SUSAN SAYS: Baked by Susan will be open Monday 8-4 and on Tuesday 8-12; closed Christmas Day and the day after www.bakedbysusan.com
Sunday 22 December 2013
AN IMPORTANT LESSON ON SHOPPING LOCALLY
Posted on 05:41 by Unknown
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.
Here's an interesting lesson on the importance of shopping locally. About a week ago a reader wrote to say that she had been searching all the big box stores for the "Disney Princess Dinnerware Playset"--and having no luck, simply gave up....but then purely by chance, what did we spot in both Robbins in the Upper Village--and Shoprite too--three of them--at least as of yesterday (2 in Shoprite, 1 in Robbins)--click on the photo. The grateful reader will be making those pit-stops today.
Once again--because it can't be said enough--stop, open your eyes and look around: you CAN shop locally!
Once more time: CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE THE EVERYTHING CROTON ONLINE HOLIDAY CATALOG, ADDITIONAL SHOPPING LINKS, PHOTOS AND MORE http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/gorgeous-pillboxes-perfume-bottles.html
Here's an interesting lesson on the importance of shopping locally. About a week ago a reader wrote to say that she had been searching all the big box stores for the "Disney Princess Dinnerware Playset"--and having no luck, simply gave up....but then purely by chance, what did we spot in both Robbins in the Upper Village--and Shoprite too--three of them--at least as of yesterday (2 in Shoprite, 1 in Robbins)--click on the photo. The grateful reader will be making those pit-stops today.
Once again--because it can't be said enough--stop, open your eyes and look around: you CAN shop locally!
Once more time: CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE THE EVERYTHING CROTON ONLINE HOLIDAY CATALOG, ADDITIONAL SHOPPING LINKS, PHOTOS AND MORE http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/gorgeous-pillboxes-perfume-bottles.html
THE BEST OF CROTON 2013: NOVEMBER 2013
Posted on 03:55 by Unknown
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.
For the next few days, EverythingCroton will showcase only some of the best of what life in our village had to offer throughout 2013--month by month and continuing to year-end----from our schools to our houses of worship to the arts to our business community to our volunteers...and more...And now THE BEST OF CROTON 2013 - NOVEMBER 2013.
CORNELIA COTTON BENEFIT READING @ BENNET CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/todays-benefit-event-for-bennett.html
81 NAMED AP SCHOLARS, CHHS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/81-named-ap-scholars-croton-harmon-high.html
PHOTOS FROM THE JJH CLOTHING LINE EVENT AT WAKE ROBIN http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-from-jjh-clothing-line-event.html
PHOTOS, KEEGAN, CROTON ARBORETUM AND CROTON LIBRARY NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFTS AND CULTURE EVENT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/2013-photos-keegan-native-american.html
PHOTOS, VETERANS DAY 2013, CROTON YACHT CLUB LUNCHEON http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-2013-veterans-day-lunch-croton.html
HOLY NAMES LOAVES & FISH MINISTRY IN THE NEWS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/journal-news-hnm-loaves-fish-ministry.html
CROTON'S BETHEL COLLECTS FOOD AND DONATIONS FOR CROTON CARING COMMITTEE - Read more here: http://www.riverjournalonline.com/villages/tarrytown/3052-bethel-collects-food-and-donations-for-croton-caring-food-drive.html
VOLUNTEER SUBSCRIBERS TO CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CROTON DROVE 22 of our older or physically challenged residents to the polls on Election Day regardless of political affiliation! Many thanks guys!
PHOTOS, CROTON'S VETERANS DAY EVENT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-2013-croton-veterans-day.html
For the next few days, EverythingCroton will showcase only some of the best of what life in our village had to offer throughout 2013--month by month and continuing to year-end----from our schools to our houses of worship to the arts to our business community to our volunteers...and more...And now THE BEST OF CROTON 2013 - NOVEMBER 2013.
CORNELIA COTTON BENEFIT READING @ BENNET CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/todays-benefit-event-for-bennett.html
81 NAMED AP SCHOLARS, CHHS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/81-named-ap-scholars-croton-harmon-high.html
PHOTOS FROM THE JJH CLOTHING LINE EVENT AT WAKE ROBIN http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-from-jjh-clothing-line-event.html
PHOTOS, KEEGAN, CROTON ARBORETUM AND CROTON LIBRARY NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFTS AND CULTURE EVENT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/2013-photos-keegan-native-american.html
PHOTOS, VETERANS DAY 2013, CROTON YACHT CLUB LUNCHEON http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-2013-veterans-day-lunch-croton.html
HOLY NAMES LOAVES & FISH MINISTRY IN THE NEWS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/journal-news-hnm-loaves-fish-ministry.html
CROTON'S BETHEL COLLECTS FOOD AND DONATIONS FOR CROTON CARING COMMITTEE - Read more here: http://www.riverjournalonline.com/villages/tarrytown/3052-bethel-collects-food-and-donations-for-croton-caring-food-drive.html
VOLUNTEER SUBSCRIBERS TO CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CROTON DROVE 22 of our older or physically challenged residents to the polls on Election Day regardless of political affiliation! Many thanks guys!
PHOTOS, CROTON'S VETERANS DAY EVENT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/photos-2013-croton-veterans-day.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON OCTOBER 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-october-2013_19.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON SEPTEMBER 2013 here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-september-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON AUGUST 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-august-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JULY 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-july-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JUNE 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-june-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON MAY 2013 here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-may-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON APRIL 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-april-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON MARCH 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/everything-crotons-bes-of-croton-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JANUARY & FEBRUARYhere http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-january-february.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON SEPTEMBER 2013 here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-september-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON AUGUST 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-august-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JULY 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-july-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JUNE 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-of-croton-2013-june-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON MAY 2013 here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-may-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON APRIL 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-april-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON MARCH 2013 here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/everything-crotons-bes-of-croton-2013.html
SEE THE BEST OF CROTON JANUARY & FEBRUARYhere http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-of-croton-2013-january-february.html
JOURNAL: 12/22, HOW ASTORINO DEFEATED BRAMSON, TOWN BY TOWN LOOK
Posted on 03:14 by Unknown
An interesting article in today's Journal News; click on the link below to read it all (link is only live for a few weeks). Here are some highlights:
--In Cortlandt, Astorino had 59% of the votes.
--Bill O’Reilly, Astorino’s campaign spokesman, said without exit polling, the numbers can be hard to interpret. But he said a few points were clear: Voters in high-tax areas liked Astorino’s tax message, and his hard-line stance against the Department of Housing and Urban Development over the county’s 2009 fair housing settlement also made an impact. O’Reilly also said internal campaign polling consistently showed Hispanic voters favored Astorino by about 61 percent, which contributed to his win in places like Mount Kisco and Ossining.
--Read more here http://www.lohud.com/article/20131221/NEWS02/312200074/How-Astorino-defeated-Bramson-town-by-town-tally?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s
--In Cortlandt, Astorino had 59% of the votes.
--Bill O’Reilly, Astorino’s campaign spokesman, said without exit polling, the numbers can be hard to interpret. But he said a few points were clear: Voters in high-tax areas liked Astorino’s tax message, and his hard-line stance against the Department of Housing and Urban Development over the county’s 2009 fair housing settlement also made an impact. O’Reilly also said internal campaign polling consistently showed Hispanic voters favored Astorino by about 61 percent, which contributed to his win in places like Mount Kisco and Ossining.
--Read more here http://www.lohud.com/article/20131221/NEWS02/312200074/How-Astorino-defeated-Bramson-town-by-town-tally?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s
ZYDECO @ TAGINE NEW YEAR'S EVE IN CROTON
Posted on 00:21 by Unknown
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.
ZYDECO @ TAGINE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM; more info here http://zydegroove.com/ - TAGINE - 120 Grand Street - (914) 827-9393
ZYDECO @ TAGINE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM; more info here http://zydegroove.com/ - TAGINE - 120 Grand Street - (914) 827-9393
Saturday 21 December 2013
MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON
Posted on 17:15 by Unknown
Another fabulous vintage fabric label courtesy of SQ; click on the photo; believed to be circa 1890's. These fabric labels are simply stunning--more to be posted soon.
IN THE MEANTIME, SEE SOME HERE http://bit.ly/196xGBp
PETE OEHMEN OF COCONUT & VINTAGE PUTZ HOUSE FAME MAKES TREASURES MAGAZINE--CLICK ON THE LINK
ARTICLE STARTS ON PAGE 27 -- but the whole magazine is worth looking at and subscribing to http://issuu.com/treasures_mag/docs/treasures_dec13e?e=8097727/5884469
OUTSTANDING MARX SPACESHIP! http://www.toyconnect.blogspot.com/2013/12/marx-spaceship-2.html
FUN BLOG http://wingsofwhimsy.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/vintage-christmas-village-day-12-13-free-printables/
IN THE MEANTIME, SEE SOME HERE http://bit.ly/196xGBp
PETE OEHMEN OF COCONUT & VINTAGE PUTZ HOUSE FAME MAKES TREASURES MAGAZINE--CLICK ON THE LINK
ARTICLE STARTS ON PAGE 27 -- but the whole magazine is worth looking at and subscribing to http://issuu.com/treasures_mag/docs/treasures_dec13e?e=8097727/5884469
OUTSTANDING MARX SPACESHIP! http://www.toyconnect.blogspot.com/2013/12/marx-spaceship-2.html
FUN BLOG http://wingsofwhimsy.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/vintage-christmas-village-day-12-13-free-printables/
12/19/13 PAUL STEINBERG LETTER TO THE GAZETTE ON THE GOUVEIA PROPERTY
Posted on 16:34 by Unknown
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.
From the 12/19 edition of THE GAZETTE WITH PERMISSION TO POST, PAUL STEINBERG'S LETTER
TO THE EDITOR:
The discussion about the million-dollar trust proposed as part of the Gouveia property deal is somewhat misleading.
Proponents of the Gouveia acquisition say that the donor is only getting the "income" of the trust, which implies that the corpus will not be touched. This is not necessarily true.
The common way in which such trusts are set up is that the donor takes assets (normally stocks) which have appreciated greatly in value. If the donor were to sell the assets, there would be a big capital gains tax bite. By putting the assets in the trust, the donor gets a tax deduction for the appreciated (current) value.
The donor then gets periodic distributions from the trust based on the appreciated (and non-taxed) value of the assets placed into the trust.
As a threshold matter, it should be remembered that the Trustees have broad discretion in which money is allocated to principal and which is allocated to "income."
Even if the trust does not have any real "income" in the layman's sense of the word, the donor will still be able to take a distribution, which must necessarily come out of the corpus.
Under most state law and under federal Treasury Department regulations, the Trustees may distribute 5 percent per annum from the corpus (more in certain circumstances). The amount that must ultimately be given to the remainder beneficiary (in this instance, the Village of Croton) can be as little as 10% of the value of the original amount.
All of this assumes that the principal does not suffer a reduction due to loss in the value of the underlying assets.
There was discussion at the Village meeting which assumed a 6 percent rate of income. In the current market, an investment strategy designed to produce such a stream of real income (as opposed to capital gains) would be very aggressive. Since return tends to be aligned with risk, such an aggressive strategy would risk loss (whether immediately recognized or not) to the trust corpus.
This is not to say that such a Trust is a bad idea for most charitable (remainder) beneficiaries, for whom any remaining corpus is pure gravy.
But in the case of the Gouveia property, the Mayor is claiming that the corpus will be sufficient to pay for the upkeep of the property at whatever date in the future the Village gets the income from the Gouveia Trust.
There is simply no basis for such an assertion, and if the income from the Trust is to be the source of funds for upkeep of the Gouveia "gift" at some point in the future, the Village trustees need to be more transparent as to the governance of the Trust.
The taxpayers of Croton deserve to know whether this "gift" is destined to become a money pit, and that is almost entirely dependent on whether the Trust will be sufficient to pay the operating costs on the property. It is bad enough that the taxpayers will have to ante up $50k per year to cover the property taxes which will not be paid.
There is no doubt that Ms. Gouveia has some very sophisticated legal and tax counsel. Whether the taxpayers of Croton are being as well-served is an open question.
--Paul Steinberg
ALSO YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN WALTER PLOTCH'S RECENT GAZETTE LETTER AS WELL; http://forum.ncnlocal.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=7451
From the 12/19 edition of THE GAZETTE WITH PERMISSION TO POST, PAUL STEINBERG'S LETTER
TO THE EDITOR:
The discussion about the million-dollar trust proposed as part of the Gouveia property deal is somewhat misleading.
Proponents of the Gouveia acquisition say that the donor is only getting the "income" of the trust, which implies that the corpus will not be touched. This is not necessarily true.
The common way in which such trusts are set up is that the donor takes assets (normally stocks) which have appreciated greatly in value. If the donor were to sell the assets, there would be a big capital gains tax bite. By putting the assets in the trust, the donor gets a tax deduction for the appreciated (current) value.
The donor then gets periodic distributions from the trust based on the appreciated (and non-taxed) value of the assets placed into the trust.
As a threshold matter, it should be remembered that the Trustees have broad discretion in which money is allocated to principal and which is allocated to "income."
Even if the trust does not have any real "income" in the layman's sense of the word, the donor will still be able to take a distribution, which must necessarily come out of the corpus.
Under most state law and under federal Treasury Department regulations, the Trustees may distribute 5 percent per annum from the corpus (more in certain circumstances). The amount that must ultimately be given to the remainder beneficiary (in this instance, the Village of Croton) can be as little as 10% of the value of the original amount.
All of this assumes that the principal does not suffer a reduction due to loss in the value of the underlying assets.
There was discussion at the Village meeting which assumed a 6 percent rate of income. In the current market, an investment strategy designed to produce such a stream of real income (as opposed to capital gains) would be very aggressive. Since return tends to be aligned with risk, such an aggressive strategy would risk loss (whether immediately recognized or not) to the trust corpus.
This is not to say that such a Trust is a bad idea for most charitable (remainder) beneficiaries, for whom any remaining corpus is pure gravy.
But in the case of the Gouveia property, the Mayor is claiming that the corpus will be sufficient to pay for the upkeep of the property at whatever date in the future the Village gets the income from the Gouveia Trust.
There is simply no basis for such an assertion, and if the income from the Trust is to be the source of funds for upkeep of the Gouveia "gift" at some point in the future, the Village trustees need to be more transparent as to the governance of the Trust.
The taxpayers of Croton deserve to know whether this "gift" is destined to become a money pit, and that is almost entirely dependent on whether the Trust will be sufficient to pay the operating costs on the property. It is bad enough that the taxpayers will have to ante up $50k per year to cover the property taxes which will not be paid.
There is no doubt that Ms. Gouveia has some very sophisticated legal and tax counsel. Whether the taxpayers of Croton are being as well-served is an open question.
--Paul Steinberg
ALSO YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN WALTER PLOTCH'S RECENT GAZETTE LETTER AS WELL; http://forum.ncnlocal.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=7451
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