Inside Press, Author at Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

If Only You Spoke This Way

June 25, 2017 by Inside Press

Trump’s Tweets, revisited–and rewritten into a positive message of truth, unity and solidarity.

By Julia Bialek

The real story of America.

It is for the people,

where we join together to protect humans,

in absolute solidarity.

It is time to remember that

peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy-

the people have the right to make up their own minds

as to the truth.

So we will.

When the American people are divided, angry, and untrusting,

when the rights of the people to express their views are

falling apart,

when the hatred is too deep,

the journey begins to reflect on what truly matters

and rebuild,

with dignity and conviction,

our nation.

Our glorious history will spark movements

that address the barriers

that threaten peace in our world,

and eventually,

the natural beauty of our nation

will be restored

for all.

Welcome to America,

my America,

the home of the free

because of the brave,

where acceptance, love, and honor,

know no borders,

speak no language,

but breathe the same air.

Julia Bialek will be entering her junior year at Greeley High School in the fall.

Editor’s Note: Julia told the Inside Press that she wrote this poem for school. “All the words came from Trump tweets. It is slightly satirical as it gives a positive message (as opposed to Trump’s rather negative tone).”

A Summer Solstice and ‘Interconnected’ Energy at the On Your Mat For Mental Health Yoga Event!

June 22, 2017 by Inside Press

‘A calm, peaceful, introspective evening’ lead by Beryl Bender Birch continued MHA of Westchester’s work in spreading awareness and removing the stigma

By Amanda Kraus

Nearly one in five Americans experience mental illness first hand. Considering this staggering fact, it is likely that everyone is affected by psychological diseases in one way or another. We all know someone–a sister or brother, parent, friend, or coworker–who struggles with one or more of the myriad of mental illnesses. But if mental illness is so prevalent in our society, then why are we so reluctant to talk about it?

In order to get Westchester County thinking, The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) hosted an “On Your Mat For Mental Health” yoga event, in which Beryl Bender Birch, a renowned yoga instructor, lead a yoga class for all ages and abilities, in White Plains’ J Harvey Turnure Memorial Park.

It was meant to be; the rain held out, giving way to a beautiful, temperate evening, that also happened to be the summer solstice and the International Day of Yoga. The park was graced by the soothing, unique sounds of the Brooklyn-based group, House of Waters, preceding the yoga class, as well as a Yoga Marketplace, which featured local vendors, businesses, and organizations.

Before handing over the stage to Beryl, Charlotte Ostman, the CEO of MHA shared a few words. The purpose of hosting this event was to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental illness as well as funds for their organization, and most importantly, to start a conversation within the community. “Shame, stigma, and discrimination have no place in our organization,” said Ostman. What better way to bring the community together than through yoga, a practice that not only benefits us physically, but also mentally and spiritually.

“Yoga isn’t just what you do on the mat, it’s what you do in your community to keep mentally and physically healthy,” remarked Birch upon gracing the stage. She spoke about the mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, and how it can help us keep in touch with ourselves and the present moment. Accompanying the conversation of mental health is the spread of practicing yoga. When we can acknowledge that yoga and health are undeniably connected, we can make more progress in our communities and our lives.

Even Beryl couldn’t deny the incredibly interconnected energy that was flowing throughout the park. I even forgot that we were in the middle of a bustling city. It was a calm, peaceful, introspective evening, that unfortunately had to draw to a close. But it doesn’t have to end there; the conversation is just starting. It takes one to influence many, to influence many more. A community is only great if it supports everyone in it. Since everyone is affected by mental illness, it is important that we get everyone talking about it. Once we normalize mental illness, we can begin to rid of its stigma.

Inside Press summer intern Amanda Kraus is a rising junior at Tulane University studying English, Philosophy, and Psychology.

Tom Petty: Breaking Hearts at Mountain Jam

June 21, 2017 by Inside Press

By Amanda Kraus

Before the preceding performance began to cease, hundreds of people crowded to the front of the main stage at Mountain Jam, on Hunter Mountain, where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would be headlining — I was just one among many. The 45-minute wait time between the performances didn’t seem to faze any of his crazed fans; in fact, we were well lined up at 8:30, an hour and a half before he would take to the stage.

A distinct energy that had permeated the entire day began to condense in the crowd and intensify as his appearance drew nearer and nearer. I looked around: middle-aged women (the original fan girls), older men, entire families, and little children ran the gamut that was his audience. Despite our clear differences in age, origin, and livelihood, it was evident that we all shared a common enthusiasm for the band and their music, which had at one point gripped us all and infatuated us up until this moment.

And then it was time. The buzzing crowd erupted into a roar as the group made their way into the spotlight, opening with “Rockin’ Around (With You),” and proceeding to please with a wide variety of songs. When the air wasn’t being filled with a cascade of sultry notes, it saw endless appreciation in the form of applause, screaming, and whistling, to which the smiling Tom Petty expressed his gratitude. He didn’t need to say much; we could all feel it. The enchanting, ethereal scenery of the Catskill Mountains induced the magical feeling that encompassed his performance and the entire weekend. I had seen Tom Petty at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, where a mass of people distanced me from the stage and the band. At Mountain Jam, you didn’t have to stare up at the huge screens to get a good look at him; the intimate setup allowed anyone to get close to the stage.

At one point in the set, Tom asked the crowd to sing along with him to his next song, which turned out to be the infamous “Free Fallin’.” It was the audience and the band, singing every word together, making music, and an unforgettable two hours. In the middle of the set, Tom welcomed Marty Stuart, who had performed earlier in the day, to the stage to play “Crawling Back to You,” with the rest of the Heartbreakers. There is no doubt that these rock legends got the audience moving and grooving for the entirety of their set — and especially me during my personal favorite, “You Got Lucky.” They closed the show with two encore’s, “You Wreck Me,” and, “American Girl,” leaving the audience fulfilled and elated.

After 40 years, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers still got it. Their music and conspicuous passion on stage enthrall the older and younger generations alike, keeping us coming back for more, time and time again — just as the ski slopes of Hunter Mountain do when they are magically transformed into the peaceful, bewitching festival grounds of Mountain Jam.

Inside Press summer intern Amanda Kraus is a rising junior at Tulane University studying English, Philosophy, and Psychology.

Seeds of Giving and Sharing Grow too at the Pleasantville Community Garden

June 17, 2017 by Inside Press

By Molly Alexander

Community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” While it’s not hard to find in many places, it can be easier to grow. David Juros and his son, Devon Juros, were eager to change lives through such a simple concept: a community garden.

Most people don’t know that at least one fifth of Westchester County needed food assistance about three or four years ago. Thanks to Devon and David, this number has most likely gone down as the food availability goes up. When Devon, age 11 at the time, heard this statistic in school, he felt the need to take action. Devon and his family had always volunteered together, helped with food preparation for Midnight Run and worked in soup kitchens but it just wasn’t enough. He came up with the idea to make a community garden so that everyone would have food because the garden’s harvests would go to local food pantries.

It took about three years to learn exactly what was needed to garden, let alone funding tasks. Devon and his father had very little experience gardening besides Devon’s grandfather having a veggie garden and other family history of farming. Although Devon did have some knowledge under his belt, there was plenty of learning to do for a larger garden.

David and Devon also had to raise money and apply for grants, as well as create an organization and gain support from the community all from nothing. Finally, in June of 2014, 100 supporters came together and built the garden and planted the first seeds of the future.

In the community garden, they mostly grow simple foods because people who can’t usually afford such extravagant vegetables don’t really know how to cook with them in the first place. For example, kale is an example because it is both hard to work with, and those who don’t have enough to eat won’t bother their time with it. Good examples include green peas, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, squashes, peppers, and lettuces. They plant peas in early March, which grow until November depending upon the weather. Spinach and carrots can grow in the cold weather.

However, David and Devon don’t do this planting solo. While they usually maintain the garden, they host big events for the community where people can bring their kids and come help out. The community also has the opportunity to “own” the garden for week, meaning they manage it from Sunday to Friday, checking the water levels, weeding and/or harvesting the garden if necessary. David said that this is a good opportunity for families with children, seniors who want gardens but may not have the time or the room, and plenty of teenagers have signed up on their own. “It really teaches the community about growing,” David added.

David has described his work with Devon as an incredible learning process, and is grateful for all the support they’ve received and for the 200 people working in a year who gather food every Saturday and attend food donation events. Together, they have grown over 34,000 pounds of organically grown food, and there are still more people to get involved. The American Community Gardening Association highlights some of the most important purposes of a community garden to be community development, stimulating social interaction, beautifying neighborhoods, producing healthy food, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise and education. “It does so many important things,” David agreed. “It creates a sense of community, adds green to our environment which is very important and it helps to get people more involved in the growing system.” His advice to anyone interested in having a community garden or even their own garden is to go through with it.

David’s last piece of advice to other communities considering a garden: “Devon and I started with no knowledge and I think we’re pretty successful in the way we’ve done it. It only took a few conversations. It’s important for communities to plant fresh food for those who can’t afford it.”

Molly Alexander, a junior in the LIFE School at Horace Greeley High School, is an intern for Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines.

Northern Westchester Hospital Receives CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM Re-Accreditation for 2017

June 15, 2017 by Inside Press

Fifth Year Hospital Recognized for Commitment to Fighting Cancer in the Workplace

Mt. Kisco, New York (June 15, 2017) — Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) has earned a 2017 CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ re-accreditation for its commitment to fighting cancer in the workplace. This is the fifth year NWH has received this accreditation since becoming the first and only hospital in Westchester County to receive it in 2012. The hospital’s Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center provides state-of-the-art cancer treatment for the community.

The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ is a workplace-wellness accreditation program that encourages and recognizes organizations that take concrete actions to address cancer in their workplace by focusing on cancer risk reduction, early detection and high-quality care. These requirements are based on scientific evidence, and the program is reviewed annually to ensure that it remains comprehensive and up-to-date.

“We are honored to receive this re-accreditation for the fifth time,” said Kerry Flynn Barrett, Vice President of Human Resources at NWH. “It is a testament to our commitment to staff health and wellness, and to our staff’s active engagement in a range of wellness activities and programs that are offered in collaboration with our Wellness Committee.”

Through NWH’s wellness initiatives, staff have the opportunity to participate in monthly Lunch & Learns, annual biometric screenings; wellness activities such as Zumba, rock climbing, kayaking, and stress reduction; as well as smoking cessation, on-site Weight Watchers at Work, discounted gym memberships and annual wellness fairs.

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, employers must take concrete actions to reduce the risk and burden of cancer by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care, and participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

Photo Courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital

About Northern Westchester Hospital:

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of the Northwell Health, provides quality, patient-centered care that is close to home through a unique combination of medical expertise, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to humanity. Over 650 highly-skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and professional staff of caregivers are all in place to ensure that you and your family receive treatment in a caring, respectful and nurturing environment. NWH has established extensive internal quality measurements that surpass the standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) National Hospital Quality Measures. Our high-quality standards help to ensure that the treatment you receive at NWH is among the best in the nation. For more information, please visit www.nwhc.net and connect with us on Facebook.

About Northwell Health:
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals and over 550 outpatient facilities. We care for more than two million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 62,000 employees – 15,000+ nurses and about 3,900 physicians, including more than 2,800 members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer:

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to “do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families.” The CEOs responded by creating and encouraging the widespread adoption of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, which calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and workplace culture and take extensive, concrete action in five key areas of health and wellness to address cancer in the workplace. For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ and the no-cost, web-based accreditation process, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.