Cover Stories

What’s Love Got to Do with it? For the Shiners… Everything!

April 8, 2022 by Jean Sheff

Frank and Suzanne Shiner… with Baker! PHOTO BY Donna Mueller

Maybe you know Frank and Suzanne Shiner. Then again, you might not.

Ask Marlene Canapi, president of the Chappaqua Rotary Club, about the couple and she offers insight. “Frank and Suzanne are extraordinary community members,” she says. “They are always stepping up to the plate to help, but they keep their actions under the radar.”

Canapi can reel off their many generous measures. “They’ve sponsored amazing benefit concerts, hosted fundraising and celebratory events at their home, and supported many local organizations including the Chappaqua Historical Society and the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center,” says Canapi. “They have given much and their actions continue. Their generosity and community spirit are ongoing.”

True to their nature, the Shiners were modest, yet very honored, to learn that the Rotary Club of Chappaqua will present them with the Rotary Club of Chappaqua Community Service Award on May 4, 2022. This award is given to a person(s) who most exemplifies the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” The award comes with the opportunity for the honorees to make a Rotary sponsored donation to the non-profit of their choice.

Canapi, who has known the Shiners for eight years, says it’s not only what they do but also how they do it that makes them so special. “They give from the heart,” she says.

The Shiners have had many challenges through the years, but their support of each other and their upbeat attitude along the way is exemplary. To hear Frank tell it, they just don’t get caught up or sidelined by unnecessary details. “When we purchased our home in Chappaqua some 18 years ago, the 9/11 tragedy was still top of mind,” he says. “Our realtor regretfully explained the only available date for the closing was September 11th. That suited us just fine. We are not superstitious.” They loved the 100-year-old home and were excited to move in and raise their three children there, Matthew (33), Jeremy (31) and Lindsay (22). That can-do attitude has always served them well.

Beginnings

The couple met in a New York City acting class when they were in their early 20s. Frank was an up-and-coming actor from Pennsylvania working a day job as a manual elevator operator. Suzanne was a dancer and aspiring actress who had just arrived from Arkansas to the big city. Frank admits he was smitten at once. “This woman (Suzanne) walks into class and I was never dazzled like that,” says Frank. “She was the last woman I ever looked at.”

However, Suzanne, arriving fresh from a small town with 3,000 residents, enjoyed dating. “People dated back then,” she says. “I was having such fun being wined and dined.”

Frank was living at Leo House, a residence for men, and Suzanne was lodging at Katherine House for young women. Both houses had strict rules, and neither allowed guests. A lone pay phone in the hall was the only source of outside communication. With an enormous stack of quarters and nickels in his hand, Frank telephoned Suzanne. Every three minutes he’d feed the phone another coin. “We talked like that for hours,” he says. After that phone call, they were a couple.

They dated for a year and a half, spending most of their time talking, talking and talking. They’d move from coffee shop to coffee shop to split a cup of coffee, then stroll through Washington Square Park, or roam the streets of the city together. Meanwhile, Frank was getting work as an actor in soap operas and theatre. Suzanne says Frank excelled in Shakespearian roles. With what she calls sheer determination, and we suspect plenty of talent, Suzanne got soap, commercial, and theatrical roles. “It felt like a miracle,” the small-town girl in her says.

It wasn’t long before they had to get married. “There was just nowhere for us to be alone together,” Suzanne laughs. Even the proposal smacked of what would become their way of dealing with the world–focus on what’s really important–namely their love. Frank planned a true New York proposal by arranging a horse and buggy ride through Central Park. Come the day, the weather was miserable, sleet blanketed the streets and wind screeched around every city corner. Instead, Frank whisked Suzanne into the Essex House restaurant. He discreetly told the staff his intentions, and they showed them to a romantic corner booth and treated them royally.

There were no regrets; no mulling over plans gone awry. It was perfect foreshadowing for a life well spent together.

Suzanne found a letter she wrote to her mother when she first met Frank. The wining and dining were low key. “He would pick me up on his bicycle,” she wrote. It was the man he was that won her heart. “He had a passion and a love for life, he was just fearless,” she says. He also loved his parents, wonderful, smart people who lived simple lives and put all their children through college. Suzanne gets teary when she recalls thinking that she knew he could love the family they would build the same way. “He’s a good man,” she says. “He has worked hard every day and has done everything he can do to make a better life for his family.”

Building Their Family

That included giving up his theatrical dreams. Frank was up for a lead in a Broadway musical when the songwriter, Garth Brooks, had to pull out and then so did the investors. With one baby and another on the way, Frank realized he needed a solid job to support his family. Frank admits it wasn’t easy at first. He took a job in sales and sailed forward. He eventually started his own firm. Suzanne provided encouragement and took on the role of office manager and marketer. “He is a brilliant at business,” says Suzanne, “He wound up creating a nationwide company.”

The couple is community minded, and on moving to Chappaqua, they took on the roles of active citizens. They joined the Church of Saint John and Saint Mary in town, got involved in the school system, volunteered at area organizations and enjoyed life in what Suzanne says is “a lovely town where neighbors help neighbors.”

Challenging Times

During this time, their third child was born and when she was in elementary school, Suzanne was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. It was a dire diagnosis but 10 years and 14 operations later Suzanne is cancer free. It was a grueling, painful decade, but true to form, the Shiners rallied. “So much love came from the community to help us,” says Suzanne. “Complete strangers were delivering food!”

On the way home from a chemotherapy treatment, the couple stopped at a local restaurant. It was open mic night and Suzanne put Frank’s name on the list. Frank says he demurred when he was asked to perform. Suzanne insisted, “Sing for me.” The appreciative crowd, the bandleader’s reaction and the joy of performing propelled Frank back onstage.

Moving Forward

For eight years, Frank was a low-profile singing CEO, and he loved it. After selling the company, Frank and Suzanne turned their attention to performing and giving back. “Everything we make through performances is given to charity,” says Frank. “We’ve come full circle. We don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from, but I will never forget how that feels.”

Frank, now an award-winning vocalist, has been delighted to appear in sold-out concerts beside Vanessa Williams to raise funds for the 100 percent scholarship driven San Miguel Academy of Newburgh, at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, and the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. He’s also released two albums, appeared with Orchestra 914, and a performed at a wide variety of other professional venues.

For the empty nesters, music is healing. Suzanne says in this last third of their life they are delighted to be doing what they love–giving back as partners. “Frank’s my soldier, my warrior. He’s made a beautiful life for our family and I love seeing him happy.” Frank credits Suzanne for believing in him when he had nothing. “She’s my spark plug, my inspiration, the fire behind everything.”

Others see that devotion. Rotarian Marlene Canapi sums them up, “They are just lovely, incredible people.”

Catch Frank Shiner Live!

Attend Swingin’ into Spring on May 14, 2022 from 7-8:30 p.m. Frank Shiner is underwriting a fundraising concert at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, Chappaqua, New York to benefit San Miguel Academy of Newburgh. Frank performs with the 22-piece Orchestra 914 Big Band Ensemble under the musical direction of Russell Ger. The evening includes a special performance by the San Miguel Choir. 100% of your ticket purchase goes to benefit San Miguel Program of Newburgh. Tickets are $50 or $75.

To purchase tickets: https://newburghsanmiguel.org/news-events/

To learn more about Frank Shiner Music visit https://frankshiner.com.

Armonk Firefighter Julie Gallagher Offers Life-Saving Skills to an Appreciative Community

April 8, 2022 by Ella Ilan

Julie Gallagher with local participants of her free CPR Education course. Assisted by Richard Greenwald. PHOTO BY Donna Mueller

Julie Gallagher has been teaching free CPR classes at the Armonk firehouse for six years. Gallagher is the Byram Hills High School nurse, a local mom of four, and a volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (“EMT”) with the Armonk Fire Department. CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.

Gallagher was a hospital nurse for twenty years before she came to Byram Hills as a school nurse. She was inspired to offer free CPR classes six years ago during her firefighter training when trainees were asked to ponder how to make their communities safer. Having taught CPR through the American Heart Association for ten years prior to that, she decided that offering CPR classes was something she could do to make her community safer.

On a recent February evening, Gallagher was surprised to see 20 new emails in her inbox inquiring about her CPR class. Initially confused about the sudden peak in interest, she discovered that a local resident who had just taken the class raved about it in a social media post in the Armonk Parents Facebook group.

The two-hour class, which is offered the first Thursday of every month at the Armonk firehouse, 7-9 p.m., or a maximum of 10 people, quickly booked up into May and felt like it had become the hottest ticket in town after the social media shout-out.

Gina DeCrescenzo, the local resident who praised the class in her Facebook post said, “I decided to take the class because we have a 9-month-old at home and the idea of not knowing how to save his life if something happened is inconceivable. I saw the class advertised outside of the firehouse and thought “why not?”

Gallagher teaches “Bystander CPR,” specifically taught for situations where there is no available doctor or nurse or you are not in a healthcare facility. The class is available to anyone over 12 years of age as students must be strong enough to complete the skills. A decent amount of strength is required to successfully complete chest compressions which involves the ability to push down two inches into the chest cavity repeatedly over a sustained period. Students must also have the agility to get down on the floor to do the work.

“Bystander CPR saves lives because they know what to do, they know what to look for, and they get their hands on people right away and that can actually make the difference regarding whether someone survives or not,” explains Gallagher. “The most important part is doing it before the ambulance comes. When we come, we are going to do everything we need to do but if nothing was done or if it was done improperly, then there’s no circulation to the brain and when that starts going past five minutes, there’s permanent brain damage done that cannot be reversed.”

The Armonk Fire Department is a volunteer fire department so oftentimes, the firefighters are being paged at home. Upon receiving a page, they drive to the firehouse, get on the apparatus, and drive to the scene. “If there’s no CPR done for five to seven minutes,” warns Gallagher, “that person’s chances of survival are very slim.”

According to Armonk Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Terence Carthy, the average response time of the first arriving unit, usually a Chief, from January 1, 2021 to March 5, 2022 was 3:38:57. “The ambulance or fire truck is usually going to be about three to six minutes behind a Chief, depending on the location of the incident,” says Carthy.

“I’m really passionate about teaching this amazing life-saving skill and it can make such a difference as to whether someone survives or not,” says Gallagher.

“I teach a lot of new moms and dads, which I love,” she says. Many new parents are concerned about choking but all students get the full class which includes adult and infant CPR, choking, and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). This class does not automatically provide an official certification, but Gallagher can help submit paperwork and facilitate certification upon request and payment of required fees for people who need a certification card.

“Julie was extremely impressive and the class taught me CPR in a way that I never understood or appreciated it before,” says DeCrescenzo. “She starts out saying that the emergency response time here in Armonk can be up to 7-10 minutes and there is little to no chance someone would survive if they were unresponsive without proper CPR being done until medics arrive. If that is not a reason to go to this class and learn these skills, nothing is! It would be amazing if all our residents would take this class so that if someone stops breathing at a local park or in DeCiccos, for example, we could have a real chance to help each other, to save a life!”

Community Outreach

The free CPR class is just one of the amazing community programs provided by the Fire Department. Carthy, who has been part of the department since 2012, organizes firehouse tours for school children and groups like the boy scouts and girl scouts in the community. The biggest annual event takes place in the Spring in partnership with the preschool association. About 150 students cycle through in small groups over the course of two days. This effort requires careful coordination and extra dedication from the fire department as there must be ample members available to respond to emergency calls while the tours are ongoing. The tours include demonstrations, an overview of fire safety, and letting the kids interact closely and familiarize themselves with the firefighters so that they can trust them if they are ever in a fire.

“We let them go into the fire trucks with the lights on, spray a firefighter with a water can, and give them a general overview of how the fire department works,” explains Carthy. “We often try and accomplish a dual objective and show the parents what we are all about as a volunteer agency because so many people think we are a paid department and are expecting a paid service. Ultimately, one of our biggest goals besides education is recruitment because we rely on a lot of people giving a little bit of time.”

Besides these programs, Gallagher also teaches first aid classes to local Scout groups and holds babysitting courses upon request.

The Fire Department Family

Volunteering with the Armonk Fire Department is a great source of pride and very rewarding for its members. They are always looking to recruit new members.

Gallagher decided to join the Fire Department six years ago because she wanted an “empty nest plan” for when her youngest graduated high school. Looking for something to do with the extra time on her hands, she got her EMT certification and then dove in head first and became a firefighter.

“I absolutely love my fire department family; they are right up there with my family,” says Gallagher. “It’s an incredible group of giving people who give tremendous amount of time to making sure that this town stays safe. Any time of the night or day, we drag ourselves out of bed and go to somebody’s house and it’s just amazing that people do that and then get up and go to work the next day. I’m hoping I can do it for a lot longer. Every day is a gift.”

“Every single one of us has a full-time job, many of us have kids, people have demanding schedules working jobs in downtown Manhattan and still are able to do it because we work with people to find the time in their schedule,” says Carthy. “I think most people who join the department end up loving it.”

“You join to help people but that’s not what gets you going at 3 a.m. when you’re on your third night call,” says Carthy. “At that point, you’re doing it because you care about the Armonk Fire Department as an entity being successful. We take a lot of pride in covering our calls. Other departments in the community will call us because they unfortunately are not always able to cover their calls. We never have that problem.”

Carthy encourages anyone who may be interested to stop by the firehouse to talk more in-depth about joining and to get a realistic sense of the commitment.

For more information about the Fire Department or to join, go to www.armonkfd.com. To register for a CPR class, send an email to cpr@armonkfd.com.

Getting to Know Lisa Katz

April 8, 2022 by Ronni Diamondstein

New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz PHOTO BY Chad David Kraus

When Town of New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz was growing up she always knew she wanted to be a lawyer, but she never thought politics was in her future. As a student at White Plains High School she was very involved in the school community as a managing editor of the newspaper, a cheerleader and on the tennis team, so it isn’t surprising that she got involved in New Castle first joining the Town Board in 2014, and then elected Town Supervisor last fall.

“I started speaking out about Chappaqua Crossing. I thought it was too big. The project was changed, and it’s much better now. I met a lot of people at that time and Rob Greenstein approached me about running for office. I could either keep complaining or I could do something about it, and that’s what I did. The rest is history.”

Katz has lived in Chappaqua since 2006 with her husband Steven, her daughter Arden, a sophomore at Rice University and her son Spencer, a senior at Horace Greeley High School.

In 2008 Katz was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Her children were four and six years old when she began treatment. “We were too young to know how serious it was. To try to make it more fun for us our mother let us decorate her wig stand and put makeup on it,” says her daughter Arden.

“Lymphoma made me realize what was important in life.” Katz is an honored hero of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and an Advocate who has given motivational speeches for the organization.

Initially a corporate attorney, Katz made a switch to Estate Planning, Trusts and Elder Law after her bout with Lymphoma. “When I had cancer sitting in the room with other chemo patients, people would say, ‘My doctor said I have to get my will together and get a health care proxy. And the lawyers are so matter of fact.’” She saw this as another opportunity to help people and opened her own practice in 2011. Katz loves this work, “I get to know my clients and to know about their families, their children, and their wishes for the future.”

The Pandemic has impacted her practice. “It has made my practice busier with healthcare proxies and wills. People don’t want to think about it, but the Pandemic prompted people to start thinking about it.”

Katz developed a love of travel from her parents, and she has continued her passion for travel with her family. In December the family went to Alaska and two years before, prior to the Pandemic they visited Amsterdam and Munich. “I like to eat and travel, experiencing life.” Katz is quite adventurous and once ate a tarantula when she was on a food tour in Cambodia.

Theater is another one of Katz’s many interests and her daughter is her frequent companion on Broadway. “I’ve always been into theater, so I love seeing the shows with her. It’s a day in the city,” says her daughter Arden.

Katz loves to cook and according to her family she’s quite good at it. “I eat a lot of meals with my mom. She’s a good cook. I like breakfast food and she creates weird egg dishes.” says her son Spencer.

Katz’s legal practice and the town keep her very busy but when she does have some spare time, she likes to read. “I’ll read everything.” Lately she is escaping into a book of poetry by Kahlil Gibran, and she has been listening to Audiobooks. The most recent was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which she was inspired to read after a brief trip to Savannah.

In 2021 in her role as Town Board member, Katz organized a rally in the town to bring awareness to anti-Semitism. This rally was personal for Katz. “I always want to fight against injustice, and anti-Semitism is on the rise. And it’s my past, my history.”

Katz has lots of ideas as to how to make the Town of New Castle even better than it is. She wants to figure out how to revitalize the hamlets and make New Castle a destination while keeping the charming feel.

“There’s a way to accomplish both. To be a welcoming, vibrant, and exciting place to live while maintaining the feel we moved here for.” And she adds, “I’m looking forward to figuring out how we’re going to sort out the puzzle in a way that makes everyone feel included.” One of the first things she did when she assumed office in January was to initiate the Community Corner as part of the town’s e-Newsletter. She wishes to encourage people to share milestones in their lives. “I think that we have the opportunity to connect with each other, open our hearts to each other. It fosters a sense of happiness.” And she adds, “Life is too short not to be joyful and spread joy.”

Katz is looking forward to the Memorial Day Parade in May, the first since the Pandemic. She also wants to have more community events. “We’re an amazing town with phenomenal people. I want to have events that bring our children in, bring our seniors in, bring everyone in, and get to enjoy each other, and everyone leaves happy.”

“We had the bonfire around Christmas time. We should have a Diwali festival and one for the Lunar New Year. We should have all different celebrations where we get to learn about our differences and the unique things we bring to the community.”

Her son Spencer is very proud of his mother’s role in town government. “I think it’s cool that she puts so much time helping the town. Her working for the town inspired me to join the Recreation Department too.” He serves on the Master Plan Subcommittee.

Katz just calls herself a “normal person” who fell into this. “I love it so much because I can see that we can do great things for our town, and it makes me happy to be able to help be a part of it.”

“I am a Democrat, but I believe that people aren’t defined by silos. People are people and I don’t care what party they are. It doesn’t matter to me. Politics aside, I just want to do what’s right for people,” says Katz.

Reflecting on her life, Katz gets inspiration from this quote attributed to Maya Angelou, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” She wears it on a necklace that she had made. “I try to make memories, and maybe it’s after the cancer, that quote speaks for itself and it’s very important to me.”

Area Garden Clubs & Beautification Committees Bring Out the Scenery in Full Force

April 8, 2022 by Rich Monetti

A look around our local towns and the greenery is never far from view. Area gardening clubs and beautification committees have long made sure that there’s always a kaleidoscope of color to dress up our libraries, schools, town halls and other public spaces. Some stretching well back into the previous century, the missions go beyond just looking pretty. Behind the scenes:

Beautifying North Castle! Yellow Daffodils, New Street Signs & More

The North Castle Beautification Committee’s mission is to enhance the hamlets of Armonk, North White Plains and Banksville. The group, comprised of volunteers, has a limited budget provided by the town. They collaborate with the Parks and Recreation Department on most projects. Kevin Foley, the Department’s foreman, is very talented, and the committee appreciates his eye for design, as well as the Department’s labor.

With Spring just around the corner, expect an onslaught of yellow daffodils popping up around the hamlets of Armonk and North White Plains. The Committee continues to add new bulbs each Fall to create more beauty. Additionally, hanging baskets on Main Street, planted barrels and targeted areas around all three hamlets will be sporting colorful flowers.

The Committee doesn’t just beautify with flora, though. They have designed and implemented the installation of new street signs on the primary roads of the hamlets. This includes new welcome signage at entrance points of each hamlet. Also, the group was involved in the addition of two bronze statues–one in front of the Hergenhan Recreation Center, and one at the North Castle Community Center.

This year they’ll be adding three new picnic tables to Wampus Brook Park–two adult picnic tables (one being handicap accessible), and a mushroom-themed children’s table.

Committee members Angela Monforte and Carol Bidjarano both commented that they’re always looking for community input and welcome donations. If you live in any of the hamlets and are interested in joining and representing that hamlet, please contact Carol Bidjarano at 914-273-5353. — By Rich Monetti Photos Courtesy of the North Castle Beautification Committee

Briarcliff Manor: Where Gardening Endeavors Have a High Calling

The Briarcliff Manor Garden Club was founded in 1955 and its mission has remained constant. “The club’s purpose is to encourage interest in all phases of home gardening and to promote civic beautification, conservation and environmental concerns,” according to Club President Susan Zetkov-Lubin.

BMGC’s current pride and joy keeps the town on yellow alert. “We have a daffodil program, which started in 2014 and is called the BMGC Daffodil Expansion Project ,” said Zetkov-Lubin. “Since 2014, the garden club has planted 1200 daffodils within Briarcliff Manor and will continue to do so. They are particularly beautiful this time of year.”

Add in endeavors like the pollinator pathways program, butterfly gardens and the donation of Christmas decorations and wreaths to various buildings in the area, the town can’t help to feel the uplift. A sentiment that was never more necessary than when Covid reached our shores. “When the daffodils were coming up, we were getting phone calls like crazy because people needed to see that burst of color,” said Zetkov-Lubin. “A sign of hope that made people smile.”

Briarcliff Manor Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing knows the feeling. BMGC has volunteered monthly garden therapy at Briarcliff Manor Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing for many years.

Unfortunately, Covid has prevented the club from entering since 2020 but members will be available when the green light comes. That said, zoom programs will probably become less in play and in person meetings and workshops will resume with the crisis now subsiding.

BMGC also keeps an eye on the future. “We try to set an example for kids,” said Zetkov-Lubin, and those are more than words.

The club raises money annually for local educational scholarships. “We find a senior, who is interested in pursuing a career in horticulture or at least major in the field,” she said.

The club’s Plant & White Elephant Sale will take place on May 7 at the Briarcliff Congregational Church, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. And then on June 3-4, the BMGC Standard Flower Show at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library will take place. The Club is calling the affair, “A June Wedding.”

But if the times don’t align for residents, the soil and the club is ready to have you whenever you are. You won’t be disappointed, according to Zetkov-Lubin. “It’s so satisfying because plants and flowers can bring you joy year after year after year,” she concluded.

Briarcliff Beautification Committee

Beautification efforts In Briarcliff Manor, alongside the town’s Sustainability Committee, include area kids who are involved in the New York State School Seedling Program. On the current curriculum, schools received the seedlings, decide where to plant and then they go out and break the soil. “It looks like they will plant the white pine seedlings at Briarcliff Middle School and High School,” said Dawn Orza, who is part of the Briarcliff Beautification Committee.

As such, the kids seek out the optimum angle of the sun, how to keep the spot free of weeds and safe from the deer. The youngsters then get a crash course in caterpillars. Milkweed, a necessary host plant for the crawler, the monarch butterfly is the result and yet another avenue to a healthy habitat.

Work that obviously agrees with Briarcliff’s Pollinator Pathways involvement. “It’s all interconnected,” said Orza.

Nonetheless, Briarcliff likes to indulge too, and the pleasing natural manicure that abounds has Orza’s full support. “It’s something I do every day,” said the resident landscape designer, “and if the town can use some guidance, I’m happy to share my expertise.”

For instance, recently intervention meant providing plant palette guidance alongside a new accessible ramp at the Village Hall where the thoroughfare was lined with native flowers and plants.

Department of Public Works and Recreation, the Mayor, Board of Trustees and Village manager all get into the act too. “We have a great working relationship,” said Orza.

Firmly in sync, the consortium also introduced aggressive native plants to curtail the spread of weeds in public plots; they continue beautification and connectivity at the Pocket Park. “The Department of Public Works removed the tired old plantings, and together we replanted several hundred native grasses, flowering plants and spring bulbs,” said Orza. “Right now, the seed heads from flowers feed the birds and look pretty interesting–even at this time of year.”

Of course, the amalgamation of club members and volunteers always have the initiative, and the past is the proof. The Garden Club dedicated a Blue Star Marker in the Pocket Park, which honors the armed forces.

In addition, after 9/11, the Community created an American Patriot Garden at Briarcliff High school. The respite serves as a place for reflection, a memorial to the victims and heroes and a reminder of the daily importance of human rights. The project was sponsored by the Lower Hudson-Long Island Resource Conservation and Development council in partnership with the State of New York.

“There are so many wonderful projects that community members have worked on together,” said Orza, and the strength of the community commitment means there’s no end in sight. –By Rich Monetti Photos Courtesy of the Briarcliff Garden Club

Harvesting the Rewards of the Chappaqua Garden Club: “Something for Everyone”

The Chappaqua Garden Club was established in 1928 and will be celebrating their 94th birthday this year! “The Club works to beautify New Castle and promote environmental education through our programs and community projects,” said Gwinne Porter, the Club president. A not-for-profit, the organization focuses on bringing knowledge to our members in the form of educational speakers and community outreach programs.

The programs were always in person, but since Covid, they have offered speakers on varied topics via Zoom. “Some of which have and will continue to be in partnership with the Chappaqua Library,” said Porter. “This has worked out well because partnering with the library has enabled us to broaden the scope of the people we can reach.”

Of course, events are free and open to the public, while the initiatives get into the nitty gritty with the kids too. At the library, there are programs for Juniors, and despite Covid restrictions, these offerings have continued. “We provide take home kits, and film instructional videos, guiding them through the project. All of which are plant and environment related,” said Porter.

The Gardening Club also engages with New Castle seniors on various activities like flower arranging. Last year, a garden at the Community Center was built. New Castle Seniors helped take care of it and got to harvest the rewards.

The group has continued to run popular flower-arranging classes virtually for members as well. In addition, they plan trips throughout the year, which have included New York Botanical Gardens, Wave Hill, and Stone Barns.

The Club started a Greeley Scholarship Program, which is now in its third year. In doing so, a scholarship award goes to two outstanding Greeley senior science students interested in pursuing a major in the field of plant study.

Many people move up to Chappaqua from the city or lower Westchester. They don’t necessarily know how to plant or what to plant and rightfully so, according to Porter. They join to learn, and members try and help. There are some very seasoned members who know so much about gardening and plants. Then there are those who don’t, so the aim is to be a garden club for everyone.

Either way, members like to share and show off their work. Open garden days have them visiting each other’s properties and sharing knowledge “You can find a whole group of people with shared interests,” Porter revealed.

Of course, the camaraderie, beauty and knowledge benefit the town. The Garden Club maintains the 9/11 Memorial at Gedney Park, takes care of the Pocket Park in the town and keeps up the many planters along our town streets. Thus, the beauty becomes second nature. “The Garden Club works together with the New Castle Beautification Board to select ideal plant choices for the Town containers.”

Pollinator Pathways also extends to the Garden Club, and getting the town engaged and informed is on the agenda. This has the Garden Club informing the community on the importance of planting native plants for the health and survival of our ecosystem. In accordance, forgoing harmful pesticides is in line with the pathway program to protect our wildlife. For example, poisoning mosquitoes and other pests only end up hurting the birds that eat them.

But with all the social isolation hopefully coming to an end, “if you ask our club members what they are most excited about, it is finally getting to meet in person once again,” concluded Porter.

To find out more about the Chappaqua Garden Club, and to register for events, go to their website, chappaquagardenclub.com. Follow them on Instagram @chappaquagardenclub. Members can also follow the Chappaqua Garden Club Facebook page for additional info and to stay on top of events. — Rich Monetti with Jennifer Prizer/Chappaqua Garden Club Photos Courtesy of the Chappaqua Garden Club

Pleasantville Garden Club Members Share the Multitude of Ways to Beautify a Town

The Pleasantville Garden Club, a community service organization founded in 1975 is a fast-growing group of over 100 members who are actively engaged in beautifying the Town of Mount Pleasant and Village of Pleasantville, educating children in the local schools, sharing their knowledge of gardening with each other, and working toward protecting our environment. President Helen Krasnow provides the guidance and support for the club’s dedication to the Mount Pleasant community.

A high priority of our club is beautification, with a year-round commitment to developing new gardens as well as maintaining and enhancing public spaces. The design, planting and maintenance is accomplished by the club’s membership in cooperation with the Parks Departments of Mt. Pleasant and the Village of Pleasantville. As you drive around our towns, you will see rose gardens, hamlet sign gardens, town clock gardens, a native plant garden at the Pleasantville Community Television Station and many more.

With the worldwide decline in the population of bees, butterflies, and other insects, our club is among a network of communities addressing this problem. “One of our objectives is to work to enhance the Pollinator Pathways program,” said Elsbeth Lindner, Publicity Committee Chair of the Pleasantville Garden Club. Last summer we held a Butterfly Fair to introduce a beautiful Butterfly Garden in Bradhurst Park. The garden offers nutrition for bees, birds, and especially butterflies through the planting of native plants, herbs, and vegetables. Many children and their parents came to the fair and enjoyed learning about butterflies through the many art and educational activities. Handouts, including “Simple Steps to Creating Pollinator-Friendly Yards” and a “Native Plant Resource Guide”, were distributed to all. Everyone was thrilled as they watched us release monarch butterflies that flew around and landed on flowers in the garden. We thank the Town of Mount Pleasant Recreation for their support.

At the club’s monthly meetings, visiting specialists discuss topics such as landscape design, native plants, and gardening with deer-resistant plants. Having a good number of knowledgeable master gardeners is one of the strengths of our club. Many presentations have been filmed and are available on PCTV, Pleasantville’s Public Access television station. These shows can be viewed on their website: www.pctv76.org/video/2756/.

Our website, www.pleasantvillegardenclub.org contains all the information about the club including the monthly meetings, gardening resources, and three-to-five-minute videos starring garden club members who share their expertise in various topics. You can also follow the club on Facebook @Pleasantville Garden Club Group and Instagram @pleasantvillegardenclub.

Pleasantville Garden Club’s incredible Annual Plant Sale occurs each year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day at Memorial Plaza, next to the Pleasantville Farmers Market. This year the sale will be held on May 7th from 8 am to 12 pm. Gardeners will find member-grown, proven perennials; hundreds of annuals; vegetables and herbs; plush hanging baskets; and numerous gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Our many knowledgeable Master Gardeners will be there to offer educated gardening advice. All the proceeds are used for beautification and conservation projects in our towns, and to support the environmental education programs in our local schools. The sale is so successful because of the hard work of the Plant Sale Committee and the hands-on help of every member.

In the spring and summer, we delight in sharing our gardens with other members. The property can be large and expansive with beds of wildflowers and perennials or small and personal with colorful patio containers. Each offers insight into personal style and preference. We also visit public gardens including dahlias at Stonecrop Gardens, daffodils and hydrangeas at Wave Hill, peonies at the Peony Envy Farms, and many more. Each visit is an enjoyable learning experience.

The Pleasantville Garden Club supports STEM education at the three Mt. Pleasant middle schools: Pleasantville, Westlake, and Valhalla. The programs are provided by the Science Barge of Groundwork Hudson Valley, based in Yonkers. Their environmental educators interact with the students on a variety of eco-friendly programs.

In addition to all the wonderful events and garden commitments, a monthly newsletter called The Inside Dirt is sent to each member. Filled with photos and gardening hints and tips, the newsletter gives all the information each member needs to keep up with the club’s activities, accomplishments, and undertakings. Plus, it keeps the members abreast of future meetings, presentations, pursuits, and obligations.

The Pleasantville Garden Club received recognition for its multifaceted work in the community. In 2019, Club was awarded the “Public Service Award” by the Westchester Recreation and Parks. We continue to be dedicated to the practice of horticulture, beautification, environmental protection, education, and friendship. We are eager to serve our community and welcome others to join us.

We are reminded of the Audrey Hepburn quote, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” — Info and Photos Courtesy of the Pleasantville Garden Club

Plant Sales for Mother’s Day!

In Briarcliff Manor, the Plant & White Elephant Sale will take place on May 7 at the Briarcliff Congregational Church, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. And then on June 3-4, the BMGC Standard Flower Show at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library will take place. The Club is calling the affair, “A June Wedding.”

Chappaqua will hold its annual Plant Sale from May 5th – May 7th at the Chappaqua Train Station, over Mother’s Day weekend. “What is most rewarding about the sale,” Club President Gwinne Porter said, “is not just the selling of plants to the community and raising funds for our programs but the way we help answer questions about what plants are best for specific locations. Shade vs. sun, wet vs. dry, our members want to help the community make the right decisions so as to be successful gardeners.”

In Pleasantville, the Annual Plant Sale will be held Saturday, May 7th, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Memorial Plaza, next to the Pleasantville Farmers Market Gardeners will find member-grown, proven perennials; hundreds of annuals; vegetables and herbs; plush hanging baskets; and numerous gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Knowledgeable Master Gardeners will be there to offer educated gardening advice. All proceeds are used for town beautification and conservation projects and to support school environmental education programs.

“A Beautiful Rose”

April 8, 2022 by Christine Pasqueralle

Two Community Leaders Share ‘What you Need to Know’ about Briarcliff Manor

Briarcliff Manor is truly a wonderful community in which to live as well as visit. I spoke with Mayor Steven Vescio and Jim Domzalski, President of the Briarcliff Manor Chamber of Commerce, to find out what they believe makes Briarcliff Manor so special to both residents and visitors alike.

What would you like our readers to know about the Village of Briarcliff Manor?

Steven Vescio: I’ve grown up here; it has special meaning for me. A lot of people stay or move away and then come back. It just has a small town feel, you can’t help but see people you know when you go downtown. I may stop by somewhere for 5-10 minutes but be there for 30! You just never know who you’ll run into. It’s a tight knit community made up of dedicated volunteers–so well-run and well-maintained.

Briarcliff really feels like a good suburban space. There’s lots of trees and wooded areas, it’s very spacious. If you’re working in the city, you can come home, hear the birds; it’s very tranquil. We have a lot of green space. The village owns 600 acres of protected parkland, several trails, baseball, tennis, swimming, a big pavilion. It’s all the features you’d expect from suburban life. There’s always a park within a small distance.

Jim Domzalski: Briarcliff Manor is a wonderful, picturesque, small town with something always going on. People are drawn here for so many reasons–the incredible schools, the amazing recreation facilities, parks and all-age programming, the wide variety of local businesses. There really is something for everyone! And because it’s a small town, don’t be surprised if after visiting local shops and businesses a few times, you’re welcomed by name!

One thing I’m always hearing people talk about are the bike and hiking trails close to the downtown area. It’s pretty great to be able to go for a ride and then grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee.

What are some of your favorite spaces? Any hidden gems?

SV: The trails are great hidden gems. I didn’t know about them until I became mayor. I went to the Pocantico Park trail–it was an unpolished gem that could use improvement, which they did, creating signage, parking, etc. Many of our trails are on the the Hiking Project App, where people can see different levels of difficulty before they go out on the trails.* I used the trails a lot during the pandemic to get out with my family.

The village is working on a project to tie into the North County trail and downtown. There will be a trailway behind the soccer field near the library, creation of a new dog park and the trail will come behind Village Hall and the police station. There’s no train station in town so there’s a limited way to bring people in. We want people to take advantage of bike trails and maybe create a bike repair station–helping bring people back to downtown.

JD: I don’t know if this is a hidden gem anymore, but the Briarcliff Summer Concert Series is incredible. It really felt like the whole village turned out for both shows last year. This year, we’re planning an additional two shows, so get ready to rock Briarcliff!

Some other hidden gems would be “Battle of the Bags,” an annual adult cornhole tournament hosted by the Rec Department; the new Pickleball Courts at Chilmark Park; and a revitalized jewel, Scarborough Park–Briarcliff’s own slice of the Hudson River and BMEF (Briarcliff Manor Education Foundation) events, those are always a great time!

What resources are available for new residents?

SV: We have instituted a New Resident Packet, on the Village website (www.briarcliffmanor.gov). It gives people information on recreation programs, dog licenses, train info, etc. We help get people involved. Once they see what Briarcliff is all about, they fall in love with it and want to stay and get involved in volunteering on different committees. It’s great to see the public so engaged.

JD: A great place to start is online. Some of the local Facebook pages have a ton of great information and connection opportunities including Briarcliff Moms, Briarcliff Community and Briarcliff Schools. These are a few that come to mind right off the bat.

In person, many programs available through the Rec Department are a fantastic way to meet fellow residents in the community. Also, the big annual events like Community Day, the Holiday Bonfire/Sing Along, Downtown Window Painting…so much of the village will be there for those.

And finally, I’ve heard that so many people make their closest friends at the town pool. It’s definitely one of the biggest social hubs in Briarcliff for much of the year…and it’s beautiful!

Any other important info you’d like readers to know about the Village?

SV: Recreation events in the community are a great way for new families and long-term residents to meet each other. We have a cornhole tournament, bingo family game night with lots of new families attending. When pool season comes, it’s a great way to meet people.

JD: These might fall more under the category of fun-facts, but Walter Law founded the Village, hence the name of the downtown park, Law Memorial Park.

On all the Briarcliff Manor Village signs you will see a beautiful rose. That’s because Law brought this “American Beauty Rose” from England and developed a more brightly colored one dubbed the “Briarcliff Rose.” He then sold these roses to upscale establishments in New York City.

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