The Bergen County Homes Blog

Rainy weather forced the Borough of Cresskill to move it’s Annual Spring Festival to this Saturday and the weather in town will be perfect – low 80′s and sunny all day! 

Started only a few years ago, the Cresskill Spring Festival has become a major event of the year with thousands of people coming out for an entire day of fun.  Food, all sorts of vendors, rides, games, contests, music and more will take place from 10 am through 5 pm on June 18th at the ball field and new Recreation Center at 3rd and Madison Avenue.  Run by the Cresskill Recreation Department, this is a very well organized event that’s enjoyed by everyone from the very young to senior citizens.

If you own a Cresskill home you know how great it is to live here.  This is a family friendly town where people get to know each other and make lifelong friendships.  A real small town with the heart of a lion, Cresskill homes are always in strong demand not only because of it’s  proximity to NYC and great schools, but also because of the town spirit.  The Annual Spring Festival is only one of several town wide events that bring people together in a fun atmosphere.

If you want to get an idea of what it’s like to live in Cresskill, come on over to the Annual Spring Festival this Saturday and experience the Cresskill spirit yourself!

If you know me then you’ll know that pets and animal rescue are important to me.  You’ll also know that I got started with animal rescue through the abused boxer puppy my son saved and everything we went through with her.  Our nearly 18 month adventure with my fabulous vet, Dr. Harriet Lederman, turned this terribly sick little puppy into a vibrant boxer filled with all the fun and mischief of it’s breed and led me to New Jersey Boxer Rescue who found Samantha the home she needed.

One of my best friends, Laura Latrenta, who’s a fellow associate at our Weichert Realtors Tenafly Office, is also involved in animal rescue.  Laura told me about the Start II Animal Rescue dinner coming up this Thursday – she’s working on getting people to come.  It’s their biggest fund raiser of the year so please join us - there’s room for more!  All the information you need is on the flyer below:

Englewood, NJ, is a vibrant community in no small part because of the diversity of it’s population. A walk along Palisade Avenue through the Englewood business district is almost like a walk through the United Nations.  In fact, a large advantage of owning an Englewood home is the diversity of it’s people.  One of the largest enthnic groups in this area of Bergen County is the Korean community and this week’s club meeting at The Woman’s Club of Englewood featured a most special program – senior Korean women performing traditional Korean dances with Korean music including live drum music.

 The dancers were extremely graceful and seemed to glow with happiness and  pride as they performed their dances.   What was quite impressive was to learn that their average age is 67.  Many different dances were performed some of which used beautiful, brightly colored fans and one used drums which was very exciting. 

  After the program was a tea and dessert reception where the Korean dancers joined the club members which gave everyone a chance to meet one on one.  It’s not every day that you can meet the performing artists you’ve just seen.   

 The Woman’s Club of Englewood is a century old organization that is a progressive force in the Englewood community and an important philanthropic force as well granting hundreds of college scholarships over the years.   I have to say that as a guest of one of their members, I was extremely impressed by not only this special program of Korean dances but also by all the good works done by The Woman’s Club of Englewood.  Organizations such as this help to make Englewood the special place it is which only serves to make Englewood homes among the most sought after in the New York City area.

  Alpine New Jersey is well known as one of the world’s most affluent communities where magnificent estate residences are hidden in heavily wooded settings only 15 minutes from New York City.  While Alpine is certainly one of the most exclusive and highly prized locations, it also has a rich history dating back to before the American Revolutionary War.

New Alpine residents soon discover a spectacular nature preserve that hosts a boat basin and a 17oo’s pub – The Kearney House.  This 18th century establishment has a colorful past and is the scene of  many dining and other events.  Open to the public from May through October, there are also special events during the colder months.  In fact, November is a busy time at the Kearney House with “Short Stories for Long Nights” on the 21st and Thanksgiving Time on the 27th and 28th. 

Kearney House activities are so popular that they are often sold out;  it’s a good idea to plan early.  Located along the Hudson River by the Alpine Boat Basin, you are transported into another world the moment you drive down to the river.  Imagine taking your children out to a candle light dinner in this historic tavern only 10 minutes from your Alpine. home.   It’s a wonderful way to teach them about how people lived during the past.  General Cornwallis is said to have stayed there in 1776.

Listed on the National and New Jersey Historic Registers as the Blackledge-Kearney House, you can keep on top of what’s happening at Mrs. Kearney’s house through a calendar of events or by calling the Palisades Interstate Park at 201-768-1360.

 Bring your children or yourself this Saturday or Sunday night to the Tenafly Nature Center for their special event – the Haunted Forest.  It’s a fun and educational tour that is absolutely not scary.  After all, this is primarily created for children but animal loving adults will also enjoy it.  This program is both a lot of fun and educational as are all the programs at the Tenafly Nature Center.

If you come early, you”ll get to meet some live forest animals and when the sun goes down, you’ll go on a guided tour of the nature center forest where you’ll learn how the animals adapt to the night.  Once your walking tour is over, you and your family can enjoy refreshments and crafts around the campfire.  This is a fabulous family fun evening and one your children will remember.

 The Tenafly Nature Center runs many excellent programs for children as well as adults.  Very often they are sold out although there are still spots available for the Haunted Forest right now.  Call the Tenafly Nature Center now at 201-568-6093 to reserve your spot for the Haunted Forest.  When my son was little, the Tenafly Nature Center was a large part of our life in Tenafly.  It’s a great place and only gets better.  For a complete list of their public programs, click here.

  Do you have a dog or just love pets because if you do, you won’t want to miss the first ever Woofstock sponsored by Tenafly’s Pet ResQ Inc. and the Tenafly Chamber of Commerce.  You don’t have to own a house in Tenafly to be part of this fun event – you just need to love animals.  If you have a dog, bring Fido along for the day and be part Woofstock 2010. 

Woofstock will be held from 10 am to 5 pm this Sunday, October 24th,  at the Tenafly Circle Park located at the intersection of Tenafly Road and Washington Street.  Along with the day’s event will be a dog adoption fair where you can find your new best friend. 

There will be a doggy talent show, agility courses, A Strut Your Mutt Costume Parade and training demonstrations for dog owners.  Dogs who are adopted will be professionally groomed by Best of Breed Salon (located in Tenafly).  This all day event has these and other activities planned throughout the day. 

Woofstock 2010 will be a great day for dog owners and anyone interested in man’s best friend.  Pet ResQ Inc is a wonderful organization who’s mission is saving abused dogs and finding them their forever home.  Come out on Sunday to have a great day and support this great organization and just maybe come home with a new family member too!

   The Bergen County Utilities Authority is hosting a special event this Saturday at it’s headquarters in Paramus NJ – it’s a one day demonstration and sale of a compost bin machine.  Featuring the home composting Earth Machine, you will learn how to create a rich compost for your lawn and gardens.  This will help you green up your property because rich compost soil reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. 

Many people who buy a home today want to be as green as possible and creating a compost does exactly that.  Growing flowers and a green lawn is part of owning a house; there’s nothing better  than a beautiful yard with blooming flowers on a sunny summer day.  Making it that way using a compost bin is an easy and fun family project.   

The Earth Machine normally sells for over $100 and is often out of stock.  The BCUA will be selling it on Saturday for $53 which is a great deal.  The sale and demonstration will be from 9 to 2 at the Bergen County Community Services Building located at 327 East Ridgewood Ave in Paramus NJ.  All you need is a check or a money order; no cash will be accepted. 

Englewood’s East Hill will soon be filled with the sounds of a beautiful string orchestra.  The Elisabeth Morrow School will hold their annual Summer String Festival for young musicians August 16-20 at the school’s elegant Lydecker Street location.

When you listen to these videos, you can hardly believe this is an elementary school orchestra.  These students are among the most talented and motivated in the metropolitan area, and this unique program is the only one of its kind around here for musicians in this age group.

Admission to this summer program for young violinists, violists, and harpists is highly competitive.  About ten years ago, students from the program were featured in a Carnegie Hall concert staged for the movie “Music of the Heart”.  Yes, children really were playing those instruments!

Students have opportunities for orchestra and sectional rehearsals, ensembles, repertoire and duet classes, and student recitals.  There are also performances by guest artists.  The week culimnates with a gala concert featuring students, all the orchestras, and the entire ensemble.

Englewood NJ today, Juilliard School of Music tomorrow!

If you’re going to be in Bergen County next Tuesday please come by and help our Blood Drive by donating blood. This year we’ve teamed up with the philanthropic group Cresskill Gives Back so we’re hoping to be even more successful than we were before.

Cresskill Gives Back was begun by a group of local young adults who wanted to help others less fortunate than themselves and to assist with other community needs. Cresskill Gives Back is a wonderful example of the strong community spirit you’ll find here in Bergen County.

So come on over to donate your blood and help us make make this year’s Blood Drive the best ever!