The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Food, Glorious Food …with Caution

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Organic radishes
Organic radishes

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

In the carefree days of yesteryear, people gave nary a thought to the types of food they chose to savor. Parties were planned and no one asked whether anyone was allergic to anything. Children took their favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school, no questions asked. Supermarket products were fairly uniform; white Wonder bread reigned in the bread aisle and Fluff was a pantry staple. The admonition, “stay safe,” pertained to keeping a close eye on one’s valuables and person.

Fast forward to today, and life, as it relates to food, has totally changed. Peanut-free tables are de rigueur at schools and camps. Dinner parties are painstakingly planned around friends’ gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, vegetarian/vegan and organic-only (to name just a few) diets. For some, food choices are governed by the desire to maintain a sensible weight; “jumping on the gluten-free wagon makes it easier to watch my diet,” says one local resident who requested anonymity. Still, for an increasing number of people for whom what passes through their lips can be a matter of life and death, food is far more and increasingly complicated. The term “food allergen”, now an integral part of contemporary language, is defined as a substance that causes a reaction in a person who has a food allergy.

What are these maleficent allergens and why should we care? The most common allergens–referred to as “the top 8”–are: dairy, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts ( i.e. walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews), fish and shellfish.

The National Restaurant Association places a high priority on everything related to food safety. ServSafe, their food training and safety program, is regarded as gospel among the 500,000 restaurant 
businesses they represent. They cover the rudiments (including hand washing, proper preparation and temperature guidelines) as well as the more extensive allergen training.

ServSafe product manager, David Crownover stresses that food safety begins with the source. “One o

Organic ginger root and oriental yams
Organic ginger root and oriental yams

f the basic foundations of food safety is to be using a reputable food supplier.” When frozen items arrive: “Look at the truck. Keep track of the temperature they’re being delivered at.”

The issue of food safety in general (with or without allergies) is practically mind-boggling in modern times. To eat or not to eat is not the question; it is instead, is it safe to eat? Normal precautions like washing all fruits and vegetables are not sufficient for some. Hyper-vigilance toward anything containing pesticides, GMOs, additives and hormones prevails.

Sage advice is proffered by Joseph Gentilesco, Captain of the Chappaqua Ambulance Corps. He begins by recounting a mother’s call to 911, saying that her young son who has a food allergy was going into shock. She had administered their EpiPen (one of a handful of well known trade-named epinephrine autoinjectors), and was waiting for it to take effect. The boy recovered and was fine until the next day when the same call came in. This time, the boy’s older brother had been eating peanuts and the younger one helped himself. The moral of this story is that both preparedness and supervision play key roles in food safety too.

“Shock is a life-threatening situation,” Gentilesco says. Even if people have used an EpiPen and feel confident that they or their friend or relative will be fine, Gentilesco prefers that they call 911: “We’d rather come and hear we’re not needed [than be called later for something much more serious].” He also emphasizes that the presence of an EpiPen (and a backup in case a second dose is needed) is not enough. Careful, periodic examination of the expiration date is also vital. When driving a bus for Chappaqua Transportation, another of the hats he wears, Gentilesco not only asks all allergic children to show him where their medicine is stowed; he goes the extra mile to verify that the medicine is effective.

Auvi-Q epinephrine injection device, front and back
Auvi-Q epinephrine injection device, front and back

Food safety is paramount in Dr. Susan Rubin’s mind. Rubin, a self-described eco-gastronomically focused food educator and leader in the world of school-food activism, cites many threats including one in corn and soy, both of which are likely to have a residue of the pesticide Roundup. “Your best bet is to go organic,” Rubin urges. That being said, she also advises being discriminate in determining what is truly organic. Rubin cautions against the “health halo” of enterprises like Whole Foods where the perception is that everything is organic, while in reality, it is not. Rubin grows her own food–she is the co-chair of the Chappaqua community garden–and is a member of the Roxbury Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). She also mentions a rule of thumb 
she instilled in her children at a very 
young age, “If you can’t pronounce it, it’s not food.”

Still, even Rubin keeps food safety in perspective. “Eliminate foods with the highest pesticide residue (non organic strawberries top this list). I eat clean 80% of the time. Perfection simply doesn’t exist.”

Sarah Ellen Rindsberg embraces the knowledge acquired herein and does not take it with a grain of salt.

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Food Safety: Be an Advocate for your Family

For many families here and around the world, a laissez-faire attitude toward food consumption is not an option. Chappaqua resident Ellen Byck vividly recalls the moment she realized that food choices were to be strictly regulated. Her young daughter Sasha had been terribly ill and, despite many visits to the pediatrician, no diagnosis had been made. So, when Sasha was two years old, Ellen took her to see a gastroenterologist. “He knew immediately by looking at her,” Ellen says.

The specialist diagnosed celiac disease–an autoimmune disorder in which gluten consumption harms the small intestine. Blood work and a gluten-free diet were ordered. Sasha, now a healthy college freshman, categorizes herself as “a very cautious person.” She reads labels religiously and eschews risk by avoiding known dangers–gluten, peanuts and peas.

She emphasizes the importance not only of having an Auvi-Q device (another of the well known epinephrine autoinjectors) on hand at all times, but being trained in its use as well. Sasha plans to study hospitality and is cognizant of the skill set she brings to the table:

“Because I’ve had these allergies, I know what it’s like to order something and not have it prepared properly. I’ve had to suffer the consequences.” Under her watch, she vows to “make sure that what people are asking [in terms of dietary requests] really does happen.”

Another recent HGHS graduate, Rachel Schelling is her own best advocate. “Not long ago, I went to a new restaurant in Mount Kisco for the first time. I said, ‘I have a severe nut allergy, what’s your protocol?’” The staff’s explanation of their precautionary procedures assured her that it was safe to patronize the establishment. Rachel credits her parents for teaching her what to ask and how to listen, interpret and follow up. Parents who teach and model effective allergy interventions empower their children as they grow.

– Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

 

The Gift of Time in Chappaqua

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By Heather Skolnick

As the holidays are rapidly approaching, the thing that keeps me up at night (after the child who had a nightmare, the kitchen I didn’t clean, the work I opted not to do, the dog who didn’t get walked and the husband I neglected, that is) is finding the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I create a spreadsheet on Google docs so I can access it wherever I might be, and start brainstorming. I add and edit as the holidays approach. Come mid-November, I ask for ideas for those for whom I have voids, try to think creatively and leverage suggestions from friends and peers. All to try to find the “perfect” gift! But what if holiday gifts were really about something more than the kind of present you can stick in a gift bag?

Heather Brill and Nicole Meyer share friendship and fun at a previous Paint Nite event.
Heather Brill and Nicole Meyer share friendship and fun at a previous Paint Nite event.

The Gift of Time is a gift we should all consider giving and asking for in return. For starters, we all know how important Date Night is. But how often do we really do it? Speaking for myself, I have the best intentions–it just rarely happens. Fatigue, lack of planning and babysitter availability are all variables that inevitably lead to date night getting cancelled. Investing in our own relationships is the best way to ensure they flourish and grow and don’t get mired down by the challenges of everyday life. Chappaqua Licensed Marriageand Family Therapist Katherine Cates said, “Couples get caught up in being parents and forget the value of being a couple. Date night establishes the connection between each other as husband and wife and as lovers again.” New Castle husband and wife Steve and Susan Sorrel agree, and have made it part of their routine. Susan said, “In the hustle of the everyday juggling of work schedules and our child, our relationship becomes very transactional. The quality time alone together allows for us to regularly revisit the rare chemistry that attracted us to each other in the beginning.”

And what about the kids? Certainly kids will still ask for the latest iPad, toy or clothing item. And this is not to say that children shouldn’t get presents because the joy of watching a child open up the gift they’ve been asking for is priceless. But perhaps it’s a balance. Because in two years, the iPad will be out of date (or shattered…), the toy forgotten and the trendy clothing will be long outgrown. Quality one-on-one time we invest in our children will be remembered forever. What if instead of gifting a new arts and crafts set, I took my daughter to the Crayola factory? She would be in heaven. And having one-on-one time with me, without the distraction of her two younger brothers, would be something extra special for her. Pleasantville based Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jill Touitou says, “One-on-one time with your kids is the best gift you can give them. Spending quality time together, without distractions, encourages the development of a special and trusting relationship and is a gift that cannot be equaled by tangible presents.” Even the internet agrees. My Facebook feed is filled with posts about “gifting” memories for your children. There’s even a Pinterest site dedicated to it!

Susan and Steve Sorrel enjoying some semi formal quality time with each other.
Susan and Steve Sorrel enjoying some semi formal quality time with each other.

The time concept gift extends beyond family to our friends too. My good friend and Thornwood resident Nicole Meyer decided this year on something different for the holidays. Instead of traditional gifts wrapped up with a bow, she is treating her close friends to a Paint Nite event. We will get to spend time together and catch up, while creating a painting masterpiece of sorts. The painting activity is actually incidental; it’s all about the time together with friends. As Nicole explained, “Instead of the same old holiday gift, I would rather spend time with people I love and that love me… an occasion to have some fun, be creative and share a laugh!”

Just as important, if not the most important, is alone time. Ask the average Chappaqua adult what they want most and the answer will likely be something like time for a manicure or time to watch football. In both cases, it’s not really about the manicure or the football game, but just time for oneself. For me, that’s my dog walking time. I get my alone time and my pup gets a little love too. For our time crunched, overscheduled generation, it’s vital that we remember to give ourselves a gift, too!

Heather Skolnick, her husband and three kids have been New Castle residents for eight years. Heather works for a major retailer, helping them design and implement their Omnichannel Strategy. When she isn’t doing that, she is spending quality time with her family.

 

Casting a Vote for New Castle’s League of Women Voters

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4-LWV-members
New Castle League of Women Voters visit the United Nations.

By Vicki de Vries

When Election Day rolls around November 4th this year, how many residents of New Castle will enter the voting booth with an air of confidence, familiar with the candidates and the issues?

Despite over 12,000 registered voters in New Castle, chances are that a significant percentage will still lack the information needed to make an informed decision.

The League of Women Voters of New Castle to the rescue! Courtesy of the League, all households in New Castle will receive a mailed copy of the annual Voter’s Guide with its vital information on the candidates from the local to the federal level, their positions and other related topics. This year, three state-wide propositions are up for a vote, making the guide all the more invaluable.

Co-President Sheila Miller Bernson said, “The New Castle League pays to have the guide mailed to every household in New Castle. It costs thousands of dollars for us to mail these out. Most people think their taxpayer money has paid for the Voter’s Guide, but it comes out of the League budget.”

Clearly, the Voter’s Guide, also found in the local library, community center, and some supermarkets, provides a major community service. But that’s not all.

Co-Presidents Jennifer Mebes Flagg and Sheila Bernson register voters in downtown Chappaqua during National Voter Registration Day.
Co-Presidents Jennifer Mebes Flagg and Sheila Bernson register voters in downtown Chappaqua during National Voter Registration Day.

Helping To Keep the Wheels of 
Democracy Turning

“We encourage people to register, vote, and become well-informed about candidates and issues,” said Mary Kirsch, the local chapter’s Voter Service Chair. In that statement resides a world of dedicated members willing to roll up their sleeves.

Active all year long, the New Castle League provides a host of important civic services to residents. Fostering its goals, the local chapter sets up a booth on New Castle Community Day to encourage voter registration. On September 23rd, National Voter Registration Day this year, the League set up a voter registration table near the local Starbucks in Chappaqua. And when Westchester Community College holds its Registration Day, the League helps to register prospective voters 
on campus.

Every year in March, the New Castle League also sponsors “Conversation with the Supervisor”; this event, historically held only in the mornings, now runs an evening session too so that more people can hear Supervisor Greenstein discuss the state of New Castle and take questions from the audience.

League members also serve as observers at school and Town Board meetings. When the New Castle League got started in 1949, the Town Board at first was suspicious of the members who were only trying to be well-informed citizens!

Even high-school students have a place in the League. “For the past three years, we’ve sent a New Castle student to the State League’s four-day ‘Students Inside Albany’ conference to learn about State government,” said Lea Barth, Membership Chair.

One of the newest programs is “Running and Winning,” a day-long workshop that Co-President Jennifer Mebes Flagg says gives Westchester high-school girls “a chance to meet with women elected officials and learn what it means to run for office.”

Horace Greeley High School students Brandon Hilfer (left) and Dev Jhavieri (right) with Assemblywoman Mayer at the League’s Students Inside Albany Conference.
Horace Greeley High School students Brandon Hilfer (left) and Dev Jhavieri (right) with Assemblywoman Mayer at the League’s Students Inside Albany Conference.

Last but not least, the New Castle League sponsors “Candidates Night,” at which candidates get to present their positions and take questions from the public. This year, Candidates Night falls on October 23, and will be held at the Chappaqua Library.

True to its roots, the New Castle League is non-partisan, meaning it does not endorse a candidate or a political party. That kind of position vis-à-vis candidates is quite remarkable.

But, then again, being non-partisan has been a hallmark of the parent organization since its own inception in 1920, when Carrie Chapman Catt founded the League of Women Voters. Some marvel at her prescience as just six months later, the historic 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right 
to vote.

When the national organization modified its charter in 1973 to permit men to join its ranks, all of the other state, county and local leagues followed suit. Today, the New Castle chapter boasts over 100 members, some of whom are men. Few know, for example, that Bruce Gilchrist once served as a New Castle League president.

Taking a Stand on Issues

An objective observer could easily say that the New Castle League does enough already. But the members don’t see it 
that way!

From its very inception, the League of Women Voters has taken advocacy seriously. The New Castle chapter is no exception, having tackled a variety of national and local issues including, but not limited to, gun control, fracking, affordable housing, health care and education over the years.

Before the League takes a position of its own, Co-President Bernson explained, it follows a highly disciplined consensus process. League members listen to a presentation of both sides of an issue, discuss it for an hour or more, and then put it to a vote. If there is no unanimous vote, the local League does not take a public stand on the issue, even if the State and National Leagues have taken stands.

While the League might take an official position on an issue, Flagg said it also “provides a rationale for both sides of that issue, and allows voters to make up their own mind” through educational forums which are paid for out of membership dues.

Sometimes the issues are tied in with educational endeavors. “This year, together with a Bell student, we cosponsored a screening of the film Girl Rising, which is about the education of girls around the world,” Flagg said. “And in 2012, we cosponsored with Chappaqua’s Temple Beth-El the film Miss Representation, which is about how women and girls are represented in the media.”

“When I first moved to town over 20 years ago,” said Carol Hurford, a member and past president of the New Castle League, “the League… played an instrumental role in studying and educating our citizens on the pros and cons of professional town management. After reaching consensus, 
it worked tirelessly to achieve such management for the town.” In fact, “no other organization in New Castle provides the non-partisan, in-depth issue study or education services on local issues that the League does.”

Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein speaking at the League’s “Conversation with the Supervisor” annual event last March.
Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein speaking at the League’s “Conversation with the Supervisor” annual event last March.

The League has always had an international focus as well. The National League, which was supportive of the founding of the United Nations, sends representatives to serve as observers, while the New York State chapter sponsors “League Day at the UN” to tour the facilities and focus on issues of special concern to women. Additionally, in 2012, the New Castle League organized its own trip to the UN and spent the day learning about human trafficking.

Some of the positions the National League has taken are decidedly controversial. One such position was its objection to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which the Supreme Court held up as constitutional in 2007. Given its overall goals, modus operandi and substantial achievements, the League is to be commended for its commitment to the democratic process and the ideals of fair play, consensus and non-partisanship toward candidates and political parties. And, yes, for its willingness to study all sides of a controversial issue and take a position on it.

Flagg’s comment captures it all: “The League can be a powerful force in issues.” For example, “the New York State League has taken a position on the redistricting proposal and is advocating voters to vote ‘yes’ this November on Proposition 1.”

Clearly, “in addressing local, state, national or international issues, our LWV hats are ever changing,” said past chapter president Suzanne Maltz, who is an alternate observer to the United Nations for 2014-2015. “Our willingness to try on different hats is very challenging, and that’s exactly the way we like it!”

The Consensus Is In

While a lot of the work of the New Castle League is time consuming, the members find a great deal of satisfaction in being part of it. Public service and civic responsibility aside, a less promoted side of the League is the camaraderie it exudes.

“I feel it is a privilege to sit around a table at meetings, listening to really intelligent women discussing subjects that are important to everyone,” said New Castle League Board Member and Treasurer, Barbara Cardone, “not only in our community but around the world.”

Echoing Cardone’s sentiment, Bernson added, “When I moved back to this area in 2006, I joined the League to get to know people and find out about our town. It’s a great way to get to meet impressive, smart women.” And men!

Barth, who is tasked with keeping the League’s presence in the public eye, pondered, “Without the local chapter, where would people in New Castle have gotten non-partisan information for the last 65 years?”

“If people are interested in good government and transparency,” she continued, “they should support organizations like the League, which thinks it’s important for people to know who is funding political campaigns regardless of what side of the aisle–labor unions, George Soros or the Koch Brothers, et al–the money is coming from.”

By now, the “consensus” should be unanimous–the New Castle League serves the public well.

Barbara Gerrard, former Town Supervisor and League member, attributes the success of the New Castle League to its “smart, dedicated and hard working” leadership through the years. “We all benefit from their outstanding efforts.”

Bernson, whose late mother-in-law, Mary Bernson, was the first President of the New Castle League, described it “as a breeding ground for people who go on to do public service.” For example, the late Marion Sinek “went from being the President of the New Castle League to being Supervisor of New Castle and held positions with the State League.”

Perhaps most telling of all is the praise from former Assemblyman Bob Castelli: “I’m a fan of the League! It gives the little guy a chance to be heard and serves a very valuable purpose for all of us. It’s always given me a level playing field and an opportunity to present my case to the people I want to serve.”

Castelli’s endorsement makes a clear and compelling case for why the New Castle League truly deserves everyone’s grateful support. And keep an eye out for your Voter’s Guide.

Click here to see the candidates presented in alphabetical order.

The League contact information is LWVNC, P.O. Box 364, Chappaqua, NY 10514 or www.lwvnewcastle.org. Annual dues: $65 for an individual, $95 for a family, and $21 for students.

Vicki de Vries, a freelance writer/editor and educator living in Westchester “country,” casts her vote for the LWV of New Castle.

 

Basics about Area Candidates

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Compiled by Vicki de Vries

DavidBuchwald-New York State Assembly (District 93)

-David Buchwald: Incumbent Unopposed (Democratic Party line)

“Together we’ve made progress, but there’s more work to be done!”

Over the past two years, I’ve enjoyed working with local school officials in the District and have helped to increase state-aid for education to the Chappaqua Central School District–16% this year and 18% last year, which is an overall significant increase in state support for local education….

There’s still the ongoing need for high quality government. That’s why I’m the lead sponsor of a state constitutional amendment to strip state   officials of state pensions if they’ve been convicted of a felony involving a breach of the public trust…. Ninety State Assembly members have signed onto the amendment, which passed through its first committee vote. That’s an historic level of progress on this issue….

Passing the bill so that the people of New York can vote on it is still a long process, but I’m committed to pushing for something so many  Westchester residents believe in…. And now that my district office has moved to nearby downtown Mount Kisco, 
my constituents are always welcome to visit.

 

CHRISTOPHER-DAU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 17)

-Christopher Day: 
(Republican Party and 
Conservative Party lines)

“A Brighter Future Today”

Our country is at a point where we’re at risk of losing the American Dream… It’s time to make hard decisions to get high quality        jobs and strong defense back without petty partisan politics. I would work hard to get infrastructure projects [like the new Tappan Zee Bridge] and get decent immigration reform passed to have a secure border. Also, I would  incentivize local businesses to grow and expand and try to attract  new businesses to Westchester.

Then there’s the federal government telling our local school systems, “Teach Common Core or no money comes your way!” and getting involved in Westchester zoning and calling suburban areas ‘racist.’Educational and zoning issues are best resolved on the state and local levels.

 

nanhayworthU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 18)

-Nan Hayworth: 
(Republican Party, 
Conservative Party and 
Independence Party line)

“Doctor. Mother. Neighbor”

Everywhere I go in the Hudson Valley, I hear people saying we have the potential to do so much better…. We need to welcome hiring and business growth and help our neighbors so they can continue to live and prosper in our area.

I’ve been fighting to have affordable health care that does not cause employers to have to reduce work hours. I want to unburden the business community from unnecessary regulations and taxes. I’m also committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare and to keeping federal regulators from interfering with Westchester’s local zoning laws….

When I was in Congress, I co-sponsored the REINS Act, which would have reined in federal regulators and prevented them from passing major regulations that have significant economic impacts on our economy. My opponent voted against it, and now Hudson Valley families are stuck paying more for their electricity.

 

NitaLoweyU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 17)

-Nita Lowey: Incumbent (Democratic Party line)

“Helping New Yorkers 
Get Ahead”

I had a wonderful time meeting so many great people at the recent New Castle Community Day in Chappaqua. I’m proud of my success fighting for our communities’ fair share of federal resources. New                 Castle has benefited from vital public safety equipment for the Police and Chappaqua Fire Department and $1.2 million for work on the Route 120 bridge over the Metro-North tracks.

I will continue to fight for local projects as well as work to make sure that college is affordable for middle-class families and that women get equal pay for equal work.

 

SeanPatrickMaloneyU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 18)

-Sean Patrick Maloney: Incumbent 
(Democratic Party line)

“Proudly Serving New York’s 18th District”

I’ve been hard at work doing the job folks sent me to do. That means passing 13 bipartisan bills through the House of Representatives…passing disaster relief for our communities to rebuild from the damage done by Sandy, investing in our infrastructure, working across the aisle to fight things like the heroin epidemic in the Hudson Valley and helping our veterans

…I’ve fought to keep local manufacturers and hundreds of jobs in the Hudson Valley, partnered to grow and expand the biotech industry, pushed for local infrastructure projects that create jobs… In New Castle and Westchester, I’ve fought to repave Route 133 between Route 120 and Mt. Kisco and to get $65 million in disaster relief for our communities and nearly $4 million in aid to help our area’s homeless veterans. I want to grow this economy… by investing in the middle class and protecting programs like Social Security….

 

TerranceNew York State Senate (District 40)

-Terence Murphy: 
(Republican Party, 
Conservative Party, 
Independence Party and Green Party lines)

“Working Together To 
Give Everyone a 
Chance To Succeed”

In my work as Town Councilman in Yorktown Heights, I worked across the aisle and got the job done. I would do the same in Albany.

We have to cut taxes and make New York a more affordable place to live and also a business-friendly state. As a Town Councilman, I’ve given two consecutive tax decreases –more than any decrease in over a generation and helped to usher in close to $250,000 worth of new business development…all the while keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum….

We also need to change the ethics climate in Albany. In Yorktown, I helped to rewrite the ethics law to include financial disclosure statements and the creation of an ethics committee.

Of vital concern is the 300% increase in heroin use, which we must halt in Westchester County and elsewhere in the State. And finally, as your New York State Senator, I would continue to fight for the Veterans, who fought so hard for us.

 

JustinWagnerJustin Wagner:

(Democratic Party line)

“Mainstream Values. Common-Sense Solutions”

Albany needs to solve problems with common-sense solutions, not with partisanship. I’m not a career politician. I’m focused on passing  ethics legislation, meaningful mandate relief to reduce property taxes and rebuilding New York’s decaying infrastructure. These are not partisan issues, but they are issues that have been neglected by Albany for too long.

Economic issues are very important and will be my primary area of     focus, but I’m also concerned about value issues such as keeping New York a pro-choice state and passing the Women’s Equality Agenda.  I’m also a strong proponent of mandating background checks for gun purchases to ensure we keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

MOVEMBER – Changing the Face of Men’s Health

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Mo Bros take action by growing a moustache for the 30 days of Movember, to spark conversation and raise funds. Movember Foundation Photo
Mo Bros take action by growing a moustache for the 30 days of Movember, to spark conversation and raise funds.
Movember Foundation Photo

by Dan Levitz

Groucho Marx, Albert Einstein, Frank Zappa, Burt Reynolds. Is there a particular shared physical attribute these famous names bring to mind? No? How about Charlie Chaplin, Gene Shalit, Clark Gable? Still not sure? Visualize The Village People’s Construction Guy, Salvadore Dali and Borat…

As the moon over Halloween recedes, Movember will begin. That is not a typographical error. The month formerly known as November, for many, has now been meaningfully changed to Movember. During this great autumn month, some presumably post-pubescent men with the ability to achieve facial hair will grow a mustache with intent to “change the face of men’s health.” Clever puns aside, this annual event is an important world-wide effort to raise awareness (and funds) for serious men’s health issues.

It all began in Australia in 1999 where ‘Mo’ is slang for a mustache. A well intentioned group of men coined the term Movember with the simple concept of starting clean-shaven and then growing mustaches throughout the month to raise money for charity. A donation could be made to a specific ‘Mo’ or to sponsor a team of mustache growers. This evolved in the early 2000s to more specifically focus on Men’s health issues like prostate & testicular cancer along with depression, which many people, unfortunately, just aren’t comfortable discussing. What these illnesses all have in common is that early detection can be life-saving and Movember is an effort to make people speak up and seek help.

It’s an interesting aspect to male culture that these pervasive health issues need this colorful event to raise awareness. Logic would seem to dictate that if a man was having an issue he would simply call the doctor. However, as an adult male I can confirm that, logic be damned, it is just so easy to live in denial. I’m not sure if this is a hard-wired male genetic flaw or an evolutionary defect. Perhaps the genius behind Movember is that people are not the slightest bit hesitant to talk about that blossoming growth of hair on one’s upper lip which is the perfect segue to discuss what are quite serious and potentially life-saving subjects.

In a broad sense, the timing of Movember couldn’t be any better. With apologies to Brooklyn hipsters rocking waxed handle-bars, I think I can say with some confidence that the mustache has fallen out of favor.

Nowadays when you see a gentleman with a magnificent growth of hair above his upper lip you might hear words uttered like What was he thinkin’? or faux sneezed Porn-stasche! Somewhere along the way what was once an appealing stylistic male attribute has become something of a grooming pariah; a facial fashion-don’t.

Full disclosure, I usually wear a goatee which seems to be more acceptable to many than a plain old mustache. One day I shaved the beard and soul patch which left a fairly wonderful ‘Mo’. I proudly strutted out of the bathroom to show my lovely wife who looked up at me, smiled and calmly yet vehemently said, “No.” She went back to her book and I went off to shave.

Chappaqua resident Stuart Angowitz sprouted a full-on mustache for two recent Movember campaigns raising several thousand dollars. For Stuart, enjoying not shaving was a pleasant surprise and the simplicity of just sending an email to friends and family about Movember was an effective way to get the message out. He also found the endeavor to be a natural way to broach important subjects like Prostate Cancer. An old friend of mine, Ken Umansky, has only one time ever worn a mustache and that was in Movember of 2013. Ken noted, “It was meaningful to raise awareness about early detection.” He was also happy to receive a number of inquiring gazes towards his new facial coiffure from female passersby. Maybe the ‘Mo’ is making a comeback!

Speaking of The Ladies, women reading this may wonder how they too can get involved. There seems to be an inherent flaw in Movember as, theoretically, growing of the mustaches is only feasible for about half the human population. However, the folks organizing Movember have gone out of their way to encourage women to become ‘Mo Sistas’ who are encouraged to support the men in their lives participating in Movember and to help the cause.

Besides starting conversations about men’s health, Movember has raised substantial funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Testicular Cancer research, The Movember Awareness and Education Campaign and a long list of specific health related research endeavors.

Details about where the money
 goes and how to donate and/or sponsor a mustache can be found us.movember.com.

Dan has lived in Chappaqua for 10 years and is an art dealer and writer with a blog on The Huffington Post.