The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Christine Pasqueralle

Ossining: River Views Plus A Warm Welcome Make Newcomers Feel at Home

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In 1813 Ossining became the first incorporated village in Westchester to be state chartered. Originally named Sing Sing, the village changed its name to Ossining in 1901 for obvious reasons. Recent transplants to the area, the Stoever/Pfaff family has only lived there for six months but has already found plenty things to love about it. Alissa Stoever, Assistant Principal at Chappaqua’s Westorchard Elementary School, Nick Pfaff co-owner of Pro-Activity (a NJ-based Health and Wellness company) and Blair Pfaff, age 6 enjoy their new neighborhood.

The family moved from Glen Rock, NJ, a very close-knit community. After commuting for over ten years, they were eager to find someplace with the same feel yet closer to Alissa’s job. “We chose the area to be close to Westorchard and also have easy highway access for my husband for when he did need to go into the office. 9A, the Taconic, etc. are all less than ten minutes from our house,” says Alissa.

Their new neighborhood feels like a community within Ossining. It’s quiet and spaced-out but always with an opportunity to connect and socialize. As Alissa says, “The neighborhood is set on a hill and our house is at the very top. When we came for the Open House we were driving back down and noticed a spectacular view of the Hudson River. That was the “cherry on top!” We called our agent and put an offer in before we even made it back to Route 133!” The Stoever/Pfaffs love the waterfront and parks that line it. In summer, they are able to bike along the river and explore local trails. Another favorite is the Ossining Library. “My daughter and I visit weekly and take full advantage of the cozy spaces for reading,” says Alissa.

The neighborhood embraced the family when they moved in. “Within 24 hours every surrounding neighbor had come over to introduce themselves and to bring us gifts. We were so touched by their generosity and kindness but also struck by their genuine appreciation and pride in the neighborhood.” The family is also realizing what a big deal Halloween is there. A neighbor hosted a pre-trick-or-treating party and as Alissa said, “I far underestimated the candy purchasing for our own house and will definitely need to at least triple it next year!”

Neighborhood Park in Briarcliff: Perfect for Families and Pups

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The Neighborhood Park area of Briarcliff Manor is perfect for families with growing children. The park itself was dedicated to the Village of Briarcliff Manor in 1954 and covers five acres of land featuring a baseball field, basketball court and playground. Many streets around the area are named for soldiers that served in combat, such as Schrade Road. The Wichman family calls Neighborhood Park home.

Amy, assistant to a high school Athletic Director, Steve, who works in sales, Zachary, age 16 and Madeline age 14 have lived in Neighborhood Park five years this April. The family moved from an Ossining townhouse because they were looking for more space and a neighborhood with a suburban feel. “Moving to Neighborhood Park allowed our kids to remain in the Ossining Schools and we also gained the benefit of access to the Briarcliff Recreation Department. My children utilized the Briarcliff Camps for the first few years we lived here. They had many friends in the neighborhood, both in Briarcliff and Ossining and were able to safely walk or ride bikes to see them,” says Amy.

Living in the neighborhood means close access to the park. The Wichman children can safely walk there with friends as well as to the local shops. “Now that our children are older, when they have friends over, they often walk to the shops, specifically, Euro Pizza and Starbucks,” says Amy. The neighborhood is the perfect place for families with pets too. The Wichmans have a puppy and they love walking her around the neighborhood. As Amy says, “Almost everybody seems to have a dog.”

In addition to the safe community feel of the area, Neighborhood Park also celebrates various events throughout the year. One family holds an annual Halloween party for the neighborhood children. As the years go by, the adults now gather while the kids trick-or-treat on their own. The Briarcliff Manor Community Day event is also an important part of the village. Says Amy, “The kids have a blast and we get to run into many friends and acquaintances.” Definitely a great way to meet new neighbors while catching up with old friends.

Why Westchester Dancers Have Thrived at Logrea Dance Academy for More Than Three Decades

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Talented faculty member Vivian Freking instructs students

A child’s first foray into the world of dance is a big milestone. Choosing the right studio is an important decision, depending on what type of training they wish to receive. Logrea Dance Academy in Ossining teaches not only dance skills, but also skills that will help children as they navigate their way through life.

Founded in 1986 by Beth Fritz-Logrea and Jean Logrea, the academy provides training in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance. The two came about opening the studio in a serendipitous way. While home in NYC on vacation from dancing with the Graz Opera House in Austria, they noticed the name of Jean’s former ballet teacher on a building marquee. Stopping in to see her, she told the pair that a company and school in Westchester was in danger of closing unless it could find new directors. After much discussion, Beth and Jean decided to stay, become Artistic Directors of the Westchester Ballet Company (WBC) and open their own dance school – Logrea Dance Academy, which is the school of the WBC.

Classes Tailored to Each Student’s Strengths

Logrea offers classes to students as young as 3, with its Pre-Ballet program. Students 8 years and older are offered a brief evaluation to ensure proper class placement – with or without prior dance training. Private instruction is also available for new students so that they may be brought up to the level of their age group. As was the case for the daughter of Tara Bernzweig who said, “We had private lessons from Jean Logrea over the summer. He was kind enough to do this so she could catch up to girls closer to her age group. My daughter is now signed up for three classes this fall. Jean was amazingly patient and sees potential in her.”

Having danced her whole life, Fritz-Logrea always strives to instill the love of dance in her students. “In dance, you have to express emotion through the body without words. You have to interpret and tell the story through the music and choreography alone. Our students carry this kind of creativity and imagination into their own lives, no matter what the forum,” she states.

Training with Talented Faculty

The academy has a superb faculty of 19 including the Logrea’s son Nick. In the spring, Logrea Dance Academy presents a series of performances at SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center. In addition, WBC performances of the Nutcracker take place at the Westchester County Center each year (December 14 and 15, 2019). These in particular are a wonderful way to bring dance to children. “The audience is filled with many students who have never been exposed to the arts, or seen a live show before. You could hear a pin drop in the audience filled with well over 1,500 students – they are so enthralled. Especially in this age of technology and social media, it’s important to expose our children to the arts. Not just as participants, but as supporters and audience members. The impact of both is enormous,” says Fritz-Logrea.

Studies have shown that dance lessons have a positive impact on many facets of a child’s life including their confidence, discipline, creativity and development. As Fritz-Logrea says, “They acquire so many skills that greatly impact their academic school success — and make them into more well-rounded adults. As we tell our parents, whether your child wants a career in dance, or just wants to dance for the joy of it, he or she will learn life-skills at Logrea that will last a lifetime.” 

When speaking with Fritz-Logrea, you really feel that she and Jean share a passion of teaching dance to children and watching them succeed in dance and in life. As she reflects on the decision to open the academy on that day in 1986 she says, “That one moment totally changed our lives in extraordinary ways – and, hopefully, the lives of our many students, who have walked through our doors for the last 33 years.”

So You Want to Update Your Kitchen? An Interview with Felipe Gomes of Modern Tradition Kitchen & Bath

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As any homeowner knows, taking on a renovation can be an arduous process. Where do you begin? How do you manage through the actual renovation? I have firsthand experience, having recently completed a major kitchen renovation with Modern Tradition Kitchen & Bath. I spoke with owner Felipe Gomes to get some helpful tips for those thinking of a home re-design in the future.

Gomes opened his first showroom in Pleasantville in 2016 and relocated to Thornwood this past July. His 15 plus years of experience working in the hospitality field as well as his involvement in numerous design and renovation projects led him to open his own business. Modern Tradition aims to provide customized services to make its clients dreams become a reality. The company also prides itself on being family-owned and oriented. Gomes and his brother Christopher, owner of Riverview Contracting Inc., work together on each project to ensure quality-control and a seamless design and construction process from start to finish.

When it comes to his own design approach, Gomes has sound advice to ensure a positive designer/client relationship. “Listen to everything, assume nothing. Write down everything and do what you promise without fail. The client hired you as an expert. Show him or her your expertise and stand by your opinion and work.” His method as a designer is to help make the homeowner truly love and enjoy the space in which they live. And at the end of the day, isn’t that the ultimate goal?

Gomes states, “My design philosophy is the belief that life inside of one’s home should feel good in every sense. A well-designed space should embody an extraordinary design that is timeless while maintaining a striking interior that is unique, luxurious, functional, livable, comfortable, and most importantly speaks the client’s language. A home should be designed for one’s self, it should reflect the personality of its occupants in a unified and well-tailored design.” I couldn’t agree more.

As for his advice for those thinking of taking on a home renovation, Gomes keeps it simple yet solid, “Ask questions, don’t second-guess yourself, think of the final result and trust the people you hired.” It can definitely be hard to let go, especially when your home is turned into a den of chaos during a renovation. But these are the experts after all, and as clients, we must find someone we trust to ensure that the vision we dreamt will come to life in the final results.

Before
After

For those overwhelmed with style choices, Gomes believes the Transitional style is always a great bet. “It combines elements from both traditional and contemporary designs to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen. The balance between a traditional kitchen’s attention to detail and the sleek lines of a contemporary  kitchen make for a beautiful transitional kitchen.”

In terms of upcoming trends, I asked Gomes what he sees as some of the top trends for 2020. The first: statement appliances in a wide range of color and finish options. The ability to really customize one’s space helps to ensure a polished, individualized look. Mixing metals is another big trend he sees on the horizon. “We love breaking rules and mixing metals are one of those classic design no no’s.

“But 2020 is finally the year of saying yes-yes to all the metal combos. It’s time to get funky people.”

As for my own kitchen renovation, I couldn’t be happier with the results. My new kitchen reflects not only my personality but also that of the rest of my home. It’s no longer a thorn in my side, but a place where family and friends can gather, enjoy each other’s company and make lasting memories.

Exploring Wampus Pond: A Bucolic Beauty

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One sunny spring day last month, my family and I packed a light lunch and set out to explore the bucolic beauty of Wampus Pond in Armonk. The expansive pond is certainly the focal point of the park and the first thing you see as you enter. It’s amazing to think that right off one of the busiest roads in the area, such a peaceful enclave of nature exists. Wampus Pond is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight gems that you don’t want to miss. If you’ve never been, may I suggest a visit in the near future–you won’t be disappointed.

Located right on Route 128 in the Town of New Castle and the Town of North Castle, Wampus Pond is a breathtaking jewel of a park. The park offers an array of activities for all–whether you want a bit of an adventure or you just want to sit peacefully with a good book while enjoying nature.

Wampus Pond was named after the Indian from whom the land was originally bought in 1696. The name Wampus means “opossum” and the natural pond was formerly known as Wampus Lake Reservoir. Wampus Pond was once part of the New York City water supply and in 1963, Westchester County bought Wampus Pond and 93 acres from the City of New York.

Recently, a cultural resources inventory was performed which unearthed several Native American artifacts as well as remnants of historically significant residential developments in or near the park. The rich history of the land makes for a truly thought-provoking visit through Wampus Pond. You never know what you may come across or who may have walked the same path hundreds of years ago.

Activities All Year Long

Throughout the year, there are many things for visitors to do at Wampus Pond including ice skating, fishing, boating and bird-watching. Dogs are welcome in the park but must be on a leash at all times and are not permitted in the picnic areas. One activity that many anticipate in the warmer months is the opening of the pond for row-boating. Take a few hours to enjoy a peaceful sail across the pond or pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

Rowboat rentals are available on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visitors may rent the boats in the building situated between the parking lot and the water. Boat rentals can be purchased hourly or daily and the fee is discounted for those with a Westchester County Park Pass. Visitors may also choose to bring their own car-top boats but must have a permit.

In addition to the rowboats, there are picnic tables set up throughout the park so visitors may be able to relax and enjoy the serenity of the park’s natural surroundings. Wampus Pond makes for the perfect spot to enjoy a quick lunch-hour break, relaxing in its quiet serenity. Please note the park is a carry in/carry out facility.

As Westchester County Parks Deputy Commissioner Peter Tartaglia says, “Wampus Pond is a fantastic spot for a picnic, to study nature or take a few turns in a rowboat on a beautiful summer day. Its location on Route 128 between Armonk and Mount Kisco make it an easy spot to visit when you’re visiting either or both towns.”

Take some time to visit Wampus Pond throughout the year. In the spring, the buds on the trees start to come alive, while in the fall all of the gorgeous autumnal colors of the leaves frame the pond. Kids and adults alike will enjoy ice skating in the winter while summertime is made for boating. Wampus Pond is one of Westchester’s loveliest spots and it’s right here in Armonk. Plan your visit soon and prepare to be amazed with its splendor.