The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Rich Monetti

The Beauty of Coworking Inside the New Westchester Business Center at Chappaqua Crossing

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Covid19 created a lot of new paradigms, and one that probably sounded pretty good was remote working from home. Skip the arduous daily commute, why didn’t anyone think of this before? Then reality set in. Kids interrupting zoom calls, the landscapers demolishing any semblance of quiet, and the dog thinking your new schedule revolves around her–the chaos was far from conducive. A readjustment became necessary, and the tweak Westchester Business Center has been offering for the last 18 years as a full-service professional workspace gave a much-needed boost for White Plains. And very recently, Chappaqua has started to get the same lift.

 “We came in to save the day,” said general manager Kris Saljanin. 

The WBC just held its grand opening on September 29 at Chappaqua Crossing, and the 29 offices spaces, 10 co-working spaces, and three conference rooms are ready to go!  “This is a fully functional facility that is equipped to accommodate your day-to-day business,” said Saljanin. “There’s a receptionist, a conference room, a meeting space; we can accommodate it all.” 

It’s a big step up from those who use Starbucks to set up daily–especially if the wifi goes out. “That’s where the co-working comes into play,” said Saljanin. “You don’t need full time periods, but somewhere to hang your hat for a short period like for a day or a month.”

An open space environment, clients may drop in to catch up on emails, phone calls and paperwork. Even so, WBC is never in a rush to get anyone out the door, and coworkers can come to like it so much that they opt for a more permanent lease.

However, a longer haul doesn’t leave occupants feeling stuck because three, six and 12 months are the standard increments. “Traditional office space requires much longer leases–often 10 years for the type of building we are in. Our clients get access to a Grade A building with very flexible lease terms,” said Saljanin.

Excess space and an overabundance of service does not accrue for the office holder either, according to Paul Puleo, who is a WBC investor and an occupant (or member).

 “If you’re a small business, and you have your own suite somewhere, you’re carrying a lot of things you don’t need to carry,” said the Chappaqua resident. “You don’t need a conference room every day, you don’t need an assistant to answer phones every day, and you don’t need to have insurance. Those things fall away when you’re here, and yet you got it all at your fingertips.” 

At the same time, the normal intricacies of a day’s work don’t get lost in comparison to trying to set up in the family den. “This is a class A business space for professionals,” said Puleo. “My home is not.”

Worse yet, the much less responsive help desk at your provider essentially puts the home bound in charge of any technological failings. The same is not true at Chappaqua Crossing. “We essentially have an outsourced technology company that monitors everything 24/7,” pointed out Puleo.

In fact, an IT person is onsite to monitor the wifi, copiers, printers, fax machines and the zoom set up. “All you do is bring your laptop or desktop, and we handle everything else,” said Saljanin.

The technology isn’t the only area in which WBC lends a strong helping hand either. “We do everything from answering the phones, cold calling, filing, mail delivery, running errands to the bank and filing at the courthouse,” said Saljanin. They’ll even take the wash to the laundromat! 

And the accommodations don’t end at 5 o’clock either. “Our location is open 24/7,” said Saljanin, and while WBC staff typically go home at by five, they will stay late if assistance is needed or if an event runs long.

The Bonus is a Comaraderie

The daily main event of community also overflows, and camaraderie is the spillage. “The office space allows you have a little watercolor talk,” Saljanin asserted. 

On the other hand, the inherent banter doesn’t just up the social agenda. “In White Plains, there is a lot of business between members. We have lawyers who are closing for real estate people. We have therapists of one nature guiding their clients to different types of therapists….

“We have financial advisors and insurance agents who work together,” revealed Puleo. “WBC creates a bit of a business community and networking.” 

Of course, every successful businessperson needs moments to dial back and daydream, and the looking glass is ever ready.

Overlooking the beautiful landscape along the Saw Mill River, the view is amazing too. With everything in place, Saljanin summed WBC up perfectly: “You come in, do what you do best, and we do the rest.”

 

Good Will, Volunteerism and Community Donations at the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry

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Save the Date for a May 1 ‘NO SHOW GALA’ Celebrating 30 Years

The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry has been assisting families since 1991, and can probably count thousands of volunteers and donors to their credit. However, the nonprofit only began holding an annual fundraiser three years ago. That said, the event isn’t just about bringing in money. “It’s an opportunity to engage with some of our supporters and have a touch point with them,” said President Kelley Housman. 

Unfortunately, Covid prevented the spring gathering last year and now this year. So not wanting to completely let the annual connection go, the pantry is going virtual to celebrate their 30th anniversary and holding a “No Show Gala” on May 1. “I’m going to appreciate a night in and think about the good work that the Mt Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry does,” posed Housman. “So instead of buying a ticket, I’m going to make a donation.”

Nonetheless, the story began when the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco and Temple Shaaray Tefila saw a specific need in the community. “People would come out of the hospital,” said Housman, “and sometimes they would need assistance.” The helping nudge became a push, and the pantry was soon serving eight families. Of course, the story is often the same. “Imagine you’re making choices between feeding your family well or feeding them minimally so you can pay your rent,” said Housman. A year later, nine area congregations joined in and 40 families were on the menu. As a result, the business soon added fundraising, and the nonprofit began purchasing subsidized staples from Feeding Westchester. Of course, the bumps in America’s road always sends the pantry’s efforts on the incline. For instance, the 2008 financial crises saw a deep increase in demand. But the pantry always perseveres at the United Methodist Church of Mt. Kisco, and the (almost) all volunteer nonprofit served healthy food to 68,000 people last year.

Food insecurity doesn’t care about the numbers, though. “We just never know how quickly circumstances can change,” Housman said, and first time seeking help can have people biting down hard. 

The fear of being judged is the primary mouthful. ‘Nancy’ of Mt Kisco can attest from her initial visit in 2012. A student trying to feed her family, she said, “I felt kind of embarrassed.”

Imagine you’re making choices between feeding your family well or feeding them minimally so you can pay your rent.

On the other hand, any apprehension really has no recourse but to abate. “The volunteers don’t judge and are always there to help,” said the medical assistant.

Housman encourages struggling families to take the first step, but the sentiment doesn’t just come by way of common courtesy. “We create a shopping experience for our clients, where they come in and make selections based on their personal preferences and dietary needs,” she said. “It’s a much better interaction than just handing over a bag of prepackaged food.”

Unfortunately, Covid protocols have forced the process into a less personal experience. Initially clients drove by for pickups, but downtown Mt Kisco wasn’t conducive. So the pantry got creative. Aside from upping home delivery service, families scan in and more rooms at the church are utilized so foot traffic doesn’t overlap. They have also created ‘“Covid pods” so volunteering families stay in the same distribution rooms.   

The pantry can’t contain the goodwill, though, and it includes a long roster of local businesses, community organizations, grocery stores and individuals. As the demand has skyrocketed with Covid, Housman is forever grateful for all those who have embraced the mission. 

But nothing is better than when the mission embraces the people and comes full circle. “We have a number of clients who have volunteered and even become board members,” Housman beamed. 

Area Youth & Creative Volunteers

“We have area youth too who have come up with incredibly creative fundraising strategies.” One group writes poems for donations, another local kid donates proceeds from his own ice cream product and scouting groups have long been doing their share. But receiving also can require emotional support, and two local girls have been on top of it since last summer. They anonymously drop off handmade cards and include notes of hope and inspiration.

Right into the prepackaged bags, the feeling is mutual for clients–and Nancy doesn’t hesitate to express it: “Thank you for all your help, we are blessed.” 

For more info on the May 1 No Show Gala, visit  www.mountkiscofoodpantry.org