In the age of the E-ZPass and ATMs, this may come as a big surprise: Fewer shoppers are using self-checkout lines, according to a new survey. From the Associated Press: Market studies cited by the Arlington, Va.-based Food Marketing Institute found only 16 percent of supermarket transactions in 2010 were done at self-checkout lanes in stores that provided the option. That's down from a high of 22 percent three years ago. Overall, people reported being much more satisfied with their supermarket experience when they used traditional cashier-staffed lanes. The popularity drop was pinned partly …

Should you delay your child's entrance into kindergarten?  If you do, it's at "your own peril," say Sam Wang, an associate professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton and Sandra Aamodt, a former editor-in-chief of Nature Neuroscience. Together they co-wrote “Welcome to Your Child’s Brain: How the Mind Grows From Conception to College,” and penned a New York Times op-ed piece published Saturday that argues holding kids back to give them a leg up is counter-productive. The two pose discuss the origin of the term redshirting—a term referring to a delay in an athlete's …

When was the last time you wrote a letter? Or mailed a post card? How much bill paying do you do electronically? An Associated Press article printed in The New York Times said the U.S. Postal Service is a money-losing business. The article said that in 2010 the postal service spent $75 billion, but only took in $67 billion. Mail processing facilities numbering 252—out of 487—are being reviewed for possible closure, along with 3,700 local post offices. One problem with reforming the post office is that it frequently has to go through Congress to make changes, such as eliminating Saturday mail …

Stuff breaks.  Unfortunately, it’s a fact of homeowner life. And when it does, choosing a contractor can be a daunting and anxiety-provoking proposition.  Even excluding the initial predicament, there are so many opportunities for something to run awry.  You’re not only entrusting their expertise on [insert appliance/utility/thingamajigger/other random household subject here], you’re giving them the good faith they’ll provide honest, quality service at a competitively fair price. And hoping that they won’t exploit your naïveté in their trade by frightening you into repairing things you can’t …

The first-ever "all music all the time" cable channel celebrates 30 years today. According to Andy Greene of Rolling Stone, MTV launched on August 1st, 1981 at 12:01 a.m. The first images broadcast were the launch of the Apollo 11, followed by a video for the Buggles song "Video Killed The Radio Star."  A Washington Post blogger reported that to honor its sister network, VH1 Classic devoted all weekend to airing classic MTV programming, from old promos to classic episodes of “Remote Control” and “Yo! MTV Raps.” I was 11 years old in 1981. Like many of my peers, I was wearing acid-washed jeans…

More than a third of the American people own a Smartphone, according to a recent Pew study about Smartphone adoption and usage. And of the people who own one, 25 percent of them are using the Smartphone as their primary means of going online. By taking photos, streaming music, providing email and phone services, these all-in-one devices fulfill the role of what four or five separate devices used to do. The Smartphone's utility may be leading Americans to an increasing dependence on the devices—some psychologists are saying obsession, according to a story published yesterday on The Huffington …

The Harry Potter film franchise is coming to an end with this week's premiere of the final installment in the eight-part series. Potter and his pals, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, meet their enemy, Lord Voldemort, for the last time in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. It's hard to imagine a film in history generating this much buzz and excitement—and feelings of loss in fans everywhere who mourn the end of the Harry Potter era, which began with the release of J.K. Rowling's first book, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, in 1997. The film—the first to be shot in 3D, …

It's official—my children do not want to listen to Laurie Berkner or The Wiggles anymore. Now that Having fun at the Beach, sung by Greg Wiggle, or Under a Shady Tree, cheerfully crooned by Berkner, are no longer our summer theme songs, we're struggling with what to play the iPod, in the car or at the beach. In 2009—though sad to see Michael Jackson's passing—we enjoyed a renaissance of his songs at our house. Billie Jean, Rock with You and ABC were played incessantly to and from camp and for backyard dance parties. But the Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feelin' was hands-down the song of that …

Are you for or against the New York State gay marriage bill introduced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo? The state assembly Wednesday night approved a same-sex marriage bill, sending it to the Senate, where it faces a closer vote. The Marriage Equality Act passed the Assembly 80-63. It would grant same-sex couples equal rights to marry "as well as hundreds of rights, benefits and protections that are currently limited to married couples of the opposite sex," according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. Local policiticans have spoken out against the bill as it is written. Assemblyman Robert Castelli voted no…

Is your teenager happiest when using his laptop, video game, or smart phone? A recent study performed by researchers for the children’s charity Kidscape found that out of 2,300 British teens, almost half were happier with their cyberspace persona in cyber-space than they are with real life. In the survey, 45 percent of youths between the ages of 11-18 said they were happier online than in their real life, and 47 percent said they act differently online than in real life. What about American teens, right here in Northern Westchester? Toni Nagel-Smith, a Katonah-based licensed clinical social …

What parking solution makes the most sense for downtown Katonah? The downtown area is currently a mix of one-and-two-hour parking, with the shorter times essentially concentrated along busy Katonah Avenue and the Parkway. Katonah merchants have proposed that all spaces be changed to two-hour spaces. Initially proposed last month, the issue will have a public hearing Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at town hall. While some town board members raised concerns over about enforcement, lost parking capacity and lost revenue, the Katonah Chamber of Commerce believes it will help small businesses. All but …

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state legislative leaders announced they have agreed to place a 2-percent limit on property tax increases. The full legislature has yet to vote on the issue. According to a New York Times article, the proposed property tax cap is aimed at reversing the economic decline in many parts of the state and seeks to curb rising property tax bills in areas, including Westchester County, where residents are facing some of the country’s highest property taxes. The article also states that the agreement, which would take effect next year, "would limit the annual increase in the …

Question of the Day: Do you know or have a veteran or active military member in the family you will be honoring this Memorial Day? If so, we'd like to recognize their service. Please leave his or her name, rank and years of service in the comments or email them to me at LisaB@Patch.com. If you'd like to include any biographical information, please do. We will list the submissions in an article honoring our veterans on Memorial Day. Thank you to all our service men and women who have fought and are currently fighting for our country and our freedom.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed in April the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, which would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from considering greenhouse gases in any clean air regulations or from taking action on rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions in order to address climate change. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (R-NY 19) explained in an interview with Patch last week that she voted in favor of this amendment because she does not believe the EPA should "unilaterally enforce regulations on greenhouse gas emissions." "We don’t know the extent …

In an interview with Patch yesterday, freshman Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (R-Bedford) said that her vote in January to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was to take a stand for a more efficient way of approaching health care. "We all need affordable care," she said. "But the current law is a bad way, and inefficient way. We are now working on mitigating the costly consequences of it," she said of the law which, among other provisions, lowers prescription prices for Medicare recipients and extends coverage for young adults on their parents' insurance plan. Hayworth said …

The Bedford-Katonah Patch wants to know what you're thinking about—think of Patch as your digital notebook, scratchpad or place to kick around an idea for your community members to hear about, weigh in on. If the question of the day and its comment section don't provide enough room for your feedback you can easily blog about it in our Local Voices section—just send me an email for instructions and guidelines. Today's question: with a few empty storefronts dotting Katonah's main drag, we're wondering, What businesses would you like to see pop up? We know there are septic issues and challenges …

The Bedford-Katonah Patch wants to know what you're thinking about—think of Patch as your digital notebook, scratchpad or place to kick around an idea for your community members to hear about, weigh in on. So today, we're posting our first Question of the Day: they'll vary from political to social to just fun stuff going on in this beautiful area you call home. If you have ideas for questions, email me. If the question of the day and its comment section don't provide enough room for your feedback you can easily blog about it in our Local Voices section—just send me an email for instructions …