The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Aging in Place: A Partnership Helping Make Homes Safe & Secure for Seniors

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Karen Haycox, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester CEO

As people age, it’s important for them to have a home where they can feel secure, live comfortably, and thrive. With that in mind, Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County in partnership with Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) in White Plains launched Aging in Place (AIP), a program to empower seniors to remain safely and independently in their homes.

“The program serves a very critical and practical need. There are many seniors who don’t have resources to complete simple home repairs that would allow them to age safely in their homes, in their communities, within their network of support, in their declining years,” said Karen Haycox, CEO, Habitat for Humanity NYC/Westchester County. “We see this as an opportunity to stabilize this vulnerable community at a vulnerable time in their lives.”

Habitat partnered with WRO to establish AIP, a home renovation and energy efficiency program for seniors that provides upgrades to improve safety and mobility. It serves homeowners aged 62 and over whose income is 80 percent or less than the area median income and who demonstrate a critical housing need. “Small repairs can make a big difference, such as repairing a loose railing or unsafe steps or finding a better way for seniors to navigate out of the bathtub,” explained Haycox. “We focus our interventions on places where we can make a strategic difference.”

An Acute & Growing Demand

WRO Executive Director Marlene Zarfes

A Westchester County Housing Needs Assessment reported that over 30% of homes throughout Westchester County were built before 1940 and will likely need major repairs and system replacements in addition to physical modifications to mitigate accessibility challenges. “The acute and growing demand for resources that empower seniors to remain safely and independently in their homes was a common refrain. We saw an opportunity to step in and make a difference,” said Haycox. “The mission of Westchester Habitat is to create, preserve, and advocate for healthy, affordable homes for all. We envision a county that’s a national leader in meeting the housing needs of its growing senior population.”

For WRO it has been the perfect collaboration. “We have 55 years of bringing all facets of housing help to vulnerable populations in Westchester, and pairing that with Habitat with their skills is perfect. Our mission is to promote equal, affordable, and accessible housing opportunities for all residents of our region,” said Marlene Zarfes, Executive Director, WRO.

“As our senior population increases, with the number of residents aged 60 or over expected to rise to 25% by 2030, our existing county-wide deficiency of affordable housing for seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes, becomes more acute while the wait for affordable housing grows longer. These funds will help us make necessary aging-in-place repairs that enable seniors to remain safely in their homes while increasing energy efficiency.”

The program targets interior and exterior home repairs, safety improvements, and energy efficiency upgrades. Current services include grab bars/handrails; light switches and door knob replacement; lighting and trip prevention modifications; and accessibility modifications for hearing and vision-impaired homeowners.

Haycox pointed out AIP can offer seniors a positive outlook. “We try to do what we can for these valuable members of society as they age. We aim to improve their quality of life, enabling them to live safely and independently in their homes, close to family and friends, while saving them money and even reducing their carbon footprint,” she said. Zarfes added, “As seniors are aging in place, the home has to be safe and secure. As their mobility and income declines, we need to get involved.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and former U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones also allocated $500,000 in Congressionally appropriated funds in the FY 2023 Omnibus Budget to support seniors in need of these services. “We depend on the commitment of like-minded like-hearted individuals,” said Haycox noting AIP serves as a lifeline to seniors. “We hope people feel Habitat for Humanity is there for them. We will respond to this need as our resources are able, to reach out and provide stability to this community, and we urge people to join us.”

For additional information about the inaugural supporters/partners including the Field Hall Foundation, and to apply for initial AIP accessibility and mobility modifications, write to: AgingInPlace@HabitatNYCWC.org, call (914) 240-7003, or visithabitatnycwc.org/aging-in-place.

Students in Byram Hills Global Scholars Program Working to Combat Homelessness with Midnight Run

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As a former student at Byram Hills High School, I was in constant awe of my peers who worked hard in the school’s two three-year programs, Authentic Science Research and Global Scholars. Students can choose to begin these programs as sophomores, working to conduct research on the current state of the social or scientific world and choose a particular subject they would like to delve into.         

Throughout the subsequent two years, they work with professionals in those fields. The goal is to contribute to their topic’s research or activism and make a concrete contribution to the world.

The work of rising seniors Ashley Weissman and Zoe Marcus left me no less impressed, as I learned about their work to combat homelessness in New York City. Having worked with the organization myself as a student in New York City, I was incredibly excited to hear about their passion for their work and genuine desire to make a difference, which was evident in a press release they sent out describing their project.

Weissman and Marcus explained their current efforts as well as future plans to get the Armonk community involved. After choosing their subject, they began to research ways to most effectively help those in need.

“When researching about homelessness, something that caught our attention was how most people donate things they think the homeless people would need, rather than what they actually need and want,” they wrote.

Outreach to ‘Midnight Run’

To get a better sense of how to most effectively aid those in need, they reached out to Midnight Run, a volunteer organization which seeks to take a more human approach to aiding the unhoused by organizing in-person, late night drop-offs of necessary goods. According to their website, Midnight Run organizes “over 1,000 relief missions per year, in which volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City.”

Dale Williams, the executive director of the organization, was once homeless himself, and explained to Weissman and Marcus that simple toiletries were one of the necessary items which many people overlooked when donating to relief organizations.

To begin making a change in their local community, Weissman and Marcus organized “mini lessons” to teach students at H. C. Crittenden Middle School about homelessness and Midnight Run. Then, they helped to create packages full of toiletries and necessary items to distribute during a run with the organization.

“We got these toiletries with our funding from the Changemaker presentation where different funders come together to give out money to help,” they said. “We are hoping to participate on a Midnight Run, and are just waiting to get the date.”

Their goal for the future is to get more people in Armonk involved with Midnight Run and the fight against homelessness. In the past, the organization has seen a shortage of volunteers to have been willing to participate in late-night runs to distribute goods, but Weissman and Marcus are hoping to increase those numbers by raising awareness with their project.

Over the remainder of their time in the program, Weissman and Marcus will work to “investigate global issues, analyze diverse perspectives, communicate ideas effectively in both English and a second language, and take action,” according to the program’s website.

Those looking to help them make a difference can find volunteer information at Midnight Run, where they describe the step-by-step process of organizing and executing a successful run. This begins with collecting and sorting clothes, assembling a crew of volunteers, reserving vehicles, which may include vans owned by the organization and loaned to volunteers by request, buying durable items such as toiletries, socks, and underwear, and more. The organization also lists information for their Saturday and Sunday morning breakfast runs. Visit MidnightRun.org to learn more.

Discover Your Personal Brand with Stacey Cohen’s BRAND UP

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Photo by Randi Childs

I was meeting with my manager who was helping me prepare for an upcoming job interview. I came ready with a piece of computer paper suffocated with a study guide of answers to potential questions and all my past experiences that qualified me for the role. The first thing she asked me when we both sat down was, “Megan, tell me… what is your brand?” Suddenly, I was at a loss for words. That was one question I didn’t have a prepped answer for.

It sounds like a simple enough question, but it’s actually one that takes a lot of thought. In fact, there are people who help others uncover their personal brand and amplify it through media channels for a living. Former Chappaqua resident Stacey Ross Cohen is one of those people.

In case you are wondering what a personal brand is, Cohen describes it as “the public’s perception of you” and the “authentic and curated parts of the story that highlight your best self in order to help achieve your goals.”

Clearly, you aren’t the only one who is curious to learn more, considering that Cohen’s personal branding TEDx Talk entitled “Branding from Birth: What’s in a Name?” has over one million views on YouTube.

Whether it’s applying for college, a job, an audition, a scholarship, a leadership position, or you’re just preparing for your next move in life, Cohen believes that your personal brand will help take you there.

The CEO of marketing and PR firm Co-Communications and mom of two kids (who went through the competitive school district here in Chappaqua) had an epiphany while watching her eldest go through the college admissions process. In a sea of success, sports, and spectacular grades, how were kids supposed to stand out? The answer? Start marketing yourself early. And so, the pro-marketer set out on the journey of writing Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success in the Digital World.

“My hope for this book is to make personal branding and digital leadership part of every student’s high school curriculum,” Cohen said. “I want it to give all teens an edge, no matter what their path in life.”

Cohen said the book poured out of her, as she was able to write it in only three months. The guide touches on topics that can be applied to different stages of life, not just when applying to college. Things like networking, interview tips, empathy, email templates and more are all covered in the 189-page playbook. The chapter on Linkedin is especially useful, as Cohen wants readers to know that the platform isn’t just for professionals.

Since college admission counselors spend an average of 10 minutes on each application, Cohen believes that leveraging social media will help you rise to the top of the list – creating a Linkedin account in high school and using it as a sort of portfolio is one way to do so. Whether it’s posting images from your latest volunteer work, your soccer team winning sectionals or your most recent college visit, it’s just about building a platform that houses all you do.

On top of connecting with your college recruiters on Linkedin, just as you would with a company recruiter, some other tips include utilizing the valuable real estate that is your email tagline and making sure you are intentional with your posts – “Recruiters can smell a phony miles away.”

One activity in the book involves finding the perfect adjectives that best describe you. While Cohen recognizes that this might not be the easiest thing for people of all ages to do, it’s important to be self-reflective or ask others why they think you stand out. These answers will help you come up with your personal brand.

“Self awareness is not something that a 15 or 16-year-old is comfortable with,” Cohen said. “I think that comes later in life. But start digging in now – it’s just going to jump start your success for later.”

Cohen wants to be clear that there is a difference between being self-aware and self-absorbed and that having a personal brand doesn’t make you the latter. “Personal branding is no longer a luxury, it’s a requirement,” Cohen said on the Tedx stage in Hartford, CT in 2019. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a 50-something professional or a college-bound high school student, a strong personal brand can make all the difference.”

Next time you are prepping for an interview and cram the entire English language on a piece of paper, be sure to have an answer or some adjectives to help describe your brand somewhere on there.

So, who’s up to Brand Up?

‘The Edible Gardenist on How to Bring Joy & Ease into Family Meals

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Hillary Marra, aka The Edible Gardenist

During this back to school time we have an opportunity to bring ease, joy and connection into our family food. As a family food and garden coach, I teach my clients how to shift from trying to solely get their kids to eat healthy and, instead, invite their kids in to participate with the food which fosters the bigger picture, a positive relationship with food.

I always felt welcome in the kitchen. While my mother passed down a family recipe here and there, the gift that she gave me was that she always made me feel as though I belonged in the kitchen. My passion for food continued with my own children. When it came to raising Jess, Jackie, and Jake, I wanted them each to feel at home in the kitchen in their own way, and the kitchen was our playground.

As my kids entered preschool, I began teaching kids cooking classes, coaching moms and speaking on panels about joyful, healthy eating. I was grateful when my kids invited me in to teach in their entire grades! I wanted to do more in the community, met Andrea Garbarini, and we shared the vision of starting an edible school garden at BRS Elementary School. Together with a dedicated team, we created the first edible school garden in the Pleasantville district. I also found a home at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, where I continue to partner with Hope Blauner, teaching the early childhood edible school garden.

Inviting our kids in to participate with their food doesn’t have to mean when we’re busy getting dinner on the table. It can be when there’s a natural opening in our week. Tools welcome our kids into the kitchen and say “you belong.” The invitation can be handing them an apron to wear, a grater for cheese, or a spatula while making 3-ingredient, 5-minute quesadillas.

Another way to bring joy and ease into family food is what I like to call ‘parts of a meal.’ By allowing our kids to have their individual food preferences one meal can make everyone happy – there’s something everyone likes to eat. Fajita night can mean rice and beans for one and beans and veggies for another. When we “give up the get” of trying to get our kids to eat healthy, and honor our kids’ own relationship with food, we experience joy in the moment and legacy for the future.

As with anything, know who you are and what’s right for you and your family in this season. Go where it’s easy and keep in mind, changing dinner isn’t the only way to create a positive relationship with food. Each little thing counts – a visit to a farm or farmers market, having our kids toss the salad whether or not they eat it, flipping pancakes or quesadillas, pushing a button on a blender for smoothies. Our kids will remember an invitation into the kitchen and, most importantly, feel at home there.

Find Hillary on Instagram @theediblegardenist and at theediblegardenist.com/

To connect with Hillary for family food and garden coaching and edible school garden workshops, please e-mail her at hillary@theediblegardenist.com.

3-INGREDIENT, 5-MINUTE QUESADILLAS

INGREDIENTS
1 package of corn / flour / almond or other tortillas
1 package or block of Monterey Jack or your favorite cheese
1 can of black beans, rinsed and patted dry

Optional: Be creative with any filling you like! Other filling options include sautéed or grilled veggies or chicken. Serve with salsa or guacamole, if desired.

The Not So Lonely Goatherd: Fat & Sassy Goats in New Castle

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I could hear the sound of music with Julie Andrew’s voice in my head singing, “High on a hill was a lonely goatherd Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo,” as I made my daily visits to the Fat and Sassy Goats grazing outside of New Castle Town Hall last spring. The goats began their work in late May and were contained by a solar-powered electric net fence. The goats helped clear weeds and vines without the use of pesticides or heavy machinery.

In June Fat and Sassy Goats, co-owned by Jenn Balch and Donald Arrant, completed the goat grazing project with the goal of clearing a riparian area next to the baseball field. They worked with the town to bring a herd of 30+ goats to consume and “recycle” vines, weeds and brambles that had overtaken steep banks next to the creek over the course of a week, as an alternative to herbicide application.

On my visits to the goats, I frequently saw members of the New Castle Police Department, some of whom were as obsessed with the goats as I was. The goats appealed to people of all ages. Grandparents brought their grandchildren. Teens stopped by and tiny tots in strollers came by to watch the goats. One friend enjoyed her birthday breakfast in their company.

Every day I posted pictures and videos of the goats at work on social media. “Where are they?” people asked. I was delighted to spread the word.

One day I decided to bring Maggie Mae, the beloved Pup Reporter. She went wild when she saw them. If there wasn’t a barrier separating her from the goats, she would have eagerly joined them. Many of them seemed fascinated with her and met her at the fence. She may not be your typical herding breed like a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd, but Maggie Mae could have started a new trend of toy poodle goatherders.

“This was our first project working directly with a municipality, and in particular, Dennis Corelli, Environmental Coordinator, Sabrina Hull, Director of Planning and Christina Papes, Town Clerk who all went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly every step of the way,” said Balch. “We would also like to thank Round Rock Preserve for their catalytic goat grazing project, the New Castle Police Department for being great goat neighbors, and the many friendly people from the community who stopped by to say hi or to watch and appreciate the goats.”

Full ecological restoration of this area is still a work in progress, but they are continuing to speak with the town about a combination of future grazing and re-seeding, so we may see them all again soon. I, for one, would love that!

And Balch adds, “The goats enjoyed their time in New Castle, and we did too.”