The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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The Downtown Revitalization Project: What to Expect Next

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Editor’s Note: Many residents and merchants are excited to see the end result and improvements of all the activity in town. Yet as downtown Chappaqua is being intensively worked on along Greeley Avenues and up and down King Street, and traffic and commute times affected, the Inside Press has been contacted by various readers asking about plans and timelines as the town carries out the Master Plan worked on for so long. We turned to town board member Adam Brodsky to provide details and a timeline. We also asked Joseph Fleisher to record a visual history of this ambitious project.

 

Temporary water pipe on the north side of the triangle at Quaker Street and South Greeley Avenue.

The scope of the project, according to Brodsky includes (but is not limited to):

  • 1. replacement of the water system, sewer system and portions of the stormwater system under the streets
  • 2. replacement of all the sidewalks with concrete with brick accents and granite curbing throughout
  • 3. creation of several public gathering spaces
  • 4. widening sidewalks wherever possible
  • 5. installation of a traffic signal at King and Greeley with a traditional four way crosswalk
  • 6. installation of 60 new street lamps
  • 7. placement of 43 benches
  • 8. installation of a clock
  • 9. planting of more than 75 trees and shrubs

The projected timeline which is subject to change is as follows:

  • Completion of the installation of water system, sewer system and portions of the storm water system (Late Spring 2018)
  • Installation of sidewalks, curbing, streetlamps (Summer/Fall 2018)
  • Repaving downtown streets and completion (Late November 2018)

“This project is setting the stage for revitalization of the Hamlet and its growth over the coming decades,” noted Brodsky.

Water pipe crossover in front of Susan Lawrence on North Greeley Avenue
Looking towards the intersection of King Street and Greeley Avenues
Looking north towards the triangle at Quaker Street and South Greeley in front of Bank of America
Site of future bump-out in front of Chappaqua Tavern at King & Senter Streets
Looking south on South Greeley Avenue in front of the Shell Gas Station

A Hometown Book Signing for “What Happened”

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Secretary Hillary Clinton with dancers from the Artistry Dance Project in Pleasantville. The troupe performed a tribute song for her at Scattered Books in Chappaqua that Clinton later tweeted about. Hopeton Lemon (far right), a local dj, was director/editor of the video. PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT
PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT

With a book tour for her runaway best seller, What Happened, well underway, Hillary Clinton arrived at the Chappaqua Library for a third hometown, and a sold out book signing event on September 23. Many young people also brought copies of Clinton’s It Takes a Village Picture Book which she signed too. Library staff and volunteers worked hard to make the day’s efforts possible coordinating with the owners of Scattered Books and the Village Bookstore and also with the Town of New Castle. One volunteer, Chappaqua’s John Buckley, a former town council member, said he had “just finished flapping books with well over 800 for her to sign.”

Hundreds waited hours on a warm day, forming lines weaving up and down book aisles, attesting to the intense popularity of Sec. Clinton here at home and beyond. Ronni Diamondstein, a new trustee of the library and long time Inside Press contributor, commented, “The Clintons are part of the fabric of our community and the library is happy to host local authors. It’s nice to see how happy people are to see her today even if it’s just for a few minutes.” –Grace 

Hillary Rodham Clinton with the staff of the Chappaqua Library
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHAPPAQUA LIBRARY
PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT
Former President Bill Clinton stopped by too. Here with Chappaqua Library Executive Director Pam Thornton PHOTO BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN

Parents Challenge Vaccine Exemptions

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Chwatko reads her statement at a recent Board of Education meeting
PHOTO BY LEAH ALANI

A parent who spoke at a recent Board of Education (BOE) shed light on the issue of vaccination exemptions in the Chappaqua Central School District (CCSD). The parent, Robin Chwatko, has a daughter attending Roaring Brook Elementary School who is undergoing chemotherapy and is immuno-compromised.

Chwatko was joined by several parents at the meeting who want additional transparency from the district with regards to vaccine exemptions. Under New York State law all children attending public schools must be vaccinated except if they are claiming a medical or religious exemption. However, individual schools are allowed to grant religious or medical exemptions at their own discretion. In her statement before the BOE, Chwatko asserted that “it is imperative that a system is in place to not only properly vet and approve legitimate exemptions but to subsequently alert families and staff when there are unvaccinated children at their school, in their classroom and on their buses.”

The Challenge of Validating Religious Beliefs

Hilary Steuer Grasso, a mother with a child in the district and an education lawyer, noted that the “onus is on the school district to validate the claim of the sincerely held religious belief.” This came about from a 2010 decision by the Commissioner of Education in New York State. According to the decision, whether or not a religious belief is sincerely held can be a difficult factual determination that must be made, in the first instance, by school district officials. A parent/guardian must submit a written and signed statement to the school district stating that the parent/guardian objects to the child’s immunization due to sincere and genuine religious beliefs which prohibit the immunization of their child. After reviewing the parental statement, if questions still remain, the principal or another person in charge of the school may request supporting documents.

Recent media coverage has shown that some parents are claiming religious exemptions when they might simply be opposed to vaccinations for other reasons. For example, many parents fear vaccinations may cause autism despite that this has been debunked in the medical community. Just this past summer, Minnesota, which has a strong contingent of anti-vaccine activists, suffered the worst measles outbreak in decades. Other states such as California are now only permitting medical exemptions due to a rise in the number of purported religious exemptions.

Gaining Widespread Support from the Community

In addition to speaking before the BOE, Chwatko started a moveon.org petition requesting a committee be formed to create a uniform district wide policy for vetting vaccine exemptions and that parents and staff be alerted when an unvaccinated child is in a classroom, school or bus without revealing that child’s name. In the 48 hours since the petition went viral, it received 270 signatures from parents and concerned residents in the district. It is unclear how many children in the school district are receiving vaccination exemptions and the nature of those exemptions. An Inside Press inquiry received no further information as of press time.

Issue Looms Larger Than Just Immuno-Compromised Children

Chwatko is in a precarious situation because her son happens to be one of the rare cases, (about 10-20% of vaccinated kids), where lasting immunity cannot be obtained. Her petition and several parents on Facebook echoed that this is really a larger public health issue. In her petition, she wrote “And what about a pregnant teacher? Or a child with an infant sibling at home? It takes one bus ride, one drink from a shared water fountain, one cough at close range to put compromised people at immeasurable and unthinkable risk.”

Whether or not to vaccinate a child is a controversial issue for many parents. Acknowledging this, Chwatko noted that “no parent vaccinates their child with unbridled enthusiasm – we do it because vaccinations are scientifically proven to protect the health of our own kids and the kids in our community. It is not only a legal obligation to vaccinate your child, but a moral one as well. There is no question that any child who can safely be vaccinated should be, period.” In her petition, Chwatko continued that “with every unvaccinated child that enters our schools, herd immunity is weakened and our entire community, students and staff alike, are needlessly exposed. “

Ellen Lestz, M.D., a pediatrician with White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness in Armonk commented that “the importance of vaccinations can not be overstated. It is very important to vaccinate every child against communicable diseases. Diseases such as measles and chicken pox are very contagious and because we don’t see these as much anymore we fail to grasp their seriousness. For example, while measles and chicken pox can cause a rash, they can also lead to fatal neurological conditions. We need to understand the complications of these diseases in order to stress the importance of these vaccines.”

The petition clearly states that it is not forcing parents to vaccinate their children or “outing” unvaccinated children. Several parents who signed the petition commented that they want the district to take a similar stance on unvaccinated children as the district does to children with food allergies. Letters are sent home at the beginning of the school year stating specific food allergies in a classroom without revealing the child’s name. It is unclear if similar letters will be distributed regarding unvaccinated children at this time.

Meet Chappaqua’s Very Own Comedy Kids

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Mini Crusaders Fighting Cancer One Joke at a Time

It all started during a rainy day recess at Roaring Brook Elementary School last year. Max Chwatko and Alex Travin, two third grade classmates were looking for a way to entertain themselves and at the same time help Scarlett, Max’s younger sister who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. The enterprising duo blessed with comedic talent and a dose of creativity set up a sign in the back of the classroom and wrote “Jokes for Scarlett” on it.

In the beginning they told free jokes but eventually decided to charge for them. Alex humbly noted that “the jokes weren’t that good” but they had managed to secure an eager audience of other third graders and word quickly spread about their venture. The next day when they were stuck inside again for rainy recess, other third graders began bringing in their allowance money in order to hear a funny joke from these mini comedians and help out Scarlett.

The Comedy Kids on the set of Saturday Night Live  Photos By Alonna Travin

The boys were encouraged by the generosity of their classmates and wanted all of the joke funds to go directly to pediatric brain cancer research. They also wanted to expand their audience beyond the students of Roaring Brook and started to tell people that they would set up a booth at the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market.

Initially the boys kept their project a secret from their parents. But word spreads quickly in this small town and people started asking Max’s mom, Robin, when her son would be at the farmer’s market telling jokes. “I had no idea what they were talking about.”

Once their moms heard about their son’s altruistic intentions, they pitched in to turn the comedic duo’s dream into a reality. First they set up a meeting to rename the project. Westchester Jesters and Two Stooges were in the running but eventually they decided on the moniker Comedy Kids.

Next the moms, Robin Chwatko and Alonna Travin, worked on securing a spot at the Farmers Market and developing a website www.comedykids.org. The boys began to put posters up around town and tell all their friends about their upcoming appearance. They also told jokes each morning during their school’s morning announcements to remind their schoolmates to come out and support the cause.

The Comedy Kids joking around

Humor Helps in the Classroom and in the Hospital

Humor played a very special role in their third grade classroom even prior to the establishment of Comedy Kids. While most third grade classroom jobs are a bit mundane (e.g., line leader, attendance), their teacher, Mr. David Forsberg, created one of the most coveted jobs–classroom joke teller. Each day during morning meeting, a student gets to pick a joke out of a joke box and tell it to their classmates. It’s no secret that humor can help break up the monotony of a school day and provide a sense of levity to the classroom.

Humor also helped Max when his sister was undergoing treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. His mom would place jokes inside his lunch box to help cheer him up and the nurses outside of Scarlett’s room created a joke box so that they could lift her spirits too when she was in isolation while undergoing treatment. “My grandpa is also a very funny guy,” notes Max. Alex and Max create many of their jokes but Max admits that “some are from joke books or the Internet.”

“I’m proud that we are inspiring people and raising money to do experiments that find a cure. It would be great if scientists could find a pill instead of people doing radiation,” noted Max.

The Comedy Kids meet comedian Jimmy Fallon

Farmers Market Event Raises Profile of Comedy Kids

Last November, the duo set up shop at the Farmers Market. In exchange for a joke, each person who came to their booth was asked to make a donation. The average donation that day was $20 and select visitors even got a pair of Groucho Marx glasses. News 12 Westchester came and shot a segment on them and the duo received thousands of dollars of donations via their website from friends and family around the country with all the funds going to pediatric brain cancer research.

The News 12 segment helped the Comedy Kids become Helping Others Persevere and Excel (HOPE) Week honorees. HOPE Week is an annual program run by the New York Yankees that celebrates individuals, families, or organizations worthy of support. A PR representative from the NY Yankees happened to watch the segment and asked them to be HOPE Week honorees. As part of HOPE Week, the NY Yankees donated $10,000 to pediatric brain cancer research this past May. To date, Comedy Kids has raised more than $33,000 with funds going to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund and A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure.

Max Chwatko (L) and Alex Travin (R) tell jokes at the Chappaqua Farmers Market

Surprises in Store for the Comedy Kids

While the boys had kept their “Jokes for Scarlett” project under wraps from their parents, this time it was Max and Alex’s parents turn to keep what being a HOPE Week honoree entailed and the surprises that were in store for them.

A car service came to pick up the boys in Chappaqua along with their families on May 24th. The only thing that the boys were told was that they were HOPE Week honorees and would get to attend the Yankees game that night but what ensued was a whirlwind day of activities full of fun adventures.

The boys were invited to the sets of Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. On the Saturday Night Live set, the boys had the chance to meet several Yankee players and exchange jokes. “Aaron Judge is really tall and funny,” quips Alex. After a joke swap, the boys ate lunch with the Yankees and their families.

Next up, the boys were whisked away to meet Jimmy Fallon and share jokes with him. They got to sit in his chair, tell jokes on stage and give Fallon bunny ears. “There is a secret door right by Jimmy Fallon’s desk and that’s what he comes out of and it looks just like the wall,” reveals Alex.

Their final stop was Yankee Stadium where they got VIP treatment including watching batting practice, sitting in the dugout and receiving autographed baseballs. That night the boys were honored with throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium against the Kansas City Royals. “Not a lot of people get to throw the first pitch at the Yankees game. Not even all of the presidents have done it,” exclaimed Alex. The day culminated with a Yankees victory and the Comedy Kids getting to high-five the team. It was a dream come true for these baseball-loving boys. “They repeatedly said it was amazing and awesome. The next day, they had a hero’s welcome at school,” said Robin, Max’s mother.

“I was impressed by the ingenuity and selflessness of Max Chwatko and Alex Travin. These young boys did not create Comedy Kids to be noticed, they created Comedy Kids because they genuinely wanted to do something meaningful to help Max’s sister. Their compassion, generosity of spirit, and philanthropic efforts are a model for others to emulate,” noted former Roaring Brook Principal Amy Fishkin.

Echoing Fishkin’s remarks, Alex’s mom Alonna Travin expressed her desire to “raise good people who care about others and the world and want to make a difference even if it’s big or small. Starting Comedy Kids and helping understand what it is doing to raise money for important cancer research, I’m kvelling (Yiddish for bursting with pride). Not only has he listened to the things that my husband David and I have taught him about being a good person but he’s actually figured out as a 9-year-old boy a way that he can carry this out.”

Next Up for the Comedy Kids

The Comedy Kids are now encouraging other children across the country to raise funds for causes they believe in even if they aren’t related to childhood cancer. On their website, children can receive a free kit which includes joke cards, two T-shirts and Groucho Marx glasses. They also provide suggestions on how to coordinate a successful event, spread the word and secure media coverage. They’ve already received orders from New Jersey, Texas and Hawaii.

This past summer the Comedy Kids werealso busy planning a fundraising event at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. While the event is still in the preliminary stages, they hope to secure Boston-area comedians and continue to raise funds for pediatric brain cancer.

“Every fundraiser, big or small, has a crucial impact on funding cancer research and patient care. It’s amazing that these two young boys have dedicated so much time, energy, zest, and humor to helping cure cancer at such a young age,” commented Katherine Bahrawy, the Development Officer of Special Events at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

Surmising on career aspirations, the duo is unsure if they want to actually become comedians. But for now, they just like to make people laugh and raise funds. As Alex reminds us all: “Laughter really is the best medicine.”

Jokes Galore: A Sampling of Favorites from the Comedy Kids

Q: Why did the water jump into the river?
A: He wanted to be a watermelon.

Q: Why are baseball players so rich?
A: Because they play on diamonds.

Q: How do you make a hot dog stand?
A: Take away its chair.

Q: Why do gorillas have big nostrils?
A: They have big fingers.

Q: What do you call a mean cow?
A: Beef jerky!

Comedic Inspirations:
Max: Monty Python, Peter Sellars, Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfeld and his grandfather
Alex: Ellen, Jimmy Fallon, Tim Conway and Nick Krol

Annual HHREC Gala to Honor Paul Elliot and Grace Bennett on Thursday, October 26

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Grace Bennett, a Chappaqua resident and publisher of two publications, Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk magazines, and Paul Elliot, a Rye resident and Founder of ELCO Management an investment advisory firm, will be the honorees at the upcoming Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center’s (HHREC) annual gala on October 26 at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club.

Both honorees have had a long-standing commitment to the White Plains-based organization that creates compelling programs on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights crimes for students and teachers and encourages today’s students to speak out and be ‘upstanders’ against all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

HHREC Gala Honoree Paul Elliot and his family. (L-R): Arthur Stein, Sabrina Stein, Lauren Elliot, Barbara Elliot, Paul Elliot, Leora Elliot, James Elliot, Spencer Elliot and Jack Elliot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the organization’s inception in 1994, HHREC has provided lessons to more than 1,750 teachers and thousands of middle and high school students in Westchester, Fairfield and Putnam counties. “We honor Grace Bennett and Paul Elliot with gratitude and admiration for their exemplary service to HHREC. Grace has been a valued and respected member of HHREC for many years.

Grace Bennett with her father, Jacob Breitstein a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor. The photo was exhibited in the L’Dor Vador project (From Generation to Generation) produced by Seth Harrison of The Journal News. PHOTO COURTESY of SETH HARRISON The Journal News

“As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Grace brings passion and commitment to Holocaust remembrance. Her contributions include, but are not limited to, participation in all aspects of marketing and promotion, and she was featured in the L’Dor Vador (From Generation to Generation) project where she and her father’s photos and interviews were highlighted in the highly acclaimed documentary and photo exhibit,” noted Millie Jasper, the Executive Director of HHREC. The project was produced by Seth Harrison of The Journal News and HHREC was instrumental in providing the survivors and the second and third generation family members for the photo exhibit and documentary.

Paul Elliot has been a board member for many years and a consistent supporter of the Center’s programs. “Paul chairs the Endowment Portfolio Committee where he consistently brings his financial expertise to all discussions. His leadership, marked with vision and wisdom, continues to strengthen the Center,” commented Jasper.

“Survival of the organization is very important to me. There is no substitute for when a survivor or a member of the next generation shares their personal story with students. Funds are vital so that we can continue that process and reach more kids and make it part of their curriculum,” said Elliot.

Bennett became involved with HHREC after writing some ten years ago that she was a child of Holocaust survivors in her “Just Between Us” column that appears in this magazine every edition. A reader, Richard Laster of Chappaqua, was the first chair of HHREC’s board and suggested that she explore the group. “Since then, I have viewed my own role largely as simply spreading awareness through the Inside Press publications while I encourage others to learn about and support this group too.” Inside Press publications have had numerous articles on Holocaust-related topics throughout the years.

“Since my divorce a decade ago, the constants in my life have been incredibly meaningful. One has been my involvement with HHREC. They bring Holocaust education into our schools by recognizing and honoring teachers who take that mission very seriously. Through their extraordinary annual Human Rights Institute (involving some 30 schools each year), they help shape the student leaders of tomorrow to fight hate and bigotry in all its forms by introducing the concept of being an ‘upstander,’ explained Bennett.

In addition to a wide range of programming with the Human Rights Institute, HHREC has a Speakers Bureau featuring authors and an extensive library of related literature open to the public. “HHREC has helped so many survivors, and now children of survivors can develop and share our family’s stories through the GenerationsForward initiative.”

“The survivors are leaving us soon. It’s up to us now. My involvement with HHREC provides me with a sense of hope for our collective future.” Bennett will be attending the gala with her family including her father, Jacob Breitstein, a 95-year-old survivor whose mother and four brothers and sisters all perished. Tickets to the gala can be purchased at www.hhrecny.org.