The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) is celebrating 85 years of service, focusing on civic advocacy and leadership. Through programs for youth ages 6 months to 18, the Club fosters academic growth, fitness, wellness, workforce development, and leadership skills.
A key pillar of BGCNW’s work is advocacy. In 2023, 18 teens, along with CEO Alyzza C. Ozer, Esq., successfully secured legislation allowing NYS to allocate funds directly to community-based youth mental wellness programs. Special thanks to County Legislator Erika Pierce, who championed the Club as the first community-based organization in the county to receive such funding. As a result, BGCNW has implemented a comprehensive mental wellness program, providing over 5,000 therapy sessions and significantly improving lives in the first year.
In January, Ozer and 18 passionate youth traveled to Albany alongside BGCNW Teen Director Christopher Beaudreault and Donor Impact Officer John Tunas to advocate for continued funding. However, NYS merged after-school funding streams and altered financial eligibility criteria based on real estate values in the Bedford Central School District (BCSD). This change rendered BCSD ineligible for funding even though Mount Kisco Elementary is on the list of NYS Title 1 schools and over 75% of district students qualify for free lunch. The Club now faces a devastating $2 million loss over five years, highlighting the need for equitable funding regardless of zip code.
BGCNW is advocating for Universal After-School support, recognizing that children and teens deserve safe spaces, nutritious meals, and academic and wellness resources. With state-wide eligibility changes negatively affecting many youth organizations, BGCNW has requested additional funding for OCFS-licensed programs. During their Albany visit, the teens also pushed for legislation addressing food scarcity, youth mental wellness, and Learn to Swim initiatives. Drowning remains the second leading cause of accidental death among children under six, yet more than 70,000 children have learned water safety at the Club. The Marlins Swim Team, with 250 athletes, continues to earn national recognition and serves as a pathway to university.
Strong partnerships between government, businesses, and community stakeholders drive meaningful change. BGCNW Youth of the Year, Grace Gerosa, emphasized the Club’s impact: “The Club has helped me develop life skills, gain mentors, and secure a spot at Bucknell University. My voice matters. Without the Club, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” To hear more about advocacy from the Club teens go to: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/KwlVb9Yad4, where they were featured on PIX11 News.
Unleash your potential with Strike Kickboxing, the latest fitness trend in our new Strike Studio! Whether you opt for a quick 30-minute session or a full 60, our certified instructors deliver high-energy classes that combine skill-building with a killer workout. Experience improved strength, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance while learning precise techniques. Feel empowered as you master new skills, enhance balance, and boost your confidence. Plus, it’s the perfect way to relieve stress and blow off steam in a fun, focused environment. Step into the ring and discover how Strike Kickboxing transforms your fitness journey – one punch, one kick, one class at a time!
ROAMFurther Athletics is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to embrace movement as a pathway to health, confidence, and adventure. Specializing in innovative fitness programs based on parkour and ninja-warrior style obstacle training ROAM helps individuals build strength, agility, and resilience while having fun. By promoting a mindset of continuous improvement in an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere, ROAM empowers participants to overcome physical and mental challenges, fostering a sense of accomplishment and well-being. Whether you’re looking to stay active, connect with others, or take your fitness journey to the next level, ROAMFurther Athletics offers a unique approach to staying healthy and living life to the fullest.
As a tennis club, our get-fit solution is to get out on the court and play. A lot of people struggle to maintain a gym routine, but a sport like tennis, which requires constant movement and exercises the whole body, is a great way to work out without the focus being on how many reps are left. Cardio Tennis is a particularly good program we have for working up a sweat, but even just rallying with a friend helps burn calories and build stamina. Since reaching any type of fitness goal requires commitment, tennis is an ideal activity because it’s social and fun, providing extra motivation to stick with it.
My get-fit tip is to focus on your weakest orthopedic link and slowly build a program around it. You may have the best designed strength and conditioning program, but if it flares up your back, knee or shoulder, your progress will likely come to a halt. Some common exercises that occasionally cause problems are overhead shoulder presses, deep squats, deep dips and sit ups (even crunches!). More mindful replacement exercises would be rotator cuff strengthening, clamshells, planks and side planks. Even with these exercises, it is important to start slowly and build. Avoid the mistake of too much, too soon!
Our get-fit solution is swimming! Swimming offers the benefit of a full-body workout and can lead to improved cardiovascular fitness, weight management, and stress reduction. At Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) we offer Learn-to-Swim classes for all ages in addition to: stroke development clinics; the Marlins, competitive youth swim team – nationally ranked in the top 5% of swim clubs; adult lap swim; and, the adult Masters swim team. Water safety is a critical skill, especially for children. Each year in the U.S. the #1 cause of accidental death for children aged 6 and under is drowning. Over 70,000 children have learned to be water safe at the Club.
Sweat’s preferred “get-fit” solution is straightforward – consistency. With everything in life, results are a direct relationship between the effort you’ve put in. I can see changes in our clients who have dedicated the time to their hot yoga or skulpt class workouts, consistently showed up for themselves, and committed to prioritizing their health. Sweat has expanded our class offerings – we now have evening classes 3 nights during the week and have also rounded out our class portfolio with a Strength and Conditioning class. Giving new options for our clients to get to the studio in the evenings will hopefully allow for more consistency in their 2025 fitness journey.
My tip. Ladies, lift heavy weights 2-3 times a week! Women over 40 must prioritize strength training. Muscle mass starts to decline rapidly after the age of 40, and as estrogen decreases, building muscle becomes harder. High rep, 8lb weights won’t cut it. “Heavy” is different for everyone, but it means lifting a weight that challenges you at the 4 to 6 rep range. Strength training not only helps build muscle but boosts metabolism and bone health. So, step away from the Peloton and start lifting heavy weights! Your body will thank you.
This magazine issue is dedicated to health and fitness. Along with a new year comes all sorts of resolutions to eat better, drink less alcohol, workout more, etc., but, in order to live a quality life, focusing on our mental health and emotional wellbeing can be transformational.
Suicide, whether successful or unsuccessful, is a heart-wrenching experience. As a family, our road to recovery was long and challenging and remnants of my actions linger. Yet, out of the trauma, some life lessons emerged. A year after my suicide attempt, I ended up writing a memoir, My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World. At 13, my son contributed two chapters. I got to read about what he experienced that night. In turn, I was able to share with him my account. This collaborative writing process became therapeutic for us, and it started a journey into communication, understanding, compassion, and healing. Most of all, I’ve been blessed to receive my son’s forgiveness.
Green & Tonic in Chappaqua offer a blend of health-conscious bowls and dynamic flavors. Their signature Green Guru smoothie is a huge standout. A vibrant green concoction packed with kale, ginger, and an earthy richness, this smoothie is thick and filling, making it a great remedy when you’re feeling under the weather. The ginger adds a warming element that works wonders. While the kale flavor is strong, the ginger and creamy texture make this smoothie healthy
Armonk Country Kitchen’s salad game is on point. We ordered a chopped salad with romaine, hearts of palm, avocado, edamame, and cucumber, all topped off with white balsamic vinaigrette on the side, and it was fresh & delicious. The hearts of palm added a light, tangy flavor that balanced perfectly with the crisp greens, while the creamy avocado brought smoothness to the crunch of the lettuce and cucumber. The edamame added a nice pop of texture, and that dressing is enough to have us coming back for more – it tied everything together with a perfect punch of flavor. Chopped just right, every bite had a little bit of everything. We recommend adding chicken to this salad if you are looking for protein or something more filling.
Lulu’s, a new addition to Pleasantville’s food scene, has quickly become a must-try spot for anyone craving classic American comfort foods. We often struggle at restaurants deciding whether to order a salad or a burger, but this perfect Cheeseburger Salad lets us have the best of both worlds. Here, you can have all the savory flavors of both a burger, and a salad! The salad is on the heavier side, making it a better choice for dinner rather than lunch. Additionally, by mimicking the burger flavors, we would put this salad as a less healthy option. The crispy lettuce adds a refreshing crunch, complementing the juicy, crunchy burger patty that tastes just like a classic cheeseburger. It’s a satisfying and flavorful option, and if you’re in the mood for something hearty but lighter than a traditional burger, this is a great pick.
If you’re looking for a bowl that’s both super filling and feels light and healthy, Exit 4 Food Hall in Mt. Kisco has a cauliflower rice bowl that is absolutely delicious. This salad bowl consists of creamy avocado, crisp peas, bright scallions, edamame, and crunchy carrots, all drizzled in the tangy yuzu sesame sauce. The best part! The cauliflower rice actually tastes like real fried rice. It’s salty, refreshing, and the perfect balance of flavors and textures in every bite. It’s got that savory kick you crave, without any of the heaviness. Beyond just being a delicious, light, and healthy meal, it is allergy friendly as it contains no gluten and is vegan–Definitely worth a try!