Peggy Smith

On Saturday, July 12, I will be walking 20k in the 27th Annual Prouty Bike Ride & Challenge Walk to raise money for cancer research at Dartmouth’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Unfortunately, we all know someone - a family member, friend, colleague, parent, child - who has been affected by this disease. Truly, cancer does not discriminate.

To participate in The Prouty, I’ve committed to raising $2500 towards cancer research. It is my personal goal to raise even more and I hope you can help! You can sponsor me right now by clicking on the website listed below. All donations are tax deductible and should be turned in by July 9.

Money raised by The Prouty stays locally to support cancer research and patient services at Norris Cotton Cancer Center. It’s one of the best cancer facilities in the country and has been named one of only 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers by the National Cancer Institute. Research conducted here helps cancer patients all over the world. If you’d like more information on the research done here, go to www.cancer.dartmouth.edu.

If you prefer to send a check, you can make it payable to Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center and mail it to Friends of NCCC, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756. Make sure that you indicate that it’s for my walk by placing my name in the memo area of the check.

Thank you in advance for joining the fight!

Together, I know we can make a difference in the fight against cancer. Thank you for your support!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center

Peggy Smith

With the real estate market seeing a down turn across the country, more and more seller’s are receiving “low-ball” offers. I was reading the NY Times and found an article including a sample response letter for seller’s. See the letter below and a link to the full article… happy selling!

Dear Bidder:

Thanks so much for your note. I’m truly glad that you like our home as much as we do. You’re right that my family and I have many great memories of this place, and we hope someday you will, too.
And I just want you to know that I’m not insulted in any way by your offer. The fact is, none of us are very good at buying and selling homes. We don’t do it often, and as much as we know we’re not supposed to let emotions get in the way, it’s hard not to. After all, few people buy or sell anything else as expensive as a home in their lifetimes.

That said, your offer disappointed me. You seem to believe that I’m not aware of how bad things are out there or that I’m in denial. But I do read the headlines, and I priced the house accordingly. I knew I might have to wait awhile to sell it.

I should point out that your data draws on what has already happened in the housing market. Instead, I’d ask you to consider what’s about to happen.

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The Stowe Fun House!

I would like to highlight my Robinson Springs Listing at 884 Wade Pasture Road, Stowe VT. This is such a fun house. It has the works; a pond, tennis right around the corner, a huge game room, plenty of room for company and x-country ski trails out the door! It is close to Stowe Mountain Resort and all packaged nicely in Robinson Springs on of Stowe’s private exclusive neighborhood.

To view full listing details on this property click here: 884 Wade Pasture Road, Stowe VT

To view a list of ALL Robinson Springs Listings click here: Robinson Springs Stowe VT Property for Sale

I thought you might like to read this article and the comments. Although I am happy that Obama got the nomination, I think this is a very telling article as to where women really are today. It is appalling to me that the news media treated Hilary Clinton as they did. It is also disappointing that so many men and women still have the attitude they do toward women and their place in society. Other nation, including the Arab world, has more respect for women as leaders than the United States.

Please click here to read the article “Woman in Charge, Women Who Charge” by Judith Warner.

I just happened upon this information and thought how perfect wine tasting and chocolate sampling on the same day! Not a drinker myself, I’ll be heading straight for the chocolate.

If you are looking for something to brighten this gloomy Vermont day, right here in Stowe, check out these two events today, June 6th:

Wine Tasting in the Trapp Family Lodge Wine Cellar, 4-6PM
Indulge in a selection of wines from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. A sign up sheet is available at the front desk, call 253-5742 or 800-826-7000 to sign up! There is a $15/person fee for this event.

Laughing Moon Chocolates Benefit Chocolate Tasting, 3-7PM
This event benefits the African Food Aid and Water treatment programs in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. A $5 donation is requested, in exchange you will be treated to make your own chocolates, plenty of samples, give aways and dipping demos! Enjoy.

After drinking all that wine and eating all that chocolate you may want to walk or run it off… what better way to do that then to join the NCAL MUTT STRUTT on Saturday June 7th. It is too late to register online, so head over to the event at 8AM tomorrow to pledge or donate. Now you are supporting 2 great cause in 1 weekend. Check out my daughter’s NCAL Mutt, Gizmo, below!

Next weekend June 13th - 15th the Stowe will be hosting the Green Mountain Corvette Classic! You’ll find these rides hard to miss as they weave their way up and down the Mountain Road in packs of 3-10 cars at a time!

Interesting in buying a Corvette? The Green Mountain Corvette Classic is a great place to start. On Saturday, June 13th they Corvette’s will be corralled at the Ye Olde England Inne for your convince!

As a local we know it is great to live here! But it is always great to see others appreciate your home for all it has to offer. Stowe was ranked #7 out of 30 of the best places to spend your Memorial Day weekend in New England. Here is a bit of what they had to say:

“Often thought of as a great skiing destination, Stowe, Vt., is also a wonderful summer place to vacation. Attractively tucked away between Mt. Mansfield and other spectacular mountains and hills, Stowe has a high concentration of dining, lodging, shopping and recreational opportunities.” Click here for the full article and we’ll see you this weekend!

I have been a long time board member of the Stowe Land Trust. It has been our goal to conserve scenic, recreational, and productive farm and forest lands for the benefit of the greater Stowe Community.

We put our head together and came up with the idea of having a flea market to fund raise for our cause. What better way to continue our goals of conservation and clear out our basements! We’re jumping on the GREEN train and what you to join US!

Grab a booth to sell your goods or stop by to help Reduce, Recycle and Reuse!
Saturday, May 24th from 8AM - 3PM

Admissions to buy is $2.50 for adults, children are free. More than 60 vendorsthere is food available and rock bottom prices!

Booths are still available for $35 (8′ x 6′ space). Click here to register!

Yesterday I attended a memorial service for my friend that died from ALS. I have never known anyone with this disease. My friend was also my lawyer and we saw each other everyday for 20 years as we worked in the same building. He was diagnosed with this disease back in November. It was hard for me not to want to say, “oh I am sure there will be some drug that they can give you to make you better.” I think he kept hoping for the miracle, but none came. Over a five month period I watched as he lost a little bit of himself each week until he could not eat, speak or move a finger. It was more than I could bare to see my friend trapped in his body, still with eyes that recognized you but no ability to tell you.

I thought during these moments when I would visit him, there was not much I could say to him to comfort him. Even reporting the news, or talking about some real estate problem seemed ridiculous when I am sure these worldly problems seemed trivial to him. But what I mostly thought about was Vermont’s struggle to bring about the ” Death with Dignity Law.” If ever there was a time where this law would have been a blessing for my friend, this was it.

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ASSEMBLE A TEAM;

1. Determine how much you have to spend:You have decided that you are going to build. Now what is the next step? Before you go any farther you should sit down with a financial counselor from a lending institution and get an idea of exactly how much money that you will have to complete the project from the purchase of the land to the final nail being pounded and the landscaping completed. Once you have that number you can begin.

The very first question you need to research is: how much is it costing a square foot to build a house. This will vary from modular to stick built but with a few quick phone calls to local contractors and modular home companies you can get a ball park figure. Next you should have some idea how large a house you would like to have. Once you have figured that out you can multiply the dollar per sq. foot figure you got, add another 20% and that will determine whether you can afford to buy land and build a house. It will also determine how much you should spend on land.

2. Find a mortgage lender: You can ask your realtor for a recommendation. Usually they are the best source of knowledge because they usually know who is lending for construction loans, who has the best rates and who they trust. Once they give you several names you should call and see whose personality fits your style. They will work hard to get you a loan at the best rate that they can find.

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