Cover Stories

Jodi’s Story

April 24, 2013 by The Inside Press

How Her Talent and Passion for Gymnastics Turned into a Lifelong Career

By Vicki de Vries

“Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life!” Most people nod in agreement and then walk away.

Not Jodi Levine, who started Jodi’s Gym 32 years ago and has proven that love and work can be a perfect 10, an old gymnastic term for the highest possible score. How did she do it, and how does she manage to continue running a successful business?

Jodi took what she loved and excelled in–gymnastics–and turned that passion into a new business idea—Jodi’s Gym, a gymnastics company catering to young children in New York City. The concept proved to be so successful that she eventually opened a Jodi’s Gym center in Mount Kisco. Over the years, Jodi and her staff, many of whom have been working with Jodi for over 15 years, have developed numerous offerings that range from “Teeny Tumblers” (ages 9 months to walking) to Girls Advanced Gymnastics (1st to 8th grade), attracting thousands upon thousands of children.

What accounts for the tremendous success Jodi’s Gym has enjoyed during the past 32 years? Is it the great business concept or the fact that all of the instructors are USA Gymnastics certified? Or maybe it’s the rich variety of offerings in a kid-friendly, pleasant, safe environment? Certainly, all of those factors have played, and continue to play, a key role in the Jodi’s Gym phenomenon.

But what has really made the difference is Jodi Levine herself.

Jodi’s Dance…to Gymnastics

One of Jodi’s earliest memories is about her wanting to be a ballet teacher. At around five years of age, she started taking dance lessons and acrobatic tumbling. “I really enjoyed being upside down,“ Jodi said. (Could that be when she began acquiring her remarkably perceptive slant on things?)

At age 12, Jodi began her first gymnastics class and by age 13, began competitive gymnastics. Entering her senior year of high school, she received a scholarship to attend the Walnut Hill School for Performing Arts in Boston. That honor required that she leave her hometown of Spring Valley in Rockland County, NY, for the year in order to pursue gymnastics training along with other scholarship recipients from around the country.

Jodi had such a successful senior year at the Walnut Hill School that after competing at the national level, she was awarded an athletic scholarship to Indiana State University’s nationally ranked women’s gymnastics team. She graduated with a BA in psychology and a certification coaching of gymnastics/physical education minor.

At that point, Jodi believed her gymnastics days were over: “After ISU, I truly did believe that I had completed my ‘gymnastics piece.’”

Next on her list was attending New York University to complete a master’s degree in psychology/organizational behavior. With graduation approaching, Jodi decided to take a break prior to pursuing a doctorate in child psychology. At the same time, she experienced what she described as a “gut moment pulling me back into the world of kids’ health, fitness and movement education.”

During her break from graduate studies, Jodi returned to coaching competitive gymnastics, something she had always loved. Here is where her story really takes off… “I really wanted to reach out to all kids, not just the ones who were inclined to be competitive gymnasts,” Jodi said. “I saw there was a great need for all kids to reap the psychological, as well as the physical, benefits of the sport that had given me so much. This was back in 1980, when ‘mommy and me’ gymnastics really did not exist. I saw a niche that was missing.” That niche was “gymnastics for the pure enjoyment, fun, education and benefit, where kids could work toward their personal best without having to compete for a score or how they compared to other kids.”

“In the sport of gymnastics, every fiber of a young person’s mind and body is fully engaged. I felt that so many children were missing out on the benefits gymnastics gave me, and I felt I just had to give it back to as many who would like to have the chance.”

The idea became a cause celebre for Jodi: “I felt as if this was what I was meant to do. There really was no stopping me. The energy was endless, the passion was so strong. Although the work was hard and those early days were very long, it never really felt like ‘work.’” Her athletic father was her main cheerleader early on: “If you love it, go for it!” In fact, “Dad always encouraged my sister and me to get back up, dust off the dirt and try again,” said Jodi. “He always wanted me to believe there was nothing I could not do because of my gender.”

Valuable words that would come in handy because in those early days, Jodi had no banker, no credit, no equipment, no staff, and no experience running a business. Surely the odds were against her, but Jodi was armed with a dream, boundless energy, and a strong passion for gymnastics and helping children.

Once Jodi’s Gym opened in New York City, it became an immediate success–the game in town for young children and their mothers. However, the business soon outgrew its space, and Jodi realized she would need to hire and train her first employee, who turned out to be a former student of hers. Her second employee was her mother, Carole, who came to “help out” with some administrative duties on a temporary basis. (To this day, Carole continues to assist her daughter’s business in New York City.)

Today, at any given time, Jodi’s Gym NYC and Mount Kisco between them will have from 25 to 40 employees—full and part time.

A Matter of Balance

Operating a business requires finding the right balance and constantly fine-tuning. Over the years, Jodi has developed a successful philosophy of business that is based on personal experience, common-sense, and a deep love for children and gymnastics.

Keeping a business on course includes “staying true to core values and goals while constantly innovating” and “keeping pricing fair while compensating staff well,” not to mention “maintaining the highest quality programs, high teacher/student ratios, and an extremely competent, well-trained, long-term, experienced staff.”

If that list sounds like too much somersaulting, Jodi would disagree because it’s what she has been doing for over 30 years. Her key advice to any business owner: “Listen to your customers, treat them as you want to be treated, be caring and sincere and accessible, and constantly innovate, always keeping in mind what is in the kids’ best interest.”

But, perhaps most importantly, Jodi is genuinely “in sync” with the kids themselves; she and her staff support and root them on because they’ve seen the positive results over and again, “knowing that children in our programs are feeling more confident and are developing a love for fitness and movement,” she stated.

Ultimately, “if this early positive exposure to movement keeps kids wanting to move and engage in active pursuits as they grow, we will have added to a healthier world. To me, that is success.”

Straddling Two Worlds

In the middle of her career, Jodi’s own two children became her students, and she and her husband, Hal, became, in effect, customers. Wearing the customer chapeau, she was able to see things from a mother’s perspective and learned to listen to the mothers who brought their children to her gymnastic classes.

In fact, Jodi felt better prepared to tackle perhaps the biggest challenge of all–being a parent: “Seeing so many different children and parenting styles over the years really helped prepare me to some extent for becoming a mom myself. I had so many role models.”

In a refreshingly candid way, Jodi added, “They helped me to be a better mom and got me to thinking, ‘What does a mom want? What does she deserve?’ That’s when I really started listening to what parents want for their children.”

Now that those mothers are grandparents, Jodi loves the fact that their children are bringing their kids to learn gymnastics: “When our ‘legacies,’ or second-generation kids, come through the door and the mom tells me of her great memories as a child at the gym and that she is now bringing her own child, I have been brought to tears on many occasions.”

Being sensitive to the needs and interests of families with children with all types of special needs, allergies, likes and dislikes further accounts for the variety of programs at Jodi’s Gym.

That sensitivity came close to home, shaping the parenting style of Jodi and her husband, Hal, who made physical activity and music a big part of their children’s lives. It also served as the inspiration for some innovative classes at Jodi’s Gym. For example, Jodi introduced gym and music classes after noticing how much her then two-year-old son, Will, enjoyed music. Later, when her daughter, Marly turned two, she enjoyed the musician Bobby Doowah so much that Jodi began featuring him in Jodi’s Gym birthday parties.

Now that Will and Marly are young adults and Jodi and her husband, Hal, are empty nesters, Jodi is thrilled that both children love working with kids. Will is a medical student, plays guitar and enjoys a lot of sports, including running, hiking, and skiing, while Marly, who is a junior in college, sings a capella, enjoys working out, yoga and dance. “And she recently became a Zumba instructor!” said Jodi.

Given all the successes, does Jodi have any regrets about her business? To her credit, Jodi freely admits a few: delegating more earlier on, asking for more help, taking less to heart, and being able to see more of the big picture. Would she do it all over again? A resounding definitely: “I have learned so much about people, relationships and myself. The bottom line is I feel I am really making a difference, and that makes it all worthwhile!”

Jodi’s Gym has plans to add more fitness and wellness-based classes to its offerings as well as expanding the “Jodi’s To Go” side of the business, which brings the Jodi’s Gym brand to schools, daycares, camps, and other locations in New York City and Westchester.

Nearest and perhaps dearest to Jodi’s heart is her plan to start programs for underserved populations in New York City and Westchester: “I would love to fill the gap for kids who come from homes where an active, healthy lifestyle is not so easy.”

That expresses not merely Jodi Levine’s business acumen, but more importantly, her warm and caring heart. Jodi is truly an “all-around” winner. Gymnastic aficionados will know that means “a strong competitor on all events.”

Vicki de Vries is a freelance writer/editor and educator living in Westchester “country.”

Sweet Rene – The Good Enough Mother’s Next Chapter

April 24, 2013 by The Inside Press

Rene Syler living dreams she never imagined. Photo by Craig Salmon — Rene Syler living dreams she never imagined.
Photo by Craig Salmon

When Rene Syler first graced the cover of Inside Chappaqua magazine in May 2007 she was embarking on a new chapter in her life. She had just lost her job at CBS’s The Early Show and published her book Good Enough Mother, a humorous look at modern motherhood. Syler was on course to reinvent herself and did just that via the internet. Fast forward to May 2013 and Syler, who celebrated her 50th birthday in February, has given new meaning to the saying, “there is beauty in imperfection.” Her career proves that great new beginnings are possible at any stage of life. “I’m almost another person,” says Syler about the changes in her life since 2007. She has shown that dreams you may never have imagined can come true. A social-media dynamo as well, these days Syler is busier than ever.

Since she was fired from CBS in 2006, Syler has been through difficult times. “It was like a tornado ripped through my life. I lost a job, lost my breasts ( a preventive measure) and lost my hair. All that loss shaped me to find myself and who I am.” Syler says she was down to the studs, but her foundation was the same: “I had to be true to myself.” Syler’s website, www.goodenoughmother.com, like Syler herself, has grown and transformed in the past six years. Serving up tips on parenting, home and family life, health and fitness, the site has migrated to Social Media: Facebook and Twitter where Syler’s audience has increased and her fans span the world. Good Enough Mother’s mission is to improve lives through the shared parenting experience. Spreading her message of ‘perfect imperfection,” she speaks from her authentic voice. “When people come to Good Enough Mother, they are comforted by learning that they are not alone,” says Syler, whose goal is to uplift and empower her followers which include a significant number of men too.

Syler says a big part of her story is the amazing shift in how business operates today. “I built an empire using a MAC. I went from a blog to having two paid staffers. One started as an intern and became a freelancer. The other, her assistant and producer Ella Rucker, saw Syler on television and asked her to become her mentor. Syler told her she was too busy and Rucker asked if she could help her. She told Syler she didn’t need to pay her and that she wanted to write. They have been working together for more than a year, and Rucker has made amazing strides. “Since I am on the road two weeks out of each month, Ella Rucker and I have a virtual office using skype and all the tools of modern business.” Syler loves the fact that Rucker took a chance on Syler and that Syler took a chance on Rucker.

“People ask me, ‘How many hours are you online? How long do you write? Aren’t you ever off?’” says Syler. Her response is that she is always connected. “I write all the time, when I’m not on my laptop, I’m writing in my head.” She asks them: “When was the last time you saw anyone build an empire putting in three hours a day, five days a week? Make an effort or make excuses.”

In her posts online, Syler has written about her family life from time to time, so her daughter Casey, 16, and son Cole, 14, have become part of her Good Enough Mother brand. “Like most kids they are tech savvy so it’s a part of life,” says Syler. Now that they are older she is more careful about what she writes about them. But they enjoy the perks of her new business, including her affiliation with Disney, Nike and Quaker Oats. “Sometimes I take them with me and that part they like very much.

Syler has made guest appearances on such programs as The Nate Berkus Show, The Wendy Williams Show, The Doctors, and has taken over for Joy Behar as her guest host on her CNN primetime show.

Syler makes many public appearances and was a headliner at Disney’s 2011 Social Media Moms’s Conference. “One of the fun things is to go to Blogging conferences and meet up with the people I’ve connected with online,” says Syler.

Host on “Sweet Retreats”

Her current hosting gig on Live Well Network’s Sweet Retreats came about on a circuitous route. Peggy Allen, an executive at that network saw an article about Syler a year ago in More magazine and contacted her about another project she had in mind for Syler. Sweet Retreats, on Sunday evenings at 7:30PM, highlights a new trend in which people on vacation rent apartments or houses instead of going to a hotel. On the show, Syler takes a group or family to various locations where they examine three possibilities and get to choose one.

Syler says the best decision she has made in her life was to marry the right person. Syler and her husband James “Buff” Parham, an Independent Media Consultant, have been married for 19 years. “Buff and I have built a life together. He’s steady Eddy and I’m emotional. I couldn’t do what I do without him.”

“I’m a multi-media brand,” says Syler who has come a long way in the past six years. Syler says the most gratifying aspect of her work is to have the opportunity to have an intimate dialogue with the people who follow her. “It’s talking back and forth,” says Syler. “If I hadn’t left network news I could never have done this.” Syler is happy for the relief she offers women today. “Women put too much pressure on themselves and live life on other people’s benchmarks.” Doing it her way, Rene Syler is, by her own example, so much more than a Good Enough Mother in 2013.

Ronni Diamondstein, owner of Maggie Mae Pup Reporter is a Chappaqua based freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.

Meet Dawn – The Quintessential Altruist with a Pulse on the Town

April 24, 2013 by The Inside Press

By: Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

When Dawn Greenberg was looking for a retail concept to open in Chappaqua, she sought a model which would incorporate her spirit of giving and provide a positive addition to the existing retail mix. She visited several fair trade shops–which proffer only items created in a safe and equitable environment–and decided that going in this direction was the viable vehicle for her and the town.

One of the factors in her strong belief in fair trade stems from the finding that most of those employed in this capacity are moms. “A lot of the fair trade artists are moms; this spoke directly to me, she observed.

A popular item at Aurora is a beaded bracelet crafted by women in Guatemala. At least $8 of the retail price goes directly “into the hands of the artist,” Greenberg mentioned. In addition, Dunitz and Company (the firm which distributes the product) also contributes funds to the hospital and library in the area where its workers reside.

About 75% of the products on display at Aurora are classified as fair trade. A significant portion of the remaining 25% are created by craftswomen in the hamlet. Laurie Berg’s bracelets and Buddah necklaces are prominently displayed. Leslie Weissman’s abstract paintings adorn the walls. Charitable donations are often tied in to sales from both Berg and Weissman’s works.

Greenberg’s sensibility toward giving is strongly rooted in her desire to help those who are less fortunate. Her family sponsors a child in Guatemala, through an organization called Mayan Families which covers the cost of school fees, supplies, uniforms, shoes and backpacks. Affection from the Greenberg household is sent long distance to Pedro Fernando.

In her personal life, the caring begins at home. Greenberg is the proud mother of two sons, Jackson, 10 and Ben, 4. Jackson’s Asperger’s is another motivating factor in her character. “Something very special to my identity is being a special needs mom,” Greenberg related. The support systems offered in the schools were a major factor in her decision to move to the community.

Spearheading the October 5th Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

One of Greenberg’’s largest endeavors to date is the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. When she heard about the demise of its predecessor, the festival at Sunnyside, her reaction was quick and effective. Greenberg saw the opportunity to continue the idea in downtown Chappaqua and proceeded to assemble a team of volunteers. “She certainly is a visionary in terms of coming up with new ideas and trying to attract business to the town,” fellow merchant Erik Nicolaysen noted. On October 5, over 55 authors will come to the festival. The roster includes several illustrious authors from the hamlet: Barbara Dee, Mara Van Fleet, Matt Van Fleet and Jean Van Leeuwen.

A recent post by Greenberg on the Chappaqua Moms Facebook page: another brainchild–exhorted members to bring in bras. She laughed and said: “I call myself the Robin Hood of Chappaqua. I gather things to give to others.” The idea brought a smile to many faces and over 300 bras were donated. The bras will be sent to Free The Girls, an organization which gives used clothing to women who in turn sell it to support themselves. Bras are particularly valuable because they command a superior price. A previous post by Greenberg on Facebook (after Hurricane Sandy) brought in over $11,000 in gift cards for the residents of Barnegat, New Jersey, Long Beach Island and the Rockaways.

When tropical storm Hurricane Irene flooded the town, Greenberg knew that small businesses were going to suffer irrevocably unless someone stepped in to help. As a small business owner herself, she knew the potentially damaging effect of having to close for several days. Greenberg rallied the town and organized an event to bring residents in to provide emotional and financial support. Refreshments were donated and local art teacher Quincy Eggenton set up an arts and craft table.

Town Administrator Penny Paderewski has had the opportunity to work with Greenberg on several projects–including the festival–and is thoroughly impressed with her intelligence. She had stopped by Aurora recently to purchase a ticket for a fundraising tea for the festival and to wish the proprietor a very happy birthday. Plenty of patrons were browsing and chatting. “She’s got the pulse of the town,” Paderewski said. “I like being associated with her,” she continued.

Sarah Ellen Rindsberg pops into Aurora regularly and is always rewarded with a warm greeting and a smile.

Goodness Grace-ious – A Tenth Year Anniversary Tribute

March 27, 2013 by Jean Sheff

You know her magazine, Inside Chappaqua (IC). You’ve probably seen her around town, picking up coffee, having lunch with a friend, or visiting her sponsors with “hot off the press” editions of IC. But who really “is” Grace Bennett?

“Well, I’m really kind of a ham and I like to make people laugh,” Grace smiled. She’s not just talking about friendly conversation, either; Grace studied acting in her 20s (“You know, in the 1990s?” she quipped) at Manhattan’s Lee Strasberg School and has studied locally with Rachel Jones of the Howard Meyer Acting Program. At one point, she appeared as the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz by Music in Chappaqua and the Saw Mill Summer Theater Group. She enjoys free nights out supporting local arts and musicians and finds karaoke “a great outlet” too.

With the demands of her company, “The Inside Press, Inc.,” ever present, Grace said she has placed any theatrical yearnings on perhaps a permanent hold. Yet, during publication crunch time, her “on with the show” drive is still evident. Just as at any major publishing house in NYC or elsewhere, everyone works nonstop during the two weeks before an issue goes to press. But Grace runs the operation as a “single mom shop,” juggling the publication of IC with raising two children: Anna, now a college junior, and Ari, a Greeley junior, sharing custody with her ex-husband, Neil. “My rule has always been that pre press, I only stop to feed the kids,” she laughed.

Her office is a sunny den off of the living room–a study of organized disorganization. “I produce the magazine out of my home, a perfectly comfortable condo at Old Farm Lake right here in town, a great modern day arrangement,” Grace noted. While her doors may not be technically “open” to the public, Grace is an exceptionally accessible and approachable publisher.

For and by the Community

Contrary to what some might think, publishing IC is a full-time job and how Grace earns a living too. “The magazine is quite solvent, thank you very much,” said Grace, who relies on a small part-time staff and freelance contributors to get each issue to print.

For the magazine’s first four years, Grace built up the house accounts together with Sales Associate Giselle St. Vincent, a former accountant and also a Chappaqua mom. Lisa Salerno, a graphic designer in Croton-on-the-Hudson, created many of the first ads and prepared the magazine’s pages. Over the years, other sales representatives also helped filled the advertising space, the backbone of any publication.

In more recent years, Grace, together with the assistance of a “wonderful, right hand” part time associate editor Carine Feist, tracks the accounts from issue to issue. Dina Spalvieri, of Kent, CT, is her current designer, and Annette van Ommeren, is in charge of web maintenance and design.

“The magazine was lucky to have built an early strong base of a variety of house accounts,” said Grace. She and Carine do seek out new advertisers, and word of mouth helps too. Readers, she told me, love to see their favorite merchants represented in the magazine. In the meantime, contributors to the magazine seem to universally love their association with Grace.

“First as a writer, and then as Grace’s associate for the past four years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her every day,” said Carine, whose husband Arnie and son Mike too have pitched in with everything from tech support to picture taking and additional editing. “She is incredibly bright, witty, caring, generous, always has a smile, and she routinely gives a big thank you to all those who work with her. In addition to being the very best boss and colleague one could ever imagine, she is a true friend.”

Dina Spalvieri weighed in equally effusively: “We have developed not only a great business relationship, but a friendship as well. I call her ChappaQueen or CQ!”

“I am so proud and fortunate to be working with her and have a blast doing it,” continued Dina. “The work is very intense at times, but we always manage to find time to have some fun and a few laughs.”

“I’ve worked with Grace for almost five years and have found her to be a unique combination of real person and genuine professional,” said frequent contributor Vicki de Vries. “She has strong opinions and welcomes yours. There’s always a wonderful give-and-take with Grace.”

Longtime IC editor/writer Debra Hand, who met Grace on the “mom circuit” a decade ago, recalled that “Grace roped me in as a contributor from that very first issue. She had a phenomenal vision–and I respect the gumption it took to singlehandedly create a town publication and fill a void,” she added.

IC reader Karla Shepard Rubinger graciously provided feedback too. “Inside Chappaqua has helped build community,” she said. “It helps us connect to the wonderful pieces of Chappaqua we might not otherwise see. It covers the famous and the everyday; the worldwide and the local; the young and the old, things to think about and things to do.”

Generous Merchant Support

Her clients are quick to spot the publisher’s strengths. The real estate community, in particular, has been steadfast in their support: “Grace Bennett: clever, smart, sassy, soulful, warm, go-getter,” stated Sena Baron of William Raveis Real Estate.

“With the broad access to information and media today, Inside Chappaqua brings relevant news to our local community in a unique way,” related Barry Graziano, Brokerage Manager at Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate. “Grace Bennett has been an integral part in creating this voice, as it speaks directly to the needs, passions, and interests of everyone throughout the area.”

“In a very positive way, Grace revived the community,” stated Varda Singer, owner of ICD Contemporary Jewelry. “She reconnected the town, neighbors, businesses and community. Most people here are isolated even in this new era of gadgets and the Internet. People get off and on the train and go to their homes. We are all fortunate that she created Inside Chappaqua. Hope she continues for many more years.”

Survivor Instincts

Perhaps some of that drive and gumption is the result of being the child of Holocaust survivors. “Children born to traumatized survivors develop a unique perspective,” said Grace. “It instilled a work ethic and the concept that as a person you have a legacy to uphold,” she continued, “so I became a survivor by default.”

Grace’s parents met in Israel after World War II and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. Grace was born in Detroit, Michigan, but the family soon settled in Washington Heights, New York City, a high crime precinct. “Washington Heights was a challenging place to grow up in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” she related, which perhaps also added to her mettle.

Though she may have “made it” in a life odyssey from Washington Heights to Chappaqua, Grace’s roots propelled her to become a good friend to the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center in White Plains. “They actually discovered me,” she said. “Longtime Chappaqua resident Richard Laster encouraged me to get involved.” At first, Grace was on the advisory board, but for the last two years has served on the Board of Directors.

Board Chairperson David Alpert sings her praises. “Grace is fantastic; she has helped us by informing the public about our needs and gets excited about helping, too, on top of putting out a high quality publication. I don’t know when she sleeps,” he wondered.

Being a Chappaqua mom herself keeps her “in the know” and naturally supportive of school district and community charitable organizations. Her generosity and good citizen stance has her regularly assigning articles about virtually every public service organization in the area, including “save the dates” on her covers, or acting as a sponsor for benefits, including ones this year for the Chappaqua School Foundation and for Evan’s Team. During Sandy, Grace’s social media updates via her early contact with Town Hall were highly valued as was an “emergency gift” to the Food Bank of Westchester.

Grace explained she gets things done by making quick decisions. She trusts her instincts.“I can ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ a story in five seconds, but I like to say yes more than I say no,” she said. Despite her drive, Grace admitted to being sensitive and vulnerable at times. “I’ve developed a somewhat thicker skin, but I still have that need and want for people to like me. I realize, however, that not everyone will. That’s part of what goes with being publisher,” she added.

A Surprised Entrepreneur

Grace never imagined herself as a self-employed businesswoman. She attended the Bronx High School of Science and Boston University and later the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. This led her to work at newspapers and magazines, most notably Woman’s Day, McCalls and Sesame Parents. She recalled that her loftiest goal had been to get as far up the masthead as possible. Momhood took her off the track.

In 2002, with her family needing a solid second income, Grace embarked on a serious New York City job hunt, but found she “wasn’t happy about taking on a full-time job again in New York City publishing.” She explored other options including a career transition to law or teaching. While teaching reading to kindergartners at the Westorchard Elementary School, she missed journalism and the idea of being her own boss started brewing.

For advice and support, she tapped local successful businesswomen, including buddy Jodi Levine, owner of Jodi’s Gym, who encouraged her from the start.

“Grace and I go back quite some time. I knew she had the journalism expertise, the energy, the work ethic and the many talents it would take to launch what has become such a jewel for Chappaqua residents.”

Jodi stated that on many long walks together, Grace talked about her ideas for IC, but also expressed some fears about such an ambitious undertaking. “I let her know how fun and exciting it would be to have a business to call her own. I am very proud of her and have been a supporter of her from the very first issue….In fact, Jodi’s Gym has not missed one issue in ten years!”

Co-Communications owner Stacey Cohen was impressed with her passion, knowledge and drive. “I recall when Grace came to my office 10 years ago to discuss the launch of Inside Chappaqua. We discussed publishing, the local media environment, the virtues of business ownership and more,” Stacey recollected. “I knew that Grace had the “it” factor starting a new business requires.”

Highs and Lows

Not that there haven’t been challenges along the way. First there was her mom’s passing. After that, separation and divorce… And then the economic recession hit just as Grace was launching her next big idea–Single and Smart, a magazine positioning itself to be a source of advice and tips for singles in Westchester. The economy bottomed out just as the first edition went to press, but she still got it off the ground. It was a sobering experience to say the least. “My June ’10 issue took a big financial hit too and I concluded I really am not Superwoman or Rupert Murdoch,” she noted, vowing that it wouldn’t happen again. She jumped ship but also quickly integrated Single and Smart as a regular, rotating department in the magazine and on insidechappaqua.com.

Fortunately, there have been many more “highs,” culminating in an extraordinary trip last summer. Back in 2006, Grace sat down in Lange’s Deli to interview then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton before Clinton marched in the town Memorial Day parade, a tradition for Clinton since she arrived in Chappaqua. “Little did I know that six years later this interaction would lay the groundwork of establishing all important trust,” said Grace.

In May 2012, Grace again ran into then-Secretary of State Clinton before the Memorial Day parade and, with her usual gumption, asked for another interview. When Clinton regretfully told Grace that her travel schedule left her with little time for a local interview, Grace joked, “then you’ll just have to take me with you.” Incredibly, before she knew it, Grace was added to Clinton’s press corps and on a plane heading to Africa and Turkey to share news of the historic trip with the Secretary’s hometown readers.

Grace laughed when asked about her relationship with Clinton. While she would love to be “best friends,” Clinton already has a tight circle that surrounds her. I do like to think we have a professional relationship.” And she holds out hope that one day she can also have former President Bill Clinton on IC’s cover.

Loyal IC readers might enjoy meeting Grace (that is, if you haven’t yet), at the Chappaqua Library in June. She is scheduled to talk about last summer’s travels with Hillary Clinton on June 12 at 7 p.m. “I’ll be open to any and all questions both about that and about the magazine in general.” Stay tuned for a reminder in the May and/or June issue.

Onward: A 21st Century Publication

Grace does not only champion human rights around the globe; friends and associates say she is a champion for her peers as well. She is supportive of her contributors, and wants to see them succeed “whether they are contributing to IC as a springboard for other opportunities or enjoying a regular gig.”

Grace has also reached across generations, inviting local “cub reporters” to take the reins of IC’s September/October 2011 issue. HGHS junior Lindsay Hand, a frequent IC contributor who served as Guest Editor-in-Chief (and writer) of that issue, said that she and her fellow Class of 2014 staffers were incredibly grateful for the invaluable experience that Grace provided. “The community was so supportive of that student-driven issue that Grace has generously asked us to produce a second issue this fall as we enter our last year at Greeley,” she said.

Grace said she also experiences joy when her sponsors prosper. And they, in turn, have enjoyed supporting her–from the very first issue. Grace recalled too that Bill Holmes, at the time head of Prudential Holmes and Kennedy, provided business advice that included a “good number” for a mailing and the tip to add a “value” to the cover of the magazine even if it was being mailed free. Today, Bill’s son, now Douglas Elliman Real Estate broker Ted Holmes, noted that “It’s good to see the magazine thrive in an age when technology is threatening print. Its coverage is relevant and a good resource for the community.”

Grace continues to move forward, in print and online. Last year, she increased her mailing from 6,000 to 10,000 area residences, so IC now reaches many more residents in Armonk and Briarcliff Manor too. Very involved with social media, Grace is delighted that IC has some 1700 “Likes” on Facebook which she links to her Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

While the magazine continues to be mailed free of charge to residents, print subscriptions are always welcome. And readers do send in their dollars from time to time, either voluntarily to support a print publication or as a gift. “I gave my parents a subscription so they could keep up with what the town and their grandchildren were up to–they love reading it!” said Lisa Jacobson of Chappaqua.

Longtime “Rick’s Last Licks” humor contributor Rick Reynolds perhaps summed it up best: “Somehow, through all the uncertainty of life, politics and publishing, Grace has landed on her feet; a testament to her determination, her loyal business patrons, and her readership.”

Jean Sheff is an editor, writer, and long time contributor and huge fan of Inside Chappaqua.

Gray Williams: A Treasure Trove of Information

January 29, 2013 by The Inside Press

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

When composing articles on current developments in town, this reporter finds herself turning again and again to Town Historian Gray Williams for the authoritative historical perspective. Williams is a veritable treasure trove of information about the town of New Castle. A significant portion of the story of the hamlet is reflected in his life.

Williams’s keen insight and sense of humor shine through in a recent contribution to the New Castle Historical Society’s newsletter, an article entitled “Mr. Greeley Fights Flooding.” He is also particularly skilled in showing history’s relevance to the present day as shown in this passage:

“As we recover from the effects of the recent storm, we can perhaps be thankful for one thing. This time we were spared from another destructive force that has often plagued our community in the past–disastrous flooding. Downtown Chappaqua in particular has suffered periodically from floods, especially in the fall, following heavy, storm-generated rains.”

This problem also tormented the town’s celebrated ancestor, Horace Greeley, who viewed the southern portion of his 78-acre property (site of the present day Bell school playing fields) as a “muddy, oozy fen.” Williams explained that this was due in part to Greeley’s desire for a summer home in close proximity to the train station. “Now, railroad trains are not good at climbing hills…,” Williams wrote. “So the route chosen for the line ran through the Saw Mill River valley, and a whole new village sprang up where Quaker Road crossed the tracks.”

Greeley employed his financial resources to hire George Waring, an engineer who had worked on Central Park, to supervise the installation of drainage ditches. The flooding continued and it was not until the 1970s that the Army Corp of Engineers begin lowering the bed of the Saw Mill River in a renewed effort. When recounting anecdotes about Greeley’s life in Chappaqua, Williams gazed wistfully. “I would have liked to have known him,” he said. “He was known among his political enemies as Chappaquack, with the emphasis on quack.”

In Tune with Greeley

Williams shares several key characteristics with Greeley: curiosity about the past, a predilection for burial grounds and prominence in Chappaqua. “He had an interest in history too,” Williams noted. Greeley is believed to have been the first president of Fair Ridge cemetery and Williams has done research there and at numerous graveyards throughout the county. This modest contemporary doyen of the town also noted that Greeley was “the leading citizen [of his day].”

Betsy Towl, Director of the Society described Williams’s valuable contributions to the town. “People move to this community because of the history of the homes,” she observed. “His interest in old homes and their inhabitants” renders him extremely capable of “assisting members of the community who purchase these homes and would like to begin restoring their old homes.” One of his chief assets is “his wealth of knowledge,”Towl concluded.

Al Hutin, a close friend and colleague of Williams’s at the Society and on the Landmarks Advisory Committee, highlighted additional attributes. “Not only is he the Town Historian but he’s also lived in Chappaqua (as I have) for most of his life and he has a darn good memory!” Hutin exclaimed. He also mentioned the importance of documenting the history of the hamlet for future generations and Williams’s role therein. Williams has written “Picturing our Past: National Register Sites in Westchester County” and co-authored New Castle: Chappaqua and Millwood (Images of America).

Williams’s school years tell a sizable portion of the story of our revered schools. In the fall of 1937 he entered kindergarten at the Kipp School, located on the land where the art center is today. For first and second grades, Williams often walked from Begg Drive to the station with his father and then “trundled up the hill” to the King Street School, the site of the present day Talbot’s. Although the bus was always available,Williams, like many contemporary students, preferred alternate methods of transportation.

Next stop, Horace Greeley School or HGS as it is emblazoned on the facade of the Bell School. Recent conditions harken back to the past at this location. Williams recalls extremely crowded conditions which resulted in the addition of a “ramshackle temporary building” known as the “chicken coop.” Changing classes was quite chaotic, necessitating the presence of student monitors from the Service Club on each landing.

Williams traces his interest in history back to a seminal project assigned by his seventh grade social studies teacher, Edith Sliker. The project had several “units radiating outward: myself, my town, my county and my state,” he said. Due to its location “right up the road” and his attendance at the Sunday School at the Quaker Meeting House, Williams studied the Quaker graveyard for the “my town” section and a passion was born.

“I found all these names that I knew,” he reminisced. “Quinbys–there was a Rachel Quinby in my class…Kipps, Haights,” families whose names live on as street names. History has consequences, it lasts. These were the people that gave their names to places.”

“Surprising Insight”

For those who take the stellar reputation of Horace Greeley High School for granted, Williams provided a surprising insight. When he attended high school in Chappaqua, very few pupils went on to attend elite institutions. The father of one of Williams’s dear friends, Monty Furth, spearheaded the effort to include a college preparatory program. “Upon Monty’s nonadmission to Yale, his father became a driving force to upgrade the curriculum,” Williams recalled.

When Williams and his wife Marion were looking for the ideal place to raise their girls, they gravitated back to Chappaqua. Williams’s parents were living in town at the time and told him about a house on Gray Rock Lane–no relation. The name of the road refers to the massive piece of Fordham gneiss on the corner of Route 120. They neglected to mention that it needed a tremendous amount of work. Undaunted, the couple purchased the historic home and embarked on its transformation.

Williams plays a pivotal role in preserving the local heritage and revels in working with interested students. One of his fondest endeavors is his work with local boy scouts on, you guessed it, local burial grounds. He is very proud of the census and mapping work done by Michael Martinez of the Quaker graveyard and the updated and corrected census completed by the Biggar brothers, Charles and Nicholas, of Fair Ridge cemetery.

Additionally, Williams served on the library board in the early seventies and was instrumental in finding the site for its present incarnation.He cites the auditorium as a one of his major contributions as a board member, remembering that this contemporary mainstay was considered a “frill” at the time. Williams was also an active member in the local men’s club, the former counterpart to the League of Women Voters.

When asked whether local lore includes a ghost story or two, Williams laughed and declared, “If we have any ghosts, they’re benign because they’re Quakers!”

Sarah Ellen Rindsberg, being slightly fearful of ghosts, did not conduct this interview in the presence of the dearly departed.

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