The Inside Press

By Ronni Diamondstein • Photos by Jim D’Angelo

If you are looking for selfless people in Chappaqua, you can find them any Thursday evening around 7:30 at the Chappaqua Fire House. With a strong sense of duty, the Chappaqua Fire Department volunteer fire fighters get together so their equipment is always ready to respond. “Neighbors Helping Neighbors since 1910” is the slogan they adopted in 2005 to emphasize the spirit of their membership. “We are all highly dedicated fire professionals with significant training,” said Russell Maitland, First Assistant Chief, who spoke on behalf of the Chappaqua Fire Department. Founded in 1910, the Chappaqua Fire Department embodies a suburban tradition and esprit de corps. After more than a century, it remains a 100% volunteer organization. The department has three companies: Fire Patrol, Independent and Bristol, which used to perform different functions at fires. “However, 20 years ago we did away with that, and now everyone is trained on all aspects of firefighting,” says Maitland. “The three companies still exist for social purposes only.” Members are people you see in town. They are men and women of all ages who work in local establishments, coach soccer, and eat in the restaurants.

Every week the volunteers meet for House Duty at the firehouse where equipment is checked and maintained. They have three Pumper Engines, one Tower Ladder, one Heavy Rescue and one Utility Vehicle. “We operate out of the main firehouse at 491 King Street,” says Maitland, “and we utilize the other firehouse (on Senter Street) for the utility vehicle and a 1937 antique fire truck.” They go on about 550 calls a year, many of them to the site of auto accidents. Most of the fire calls are false alarms and some are not fires at all. On a very cold day in February 2001, I came home to a strong smell of gas inside my townhouse. It seemed that my housekeeper had been there earlier in the day and accidentally hit the knob on my gas range. I opened all the windows, turned the thermostat off, and called the New Castle police to find out if there was something else I should do. While I didn’t think it was necessarily an emergency, I did ask, “Do you think someone should check this?” In no time, the Chappaqua Fire Chief arrived followed by several fire trucks and a dozen or so firefighters, some who had just stepped off the train. They checked all levels of my home and the air was tested to be sure it was safe to occupy.

To maintain this volunteer organization, new members are always needed. Recruits should be 16 years old, live or work in the Fire District and be able to complete NYS Firefight I (basic training) within the first year of membership. Maitland says training is ongoing and available every week. “Training is the most important aspect of what we do. Training saves lives—ours as well as those we protect.” And the firefighters have at least one drill each month. According to Maitland, modern technology has enhanced the fire department’s ability to operate more efficiently and safely. “One cannot rely solely on technology, for if it fails to operate correctly, we need to be able to fall back on our training (prior to technology) to resolve an issue at hand.” Their motto is: “Everyone goes home.” Maitland explains this philosophy and how important the training really is. “Firefighting itself is dangerous and we minimize injuries with a high level of training and in each situation the Fire Chief weighs the risk/benefit.” In April, two of the company’s female volunteers took part in Hudson Valley’s first women-only firefighter training. The rigorous training enhances the confidence of women fire fighters.

Chappaqua Fire Department volunteers are very enthusiastic about the service they perform for the community. From the seventeen-year-old high school seniors who tout this as “the best kind of community service” to the department’s octogenarian, the enthusiasm is infectious. When asked why they do this, they say, “It’s the most direct way to contribute to the community and give back.” Their overwhelming sentiment about the people they work with is that they are “awesome!” The department’s motto could be, “All for one, and one for all,” since they think of themselves as one indivisible unit.

No story about the Chappaqua Fire Department would be complete without mentioning the third-generation Chappaqua resident, Doug Hunter. Hunter, at age 83, is the oldest active member of the volunteers. During his 63 years as a volunteer, he has served as Fire Chief and Fire Commissioner. He feels a strong camaraderie with his fellow firefighters. “We’re like a family. They help you out when you need help,” says Hunter who still trains and goes out on calls, “And they love what they are doing.”

The Chappaqua Fire Department receives much of its funding from the community. “Tax dollars go towards the purchase of fire apparatus, equipment, training, firehouse maintenance, insurance, fire prevention activities at the schools, etc.,” says Maitland. Donations from individuals defray the cost of items not covered by tax dollars such as CFD-sponsored community activities. You will see members of the Chappaqua Fire Department marching in the Memorial Day Parade in May and at Community Day in September. Firefighters organize the annual Easter Egg Hunt, a Pancake Breakfast, and Fire Prevention Week Open House.

Maitland recommends that community members come to the Fire Prevention Week Open House in October to learn life saving information. During that week, volunteer firefighters will visit local schools. Parents need to reinforce what the children learn from the firefighters. He adds, “Parents should listen to their children when they come home from school after a day of fire-prevention instruction.” More safety tips are available on the Chappaqua Fire Department website, www.chappaquafd.org/ Click the “Safety Information Link.”

The Chappaqua Fire Department is a major presence in the town. “We all have a stake in our community and we take a lot of pride in what drives us to do what we do,” says Maitland about the entire Chappaqua Fire Department’s commitment to their neighbors. “So get out and shake hands with your volunteer firefighters and thank them.”

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When Chappaqua resident Arlene Maas’s dog barked to awaken and alert the family to a fire in their home at 2:00AM, the Millwood Fire Department came to their rescue. “The Millwood Fire Department serves 600 Chappaqua families,” says Michael Horan, Chief of the Millwood Fire Department. The 9.18 square mile fire district protects the entire hamlet of Millwood and parts of Ossining as well as part of Chappaqua. Like Chappaqua, it is an entirely volunteer organization and responds from two stations to approximately two hundred fifty calls a year. (For more information about the Millwood Fire District visit their website www.millwoodfire.org)

One such call was to the Maas’s home on that windy November night in 2004. Everything happened so quickly, recalls Maas. Before she knew it, not only were firefighters from Millwood there, but also volunteers from Chappaqua, Mount Kisco and Ossining. The volunteers went above and beyond for the Maas family. “They made sure that everyone was safe and safely out of the house including our four pets,” said Maas. “We were basically standing in the woods watching our house burn and watching the firefighters risk their lives in order to try to salvage our home.” During the chaos, one of their cats was so scared that she escaped from Maas’s arms. “One of the firefighters did not stop looking until he found her and he did.” Maas has high praise for the volunteers. “They were ever so kind to us and are to be commended. They were there for us and they will be there for you.”

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Muriel Lipschitz, a 34-year member of the Chappaqua Fire Patrol passed away on June 12 after a brief illness. A loving wife, sister, aunt, friend, teacher and firefighter, Muriel was always friendly, fun, helpful, caring and compassionate and will be missed and remembered by all who were lucky enough to know her. She held the distinction of being the first female fighter in the Chappaqua Fire Department. (Info courtesy of the Chappaqua Fire Department.)

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Ronni Diamondstein, owner of Maggie Mae Pup Reporter is a Chappaqua based freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher 
who has worked in the US and abroad.

By Vicki de Vries

Since Kris Ruby’s three-year-old company, Ruby Media Group, walked away with a head-swelling array of Big W awards–34 to be exact –from the Advertising Club of Westchester on June 6th, Inside Chappaqua decided to give our readers a closer look at Kris and her formula for success.

IC: Congratulations on the jaw-dropping number of awards your company won, Kris, but what exactly does Ruby Media Group do?

Kris: We provide integrated public relations and social media strategies for clients. Basically, RMG is the digital agency of the future in Westchester County.

IC: What does that entail?

Kris: We create public relations campaigns that leverage social media to gain the most buzz for our clients.

IC: What social media does RMG use?

Kris: Whatever is appropriate for the particular client: Facebook fan pages, Pinterest, Twitter, blogs.

IC: Would you share some top pointers about social media that you think every client needs to know?

Kris: If I boiled them down to, say, four, they would be: create an open dialogue, keep an editorial calendar for content, create a comprehensive social media strategy, and leverage stunning visual images to show a client’s story, rather than simply telling it through words.

IC: What motivated you to start Ruby Media Group?

Kris: When my older brother, Brian, was selected as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 by Business Week around three years ago, I helped him with the public relations aspects of his business, including his pitch and bio. That’s when I decided to start a public relations company.

So, in 2009, after graduating with a degree in public relations from Boston University and having done an internship at PBS and 13 internships throughout college, I launched Ruby Media Group.

IC: That’s exciting, Kris. What kinds of projects have brought you the most satisfaction?

Kris: I feel honored to work with some of the brightest people in their respective industries! I love to connect clients with the proper media outlets to share their messages to a broader audience.

IC: For example?

Kris: One project involved helping to connect a dentist who works with hearing impaired patients to appropriate media outlets. This project showed off the amazing work of my client.

IC: RMG also won a Gold Award for that project, didn’t it? Besides helping great clients, what else gives you satisfaction, especially as an entrepreneur?

Kris: I’ve been fortunate to have assembled a truly great creative team. In fact, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Of course, I also work with outstanding website designers and strategic management consultants!

IC: But how did your team manage to garner 34 awards at the Advertising Club’s BIG W Gala? That’s 7 Gold, 11 silver and 15 Bronze in the categories of social media, public relations, promotion and collateral material, corporate design, photography, interactive media, pro bono and video! Quite an achievement.

Kris: Of course, I’m ecstatic about the awards, but it couldn’t have happened without my wonderful creative team. Everyone has strengths and collaborates in a congenial way, but not everyone knows that one of RMG’s secret weapons is our Creative Director, Jim D’Angelo, who won 9 of the awards, including a Gold Award.

IC: Please tell us a little more about Jim.

Kris: Jim’s forte is lighting. When I first saw some of his projects, I knew he would be the perfect person to spearhead RMG’s new photography and advertising division. Jim’s a lighting genius and has a role in every advertising campaign we do, as well as in all the photo shoots.

Clients specifically request to work with him on ad shoots and for events because they know his photography will enhance their brand.

Vicki de Vries is a freelance writer/editor living in Westchester County.

Plan Carefully to Find your Perfect Manhattan Residence

By Colette Connolly

Many suburbanites feel the lure of Manhattan living; a convenient address to a workplace and easy access to a vibrant cultural scene are two major draws, of course. Or perhaps, after raising the kids, there’s a desire to be “taken care of” a bit more, or to shed a few of the responsibilities of home ownership. In either case, the city–with its energy, buzz and golden opportunities–beckons.

According to the latest census from the American Community Survey, the nation’s evaluation of American households, approximately 30 percent of the more than 5,000 apartments in some of Manhattan’s neighborhoods are routinely vacant for more than 10 months a year because the owners, or renters, have permanent homes elsewhere.

For some empty-nesters, however, the chance to move back into Manhattan (if they had lived there before having a family) or to even experience it for the first time is an exciting prospect.

Ted Holmes, director of sales for the Chappaqua branch of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, says there has been an increase in the number of local residents purchasing properties in Manhattan, be it second homes or primary residences. In making the transition, it’s important to be aware of the choices and complexities of purchasing in an entirely different housing market. Residential choices are primarily comprise of pre-war co-ops, recently constructed condominiums and to a lesser extent, townhouses.

“Buying Savvy in Manhattan”
Last April, the Chappaqua office hosted a seminar titled “Buying Savvy in Manhattan” that provided participants with tips on how to make a smart investment in the city. Panelists included a number of Douglas Elliman brokers familiar with the Manhattan market as well as real estate attorney Jerry Feeney, CEO of Jerry M. Feeney Residential Real Estate Law, and Jan Scheck, a mortgage banker with DE Capital in Manhattan.

Some of the clients that Elliman’s associate broker and vice president Karen Schneidman works with are over 55. “We’ve always had people buying pied-á-tierres in Manhattan and keeping homes in Westchester, but recently we’ve noticed that they’re selling their Westchester properties and getting larger apartments in the city,” says Schneidman, who works out of Elliman’s flagship Eastside office.
Schneidman says a lot of prospective buyers choose the Sutton Place neighborhood, the wide north/south avenue that runs from 57th to 59th Streets and along the East river south of the Queensboro Bridge. The area is appealing to buyers who still want to maintain ties with Westchester, given that Grand Central train station is only a couple of subway stops or a quick cab ride away.

Downtown neighborhoods like Chelsea, Tribeca and Soho are also popular destinations for older buyers.

Before taking the leap to Manhattan, real estate attorney Derin Edip Walden says prospective buyers need to realize the complexities involved in buying an apartment in the city. “Buying a house is completely different from buying a condo or co-op,” says Edip Walden, who runs her own practice, Guadagno & Edip LLC, located in midtown, as well as maintaining a smaller office in Westchester.

The purchase of a property in Manhattan, adds Schneidman, is a “whole process that one has to be willing to buy into.” Condos, she explains, generally cost more, but with that, residents have more freedom to “do what they want, when they want.”

Purchasing a co-op apartment includes an extensive approval process. “It really is quite daunting for a lot of people,” notes Edip Walden, adding that detailed information is required, including financials, references and more.

Tax and other Financial 
Considerations
The upside, says Edip Walden, is there’s no mortgage tax on a cooperative apartment and no title costs either. And with a much lower real estate tax rate on Manhattan properties, the idea of buying a home there is appealing, she adds.

Scheck says prospective buyers should enlist the help of qualified professionals before considering a move. “It is implicit upon the buyer to deal with mortgage bankers, real estate attorneys and agents who are completely familiar with and have done business in condos and co-ops,” he notes.

From a mortgage perspective, purchasers are required to go through the pre-approval process, just like any other real estate transaction. But once a good, reliable mortgage professional has been found and much of the required documentation has been submitted, Scheck says it’s imperative that buyers are honest with that broker.

“You need to have a thorough, thorough discussion of your financial situation with that person and be incredibly honest,” says Scheck. “Otherwise, you’re not going to get what you need.”

Buyers also need to realize, adds Edip Walden, that while the closing costs on a cooperative apartment are lower than say, a condo or a house, board approval is needed before a closing can take place. “It’s like a whole third party that you’re dealing with that includes you, the seller, the mortgage bank and the co-op or condo.”

Before making the decision to sell all and move to Manhattan, Edip Walden advises prospective buyers to plan their strategy carefully. “My suggestion is that people consult with a team of experts to help them understand the costs, the time involved, the liability and the pitfalls.”

Colette Connolly is a freelance writer who writes for regional and local magazines and newspapers. She also works with small to medium-sized businesses, providing public relations and copywriting assistance through her business, Connolly Communications, located in Bronxville.

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Purchasing a property in Manhattan can be fraught with complications, so it’s important that prospective buyers do their homework. Here are some tips to help you navigate the often difficult buying process:

•Find a real estate broker who is an expert in Manhattan real estate and can show you the best neighborhoods, based on your lifestyle preferences and price range. More importantly, find a broker you can trust.

•Know how much you can afford and obtain pre-qualification well before you begin the search process. Search online for information on the various neighborhoods in Manhattan, in addition to learning about the purchasing of co-ops and condos.

•Know the difference between a co-operative apartment and a condominium, as each one has its own benefits and disadvantages.

•Carefully assess the size of the apartments you’re looking at, making sure the one you choose will suit your living needs. •Don’t get stuck on one apartment. Another one may come up sooner than you think because of the fluid nature of the Manhattan real estate market.

•Consider renting an apartment or house in Westchester before buying in Manhattan. That will give you more time to look around and there will be less pressure to sell an existing home before buying another.

•Be prepared to put your financial life on hold for a while; i.e., do not apply for new credit cards or transfer balances in the hopes of improving a credit score. In
the end, it may work to your disadvantage.[/stextbox]

– Colette Connolly