Jackson was a little nervous going to camp and even more uncomfortable when he was the only boy at the peanut- free lunch table. Then along came Michael. Michael didn’t have peanut allergies but knew Jackson was going to be his new friend. That was 2 years ago, a lifetime ago for these two 6-year old pals. Jackson said Michael always cheers him up and they think it is cool that together they are “Michael Jackson”. www.worldcupcamps.org, Director, Roxanne Kaplan
Advertorials
Wagon Road Camp
The great activities of summer are made all the more wonderful by the people you share them with. The friends you make in the effort to pass the deep water test or in creating a fairy tale castle at the Imagination Playground last a life time. Wagon Road Camp is a place where kids find friends as they live the joys of summer. www.childrensaidsociety.org/wagon-road-camp Vince Canziani, Director.
Harvey Cavalier Camp
Our campers come from many different towns across Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield counties to forge lifetime friendships. It is their shared passion to explore their own interests with a great curiosity to try new things that binds them to learn and grow as one camp of Cavaliers. I saw this firsthand with my children who came with me from our home in Dutchess County and made so many good friends with campers from two counties south. It’s truly a camp where like minds meet and become fast friends. www.harveyschool.org, Chris Delcampo, Director of Communications
The First Congregational Church of Chappaqua (FCC) Now “Open and Affirming!”
Throughout its 100 year history, FCC has prided itself on being welcoming to all who wish to pursue their faith journey with others who believe in the liberty of conscience. Over 25 years ago, the United Church of Christ created an Open and Affirming commitment and encouraged their congregations to proclaim themselves as such. The Open and Affirming designation is intended to express a church’s affirmation of all human beings and their welcome into the life of the church.It is especially focused on the inclusion and welcome of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks, who have been the subject of much discrimination and prejudice. FCC decided a year ago that it wanted to consider taking the important formal step of intentionally becoming Open and Affirming.
On January 24, 2013 at its Annual Meeting, after a year of open discussion, information sessions and thoughtful consideration, the FCC congregation joyously and overwhelmingly voted to become Open and Affirming. The congregation adopted the following all inclusive statement:
- Taking scripture as our guide, and mindful of our mission to be a caring community, we acknowledge, accept and affirm that all people are equal children of God. We welcome into the worship, work and fellowship of this congregation all people.
- People of every race and mixture of races.
- People of every ethnic background and nationality.
- People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight.
- People in any economic situation.
- People, regardless of physical or mental prowess or limitation.
- Trusting in God’s grace and with the hope of guidance from the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to strive to fulfill this affirmation.
Building on our commitment to be Open and Affirming, it is FCC’s hope and intention to be a place where everyone is welcome, where we celebrate our differences and where we find strength in the things we share. We encourage you to join us as we enter our second century and affirm our commitment to be as understanding, accepting and inclusive as possible of all of God’s children!
Meet Cindy Glynn of Raveis
A Team Player’s Personal Attention Yields Success for Homeowners– whether Buying or Selling your Home!
by Ronni Diamondstein
Integrity, trust, and personal attention are three words that define Cindy Glynn’s business approach. Cindy, a real estate agent at William Raveis Real Estate, has the passion, attention to detail, and commitment to great customer service that makes her an award winning realtor.
Real estate runs deep in Cindy’s blood. In 2001, she left a corporate marketing position to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother who both had successful careers in real estate. Cindy, who grew up in neighboring Briarcliff Manor, currently lives in Chappaqua with her husband and three children and knows the town intimately. “Because I live in Chappaqua, there are times when my personal and professional lives intersect. Having children in the school system and being involved in the community, helps me to stay intimately connected to the day to day in Chappaqua,” Cindy explained.
William Raveis, the #1 family-owned real estate company in the Northeast, opened its doors in Connecticut in 1974 and today has 91 offices in five states. Raveis expanded to Westchester in 2010 when it assembled a team of some of the highest producing agents, Cindy Glynn being among them, to launch its Chappaqua office at 75 N. Greeley Ave. “We are an impressive group,” says Cindy. “And, while we all work with our own clients, we work as a team to benefit our buyers and sellers.
For example, when pricing a home, multiple agents walk through the home and provide independent evaluations which result in more accurate pricing.” Cindy points out another feature that she believes sets Raveis apart from some of the other real estate outfits. “Because Raveis has mortgage and insurance divisions, the firm can help a client to meet all their needs through their home buying process, making the process easy and seamless.”
Cindy, who has now been a multi-million dollar producer for several years, explained her own personal approach to the business. “I consider my greatest strength to be my ability to understand the buyer’s as well as the seller’s interests, and align them.”
Cindy explained that the real estate business has changed dramatically with the technological advances over the past several years. Internet sites such as Realtor.com, Trulia and Zillow have impacted the home buying process by giving buyers an enormous amount of information.
Cindy continued, “Information can be misleading and sometimes inaccurate. For this reason, it is more important than ever to have a knowledgeable realtor who can clarify and help the buyer interpret the data. That’s where I step in to guide them.”
Today’s real estate market also requires buyers and sellers to be well versed on industry trends and community specific information. “Over the years the process of buying a home has become more complicated,” says Cindy. “As a seasoned professional, I guide my clients through the process–educating them on the environmental and regulatory issues which often arise.” Using vast resources available to her through her relationships with architects, engineers and the town building department, she is able to anticipate potential problems like those with certificates of occupancy and building permits.
“My philosophy is to do my homework, examine the building records and educate my sellers to avoid issues that could delay a closing.” Cindy also works with her clients to stage their homes. Cindy enthusiastically commented, “It’s amazing how even a modest amount of work beforehand can result in tens of thousands of dollars increase in the ultimate sale price. Light and bright sells. De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter.”
When asked what Cindy finds most gratifying about her job, she replied, “Whether I am representing a $2,000 rental client or a two million dollar sales client, I give them the same devotion and personalized attention. It is difficult to select a home and just as difficult to prepare a home for sale. I equip all my clients with the information necessary to make the right decisions. It makes me feel good that my clients know that our relationship will last long beyond the closing. The many referrals I receive are the greatest thank you I can ask for.”
As the new year begins, Cindy Glynn continues to be optimistic about the housing market in Chappaqua offering this statistic, “In 2013, 216 Chappaqua homes sold versus 131 homes in 2012. This illustrates the great recovery in the housing market that occurred in 2013, a trend we expect to continue in 2014.”
Ronni Diamondstein, owner of Maggie Mae Pup Reporter™ is a Chappaqua based freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer. Visit Maggie Mae’s blog at www.maggiemaepup.com
