. Group what your ideal home would be. A $169,000 starter home, a $285,000 ranch, a foreclosure, and a $475 Victorian is not what you should call to make appointments for. Ask to see ranches in a particular school district between $200,000 and $300,000. Make your life easy. To see so many homes all over the board is exhausting for everybody. Bring along your camera, a bottle of water and a ... 03/05/2009

Are you exploring options for your child's education? Are you looking for more sports and less arts? More science and less recess. Do you as a parent want to be involved in your childrens education? On March 28th there will be an Independent School Fair from 10:00AM to 12:00 noon at the Kinderhook Village Hall on the second floor at 6 Chatham Street. Visit and speak with school representatives from area schools. Find out answers to questions you might have. Are you thinking of moving to the area and want to explore options? The following schools that will have representation are: Academy of Christian Leadership The Albany Academies Berkshire Country Day School Darrow School Doane Stuart Emma Willard Mountain Road School Robert c. Parker School Woodland Hill Montessori This annual event ... 03/05/2009

March 7, 9AM to 4PM at St Pauls Church in Kinderhook will host hundreds of good clean hardcover and paperbackbooks at their McNary Center on Sylvester Street one block from the Village Square. Baked goods, and coffee, soda,and  juice will be werved all day long. Special magazines, children's fiction, gardening, cooking, art, architecture, history, military, mystery, religion, virtually all subjects will be available. There is a $5.00 early buying and regular prices. 3PM bag sale of a $1.00 per bag except specials. from 9AM to 3PM.regular pircies, no admission charge.  The librarians are still looking for donations of new or used books in good condition. You can drop of donations in the McNary center lobby weekday mornings. If you have questions call David Palmquist 758-1378 03/02/2009

As of February 16 the following information was released by our MLS office. Active properties 1581 Binders              34 Price Reductions  55 Price Increases    3 New Listings        73 In Contract         34 Sold and Closed  30   In the Kinderhook area the following homes are available with average days on market and price: 2 or less Bedrooms:   11 available, 293 days on market, average price: $204,036 3 or less Bedrooms:   25 available, 267 days on market, average price: $358,228 4 or less Bedrooms:   16 available,   16 days on market, average price: $396,787 5 or less bedrooms:   7   available,   7 days on market,   average price  $440,128 02/25/2009

Since last Sunday my wife has overseen a folk art camp here in Kinderhook. The teacher, Cynthia from Ohio, originally from Texas drove the eight hours to help students with the art of rug hooking. Now in it's 14th year the students arrive on a Sunday and stay until after lunch on Thursday. Each student, men and women select a design drawn on linen usually (the first rugs were done on old burlap bags) and a color selection is worked on. Cynthia starts at 9am and goes right thru until 3PM helping beginners and those who have been doing it for a long time with her expertise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served right at the hall where the class is given. Debbie Friendberg, the owner of Spice of Life catering manages to create a wonderful plate full at each meal, salmon, steak, roast por... 02/03/2009

                                                                                                                                                                                  All the attention on Broad Street in Kinderhook NY this weekend was because of the spectatular display of ice creatures on the front yard of John Hanaham. John's friend, Haminio is a graduation of culinary school and has been doing ice sculptures for quite awhile. He started out with one or two last year, but this season he went all out. There are eight now. This morning they were all hold OBAMA signs and American flags. Quite a sight for Rebuplicans and Democrats alike. The cold weather has helped to maintain the statues. My favorite is the lion, being a Leo and all.   All weekend the cars from all over stopped... 01/20/2009

You may find this interesting if you are looking for property to buy in Columbia County. We had 774 listings sold in 2008. The financing was as follows:    549 Convential Loans    5 VA Loans    147 Cash sales    5 were owner financed    4 PMI    10 FHA    5 Sunyma    1 was a land contract.  As of now it looks like the break down of homes sold last month  were: 2 Bedrooms average price was $218,207, sold in 201 days  13 listings 3 Bedrooms average price was $251,341, sold in 193 days  28 listings 4 Bedrooms average price was $333,250, sold in 209 days  10 listings 5 Bedrooms average price was $845,000, sold in 532 days   2 listings        This is the view from the bridge just a short walk from our Village Square on Sunday morning. This beautiful view is just one that we get to appreciate... 01/13/2009

The Town of Stuyvesant Recreation Committee is hosting a snowshoe walk at the Ken Hummel Memorial Park. Ken was a great guy and the town never forgets how important he was to the community. He was a politician, carpenter, father, husband, Library Board member. He had a great sense of humor,he was fair, honest, and a friend of mine. The Park is on Sharptown Road in Stuyvesant. Join local community members for the walk, stargazing, looking for nocturnal wildlife, a bonfire, and warm refreshments. Bring snowshoes or cross-country skis and a flashlight. Beginners are welcome. A limited number of snowshoes will be available. to reserve a pair call 754-6259. This all happens Saturday, January 10th at 7:00 PM. Stuyvesant is just a few miles below Kinderhook, It is on the Hudson River and the v... 01/07/2009

With another snow storm on the way Wednesday it looks like another day off from school. Here is something to think about while we sit infront of the fire. Get up and start running. Every year the Kinderhook Memorial Library forms a team to run the Kinderhook Bank's OK-5K run in June. But what about the rest of the year? Would you like to be part of a friendly active running club? It would be a great way to meet new people in the area if you have just moved here and it would be good for your health. The Kinderhook Runners Club is holding an informal meeting for all interested runners at the Kinderhook Village Hall on the second floor. Time is Sunday, January 11 at 7:00 PM. You will meet some of Kinderhooks nicest people and share a common interest with someone new. If you prefer to be in... 01/06/2009

  After the ice storm canceled our Kinderhook Candle lite Night, and left us with no power, the snow storm canceled the Winter Walk in Valatie and left no one on the streets. Now today another snow storm is making Columbia County a Winter wonderland and the ski resorts are so happy with this white gold. Our village square is a picture from a Currier and Ives post card. Most of the small retail stores are opened, the Christmas bells in the trees continue to shine as our two man public works team work hard to clear the parking spaces. Number one daughter stopped earlier for coffee and go over plans for Wednesday, number two daughter calls hourly from Boston hoping I will say the snow has stopped and all the roads are clear and come home. She went to a college room mates wedding on Saturda... 12/27/2008

OH Come all yee faithful,.....And they did. All the work crews from Fairpoint Communications helped string the lights in the trees this Monday morning. In the freezing cold they hung 50 tomatoe cages strung with white lights in the tree in the Kinderhook village square. With an assistant crew of three, Jane, Katie and Jayne they did a great job. This Friday evening, Kinderhook is celebrating the holiday with their annual Candlelight Night. Luminaries will light your way from door to door.You can take a horse draawn wagon ride at Fairpoint Communications starting at 6:00PM Blackwood and Brouwer Books Sellers and Kinderhook Memorial Library are hosting Thoms Locker and artist Candace Christiansen at the KML with music by Ampersand Heritage; Browse through Masterpiece Gifts and listen to h... 12/10/2008

The highly acclaimed author of the Vermont-based mystery series featuring detective Joe Gunther, appears at the Kinderhook Memorial Library December 10 at 7:00pm. Mayor will be reading from and autographing his new novel, The catch.  Copies of The Catch and his newest paperback release, Chat  will be available for purchase. This program is co-sponsored by Blackwood and Brouwer Booksellers. Then on December 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 the KML will have three events going on. Enjoy cookies by the fire while listening to Ampersand Heritage music. They take great delight in blending a modern group of voices and instruments to bring traditional and colonial-era American music to life. The Friends of the Library will host a book sale of high quality new, slightly used and collecctiable books for sal... 12/02/2008

The temperature here in Columbia County will not be out of the 30's during the day this week and the nights will be down in the teens!!!! Snow flakes will fall occasionally, while the ponds will have the first sheet of ice on them in the mornings. A sudden snow squall is not out of the question. The bird feeders should be filled on a steady routine now. Once you start them you need to continue. The birds count on you and don't know where to look if they are depending on you to eat during the winter. Most of the corn has been reaped from the fields. Two large trucks went by the house today filled to the brim, on their way to the farm. Kinderhook will  host the Historical House Tour that night of December 12. Come and enjoy the horse drawn wagons and take a peek in all the retail stores. ... 11/20/2008

lAST NIGHT 13 TEAMS OF 8-10 LEFT THE CAROLINA HOUSE ON ROUTE 9 IN KINDERHOOK FOR A 3 HOUR SCAVENGER HUNT FULL OF LAUGHS. All team were driven to their destinations via limo and a case of beer f  back seat was available. Their were 20 items to be found and four jingles to be answered. At one time there was so much laughing you couldn't hear yourself talk on one of the 10 cell phones. Some of the items to be found included a prom dress with crown and tulle, corn dogs, a positive birth test, a leopard night gown, a speeding ticket, black roller blades, construction hard hat and a rubbing froma tombstone. We were equipped with phone books, flashlights, GPS systems and a Rolodex. The jingles lead us to familiar watering holes to perform, air guitar songs, karaoke, and to take part in shots, ... 11/12/2008

The New York State association of Realtors have just released new figures. They emphasize that the Empire State begins a typical seasonal slowdown in September. Columbia County figures: Existing single family homes sold: Sept 06     Sept 07     Aug 08     Sept 08p   44            35            39            41   Columbia County figures: Median sales price of existing single family homes: Sept 06      Sept 07      Aug 08      Sept 08p $214,500   $228,000   $273,500   $230,000   So you see, we are still pretty active here in the country. You still can get a good buy and sellers are able to negotiate a transaction (with a good agent that is). You can see the Catskill Mountains from this side of the Hudson and they are white at the top. I wonder what that is. Down below there are still spot... 10/31/2008

Yesterday with the temperature almost 70 degrees I spent the morning with a couple I had been out with before from out West.  Looking to move across the country to be near children and grandchildren we spent time looking at homes with studio space. I never do this but they were in a certain price range and I took them to a level above that. Of course they love the house, but who would'nt like something above and beyond. We looked for a couple of more hours and all conversations went back to the first house. I did not do this as a sales ploy, but do we do this unconsciously??? It was everything they said they wanted and who knows what they can do to make this happen. I guess I'll wait and see. When we got back to Kinderhook the Halloween Childrens Parade was coming up the street after t... 10/27/2008

Next Saturday, October 18, 2008 The Library in Kinderhook will celebrate it's 80th Birthday. The fund raising committee has asked people from Kinderhook, Stuyvesant, Valatie, and Chatham to help us celebrate by baking a cake to sell at our Birthday weekend. Each cake will be displayed at the library starting at 10 AM on our book stands among our current collect of new books.  Each cake will be sold for $20.00. We have some flavors to report: Upside-down Pineapple cake, Triple chocolate cake, Pound Cake, Red velvet cake, and Banana to name a few. This venture is to help with expenses if our 414 doesn't pass in November on Election Day. Take a minute October 18th and stop at the Kinderhook Memorial Library, make yourself known, see how busy we are, fill out a Library card, buy a cake and ... 10/08/2008

Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation and Michael Devine Home are sending out an invitation to celebrate a pre-holiday shopping evening at 10 Broad Street in Kinderhook. Hors d'ourve tastes will be passed by Burt and Chris from the Red Barn. This celebration will be on Saturday, October 11th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. Ten percent of the evening's proceeds will benefit Intensive care unit renovation and the expansion & new technology programs. The evening is all about fulfilling the capital campaigns dream. Michael Devine Home is a perfect little store, a beautiful garden and a complete apartment above. His fabric is the cornerstone of the shop, which was the first boutique American company to be asked to show at the prestgious Maison and Object Edituers in Paris. There are sparkling glass shel... 10/02/2008

We are so lucky here in Kinderhook, NY to have some of the best of the best. We don't have alot of retail business, but what we have, we have the best . Linda and Owen of Lindowen American County search far and wide for country antiques and folk art to fill their store all year round. On October 10-11-12 you can share the harvest season with them at their red, white, and blue store.(fri-sat 11:00 - 5:00, sun 12:00 - 5:00) They will have the best pumpkins, witches, crows, candles, and everything you need for fall decorating as well as wonderful country antiques. I visited their store today to let them know the grapevine wreaths and bittersweet that adorn their shop on Chatham Street was the essence of Fall. Mum plants and pumpkins every where and their open house is next month!!! call Li... 09/26/2008

If you can take a day off to just play, head for the Hudson River School Art Trail in Columbia and Greene Counties. The trail lets you walk the footsteps of Cole, Church, Durand, Jasper Cropsey, and Sanford Clifford. Most of the sites are within 15 miles of the Thomas Cole Historic Site. Located on Spring Street in Catskill stands his home and studio. Thomas Cole is the founder of the Hudson River Art Movement. The trail includes stops at the following sites:   Cedar Grove, Coles Home and Studio Olana, the home of Fredrick Church View of the Catskill Creek Kaaterskill Clove Kaaterskill Falls North-South Lake Sunset Rock Catskill Mountain House  Some of the stops are easy to get to by car, others can be reached only by foot and range from a pleasant walk to a strenuous hike. The map and ... 09/25/2008