The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Bringing Home Baby

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Mason loves his canine “brother” Riley who always watches out for him. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Mason loves his canine “brother” Riley who always watches out for him. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

My friend Riley, a Staffordshire Terrier, always walked with his owners Alysa and Bryan Paul. Then one day last summer Riley and the Pauls started walking with a stroller and a little baby named Mason. This excited me, because I love babies. When I was a puppy my owner took me to meet humans of all ages, including little babies, but I had never lived with one. So I decided to ask Riley what it was like and if his owners did anything special before the baby Mason arrived.

Riley told me he had been well trained and had learned boundaries in his home before the baby came to live with them.  Now he was happy to have his new brother. The Pauls got advice from Riley’s trainer Gary Pietropaolo, and I listened carefully when they told my master 
about it.

“Safety comes first,” said Pietropaolo. “Know your dog and whether the dog, especially an older one, will be able to adapt to a baby in your home.”  He told them that it may be necessary to call in a professional, who will work with your dog to reinforce the rules in your home and your position as pack leader. “There are a lot of dogs in shelters because they are not good with children,” said Pietropaolo.  I didn’t like to hear that, but I knew it wouldn’t happen to me or Riley.

Besides training, Pietropaolo told them to get Riley used to the sound of a baby.  “Try to have a friend or neighbor bring over a baby. The dog needs to be acclimated to the sound of a baby crying.” There are CDs with baby sounds and even some on You-Tube.  Riley watched Bryan set up the baby’s crib and sniffed it. It also helped to turn on the baby swing and have Riley sniff baby lotion too. Once he got used to the changes and smells, Riley was ready for the new addition to the family.

Before they brought Mason home, Bryan took Riley into the nursery. He dressed a Teddy Bear toy in one of Mason’s Onesies and wrapped it in a blanket so Riley could get used to the smell. Bryan held the teddy bear in his arms just as he would hold the baby.

Soon after that Alysa and Bryan brought their newborn home.  Alysa came inside first and let Riley smell Mason on her and know that something was different. Bryan followed with the baby.  Following Pietropaolo’s advice, they had Riley sniff the baby’s feet first.  The trainer had told them that it was important always to be in the room with Mason and Riley. “My concern is accidental injury,” said Pietropaolo, stressing that they should keep a leash on Riley, even in the house.

At first Riley wondered if the new baby would take a lot of their attention away, but it worked out fine.  Riley told me that his owners still spent time alone with him every day and took him for walks without the baby.  He still felt a lot of love from them.  Not only is Riley good around his baby brother Mason, but Mason is also good around Riley. Mutual respect has to go both ways. And some mutual admiration, too.

Whenever I see Riley he is right beside Mason’s stroller and happy to have the company of Mason and his owners Alysa and Bryan.  They are one happy family.

For more information on bringing home babies go to www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/preparing-your-dog-new-baby

Contact Maggie Mae Pup ReporterTM at maggiemae10514@gmail.com

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant and award-winning photographer who has worked in the US and abroad.

A Virtual Garage Sale with Benefits

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chap-moms-essay-storyby Heather Skolnick

In today’s world where one can now do anything via his or her smartphone, is it any surprise that someone would have the wonderful idea to sell “treasures” to their friends and neighbors virtually?  Enter Stacey Winnick’s brainchild, Chappaqua Moms Sales Facebook page.  This offshoot of Chappaqua Moms has been absolutely explosive in its popularity, with over 1600 members in just a few short months.  What could be better than a virtual garage sale from the comfort of your own home, 24 hours a day??? What about a virtual garage sale with new friendships thrown in for free? Who doesn’t love a BOGO?

As a New Castle resident for six years, I’ve found it difficult making friends. Not because people aren’t friendly but because both my husband and I work full time in the city and our kids aren’t yet in the school system.We are amicable with the folks on the Metro North platform that we see each morning and exchange pleasantries, and we are friendly with our next door neighbors, but that’s about the extent of our local relationships. My husband recently started playing softball with a town team and has made amazing connections with a great group of guys. But where was my “softball team?”

Enter Chappaqua Moms Sales. In the last few months, I’ve both bought and sold. I’ve met over two dozen lovely women from the community, all who are as friendly as can be. I’ve bought duplicates of toys I already own because I have twins and as you moms of multiples know, I need two of everything! I’ve had a mom meet me halfway between her house and mine to sell me a handbag that I just had to have. I’ve done my share of selling too. I’ve met grandmas looking for pre-loved toys for their grandchildren.  I’ve met moms-to-be buying baby equipment. I’ve met women who have a similar sense of style in clothing.  I met one woman who shares my love for handbags and suggested a new concept where women trade handbags!  Genius!  I’ve connected with people who aren’t interested in my “treasures”, but have connected me with other women who are! Because it is local, I’ve sold many items by merely leaving them on my porch and having the buyer leave cash at my door. Where else can you do that?

All of these transactions were with friendly, down to earth and savvy women from this community. These quick interactions have made this town feel more like a community to me. I now feel as though I “know” more about my town and the people who live in it.

Most notably, I’ve met a woman who shares a similar passion for decorating her home and garden. This person became a “repeat customer,” buying items that I had posted because they no longer worked with my lifestyle with three kids under four. We discovered that our shared love for French country home décor extended into our fashion sensibility as well. She asked to tour my home and quickly reciprocated with an invitation to tour hers. She hosted an open get together for other members of Chappaqua Moms and/or Chappaqua Moms Sales. I met a handful of other truly lovely, warm and friendly women. Two weeks later, a Friday night “appointment” with this woman to see an item I was selling turned into a bottle of wine and bite to eat with my family!

My husband loves to tease me about how much time I spend on Facebook now, perusing Chappaqua Moms Sales.  For now, I’m happy to consider it my “softball team.”

Heather Skolnick and her husband Neal have been New Castle residents since 2007. She works for Macy’s in the corporate offices helping to design their Omnichannel business process. She is the mom of three little kids, four-year old Lila, and two year old twins Andrew and Ryan. This is the first formal thing she has written since college.

Feed Me Fresh Nourishes Mount Kisco Child Care Center

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Dottie Jordan
Dottie Jordan

By Michall Jeffers

 The 9th annual Feed Me Fresh event delighted 100s of guests who sampled fabulous food while donating to a great cause. On Saturday, September 28, everyone gathered at the bucolic Ivanna Farms to eat food from top local restaurants, participate in an exciting auction, and listen to a lively bluegrass band. Chappaqua was well represented by board member Clark Robson, and his wife Mary Sue; other sponsors included Nancy and Ken Stein, and Barbara and Paul Jenkel. Sabin and Beverley Streeter were Honorary Event Chairs.

Drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres were served and on display were numerous and varied items for the silent auction. Sale items included winter accoutrements, handmade with the fiber of home raised alpaca.

Dinner providers included Quaker Hill Tavern; owner Kelly Sullivan, whose husband is a graduate of Horace Greeley, had the monumental task of organizing the event. “Our goal is to raise a significant amount of money for our scholarship program, to offset the increasing cost of childcare. It’s amazing what a group of committed, compassionate people can get accomplished!”

The spirit of the restaurateurs was best stated by  Café of Love owner Leslie Lampert, who served kale salad and soup, “I care deeply about what MKCCC is doing; they’re teaching children about eating right from the ground up. They’re the best!”

Food-BountyA highlight of the evening was the auction conducted by Doug Wilson, who amused the crowd with his impression of Howard Cosell, with whom he had worked. Bidding was fast and furious, with the largest amount, over $4,000,  paid for a dinner for 10 in the wine cellar of Crabtree’s Kittle House. Wilson assured the winner, “Drink all the wine you want. Transportation is included!”

The honorees of the evening were retiring Executive Director, Dottie Jordan, and founding member of MKCCC, the late Grace Marwell, and her family. The affection felt for both Dottie and Grace was expressed in speeches by David Griff, MKCCC Board President; master of ceremonies, MKCCC Program Director, Dawn Meyerski; and in short videos. Narrator Dr. Curtis Beusman, of Curtis Instruments, noted that Grace Marwell was aptly named.

When Dottie Jordan took the stage inside the tent, cries of “We love you, Dottie!” filled the air. Stuart Marwell eloquently represented his family when he spoke glowingly of his mother. Lovely birdcages were given to Dottie  and  the Marwell family, as  tokens of appreciation.

Bluegrass-bandSince 1971, MKCC has provided affordable, superb childcare and education for local working families. Innovative programs include informing children how to eat a healthy diet, and involving them in  the growing and cooking of nutritious food.  The event was a rousing success, and when  all the speeches had been made, and no one could eat another bite, many lingered, not wanting the evening to be over.

Photos by Kat McKee

Michall Jeffers is a respected Cultural Journalist. She and her husband, John Warner, are longtime Chappaqua residents; they provided the succotash for the first Thanksgiving ever held in Westchester.

Cheers for Gary Portnoy

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Photo by William Smiles
Photo by William Smiles

Sometimes you wanna go
where everybody knows
your name
And they’re always
glad you came
You wanna be where
you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where
everybody knows your name

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

This is the first half of the chorus of the theme song from “Cheers,” a popular show which debuted in 1982 and continued for 11 seasons. This catchy tune was co-authored by two-time Emmy nominee, ASCAP honoree and Chappaqua resident, Gary Portnoy.

Portnoy receives countless emails from all over the world about the song. “It imparts some sense of belonging. It seems to touch some place in people that is comforting, uplighting,” he observes. This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Jane Greer, a huge fan and supporter. “It captures the essence of what we all feel and experience,” she relates.

Shobha Vanchiswar, a friend of Portnoy’s, appreciates the empathy he shows in his writing as well as in life. When her mom passed away, he expressed his sympathy. “It was almost like he could feel my pain,” Vanchiswar says.  She also highlights the reason why his songs have a universal appeal:  “He tunes himself into what someone else is all about.”

How does someone “stumble” into a songwriting career as Portnoy says he did? In his case, quite simply –by being born into a “dysfunctional household.”  Luckily, his grandparents had given a piano to the family. The keyboard became his “oasis.”

Musical influences include Paul Simon, James Taylor, Carole King and Elton John. He listens to his favorites while driving his jeep. “I love to crank it up with the top down,” 
he says.

Portnoy also acknowledges watching a lot of tv and being “inspired by early tv themes,” (what a surprise!) One of his favorites is the Mary Tyler Moore theme, “It wraps its arms around you,” he says.

When describing his work, Portnoy notes that it has undergone a tremendous evolution. “When I was young I was much more concerned with having someone sing it. It was less about me than who I was trying to get it to.” In his work for tv, the writing imparts “the needs of the script, the story line.” The script for “Cheers,” was particularly inspiring. “I knew who these people were,” he recalls. The characters were so well conceived. I felt this bunch of losers, looking for validation.” Today his work is “informed by me, my thoughts, joys, worries.” The famous theme song and others are featured on his CDs.

Portnoy’s path to Chappaqua is linked to friendship. He came to visit Bill Smiles and his wife for the first time in the late 80’s. For many years Portnoy maintained apartments in Manhattan and Nashville and continued to visit the Smiles. Then, in 2001 after “walking into walls” during the night–forgetting which place he was in, Portnoy made the move to Chappaqua. Today, he resides in “a quasi-wilderness” on the side of a hill with a rambling brook, reveling in his surroundings.

Portnoy is currently pursuing two of his passions: planting Japanese maple trees and working on his collections of British and American studio pottery. Teaching and performing are in the realm of possibilities for the future. And, of course, when inspiration hits, the writing begins.

So the next time you see a Blue Arctic Jeep Wrangler cruising through the hamlet, give a wave and say “Cheers!”

The “Cheers” theme song is having a positive effect on the dopamine levels in Sarah Ellen Rindsberg’s brain.

 

Help the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry, Inc.

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Maggie Mae’s Must Do:

Food Pantries are not just for people. Many people who need food also need food for their pets. The Hudson Valley
Pet Food Pantry, Inc. was founded in 2010 to help them. The Pantry provides free pet food to people who cannot
afford to care for their animals. This includes senior citizens, disabled persons, veterans, and those who have lost their jobs. The Pantry’s mission is to keep animals from being abandoned or surrendered to shelters. “We are presently
serving 263 clients each month, feeding 683 animals,” said Susan Katz, founder and president of the Pantry. “Since January, 2013, we’ve distributed nearly 10 tons of pet food.” The facility is located in White Plains. You can help them by making donations or volunteering.
For more information go to: www.hvpetfoodpantry.org