Cover Stories

By Andrea Klausner

This is a tribute to motherhood, but it is not for the faint of heart.

I recently traveled to Haiti on a medical mission with a local not-for-profit organization called “Hands Up for Haiti.” It was a mission to bring eye care to the residents of Cap-Haitien, the second largest city in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. My team consisted of three ophthalmologists, one of whom was also an oculoplastic surgeon, an optometrist, her 17-year old son to assist her, and me–a lawyer and writer with no medical training other than the diagnostic skills I picked up as the mother of four children. I was asked to go along to document and photograph the mission. I ended up doing so much more–triaging the patients, assisting the doctors and even scrubbing in as a nurse in the operating room. When you are in Haiti on a humanitarian mission, there is no such thing as “not in the job description.” Sort of like the definition of a mother.

I went on this trip with some trepidation, knowing that I would see tremendous deprivation and disease. However, nothing could prepare me for the emotional toll of what was essentially “battlefield medicine.” Day after day, we greeted a parade of suffering but stoic people who had come to expect so little in their lives that they were tremendously grateful for whatever assistance they could get. But they are also a proud people, coming to see the doctors in their “Sunday best,” the women in hats and heels, the men with polished shoes, as if to let us know that their poverty did not define them. Many waited for hours to see a doctor, but we never heard a complaint. They thanked us politely whether we could help them or not. And more often than not, we could not help, although 90% of their conditions could have been prevented or corrected had they been able to receive timely medical intervention.

The most gut-wrenching part for me was seeing the children, with infected eyes, blindness and a wide range of conditions that even our well-trained doctors could not diagnose. Many were orphans from the local orphanage, found on the street and as young as 18 months.

I remember one young mother who brought in her young son because his eye had become severely infected when she accidentally swept wood chips into his eye. For 15 days that boy suffered because his parents had no money to make the trip to the hospital or to pay for a doctor. Had we not arrived at the free clinic and prescribed antibiotics for the child, who knows what would have become of him?

All I could think of was how helpless the mother must have felt, watching her child suffer for so many days, unable to get him medical attention at will. I put myself in her shoes, thinking of my own precious children, and felt my heart break. But when you are struggling just to obtain potable water and food, you have no choice but to prioritize. The stakes are nothing less than survival.

I watched another young couple receive the news that their beautiful three month old daughter was going blind and that there was nothing our doctors could do for her. When the mother was told, she collapsed on the floor in tears. Life for most children in Haiti is difficult, but the fate of a blind child is unfathomable. I could not even imagine what prospects in life she might have.

I returned home to my light-filled rooms overflowing with happy family photos. I took in my refrigerator filled with food, my faucets flowing with hot and cold water, my electric lights, my comfortable bed, my closets filled with clothes and my sanitary bathrooms. I called my children to let them know I arrived home safely and to ask how they were. There were the usual complaints about jobs and lack of jobs, about colds and minor workout injuries. But all were safe, sheltered, healthy, nourished and loved.

This Mother’s Day, I know I will be counting my blessings, merely for having the serendipitous good fortune to be born into a land of opportunity and a life of privilege, where I could shield my children from real deprivation, and not just their longings for the latest fashions, the newest technology or the coolest cars. It is because of my children and my motherhood that I know I must return to Haiti – for the mothers and for their children.

Andi Klausner has resided in Chappaqua for 26 years. She currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. (WRO), a 44-year old not-for-profit organization based in White Plains that is dedicated to enhancing housing opportunities for all Westchester residents.

Volunteers Welcome

Hands Up for Haiti is a medical humanitarian not-for-profit organization founded in 2010 and based in Mount Kisco. It is 
committed to improving the quality of health care in northern Haiti through community medical care, education and training programs.

Founded by a group of individuals from Northern Westchester who traveled to Haiti to provide assistance after the earthquake, Hands Up for Haiti welcomes volunteers who have a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences, including those with no medical background at all. For more information, or to volunteer for a mission, visit the agency’s website at
www.handsupforhaiti.org or email info@handsupforhaiti.org.

By Lindsay Hand

Mother’s Day is what it sounds like –a day to celebrate moms and shower them in extra love and gratitude. But it’s often hard to find that perfect gift, find the right way to spend the day. To help out with this, here are some unique, fun things to do with the family on May 13th and inexpensive gifts for mom, the one who somehow finds a way to do it all.

Take A Hike
What better way is there to spend Mother’s Day than in Mother Nature herself? Westchester is filled with beautiful nature. Wander around the pond at Gedney or explore the various paths, lakes, and historic sights at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve on the border of Pocantico Hills and Pleasantville. It’s fresh air, exercise, and fun for the whole family!

Learn Your History
Chappaqua and Westchester as a whole, as many know, are rich in fascinating historical sites. For a mom who is interested in the history of the town, a visit to the New Castle Historical Society is surely in order. In addition to this, other must-visits are the Greeley House and the library. Even the most profound history buff will be able to find something new to learn about.

Tweet Tweet
As the May flowers are blooming, wander over to the Pruyn Sanctuary in close by Millwood. Walk the numerous paths in the area and marvel at the butterflies and hummingbirds in the beautiful Butterfly Garden. Look at the wildflowers and enjoy a wonderful day in the fresh air with the family.

Have An Adventure
Art? Check. History? Also check. There are many museums in the Chappaqua area, and it is a fun way to spend Mother’s Day with the family. Go see the unbelievable works of art, learn something new, or be amazed by wonders elsewhere. And what’s the best part? The Chappaqua Library has museum passes for many museums on their website, www.chappaqualibrary.org.

Shop Till You Drop
For something even closer to home, venture into downtown Chappaqua and take advantage of the various local enterprises. Shopping our vibrant, wonderful downtown shops is an excellent way to spend time with the family and pick up something special for mom.

Bring It Home
Why go out when you can stay comfortably at home? For older kids who have long run out of ideas for gifts for mom, nothing is better than giving her a break and cooking dinner. There are plenty of simple but delicious recipes that even the most culinary–challenged can make into a yummy meal that will remind mom just how much you appreciate what she does every day.

From the Heart
As younger kids are not as capable with the oven, an equally as good gift for mom is a homemade card or gift. Putting time and effort into creating something special is touching and adorable, when coming from a child. Homemade gifts can range from drawings, to beaded or string bracelets, to something as simple as a card. And, of course, a bouquet of flowers will always brighten mom up!

Bring the Magic Home
Feel like staying in? No problem! Get together a few of mom’s favorite movies and have a fun “movie day” at home. Make some popcorn, relax on the couch, and enjoy spending time together and watching movies all day. It’s the perfect way to spend a rainy Mother’s Day and have a fun, bonding experience with the whole family.

Stay Local
Though sometimes forgotten, there’s always just taking mom out to dinner at one of Chappaqua’s fine food establishments. There are a number of different types of restaurants in downtown Chappaqua, ranging from casual pizza to a more classic sit-down at a restaurant. Have a nice dinner all together and remind mom how much you love her!

No matter what you do during the day, the primary focus is one single person: mom! She is the one that organizes everything; the one that makes sure everyone is where they need to be; the one that goes to no ends to do what needs to be done. So enjoy this Mother’s Day with something fun, and thank mom for all that she does!

Lindsay Hand is a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School, and has written numerous articles and served as September’s “Guest Editor” for Inside Chappaqua.

By Jean Sheff

Mommy & Me classes have inspired playdates, friendships and yes, even businesses. Unknown to each other, Chappaqua moms Marjorie Troob and Tanya Tochner signed up for a Mommy & Me class at Temple Beth El. Neither had any idea that they would find not only a pleasant gathering of mothers and babies, but a future business partner as well.

Something More
The conversation started as many do; two moms looking for something to complement their full-time job as a mom. Troob and Tochner, with business and marketing backgrounds, took the discussion one step further. “We were both looking for a business adventure,” says Troob. “And we realized we both had a passion for fine jewelry,” added Tochner.

They put their ambition and talent together and their jewelry line, Rocks by Jolie B. Ray was born.

The name of their business is a loose conglomeration of their children’s names. Tochner is mom to Joshua, 8, and Lindsay, 10 and Troob is mom to Ben, 10, and Rachel, 12. Take the beginning part of the children’s names and you have Jolie B. Ray.

First Steps
They started off modestly. “We had a “studio” in Chappaqua,” says Tochner. There, they designed their wares, held private appointments with clients and planned local trunk shows. “Owning a full retail operation wasn’t even on our radar,” says Troob. Yet, after five years, a vacant shop found them. “It was really a natural evolution,” says Tochner. Their new shop, Rocks by Jolie B. Ray is located at 378 Main Street in Armonk in the same shopping strip as Restaurant North and Tazza Café. Smack dab in the middle of town, they couldn’t ask for a better location.

New Headquarters
They’ve made the space their own through a rigorous and careful renovation. “We gutted and renovated the entire space,” says Tochner. “We didn’t want it to be a traditional jewelry store,” adds Troob. The result, a fresh, modern space with sleek lines decorated in shades of purple, grey and white puts the focus right where they wanted it–on the jewelry.

They opened their doors in October 2011 and have been putting in the hours and work it takes to run the business since. Hiring a shop manager and some retail assistants has helped them juggle their multiple roles as mom, wife, designer and business owner. The shop carries their line, Jolie B. Ray, as well as other designers such as Lika Behar, Suzy Landa, Megan Thorne and Anne Ruth Henrickson They frequent trade shows, not only to promote the Jolie B. Ray brand, but also to look for other designers that they’d like to feature in the shop.

Something for Everyone
They carry an inventory of several price points. You can find pieces from a modest $25 and up. There’s a sizable collection of gold and silver jewelry, some with semi-precious stones, as well as a stunning diamond collection. “All the jewelry we sell is made in the U.S.A.,” says Tochner. The shop is popular for bar/bat mitzvah and birthday gifts for the younger generation, for adults looking for a piece to finish off a special outfit or husbands looking to surprise a loving wife. “Men understand the value of diamonds,” says Tochner with a smile. They have also introduced a fine candle and scarf line and are planning to carry other designers, gift items and perhaps, even watches soon. The shop also offers monogramming service and can repair, remount or reset jewelry as well.

When asked how their families are reacting to their new roles as business owners, the women share a smile. “For the kids, it depends on the day,” says Tochner. “The girls have taken to it,” adds Troob. The husbands get a pat on the back for their on-going support and for being available for Saturday parenting duty as that’s a big day in the retail business. While they may be logging in plenty of hours, it also looks like they are having fun, maybe as much, if not more, than that Mommy & Me class offered years ago.

Rocks by Jolie B. Ray
378 Main St., Armonk
219-5808
www.rocksjoliebray.com
and on Facebook

 

By Jennifer Leventhal

As reported in our last issue, supporting local charitable organizations is a way of life among residents of New Castle. In this edition, we celebrate the volunteers who lend their time, energy and fundraising skills to local organizations that support individuals and families facing life threatening illnesses. Their reasons for volunteering are as moving as they are diverse. Again, it would be impossible to highlight all of the important local charities that are worthy of supporting, so please watch our website for additional reports.

Friends of Karen

Friends of Karen’s mission is to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, in order to help keep them stable, functioning and able to cope. These services are offered regardless of race, religion, gender, handicap or national origin.
In the past 33 years, Friends of Karen has served more than 4,000 children and their families. When siblings are counted, the organization has touched the lives of more than 10,000 children.

Friends of Karen operates in accordance with its core values of Compassion, Dedication, Respect, Integrity and Impact. www.friendsofkaren.org

“Friends of Karen is a great organization that supports critically ill children and their families,” explains Steve Swirsky, a member of the Friends of Karen board of directors. “FOK is really unique in the way that it works to support and assist the entire family, not only the child with a critical illness but his or her family, including parents and siblings in dealing with the stresses and pressures of having a child with a critical illness.

This includes not only financial but emotional needs and the difficulties of dealing with the challenge of keeping a family and home together.”

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation – Westchester

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. CCFA is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, founded in 1967 by Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D.

Four decades ago, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation created the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research. Today, the Foundation funds cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions, nurtures investigators at the early stages of their careers, and finances underdeveloped areas of research. www.ccfa.org/chapters/westfield

“I became involved with the CCFA after my daughter, then 2 ½ years old, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis,” says Lauren Baker. “Four years have passed, and she is thriving due to scientific advances that wouldn’t have been possible without the money raised by the CCFA.

We just held our annual Casino Night and we are gearing up for our Take Steps Walk in May. The money raised truly affects patients and their families and we look forward to a day when these diseases are a thing of the past.”

A Cure In Our Lifetime

The mission of A Cure In Our Lifetime is to fund innovative breast cancer research, provide resources for women who have breast cancer, and promote breast health through education and outreach. A Cure In Our Lifetime was formed in 1997 as a grassroots effort in response to the loss of a community member. The goal of the original seven committee members was to raise money to fight breast cancer. Since then, the committee has grown almost threefold and the organization has raised more than three million dollars in the fight against breast cancer. www.acureinourlifetime.org

“I recently celebrated my 12th anniversary as a breast cancer survivor,” says Laura Friedman. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 when my first born son Josh was six months old. It was a rough year which we would not have been able to endure without the support of our friends, family and community. Around my five-year anniversary, I attended my first Chappaqua’s Cure In Our Lifetime event. It was such a wonderful and well-attended event that I reached out to the organization’s founder Karen Taub and asked how I could help in the future. I have now been on this committee for nearly seven years and so grateful to be working with remarkable women all committed to expanding our reach and allocating our funds to leading and innovative breast cancer research and support programs. Our event last year was attended by 260 women and we raised close to $180,000.”

Making Headway Foundation

Making Headway is a Chappaqua-based foundation dedicated to the care, comfort and cure of children with brain and spinal cord tumors.

Making Headway Foundation was established in 1996 by a small group of parents–Maya and Edward Manley and Clint Greenbaum–whose own children had undergone treatment for brain tumors.

tumors. They found that traditional hospital-based medical programs failed to provide essential humanistic services that enabled a child to reintegrate physically and emotionally with his or her family, school and peer groups. The founders of Making Headway wanted to provide other families with what they had found wanting–even with the finest medical care. In 2004, Dr. Jeffrey Allen and his Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program team found a new home at the NYU Langone Medical Center. Making Headway Foundation now works closely with this hospital and its Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders As from the start, Making Headway continues to focus on three main components: Support at the Hospital; Ongoing Care; and Research and Cure www.makingheadway.org

“When I first walked into Maya and Edward’s home more than a decade ago to learn about Making Headway, they were strangers,” says volunteer Steffi Green. “but I quickly realized they were the warmest, most giving people in the world. For the first Greeley Football Walkathon five years ago, we challenged each player to raise $100 and walk on behalf of the kids. We’ve raised more than $10,000 every year since, and the players have extended their volunteering on a more personal level. They visit the children in the hospital and really get to know them. The kids look forward to these visits, which are a special break from their challenging treatments. This year, we’ve extended the fundraising and volunteer program to include the girls’ Field Hockey team, and they are just as motivated to make a difference.”

Heartworks Westchester

The Heartworks Westchester event was founded by Barbara and Jonathan Lerman, in honor of their beautiful daughter Sydney, who was diagnosed at birth with a very severe form of Marfan syndrome, a rare and potentially life threatening connective tissue disorder. Over the past four years, their community of family, friends and supporters has made a real and measurable difference for the children and teens who are served by the National Marfan Foundation. Contributions to this year’s event on June 15th will help fund specific programs for children and teens, including the NMF’s Annual Conference, which provides an environment for children affected by Marfan syndrome and related disorders to help build self-esteem, while offering educational workshops and fun activities that help build friendships that last long after the Conference is over. www.marfan.org/marfan/2839/Heartworks-Westchester

“I had never heard of Marfans until Sydney Lerman was born,” says Volunteer Stacy Carr of Katonah. “It has been so personally rewarding to be involved with a charity that is so close to my heart. As personal friends of the Lerman family, we witness first hand their incredible strength and ability to face the challenges that Marfans presents. What is particularly satisfying is the knowledge that the profits we raise at Heartworks are directly earmarked to benefit children who suffer from Sydney’s form of the disease, pediatric spontaneous mutations, the most severe form.”

Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life began in the mid-1980s in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, wanted to raise funds for his local American Cancer Society’s office and to show support for all of his patients battling cancer. He decided to personally raise money by running marathons. In May, 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a remarkable 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He ran more than 83 miles, cheered on by 300 friends, family and patients. Throughout the night, onlookers donated $25 each to run or walk along with Dr. Klatt. That first event raised $27,000. to fight cancer.

Relay for Life now takes place on tracks across the country. Chappaqua’s Relay for Life will be held on May 19th at Horace Greeley High School. Important moments of the overnight, relay-style event will include the Survivor’s Lap, a Luminaria Ceremony to honor those who have been touched by cancer and to remember lost loved ones, and a Fight Back Ceremony. www.relayforlife.org.

Event chair Matt Re says, “I’m fully invested in Relay for Life for two obvious reasons. The first is that I lost my mom to a long fight with cancer in February of 2011. The second is that I want to do anything in my power to make sure nobody else has to go through it either. By bringing it to Greeley, we raise money and awareness by realizing how many people in our own community are affected by cancer. This is most evident in our Luminaria Ceremony where we have people break and light glow-sticks when prompted with their personal relationship to cancer: a friend, a relative, or themselves.”

A Children’s Brain Tumor Cure 
Foundation

Brain tumors know no boundaries and are not at all discriminatory. A Children’s Brain Tumor Cure Foundation, an affiliate charity of the PLGA (Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma) Foundation, is dedicated to finding more effective, less toxic and less punishing treatments for eradicating brain cancer in children.

When children are affected, an entire community is moved to action. That is the reality of the Think Fit for Kids event, which recently celebrated its second successful year. On Sunday, March 18th, nearly 400 participants and volunteers and over 20 local merchant donors joined forces at Club Fit in Briarcliff for a common goal of raising awareness and funds for children’s brain tumor research. www.achildrensbraintumorcure.org and www.thinkfitforkids.org

“The reason I became involved with A Children’s Brain Tumor Cure Foundation was to honor my own son’s courage and strength, while considering the many other children who were not as fortunate in their outcome,” says Think Fit for Kids founder Kim Gilman. “Brain tumors are the leading cause of tumor death in children under 20 and the current treatments are toxic and often ineffective. I knew that if this community could see just how many local families have been affected by pediatric brain tumors, together, we could make a difference for the kids battling this disease.”

Since it’s inaugural event last year, Think Fit For Kids has raised over $300,000, ($160,000 this year and still counting!) enabling A Children’s Brain Tumor Cure Foundation to fund cutting edge clinical research which we hope will lead to new, genetically based diagnostic and therapeutic tools and, ultimately, a cure for pediatric brain tumors.

Jennifer Leventhal is a Millwood based freelance writer and editor. www.jenniferleventhal.com

Giving Back: Save the Dates

May 19th: Chappaqua Relay for Life, 6 p.m., Horace
Greeley High School. www.relayforlife.org

May 20th: Westchester Take Steps for Crohn’s &
Colitis, 4:00 p.m., FDR State Park, Yorktown. 
www.cctakesteps.org/westchester

June 1st: A Cure In Our Lifetime event, 9:30 a.m., Trump National Golf Club. Featuring Breakfast,
Silent Auction, Raffle, and Golf Outing.
 www.acureinourlifetime.org

June 1st: Spin To Win to Benefit Friends of Karen, 6:30 p.m., Saw Mill Club, Mt. Kisco. 
www.friendsofkaren.org

June 15th: 5th Anniversary Heartworks Westchester, 7:30 p.m., Crabtree’s Kittle House. Featuring the Journey tribute band Don’t Stop Believin’. www.marfan.org/marfan/2839/Heartworks-Westchester

June 26th: Holly’s Angels Gala to Benefit Making Headway Foundation, Cipriani, 42nd St., NYC. With Special Guest President William J. Clinton. For more information, please contact:
Catherine@makingheadway.org