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The Inside Press

How to Navigate the College Planning Process When Your Child Has Learning/Emotional Differences

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Presented by The Byram Hills High School Counseling Department, The Byram Hills Department of Special Services and, C.H.I.L.D.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Byram Hills High School

Please join C.H.I.L.D., the BHHS Counseling Department and Special Services for an informative evening that will include an experienced group of panelists. Hear perspectives first-hand about the college planning process and receive helpful tools for parents of students who have learning and/or emotional challenges.

Panelists:

  • Anne Kaplan, BHHS School Counselor
  • Jill Boynton, Director of Special Services and Health Services (K-12)
  • Gabriella Burd, Director of Disability Services at Manhattanville College
  • A recent high school graduate.

Moderated by Dr. Michael McGrath, Chair of the BHHS Counseling Department

We look forward to seeing you there!

C.H.I.L.D. is a parent-based committee of the Byram Hills PTSA. C.H.I.L.D. is a network of resources, information and support for educators and families with children who have learning and/or emotional differences, from preschool through high school.

Hillary’s Run: The Interview

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By Evan and Jackie Glassman

© Ronni Diamondstein 2008, all rights reserved.
© Ronni Diamondstein 2008, all rights reserved.
On Sunday, September 28, 2008, the two of us had the opportunity to speak with our neighbor Senator Clinton and touched on several topics: her historic race, the current presidential campaign, her relationship with our community, and her advice for kids (like ours!) who are interested in public service.

Q (Evan): I actually met you and your husband in 1992 in New Hampshire while campaigning for President Clinton’s first race. I’ve been following your careers ever since, and have enjoyed writing the “Hillary’s Run” column for Inside Chappaqua over the past year. Thank you for taking some time to speak with us today.

A: I’m really happy to do it Evan, and I’m glad to know of the connection going back to 1992. We have two things in common — that campaign and living in Chappaqua. I appreciate the way that you have chronicled the campaign, and I’m very excited to talk with you today.

Q: We’ve all been watching from Chappaqua, and it’s been very exciting. Going back now, and I know its only been a few months since you stepped back from the campaign, what lessons can be drawn from your historic race?

A: I think first of all — what an amazing country this is despite all of our problems and challenges. The fact that the Democratic party fielded such a great group of candidates and it came down to Senator Obama and me says volumes about our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people willing to work for them. I also think that it’s a real reflection on the American people. I met so many young people whose dreams for going to college were cut short because they couldn’t afford to start or complete. I’m reminded time and again of the resilience and extraordinary commitment to the future that most Americans believe in. And what they’re looking for is a government that will be a partner with them and not make life even more difficult than it is.

Q: As you stand here today, what are you most proud of from your race?

A: I am really proud of the way we mobilized millions of people who participated in the front lines of a political campaign and made the phone calls and walked the streets, to those who showed up and voted for a better future. I was proud to be a woman working hard to shatter that glass ceiling and the connection that I felt with so many girls and young women and even older women in their 90s who had come to my events. Really, it was touching and meaningful to me because I felt that it was not only me running for the nomination to be our President, but it was a lot of people feeling empowered and excited about their own potential.

Q: Were you happy with the support you received from your hometown, Chappaqua?

A: Absolutely. I had so many people who came out and worked for me, who cheered me on, who were there every step of the way with me. I remember so well a woman who came up to me at the French Restaurant as we like to call it …

Q: That’s what we call it too …

A: And said, “I’m so proud to tell people I live in Chappaqua because of what your campaign means to me and to so many people.”

Q: What are your feelings about the way the current campaign is unfolding? It’s been a pretty dramatic week.

A: The country has faced a pretty dramatic challenge with the situation in the financial and credit markets. Democrats proved that we could turn the economy around when my husband went into office in 1993, and I think that people remember that, and they’re looking for steady and sensible leadership to guide us out of our current predicament, which is why on November 4th, we are going to win this election.

Q: I also wonder — and neighbors have been asking me this all week — when they heard I was going to have a moment with you — what you’re thinking about Senator McCain’s choice of Governor Palin as a running mate?

A: Well, it’s obviously one that excited the Republican base and excited people beyond the Republican Party to see a woman on the ticket. The Democrats did it in 1984 with Geraldine Ferraro, and the Republicans did it this year. I think it’s not going to sway the voters who need to be convinced. People are going to be asking — who is better for my family? Who is better for the economy? Who is more likely to move us toward quality affordable health care for everybody? The McCain-Palin ticket does not offer any of that. So, it’s an exciting choice, and I think people can be interested and moved by her story and her position on the ticket and conclude rightly that it’s not enough to convince them to support the same old Republican policies.

Q: How do you think they’re going to be preparing Governor Palin this week for her debate on October 2 in light of the reaction to her interview with Katie Couric a couple of days ago?

A: I don’t know Evan because it’s hard to be prepared for these debates. Joe Biden went through a lot of debates in the Presidential primary season as well as what he’s done his entire career. She apparently did debate when she ran for governor, but the quantum leap to standing on that stage in front of tens of millions of Americans is daunting. I don’t know what their strategy will be, but I think again, people can say well “good for her, she’s come a long way, she’s got a lot of achievements on the state level,” whether you agree with her or not, but Joe Biden is ready to be President. He has experience both in dealing with economic difficulties and certainly with strategic challenges we face around the world and I expect that will be the take away from the debate.

Q (Jackie): I’m going to switch gears now. How would you like to be remembered around town — far in the future?

A: As a good neighbor because I feel so much at home in Chappaqua. Both Bill and I had no idea what to expect when we bought our house in 1999. It’s almost 10 years. We have loved being part of the community. I know you have been active in the Chappaqua School Foundation, and I well remember when we were participating in the event that helped raise money and spread the word about the good work the Foundation has done. Bill has been involved in supporting the New Castle Historical Society.

Q: I have two questions from our children. The first from our ten-year-old son, Jacob, who is a fifth grader at Seven Bridges Middle School. He is planning to run for Class Representative and wanted to know if you had any tips?

A: I think first of all when you run for any office — school or in society — you have to start by making clear to your classmates that you want to represent them and do a good job to serve them. So you need to be a good listener. You want to ask people — “well what do you think we can make better at school?” We love our school, but what could be done differently that might make it even better than it is? You want to be sure that you talk to everybody. Don’t leave anybody out. You never know what somebody will do when they vote. Sometimes you assume this person would never vote for me, but you’ve got to ask everybody for his or her vote. You want to tell people that you’ll really really work hard. Now, if it works, then you’ve got to go to work and try to do everything you said. If it doesn’t work, don’t get discouraged. I ran for office in junior high school. I was a little older than Jacob. I didn’t win, but I didn’t give up because I think if you really want to serve people and help them, you may have to try a couple of times. When my husband first ran for Congress in 1974, he lost, but he didn’t give up. He kept going and eventually ended up being our President.

Q: My other question is from our six year-old daughter, Abby. It’s a similar question, but being that she’s a girl born into a world where girls can do anything — she would like to be president one day. She’s a first-grader. Any quick tips for her?

A: Well I hope that Abby feels like she can do anything. I hope that my running for President and being from Chappaqua has convinced her even more that there shouldn’t be any limits to what girls and boys can do. But just because we’re breaking down barriers and shattering the glass ceiling doesn’t mean that anybody is entitled to anything in our society. You really have to be prepared and you have to work hard and the best way to do that for Abby is to really love school, learn as much as she can, just get excited about participating in activities that she likes. If she’s an athlete, if she’s a musician, an artist, a dancer, a gymnast — whatever she likes — really throw herself into it. You may want to be President today when you’re six, but you may decide when you’re older that you want to do something else, but what’s most important is to do what you really feel passionate about, where you can best serve and what would give the most meaning to your life.

Evan and Jackie: Thank you. Thank you, Senator Clinton. It’s been an honor to talk to you today.

Senator Clinton: Nice talking to you, too.

Evan: Good luck with the bailout!

Senator Clinton: I think we have a deal, Evan. At least I hope we have a deal. And it’s a heck of a lot better than what we saw when it first arrived from the Treasury Department. It’s not everything that I or probably anybody else would want if we were starting from scratch, but I think it’s an improved plan that I hope can get to work pretty soon, so that we can avoid further economic dislocation, so that’s what I’m working on now.

Evan and Jackie: Thank you for your time.

Senator Clinton: Thank you. Take care everybody.

EVAN GLASSMAN is a litigation partner in the New York City office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. JACKIE GLASSMAN writes children’s books and develops educational materials. She also serves on the Board of the Chappaqua School Foundation. They moved to Chappaqua in 2000 (shortly after the Clintons), where they live with their children Jacob and Abby.

A Conversation with THEN Senator Hillary Clinton

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FIRST APPEARED AS A COVER STORY IN THE NOVEMBER 2006 INSIDE CHAPPAQUA MAGAZINE

Photo by Marianne Campolongo
Photo by Marianne Campolongo

By Grace Bennett

In the midst of planning this “back to school” issue, I sat down with Senator Clinton immediately before she set off as an honored participant and speaker in New Castle’s Memorial Day Parade–an event that has become an annual tradition for the Senator since the Clintons’ move here over three years ago.. Though I gave it the old college try, I failed to entice her to share her plans for the 2008 election. I think I did, however, manage to extract at least a few interesting nuggets, particularly about her experiences as a Chappaqua and Westchester resident (see if you agree), picked her brain on a couple more pressing issues, and ultimately enjoyed the interview at Lange’s despite my concern about any pre-parade hustle and bustle interference. Senator Clinton arrived on time, with support staff and Secret Service agents in tow, to a pre-designated table. She struck me immediately as relaxed and comfortable. Almost instantly and in full view of Girl Scouts, their leaders and assorted other deli customers munching on eggs and bagels, we got down to business…

How would you describe Chappaqua to someone who has never been here before?

Senator Clinton: It is a welcoming small town in the greater New York City metropolitan area with all the advantages of both.

GB: What are some of the advantages to you in living here?

Photo by Marianne Campolongo
Photo by Marianne Campolongo

By Grace Bennett

Senator Clinton: First of all, it’s physically so beautiful and I love the history of it…the fact that it’s been here so long. The people are the number one attraction. We’ve had such a great time since we’ve moved in, getting to know people, getting to spend time with people. We like the convenience of everything around here. We like the fact that we can take long walks just walking out of our house and basically go for miles in all directions. The parks, the arboretum and other places we love to go—the Rockefeller Preserve—all of that is just very convenient and very beautiful.  We eat in the restaurants, we shop in the stores…we’ve just had a great experience.

GB: What are your favorite haunts? Crabtree Kittle House and Le Jardin come to mind, but have there been any new surprises?

Senator Clinton: We like Grappolo’s in addition to the places you mentioned. We are regulars at Lange’s. It’s the first place we came when we moved here. We go to Starbuck’s a lot, Britches*–I adore Phyllis** –and Village Market.  GB: Do you feel your privacy is respected?  Senator Clinton: Very much so. People are friendly but everyone is busy with their own lives, and they’re always nice to us when we see them. We’ve gotten to know some people by just running into them at a restaurant or some other haunt.

GB: You mentioned at the (Chappaqua) School Foundation gala that this is a district generous with funding for extraordinary programs. But you were also careful to add—and I admired that you did—that we can’t forget ordinary programming for other districts. How do you feel living in a community in which there are obviously so many luxuries and people who are so well to do. How do we narrow the gap between a district like Chappaqua and other districts with fewer resources?

Senator Clinton: That’s a really good question. I’ve spent more than 25 years worrying about just that question. I wish every child had the chance to go to school in a place like Chappaqua. I first visited Bell*** in ’99. Whenever I walk into a school, no matter where I am in the country, I always say to the teachers, “Well, how do you like teaching here?” Well, you can get a real earful. Sometimes, it’s not so much by what they say, but by their body language (you know, by how they roll their eyes or shrug). But these teachers said it’s like Camelot, it’s the greatest teaching place. Everybody is so committed to giving the kids the best possible education and we don’t have that in many places in our state.

So, you can look at what Chappaqua offers and say to yourself, “What can we do to try and improve the quality of teaching and the general involvement and support as well as the facilities and curriculums for kids that are not lucky enough to live here. There’s a lot of hard work associated with that…and it does take money. People who say that education is not a question of money are talking about somebody else’s kids. Because people who live here not only pay very high property taxes but also contribute in other ways… that gives even more advantage to their children.

GB:  A lot of people also feel that in a community like Chappaqua, there can be a sense of entitlement around children, with everyone rolling out the red carpet for them. What about “adversity building character”?  How would you suggest parents teach values in an area like this where maybe it’s too much of an easy street?  Can that be a problem?

Senator Clinton:  I can talk about my own experiences. Obviously, Chelsea grew up in circumstances very different from Bill’s or mine, first in the Governor’s Mansion in Arkansas and then in the White House. We worked really hard to avoid that sense of entitlement that can be very corrosive to a child’s understanding of the larger world. And so we would have chores for her to do. We had her involved in charitable programs from a very young age, starting when she was three or four with Secret Santa**** and so many other exposures so that she never took for granted the blessings that she had. She had other experiences during the summers with different kinds of people so we made sure that she just didn’t live in a bubble. I think that’s part of a parent’s challenge when you live in an affluent area…because the world is very different from the wonderful, safe surroundings that we provide for our children growing up in a place like Chappaqua. And I think you owe to to your children to make sure they are respectful to all people, their teachers, their coaches, other adults, but also to people who work inside their homes and who provide services to you.

GB: I understand that you and Bill Clinton gravitate as much as possible to coming home to Chappaqua. Has Chappaqua really in your heart become your home? Do you have a long term commitment to this town? Is Chappaqua going to be your home if you run and if  you win? Could Chappaqua be the hometown of the next president?

Senator Clinton: (Chuckling) I don’t know about that, but I can tell you that when I get home which is often very late, unfortunately, and I sometimes have to leave very early too, I always feel like I am coming home. We feel so fortunate to have found a place that we love—our house—plus a place we love to live that is everything we could have asked for. You know, we didn’t have a house of our own for 20 years because of Bill’s political career and of the fact that his being a governor and a president, obviously you live in very high quality public housing. I think the real challenge for anybody when you make such a big transition is to feel like you are at home and to have a sense of community. Know your neighbors. I just feel that…completely.

GB: Do you get together with your neighbors?

Senator Clinton: We have wonderful neighbors our our street and we have gotten to know all of them. When we first moved in, our first Christmas, we had a very small open house just for our street. We really enjoy the people who live right near us. I’ve been able to run next door with Chelsea for a cup of brown sugar when we were trying to make something.

GB: Does Chelsea have a chance to visit Chappaqua much?

Senator Clinton:  She does. She too have a very busy life with an apartment in the city but she comes as often as she can. She comes for holidays. I’ll be doing a birthday party for my mother who’s turning 87 next week and she’ll be there along with some of our other friends and relatives. We also have two nephews and we try to get each of them to come and spend a week. One of our nephews, Bill’s brother’s son, just loves to spend time in our yard with our dog, this great Labrador. The other loves to go to the zoon. So we do just have a wonderful time using all of the attractions and opportunities that we have because we live in Chappaqua.

GB: OK, now for a darker question. How do you address Indian Point and our safety and security in this area? That’s on everyone’s minds in this town and in other towns in Westchester, and indeed in New York City.

Senator Clinton: It should be. There has been the biggest series of missteps and misinformation for the last five years when obviously attention turned to Indian Point in an every more focused way after September 11. I have remained very involved with it and I have called for many things over the last several years including forcing them to put in new sirens so that they’d have an emergency system that would actually work. Recently, I’ve been calling for an independent safety assessment. There are just too many problems…there are leaks, exposure to workers, problems with evacuation and all the difficulties that have been covered in the press and so I’ve joined with colleagues in both sides of the House…it’s totally bipartisan… in both the House and the Senate to require an independent safety assessment. I’ve asked the chairman (, TK, TK DIAZ); he has agreed in part but not gone as far as I wanted him to go…I’m pushing as hard as possible to get them to live up to the highest possible standards. When I say “them,” I’m not just talking about the company (Entergy), but also NRC (the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) because the NRC is the public regulatory framework that is supposed to be safeguarding our interests.

GB:  I remember you once mentioned how Chappaqua people are ubiquitous. I wanted to see if I can get more of your sentiments about what you meant by that.

Senator Clinton:  They are just very involved. Before I looked at a house in Chappaqua, I had never heard of Chappaqua. It wasn’t 24 hours in the fall of ’99 when we announced that we were buying a house in Chappaqua that people started coming up to me and announcing that they were from Chappaqua, their parents still lived in Chappaqua, or that they had gone to school at Greeley. Suddenly I learned this new word and everyone around me was saying it. But also in way of involvement in the community—both the immediate community here in Chappaqua, in the larger city and then in the state, but even on national and international issues, there’s a lot of concern here. Our churches and synagogues…At our church, The First Methodist Church in Mount Kisco, they sent children and teenagers to help after Katrina…there’s just a whole lot of social consciousness around.

GB: I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask for the residents here…what are some of the factors you’re considering of whether or not you would run (for President)?

Senator Clinton: I just want to do the job I have to the best of my ability and let the future take care if itself when it gets there!

GB: What do you say to the chorus of even liberal voices that say a woman can’t be elected president?

Senator Clinton: I hope that they’re wrong. Whether it’s me or someone else. Because that would be a huge psychological barrier to put up in the lives of half our population and we’ve come too far and women have proven themselves in every walk of life; it would be a shame if suddenly people were reverting to old stereotypes.  Every election is between real people. It’s not between cardboard cut-outs. It’s not between myths—it’s between real people, so it depends upon who those people are and what kind of case they make about what they want to do for our country. I think it would be real unfortunate if people discouraged women from pursuing their ambitions, whatever they are. I mean we’re fighting wars right now in part because freedom is denied to people–and particularly to women and girls.

MHA on the move, 5K Run/Walk

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Join us on May 3rd for the MHA on the move, 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Kids’ Race. Changing mental health in the community is a team effort!

Sign up to run or walk MHA’s annual 5K, MHA on the move, to support mental health initiatives in Westchester. On your own or with a team, participating in the 5K run/walk is a great way to feel good and do good.

Form a team and get creative naming it!

MHA walk 2015aSome you’ll be seeing on the road on May 3rd: Jackie’s Angels, ACTletics, Carebears Mind, Body and Sole and AHOY.

Together, we will change the story of mental health in Westchester. WE CAN DO THIS!

  • Teams can walk or run. Some members can run, some can walk. It’s ALL good.
  • All registrants receive a FREE T-shirt.
  • 5K Race is timed by the Taconic Road Runners.
  • Medals awarded in each age category as well as overall male and female.
  • 1-Mile Kids’ Race for ages 10 and under includes warm-up by Club Fit and ribbons for each child. Medals to top 3 girls and boys.
  • Healthy food, fun entertainment and an awesome raffle.

RAISE MONEY!

Once you register, your very own fundraising webpage is created for you. You can easily ask family and friends to support your race and help you meet your fundraising goal. All donations collected go towards creating and sustaining vital mental health services in the community.

Moving together, let us demonstrate that no matter how isolated an individual may feel while experiencing a mental health challenge, they are not alone and help is always available.

Register now

MHA walk 2015b