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For 125th Anniversary, White Plains Hospital Employees Lead Donation Drives

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A 125TH Anniversary Staff Effort to Benefit Families, Others Throughout Westchester  

White Plains Hospital nurses Leslie Rodriguez and Melissa Alves-Malaver joined Ellen Albers, White Plains Community Center Assistant Director, and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach to deliver pedometers to the White Plains Senior Center.

Physicians, Nurses, Leadership, Non-Clinical Staff Rally Together to Support Westchester Communities

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (March 12, 2018)— When White Plains Hospital opened its doors in 1893, it did so with the same mission that guides it today—to provide exceptional care, every day to members of the community. In that spirit, as the Hospital marks its 125th anniversary in 2018, its employees are leading a yearlong program to benefit children, seniors and low-income families throughout the Westchester region.

Throughout 2018, Hospital employees will come together to collect and donate items to various local charities as a means of giving back to the community that has long supported its growth and evolution.

The donation drives kicked off in January with the Hospital’s Marketing, Foundation, and Human Resources departments contributing children’s cold weather accessories to the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester. Coinciding with American Heart Month in February, the Hospital’s Critical Care Division donated 125 pedometers to the White Plains Senior Center. This month, the EVS, Food Service, and Radiology & Pathology departments will team up to collect new pajamas and books for children to be donated to Pajama Program, a nationwide charity providing new pajamas and books to children in need.

“This donation drive extends our commitment to care that goes beyond the clinical, and lets our employees engage with the community in a way that’s very personal and meaningful,” explains Dawn French, White Plains Hospital’s Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations.

In addition to the charitable donations, a special website dedicated to the anniversary, wph125.org, has been created to showcase the Hospital’s remarkable history. The website features personal reflections and memories submitted by staff, patients and community members. All are invited to share their own White Plains Hospital stories through the microsite by visiting here.

White Plains Hospital was founded when 22 women and three men came together to establish a voluntary, not-for-profit hospital in the rural village of White Plains to care for their fellow residents. Today, the Hospital and its physician practices see more than 200,000 visits annually.

“Our community has been such a vital factor in our success,” said Ms. French.  “Since our beginnings in 1893 as a four-room building to the modern hub of advanced care we are today, the community has supported our growth and helped expand our mission so that we are now able to provide exceptional healthcare to all of Westchester.”

The year’s festivities will culminate with a 125th anniversary gala in September at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, the site of the organization’s first fundraising gala in 1956.

About White Plains Hospital

White Plains Hospital (WPH) is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. WPH is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. Centers of Excellence include the Center for Cancer Care, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center and The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center. The Hospital’s Flanzer Emergency Department is the busiest in Westchester County, seeing more than 60,000 visits a year. White Plains Hospital performs lifesaving emergency and elective angioplasty in its Joan and Alan Herfort, M.D. Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Marie Promuto Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.  White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk and New Rochelle; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.  The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and earned its recognition as a Top Performer for Key Quality Measures® in 2015 and 2013. The Hospital received Magnet® designation in 2012 and 2016 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  For additional information, visit http://www.wphospital.org.

ICD Contemporary Jewelry: Heaven for Jewelry Lovers and Design Aficionados This Spring

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When most New Yorkers think of jewelry they know that the Diamond District in midtown Manhattan offers gorgeous pieces from top designers but you don’t have to travel to NYC to avail yourself of the most exquisite jewels from top designers. For more than four decades, ICD Contemporary Jewelry located in downtown Chappaqua has been a bastion of beautiful jewelry showcasing some of the leading designers in the world of fine jewelry. Just this past holiday season, ICD Contemporary Jewelry played host to celebrated designer Tovi Farber from Israel. Farber made an in-store appearance at an exclusive trunk show, which helped customers create one-of-a-kind pieces. 

Farber who hails from Israel creates jewelry utilizing gold and colorful semi-precious stones that celebrates every woman’s original, individual style. Farber fans love the organic appeal of her jewelry and her unique sense of style with a keen eye for aesthetics. She embraces the interplay between structures, contrasts and intensities so every piece is distinctly styled and timeless.

Widespread Appeal for Farber’s Creations

Varda Singer, the owner of ICD Contemporary Jewelry was thrilled to see how Farber’s holiday collection appealed to customers across a wide spectrum from millennials in their early 30s to baby boomers. “Once the customers saw her collection they fell instantly in love with it. We didn’t have to sell it. Her beautiful designs sold themselves.” Singer has been busy delivering special orders from that trunk show that were custom created by her and Farber utilizing customer’s seldom worn jewelry and transforming it into modern pieces with timeless appeal.  The shop is busy year long with customers making appointments with Singer who collaborates with Farber on a continual basis.

Tovi Farber helping customers inside ICD this past holiday season.

New Line Nanis: A Hit for Spring

Singer is in the midst of planning upcoming trunk shows and one that she is particularly excited about is Laura Bicego’s Nanis line hailing from Venice, Italy. Laura is the sister of famed jewelry designer Marco Bicego and her work done in 18K gold has been praised for its artistry. Unlike other designers who create pieces with pencil first, she creates with her skillful, delicate hands and her line is synonymous with “well-made.”

Singer‘s favorite part of the job is developing long-lasting relationships with her customers. She has several that travel from all over Westchester County including Rye where they previously had a store and New York City. She prides herself on delivering “concierge” service and can take appointments in people’s homes, in the evenings or work with them virtually via online renderings of custom pieces. She loves to see the “before” and “after” remodels of jewelry that are created in collaboration with her customers. Several are posted on the store’s Facebook page and serve as inspiration to customer’s seeking a jewelry makeover. For more information on jewelry makeovers or upcoming trunk shows, visit ICD Jewelry’s Facebook page.

For 45 Years, Club Fit Keeps Up With The Times

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On a recent weekday afternoon, lime and cantaloupe infused waters awaited members at the entrance of Club Fit in Briarcliff, and the fruit’s colorful cheer was echoed by the motivational sayings lining the walls. “Do something your future self will thank you for,” urged one.

But while Club Fit Briarcliff certainly offers many opportunities for the individual, what sets it apart from many gyms and fitness facilities is a focus on serving the entire family. Now celebrating its 45th year, the club, and its sister location in Jefferson Valley, offers a family-friendly experience with a special focus on giving back to the community, while offering a wide range of standard and modern fitness offerings.

From areas for children that are divided by age to special times for basketball for ages 40 and up, Club Fit supplies things to do for all ages. And with a focus on offering fun, age-appropriate childcare, parents can take advantage of all the club has to offer.

“One thing we’ve really expanded in the last 15 years is our childcare,” Ellen Koelsch, an owner of the club with her brother, Bill Beck, said recently. “We have enough space to dedicate to kids under five and kids five to 12. As a working mom myself, I know you can’t just leave the 6-year-old home alone.” The space for older kids has a small basketball court, air hockey, plus video games, with a catch–they’re played standing. “They’re getting used to a fitness environment early,” Koelsch said.

Childcare manager and party coordinator Melissa Lawrence, a longtime Club Fit employee, agreed. “I’ve been here 22 years and it’s great to see these kids grow up and see them return as adults–it’s pretty cool.”

After school, some kids come to Club Fit by bus. They can unwind, then take a swim or tennis lesson and “you can get out of work, do 20 minutes of cardio and grab your kid,” Koelsch said.

At Club Fit, the fitness center is flooded with natural light; and off to the side is something a little unusual–a space reserved for women only.

The club also has nine tennis courts, physical therapy on-site, and a huge pool area with spaces for lap swimming, lessons, swim team practice and a large hot tub. Parents with little ones can utilize the zero-entry area. There’s a spin area with more than 60 seats and racquetball as well.

There are also many spaces for group exercise classes–and Club Fit keeps up with the trends, offering the types of classes often found in small boutique gyms. Currently, members can take CFX classes, which are “our version of a functional fitness class, using your own body weight,” Koelsch said. “We’re kind of blending going to a studio for small-group attention with a full-service experience with childcare. We know family is important and time is valuable, so we make that kind of class available to the community. Exercise is important–people know that, they know it has to be a part of their lives, but what’s hard is to keep it interesting.” Besides CFX, the club offers TRX classes as well as more standard classes such as Zumba, which tend to be larger. The goal is to offer smaller studio-like classes within the club. “So your ‘neighborhood’ can stay the same, but you’re always on the cutting edge of fitness,” Koelsch said.

Club representative Wendy Courtney is another of many long-term employees. “When I started with the club, Ellen was little,” Courtney said. “The club was born and raised for the community and that’s how we developed – everything here was born for this community.” The club is constantly sending surveys to members and uses the responses to direct growth and change and improvement, Courtney and Koelsch said.

“It’s great to hear the good news but we learn from the bad news. Our members are our eyes and our ears,” Courtney said. “Our membership knows we want to hear from them.”

Personal trainer Beth Kear said at Club Fit, “the owners are very involved and supportive of the staff. Anywhere you go, you’ll see it – everything, from the minute you walk in the door has that family feel–friendly, welcoming, non-intimidating. Member integration is a big priority.”

That’s why newcomers to the club are given not just a session with a trainer, but are walked through every aspect of using a club–from how to use a membership card to how to use the machines. “You should feel comfortable from when you walk in the door,” Koelsch said.

Because some people who need to start exercising are very unaccustomed to the health club environment, Club Fit has a special program called Help RX. It’s a short-term, discounted program with “a lot more hand-holding,” Koelsch said. That way, prospective members who have been told by their doctors that they need to start exercising can try the club out.

Club Fit also offers a senior discount and half off membership fees to active duty police, firefighters, EMTs and military. And if there are area power failures–well, Beck said, they’ll open their doors to those who need hot showers, as they have before.

“We’ve been in our community a very long time,” Koelsch said. “And we love giving back.”

ROCKS by Jolie B. Ray: A Unique Shopping Experience

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Upon entering ROCKS by Jolie B. Ray in Armonk on a late winter day, the snow is lightly falling outside, giving the shop the appearance of a literal jewel box in a snow globe. The cozy, well curated space dazzles with eye candy from the glittering jewels in the shelves to the art on the walls.

Tanya Tochner, the polished owner, greets customers as she artfully arranges jewelry in amethyst toned displays.

In a town that’s experiencing its own renaissance of sorts, ROCKS is a mainstay, offering consistently on-trend, yet unique jewelry to a loyal customer base for almost seven years. For Tochner, who’s designed jewelry with partner Marjorie Troob for over ten years, opening the shop was a natural progression in providing a higher level of service to her clients. She recounts the shop’s inception, saying, “My design partner and I shared a passion for fine jewelry and left successful corporate careers to pursue our creative interests. Our line, Jolie B. Ray, named for our children, Joshua, Lindsay, Ben and Rachel, was born. Recognizable for its contemporary, timeless designs that incorporate hammered looks, intricate mixed metal work with 18k gold and beautiful gemstones, Jolie B. Ray quickly grew a cult-like following. ROCKS was the logical next step and is now the exclusive provider of our collections.”

Tanya Tochner
PHOTO BY CHELSEA COOK
ROCKS is renowned for its concierge style approach and carrying uncommon, contemporary, artistic jewelry. Tochner painstakingly scouts couture shows around the country to handpick the designers that will be displayed alongside the Jolie B. Ray designs. Though there are some staples, approximately 20 new lines are added each season at all price points. “We seldom carry the same items twice and work with clients to carefully select just the right piece. If that perfect piece is not in the shop, we will source it and follow-up to ensure satisfaction,” she asserts.

As a jewelry designer, Tochner is adept at forecasting the trends her discerning clientele will crave. In 2018 she predicts, “Younger customers are becoming quite sophisticated, gravitating towards dainty rings and necklaces and little hoop earrings. Similarly, women are layering contemporary jewelry and long necklaces with their more traditional pieces.” Customization is also fashionable with women favoring a more modern take on name plates, while tweens and teens are incorporating monograms within their designs. “Women are now buying multi-functional jewelry,” Tochner adds, “We are veering away from pieces that are solely for special occasions.”

Seeing jewelry as an expression of art, the shop also functions as a gallery.  Tochner uses the same discerning eye to select contemporary artists that are in synchrony with ROCKS aesthetic to grace the walls. “The high ceilings of the space simply lent themselves to functioning as a gallery. Jewelry is a form of wearable art and follows similar sensibilities. Curating the gallery is a natural extension of our product offerings and appeal to our customers’ creative expressions.”

It is this holistic approach to servicing the community that also extends to Tochner’s commitment to making the shop accessible for philanthropic endeavors. ROCKS regularly hosts events benefitting local organizations close to her clients’ hearts such as Kids Kloset, a Westchester Jewish Community Services program and the Pleasantville Cottage School, a residential treatment center for young people.

And that community is expanding.  Tochner clarifies, “Armonk has become a destination town, boasting many new shops and restaurants. We are enjoying traffic from our neighbors in Bedford, Katonah, Greenwich and Chappaqua.” With the advantages of its setting, also come the challenges of operating a business in a suburban environment. “Business in the suburbs is cyclical,” Tochner says. “Summers, when many children are away in camp, can be slow. Similarly, snow days are quiet. These are issues that NYC retailers don’t experience.”

To combat the challenges inherent in any retail business, Tochner is continuously evolving the shop’s business model. The website, for example, was recently revamped to optimize clients’ virtual shopping experience on those slow summer and snow days. In response to demand, Tochner also now provides liaison services to coordinate the sale of customers’ estate jewelry and is providing jewelry rental for special occasions. These services join ROCKS’ existing menu of offerings including wish lists, heirloom jewelry redesign, repairs for both costume and fine jewelry and personal shopping.

Visit ROCKS by Jolie B. Ray to enjoy an unparalleled shopping experience. For the latest product offerings and jewelry trends, follow them on Instagram, Facebook or visit www.rocksbyjoliebray.com.

Personal Attention, Knowledgeable Staff & Customer Loyalty at Dodd’s Wine Shop

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Experience gleaned as a teenager working in his father’s liquor store proved beneficial to when 25-year-old Dodd Farber opened Dodd’s Wine Shop in the Millwood Shopping Center in the early 1970s.

Farber, a no-nonsense man who operates the business without a computer, grew up in Long Island and earned an MBA, then left Wall Street for the Westchester suburbs.

In the 1970s, he initially thought about opening a card store and contacted numerous shopping centers. However, he said, surrounded by ledgers and stacks of papers, “My father was in the liquor business, and as a teenager, I worked there and became familiar with it.”

Farber also knew how to develop and keep relationships with customers, who remain loyal to him. “Our business philosophy is to put personalization back into shopping,” he said. “We want to make this into a wine and liquor experience.”

His staff averages more than 25 years of employment with him and knows customers’ likes and dislikes and guide them around the store of more than 1,500 kinds of wines from around the world. “We pride ourselves on great service, personal attention and a selection of more than 2,000, items all at great prices.”

Its diverse clientele ranges from people who enjoy a daily glass of wine to collectors who seek the rarest vintages. “We are here to advise our customers regardless of their preference,” he said.

Joe Cutaia has been working at Dodd’s more than 20 years. “It’s not about the bottles,” he explained. “It’s about our relationship with the customer. People come in and shake your hand, and you know them personally. We don’t want people to be anonymous.”

Ready to help you: The Staff at Dodd’s
PHOTO BY JANIE ROSMAN

“Customers like to see faces that they know,” Farber said. “They become comfortable working with our staff and their recommendations. It’s a friendly business, and everybody knows everybody’s name, like in “Cheers.”

During our visit to the store, a man walked toward the back of the store and asked for employee Bobby Chipman. “Yes, I have it ready for you,” Chipman said, walking to greet him.

“We have a personal contact with our customers,” Cutaia emphasized. “We don’t just look at this as a retail store because we’re entrenched in the community. People who used to live here and who pass through the area come by to say hello.”

To Enhance your Celebration…

With Passover beginning at sundown March 30 and Easter arriving April 1, Farber offered these wine suggestions to pair with any meal and delight your company. (Prices here are per bottle.)

Easter Wines:

Reserve des Rochers Pouilly Fuisse 2015: Its delicious tart pear and honey essence flavors blend well with the round, broad style French Chardonnay, amazing price for White Burgundy. Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator. $14.99

Bastide Miraflors Rouge 2015: The Bastide Miraflors is a combination of Syrah and Grenache grapes. Its flavors of blackberry and black raspberries deliver a fruity wine with a rich and silky texture. Rated 94 points by The Wine Advocate. $12.99

Passover Wines:

Golan Heights Winery Gilgal Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: This wine is grown in the cool climate region of the upper Galilee in Israel. With the combination of rocky soils and aging in French oak barrels, this cabernet shows its grace along with blackberry and dried fruit flavors tied together with the soft toast from the barrel. $17.99

Golan Heights Winery Gilgal Chardonnay 2015: This bright and crisp chardonnay flashes its delicious pear and apple spice flavors with just enough oak nuance to add a touch of body. It’s also grown in the Upper Galilee region of Israel. $17.99