The Short Report by Santos

Winter update from Ithaca, NY - this is the only week so far that we've had "ICK" for weather.  But it's the real deal.  After work, I am hunkering down at home today.  No need to put anyone at risk.  I live on a nice big hill downtown.  So although it's very close to town, it's also quite treach...

 The Ithaca Downtown Business Women's group is a great resource for professional women in the Ithaca area.  It's a casual monthly networking lunch, featuring a buffet lunch, followed by a presentation by a notable woman from the local business community.  Come down to the Hotel Ithaca this April ...

A closing is an interesting thing.  Usually someone is getting paid (besides us)!  Someone may be saying goodbye and moving on.  A new person is saying hello to a new home.  So there are many reasons to think there could be some happy vibes from a closing!  But sometimes, closings make me very sa...

For the uninitiated, the major musical event of our calendar year is about to unfold here in Tompkins county.  No doubt, the area is known for high quality music year-round.  However this event really captures a lot of what the Fingerlakes, and Trumansburg & Ithaca specifically are about.   It's ...

A great new income property is on the market in Trumansburg NY! This totally renovated farm style home has 2 highly rentable apartment units upstairs. A recent post in Craigslist "for rent" yielded about 24 calls to the owner of the house.  The lower level is a 3 bedroom, hardwood floor, owner-qu...

Our local paper reported that the winter season should cost us from 5-20% more this winter, due to last winter being the warmest on record. http://www.theithacajournal.com/viewart/20121010/BUSINESS/310100104/Cold-winter-could-costly So what are we going to do about that, homeowners?  If you are a...

Our local economist, Elya Kacapyr, has just released the latest economic report for Tompkins County. Home sales last April compared to this April showed no change in the number of homes sold, however the average price climbed a little over 1% this April from last.  The median dipped substantially...

          Lou Damiani, left, of Damiani Wine Cellars on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Glass and Ear art, center, and right. Damiani Winery kicked off the new year in fine style this January 2011.  In an event that is sure to be re-created, hopefully annually, the wine-maker played host alongside Th...

New York Contemplates Property Tax Cap - in Lieu Of?  Here is a great Op-Ed for us today, from the NY Times pages, on what the heck are we doing with the property tax cap?  There are some good points brought up here, about the excesses in the budget that make us think we need a tax cap in the fir...

The First Ithaca Artist's Market was a grand success, based on my own observation and walk-about of the market last Saturday.  It was packed to the gills with all sorts of visitors looking for a unique holiday gift, or something for their own enjoyment.  There was a lot to choose from, and I had ...