The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Ella Ilan

Caramoor – A Beautiful Oasis for Music and Art

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(L-R): Caramoor’s Marc Lowenstein, Adina Williams, Edward J. Lewis, III, Jessa Krick, and Olivia Ottinger
Photos by CAROLYN SIMPSON

Sitting on 80 scenic acres in Katonah, New York, is Caramoor, a historic estate, generously gifted to the public by its founders, Walter and Lucie Rosen. Caramoor is known for its music concert series, but many people do not know there is a historic site that is part of the venue as well. If you have not yet visited this haven for music and the arts, you should plan to attend a concert or take a tour. Even if you have already visited, the staff at Caramoor is consistently expanding Caramoor’s offerings, so there is always something new to experience.

Caramoor History

Walter Rosen, a successful lawyer and banker, and his wife Lucie Bigelow Rosen, were great lovers of art and music. The Rosens regularly hosted friends and family for intimate musical performances and lavish parties at Caramoor, their country estate.

World War II took a toll on the family. The couple was devastated when their son, Walter, a pilot for Royal Canadian Air Force, died in a wartime plane crash in 1944. Ten months prior, Walter Sr.’s sister Jeanne, who lived in France, was sent to Auschwitz and murdered. Wrestling with their grief, they chose to turn their tragic loss into something positive. In 1946, they graciously opened their house to the public, beginning what became Caramoor’s year-round music program.

Armonk Outdoor Art Show
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Welcoming A Broader Audience

Historically known for its classical music performances, Caramoor has now expanded to include many other genres, such as latin, jazz, roots, and global music. In recent years, Caramoor’s board and staff have focused their mission on growing their audience by both serving the desires of the community and by better reflecting the nature of the community through their programming.

Edward J. Lewis, III, President and CEO of Caramoor, joined in May 2021 with the charge “to make Caramoor more open and accessible to a broader and more diverse community that’s reflective of the county in which we sit.” Lewis, a Chappaqua resident, brings to the table his expertise gained from a remarkable career as a professional classical musician, an arts educator, administrator, and two decades of non-profit management and fundraising. “From these experiences and my lifelong passion for the arts, I bring this ability to help institutions find that essence of themselves and inspire a broader constituency to engage with it.”

“Over the past several years we have broadened our music programming to include more jazz, roots and global music while maintaining our core classical programming.” Lewis explained. “We also try to include a broad range of lived experiences in all the artists and genres we present to help ensure that our expanding and increasingly diverse audiences can hear themselves in the music and see themselves reflected back from the stage.”

World Class Performances

Marc Lowenstein, Director of Marketing and Communications, was brought on two years ago to assist in that mission. A common message that he has heard is “I’ve heard about Caramoor, but I’ve never been,” or “I don’t think they have the music that I’m interested in.” “In some ways it’s a challenge but it’s also a huge opportunity for the marketing department here knowing there’s this population that for whatever reason has not availed themselves of Caramoor.”

“The thing that makes it so special, other than the music and the art, which is certainly world-class on any level, is just the experience of being at this beautiful place is unrivaled by any performing arts center in the area. People ask me what show they should come see and I say, just pick a nice night when the weather is good, you may not know the artist…but I promise you, come early, bring a picnic, make a night of it, enjoy the music, and you will have a positive experience,” says Lowenstein.

Adina Williams, Director of School Programs and Community Engagement, was also recruited a few years ago to execute the new mission, redesign Caramoor’s educational offerings, and embark on their first intentional community engagement work. Williams channels her background as a former New York City public school teacher and her impressive career in arts administration and music management into her role at Caramoor.

“Caramoor advocates inclusive arts and education exploration,” says Williams. “We believe in an intercultural arts practice that actively involves artists and communities from a range of national and international ethnic and cultural groups, a breadth of physical and mental abilities, languages, social classes and gender identifications so that the voices and stories of the multiple publics that we serve are heard, expressed, and celebrated.

Our educational vision is bringing to life Caramoor’s extraordinary artistic heritage and future to as broad a spectrum of people, young and old alike, ages 0 to 100 plus.”

Williams designed the innovative Caramoor Kids program for elementary and middle school classes where students take a field trip to Caramoor and a Caramoor teaching artist visits their school based on an interdisciplinary curriculum. The immersive curriculum is available in both English and Spanish and can be tailored to meet a school’s specific educational goals.

As part of Caramoor’s community outreach initiative, Williams has organized roundtables with teachers, parents, conservatories, and community members, such as Neighbors Link, that help inform the programming. “Our mission is to have a deeper understanding of the value proposition of Caramoor to our many communities and how we can be a very rich resource for them, especially historically underserved communities in the region.”

This summer, Caramoor welcomed the community for a successful Juneteenth event, celebrating African American freedom and achievement. The free event featuring Charles Turner & Uptown Swing brought in about 1500 people for a fun-filled day with hands-on activities.

Caramoor also brings jazz performances to those incarcerated at nearby correctional facilities. “We want to be a conduit in which all of our community can live an art-filled life,” says Lewis.

“It’s all about equal access and not your life narrative, whether tragic or happy…and hopefully providing life changing experiences through arts and culture,” adds Williams.

Inspired by the Rosens, Caramoor’s leadership is clear-eyed in their mission. “We need to balance the reverence for and relevance of Caramoor,” says Lewis. “We have this rich storied history and if we remain true to the vision of our founders, this is a place where visitors can be refreshed and renewed by that convergence of exceptional music performances, the beauty of the art-filled historic home, and the gorgeous gardens and grounds. The Rosens left this legacy for us all to enjoy and I believe that together with our board, staff, artists, and volunteers, we all partner together as stewards of their legacy, and we revere its past. Our job, as I see it, is to assure that Caramoor continues to resonate with audiences and visitors of today and tomorrow.”

The Rosen House

Visitors can enjoy the Rosen House by taking a tour, booking an Afternoon Tea, or attending a concert in the Music Room or Spanish Courtyard. The Rosens were great hosts and the Caramoor staff continue in that great tradition.

Jessa Krick, Director of Interpretation, Collection, and Archives for the Rosen House, is also a recent addition to the Caramoor team, just having passed her second anniversary. Krick is responsible for the vast art collection and a trove of archival documents related to the family’s history. Krick is doing her utmost to make sure the collection is better known, and people realize they need to visit the Rosen House when they come for a concert.

Re-energizing the tours this year, Krick spearheaded the 2024 Focus Tour, highlighting works in the collection by women artists that previously never received much attention during their regular tours. “It has been fantastic fun to do the research for this and our docents have appreciated the chance to add new material to their tours. It has been so rewarding over the last year discovering the stories of these women artists. They existed in the archives, but surfacing their stories through our focus tour has been so exciting. I love it when people say, “I never knew that” – those are the comments we really love to hear.”

Dedicated Staff & Supporters

The consensus among the people that make this hidden gem run is that Caramoor is a great place to work. Box Office Manager Olivia Ottinger, who is also a talented opera singer, began her relationship with Caramoor after Caramoor musicians visited her high school for a master class and she thereafter joined their esteemed mentorship program. She says one of the most special things about Caramoor is the staff. “I have been lucky enough to end up with some of my best friends here. Two of us were just bridesmaids at the marketing manager’s wedding.”

“It’s a lot of hard work but there are always one or two shows a season where we get to stand in the back and watch everything we created come together. It’s nice to step back and experience it and think, ‘cool we did this,’” reflects Ottinger.

“It’s fun to be part of someone’s vision that was such an impressive human being [Lucie] and also to progress with the times and do it well,” says Events Operations Manager Aarti Gilmore. Gilmore manages much of the logistics and scheduling of volunteers, security and emergency personnel. “I make sure we deliver on what we promised, and everybody is comfortable and feels safe. My mission is to make people love Caramoor as much as I do and to ensure their experience is as worry-free as possible from the second someone engages to buy a ticket at the box office or online.”

“Our volunteers, ranging from high school age to retirees, are great ambassadors for us. They’re available throughout the property to answer any questions, including where their favorite spots are and where is the best place to take a photo.” One of Gilmore’s favorite spots is the peaceful Cedar Walk, a well-maintained pathway which holds the t(ch)ime sound art installation.

Caramoor is a nonprofit organization. The programming and the beautiful facilities offered are supported by concert attendance, individual donations, a dedicated board of trustees, and generous sponsors.

Upcoming Events

Although summer is Caramoor’s busiest season, there is plenty to look forward to this fall. Here are just some of the upcoming events. Caramoor’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, a free event, featuring the artist People of Earth, will be on September 29th. The annual cabaret show featuring Julie Benko and Jason Yeager will be on October 25th. Jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim will perform on November 8th. The annual fall benefit on December 7th will feature American folk band Bonny Light Horseman. December will offer the immensely popular holiday tea musicales. Caramoor’s first-ever Hannukah show, featuring Nefesh Mountain Band, will take place on December 12th. For the full schedule, tickets and additional information, go to caramoor.org.

Byram Hills Ranked No. 1 Public High School in Westchester

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Christopher Walsh, Principal, and Dr. Jen Lamia, Superintendent   PHOTO BY Elise Trainor

Receiving well-deserved recognition, Byram Hills High School was ranked as the number one public high school in Westchester County in Westchester Magazine’s March 2024 issue. The Inside Press asked me to explore the “why” behind the ranking. It is particularly noteworthy as Westchester is home to some of the best high schools in the country. Factors considered included college readiness, average class size, student-to-teacher ratio, SAT scores, the number of counselors, the number of AP courses, and more.

“It’s very exciting when the district is recognized for our strong academic and extracurricular programs. An acknowledgement from Westchester Magazine as the #1 high school in Westchester is a credit to a strong school community that places students at the center of what we do,” says Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia.

Innovative Programs

“I marvel at how the faculty, staff, and administration continue to develop opportunities for students to find their individual passions and excel,” says Lamia.

The opportunities are endless. Students interested in robotics and coding can immerse themselves in the robotics course and participate in competitions. Extensive offerings abound in the Fine Arts department, including metalsmithing, jewelry making, ceramics, and photography. Available to seniors who qualify is “Perspectives in Literature,” an integrated study that includes literature, philosophy, art, and an intensive writing experience.

One of the most recognized programs at Byram Hills is the award-winning Authentic Science Research program, a three-year program in which students complete independent research under the mentorship of professional scientists. Students submit their research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (“STS”). Byram Hills touts 132 “Top 300 scholars” and 23 national finalists in the Regeneron STS since 1991.

Two other thriving programs that are distinct to our district are the Global Scholars Program and the StartUp Entrepreneurship Program. Both began as pilot programs sponsored by the Byram Hills Education Foundation (the “BHEF”) and have been very well-received.

According to the Byram Hills website, Global Scholars is an “interdisciplinary three-year program…[in which] students investigate global issues, analyze diverse perspectives, communicate ideas effectively in both English and a second language, and take action.”

The StartUp program, which began in 2022, most recently had 35 members of the community acting as mentors to the students in their start-ups. The two-year program allows students to create and launch their own business or social enterprise. Guest speakers are invited to talk to the kids about starting a business. This past year, they held an exciting evening competition à la “Shark Tank” with parents and business owners in the community acting as judges.

“Byram Hills’ number one ranking is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our teachers, faculty, and the entire community,” says BHEF board member Ally Wolland. “The BHEF plays a critical role in this success story. By funding faculty and teacher-written grants across the district, the BHEF addresses specific needs at each grade level and school. Impactful programs like the Global Scholars program and the StartUP program exemplify the BHEF’s influence.”

“For me, as a parent and BHEF board member, what most exemplifies the essential partnership between the BHEF and the district was the BHEF’s facilitation of an emergency meeting during the pandemic to secure funding to purchase Viewsonic technology to aid in reopening and remote learning,” explains Wolland. “A vibrant and supportive education foundation like the BHEF is a rare gem in public schools. I am incredibly grateful for the profound impact the BHEF has on our school district…”

An Engaged Community and Happy Families

“This ranking was an acknowledgment of the strength of our entire district. We have such a wonderful community, and it starts from the great support we get from the Board of Education and District Administrators. We have families who are incredibly supportive of the work we are doing and appreciate the collective efforts that go into educating their children,” says Byram Hills High School Principal Chris Walsh.

“We have students who have been given a great foundation in learning going all the way back to their first day in kindergarten through every grade level and school in the district. I am most happy for our faculty and staff here at the high school that they can take pride in this and know that their professionalism, care, and expertise are recognized on a regional level. Overall, the ranking helps to reinforce that Byram Hills High School is a special place where students benefit from the highest quality educators, supportive district, and collaborative community.”

For area realtors, who promote the positive aspects of living here all the time, the good news about Byram Hills was not surprising. “As an alum of Byram Hills and lifelong resident of Armonk, I am thrilled that our high school has been named #1 in Westchester County,” says Stacey Sporn, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at William Raveis. “This recognition highlights the dedication of our teachers, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our community. Growing up here, I experienced firsthand the exceptional education and the strong sense of community that defines our town. It’s no surprise that more families are choosing to move here, drawn by our top-notch schools and the welcoming, vibrant atmosphere that makes this area a wonderful place to live and raise a family,”

“I think the district’s recognition of talent is what contributes to Byram Hill’s excellence,” says Harriet Libov, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Houlihan Lawrence. “The district always looks to the best in faculty to promote from within. For example, Superintendent Lamia was my daughter’s middle school teacher back in the day. Similarly, many of the administrators and principals were promoted after proven success in our district. I feel fortunate that both my kids, each with very different interests, soared academically and socially as a result of what Byram Hills had to offer. Moreover, as adults today, they remain friends with their Byram Hills classmates.”

“Byram Hills High School created an environment in which both of my daughters were able to grow and thrive intellectually and socially,” says Stacee Massoni Blatte, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s. “They had the opportunity to take classes that both challenged and interested them. The immense support they received from their teachers enabled them to excel and equipped them with the resources necessary to continue to flourish throughout their college experiences at the University of Pennsylvania.”

Always Moving Forward

Whether advancing the curriculum or the social and emotional well-being of the students, Byram Hills is always thinking how best to serve its students. A recent district-wide vote approved the use of eight million dollars of the capital reserve fund for the “Lights, Learning, Action!” renovation project at the high school to create The Learning Commons, a reconstruction of the library; install a turf field; and add lighting on all fields and courts.

“Our school community is best exemplified by a senior who told me recently that the thought of leaving Byram Hills and graduating makes her cry – that’s the heart of it all – and I think it’s the school community that does it. We are continually on the flywheel of moving forward for kids,” says Lamia.

Getting to Know North Castle’s Newly Elected Town Supervisor Joseph Rende

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North Castle Town Supervisor Joe Rende PHOTO BY ELISE TRAINOR

After a nail biter of an election ultimately requiring a vote recount, the triumphant Joe Rende proudly took office as North Castle’s new Town Supervisor on January 1st with a positive outlook and a determination to make sure North Castle continues to be a town to take pride in.

Public Service As A Great Calling

A resident of Armonk for over ten years, Rende made this his home when he and his significant other, the Honorable Linda S. Jamieson, Justice of the Westchester Supreme Court, who has lived here for forty years, were seeing each other. Rende, a lifelong resident of Westchester, grew up and raised his family in Port Chester. As a young businessman running and operating his family’s home heating oil business, Rende Economy Fuel, with his dad, he was always very interested in politics. A registered republican at the time, Rende became active in various campaigns for different people running for elected office in Port Chester. His political career officially began when he was asked to take an open seat on the village planning commission. He eventually served as chairman of the village planning board, then as an elected member of the board of trustees, deputy mayor, and later as Westchester County’s deputy director of emergency planning and management.

Rende attributes his interest in government to his father, who was a big influence on him. Dinner table conversations often involved local and national politics. Rende’s father was always very active in their community and even ran for political office.

“I always viewed public service as a great calling and certainly necessary as an important part of our form of government,” says Rende. “I always had a sense that you need to give back to your community and what better way to do it than public service. It was instilled in me by my dad, who I was very close with.”

Living in North Castle, Rende, now an involved member of the local democratic party, continued to take an interest in town-related issues. When former Town Supervisor Mike Schiliro decided not to seek another term, Rende felt there would be a void in leadership and threw his hat into the ring.

On the Agenda

PHOTO BY ELISE TRAINOR

One of the first things Rende is focused on is getting the North Castle Eagle sign, a town landmark, back up. The sign, which greets visitors at the intersection of Route 22 and Route 128 was unfortunately knocked down on December 11th.

Rende is also turning his attention to several capital improvement projects. One of those projects involves renovating the recently purchased town swimming pool. He has been working with an engineering firm, the town administrator, and the superintendent of recreation to develop a plan to address those necessary improvements. Other potential projects include improving Town Hall, upgrading the crammed police department, assessing all the town facilities, and putting together a focused capital improvement plan to ensure that there is no further damage to the overall envelope of each of the town’s buildings. He also plans to address the highway department’s lack of a facility to house the newer bigger trucks used to maintain the roads. Storing the trucks outside where they are exposed to the inclement weather has led to their faster degradation and reduced years of service from these vehicles.

Also on the agenda is the review and approval of several large development plans that have already gone through lengthy processes of planning and zoning. Rende’s vast experience on the Port Chester planning commission and board of trustees has provided him with a great grasp for smart development and makes him an asset for the town in that regard.

Leadership Skills

As the current Director of Business Development at Judicial Title Insurance Agency, Rende has plenty of flexibility that will allow him to balance his profession with the role of town supervisor. His career has allowed him to develop management skills that will serve him well in his new position. His leadership experience came at a young age owning his own business with his dad. When he later sold his business to Robison Oil and took a management role there, he really honed his leadership skills.

“To me, leadership has always been about motivating people to work towards a common good,” he explains. “I like to empower people and give them the necessary tools to do their job and make sure they have the resources that they need. I encourage people if they come to me with a problem, to also try to bring a solution. I will never fault anyone for trying to solve a problem. If you need my help to figure out a better way, I will do that.”

Rende also emphasizes that the importance of compromise. Even though different members of the board and various elected officials can have different views, he recognizes that “everyone has the community’s best interest in mind, and he looks forward to working with them.”

In his Spare Time

When Rende has free time, you can find him just being “grandpa.” He and Judge Jamieson share ten grandchildren. Their weekends typically revolve around activities with the grandkids. In the summer, they spend time at the lake at the Windmill Club. They play some golf at various association outings, but most of the time they are enjoying their grandkids, their friends, and some traveling as well.

Pride in North Castle

One thing Rende really appreciates about North Castle is the community’s involvement and enthusiasm for the town. “Events like the Fol de Rol, the concerts in the park and town square, the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, the Stayin’ Alive Fun Run, the Frosty Parade, and the funds raised by these events for great causes really show me the heartbeat of the town,” he says.

Recognizing that it was a close election, Rende knows that he will have to stay on top of his game and hopes to prove to the entire community that he is more than capable of doing the job. “I won’t rest on my laurels and take anything for granted. Hopefully after my first term, residents who voted for me as well as the ones who supported my opponent will recognize that I was a good choice, and I was worthy of it. I am going to make sure this continues to be a town we can be proud of.”

The Mount Kisco Child Care Center – A Home Away from Home ‘Nurturing the Whole Family’

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PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

One of the most fraught moments of being a parent is entrusting the care of your precious child to someone else. A visit to the Mount Kisco Child Care Center (“the center”), which I fell in love with on my recent visit, can put any reluctant parent’s mind at ease, should they be lucky enough to make it off the long waitlist to enroll.

From the moment you walk into the center, you feel the warmth in this “home away from home.” Peeking into the infant rooms, where babies range in age from three months to 18 months, I can’t help but feel joy and giggle in response to several little ones who look and smile my way.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see the smiley babies every day,” says Executive Director Dawn Meyerski. “If I’m frustrated with work, all I need to do is spend an hour in the preschool and I remember why I do this.”

“It’s a lot of fun to work here,” says Victoria Rivera, infant supervisor, and head teacher. “I get to snuggle all the babies and it’s amazing to see the connection we make with each family and the difference we make, working as a team with the parents.”

In the toddler program, for those 18 months to three-years-old, the focus is on language acquisition, self-help skills, social skills, and, of course, potty training. Meyerski estimates that in the center’s history, they must have potty trained close to 7000 children.

The programs are designed with intention and thoughtfulness. For example, in the preschool classrooms, the three, four, and five-year-olds are purposefully combined so that their activities are geared towards where they are developmentally versus chronologically. So, if a three-year-old is ready for more advanced activities, they can pursue them, but if a four-year-old isn’t ready, they are not embarrassed since everyone in the class is doing different things.

The directors and teachers work together to support the children and families when needed.  A social worker on staff helps families navigate more complex resource needs for special developmental services or subsidy reimbursements, as well as things like the death of a pet, a parent loses a job or becomes sick, really anything that the family encounters.

The belief at the center is that for the child to succeed, the whole family needs to be supported. The before and after school programs provide a true safety net for working parents, letting parents feel secure that their child has a place to go after school while they are at work, even when school lets out early for a snow day. For vacations, the center offers full day programming so parents can work. In the summer, they provide full day summer camp programming, including martial arts, swimming, field trips, and more.

Throughout the pandemic, the center stayed open, easing the burden for many working parents while their school age children completed remote learning at the center. “We had 40 kids from seven different school districts using all different learning platforms. Those after-school teachers were incredibly adaptive…

“We made it happen,” says Meyerski.

At MKCCC’s ‘Feed Me Fresh’ gala: Executive Director Dawn Meyerski with a 2023 honoree: Selamawit Wieland-Tesfaye, owner of Mimi’s Coffee House.

Feed Me Fresh

One of the biggest reasons people choose the center is the food services. Mostly everything is prepared on site in the kitchen and they try to use as little processed food as possible.

In addition to feeding the kids, the center encourages the children to understand where their food comes from with their signature Feed Me Fresh program, a comprehensive garden-to-table nutrition education curriculum. All the classrooms have their own raised bed gardens where they plant and harvest the same food the kitchen uses to make their lunches. The center combines gardening teaching units with cooking classes and related activities. If they are harvesting zucchini, they will come in and make zucchini boats. Later, when zucchini shows up on the lunch menu, they recognize it and are far more willing to eat it.

“One of my favorite gardens that we plant is the three sisters garden,” says Meyerski. “The school age kids plant corn, the toddlers plant squash, and the preschoolers plant green beans. They are companion crops that grow better together than they do apart. We use this to talk about the importance of working together. I love it because it’s symbolic of who we are and how we support each other.”

When the kids are on the playgrounds, they walk right past and pick snap peas off garden beds and eat them. In a display of pride and ownership, they independently check on the status of their growing vegetables.

“What I love best about it,” says Meyerski, “in a world where you can have anything you want in thirty seconds, where instant gratification is so real, you cannot make a carrot grow any faster than a carrot grows. They have to slow down and nurture it.”

Funding the Center

About half of the enrolled children pay the full tuition to attend the center. Tuition for the infant program runs nearly $2500 per month. The actual cost of care for infants and toddlers exceeds the tuition charged, but charging a higher rate would price out most families. The other half of the children are on scholarship, based on their family income. The center works with the Department of Social Services for some subsidies, but the bulk of their funding comes from donations. The center runs as a nonprofit and raises funds to support the children. It is their critical fundraising efforts that allow them to offer quality childcare to middle and low-income earning families, providing peace of mind to working parents.

Naturally, one of their biggest fundraising campaigns, the annual Feed Me Fresh gala, incorporates the center’s focus on fresh food. This year’s event took place at Ivanna Farm on September 23rd. This event started 19 years ago with incredible support from local restaurants who donate an evening of delicious, fresh, and inventive food. “Despite the rain this year, everyone showed up!” reported Paula Backer, the center’s Director of Development. All the restaurants, our sponsors and all our amazing supporters, came out despite the weather. We really felt the love of the community coming together around us in support of our families and what we do. It was beautiful and the food from our restaurant supporters was the best ever!”

courtesy of MKCCC

Meaningful Lessons to Remember

Despite their newest challenge of finding enough qualified teachers in the current labor shortage post pandemic, the center provides amazing programming.

A good teacher knows that kids learn best when they learn about things that are meaningful to them, so the staff at the center strives to create memorable lessons. If the kids are eating pizza for lunch, they will follow up with a walk down to the local pizza parlor for a social studies lesson about their community. Upon their return to the center, they will set up a pizza parlor and sell slices for a dollar apiece and learn about fractions as they cut the pie. As they make the menu, they learn their letters, and when they make the pizza and learn how to make cheese melt, they learn about science. Something as simple as pizza can prompt multiple learning opportunities.

This year, the center is collaborating with the STEM Alliance to bring in STEM programming for the preschool classes. The center is very grateful for a grant received due to the support of New York State Assemblyman Chris Burdick for in-house STEM training for the center’s teachers for next year.

Meyerski hopes to bring back their cherished intergenerational programming, in which senior citizens from My Second Home, a senior living provider, used to rent space at the center and interact several times a day with the children in organized activities. The program has not resumed after it was paused for safety reasons during the pandemic.

PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Extended Family

“MKCCC is a special place and I consider the adults who work there extended family,” says parent Stacey Cafaldo. “My daughter lost her confidence at another center and from the moment she started at MKCCC they made her feel strong and assertive. They reignited her love for learning and brought out the absolute best in her. Their unconditional assurance and support helps each kid develop into the best version of themselves possible.”

“It’s like a family here,” says toddler supervisor and head teacher Vanessa Kardos, who has worked at the center 21 years. “My first group of children are walking across the stage graduating college right now – seeing them become these amazing, mature and wonderful adults coming back as volunteers sometimes makes me so proud that I laid that foundation for them. Between the family feeling here and having so much fun with 2-year-olds all day and the love we get from them when we walk into a classroom, it makes you forget anything negative in the world. You’re giving so much love and getting so much love all day long.” For more information about the center, please visit mkccc.org.

Tanya Tochner Takes Her Flair for Design to the Next Level to Transform Homes

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ROCKS Jewelry Gifts Home Design owner Tanya Tochner          Inside Press Photo

With her Chappaqua jewelry and home store now in full bloom, ROCKS Jewelry Gifts Home Design owner Tanya Tochner has spread her wings to run a successful interior design business. Tochner applies the same creative eye and talent that she has used to curate her beautiful store to designing people’s home spaces.

As a Chappaqua resident for 22 years, Tochner feels right at home at her store in Chappaqua Crossing. The store carries affordable fine jewelry and accessories for the home. Many customers are people that she has known for years and whose children have grown up alongside her children. Some store customers have developed into interior design clients over the last few years.

Before
After
 

Design in all its Forms

For Tochner, the interior design business naturally evolved. It began with store customers, fond of her home accessories, asking her to come to their homes and help them accessorize. These home consults gave rise to requests for her to renovate an entire bathroom or kitchen. Tochner now has a general contractor, an architect, and a team of professional tradesmen that she works with regularly to tackle any renovation from soup to nuts.

Word of mouth has spread and Tochner has found herself incredibly busy with a steady stream of clients. She attributes the rapid growth of her interior design business to everyone having spent so much more time at home due to covid and thus deciding to redo their homes.

In addition to designing homes and running the store, over the last year, Tochner was presented with and seized on the opportunity to stage luxury homes and apartments for real estate sales in Westchester and New York City. This new undertaking developed organically from having the store and doing interior design.

“This business that started off as a jewelry business fifteen years ago, me being a jewelry designer, expanded into home which became interior design which became that plus staging, so it’s all come full circle,” reflects Tochner. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about design. That’s what I love.”

The Brick-and-Mortar Advantage

As the owner of Rocks, Tochner finds it easier to source products than the typical interior designer. She has access to over 300 vendors so she sees more furniture, art, and accessories than many designers.

“As a brick-and-mortar, I have an advantage because I can offer deeper discounts to my clients with my dealer discount, rather than an interior designer discount, so I pass that along. There is also an element of immediate gratification since I carry stock so a client can just come into the store and we can pull from the store,” Tochner explains.

Why Hire a Designer

Tochner recommends hiring an interior designer because it helps clients stay on budget. Clients also save money with access to designer discounts. Additionally, she points out that “you may know what you like but not know where to find it.” A designer can help you source things for your space.

Tochner says her first consultation with a client is crucial to understanding her client’s aesthetic and what they want for their home. It is a collaborative process taking into account the client’s wishes, their needs, and how they intend to use the space.

Although her personal style is very modern, Tochner has designed spaces that are contemporary, traditional, mid-century modern and more.

“It’s all about listening to my client and making it personalized because it’s their space, not mine. Some people know what their aesthetic is, but for the ones that don’t, I can guide them through options.”

Satisfied client Lisa Schwartz says, “Tanya is an absolute pleasure to work with. She has an incredible eye for color, texture, and layout. She creates spaces that are chic but also comfortable and inviting. Tanya has helped transform my home and I couldn’t be happier with the results!”

To reach Tochner, email her at tanya@rocksjewelrygiftshome.com or call the store at (914) 219-5808. Rocks is located at 480 Bedford Road in Chappaqua.