The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Eye Designs Delivers Precision and High Style in Eyewear

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My first impression upon walking into Eye Designs in Armonk Town Center is that I have walked into a carefully curated museum with display cases exhibiting eyeglass frames as beautiful as works of art. However, far from the austere feel of a museum, this boutique optical shop is warm and inviting. Combining a natural instinct for choosing the right frames for every customer and 40 years of experience, store manager and optician Jaime Herman exudes a sense of warmth and competence.

Jaime (right) and Alex Herman
PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Exceptional Customer Service

Eye Designs has been in Armonk for 23 years and has developed a reputation for great customer service. A Westchester Magazine “Best of Westchester” winner, with another location in Scarsdale, the business focuses on meeting customers’ needs. When choosing frames for someone, Herman strives to get to know them, find out what they have worn in the past, and see if they are looking for a change.

“There is a certain trust there and I take that seriously,” says Herman. “It’s a big part of someone’s appearance and they’re allowing me to help them with this. If someone doesn’t know what works for their face shape, I can guide them. I know within a second of putting a pair of frames on you, if it’s right and if it will work.”

It is precisely this personal touch that differentiates Eye Designs from chain stores and online retailers of eyeglasses.

“For me, the excitement of the business is buying frames and then putting them on a customer’s face and then having them walk out in public and be noticed,” says Herman. “I’ve been doing it close to 40 years and it still keeps me invigorated.”

Meeting all your Eyewear Needs

From eye health to eyewear fashion, Eye Designs has you covered. With optometrist Dr. Janet Woo on staff, the store is a full-service optical shop. They administer eye exams, fit contact lenses, and do free repairs for glasses bought there or elsewhere. They also carry an extensive collection of children’s frames.

A typical visit to the store might start with an eye exam by Dr. Woo to check the health of your eyes and to determine the visual correction required. Upon obtaining a prescription, the fun begins working with Herman and the staff to choose the frame and figure out the best lens. Whether needing progressive lenses, transition lenses, anti-glare coatings, or computer lenses, customers are expertly guided to the right lens for them.

Of course, with summer approaching, Eye Designs is fully stocked with great sunglass frames to get you ready for the beach. Whether with or without prescription lenses, Eye Designs can fit you with stylish sunglasses that will keep your eyes protected.

A Fine-Tuned Selection

Eye Designs carries a high-end collection of unique frames. Herman has traveled to optical shows all over the world to assemble the right mix of frames and stay on top of the trends for his clientele. Hailing from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Denmark, and across the globe, lines they carry include Anne & Valentin, Blake Kuwahara, Dabrach, Face a Face, Mykita, Lindberg, and many more.

Prices for frames generally range from $300 up to $1000. A pair of progressive glasses which adjust for close-up, middle distance, and far vision can range from $1000 to $1500. Herman does have some budget frames available.

“People are spending a nice amount of money on their glasses so they have to feel confident that they’re getting their money’s worth, that they’re getting the right thing, that they’re going to be taken care of, and that once they walk out the door, they’re not alone with their glasses,” says Herman.

Rave Reviews from Happy Customers

Herman is most proud of the fact that people that have been coming to the store for years are almost like family. He has a comfortable and easygoing relationship with many customers. Some will text him to see when he is going to be in the store or just to ask a question. The store has maintained its success because people recommend their friends and relatives.

“There is no reason to go into the city to get your eyewear,” says longtime Armonk resident and Eye Designs customer Lauren Miller Cogan. “Jaime has the unique ability to determine where you are in the fashion spectrum and find a frame that suits you. My family has been going to Eye Designs for 21 years and I just love him. He’s so great.”

Another longtime Armonk resident, Stacy Wilder, says “Ever since they opened 23 years ago, Eye Designs has been my family’s go-to place for eyeglasses. Of course it’s important to see well–and they are masters at getting the prescription right– but when you wear glasses all day, every day, it’s also nice to have many great choices and the latest, best quality frames. Jaime and the staff always go above and beyond, provide honest opinions, and are happy to make any necessary adjustments whenever needed.”

“I want people to know that the knowledge and experience that we have here can pretty much guarantee that they’ll have a great experience coming to the store,” says Herman. “Moreover, the customer service that we provide will assure them that their hard-earned dollars will be spent properly here.”

Eye Designs is located at 575 Main Street in Armonk, NY. They can be reached at (914) 273-7337. eyedesignsofwestchester.com

Ten Reasons Libraries Have a Bright Future

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Enjoying ‘Our Family of Readers’, a 1993 work by Penelope Jencks donated to the Chappaqua Library by the Reader’s Digest Association. PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT/INSIDEPRESS

“The only thing you absolutely need to know is the location of your library,” said Albert Einstein. Since 7th Century BC in Ancient Syria, libraries have been an integral part of communities around the world. Even in the digital age libraries continue to be important fixtures in communities across the United States. Here are ten reasons why the library is the most important place in town.

1. Libraries are community centers and the heart of the community. As libraries evolve with the times in their offerings, they are often the first place a new family in town visits.  In 2019 a Gallup Poll found that visiting the library was the most common activity among Americans even more than movie theaters.

2. Everyone is welcome. From tiny toddlers to our most senior citizens there is something for everyone at the library. Libraries are spaces where everyone can continue lifelong learning.

3. Libraries are the gateway to the world’s knowledge. Libraries are a beacon of learning and hub of information. Librarians make sure that all information is kept for the future.

4. Libraries are places where people come to know themselves and their communities New mothers connect with other moms at infant story-times. Senior citizens attend events and take classes and make new friends. Non-English speakers find resources. Community building connections happen all the time.

5. Libraries are great places for teens. The library is a safe space for teens after school. Teens attend programs and many find volunteer opportunities at the library.

6. Libraries are nurturing places for children and important partners in child development. From story hours to craft programs and reader advisory, children learn how to share and to be engaged in their community. As Laura Bush says, “Once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.”

7. Librarians have been the staunchest defenders of intellectual freedom and libraries are transparent with all the services they provide. Librarians are watchdogs on topics like free speech, copyright, and privacy. Their organization, the American Library Association, lobbies for these rights. They also protect patron rights by not revealing reading history or programs attended.

8. Librarians are the original search engine. In the age of fake news and viral video remixes, librarians show the way to news literacy and facts. Neil Gaiman says, “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.”

9. Libraries are important partners in sustainability and economically efficient. Their model of sharing, inter-library loan, for example, allows them to serve many people with fewer resources. Also, they purchase a limited number of resources that many people can use. Patrons can borrow books and DVDs rather than purchase them. And patrons can use shared computers, printers, and photo copiers.

10. Libraries provide information and educational opportunities free for all people. Every resource is free of charge including books, internet access and educational and training programs.  Remote access to all these resources is available and they offer 24/7 free WiFi.

Even during the Pandemic, when the world was locked down, libraries served their communities through their website, virtually, by phone and provided curbside pickup. Libraries are here to stay!

Fun Facts about the Chappaqua Library as the library celebrates its Centennial Anniversary this year: Celebrating the Past. Inspiring the Future.

Chappaqua Library INSIDE PRESS PHOTO

• In 1922, a group of women found space and organized a library in Lou Kopp’s Coal and Feed Store located across the tracks on King Street near the current northbound entrance to the Saw Mill River Parkway. 

• In 1930, with over 5,300 volumes a new library opened on Senter Street, now the home of the Community Center. The community had raised $20,000 in subscriptions to build the library.  The plans were drawn by Alfred Bussell and believed to have been executed by Samuel Horsfall, neither of whom would accept payment for their work.

• In 1970, the community voted to change from a Free Association Library to a School District Library, which would allow the approval of a bond issue to pay for a new library.

• The current building designed by Chappaqua resident Philip M. Chu opened in December 1978.

• A children’s program room was added in 1986 and the front of the library was expanded in 2006.

• In 2021, the library celebrated the completion of the expansion of the children’s and teen rooms and two other new spaces. 

• In 2022, there are over 254,000 volumes in the print and digital collections available to the public plus all that they have access to through the library system and beyond. The Board of Trustees adopted a new logo moving into the next century.  

Why NOT to Avoid a Colonoscopy

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Dr. Christopher Martin

In the interest of public service, here’s a confession: Through my 50s, I avoided getting a colonoscopy (I even share my silly reason in this interview). I finally had the procedure recently, at age 61, and fortunately for me, no polyps were found. I’ve since learned more about the unnecessary risk I took but also that I’ve hardly been alone with my neglect. With this story, I hope to encourage others via an interview with my gastroenterologist, Dr. Christopher Martin at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow.

Grace: As somebody who has performed so many of this recommended cancer screening, what are the reasons you hear as to why somebody may put off colonoscopies? 

Dr. Martin: It’s usually something along the lines of, ‘well I have no symptoms and I have no family history.’ I’ve also heard ‘I don’t want to know if it’s there’ or someone may think it involves more than it does. So, any one of those things, or a combination. 

Grace: How big a problem is colonoscopy avoidance?

Dr. Martin: Now that the screening age has been lowered to 45, easily fewer than half of people of screening age are getting screened for colon cancer. The bottom line is we really shouldn’t be seeing colon cancer. It’s a highly preventable cancer, but unfortunately, we still have more than half of people who are at risk who are not being screened.  

Grace: So, when you say that less than half the people of screening age, can you clarify a bit? 

Dr. Martin: The recommended age was 50 but it has recently been bumped down to 45. For most people with a family history or inflammatory bowel disease, screenings have their own set of guidelines because those patients are at increased risk. For the general population, the first recommended screening is now at 45 years old.

Grace: How often should you have this screening if you are going with the program?

Dr. Martin: With no family history, we recommend every 10 years.  But again, that time span may be shortened when we require closer follow up, primarily in people with a personal or family history of colon polyps or cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease.

Grace: Ok, so if you do have some other condition then you may end up going every two years or even every year? 

Dr. Martin: There are some conditions where you go every 1 to 2 years, yes. But that’s for very special cases.

Grace: Would you say that both men and women are equally at risk in avoiding this screening? 

Dr. Martin: Yes, I don’t see a gender difference. Very often too it’s a spouse who brings the more reluctant spouse in. 

Grace: One male friend told me that he has a very healthy diet, no family history, and he works out, so he’s just not doing it. What’s your response to him? 

Dr. Martin: Well, it is a common cancer. It is a preventable cancer, so it is very much a shame when it does happen. More than half of the cancer that we see is in people with no family history. It’s also an asymptomatic cancer in its early stages. There’s really nothing to protect you 100% from it. Factors associated with less colon cancer are things like a more active lifestyle and a high-fiber diet. But these are very mild, minor associations; we have seen marathon runners who have never smoked a day in their life get colon cancer. It’s really important that everybody get screened at the appropriate age. 

Grace: I mentioned to you that I have a gag reflex at the dentist. I was sure I couldn’t get through the prep and that became my own ‘reason.’ Can you tell readers a little more about the prep and how to make it less stressful?

Dr. Martin: I tell people that if there is any nausea or anything during the prep, they should slow it down. I’d rather someone get through more of the prep than try to rush it down and get sick and maybe not finish it. It is extremely important that the preparation be good enough for a quality exam so we can detect even the smallest polyp. And then you don’t have to do it again for 10 years.  

There are some situations in which people don’t do as well with the stimulant laxative component, especially if they have a history with constipation. For those patients, I will sometimes tailor the preparation a little differently. The goal is that you are eventually having diarrhea until it turns into water. That way we can assure that we will get a quality exam the next day. Most people have very little difficulty with the prep; it’s just not something they would choose to do on a regular day. 

Grace: Many of us are hearing about Cologuard. Can you discuss how adequate an alternative it is to a colonoscopy? 

Dr. Martin: In the big picture, I think having multiple screening options is a good thing. However, Cologuard is not appropriate for people at a higher risk for colon cancer. That would include people with a history of a colon polyp in the past, a personal or family history of colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. That’s the first thing I would say. Secondly, it is very good at detecting colon cancer; it’s about 92% sensitive for colon cancer. However, it will still miss more than half of significant pre-cancerous polyps. By missing more than half of the pre-cancerous polyps, we are losing opportunities to intervene and prevent colon cancer. So that’s why a colonoscopy really has the advantage as a preventive measure. 

Grace: Some people are concerned about injury during the exam and internal injury. Is that a significant risk factor and how do you lower the odds of that happening? 

Dr. Martin: There’s a risk with any procedure physicians do, colonoscopy among them, and the risk increases as removal of polyps becomes necessary. For example, the risk of a tear and bleeding is higher when you are taking out a large polyp. Unfortunately, the option of allowing them to develop into cancer isn’t a good option either – that would at best require surgery or possibly chemotherapy instead. The risk of complication does increase with age, but then again, so does the risk of colon cancer. We consider the whole patient and make sure the whole test is appropriate. 

Generally speaking: if people are in good medical health and they have more than a 10-year life expectancy, a colon screening is appropriate. There are certain anesthesia risks as well which increase in patients who are obese or who suffer from sleep apnea, but anesthesiologists are attuned to these issues and well equipped to address anything that comes up during these procedures. 

Grace: As far as choosing the right doctor, I imagine that is key? 

Dr. Martin: I would start with consulting your primary care doctor. Most probably have a long-standing working relationship with their specialty gastroenterologist(s) – someone who has an established track record of not having any bad outcomes with people they refer to and that’s how referral patterns develop – because there’s a sense of trust. There are also metrics to consider – a key one would be the number of polyps detected. Some 20-25% of colonoscopies should result in a detection of a colon polyp and that would suggest that the given gastroenterologist is doing an adequate exam. Likewise, you can ask how quickly someone does an exam; the current standard is a minimum of 6-minute scope withdrawal time during the exam which should be sufficient for inspecting the colon. A gastroenterologist’s volume in procedures also can be a good predictor in terms of complication rates. Over 300 procedures a year seems to be the threshold for someone with fewer complications.

Grace: When you are talking about looking for polyps, are they certain kinds of polyps? Is there such a thing as a healthy polyp or is there just an unhealthy polyp? 

Dr. Martin: There is no such thing as a healthy polyp. When people are told they had a benign polyp removed, the polyp can either be pre-cancerous or not pre-cancerous; both are ‘benign’. Most of them are pre-cancerous but all polyps are removed. Colon cancers start off as one of these pre-cancerous polyps that can look quite bland but are generally visible during a colonoscopy when there is adequate preparation. 

Grace: Please tell us more about the beauty of this early detection.

Dr. Martin: Well, let’s say you find a colon cancer: Early-stage colon cancer survival is upwards of 90%. Late stage is more like 14%. That’s a huge difference and a treatment of an early stage can involve something relatively speaking less dire: the laparoscopic partial removal of the colon without any real change in lifestyle afterwards. While that involves a surgical recovery period, it won’t cause much of a change in bowel habits. Some chemotherapy may be necessary for some time afterwards, and that will also enhance the cure rate. It’s really in its late stage when colon cancer becomes symptomatic. It can spread to other organs which really brings survival down dramatically. 

The essence to this conversation is to just get screened. If you ask anyone who has developed colon cancer, they really wish that they could go back in time and be screened a little bit sooner. It’s a shame when you hear their ordeal and you know that it was essentially preventable.

Grace: A final question: have you and your fellow physicians and staff and at Phelps… are you all getting your colonoscopies?  

Dr. Martin: Yes, we are following our own advice here. I’ve had a couple myself, and everyone in my family who is supposed to be screened has been screened. It’s just one area of fighting cancer where we truly can make a difference in terms of outcomes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Phelps Memorial Hospital

A Rising Star in the White House: Meet Chappaqua’s Dhara Nayyar

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Chappaqua has had its fair share of well- known residents in the White House but there’s a young rising star there with Chappaqua roots who perhaps you’ve never heard of – meet Dhara Nayyar, a 2014 Horace Greeley High School graduate. Nayyar is the White House Regional Communications Director for the southern half of the United States. In this role, she serves as a spokesperson on the White House agenda, working with state, local and national reporters. From January 2021 to December 2021, she was on the research team in the Executive Office of the President where she worked to protect and defend President Biden and his legacy, including developing a 25,000 page opposition book on Mike Pence for the Biden-Harris presidential campaign.

A quick thinker, effective communicator and skilled researcher, Nayyar is often tasked with fact checking and issuing a rapid response when stories come out that are inaccurate or lack context. For example, if a story on high gas prices is being written, her team will provide information to the media about what President Biden has done over his career to help alleviate the problem and what harmful actions the GOP has taken that could exacerbate the issue. The job is 24/7 but Nayyar has had a passion for politics since she was a young girl. “I’ve always known I wanted to go into politics. I remember asking my parents why the president wasn’t a woman –and them telling me that it was because it was my job to fulfill! It’s actually both heartwarming and hilarious to look back and see old elementary school assignments about my dream job where I wrote about working in the White House. I still have to pinch myself to believe that I’m even here!” Nayyar exclaims.

She often attends press briefings at the White House and interacts with President Biden regularly. Working with state and local reporters, Nayyar spends time staffing interviews both in person and via Zoom on President Biden and his administration’s agenda which can include pitching stories, holding press calls and responding to inquiries. While others might find the work intense and high pressure, Nayyar says she is constantly on her toes and she loves it. “I truly live for the hustle and bustle,” she notes.

Photos courtesy of Dhara Nayyar

Nayyar developed a love for writing and communications while working on The Greeley Tribune. “It taught me the importance of always keeping a pulse on the news cycle,” she said. She was also president of Cooking for a Cause, which prepared soup for Midnight Run and held bake sales for charities. “This helped me fuel my passion for public service,” she adds. While at Greeley, she formed a close relationship with Gary Lanza, who was an audio-visual technician at Greeley and served as a mentor. “He instilled in me to always be true to myself, to chase my dreams, and the value of genuine human connection,” she commented.

After Greeley, Nayyar attended American University in Washington DC where she obtained a Bachelors in an Interdisciplinary Studies program focusing on communications, legal institutions, economics and government. Nayyar has no plans of leaving DC anytime soon. In fact, she hopes to run for office one day. “I haven’t decided when. I just know it’s down the line for me!”

As a first generation American in the White House, Nayyar credits her parents Johanna and Ajay as key influencers in her decision to pursue her dreams. “They instilled in me at a young age to find passion in the process and to never take anything for granted but rather to enjoy each moment at face value… On a lighter note–my mom always jokes I got the “gift of the gab” from my father–which certainly helps me in the communications world where I spend 98% of the time interacting with others,” she jokes. 

Nayyar, like so many of us in this town, is also in awe of Chappaqua’s most famous residents, The Clintons. She met Secretary Clinton at the Women’s Leadership Forum in 2016. “I am definitely inspired by Secretary Clinton and former President Clinton… they are embodiments of grace, knowledge, and courage,” she said. After communicating with Nayyar for this article, something tells me she’ll be following in their footsteps to a top position in the White House in the not-too-distant future. 

Getting to Know Beloved Briarcliff Author Tom Leihbacher

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Growing up in Briarcliff Manor had such a profound impact on author Tom Leihbacher that he set his first novel, A Gift Most Rare, in the idyllic village. Published in 2020, the story is a coming-of-age tale set at Christmastime in the 1970s inspired by Leihbacher’s own adolescence in Briarcliff and the amazing memories he made there.

“It was just as golden and wonderful as you could imagine. Briarcliff was a microcosm of life in the USA back in the 60s and 70s – a small town with really close family and friendships all over town, it made everything more cohesive; we had each other’s backs and were there for each other.” Leihbacher grew up the youngest of three sons. At the University of Florida he majored in advertising and marketing and got a job in NYC right after graduation. It was then that he found an apartment in the Scarborough/Briarcliff area and decided to set down roots, a decision he is grateful to have made.

Leihbacher grew up attending the Briarcliff Congregational Church and married the daughter of the minister. He and his wife Rachel raised their son, Tom Jr., in the Tree Streets neighborhood and Tom Jr. and his wife also live in the local area now. He concluded after years traveling all over the U.S., “if ever you lived in Briarcliff, no matter where you’ve gone since, you’ll always call Briarcliff home.”

A Hometown’s Influence

Leihbacher regularly gets together with a group of high school friends to reminisce about favorite spots in the area. “We all agree that the single most beautiful spot here is the 16th green at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, looking at the sunset over the Hudson River.” He still sees Briarcliff as a town that emphasizes family and children, especially when the whole town comes out for sporting events such as football and basketball. In addition, he really enjoys the walkability of town. “I like to take the dog for a walk through the tree streets and the village. The downtown area is great–everything you need is there. We have something here that rivals the most beautiful places you can find.”

Taking inspiration from life in Briarcliff, Leihbacher decided to try his hand at writing fiction. After spending many years in the advertising business, his career took a decidedly different turn. “I had written lots of ad copy but also studied fiction writing. In my later years, around age 60, I had an inspiration for a Christmas story.” Leihbacher created a story outline but couldn’t get himself going and didn’t understand why. “I started thinking I had to nail down a setting first and knew I wanted a Norman Rockwell/Courier & Ives feel. It finally occurred to me: I grew up and live in a setting that fits the description, why not set it in Briarcliff?”

So that’s what he did. “I took the dog for a walk–I do my best thinking that way, and thought, why don’t you draw from people you know to create characters.”

Many of the characters in A Gift Most Rare are based on people Leihbacher grew up with including his late father-in-law Reverend Higgins and Mr. Welden who ran the deli he frequented as an adolescent. He also drew on characteristics from those he grew up with in town.” For many who grew up in Briarcliff, Leihbacher’s book is an enjoyable trip down memory lane.

Summer Up, the next installment, takes places two years after A Gift Most Rare, with the same cast of characters. He calls it a “God-honoring summer tale capturing the fun and excitement of summer break from school.” The story also contains a timely anti-bullying message. Victory Lap is the third planned book of the series, with the characters now seniors at Briarcliff High School taking their own “victory lap” before heading off to college. As Leihbacher says, “I had a hobby that turned into a new career–it has been super fun. The success of the first book was enough to go for a second one.”

In addition to writing, Leihbacher also finds time to volunteer both with the youth group at Faith Lutheran Brethren Church, and at the Ossining Food Pantry. “For me, kids hurting and people who don’t have enough to eat touches my heart and that I want to help with. Also, kids who are looking for a good, positive environment–those are three things that most pull at my heart.”

For more information about Leihbacher and his books, please visit tomleihbacher.com