The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Greeley Graduate Marissa Rifkin’s The Tooth Fairy’s Busy Day

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When Marissa Rifkin was a student at Horace Greeley High School, her favorite subject was science but her favorite teachers were her history and English teachers. “They helped me enjoy subjects I didn’t think I liked, and they motivated me as a writer,” says Rifkin, a graduate of Greeley and Cornell University and a third-year dental student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, who combined her love of science with her writing skills to co-author The Tooth Fairy’s Busy Day.

Assigned to do a research project involving evaluating children’s literature about dental health, Rifkin and her classmate, Elizabeth Crowe, developed a list of the best available books relating to going to the dentist and dental health and considered the gaps in children’s literature concerning dental health. Seeing the gaps, Rifkin and Crowe wrote a book to encourage young children to be excited about taking good care of their teeth. “It’s really important to start taking care of your teeth at a young age, and we wanted to create excitement about keeping your mouth healthy and ensuring a healthy smile.”

Rifkin, who plans to focus on pediatric dentistry when she graduates from Columbia, wrote an engaging, colorful story; filled with rhymes and pictures, she teaches children about basic oral hygiene and preventative dental care. She portrays thedentist’s office as a welcoming place so children feel comfortable going to the dentist.

“I’m really proud of the way that The Tooth Fairy’s Busy Day weaves together important concepts like nutrition, dental home care, and visiting the dentist,” notes Rifkin, who found that there were not enough books for children that impactfully set the stage for children to focus on complete oral health at an early age.  Now Rifkin is sharing her book with the Westchester community. A Grafflin grad, she states she would be honored if a copy ends up

in the Grafflin library, and in the Chappaqua Library, too. The Tooth Fairy’s Busy Day, by Marisa Rifkin and Elizabeth Crowe, published in August 2021, is available on amazon.com.

Celebrating the Chappaqua Library’s New Children’s and Teen Rooms

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On Saturday, November 6, members of the community gathered at the Chappaqua Library to celebrate the opening of the new Children’s and Teen rooms with a ribbon cutting.  The opening of these new establishments were made possible due to the “culmination of years of planning and hard work by the Chappaqua Board of Trustees, the Chappaqua Library, the Chappaqua Central School District, The Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education, Library  Building Committee, library staff, and the Friends of the Chappaqua Library,” said Chappaqua Library Director Andrew Farber. 

Pamela Thornton, prior director of the library when the project was first started, shared the origins of constructing the Children’s and Teen rooms. In 2012, almost ten years ago, Chappaqua residents were surveyed regarding their hopes for the future of the library. The public agreed that they wished for more space for kids from all schools and ages in Chappaqua to come do work, connect, and most importantly, read. However, when the master plan for this project was developed in 2013, the cost was an overwhelming two million dollars.

While Thornton had aspirations for new children’s and teen spaces, it was too far out of reach. That is until they were granted a bond in 2016 that was soon after approved by the community. The construction began promptly in 2017 and took three years to finish. However, the completion came right in time, as the library turns 100 years old next year. “What a milestone to have this space that will take [us] into the next century,” she said. 

Katherine Whymark, President of the Friends of the Chappaqua Library, the fundraising arm of the library, then spoke about the furniture they were able to supply to the library including the teen room technology, courtyard chairs, children’s room custom desk, window bench, upholstery, built in benches, and more small items. She thanked the Chappaqua community, without which this project could not have been possible. 

Inside Press photos

This new space creates a safe environment for children and teens to take advantage of books and all they have to offer. “Our library is the heart and hub of our community; a gathering place for the exchange of ideas and lifelong learning. Instilling a love of books is so important for young people,” said Ronni Diamondstein, President of the Board of Trustees for the Chappaqua Library, “…so let’s cut this ribbon and open a whole new world of books and adventures for our young people, our future.”

More about the renovations previously reported by this press: https://www.theinsidepress.com/a-visit-inside-the-chappaqua-librarys-spacious-new-teen-childrens-rooms/

This Sunday: “Kristallnacht: Bridge Walk to Remember”

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Collaborative Effort to Never Forget “Night of Broken Glass”

Two sister organizations devoted to Holocaust education–whose programming promoting tolerance typically take place from opposite sides of the Hudson River–are collaborating to present Kristallnacht: Bridge Walk to Remember, a solidarity walk on the Gov. Mario M Cuomo Bridge to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht.

The walk this Sunday, November 7, starting at 9 a.m. is co-sponsored by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) and the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education.  It is to remember and honor the victims, survivors and rescuers of the Kristallnacht pogroms and the Holocaust.*

“Just as we will be taking in the beauty of the Hudson River, we can also remember back to 1938 when synagogues and storefronts of Jews were broken into and burned down,” said Millie Jasper, executive director of the HHREC in White Plains. The Holocaust Museum recently opened at Rockland Community College. The HHREC is presenting additional Kristallnacht commemorative events; see below.

“Participants may walk some or all of the Gov. Mario Cuomo bridge, however far they wish,” said Jasper, in remembrance of the terrible events which transpired between November 9 and 10 in 1938 on Kristallnacht, oft referred to as ‘Night of Broken Glass’.

As a child of survivors, I plan to walk, too.  My dad, Jacob Breitstein (who passed away at 97 in 2019) survived Auschwitz and the Holocaust but his mother and four siblings were killed.

My father references Kristallnacht in the opening to his unpublished memoir when he comes upon a group of destitute deportees from Germany in his hometown in Lodz.

… “Last week I was a wealthy man in Germany, and this line I’m standing in is a soup kitchen! The Germans came into my store, told me to go outside, put me on a train, and here I am.” I couldn’t comprehend what happened. It must have been Kristallnacht.”

Kristallnacht is notorious for the solidifying of a nation’s descent into total madness and for the continuing downward spiral toward the massive destruction of the Holocaust. But it’s erroneous to think of Kristallnacht as some sole trigger of the Holocaust, explained Steve Goldberg and Julie Scallero, HHREC’s co-directors of education during a discussion about Kristallnacht.

“From Kristallnacht, yes, the Nazi agenda begins to accelerate, and less than a year later, we have World War II,” said Goldberg. “But November 9 was not an arbitrarily selected date, either. The Kaiser abdicates on November 9, 1918, as Germany loses World War I. On November 9, 1923, Hitler’s smaller Nazi party fails to overthrow the government in Munich and Hitler is sent to prison where he writes Mein Kampf, the rantings of a madman, and he is eventually released.”

  “Kristallnacht was thus very calculated,” said Goldberg–revenge against Germany’s losses and Nazi failure. The breaking, burning, beating and murdering took place all over Germany and in Nazi-occupied territories in Austria and Czechoslovakia too.

The deportations in October 1938 “were a foreshadowing, with so many Jews being put on trains, and dropped callously at the Polish border, told to get out,” said Scallero.

One such victim of the deportations sent word to her son in Paris of their family’s urgent plight. Infuriated, Herschel Grynszpan, made his way to the Embassy in Paris, where he shot a German diplomat, Ernst vom Rath, who soon died. Soon after, Joseph Goebbels, propaganda minister for the Nazi regime, greenlighted the pogrom carried out by the Sturmanteilung (SA) aka the ‘Brown Shirts.’

To learn more about Kristallnacht, I also visited the HHREC’s well stocked library of Holocaust related literature and borrowed historian Martin Gilbert’s Kristallnacht: Prelude to Destruction (Harper), a compilation of devastating testimonies from dozens of survivors. From the book jacket summary: “In the early hours of November 10, 1938, Nazi storm troopers and Hitler Youth rampaged through Jewish neighborhoods across Germany, leaving behind them a horrifying trail of terror and destruction. More than a thousand synagogues and many thousands of Jewish shops were destroyed. Kristallnacht–the Night of Broken Glass–was a decisive stage in the systematic eradication of a people who traced their origins in Germany to Roman times and was a sinister forewarning of the Holocaust.” 

From Gilbert’s intro, “In 24 hours of violence, 91 Jews were killed. Within those 24 hours, more than 30,000 Jewish men between the ages of 16 and 60–a quarter of all Jewish men in Germany–were arrested and sent to concentration camps. There they were tortured and tormented for several months. More than a 1000 died in these camps.”

And so, we remember.

To mark Kristallnacht, Armonk’s Congregation B’nai Yisrael community and 7th graders who are studying the Holocaust are having a conversation on Wednesday, November 10 via Zoom with Hannah Deutch, member of the HHREC Speakers Bureau. Hannah experienced Kristallnacht as a young child in Germany.

On November 14, the HHREC will present “Holocaust Memory and Racial Healing” via Zoom featuring Susan Neiman, director of the Einstein Forum and author of Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil. Free and open to the public. To register and receive a link, write to sgoldberg@hhrecny.org

*For more information about Kristallnacht: Bridge Walk to Remember, please contact the HHREC, 914.696.0738 mjasper@hhrecny.org www.hhrecny.org, or the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education at 845.574.4099 www.holocauststudies.org. Registration to this walk, which begins on the Westchester side, is limited to 75 participants.

 

This story was first published this week in the EXAMINER NEWS. Special thanks to publisher Adam Stone and editor Martin Wilbur for including it.

Forever on her Side: New Castle Renames and Dedicates a Park to Honor Jean Craighead George, Beloved Children’s Book Author

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Neighbors, friends-and even a dog’s well timed howl!-applauded & heralded New Castle’s renaming a local park to honor and remember Jean Craighead George.

At the dedication, Jean Craighead George’s children (left to right): Twig, Luke and Craig, were also presented with a gift–George’s 1971 drawing at Grafflin of the main character Sam for children’s book treasure, My Side of the Mountain.  Photo By Grace Bennett/Inside Press

On Sunday, October 10, Douglas Park was renamed Jean Craighead George Park to honor and remember Ms. George, an award winning author of 105 books, naturalist, and beloved and influential member of the Chappaqua community. The ceremony was filled with neighbors, friends, and those passionate about nature and conservation. The speakers told stories, reflected on George’s life, read excerpts of her work, and shared their accomplishments and hopes for the park. The speakers included Jen Bounds, Erin Spira, Sue Meany, Ronni Diamondstein, Gray Williams, Wendell Minor, Mercy Garland, and the George children.

Jean George wrote books for young people include the Newberry Medal winner, Julie of the Wolves, Newberry Honor Book, My Side of the Mountain. and the last picture book, Crowbar: The Smartest Bird in the World, that was revised by her children Luke and Twig George and illustrated by her longtime collaborator, Wendell Minor.

Jean Craighead George was one of the Inside Press’s earliest cover subjects! George was interviewed in 2004 by Lisa St. John. Photo in her storybook garden by Lynda Shenkman Curtis.

When a dog howled seemingly on cue in response to Ronni Diamondstein, President of the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees, imitating a wolf’s howl, it felt as if Jean Craighead George was there as well, and virtually everyone laughed in appreciation.

This ceremony also acknowledged the work put into the park’s restoration. Many invasive species have already been removed allowing native plants to thrive. Jen Bounds, project organizer, shared that soon after clearing the area around the stream, kids were found playing there with buckets in hand. This highlights the goal of conserving the park- to teach children to value and enjoy nature, which is what George strived to do through her writing. “This park will now serve as a memorial that enables future generations of kids to connect, enjoy, and read through a shared community,” said Erin Spira, Board of Parks and Recreation. 

While at first glance, it was difficult to view this park as anything more than overgrown plants, the speakers helped to unveil the sentiment behind this special place hidden in nature. Whether it was stories of Craig George getting stuck while caving under Douglas Road, or Luke George falling off of his bike and heading straight into the stream- the audience was able to understand the value behind this park. “I think half of you grew up with us, knew mom, knew the animals, scamperd down these woods, climbed the trees probably a little too high… this was a really magical place,” said Twig George. 

Diamondstein read Maggie Mae’s adorable story of meeting Jean George from a past edition of Inside Chappaqua; in 2004, George had graced the magazine cover after an interview with Lisa St. John.

Gray Williams, Chappaqua’s town historian, also reminisced about times he spent at the park and his hope that it “can be restored to the way it was when [he] was growing up.” With all of the progress the park has made, hopefully children in the neighborhood can escape to this wild space the same way Gray Williams and the George children used to do, and the same way Jean Craighead George encouraged through her writing.  

Ms. George passed away in 2012, but it is clear that her influence on the community as well as on future generations of children lives on. Jen Bounds shared that after reaching out to Ms. George’s children to garner support for the park dedication to present to the Recreation and Parks Commission, approximately 200 emails and letters appeared seemingly overnight.

Craig George spoke about how he had the honor of “being raised by the most interesting mom in America, in one of the most interesting houses… It was an open house, and a lot of people here I think were touched by that place.” This house can be seen from the park, and Twig said that they raised 173 wild animals there. Considering George’s love for wildlife and value of community, this park is the perfect tribute to her life. In fact, even at this one hour ceremony, a strong sense of connectedness was already felt. “Jean taught generations of children to value and conserve the wild spaces that are entrusted to us,” said Jen Bounds. “For that we dedicate this park as Jean Craighead George Park.”

 

 

 

PHOTOS BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

FOCUSING ON A CURE: Following a Local Family’s Journey with Crohn’s & Colitis

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Focus on a Cure Gala:  November 13th, 2021    one.bidpal.net/fw2021gala

In March of 2007, everything changed for the Silverman family of Chappaqua when a pediatric gastroenterologist somberly said, “Your son, Josh, has Crohn’s disease.” For the five months leading up to that day, Ira and Wendi Silverman had helplessly watched their ten-year-old son grapple with unexplained weight loss and flu-like symptoms. After receiving this diagnosis, the three of them drove home in silence; scared, stunned, and confused.

(L-R): Ira, Matt, Wendi, Amanda, and Josh Silverman

That fateful day in March was the beginning of an uncertain and turbulent time for Josh and their family. Josh’s path with Crohn’s was difficult, because the disease’s onset occurred at such a young age and IBD is organically a difficult illness to manage. Now 24, Josh has dealt with an endless cocktail of medications, countless missed days of school, doctor’s appointments, two major surgeries, multiple hospital stays, and early on, nightly feeding tube nourishment to help him thrive.

Looking for a way to channel their fear into action, the Silvermans reached out to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at the urging of a total stranger- and neighbor.

“On the very afternoon of Josh’s diagnosis, I walked through the front door of our town’s Dunkin’ Donuts and ran into a dear friend,” said Wendi.  Overwhelmed, I shared Josh’s diagnosis with her. Just as this friend was telling me about another mom in town whose son had Crohn’s, that very mom was pushing open Dunkin Donut’s back door. Then, for the second time that day, she altered my life with a few words- ‘Join me tomorrow night for a parent support group’.  And just like that our relationship with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation was born.”

The mission of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the lives of children and adults affected by these diseases. Founded in 1967, the organization has played a role in every major breakthrough in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research, investing more than $384 million into finding causes, treatments, and cures. The Foundation supports healthcare practitioners from all specialty areas that serve patients with Crohn’s and colitis, including gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, colorectal surgeons, nutritionists, infusion specialists, mental health professionals and more, and offers a wide variety of resources including education and advocacy.

“The Foundation provides resources and guidance to patients from the very moment of diagnosis.  We are often the first call patients and caregivers make in order to get information about these diseases, understand medication and treatment options and find local doctors as well as emotional support.” said Lisa Harding, Senior Executive Director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Connecticut/Westchester Chapter. “One of the largest roles we play is helping to educate the general public about these autoimmune diseases.  Because the symptoms can be embarrassing, patients are often left feeling alone.  We work to remove the stigma that often comes with diagnosis so that patients can feel accepted and confident as they live their everyday lives.”

Since that first phone call to the local chapter, the Foundation has supported the Silverman family emotionally and through patient education programming. And the Silvermans have thrown themselves into supporting the foundation as well. Ira’s began with the Golf committee where he’s volunteered for 14 years, serving as Chairman, a Board Member, and President, and raising over $4 million.  Wendi began as a volunteer for the Take Steps walk and then Walk Manager in three counties, and growing the chapter walk program by 121%.  Josh and his siblings, Matthew and Amanda, are also involved.  They were members of the Take Steps “Team ICure” each year where they fundraised and invited friends to attend the event.  Josh attended Camp Oasis, the one week “IBD” camp when he was 15 years old. Matthew ran a half marathon with Team Challenge in 2016 in honor of his brother and Amanda participated in Spin4 in 2020. 

Take Steps Walk: Team iCure 2016
Team challenge Las Vegas 2014

It is for this reason that the entire Silverman family, will be honored at this year’s “Focus on a Cure” Gala, the Foundation’s largest annual, fundraiser, and presented with the 2021 Modell Award.

Wendi and Ira Silverman with the 2021 Modell Volunteer Award

“We are so thrilled to be able to honor the Silverman family,” said Harding, “Their involvement, contributions and impressive achievements underscore the family’s hard work, commitment to the mission and ability to inspire others. We joke that you can always count one or more of the Silverman family to be present at Foundation events to help set up, clean up, share their story, build awareness and make other families feel welcome.”

Take Steps Walk: 2015 Silverman Family Josh, Amanda, Ira, Matt, and Wendi

Today, Josh is a thriving adult and continues to exhibit the same strength, resilience, and determination that he learned as a young child dealing with chronic illness. “With Crohn’s disease it’s hard to know when someone is suffering because the symptoms aren’t ones that can be seen, says Josh. “My parents have supported me so much and once they saw how much help was needed in the community, they stretched their efforts to helping kids, teens and adults who are struggling. Because of their commitment, and the work of the Foundation, great advances have been made- and I hope there’s a cure in my lifetime.”

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ASK THE DR: Q&A with specialist Dr. Tom Ullman, M.D.

What are symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?

Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic immune disorders of the gastrointestinal track that most commonly give rise to a number of different symptoms including diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain, blood in the stool, weight loss, or loss of appetite.  Additionally, there are some characteristic symptoms that can occur outside the intestine including eye redness and pain, joint pain or swelling, some unusual skin issues, mouth sores, and a few other others.  Sometimes only some or even just one of these symptoms are present, or they can appear in different combinations.  In kids, in whom it often first shows up, growth issues may be the only presenting symptoms.  

What is the prognosis? 

The prognosis for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are usually excellent, but sometimes finding the right medicine to achieve that remission can be a challenge, requiring surgical therapy, whose results are excellent, but, in the case of Crohn’s disease, isn’t a curative solution as there is a high rate of post-operative recurrence. Because they are chronic and lifelong immune diseases, patients and family members have a number of concerns about living life with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, but in reality, I’ve had the privilege of caring of a number of patients who despite surgery or difficult treatments have gone on to a number of great professional, physical, and personal achievements. 

What are current treatments? 

Treatments in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are directed at reducing the disease-related inflammation.  We now have a number of targeted immune based therapies and other widely used medications that can be useful in treating debilitating activity.

What should you ask your GI physician? 

If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, it’s always good to stay on top of disease activity and disease-related inflammation.  Your gastroenterologist should be able to tell you how that part of disease is ongoing.  You should always ask your gastroenterologist what’s the exit strategy for any time you need corticosteroids, and what vaccines and other health maintenance measures need to be taken.

RESOURCES:

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/

IBD Help Center (1-888-MY-GUT-PAIN)

Focus on a Cure Gala:  November 13th, 2021    one.bidpal.net/fw2021gala