Are You A Bad Mom?

On Wednesday, November 2nd, 30 wonderful moms joined us at the Prospector Theatre for a client appreciation night. Featuring a fabulous Bad Moms Signature Cocktail, the Prospector Star Bar welcomed us with open arms and a wonderful night of camaraderie was had by all.

Having been a supporter of the Prospector since it’s inception – and the inspiring work of Sphere before that – I am always amazed by the drive and ingenuity of fearless leader Val Jensen. The opportunities the Propsector offers to adults with disabilities serves as a role model for what can be done regionally, nationally and internationally to improve the lives of so many people.

A seriously funny movie, we found ourselves relating to the “Bad Mom” in all of us as we laughed out loud and shared in the challenges of our busy lives.

Thanks, Bad Moms, for joining us and celebrating all we do!

Newsweek Ranks Ridgefield High School No. 151 Nationally

The fourth best public high school in Connecticut and the 151st best public high school in the entire country.

Those were the honors Newsweek bestowed on Ridgefield High School Thursday morning when it released its annual America’s Top High Schools list for 2016.

The Tigers finished with a college readiness score of 80.6 and a graduation rate of 98.2%, with 90.1% of Ridgefield students heading to college after receiving their diplomas in June.

Some of the other information that Newsweek posted in its ranking for Ridgefield High School includes:

Student Retention: 99%
SAT/ACT Composite Score: 58.5
Avg. SAT Score: 1724
Avg. ACT Score: 26
AP/IB/Dual Enrollment Composite: 78.1
Avg. AP Score: 91.2
Dual Enrollment Participation: 4.5

RHS finished behind Weston High School (No. 39), Wilton High School (No. 56), and Avon High School (No. 116) in the state rankings.

Below the Tigers on the list of Connecticut schools were East Lyme High School (No. 224), Haddam-Killingworth High School (No. 277), and Farmington High School (No. 286).

The list included 500 national public high school scattered across America. A total of 16 Connecticut schools made the list.

Last year, Weston cracked Newsweek’s top 100 at No. 47 and Staples High School in Westport finished No. 63.

Fast forward to 2016, and Staples did not make it onto the top 500 list.

According to the Newsweek list, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia is the top public high school in the country.

Rounding out the top five are: the Academy for Math, Science and Engineering in New Jersey, Stuyvesant High School in New York, Union County Magnet High School in New Jersey, and The Early College at Guilford in North Carolina.

See the total list of the Best High Schools In America or read about how the ranking was determined in the full Newsweek Report.

Source: The Ridgefield Press

Ridgefield’s Very Wet Run Like A Mother 2016

I was so proud to once again host “Murtaugh’s Motivation Station’ at the Ridgefield 2016 Run Like A Mother event. Even though we braved the rain – it was fun to see all the mothers and their kids come out to run and celebrate!

According to the Ridgefield Daily Voice, 1,130 runners braved the chilly rain to finish the 5K race.Maria Lauretani of New York won the race in 19:36, followed by Ridgefield’s Kristen Lecompte and Jenna Mesgian.

Run Like A Mother was founded by Ridgefield resident Megan Searfoss. The event includes events in Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota. The mission of Run Like a Mother is to fuel a woman’s journey toward health and wellness, empower with education and training programs and inspire with communities, events and races. Races are held on Mother’s Day weekend each year as part of the series.

As a sponsor, I look forward to this event all year – let’s just hope that 2017 brings sunnier skies!

Ridgefield Market Report for April 2016

Overall, April 2016 was a good month for Ridgefield real estate. The large number of properties opening escrow, along with the increase in the number of closed sales and the low inventory levels mean properties are definitely selling. Unfortunately, the median sales price still lags behind that of last year’s market. Hopefully, increasing demand for properties priced well and in good condition will drive market prices up.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE and CLOSED SALES
For April, the number of closed sales was up 33.3% at 24 compared to 18 last year, and we are up 19.7% overall in the year-to-date with 79 properties sold compared to 66 at the same time in 2015. Unfortunately, the median sales price for April continues to lag behind the same time last year at $658,500 in 2016, compared to $750,000 in 2015. Overall, in the year-to-date, the median sales price is down 10.2% over the same time last year.

PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT
We continue to see a strong spring selling season with 66 properties going under contract in April, compared to only 32 during the same time last year. Overall the spring market is up 55.2% compared to the same time in 2015 with 135 properties in escrow compared to 87 last year.

DAYS ON MARKET and INVENTORY
The number of days on market decreased from 260 to 153 in April, 2016. Overall, the days on market has stayed relatively the same as during the same time period last year. Months supply of inventory is only 6.6 months compared to 13.1 months at this time last year, indicating a strong market.

See a full graphical analysis of Ridgefield’s April 2016 real estate market report, and take advantage of my complimentary Comparative Market Analysis to find out what your home’s worth.

For a breakdown of the Ridgefield Real Estate Market by price, view the April 2016 price snapshot.

http://108.179.243.173/~d5o7l0g4/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/April-2016-stats.pdf

* All data taken from Greater Fairfield County CMLS as of 05/01/2016

Zillow Admits Their “Zestimates” Aren’t Correct

As realtors, we come up against the Zillow “Zestimate” every day. It’s nice to see that in a recent interview the CEO of Zillow, Spencer Rascoff, concedes that the Zestimate uses an algorithm that doesn’t work across the board. He admits that the Zestimate should only be used as a starting point for buyers and sellers to consider when evaluating a price for their home. In fact, he answered that the nationwide Zestimates have a “median error rate” of about 8%.

Eight percent is a huge number in some markets, including Ridgefield and the rest of Fairfield County. In fact, for a median priced home of $650,000 in Ridgefield – that translates to a difference of $52,000! You can see why buyers and sellers bring the Zestimate to our attention when it’s incorrect.

Given that real estate markets are local in nature, the Zestimate is not a replacement for consulting a licensed real estate professional. Realtors take into account many things when placing a value on a home. Location, condition, size, finishes, acreage, current market fluctuations, and many other factors go into the “formula” for correctly pricing a home to sell. Just some food for thought.

Read the whole article published in the LA Times here.

Ridgefield Has One Of The Best Main Streets In America

According to Top Value Reviews, Ridgefield Connecticut has one of the Best Small Town Main Streets in the USA. Anyone who lives or has visited us here knows this is absolutely true – from the Holiday Stroll coming up this Friday, December 4th to our Halloween trick-or-treating and our Memorial Day celebrations, Main Street is a place where we all gather to celebrate our fabulous town.

Top Value Reviews ranked Ridgefield #21 out of the top 50 small town Main Streets in America. Noting that there is something characteristically American about the idea of Main Street, the website says that whether a place for the locals to hang out, or the go-to destination of visitors to town, Main Street is oftentimes the heart and soul of a city or town.

Each town on the list has fewer than 60,000 residents (according to the 2010 census) and at least one notable attraction. The towns were chosen and ranked based upon the following.

~ Inclusion on a major register, such as the National Register of Historic Places, National Parks, National Historic Landmarks, etc. (1 point per list)
~ Category of downtown attractions (restaurants, wineries, antique stores, art galleries, etc.). (1 point per notable category)
~ Notable and historic places (1 point each)
~ A national ranking of some kind (1 point each)

We already know our Main Street is the place to be. It’s nice to see that others will now see our world-class town for what it is – a vibrant community of philanthropic individuals who value historical significance, yet embrace change and development. You only have to look at the Keeler Tavern, The Prospector Movie Theatre, the new library, The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, the small business owners and the 5-star restaurants, to see how unique our little piece of home is.

Congratulations, Ridgefield – let’s celebrate! I’ll see you at The Holiday Stroll!

http://108.179.243.173/~d5o7l0g4/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/downtown-rfd-2015-FINAL1.pdf

Congrats to the 2015 Turkey Trot Participants!

On a beautiful Thanksgiving Day morning, 1243 runners participated in the 34th Annual Boys & Girls Club Turkey Trot. Ranging in ages from 7 to 88 years, the spirit and enthusiasm of all was palpable as they made their way around the course to finish in front of our wonderful Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club. I once again felt privileged to be a part of such a fabulous organization, both as a lead sponsor of the event and as a Board Member.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of America is a simple one: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs across the country provide:
~ A safe place to learn and grow
~ Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals
~ Life-enhancing programs and character development experiences
~ Hope and opportunity

With multiple after school programs for children of all ages, including leadership development and vacation camps, the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield provides a much-needed service in our community. To find out more about what our award-winning Club offers, visit the website. Or make a donation to help keep the club vibrant! If you need more information, please contact executive director, Mike Flynn or myself.

Thank you to all who participated in the Turkey Trot or simply came out to cheer on their friends and loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and have a great Holiday Season!

Ridgefield Schools Top Ranking Lists

Once again, the Ridgefield Public School system has proven to be one of the best in Connecticut, with the district’s high school earning a Gold Badge from U.S. News & World Report—the highest award possible. Another organization that ranks education systems, Niche, ranked Ridgefield High School as the 6th best in the state. The elementary and middle schools ranked similarly well: both middle schools are in Connecticut’s top 10 list, and all the elementary schools are in the top 30. Overall, the district was ranked the fourth best in Connecticut.

Ridgefield’s education system holds up on a national scale as well. Out of 8,738 school districts, Ridgefield was ranked 79th on Niche, putting it in the top 1% of districts nationally. On U.S. News & World Report, the high school was ranked #413 nationally out of 29,070 public schools.

Even more impressive, U.S. News & World Report says Ridgefield High School has one of the top 50 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs in the nation. Workers in these fields are in high demand, with higher average salaries than non-STEM majors; this makes the Ridgefield school system a good investment in terms of getting a job later on in life.

The top rated Connecticut district was New Canaan. Eight of the top ten school districts in the state were from Fairfield county, including Ridgefield, New Canaan, Westport, Darien, Wilton, Weston, Greenwich, and Newtown. The top public high school in Connecticut was in Weston, while the best middle and elementary schools were both in New Canaan.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Homes in areas with good education systems are lucrative, with 90% of homebuyers saying that school boundaries are a top concern when buying a home. Purchasing a house in an area with a good education system may equate to a higher selling price later down the line.

If you’re interested in moving to Ridgefield, sign up to receive the latest new home listings delivered right to your inbox, or contact me to see how I can work with you to find you a great home in Connecticut’s Number 1 ranked town.

Join Me At Ridgefield’s Run Like A Mother 5K This Sunday

Run Like A Mother is almost here! Every year since its inception, I have been fortunate enough to be a sponsor of this wonderful, empowering event which celebrates women and mothers of all shapes, sizes and abilities.

This Sunday, May 11th at 8:30am join my team and run the original “Mother” route in Ridgefield. The race starts at Yanity Gym and ends at Ballard Park on Main Street. It promises to be a fun race with music at 3 locations and you’ll be cheered on as you cross the finish line to receive your finishers Mother’s Day Rose. Be sure to invite the entire family to celebrate with you at our post race party featuring activities, entertainment, and cool products and services from our sponsors.

Pick up your pre-race packet on Friday, May 9 10:00AM- 6:00PM at BMW of Ridgefield, 746 Danbury Road, Ridgefield or Saturday, May 10 10:00AM to 2:00PM at Caraluzzis Market, 920 Danbury Road, Wilton (Georgetown). Don’t forget to color your Motivation Station poster or better yet, join me at both the start and finish line Motivation Stations to design an inspirational message!

Make this Mother’s Day a one-of-a-kind memory.

Tag Archive for: Community