Ilana Schwartz

Local Jeweler Supports the SPCA of Westchester

March 8, 2018 by Ilana Schwartz

Walk down King Street in Chappaqua, NY and you’ll spot tons of local businesses. Be it a clothing store, nail salon or a jewelry store–they’re all over. Many of these businesses have been around for decades and have well served the residents of the area. However, these businesses are not just good for selling products to locals, but many also grant significant support to various charities. Desires by Mikolay, one of the jewelers in town, is well known for its support of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, or better known to many as the SPCA located in Briarcliff Manor.

Scott and Tara Mikolay, the powerhouse husband and wife team that owns Desires, became involved with the SPCA in 2008 because of their joint passion for animals. The couple has had six of their own rescue dogs over the years, ranging from an Australian Cattle Dog to an American Bulldog, so the idea of supporting a charity to raise awareness and support for rescue animals was a “natural fit,” according to Tara.

Tara and Scott care so deeply for the SPCA that they wanted to expand their contributions beyond the personal level by getting their business involved. Since 2008, they have hosted Shop for a Cause, a charity shopping event where they donate 10% of the night’s proceeds to the SPCA. This year, Desires had record success, raising over $4,000 over the course of the evening. The night was so successful because of the staff’s dedication to the cause, as well as the love and support brought in by each client.

In total, Desires has raised more than $45,000 for the organization through the annual holiday event as well as by offering “Gifts with Impact” throughout each year. Tara explained that it is incredibly useful to have “a platform in one of the most generous towns in the country.”

Mini, a beloved pug rescued by the Mikolays. She passed away this year at 16 years.

Although shopping for jewelry is one great way to help the SPCA, there are many other ways to get involved. The SPCA is always in need of committed volunteers and they have an Amazon wish list with products they need for the shelters. Even something as simple as liking the SPCA on Facebook can make a difference and according to Tara, “your impact, however big or small, is so meaningful.”

Tara explained that the SPCA is more than just a rescue organization. Their programs range from taking tireless care of each dog they take in to working to change animal abuse laws and education.

Tara and Scott’s connection to the SPCA runs deep. “Rescuing dogs for us is the only option. There are so many dogs in need and we have been blessed with the love of all of our dogs,” Tara said. The couple is even on the lookout for a companion for their current dog, Gus, and they will certainly be looking to rescue. With more than 1,300 orphaned animals rescued at the SPCA last year alone chances are Gus may just find a “furry friend” there.

Christine Meyer Knows: “Everybody Likes a Cute Dog.”

December 1, 2017 by Ilana Schwartz

Growing up, many children dream of becoming astronauts, actresses or even the President. One woman, however, spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a dog. But when her father explained that puppies, not people, become dogs, she realized that her dream may not be possible, though she never gave up on pursuing a life with animals.

Christine Meyer, owner of Wags and Whiskers on Upper King Street, was driven by her passion for dogs to open the business more than 20 years ago. She started her career as a groomer at another shop in 1986, but was fired when the economy began to decline. On one rainy afternoon soon after being laid off, Meyer was driving through Chappaqua when she spotted a “For Rent” sign in the window of a King Street flower shop, sparking her epiphany that she was ready to start her own business. Shortly thereafter, on May 1, 1991, she opened the doors of Wags and Whiskers, and has been in that same King Street location ever since.

When she first opened the shop, Meyer accepted both dogs and cats, but according to her website “cats don’t like water and dogs don’t like cats, so that quickly changed to the current dogs only policy.” Her approach to dog grooming is to keep the entire process as low-stress as possible, benefitting both the dogs and the owners alike. Services include shampooing and bathing, trims and cuts, treatment for fleas and ticks, ear cleaning, dremel nail trimming and even de-skunking treatments. Meyer, although not a veterinarian, also deals with skin conditions and will even do minor dental cleanings in order to keep her furry clients in tiptop shape.

Ultimately, Meyer aims to make each dog look as adorable as possible because, as she explains, “everybody likes a cute dog!” Her trick? Understanding what each owner wants his or her dog to look like, although she is not afraid to make recommendations, especially after years of successfully grooming and showing her own dogs. Meyer’s experience includes competing in both dog shows and performance competitions for obedience, agility, scent work and sheep herding.

Although the cosmetic side of grooming is critical, she takes an overall approach to each individual dog in order to make it look as good as possible. This all starts with nutrition because “a healthy dog always looks better than a sickly dog,” Meyer explained. To supplement her grooming services, Meyer sells food products, most of which are produced locally in the U.S., along with one food line from Canada and one from New Zealand. Of the many parallels between humans and dogs, Meyer insists that dogs should eat fresh, locally sourced food products. Furthermore, most of the other products that she keeps in stock, including shampoos, conditioners, etc. are holistic, organic and “top of the line, only.”

As a longtime dog lover and owner, Meyer is a true believer in the value that a dog can bring to a family. A dog becomes a common goal for a family, something that everyone wants to take care of and spend time with, especially if it is a clean dog. This is why Meyer recommends that dogs get groomed on average monthly, contingent of course on what type of dog it is. Ultimately, Meyer believes that “having a dog become part of your family strengthens the entire bond,” thus adding unparalleled love and unity to a household.

With the holidays coming up, Meyer mentions a few pet-related things that families should keep in mind. First, book appointments early! The holidays are always a busy time for groomers as people scramble to get their dogs camera-ready for holiday card photo shoots. Also, when looking into gifts for your furry friends, consider interactive toys. Meyer explains that “people underestimate the value of a ball. A ball on a rope can be the absolute best thing a dog has ever seen,” and it can give you the perfect way to bond with your dog.

One misconception that Meyer warns about as the winter weather approaches is the idea that your dog will benefit from long hair in order to keep it warm. Long hair during the winter can be especially problematic for dogs that enjoy spending a lot of time outside playing in the snow. Although this seems counterintuitive, the issue comes when the dog re-enters the house and cannot be properly dried, which leaves the fur soggy and cold and can also leave a mess around the house.

Meyer, though not a Chappaqua resident herself, has been an important presence in Chappaqua ever since she opened Wags and Whiskers. After spending 26 years on King Street, she is now working with a second generation, as her client’s children are grown and bringing their own dogs in for her services. She has also made an immense impact on local rescue societies, working with Jenny’s Hope Rescue in Mount Kisco, A New Chance Animal Rescue in Bedford and running the East Coast Giant Schnauzer Rescue Network across the entire Northeast.

Grassroots Activism Takes Shape in Armonk

October 21, 2017 by Ilana Schwartz

IMPACT raising money at a bake sale for the Union of Concerned Scientists
L-R: Gemma Rosner, Natalie Grodin, Juliette Rosner, Stella Guarino, Lilah Polak, Jocelyn Polak

On the morning of November 9, 2016, every person in the United States woke up and realized that the election of the prior day made history, but not how most people expected. Pollsters, reporters and even America’s children thought they’d wake up to the news that the first woman had been elected president. Instead, everyone woke up to find out that the first reality star was elected into office. To many, this was cause for excitement while for others, this was the start of a day of disappointment, anger and even hopelessness.

Sloan Guarino, an Armonk resident and mother of two, was one of the many who described feeling depressed on Nov. 9. Guarino could not wait to wake up and celebrate the first female president with her daughter, Stella. However, when she learned of the outcome, she realized she would have to confront the daunting task of breaking the news to her nine-year-old. Stella was equally as excited for Clinton to win the election, even going to watch her vote at Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua, NY. Stella said that when she saw Clinton vote, “everyone was cheering for her and I felt inspired.” According to Guarino, “as a parent, that was the worst part of the election. Having to look at her and say, ‘well what we were all excited about didn’t happen.’”

Guarino was determined, though, to show Stella that the election loss did not have to mean defeat. Although she felt angry at President Trump’s proposed policies, she wanted to “take that energy and channel it into something positive” by becoming part of the solution. That was when she and several friends came up with the idea for IMPACT, or Inspiring Meaningful Policy and Change Together, a political action group that would work to make a difference during this incredibly contentious time. The group does not strictly align with either democratic or republican ideologies. Instead, it focuses on “inspiring change that is positive for the community,” Guarino explained. Brooke Rosner, co-founder of IMPACT, wanted to “take action because we are fortunate that we have the right to speak out” in our country.

IMPACT is comprised of 15 like-minded mothers from Armonk, and they are working on expanding membership. The first challenge that the members wanted to tackle was proving to their children that they do not have to give up on what they believe in just because the election did not end as they had hoped. To do this, the members decided to host a bake sale at Armonk’s Third Thursday on July 20, 2017. This was the perfect way to get their daughters involved because the children could bake, make signs and donate the proceeds to a meaningful cause.

IMPACT chose the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) as the beneficiary of what would become the group’s first fundraiser. The UCS is focused on combining independent “technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future,” according to the mission statement on the organization’s website.

The women chose UCS for several reasons. First, the bake sale was at a community event and they wanted to pick an organization that nearly everyone could agree is a good cause, rather than one that is based on democratic versus republican ideology. Second, it is one that the children could understand and support since much of their education focuses on the environment. Stella explained “it is important to give them money because they don’t get any money from the government.” After nearly two hours of sales, the group raised $530, which Stella said made her and her friends “proud and happy.”

IMPACT has several goals for the upcoming months. First, the members are looking forward to getting involved in the Byram Hills Central School District PTSA by creating a new group called The Inclusion and Aware-ness Committee. Guarino will be in charge of the committee and she plans to implement programs that emphasize acceptance of others who may be different from you. The main goal of this committee is to raise children who treat everyone with respect. She hopes to implement age-appropriate programs for each grade level so everyone gets a basic set of guidelines for respect to live by as they grow up. On Sept. 19, the lower school had the first PTSA meeting where parents signed up for committees. 26 people signed up for Guarino’s new committee and she plans to get even more participation when it becomes district-wide.

Another goal on IMPACT’s agenda is volunteering in local elections. Guarino is determined to help George Latimer’s democratic campaign for County Executive of Westchester and Daren Tolz’s democratic campaign for Westchester County Legislature. She believes that these hyper-local elections are a great way to incite change within our country’s political system. Guarino hopes to help increase voter turnout rates by helping people get to the polls through ride shares and providing possible childcare services on Nov. 7.

Each day, Guarino, Rosner and their IMPACT colleagues are working to make a difference at a grassroots level. Stella said that it “makes [her] feel proud because [she has] never really seen her [mother] do something really important like this before.”