VAE and BBC Revitalize The Window Works Project 

BENNINGTON, VT — The Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE) and the Better Bennington Corporation (BBC) once again team up to dress up downtown windows by reinstituting the Window Works Project. Window Works now seeks downtown vacant storefront windows and work for exhibition from local artists.

Initially established in 1998 between the BBC and VAE, Window Works has coordinated and installed numerous art exhibits in Bennington storefronts, showcasing the work of prominent and emerging local artists. Towns in New England and all across the country are implementing similar projects to capitalize on the mutual benefits of pairing vacant storefronts with quality local art and artisan crafts. The results increase the appeal of the vacant buildings, inviting potential renters, while local artists get a boost in exposure.

With the help of members of the BBC Arts Committee, the Window Works Project has been revitalized and will begin its first “window exhibition” currently on display in the Nichols building (popularly remembered as the former Panache location), with watercolor paintings by Bennington artist Tony Conners and quilts by Wendy Sharkey.

Conners, a committed watercolorist, follows the traditions of many early masters of the medium while incorporating bolder elements from the modern approach. His watercolor paintings exhibit a range of representational expression, but common to all is a concern for the quality of light and its effects on form, color, and texture. His recent works are a diverse mixture of subject matter, including rural landscapes, seascapes inspired by the rugged New England coastline and intimate portraits of life among the blossoms of a summer garden. A native of Winchester, Virginia, Conners works from his studio in Bennington.

On exhibit adjacent to Conner’s window is the quilting work of Wendy Sharkey. Formally trained as an engineer, Sharkey says she has always found artistic release in needlework of all sorts, although it was not until 14 years ago, when she moved to Vermont, that she began to quilt. Mainly self taught, Sharkey regards of quilt design as an opportunity to problem solve. One of the principals to which she holds fast is that each quilt should be pleasing to the eye; a quilt is never truly finished until she is happy with it. Her pieces are all inspired by family and friends, using their favorite colors, seasons and hobbies to launch the initial idea. With so many different compositions, her collection may seem somewhat eclectic, but variety is the spice of life!

Sharkey’s quilts have been previously displayed at the Bennington Quiltfest, where she has received several ribbons for her work.

Downtown Bennington landlords and area artists interested in more information or application forms for Window Works can call John Shannahan
802-442-5758 or Matthew Perry at VAE, 802-442-5549.
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Bennington VT, Community Information, Press Release

    MONTPELIER, Vt., April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Florida residents
are invited to head north to Vermont where they can find lodging properties
offering special summer discounts and packages designed exclusively for
Floridians.

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    LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — One-third of
REALTOR.com’s 4.4 million property listings — over 1.55 million homes for
sale — are updated every fifteen minutes, delivering the freshest, most
current collection of real estate listings on the world wide web. This
means agents and brokers with listings on REALTOR.com can give their
clients the edge in finding their next home by delivering reliable
information on new listings, price reductions, expanded descriptions, and
new photos.

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Home builders are cutting back on square footage and offering fewer amenities to keep the costs down.

“We are dealing with realities of the market. Prices have come down somewhat, and some houses are smaller,” says Don Knutson, senior regional president for the mid-Atlantic division of Beazer Homes. “I think square-footage reduction has been about 5 percent between 2007 and 2008.”

(more…)

Familiar with the law of supply and demand? In real estate right now, it may seem like the supply of homes for sale is much greater than the numbers of buyers demanding those homes, forcing prices down and decreasing activity. But what’s really in shortage may be serious, legitimate sellers.

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A dreary, outdated bathroom can be a home sale deal breaker.

Remodeling magazine says the average price of a mid-range bathroom remodel in 2007 was $14,445. But $500 worth of nips and tucks can upgrade the room, says Lytel Young, host of HGTV’s “Save My Bath.”

(more…)

Entrepreneurial business is growing in many parts of the country with 495,000 new businesses per month started in 2007, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity.

The study, which is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, found that some areas encouraged far more entrepreneurial activity than others.

The 10 states with the highest entrepreneurial activity rates were:

1. Idaho
2. District of Columbia
3. Arizona
4. Tennessee
5. Louisiana
6. Wyoming
7. Vermont
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This is a 1800 square foot house in Alpenwald Village with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a finished basement with loft space.

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U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) has rolled out legislation that could result in lower-interest loans for people who purchase energy-efficient homes or retrofit existing residences with green features.

Under the bill, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would gain as much as a 25-percent credit toward their federal goal of serving low- and moderate-income buyers by repurchasing mortgages on environmentally friendly buildings.

This would create an incentive for lenders to pursue green lending because they would know they can easily resell the loans, said Perlmutter, adding that they could also pass the savings on to borrowers.

It’s a promising idea, but it’s not a sure thing yet. Home builders have expressed concern about the proposal because the additional requirements could increase construction costs; and Fannie Mae is worried about a requirement that would force it to have different percentages of “green mortgages” by various benchmark dates.

Source: Denver Post, Anne C. Mulkern (04/23/08)

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online April 23, 2008 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Bennington VT, Buying

Whether you are buying a home or selling one, it is likely that once an Offer To Purchase is on the table, you’ll enter a phase of the transaction called Negotiation. Fear not – this is how both sides “win.” By following a few reasonable recommendations, both parties can turn Negotiation into Agreement.

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