Viewpoints

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: It’s Time for Less Talk, More Action on Business Concerns

March 15, 2016

Prior to the recent Trailblazer Alumni Networking party on Feb. 25, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and I were collaborating on new business strategies while she was teeing up her State of the County speech, which was scheduled on March 10th at the Putnam County Golf Course. She plans to announce that this year’s focus…

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Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’

February 23, 2016

For those of you who were unable to attend our Centennial and Installation Celebration on Jan. 21st, you would have been proud and amazed at the style with which we commemorated our past accomplishments and how capable we are of facing the challenges ahead. I would venture to say that the old adage, “Work hard,…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

February 23, 2016

‘And Number 19 Goes to…’ Some people’s glasses are half full, other’s half empty. Mine? Well let’s just say I’m more worried about the expiration date. It’s easy for us to just stay in our comfort zones. However, by following our regular patterns and customs, we sometimes eliminate other possibilities. A couple of weekends ago…

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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Putnam County’s IDA Needs A Reboot

February 23, 2016

The board of the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency resigned en masse on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, 2016 over a situation that has been building for some time. IDAs are local municipal (county, city, village) entities organized under the mandates and regulations of New York State. As government entities, they differ from economic development corporations…

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Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Change is the Law of Life

January 25, 2016

This year we are celebrating, through various special events, our association’s 100th year anniversary In fact, by the time this issue is unveiled, we will have already concluded our Annual Installation, the first of many special events planned. I would like to take a moment to thank our remarkable staff for planning the Gala, as…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Happy Birthday HGAR!

January 25, 2016

You don’t turn 100 every year, and 2016 is the year the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors celebrates its 100th Anniversary. The following is an excerpt from the National Real Estate Journal dated May 15, 1916: “The first regular meeting of the Westchester County Realty Board was held Tuesday afternoon, May 9th, in the Lecture…

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Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: A Heartfelt Thank You

December 21, 2015

I would like to finish the year as I started it by saying thank you. Thank you for giving me the honor and opportunity to lead this organization. Looking back on the year we established three main priorities and together we set out to do some amazing things. As an organization we strive to set…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: True Confessions

December 21, 2015

OK, I’ll admit it. I confess. I’m a Christmas junkie. The transformation actually starts the day of Thanksgiving. As soon as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade concludes with the appearance of Santa, the Christmas music goes on and plays non-stop through the Feast of the Epiphany. The Christmas tree, which is purchased from the same…

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Jennifer Maher

Shopping Small and Local for the Holidays and Beyond

December 20, 2015

For Small Business Saturday, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and I did some shopping as we usually do, visiting small businesses throughout the area and enjoying the experience of supporting our neighborhood shops, which mean so much to the local economy. Spending time in the businesses gave us an opportunity to see how things were…

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Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: One Last Ask

November 25, 2015

Over the past year I have used my column to inform the membership of our organization’s activities along with using this venue to put my hand out with an ask. Sticking with the precedent I have set forth, below you will find my final ask of the year. A key priority this year was to…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES:
The Longest Day

November 25, 2015

On October 19th the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors conducted its Annual Member’s Day at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown. I’m always amazed by the amount of planning and work that goes into the preparation of that day. This year the Communications Council, co-chaired by Deb Budetti and Kathy Milich, decided to pull out all…

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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTINGS: Industry Cluster Effort Paying Off for Hudson Valley Region

November 25, 2015

A few short years ago the concept of industry clusters in our area was a very foreign one, indeed. We simply didn’t recognize the impact that attracting groups of similar businesses might have on Putnam County’s economic future. More recently, however, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp led by Larry Gottlieb and the work done…

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Russ Woolley

ROCKLAND: 2015 Was a Banner Year for Rockland’s Housing Market

November 25, 2015

There is this really talented and cool guy with the patience of a saint. His name is John Jordan. He is affable, smart and really talented when it comes to his job as being editor of Real Estate In Depth...He is a great conversationalist, as one can imagine a "newspaperman" would be. There is only…

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Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Please be Sure to Tip Your Server

October 15, 2015

Okay, where can I possible go with that title? The thought that comes to mind is when you attend a comedy show or dinner show, the on stage talent always makes sure to mention that there are hard working men and women serving the patrons that need to be rewarded for their service. By the…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: The Inevitability Of Change

October 15, 2015

I spent the last week in Syracuse and Kansas City at two industry conferences. I’ve been attending such conferences for 30-plus years, and it’s interesting that some of the topics are still very similar over all those years. However, when you consider the fact that organized real estate in this country is just north of…

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Drew Kessler

Off to NYSAR’s Fall Meetings

September 2, 2015

Before I write on my topic for this issue I wanted to provide an update from my last article. My nine -month pregnant wife and I survived our road trip through 12 states and 3,500 miles with four kids and a dog in tow and made it home safe and sound and still pregnant. The…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Falling into Fall

September 1, 2015

As I write this article it is 93 degrees in the shade and we’ve been in the midst of a heat wave for several days. Actually most of the summer has been pleasantly hot and dry, but we know that fall is around the corner with cooler days and even cooler nights. Fall is actually…

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Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: The Realtor Family

August 15, 2015

I write to you on the verge of beginning a 14-day RV road trip through the Midwest with my family. For those keeping score at home that is four kids, one dog, one 8.5-month pregnant wife and I. I know, what am I thinking, or more importantly what is my wife thinking? Well, it is…

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