Lauren Rosh

About Lauren Rosh

Lauren Rosh, a journalism major at the University of Maryland, has contributed many articles to The Inside Press since the early spring.

Getting to Know the People Behind New Castle’s New Council on Race and Equity

November 13, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

CRE Council members (L-R): Johanna Nayyar, Candace Chestnut, Kristina Herman, Tanya Tochner, Nichelle Maynard-Elliott, Angela Helm, Hermian Charles, Zabeen Mirza, and Melissa Cintron. Mindy Park is not pictured. Photo by Carolyn Simpson

On June 16, 2020, the Town Board authorized the creation of the New Castle Council on Race and Equity (CRE), and since then, co-chairs Zabeen Mirza and Nichelle Maynard-Elliott have collaborated with the workgroup team leaders to create a safe space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) families in the community.

According to a statement the CRE released on Instagram in August, the council is “a volunteer-based organization here in New Castle led entirely by BIPOC leaders.”

The CRE is an “organization of over 115 New Castle community members, divided across eight workgroups committed to achieving, sustaining, and upholding racial equity and ending systemic racism across every segment of the Town of New Castle’s infrastructure,” according to the Instagram statement.

“As progressive or as liberal a community might believe it is, there is still so much work that needs to be done,” said Mirza.

Co-Chairs’ Background

Mirza has three children in the Chappaqua School District and believes the work the CRE is doing is mainly for the children in the community, and for future generations, who will benefit from the changes.

“Why are we so committed? Why is the council as galvanized as it is? It’s because it’s for our children. We’re invested for our children. We quickly realized that the community–if it doesn’t progress, if it doesn’t accept, if it doesn’t evolve and adapt–then it will fail our children,” said Mirza.

In 1978, Maynard-Elliott moved with her family from Queens to New Castle where she attended the Chappaqua School District. She said her family received a cool, and in some cases, hostile reception from neighbors but over time developed relationships within the community. Maynard-Elliott felt she had a solid academic experience and after college and law school, she wanted to move back.

But, in 2008, when Maynard-Elliott, her husband and her two children moved back to New Castle and when it was time to start school, her son had a different experience. Throughout his time in the school district, Maynard-Elliott and her husband met with administration about racial incidents. His experiences motivated Maynard-Elliott’s son to establish the Black Student Union with the support of guidance counselor Mrs. Tinuke Colpa. Now the BIPOC Student Union, Maynard-Elliott’s daughter is currently co-chair.

Following the June Board of Education meeting about racial incidents in Chappaqua schools that lasted four hours, Maynard-Elliott decided to expand her involvement.

“I otherwise love this community. We have great neighbors, it is a comfortable and safe place, but I do believe everyone should have equal access and should be treated with care and respect. White students just get a different experience,” said Maynard-Elliott. “Our BIPOC kids carry the baggage of dealing with systemic racism and inequity and challenges with teachers; this school system is challenging enough without kids having to bear that additional burden.”

(L-R): CRE Co-Chairs Zabeen Mirza and Nichelle Maynard-Elliott in front of Chappaqua train station. Photo by Carolyn Simpson

Workgroups

The committee is divided into eight workgroups each led by a BIPOC member of the council. Each group also has a town board member and a student voice.

Community Education, Candace Chestnut-Zoller

Their focus areas include the library, the PTA and student organizations with a goal of positively “impacting the values of our New Castle community by establishing programs and resources, for all ages, that foster individual and community transformation on issues of race implicit bias, institutional racism and equity as well as opportunities for BIPOC representation and inclusion,” according to the team’s mission statement. With two kids in school, Chestnut-Zoller feels strongly about the role education plays in identity. “My incredibly passionate, dedicated team and I are conducting focus groups and meeting with local organizations as well as the CCSD in hopes of creating opportunities that provide and encourage awareness, education, and BIPOC inclusion and engagement throughout our community.”

Community Outreach, Johanna Kathleen Nayyar

The community outreach team welcomes new families into the community and finds ways to attract new families to New Castle. “With a little more passion on the Community Garden, I envision this to be a sanctuary for our community filled with love, warmth, friendship and produce hopefully. All small steps working towards a common goal for a sustainable and equitable future,” said Nayyar.

Community Partnership, Hermian Charles

With a background as an author and advocate for social justice, Charles seeks to build bridges within the community to create a place that can be a model for surrounding towns on how to achieve equity. “I am honored to be working closely with Chief James Carroll of New Castle Police Department on the reform proposal to be submitted to Governor Cuomo in April 2021. I am happy to lend my voice and experience to help influence changes that can have a massive impact throughout the entire State of New York,” said Charles.

Events and Programming, Kristina Herman

Building connections and allyship between the BIPOC and white community members in New Castle is a focus of this group. According to the mission statement, the goal is “by creating opportunities to gather, learn and celebrate the voices, experiences, cultures and talent of BIPOC communities, we hope to transform negative perceptions, implicit biases and racism in our community.” Herman is searching for creative ways to hold events. “It’s not always about workshops and lectures. You can support anti-racism with cause-related events, meet new like-minded friends at a rally or program and even just get to know your neighbors better,” said Herman.

Communications, Angela Bronner Helm

According to Helm, the group is currently working on three large projects–a newsletter, an anti-racism guidebook and a survey to help collect information from the community to aid other team leaders with their ongoing projects. “I am most excited about the Guidebook because I feel that it can be a resource for this community and others, and it’s both a learning tool, and a place where those aggrieved in the community can be heard,” said Helm.

Housing and Planning, Mindy Park

The housing and planning team’s goal is to increase housing diversity and inclusivity in New Castle according to its mission statement. The team is partnering with local real estate professionals and creating marketing plans that will attract diverse residents. “We are looking at multiple angles and fronts to help diversify our community and promote inclusivity. With the pandemic, the challenges are mounting for our downtown area, and we are excited to support in any way we can,” said Park.

Business and Commerce, Tanya M. Tochner

According to the mission statement, the goal of the business and commerce group is to “increase diversity and equity by expanding town requisition guidelines, actively work to increase both the number and visibility of BIPOC owned and operated businesses in New Castle.” As a business owner herself, Tochner “sees first-hand how important it is to have BIPOC business owners and different cultural experiences. Whether it be food, music, or art, introducing these culturally diverse experiences are not only good for our community to grow, it helps everyone to appreciate, accept, and respect each other’s differences.”

Town Administration, Melissa Cintron

The town administration team focuses on policy, management and leadership. According to their mission statement, the goal is to “implement sustainable policies, practices and procedures in the Town of New Castle that promote equal access to employment and civic involvement opportunities to all of its citizens regardless of race, gender or other protected class thereby creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive Town labor force and systems of community governance.”

Supporting BIPOC Community Members

The CRE is an inclusive group that encourages everyone to get involved. Mirza said regardless of where someone is on their journey for justice, they are welcome to join seeing as the members of the council are all moving in the same direction.

“Get involved and after you are involved have an open mind to listen and that means de-centering yourself and really accepting that people of color have different experiences than you. And accepting that even though that may be hard for you to understand, or to accept or to believe because it is so outside anything you have ever experienced, you have to listen and you have to follow their lead and support them in the way they need it,” said Mirza.

According to the leaders, there is a sense of kinship among the members as they all share the same goals. Anyone with a connection to New Castle is welcome to join and support the group’s mission.

“The CRE is not a group of outside agitators, a third party who has come in to disrupt,” emphasized Maynard-Elliott, “We are your neighbors, your classmates, we are people from within in the community who are looking to help the town of New Castle become its better self, I think we all aspire to do and be better but sometimes we need a little help and that is what the CRE is here to do.”

#CommunityStrong Inspirations

August 24, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

From embracing a social justice movement to volunteerism and businesses adapting in a pandemic, the many ways New Castle stayed strong!

At a rally in downtown Chappaqua in August. Photo by Grace Bennett/Inside Press

In June, New York protestors told NBC News that they were fighting two pandemics: the coronavirus and racism. During these difficult times, New Castle residents have banded together to stay #CommunityStrong.

At the foot of the Quaker Road Bridge, there have been local peaceful protests and “parades” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 13, over 100 people committed to sparking change in New Castle attended “A Rally for Change-Stand Up Against Racial Injustice,” an event held by New Castle Against Racism, a group of Horace Greeley students and alumni.

Members of the community created several Facebook pages to combat racism. One, for example, Chappaqua Anti-Racism Dialogue Group: Reconciling Privilege, provides a space for people to educate themselves, their friends and their families, according to the group’s page description.

Additionally, on Monday, August 3, dozens of community members congregated downtown for a peaceful Black Lives Matter march. People marched with such signs as “SAY THEIR NAMES,” “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” and “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BLACK TO BE OUTRAGED.”

Also looking to ignite change in New Castle are sisters and former Horace Greeley High School students, Bhavya and Divya Gopinath They collected video accounts from current students and alumni who shared stories about racism they faced within the school district.

They edited the stories into a compilation and sent the video to the Board of Education and Chappaqua Central School District administrators. Said the Gopinath sisters: “It’s easy to turn a blind eye to this and say that racism doesn’t exist in this privileged community, so we made this video, so the stories don’t go unnoticed.”

These efforts to combat racism in New Castle will continue to strengthen this community.

Chappaqua Central School District Superintendent Christine Ackerman sent an email to all members of the district that said, “The events described by our former students are appalling and illustrate why we must continue to take meaningful and deliberate action to effectuate change to address racism in our society. We understand there is a gap between our espoused values and current reality. We are committed to change.”

Bhavya and Divya Gopinath also received an email from Board of Education President Victoria Tipp on behalf of the Board of Education. The Board authorized the formation of a Community Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Justice to enact change in the district.

“We believe that these steps will make a significant and positive difference, and we are committed to seeing these actions through as we keep social justice at the center of our work moving forward,” said Ackerman.

Simultaneously, Chappaqua residents have been coping with the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges that the virus presents. However, throughout it, small businesses, families and individuals have found ways to stay strong.

Telehealth Sessions

“In over 13 years of business, we have never faced a more challenging and uncertain time as this past March. What kept us strong was the commitment and passion of our team and the loyalty of our patients. In a matter of days, we were able to pivot the practice to Telehealth,” said Matt Marucci of New Castle Physical Therapy & Personal Training. “This took persistence and ingenuity on the part of therapists and patients alike. We are up and running now with stringent COVID-19 precautions, but we continue to offer the Telehealth sessions we developed back in March. We are deeply grateful for all of the community support we have received during this challenging time.”

Safety First

Another local business trying to provide access to physical activity while also staying safe is Armonk Tennis Club/Armonk Indoor. They modified their protocols with the safety of their clients as their top priority.

“We at Armonk Tennis Club and Armonk Indoor Sports Center realized soon into the quarantine how important sports are to our physical and mental well-being. As summer approached, we knew that people would want to get active again but in a safe manner. The rules and guidelines we implemented showed our tennis players and campers that their safety is our top priority, and the result has been a great summer. We understand that procedures must be modified in the fall as people come indoors, but we’re still excited about providing a safe environment for the community to learn, play, and compete in,” said Armonk Indoor representative Beau Shea.

Ultimately staying safe is a priority for many businesses. Bill Flooks from Beecher Funeral Home said that despite all the special challenges, “We have managed to get this far with Covid-19.” On behalf of the Flooks Family, he stated: “Keep up the good work, be smart, be prudent, be safe.”

Several area photographers including Donna Mueller, Carolyn Simpson and Randi Childs are still bringing smiles to families’ faces through the acclaimed #TheFrontPorchProject.

Local chambers throughout the area have been sharing news from the county regarding federal and regional grant and loan options, about available personal protective equipment (‘PPE’) and producing e-newsletters to the community in which businesses post their services. The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber most recently launched ‘New Castle Restart’ to fundraise for grants to small businesses impacted.

Reaching Out

Additionally, during the spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Westchester County, community members banded together and rose to the occasion. Individuals and groups made masks for essential workers, those on the frontlines and the immunocompromised. A series of articles for theinsidepress.com spotlighted these extraordinary efforts.

There was also never a shortage of pizza and other welcome meals distributed to front line health care workers at local hospitals and to first responders thanks to an extraordinary response to a Chappaqua Moms fundraiser.

The Food Pantry at the Community Center of Northern Westchester donated over 7,400 pounds of food and necessities to those in need since late March according to Reverend Martha Jacobs, Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua.

To stay community strong during the thick of the coronavirus pandemic, people searched for ways to help.

“I am deeply grateful to serve such a caring and engaged community as ours. While we clergy are used to checking in on our congregants, I have been humbled by the number of congregants who have turned the tables and reached out to inquire how we staff members are holding up,” said Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Jonathan Jaffe. “Similarly, we were overwhelmed with offers by individuals seeking to volunteer and help in any way possible. Such moments underscore the sense of covenantal relationship within our community.”

Smart, Agile Community

New Castle Town Supervisor Ivy Pool is impressed by the leadership she has seen both at town hall and among the residents.

“New Castle is a smart, agile community that has time and again demonstrated our leadership in a range of areas. The coronavirus cluster that occurred at the HGHS graduation and related events was a wakeup call for all of us. To defeat the outbreak, we needed to come together as a community and double-down on our social distancing efforts and enforcement,” said Pool. “The outbreak didn’t happen just anywhere–it happened in New Castle, a community of leaders and achievers who were determined to do something.”

Determined to stop the spread, Pool and the rest of the town board passed the first local legislation in the state that required people to wear face masks whenever social distancing is not possible.

“With this new law in place, our police officers have a tool to enforce social distancing, and our community has responded beautifully to our calls to “mask up!” said Pool. “Coming together in the face of adversity is who we are; leading by example is what we do. We are #CommunityStrong.”

State of the Art Cardiac Cath Lab Anticipated Opening at Northern Westchester Hospital: September 2

August 24, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

The Newly Opening Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital will open its highly anticipated comprehensive Cardiac Catheterization Lab on September 2nd, providing state-of-the-art interventional cardiology services to residents of Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield Counties, who would otherwise have to travel long distances during cardiac events when every second counts.

The Cath Lab will work as an extension of and in conjunction with Lenox Hill Hospital’s cardiac services, providing care for emergency level patients 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

“A cardiac catheterization lab is a specialized area in a hospital where cardiac specialists diagnose and treat coronary artery disease, such as various types of heart attack, using tiny flexible tubes called catheters to access the heart and coronary (heart) blood vessels,” explained Interventional Cardiologist Carl Dietrich Reimers, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, director of the new NWH Cardiac Cath Lab.

Garvey Rene, M.D., FACC, FSCAI of Caremount Medical, is associate director of the Cath Lab.

According to Dr. Reimers, Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab will treat patients with coronary artery disease–a narrowing or blockage of arteries carrying oxygenated blood to the heart.

Until now, Northern Westchester Hospital patients who needed cardiac catheterization were taken to Valhalla, New York, or Stamford or Danbury, Connecticut. The new Cath Lab will eliminate the time between an emergency and treatment.

“It is critical to have a catheterization lab in close proximity since the most effective treatment is performed within 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms,” says Dr. Reimers, who is also vice chairman of cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital and assistant professor of Cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

“When there is a blockage in the artery, the heart begins to suffocate from the lack of oxygen. However, if treated promptly, the damage can be reversed.

“When someone experiences chest pain and calls 911, the goal is to diagnose the patient, bring them to the catheterization lab and perform the procedure all within 90 minutes,” he added.

This new location eliminates delays in care that may come along with being transported to a location outside of Northern Westchester.

“The new Cath Lab will be vital to elevating the level of care that patients can receive right in the community,” said Dr. Reimers. “All of the physicians covering the Cath Lab also rotate at Lenox Hill to ensure seamless care for patients who require more complex procedures.”

Northern Westchester Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital are both a part of New York State’s largest healthcare system, Northwell Health. A benefit of being a part of this network is the collaboration that exists between hospitals and facilities across the system.

All of the nurses preparing to work in Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cath Lab are trained in critical care medicine and have experience working in intensive care units. To build the team’s experience, the nursing team trained at two of Northwell’s facilities on Long Island. Additionally, Dr. Reimers said, four techs all trained at Lenox Hill Hospital to get hands-on experience prior to the lab opening.

Healthgrades ranked the cardiac program at Lenox Hill Hospital among the top 5% for six consecutive years. Additionally, Lenox Hill Hospital was one of the first hospitals in New York City to open a cardiac catheterization lab. In 1938, the first angiocardiography in the United States was performed at Lenox Hill Hospital, and in 1967, Lenox Hill Hospital opened the first cardiac care unit in the New York metropolitan area.

The collaboration between Northern Westchester Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital will allow doctors, nurses and staff to discuss difficult scenarios.

“We will be available 24/7, 365 days a year to handle all cardiac emergencies,” said

Dr. Reimers. “We believe Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cardiac Cath Lab will save lives.”

For more information, please visit:nwhc.net/blog/CardiacCathLab

Anti-Racist Action Emphasized at New Castle Rally for Change and for Standing Up Against Racial Injustice

June 15, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

Member of New Castle Against Racism, Urka Swinney

Chappaqua, NY— Over 100 people attended “A Rally for Change-Stand Up Against Racial Injustice” on June 13 to demonstrate their commitment to making a change going forward. Horace Greeley High School alumni and members of the New Castle Against Racism group, Urka Swinney and Lara Fuhrer, organized the event working with other groups to make the rally possible.

“New Castle Against Racism is a group of Greeley students and alumni that just wanted to come together and make a change. So, we paired with Up2Us and some other small Facebook groups to put on this rally for change so we could make progress in the community,” said Swinney.

In addition to Up2Us, the group worked with the New Castle town board and with the Town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee.

As of Friday morning, the day before the rally, the group had two speakers confirmed but dedicated energy and resources to securing others to ensure the rally would be a success. By Friday evening, the group had 15 speakers* lined up. (See the full list of speakers at the end of this article.)

“I am proud to have been one of many involved in organizing A Rally For Change. The entire process was inspiring and encouraging to see how many individuals were dedicated to making this happen,” said Fuhrer.

Co-administer of Chappaqua Anti-Racism Dialogue Group: Reconciling Privilege, Juliette Harrison

Another Facebook group New Castle Against Racism paired up with is one that is co-administered by Horace Greeley High School alumna, Juliette Harrison.

“I think people in town need to start focusing on practicing anti-racist action which is one of the reasons I created the Facebook group the dialogue for anti racism where hopefully we can have zoom conversations to get that face to face interaction where the conversation is humanized a bit,” said Harrison.

Community members eager to both learn and to support black voices filled the rally.

New Castle Town Councilman Jason Lichtenthal said he attended the rally to continue to learn and to translate that education into action.

“It’s important for me to be an ally for those who struggle to have a voice and to make sure that as a white cisgender heterosexual male that it is my job to listen and then go and act. I find that incredibly important,” said Lichtenthal.

Greeley senior Jacob Miller also attended the rally to continue to learning how to become a stronger ally.

Horace Greeley High School senior Jacob Miller

“I really wanted to come today because I think Chappaqua, along with the rest of the country, still has a long way to go in terms of overcoming its racist tendencies and I think just by uniting and listening to people in the community and hearing their stories, I will be better able to understand what I can do to be a better and more supportive ally,” said Miller.

Fuhrer also understands the importance of listening to become a stronger ally.

“It is important for our BIPOC community members to see and hear that they are not alone, anymore at least, and that we want to amplify their voices and for our White community members, like myself, to hear their stories and learn to become better allies. This is a movement that our community is dedicated to for the long haul,” said Fuhrer.

After the space began to fill with people wearing masks, holding signs and socially distancing, Swinney gave an introductory speech emphasizing the importance of committing to making changes going forward.

Then, a list of names was read. These names belong to black people who lost their lives to racial violence such as Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and D.J. Henry.

Henry was a college student at Pace University when he was shot by police in Thornwood, New York in October of 2010. His name was on posters at the rally on Saturday and shouted when the timing was appropriate as his death took place nearby.

After the reading, the crowd observed a moment of silence before the speakers addressed them.

People from different backgrounds ranging from current students in the Chappaqua Central School District to local clergy and to the current New York State attorney general shared their insights and encouraged the crowd to continue to take action and make a difference. The sole person of color on the Chappaqua School Board, Victoria Tipp, gave an impassioned account of her own background, and stated powerfully at the outset: “We know systemic racism is a death sentence for black people and people of color. We are here to reject the myth of ‘the other’, to affirm our common humanity, and demand bold changes in our institutions.”

Victoria Tipp, CCSD board member and president of the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association

New York Attorney General Tish James summoned loud applause from the community members in attendance when she used part of her time to discuss how to learn, how to grow and how to make change come from this experience.

New York State Attorney General Tish James

“I see this really as a teaching moment that we need to be reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King-that power is the strength required to bring about political, social and economic change,” said James. “And that power at its best is love, implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything and everybody who stands in our way for a more perfect union.”

The momentum continued to build as Emily Nobel, a Horace Greeley senior, shared a statement she read at the interfaith vigil held on June 7.

“I don’t want the only place I ever feel completely safe to be my own bedroom, the minute I step outside my door, my pigmentation will determine how I am treated and it’s overwhelming,” said Nobel. “I don’t always want to be reminded that my skin color, something I had no choice over, something that I was born into, could be the same reason that I am perceived as a threat, that I am the one who is dangerous when all I ever did was live. That’s all we want to do. We want to live.”

Nobel expressed that she was nervous to speak among the voices of impactful leaders as a high school graduate but is learning what it means to be powerful.

“I’m a small part of a movement that’s been going on before I was born. It’s almost comforting to know I’m only a very small part of this movement, because that means that there’s many people working to make this movement provide long lasting change. I feel that the only thing I really know is how I feel. Trying to describe how I feel to people, so they can understand just a glimpse of what it’s like to be me, has been most effective in making my own impact,” said Nobel.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins spoke about the 1999 Bruce Springsteen song, “American Skin (41 Shots)” written about the police shooting death of Amadou Diallo, a black man killed in the vestibule of his apartment in the Bronx by four New York City police officers. The officers fired a total of 41 shots hence the name of the Springsteen song.

“Bruce’s haunting refrain was ‘it ain’t no secret, no secret my friend, you can get killed just for living in your American skin.’ That was in 1999 and I for that brief moment thought that there were people other than people of color who understood what was happening to communities of color, I thought surely the working class hero that people admire and love would be able to break through that barrier but it didn’t happen,” said Stewart-Cousins.

Fuhrer received notes after the rally about how appreciated and inspiring the event was. One note in particular stood out to her.

“One of the Town Board members shared that her 11-year-old son told her after that he “felt a new understanding after hearing the speeches” and this deeper understanding is exactly why a rally like yesterday’s is important. It forces us to acknowledge our bubble of Chappaqua and challenges us to begin deconstructing our privilege and become accomplices in the movement,” said Fuhrer.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins

16th District Legislator Christopher Johnson

New Castle Town Supervisor Ivy Pool quoted Senator Kamala Harris stating, “This is not a moment. This is a movement.” With Deputy Supervisor Jeremy Saland (left) and Town Council member Jason Lichtenthal

*SPEAKERS

Alyssa Ashley, recorded statement – Horace Greeley High School class of 2014

Eric Berkeley– Horace Greeley High School class of 2014

Adam Cisse, recorded statement – Horace Greeley High School class of 2017

Monique Dorsey – Community business owner: Double Dees Catering and Wrappers Delight located in Mt. Kisco

Vedat Gashi– County Legislator and Muslim immigrant, statement read by Rrita Osmani– a Chappaqua resident, recent Cornell graduate and former campaign staffer.

Teddy Graves, recorded statement – Horace Greeley High School class of 2013

Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe – Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Chappaqua, New York

Tish James – Attorney General of New York

Ken Jenkins – Westchester Deputy County Executive

Christopher Johnson -Westchester County Legislator of the 16th district, Yonkers

Ivy Pool and Jeremy Saland– New Castle Town Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor Pool is starting a Council on Race and Equity to create an action plan for our community.

Zabeen Mirza – Interfaith Council & Community Outreach Ambassador, Upper Westchester Muslim Society, New Castle Resident, Chappaqua Mom

Emily Nobel – Horace Greeley High School class of 2020

Andrea Stewart-Cousins – New York State Senate Majority Leader

Urka Swinney – Horace Greeley High School class of 2015

Rene Syler, recorded statement – Community member and American broadcast television journalist

Victoria Tipp– Member of the Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education, president of the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association representing 54 school boards in the two counties, on the steering committee of the Lower Hudson Education Coalition advocating for the 77 school districts in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.

Photo Credits: Photos of Urka Swinney, Juliette Harrison, Jacob Miller and Jason Lichtenthal by Lauren Rosh. Additional Photos by Grace Bennett

Reworking The Workout: How Community Members are Staying Fit During the Coronavirus Pandemic

June 15, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

With Insights into The Future of Exercise!

On an average day in College Park, Maryland I typically walk between 10,000 and 20,000 steps on my college campus. When my university made the switch to virtual classes for the remainder of the semester and I came back to New York, I did not think I was going to miss walking from class to class as much as I did. For me, staying fit while at home has been all about walking with my family, friends (socially distanced, of course) and even by myself. Doing this allows me to recreate the feeling I have when I’m walking on campus and also gives me peace of mind and time to reflect.

Here are some of the ways other Northern Westchester residents have been staying fit… read on too on for insight on why some fitness enthusiasts aim to continue with online options while others say they are ready to go back to the gym.

ZOOM CALLS

Right now, gyms are offering virtual workout sessions through Zoom to keep members connected with the health club and each other.

One of the ways Chappaqua resident Jeff Samberg has been exercising is logging on to Adina Olan-Ellick’s Breathe Pilates and yoga classes.

“It’s so convenient. I roll out of bed and within five minutes, I am working out in front of the screen in a class, then five minutes after that I can be on a conference call,” said Samberg.

Marcia Heitlinger and her husband belong to Lifetime Fitness. One of their favorite instructors is holding a zoom class on weekdays and Sundays at 6:30 am. The instructor asks for donations through Venmo which she then passes on to the Westchester food bank.

“These Zoom classes are great because they are early enough where I can get the workout in before I do work for the day,” said Heitlinger.

Kristen Acosta’s main source of exercise during this time has been Zoom classes with her instructor, Lisa Gagliardi.

“There are over 70 people that Zoom in to take her class. She has done amazing things to keep our workout community connected.”

Tamara Leopold and her husband are members of Immortal Fitness in Pleasantville and have also been using Zoom to stay in shape. She said owner Tommy Carter maintains the gym community through three Zoom classes everyday excluding Sundays. Carter and his team pre-record the workouts the night before they release them so members of Immortal Fitness can have the classes on demand.

“If you can’t watch them live, you can still do them on your own,” said Leopold.

APPS

The Peloton app is a way people are staying in shape. The company offered a 90-day free trial giving people who were interested access to all their classes ranging from strength training to yoga to cardio and cycling.

Leopold said that they use a traditional spin bike paired with Peloton app as a way to take classes. She also enjoys their weight and yoga classes.

Heather Hecht also loves the accessibility and range of classes the app offers. She completed the 4-week “crush your core” program and when she finds the time she takes anywhere from a 30 to 45-minute yoga class.

Heitlinger also enjoys the yoga feature on the Peloton app. She even will meet up with a friend to do a socially distanced yoga session led by instructors on the app.

USING GYM EQUIPMENT AT HOME

Like the Peloton app, people have also been using a Peloton bike.

Hecht said previous to the stay-at-home orders, she used the Peloton bike in her house mainly on snow days or vacation days when she did not leave the house as much. However, the occasional ride has turned much more frequent as she has found creative ways to make the workout fun.

“With ‘everyone’ riding and the new hashtags, I have joined groups in town. We follow each other, favorite teachers and offer motivation. It keeps it fun,” said Hecht.

Heitlinger and her husband created a gym in one of the rooms in their home. Before gym closures, the room had a spin bike in it. Now, they added a set of weights, rubber mats and a bench.

TIME OUTSIDE

Living in suburbs, there is the advantage of being able to spend active time outside.

In addition to the online classes through Breathe, Samberg has been riding a bike outdoors.

Heitlinger has also been spending time outside and finding ways to safely do so with others. Once a week, she does a socially distanced run with one of her friends.

Hecht has also been taking advantage of the sunshine and returned to the tennis courts outdoors to play singles with her hitting partner.

“It’s definitely great to be back on the courts and they are being super cautious,” said Hecht.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF EXERCISE LOOK LIKE?

The bottom line is that there is a mixed reaction to today’s status quo.

Some people don’t necessarily miss the gym; they may enjoy the time and cost savings and may continue to feel safer staying fit without leaving their homes. Options outside the traditional club memberships satisfy many so they are starting to opt-out, at least temporarily.

Samberg said he recently gave his gym the notice that he would not be returning when they reopen.

“I have been able to get everything I need at home, this has changed my perspective. For smaller studios I plan to go back because I think they can be contained and sanitized and healthy,” said Samberg.

Then there are those who are interested in working out in classes and groups in proximity to live humans, so they are looking forward to getting back to the gyms. They also are bracing themselves for the changes.

“I would like to go to the gym after this, I am a big class person, so I’m a little worried, I do hot yoga and I would love for it to happen again but I do not know if it will,” said Heitlinger.

Yet others are also ready to be adaptable to changes gyms will make when they reopen whether that is smaller classes or stricter guidelines.

“I look forward to going back whatever capacity that is in. We miss being inside the four walls of the gym,” said Leopold.

Also, people are missing the sense of community that is found within a gym. Although health club owners are working hard at maintaining relations with and between members, there is something different about working out with others in person.

“I look forward to the day that I can walk back into my gym and see everyone’s faces. Although I feel connected with everyone from home, there is nothing like that in person, face to face, interaction,” said Acosta.