Cover Stories

By Vicki de Vries

Since Kris Ruby’s three-year-old company, Ruby Media Group, walked away with a head-swelling array of Big W awards–34 to be exact –from the Advertising Club of Westchester on June 6th, Inside Chappaqua decided to give our readers a closer look at Kris and her formula for success.

IC: Congratulations on the jaw-dropping number of awards your company won, Kris, but what exactly does Ruby Media Group do?

Kris: We provide integrated public relations and social media strategies for clients. Basically, RMG is the digital agency of the future in Westchester County.

IC: What does that entail?

Kris: We create public relations campaigns that leverage social media to gain the most buzz for our clients.

IC: What social media does RMG use?

Kris: Whatever is appropriate for the particular client: Facebook fan pages, Pinterest, Twitter, blogs.

IC: Would you share some top pointers about social media that you think every client needs to know?

Kris: If I boiled them down to, say, four, they would be: create an open dialogue, keep an editorial calendar for content, create a comprehensive social media strategy, and leverage stunning visual images to show a client’s story, rather than simply telling it through words.

IC: What motivated you to start Ruby Media Group?

Kris: When my older brother, Brian, was selected as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 by Business Week around three years ago, I helped him with the public relations aspects of his business, including his pitch and bio. That’s when I decided to start a public relations company.

So, in 2009, after graduating with a degree in public relations from Boston University and having done an internship at PBS and 13 internships throughout college, I launched Ruby Media Group.

IC: That’s exciting, Kris. What kinds of projects have brought you the most satisfaction?

Kris: I feel honored to work with some of the brightest people in their respective industries! I love to connect clients with the proper media outlets to share their messages to a broader audience.

IC: For example?

Kris: One project involved helping to connect a dentist who works with hearing impaired patients to appropriate media outlets. This project showed off the amazing work of my client.

IC: RMG also won a Gold Award for that project, didn’t it? Besides helping great clients, what else gives you satisfaction, especially as an entrepreneur?

Kris: I’ve been fortunate to have assembled a truly great creative team. In fact, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Of course, I also work with outstanding website designers and strategic management consultants!

IC: But how did your team manage to garner 34 awards at the Advertising Club’s BIG W Gala? That’s 7 Gold, 11 silver and 15 Bronze in the categories of social media, public relations, promotion and collateral material, corporate design, photography, interactive media, pro bono and video! Quite an achievement.

Kris: Of course, I’m ecstatic about the awards, but it couldn’t have happened without my wonderful creative team. Everyone has strengths and collaborates in a congenial way, but not everyone knows that one of RMG’s secret weapons is our Creative Director, Jim D’Angelo, who won 9 of the awards, including a Gold Award.

IC: Please tell us a little more about Jim.

Kris: Jim’s forte is lighting. When I first saw some of his projects, I knew he would be the perfect person to spearhead RMG’s new photography and advertising division. Jim’s a lighting genius and has a role in every advertising campaign we do, as well as in all the photo shoots.

Clients specifically request to work with him on ad shoots and for events because they know his photography will enhance their brand.

Vicki de Vries is a freelance writer/editor living in Westchester County.

Plan Carefully to Find your Perfect Manhattan Residence

By Colette Connolly

Many suburbanites feel the lure of Manhattan living; a convenient address to a workplace and easy access to a vibrant cultural scene are two major draws, of course. Or perhaps, after raising the kids, there’s a desire to be “taken care of” a bit more, or to shed a few of the responsibilities of home ownership. In either case, the city–with its energy, buzz and golden opportunities–beckons.

According to the latest census from the American Community Survey, the nation’s evaluation of American households, approximately 30 percent of the more than 5,000 apartments in some of Manhattan’s neighborhoods are routinely vacant for more than 10 months a year because the owners, or renters, have permanent homes elsewhere.

For some empty-nesters, however, the chance to move back into Manhattan (if they had lived there before having a family) or to even experience it for the first time is an exciting prospect.

Ted Holmes, director of sales for the Chappaqua branch of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, says there has been an increase in the number of local residents purchasing properties in Manhattan, be it second homes or primary residences. In making the transition, it’s important to be aware of the choices and complexities of purchasing in an entirely different housing market. Residential choices are primarily comprise of pre-war co-ops, recently constructed condominiums and to a lesser extent, townhouses.

“Buying Savvy in Manhattan”
Last April, the Chappaqua office hosted a seminar titled “Buying Savvy in Manhattan” that provided participants with tips on how to make a smart investment in the city. Panelists included a number of Douglas Elliman brokers familiar with the Manhattan market as well as real estate attorney Jerry Feeney, CEO of Jerry M. Feeney Residential Real Estate Law, and Jan Scheck, a mortgage banker with DE Capital in Manhattan.

Some of the clients that Elliman’s associate broker and vice president Karen Schneidman works with are over 55. “We’ve always had people buying pied-á-tierres in Manhattan and keeping homes in Westchester, but recently we’ve noticed that they’re selling their Westchester properties and getting larger apartments in the city,” says Schneidman, who works out of Elliman’s flagship Eastside office.
Schneidman says a lot of prospective buyers choose the Sutton Place neighborhood, the wide north/south avenue that runs from 57th to 59th Streets and along the East river south of the Queensboro Bridge. The area is appealing to buyers who still want to maintain ties with Westchester, given that Grand Central train station is only a couple of subway stops or a quick cab ride away.

Downtown neighborhoods like Chelsea, Tribeca and Soho are also popular destinations for older buyers.

Before taking the leap to Manhattan, real estate attorney Derin Edip Walden says prospective buyers need to realize the complexities involved in buying an apartment in the city. “Buying a house is completely different from buying a condo or co-op,” says Edip Walden, who runs her own practice, Guadagno & Edip LLC, located in midtown, as well as maintaining a smaller office in Westchester.

The purchase of a property in Manhattan, adds Schneidman, is a “whole process that one has to be willing to buy into.” Condos, she explains, generally cost more, but with that, residents have more freedom to “do what they want, when they want.”

Purchasing a co-op apartment includes an extensive approval process. “It really is quite daunting for a lot of people,” notes Edip Walden, adding that detailed information is required, including financials, references and more.

Tax and other Financial 
Considerations
The upside, says Edip Walden, is there’s no mortgage tax on a cooperative apartment and no title costs either. And with a much lower real estate tax rate on Manhattan properties, the idea of buying a home there is appealing, she adds.

Scheck says prospective buyers should enlist the help of qualified professionals before considering a move. “It is implicit upon the buyer to deal with mortgage bankers, real estate attorneys and agents who are completely familiar with and have done business in condos and co-ops,” he notes.

From a mortgage perspective, purchasers are required to go through the pre-approval process, just like any other real estate transaction. But once a good, reliable mortgage professional has been found and much of the required documentation has been submitted, Scheck says it’s imperative that buyers are honest with that broker.

“You need to have a thorough, thorough discussion of your financial situation with that person and be incredibly honest,” says Scheck. “Otherwise, you’re not going to get what you need.”

Buyers also need to realize, adds Edip Walden, that while the closing costs on a cooperative apartment are lower than say, a condo or a house, board approval is needed before a closing can take place. “It’s like a whole third party that you’re dealing with that includes you, the seller, the mortgage bank and the co-op or condo.”

Before making the decision to sell all and move to Manhattan, Edip Walden advises prospective buyers to plan their strategy carefully. “My suggestion is that people consult with a team of experts to help them understand the costs, the time involved, the liability and the pitfalls.”

Colette Connolly is a freelance writer who writes for regional and local magazines and newspapers. She also works with small to medium-sized businesses, providing public relations and copywriting assistance through her business, Connolly Communications, located in Bronxville.

[stextbox id=”info” caption=”A Quick City Check List “]
Purchasing a property in Manhattan can be fraught with complications, so it’s important that prospective buyers do their homework. Here are some tips to help you navigate the often difficult buying process:

•Find a real estate broker who is an expert in Manhattan real estate and can show you the best neighborhoods, based on your lifestyle preferences and price range. More importantly, find a broker you can trust.

•Know how much you can afford and obtain pre-qualification well before you begin the search process. Search online for information on the various neighborhoods in Manhattan, in addition to learning about the purchasing of co-ops and condos.

•Know the difference between a co-operative apartment and a condominium, as each one has its own benefits and disadvantages.

•Carefully assess the size of the apartments you’re looking at, making sure the one you choose will suit your living needs. •Don’t get stuck on one apartment. Another one may come up sooner than you think because of the fluid nature of the Manhattan real estate market.

•Consider renting an apartment or house in Westchester before buying in Manhattan. That will give you more time to look around and there will be less pressure to sell an existing home before buying another.

•Be prepared to put your financial life on hold for a while; i.e., do not apply for new credit cards or transfer balances in the hopes of improving a credit score. In
the end, it may work to your disadvantage.[/stextbox]

– Colette Connolly

Chuck Napoli’s Call for Collaboration with a Blueprint for
Transforming Downtown Chappaqua into a Destination Town
Article and Photos By Steve Cassanelli

The Bell Area Plan isn’t so much a story about the proposed development in downtown Chappaqua itself. It is rather more about the process being used to generate support for its approval. Many challenges remain before Chappaqua architect/developer Chuck Napoli’s vision can be transformed into a reality for this town. Following a long ranging interview with Napoli, the details of the plan were delineated but I also came to understand Napoli’s stance that participation and collaboration are the most critical factors now. While the plan may be his brainchild, for its ultimate success, Napoli insisted on the critical need to incorporate everyone’s wants and needs into its design.

The Bell Area Plan derives its name from the adjacent Robert E. Bell Middle School on Senter Street. The overall objective of the plan is to enhance the vibrancy of the central part of Chappaqua (South Greeley Avenue and King Street). The Bell Area Plan consists of an entertainment anchor (possibly a Performing Arts Center, a movie theater or a restaurant/nightclub) and commercial, retail and residential buildings parallel to the buildings along South Greeley Avenue, from One South Greeley Avenue down to the Bank of America.

These buildings would be situated in what is now the parking lot behind these buildings. In addition, it would also include a parking lot on what is now the Bell School’s football/soccer field. The parking lot would have a roof over it, and on this roof would be an artificial turf (or possibly natural grass) field.

The many parts of this project need to be coordinated by multiple parties in order for this plan to become a reality. Napoli cited the need for a builder to do all of the groundwork and construction. It just so happens, Napoli’s partner, Mark Giordano, happens to be a builder. Financing is necessary to pay for the project. Napoli currently estimates the figure at around $15 million. He said the financing for this project will be raised privately and will not come out of the taxpayers’ pockets. Said Napoli: “The job of raising these funds is in the very capable hands of Lester Himel.” Marketing/demographic studies also have to be done to estimate the impact this plan will have on its immediate surrounding environment. “The eloquent and scholarly Tom Curley is assisting in this aspect,” notes Napoli.

“The surrounding business/store owners need to unanimously agree to lease their property behind their stores to the developer. The School Board needs to agree to donate the football/soccer field in order to have a place to put the parking lot. In return, they will get a new, state-of-the-art field above it to replace the soggy, almost unusable, field they currently have. Last of all, the Town Board needs to agree to amend the current zoning laws.”

“This is going to pay huge dividends on the back end because the business/store owners, the school board and the town board will already have had a chance to voice their concerns and any objections that they may have. By giving everyone a chance to have a say from the beginning, it makes it far less likely that there will be any issues on the back end when the plan comes up for approval, because they’ll already have been addressed.”

Like a conductor leading an orchestra, Napoli is very much the mastermind who coordinated all of the individual pieces of the project and is the driving force that has gotten the entire process to the point at which it now stands. He has meticulously and painstakingly pieced everything together with precision and, from what I can tell, amazing foresight. His doggedness appears to have brought the project to the point where conception is on the precipice of reality. In conclusion, a lot of time and hard work has gone into this project to date. I asked Napoli how the project can proceed from the idea stage to the construction phase. What has to happen next? He described the process as fluid and changing all the time. Even as I’m writing this article, weekly meetings with any and all interested parties have commenced at Town Hall where ideas have been discussed, and will continue to be discussed. “All that will alter the final landscape of this project depends on the needs, wants and ideas of the community,” said Napoli.

But in the end, we’re still talking about a row of buildings that will house retail, commercial and residential tenants, some type of entertainment facility as the anchor and a new parking lot with a field above it. However, the mix of different types of tenants and the types of retail stores is still open for discussion and debate. In order to move this project along to the reality phase, three things need to happen. First of all, the developer needs to gain the approval of all of the landowners involved. That includes the School Board and all of the business owners whose property he plans to build on. Then the project needs to be approved by the town, with all of the appropriate zoning amendments.

Last of all, Napoli needs to secure the financing for the project. Each of these pieces is interdependent on the other, because without one, the other two are meaningless. No one knows how all of this is going to turn out, but I can tell you one thing: I walked away from this very impressed with Mr. Napoli and with how he has proceeded to date.

 

Originally from White Plains, Steve Cassanelli, MBA, is a Lake Carmel resident with over 10 years experience as a corporate financial analyst.

By Lori Sachare

At 7 a.m. on a rainy Monday, Chappaqua’s Rob Greenstein darted into Starbucks with the energy of someone who just consumed a Venti espresso–and that was before he got his coffee. He had been up since 4:30 a.m. and already had exercised in his home gym and completed some work for his self-owned law firm.

As fiercely organized as he is motivated, Greenstein runs his personal injury practice, coaches his sons’ baseball teams, and has managed to launch the Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce, (along with co-founder Christine Yeres, managing editor of NewCastleNOW.org), which boasted over 100 members as of August.

Greenstein originally became involved in New Castle issues when he wrote frequent letters to the editor of NewCastleNOW.org on an issue he was passionate about: the Chappaqua Crossing project. He later realized that since he had developed name recognition, he could parlay that into another passion of his–helping the Town of New Castle and its merchants– and decided to run for a position on the Town Board.

It was a desire for life in a small town that in 2003 brought Greenstein and his wife of 14 years, Cindy, to Chappaqua from Manhattan. “We love small towns. We go to small towns on vacation,” he noted. Since then, his 8-year daughter Jessie, her twin brother Mason and their 10-year-old brother Daniel have benefited from the fine schools that were one of the reasons for the Greensteins’ move, and Cindy has served as chair of the Westorchard PTA.

Although he enjoys country living, Greenstein saw room for improvement. “This town has potential, but it’s not what it could be,” he commented. He believed the Town Board was on the right track in planning improvements, and decided to run so that he could help. Although he lost the election, he still wanted to assist local merchants.

“We needed a Chamber of Commerce,” he said. And in his get-it-done fashion, Greenstein went about creating a volunteer board whose members, as of July, had no formal titles. The board works alongside a paid administrator, Linda Degelsmith, to put forward the mission of the Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce, which is “dedicated to fostering economic growth and to advancing the commercial well-being of the community through strong and vibrant business districts,” according to its website, Chappaqua-MillwoodChamber.org

As a partner for 17 years in his own law firm (Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP), Greenstein said he understands small businesses. “We have rent to pay, we have a payroll,” he explained. He uses this knowledge to help the chamber with their directive of “connections, commerce and community service.” The chamber was officially introduced in June, and in the same month it arranged for merchants to sell food at the Gazebo concert sponsored by the Town of New Castle and Music In Chappaqua.

Greenstein is proud that the Chamber inaugurated A Taste of Chappaqua this past summer, where local businesses could showcase their food to the public. This fall, Greenstein would like to involve merchants with the Town of New Castle’s Ragamuffin Parade.

The Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce is run by five provisional volunteer board members, who work with Linda Degelsmith, a paid administrator. Elections will be held at a later date.

The Gazebo was chosen for the logo of the Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce, because Rob Greenstein feels it is a very special place. He would like the Chamber to facilitate the planning of many more fun events there for New Castle residents.

Will Greenstein run again for Town Board? “Maybe,” he responded. Stay tuned.

Lori Sachare is a freelance writer living in Chappaqua.

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce off To An Auspicious Start

By Debra Hand

After years of unsuccessful attempts, New Castle finally has a Chamber of Commerce that in its first few months has already lived up to its motto of “Growing Commerce, Connections and Community.”

By early July, the new Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce had already signed up 79 members, in only one month, with the number growing daily. According to Chamber Executive Director Linda Degelsmith, support from both merchants and the community has “simply been wonderful,” with everyone excited about the potential improvements to town that a unified group can accomplish. The Saturday morning Farmer’s Market has even given the Chamber a center table, attended by Degelsmith, to promote its goals and town businesses.

“This Chamber will be different [than earlier attempts] because of the passion to make this community a community, to get people to come downtown to stroll, to make Chappaqua a destination,” said Degelsmith.

Membership and Summer Events
In early July, the Chamber was looking forward to adding a little more excitement to some existing townwide summertime events. For the first time, the Wednesday night concerts at Recreation Field also featured food vendors; for example, Le Jardin du Roi was planning on offering barbeque offerings, while Gail Patrick’s was making sure that younger concert-goers found kid-friendly food as well. And Chappaqua’s traditional Sidewalk Sales, always a big draw for bargain hunters, featured local cuisine as well. Working with the Chappaqua-Millwood Business Association and town restaurants, the Chamber promoted the new component “A Taste of Chappaqua” to offer culinary samples during the Sale.

Bringing Community Together
The Chamber’s first order of business upon its creation in late spring was to focus on “branding” and making both merchants and community members aware of the group’s potential. Part of this effort was to work on ideas to promote Millwood as well; one such idea may bring concerts to the two parks on the west side of town (Gedney and Millwood) and also to bring residents to Millwood and to its merchants. The Chamber is not only about planning events; its other goal is to show small business how they can support each other via networking and other opportunities. To that end, plans were being made to offer workshops on everything from signage to using social media like Facebook and Twitter to engage and inform customers and the community at large.

The Chamber’s roster of members appeared to have easily surpassed the 100 mark at press time. It reflected the hidden diversity of New Castle. After obtaining a list of 400 local business, Degelsmith visited or cold-called many, from stores to photography studios, non-profit organizations, and home businesses. Most were eager to attend the Chamber’s first meeting, and word of mouth helped too.
Member businesses each pay annual dues of $150-$500 (depending on number of employees). At the moment, rather than have its own website, the Chamber is being “hosted” by NewCastleNow.org, because of the large number of residents it reaches on a weekly basis. Degelsmith is the only salaried employee (see sidebar); the Chamber’s Board of Directors is made up of residents and merchants Rob Greenstein, Tara Mikolay, Christine Yeres, Robin Murphy and Rich Glotzer.

Future Projects
This summer, the Chamber was reaching out to both the Town Board and the Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education and PTA to foster good working relationships and hopefully plan future events in conjunction with one another. Possible autumn events being discussed, according to Degelsmith, included a pumpkin carving contest, and having middle school students prepare Halloween artwork at school for display around town. There are also discussions about keeping downtown stores open late once per week to draw more shoppers.

Further down the road, the Chamber is working on a “winter stroll,” complete with ice carving, for the colder months, and even a pet parade and scavenger hunt next Spring. What is clear is that there is no shortage of enthusiasm or suggestions as to how to draw people, from New Castle and elsewhere, to Chappaqua and Millwood. According to Degelsmith, the excitement is palpable.

“It’s been really nice because all of the different organizations in town really seem to be supportive. If we all work together, the financial resources will come together as well to make a lot of things happen,” she said. As one local resident has famously said, it takes a village.

For more information, search ChamberChat or Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce at newcastle
NOW.org, “like” the Chamber on Facebook or “follow” it on Twitter, or contact Degelsmith at Linda@chappaqua-millwoodchamber.org.

Debra Hand is a frequent contributor and editor of Inside Chappaqua, who is looking forward to all of the exciting events the Chamber has planned.

 

 

 

[stextbox id=”info” caption=”Linda Degelsmith: The Chamber’s Executive Director Jumps Right in”]

Chappaqua resident Linda Degelsmith didn’t seek out the position of Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; rather, it sought her. Degelsmith’s varied background–from local performer with a master’s in vocal performance, to kidney/liver transplant nurse in Valhalla and per diem nurse at Mount Kisco Medical Group, to Ambulance Corps volunteer and small business owner of health assessment and maintenance company DiscoverMoreNow–didn’t necessarily steer her in the direction of running a local Chamber of Commerce, but it did make her eminently qualified in many ways and the perfect person for the job.

After investigating various Chambers in comparable towns, Chamber founders Christine Yeres and Rob Greenstein found that success really depended on a paid administrator that would be able to handle the day-to-day responsibilities that business owners otherwise might have difficulty finding the time to focus on. Yeres, Degelsmith’s co-Ambulance Corps volunteer, approached Degelsmith with the opportunity, noting that she not only understood the needs of small businesses, but had the personable manner to make a local Chamber of Commerce succeed.

“It felt like a new door was opening for me,” said Degelsmith. “It’s fun, a little intimidating at times, but I jumped right in.”

These days, Degelsmith can be found every Saturday morning at the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market promoting the Chamber, and supplying refreshing ice water on hot days along with information and even some giveaways about and from town businesses. Stop by and say hello!

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