The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Byram Hills Celebrates Two Athletes Committed to Playing at Division I Universities

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Byram Hills High School celebrated two star athletes taking their talents to Division I universities next year. At a signing ceremony Wednesday at Byram Hills, Carson Frye, signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Georgetown. Griffen Rakower has made a verbal commitment to play lacrosse at Princeton.

Byram Hills High School is celebrating two student-athletes who have committed to playing at a Division I university next year.

At a signing ceremony at the high school on Wednesday, right-handed pitcher Carson Frye signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Georgetown. Byram Hills also honored Griffen Rakower, a goalie who has made a verbal commitment to play lacrosse at Princeton.

“The Byram Hills Athletic Program is extremely proud of the accomplishments of Carson Frye and Griffen Rakower,” said Rob Castagna, director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health at Byram Hills. “These two hard-working student-athletes continue to better themselves and everyone around them with their phenomenal work ethic and relentless competitiveness. We congratulate them as they make commitments to bring their talents to the Division I collegiate level.” Carson and Griffen have established themselves as among the best in Section 1 for their sport.

Last season, Carson posted a 4-1 record on the mound in five starts. He led the Bobcats with a .73 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 38 innings. In a major highlight, Carson threw a no-hitter against the rival Rye Garnets.

As a junior, Griffen had a 62.7 save percentage and finished the season with 132 saves. He held his opponents to under 10 goals in 14 out of 16 games. He earned an All-Section honor, a year after being an All-League player in his sophomore year.

Carson, who plans to study business, credits a mix of athletics and academics at Byram Hills with helping him reach the next level. “The academic environment that we have here is very competitive and everyone always strives to do very well in the classroom,” Carson said.

“I tried to focus on my grades in the classroom first.”

“I knew that my talents on the baseball field, I was pretty good and I could go places, but without combining my skills on the field with my work ethic in the classroom, I definitely would not be here,” he added.

Griffen also cited athletics and the academic excellence at Byram Hills.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the Byram Hills varsity lacrosse for the past four years,” Griffen said. “I think the friendships I’ve made and the coaches I’ve been in contact with have really helped me sculpt my game on the field. I think Byram Hills is a great place to learn, to make relationships with teachers.”

A Local Winter Wonderland Thanks to Westchester Land Trust

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In 2009, through a partnership with Town of North Castle and the Village of Mount Kisco, Westchester Land Trust preserved a nearly 30 acre parcel next to Byram Hill Lake in Armonk. The stunning lake is used by recreational fishermen and boaters (Note: permits are required) during warmer months but during the winter it makes a magnificent backdrop for photographs. The preservation protects the drinking water supply for local residents. The conservation easement also protects significant wildlife habitat including forests and wetlands.

Photos courtesy of Westchester Land Trust

Screenings Through The Decades

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Samantha Lowe, MD, Pediactrics

Drs. Samantha Lowe and Michael Zuckman of White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk see to the well-being of patients at all stages of life. Part of that care includes providing age-appropriate screenings to ensure optimal health and wellness. Here’s a brief but comprehensive summary of the things you should be checking for both for you and your family members through the years.

Need a physician to help you get the screenings you and your family need? Call White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk at (914) 849-7900.

Birth To Pre-Teens

Recommended screenings for newborns and children include testing for congenital problems, monitoring growth and development, hearing and vision screenings, and immunization updates.

Michael Zuckman, MD, Internal Medicine

Teenage Years

Start screening for mental health problems, beginning in the teen years when they commonly start presenting. Updating immunizations; educating teens about the risks of tobacco, drug, and alcohol use; and the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are also all essential.

20s and 30s

Young adults should be monitored for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol all through routine doctor visits. Cervical cancer screenings for women and testicular cancer screenings for men should also be included.

In The 40s

In addition to continuing screenings begun earlier in life, patients should begin screening for glaucoma. Women should begin screening for breast cancer, and both men and women at average risk should begin screening for colorectal cancer by age 45 according to new American Cancer Society guidelies.

In The 50s

All previous screenings and tests should be maintained, and men should begin screening for prostate cancer.

Ages 60 and older

Regular screenings for all previous conditions should continue and screenings for osteoporosis, depression, and memory problems should begin.

Our Doctors. Your Neighborhood.

White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness provides comprehensive care for the entire family, conveniently located off 684/exit 3 in Armonk. Expert physicians in Primary Care, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and multiple specialties including Allergy & Immunology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Neurology, orthopedics and Rheumatology offer personalized service for patients and family members. Same-day appointments are often available. The facility also houses a Diagnostic Imaging Center and Urgent Care center, operated by White Plains Hospital Emergency Department physicians, with extended hours and short wait times. Call (914) 849-7900 for an appointment or (914) 849-7999 for urgent care, open seven days a week.

Stroke: Know the Signs. Be Ready to Act.

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Health News you can use

Brought to you by White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness located at 99 Business Park Drive, Armonk

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the #5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. The risk increases due to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, diseases of the arteries, or heart disease, or for those who smoke, are obese, or who live a sedentary lifestyle. The good news, though, is that 80% of strokes are preventable.

So, do you know how to spot a stroke? Usually, it comes down to specific symptoms: intense headache, sudden confusion, difficulty finding words, lack of balance, or sudden numbness or tingling on one side of the body. But it’s what you do next – according to Amy Hua, DO, neurologist at White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk – that can mean the difference between complete recovery and lifelong impairment.

“With a stroke, minutes matter and the longer a person waits to get to the hospital, the more chance they have of developing a permanent disability,” says Dr. Hua.

If you suspect a stroke in progress, call 911 immediately. Being treated at a designated Stroke Center can positively impact outcome. White Plains Hospital is home to Westchester County’s first New York State designated Regional Stroke Center, and has been repeatedly recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for providing the most appropriate stroke treatment, according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence

Seven Byram Hills Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

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Seven Byram Hills High School seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists. Front Row (L-R): Nicole Tissot, Emma Lucchino and Elyse Kanner. Back Row (L-R): Alan Chang, Jonah Schwam, David McDaniels and Joshua Freedman.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BYRAM HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

The school year at Byram Hills High School started off with good news. Seven seniors at the high school were named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The students were Alan Chang, Joshua Freedman, Elyse Kanner, Emma Lucchino, David McDaniels, Jonah Schwam and Nicole Tissot.

“We are very proud of these students for this accomplishment,” Principal Christopher Walsh said. “It’s always great to have our students highlighted on a national level, and to have seven of our students ranked nationally speaks to the tremendous quality of education and support that we have here at Byram Hills.”

The Byram Hills students are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists, academically talented students who represent less than 1 percent of all high school seniors in the country and include the highest-scoring entrants from each state, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation said in a release.

They were chosen from more than 1.6 million high school juniors in about 22,000 schools across the country who took the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

More than 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to earn finalist standing, and about half of those will win a scholarship and the Merit Scholar title. The students are competing for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million, awards that will be announced in the spring and summer.