The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

From Student to Scientist – Greeley’s Science Research 
Program Turns Out Some of the Best and the Brightest

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President Obama making a speech to the 40 Intel Finalists.
President Obama making a speech to the 40 Intel Finalists.

By Amanda H. Cronin

The first image that may come to mind when you hear the words “science fair” is a lopsided, paper maché, volcano erupting “lava.” You know, the classic baking powder and vinegar experiment. But what is really going on at these science fairs is far more impressive and innovative.

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 11-16. Horace Greeley High School Senior Alex Kaufman was among some 1,600 high school students from around the country participating in the fair for the ultimate prize: a scholarship worth $75,000.

ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, provides a framework for aspiring young researchers, like Alex, to showcase their independent research and compete for more than $4 million in awards. Millions of students worldwide start out competing in local and school-sponsored science fairs, and if selected, go head-to-head in the final event with peers from over 70 countries, regions and territories. At a local fair in March, Alex was named one of the top ten researchers in Westchester and Putnam counties, which qualified him to advance to the final round.

Alex is part of Horace Greeley’s Science Research program, a three-year, application-based science course that allows students to independently explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) topics of their own choosing, be it climate change, cancer research or molecular biology.

Science teacher Trudy Gessler leads many of the classes for the program. “We have many talented and passionate students in Science Research,” said Dr. Gessler. “Their research and experiments are all conducted under the supervision of a research scientist/mentor, sometimes in a research lab and sometimes right here on campus.”

Alex Kaufman with his poster at Intel WESEF
Alex Kaufman with his poster at Intel WESEF

Alex’s interest is in the area of immunology. His project focuses on the Hepatitis B virus and constructing a special type of viral clone to function exactly like Hepatitis B, except that it causes cells to fluoresce upon infection. Alex conducted his research in the Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease at The Rockefeller University in New York City.

Alex’s story is not the only success story in the program. This past year, 12 students received awards for their projects at various fairs and competitions. Junior Riya Verma’s poster was given 1st place in the Category of Medicine and Health at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. “I have always been interested in applications of computer science in medicine, and Science Research has given me an opportunity to pursue it,” said Riya.

Anubhav Guha’s award-winning project took him to the White House. Anubhav’s research deals with extending the lifetime of dye molecules. For his research Anubhav placed as a finalist in the Intel competition and semi-finalist in the Siemens competition. He even got to shake hands with President Obama!

“I’ve always been interested in science– its really satisfying and neat to be able to fully understand a topic, or to be able to find something completely new that no one else has ever found,” said Anubhav.

Mrs. Patricia Donovan heads up Greeley’s Science department. “Science education is more important today than it has ever been. It is important to have a good science education to be competitive in today’s world. As global citizens, we all need to understand how the elements of our surroundings function so that we can make sense of the information made available to us.”

As a fellow Greeley student and new Science Researcher, I asked Alex for some advice. “You have been provided an incredible opportunity. You may come out of this research experience knowing that you want to be a scientist for the rest of your life. You could also come out of it knowing that you never want to go near a pipette again! So go into this excited about what you will learn about your field and what you will learn about yourself. There are so many fascinating fields, so search long and hard for something that absolutely captivates you– it’s definitely out there!”

Alex, Riya, and Anubhav are truly inspirational. There’s no doubt that these science research students are some of the brightest “cells” in our student body. Their findings could potentially help people in meaningful ways and influence current scientific practices. Seeing their accomplishments makes me excited to hone in on my own science topic and gain experience through interacting with professionals in the field.

Science can be very daunting and complex. But it is fascinating and extremely important for our understanding of the world and how it works. It’s thrilling to know that right here at Greeley we have some of the best and the brightest.

To find out more about ISEF and the Siemens Competition visit: https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef and http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/competition.htm

Amanda H. Cronin is a freshman at Horace Greeley High School. She loves the six Fs: Food, Fashion, Football (Soccer), Friends, Family and Felines.

Thank You to the Dads!

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This whole issue has a little “history.” I met Ian Karr, our accomplished and talented Guest Editor, after innocently approaching him for a potential article about “Chappaqua Dads,” a Facebook page he started last year. Over breakfast at Le Jardin, I was surprised to hear he was also the co-host of a popular SiriusXM radio show, Jackie’s Joke Hunt. I had attended Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling’s performance one night at The Cutting Room in NYC (thanks to a local friend’s generous invitation!), and after a private introduction, Jackie invited me to be a guest on his show.

I never followed up, but Ian was about to change all that, and I have since appeared twice, and it’s quite fun! So it’s been truly gratifying to turn the tables a bit, and invite Ian and Jackie to work with me on my own littler and hyperlocal “show”–
Inside Chappaqua!

I was also intrigued when Ian told me he had some secrets to share about the so called “guy code.” I’m delighted by his article’s basic but on target insights and suggestions. I’ll take his messages to heart (next time I’m in a relationship, that is), and ladies, advise you do likewise!

me-with-the-guys-betterIndeed, I think I’ve gleaned plenty of new understanding about guys in general from the compilation of submissions here. I’ve always enjoyed any window into “guy thinking,” and here they are writing about coaching, barbequing, commuting, joke telling, camping with their buddies, or writing a big time Hollywood screenplay! So a big THANK YOU to the dads, and a Happy Father’s Day to Ian, Jackie, Joe, Stephen, Dan, Mark and Eric for going with the flow and injecting a much needed dose of male sensibility into a local magazine that’s generally written largely by women freelance writers. Special thanks as well to Todd Shapera for his cover and inside pictures of “the guys.” Ian had thought up the concept of getting all the dads on the cover in a “Vanity Fair” style shoot, and I’m thrilled with the results.

While dads were the primary focus, we did manage to include some “teen driven” pieces in time for graduation including ones about the “Teen Zone” at the Chappaqua Library, and another about an all day summit at Westchester Medical Center formed to help solve the issue of distracted driving, and not just among teens. Also, check out an article by Greeley’s Amanda Cronin about our high school’s stellar Science Department!

Contributing editors free me up to cover stuff too, on occasion, and I jumped at the chance to attend a talk by Shark Tank celeb and real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran.

My own life sometimes feels as if it’s “publish or perish.” If I ever perish, I would hope to reinvent myself with the same combination of true grit and humor Barbara conveys in every sentence she speaks.

Meanwhile, there’s been a steady flow of news in town ranging from Whole Foods signing a lease at Chappaqua Crossing, a proposal for a new and snazzy condo community at the Legionaries of Christ site, to most importantly, a solid citizen representation of New Castle residents weighing in with their visions for a Master Plan, as Eileen Gallagher reports here too. 
It’s not too late to get involved with that either!

Enjoy the month of June, everyone. It’s extra special for me with my two graduating seniors (Anna from UMass, Amherst and Ari from Greeley); immensely proud of them both, and wishing all New Castle (and beyond) families with graduating seniors a hearty congrats too.

P.S. There’s something for everyone during Chappaqua’s annual Sidewalk Sales Days. So mark your calendar! At press time, the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce told Inside Chappaqua this popular event will take place the weekend of July 24-26.

A New View of New Castle

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Ian-best2By Ian Karr

When you live in a town as long as I’ve lived in Chappaqua (17 years), you tend to take certain things for granted. It’s the natural progression of life that one day blends into the next and the things that once seemed special don’t elicit the same reaction anymore. If that sounds familiar to you, I have one suggestion…edit an issue of Inside Chappaqua magazine.

When Grace Bennett first approached me about helming the June issue, I was flattered, excited and a bit daunted. While writing is a big part of my job as a Director at IKA Collective, I hadn’t tackled anything with a table of contents since college. Grace has covered hundreds of topics over the years and I wondered how I could come up with something fresh. Especially after growing somewhat jaded about our town.

Like most things that take you out of your comfort zone, I found the process of editing this issue incredibly eye-opening and rewarding.

I thought of my friends in different ways…as potential authors. Who had an interesting voice? Who could actually write? Who would be able to meet a deadline? They say a good friend will help you move, but a best friend will help you move a body. I can now add that a great friend will allow you to edit their work.

I thought of all the English teachers I had spirited disagreements with, and realized that I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. It’s amazing that, after all these years, I still remember some of what they pounded into me about telling a story in 700 words or less. You’re entitled to think otherwise.

But mostly, I thought of our town in ways I haven’t since I moved here. Joe Giannettino’s piece reminded me that we are practically walking distance from some of New York’s most beautiful and enjoyable outdoor activities. Eric Kratz’s article on coaching reminded me how dedicated we are, as a town, to instilling in our kids a passion for sports, fitness and teamwork. Mark Bomback’s essay on moving here from Hollywood and Stephen Barron’s tips on how to cook the perfect rack of Texas-style ribs reminded me that Chappaqua attracts transplants from all over the country…and that we have incredible talent here. And Dan Levitz’s interesting take on his enviable commute reminded me that a lot can happen in a short trip through our quaint little town.

I also had fun asking my radio partner, Jackie Martling, to offer up tips on joke telling. It really is an art, and he’s the best in the world. In the nearly eight years we’ve been doing Jackie’s Joke Hunt, we’ve told or heard over 10,000 jokes. I remember exactly six.

In the end, I came through the experience with a rejuvenated love for New Castle. Our community spirit may not always be on display, but it’s definitely there, making this one of the best places to raise a family, build great friendships…and edit a local magazine.

Our Intrepid All Dads TeamPhotos by Todd Shapera
Our Intrepid All Dads Team
Photos by Todd Shapera

Newly Ensigned: Naval Officer Benjamin Robert Berkey of Chappaqua!

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Screen Shot 2014-05-24 at 8.57.58 PMUnited States Navy Ensign Benjamin Robert Berkey, son of Karen and David Berkey of Chappaqua, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on Friday and was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy.

Ensign Berkey successfully completed four years of intensive academic, physical, and professional training, resulting in a Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering.

The mission of the United States Naval Academy is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically for the privilege of serving as leaders of Sailors and Marines who have volunteered to serve our country.

Following graduation, Ensign Berkey will attend The Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina and then proceed to port as an Officer in the Submarine Fleet where he will begin his service.

Considered one of the top educational institutions in the country, the United States Naval Academy was founded in 1845 and has graduated more than 77,000 men and women as Naval and Marine Corps Officers.Its graduate include one President, 22 members of Congress, three Governors, 27 Chiefs of Naval Operations, nine Commandants of the Marine Corps, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, and 52 Astronauts.

The Brigade of Midshipmen is comprised of more than 4,000 students from every state in the union and several foreign countries.

Robert-Berkey2Ensign Berkey is a 2010 graduate of Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York.

Getting Older Better – Author Pamela Blair to Discuss her Advice for Boomers

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rosenthal-jccOn Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m., the Rosenthal JCC, 600 Bear Ridge Road, Pleasantville, will host a Wine & Cheese reception and Book Signing for Pamela D. Blair, author of Getting Older Better:  The Best Advice Ever on Money, Health, Creativity, Sex, Work Retirement and More.  This event is free and open to the public!

Getting Older Bette is filled with positive and practical advice for boomers during the second half of their lives.  In her book, Blair takes the reader on a journey of discovery–exploring the hopeful, interesting, and exciting aspects of aging, where she covers over 100 topics including health, memory, friendship, retirement, parenting adulating children and so much more. The best is yet to come… and Pamela Blair helps lead you there as she offers both serious and lighthearted advice with humor and optimism.

The author appearance is an Engage in Conversation event, through the UJA-Federation of New York Engage Jewish Service Corps of Westchester.  All are welcome to attend!  Engage is a volunteering initiative for boomers and beyond who want to utilize their expertise, passion and leadership to effect powerful change within the Jewish community through a variety of hands-on volunteer activities. For more information about Engage and to RSVP to the event, please contact Debra Cerbini at Debra@rosenthaljcc.org or 914-741-0333 x17.

About the Author
Pamela Blair, PHD is a holistic psychotherapist and personal coach with a private practice.  She has written for magazines, appeared on radio and television talk shows, and co-authored a bestselling award winning book on grief, I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye.  For more information go to www.pamblair.com