Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester
Kitchen and Bath Source’s Nicole Balsamo Stonbely and her husband Rob are certainly advocates of adopting a furry best friend. At their beautiful White Plains show room early this fall, they graciously hosted a festive and well attended “Casino Night” to benefit the SPCA of Westchester. www.kbskitchen.com
by Silvia Taviloglu
Winter is upon us. Unpredictable. And, in more ways than one, unsettling. Among our many worries–heavy snow fall could bring down tree limbs, adding potential danger and injury to the many hassles that accompany winter storms. Yards, driveways and even our homes are potentially at risk. We know that, when the worst is finally over, we’ll need to reach out to our landscape/snow removal companies and/or handymen to help us with cleanup and repair. All too often, we then find ourselves waiting as, with so many in similar need, work schedules are overloaded.
Thankfully, there is an alternative. Neighbors Link of Northern Westchester, located in Mount Kisco, is a not-for-profit community organization that provides employment and education opportunities to more than 2,500 immigrant families. They work hand in hand with the police department and with local schools. Their mission is to create partnerships and integrate our side-by-side societies.
Carola Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link, was raised by her Bolivian parents to know the importance of helping the community and working in the public sector. Bracco, who earned her MBA from Duke University, worked in the financial world for 12 years for companies including GE, Ford Motor Company and Time Inc. But she always wanted to do community work. In 2003, she started as a volunteer stuffing envelopes at Neighbors Link; a year later, she was named Executive Director. Bracco has since increased the organization’s revenue from $300,000 to $1.4 million this year, thanks to grants and individual donations from business and homeowners all across Westchester. This Westchester business powerhouse (and wife and mother of two) was honored with the 2013 Women in Business Award by 914INC. magazine (published by Westchester Magazine) for her excellence in the public sector.
More than a decade ago, Mount Kisco was a more challenging environment for immigrants. There was a great deal of prejudice and fear, many immigrants were not paid properly for their work efforts and the environments/job sites often had very little (if any) oversight. If accidents occurred (as they could and did), immigrants tell tales of being dropped off unceremoniously in unknown areas without medical care. Now, through Neighbors Link, their lives are safer and they have a comfortable place during harsh weather conditions to gather and find paid employment.
The Work Center has over 800 day laborers taking English classes, improving their computer skills, learning rules and discussing how to work more effectively in different situations in the local culture. Additionally, the Family Center has more than 300 parents and children attending after-school and summer programs including discussions on the importance of raising bicultural and bilingual children.
Neighbors Link offers a hiring site for general labor, and is a resource for finding that extra help we need for our yards, to paint a new room, get a thorough home cleaning, and perhaps even a well-cooked meal. The process of picking a generally-skilled day laborer is safe and easy. Each day at the hiring site, day workers register by signing an entry sheet (these workers have gone through a careful intake process and screening verification). When someone looking to hire help arrives, he/she simply provides job details so that a match can be made. The hourly rate is then discussed and established so there is an agreement in place for both parties.
If one needs a more experienced laborer (for example, someone specifically skilled in masonry or carpentry) or servers for private events or a housekeeper that has been trained and certified in Eco-cleaning, simply call in advance and ask for the on-site Job Bank. The Center is open 365 days a year from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
While the organization is a great hand in hand “link” between homeowners/employers and workers, it is also a testament to those who reach out as volunteers. In fact, volunteers play a major role in both teaching and in changing the tone of the conversation regarding biculturalism in our community. Nearly 300 volunteers, from high-school-aged teens to adults, offer their time and expertise as either tutors (teaching English language, reading and computer skills) or helpers in the Family Center. The day laborers also volunteer, themselves, to help keep their town clean and safe; last winter, shoveling the fire hydrants ahead of our winter snowstorms.
When it comes to storms, no news really is good news! So let’s hope for a quiet winter season, and call upon Neighbors Link for help with the proactive projects on our to-do lists. Together we can make a positive impact in our community. For more information, to hire a laborer, to volunteer in ways described above or to become involved in fund-raising, contact Volunteer Manager Gayle Hudson at www.neighborslink.org
*Translation: Rumor or “check it out”
Silvia Taviloglu worked as a television writer in Mexico City before moving to Pleasantville where she lives with her husband and two young children.
By Beth Besen
A beautiful fall day at a nearby country club was the setting for a gathering of powerhouse women (and a few men as well) united by their common interest in supporting Neighbor’s Link.
The presentation subject– Women, The Immigrant Experience, and the Media–promised to be globally as well as locally topical, and I was thrilled when my good friend as well as Neighbor’s Link Friend, Tammi Lauder, invited me as her guest.
Tammi, an Executive Director with JP Morgan, has been a Friend of Neighbors Link for years now, and we were among those included in the exclusive pre-luncheon discussion with featured speakers Alicia Menendez of Fusion and Barbara Fedida of ABC News. Both women were smart and charismatic speakers who offered interesting viewpoints while sharing many personal and business experiences, and then answered thought-provoking audience questions.
Afterwards, a delicious catered lunch was served, and everyone had the distinct pleasure of watching inspirational program clips while hearing in greater detail about Neighbor’s Link from the likes of Board Chair Barbara Jackson as well as from women who have become empowered by and through the programs offered.
Applause was heartfelt all around at afternoon’s end.
By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg
Gift giving isn’t always easy. This year, why not rejoice in the knowledge that there is a universal present which is sure to please? Books! The following are noteworthy not only as great reads, but because each is recounted by one of your neighbors and includes a reference–oblique or otherwise–to the very place we call home.
Mark Weston’s oeuvre is a reflection of his passion for understanding foreign countries and their indigenous cultures. Giants of Japan, his first book, is the result of research done while living in Japan for three years. This authoritative tome was used as a jumping off point for his next book, Honda: The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars, in which one chapter from Giants is transformed into a children’s book.
Prophets and Princes: Saudi Arabia from Muhammad to the Present, Weston’s latest, is the product of his position as a visiting scholar at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The story begins with the life of Mohammad and continues with the journeys of his followers. Full of interesting anecdotes, told in an eminently readable fashion (the antithesis of a dry history book), the book is suited for “anyone interested in the Middle East,” and those drawn to good story telling. Weston highlights the relevance of this read, “Saudi Arabia is a very strange country but it is our ally.”
In Carol Weston’s work, the voices of her middle school aged protagonists ring remarkably true. Authenticity is achieved by listening attentively to the concerns of readers as Advice columnist for Girls’ Life. In her column entitled–you guessed it–Dear Carol, she is privy to matters of the utmost importance to her readers. “I receive letters from girls every single day; letters about crushes and friendship and body worries…my inner 12-year-old is alive and well,” she says.
Ava and Pip, the most recent of her 13 books and her fifth diary-novel for readers aged 8 to 12, is the story of two sisters: Pip, the eldest, who is terribly reserved and the source of much consternation for her parents; and Ava, her little sister, who “figures out a way to help Pip find her voice–and in doing so, finds her own.”
And yes, Carol is indeed related to Mark Weston. They are sister and brother and grew up in Armonk. Incredible as it may seem, their parents were both writers. Her characters’ parents “have a passion for palindromes and wordplay.”
For the thrill of a lifetime, go along for the ride with Armonk native Richard Doetsch in his latest The Thieves of Legend. The “adrenaline rush” he feels when researching his books is real–he skydives, kitesurfs, bungee jumps and more! “You can translate that feeling of fearlessness and incorporate that into your characters,” he observes.
In this latest of adventures for his protagonist Michael St. Pierre, a voyage to China is in store. The juxtaposition of the casinos in Macao and the Forbidden City are fertile ground for the author’s imagination. St. Pierre also visits castles in Spain, mansions on the Amalfi Coast and a Pacific island, all in the pursuit of treasure. He has less than five days to uncover an ancient mystery in order to save the life of KC, his ex-girlfriend. Stay tuned for the premiere of one of his earlier works, The 13th Hour, on television. There are also three movies “in various states of being.”
Pot Shards: Fragments of a Life Lived in CIA, the White House, and the Two Koreas, is the memoir of former Ambassador to South Korea Donald P. Gregg. Gregg’s title comes from the pot shards he found throughout Japan and Korea; pieces of wholes that led him to think about how one pieces together a lifetime of memories.
One such memory recounted in the book is his proudest accomplishment. In 1973, during his tenure as CIA station chief in Seoul, South Korean agents kidnapped Kim Dae Jung, the opposition political leader. As news spread of the action, riots erupted at several universities and an American-educated Korean professor was arrested, falsely accused of instigating the riots at the university where he worked. “He was either tortured to death or to the point where he jumped out a window,” Gregg says.
When Gregg relayed the information to his superiors, he added that he wanted to personally (apart from his role in the CIA) protest the action. He was counseled against following through. “I brooded and finally broke the rules. I went and spoke to the chief bodyguard of President Park Chung Hee and said ‘What happened to him is unworthy of what Korea hopes to become.” A week later, the director of Korean intelligence was fired. “His successor put in place a prohibition on torture,” Gregg proudly states.
Gregg wrote Pot Shards for any and every audience but, in particular, for his children and wife, Armonk native Meg Curry Gregg.
Sarah Ellen Rindsberg, the quintessential bibliophile, hopes you have as much fun giving and reading these books as she did writing this piece.
By Miriam Longobardi
“Snow day!” To some, those words bring joyful shouts while, to others, groans of dread. Students, teachers and snowplow companies are in the first category. Weary parents, store owners, and those expected to report to work regardless of the weather are among those in the second. Regardless of how we feel about it, winter is upon us. I spoke with some local people who help ensure that folks can get out and about and also picked up a few Inside tips on ways to enjoy Armonk this winter season.
While many of us were sunning by the pool or trying to keep cool indoors during the summer months, the town was already earnestly preparing for winter storms. Town administrator Joan Goldberg said, “We’ve increased staffing levels and added several new trucks this year. With the economic downturn of recent years we’d been forced to make some staff cuts and some of the equipment was not able to be replaced. I’m glad we’ve been able to make some changes this year.”
Keeping the town open for business is a priority and involves more than merely clearing all the roads and side streets. Over seven miles of state-owned but town-maintained sidewalks are in need of snow removal. New snow blowers have been added to the arsenal of equipment so shop owners and offices can remain open and people can move about safely.
Goldberg shared that there are some things residents do inadvertently which are counter-productive to snow removal and de-icing. “I don’t think most people know that putting snow on the roads is against the law. Even people that think they’re doing the right thing by pushing the snow across the street or off to the side are actually removing some of the sand and de-icing chemicals the trucks spread. They literally wipe away what the trucks just put down.” She also pointed out that the town is not liable for damages caused to vehicles when they are out working, so if it is possible, staying home and out of the way is the safest course of action even in an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
Once roads are cleared, there are lots of activities available for children and adults alike. Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Matt Trainor shared that the kids’ gourmet cooking class and singing classes are among the more popular choices. Organizations like Mad Science or The Nature of Things offer programs that can spark the imaginations of young scientists. Other ongoing programs for first- though eighth- graders are karate and basketball. “What I like about our basketball program is that there’s no pressure. There are no tryouts or anything like that. Parents often call and ask and they like knowing that if their child wants to play basketball, he or she can just sign-up and play.” Trainor added further, “We offer art classes in oil or watercolor painting for both adults and children. There are a multitude of outside contractors that we work with.” Occasionally the Recreation Department pairs up with local restaurants to offer cooking classes, or will offer different types of dancing, such as ballroom or line-dancing, but the fitness classes fill up fastest. Adult fitness classes like yoga and pilates are the most popular and are ongoing options.
North Castle Town Supervisor Michael Schiliro’s personal favorite winter tradition in Armonk is the annual Frosty Parade that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. The parade culminates a day filled with children’s activities such as a scavenger hunt, hayrides, and winter crafts. The parade marks Frosty returning to his hometown of Armonk and children and families are invited to join in as he passes. The village square named in the famous winter song written by lyricist Steve Nelson is said to be Armonk’s Historic District. Nelson was in the midst of building a home in Armonk at the time he was writing the song made memorable by Gene Autry, and then lived there for the rest of his life. This year’s parade was dedicated to 37-year North Castle Town Councilwoman and lifelong Armonk resident Becky Kittredge who passed away in August. Kittredge, who was also the former North Castle Deputy Supervisor, often played the role of “Mrs. Frosty” in the parade. Schiliro said, “The Frosty Parade really represents community and family fun.”
What do some residents have to say about winter? Andrea Kosakowski, who has been living in Armonk five years told me, “My daughter does not like getting sick but my son loves winter! He loves the holidays, waking up and seeing snow falling and of course, snow days, at least until we use too many and have to give back. But he was born on a snowy day so he’s a snow kid.” Denise Aversa, whose children Gianna, a senior and son, Antonio, a freshman, grew up in Armonk and attend Byram Hills High School, said, “Winter is time for comfort, good food and a fire. I’m looking forward to getting snowed in with my family.” Julie Dickens, owner of Beascakes Bakery in Armonk Town Center, told me, “Winter is a time when lots of people stop in to buy some of the cookie dough we sell. Baking cookies is a great thing to do at home on a snowy day.”
As temperatures plunge and snow starts to fall, you have plenty of options. Your child can take a cooking class and whip you up a gourmet meal and then you can work it off in a fitness class because roads will be cleared for you to get there. Whether you stay cozy indoors or you brave the elements for some outdoor fun or shopping locally, the town of Armonk is ready!
Miriam Longobardi is a freelance writer, fourth grade teacher and single mother of two daughters living in Westchester. A breast cancer survivor, she volunteers for the American Cancer Society and has completed four marathons and travels the world. Follow her on Twitter @writerMimiLong.
