The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Good Neighbors

Why This Multi-Generational Family Calls Chappaqua Ridge Home

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The Patel family has called Chappaqua Ridge home since 1982. The family consists of Rohit, an endodontist, Kalindi, a retired child psychologist and their children Amrita, a dentist who works with her father Rohit, Kavita, who holds a Masters in Public Health and Ved, a biomedical engineer with Topcon in New Jersey. The close-knit family originally moved to Chappaqua Ridge for its excellent school system, proximity to the city, local culture and the great outdoor spaces Chappaqua has to offer. Gedney Park, in particular is one of Amrita’s favorites, having grown up playing there with childhood friends.

Chappaqua Ridge was originally developed on land previously owned by the Haviland family, and has become an ideal neighborhood for families to raise children, enjoy close proximity to downtown and take advantage of everything Chappaqua has to offer. The neighborhood is big on holiday celebrations – neighbors put pumpkins out in front of their homes for Halloween so that trick-or-treaters know which houses to stop for candy, and many even coordinate decorations for other holidays throughout the year.

The Patels love Chappaqua Ridge because they have generations of family members in the area and everyone has continued to stay close. As Amrita says, “I’ve had friends I grew up with live here and then move away, and new families come and go, but the same warm atmosphere hasn’t changed since the community welcomed my parents here in the 80’s! I would love to stay in Chappaqua and especially in the Ridge. I want my children to grow up with that same warmth that I did.” This is truly a testament to the close, neighborly atmosphere Chappaqua Ridge offers to its residents.

As a Chappaqua native, Amrita has many favorite “hot spots” in town but one of her favorites is Lange’s, which according to her, “Makes the best egg and cheese breakfast sandwich around.” Certainly a ringing endorsement!

Joan Drive: A Cul-De-Sac Where Families Can Thrive

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Located on a quiet cul-de-sac, Joan Drive is a wonderful street to raise a family. It was one of the original postwar developments of Stuart L. Bradley who also created Bradley Farms and Quaker Village.

Joan Drive is home to the Seltzer family. Emily, who works in talent acquisition, Eric, an attorney and their children Dylan, age 8 and Olivia, age 5 moved to Joan Drive from New York City in August 2016. After many years of city living, the Seltzers were looking for more space for the kids to play. They settled in Chappaqua for a myriad of reasons including its excellent schools and strong sense of community. Emily grew up in town, so coming back made sense. “I had a very positive experience so it felt easy to come back.”

It was also easy for the family to fall in love with the neighborhood. “I remember driving down Joan Drive to see the house. I was struck by how open, bright and spacious the street was – it really has a neighborhood feel,” says Emily. The fact that Joan Drive is a cul-de-sac with no real through-traffic makes it a very quiet and safe place, especially for neighborhood kids looking to ride their bikes and scooters.

The Seltzer family enjoys everything the area has to offer, always seeking out local events and activities such as the Chappaqua Farmers Market, Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and the open house at the Chappaqua Firehouse. The family also recently discovered the Pruyn Sanctuary, a bucolic, hidden gem right across from Joan Drive.

“Families on our block trade off on hosting parties for different holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s, as well as many impromptu BBQs and pool parties,” says Emily. Joan Drive is also fun for trick-or-treating, with many of the elementary school children going together. There is a close-knit feel to the community, with childhood peers raising their own families in the area now as well. As Emily says, “I feel lucky to have such great neighbors.”

Loving the Lake and So Much More About Windmill Farm

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The Windmill Farm section of Armonk has much to offer including unspoiled natural beauty, winding roads and wildlife. Windmill Farm, originally known as Windmill Manor, was the sprawling estate of Dr. Charles Paterno. His son Carlo developed the land into a residential community in the 1940’s. The neighborhood features the Windmill Club, historic windmills and a breathtaking landscape.

The Benerofe family has called Windmill Farm home for nine years. Jenni is a chef and owner of The Balaboosta Chef, offering private and group cooking classes, Jory is Vice President of Creative Strategy for Vineyard Vines, daughter Noa is 12 and son Levin is 10. One of the reasons the family moved to Armonk was to be close to family. “We were also attracted to the small town vibe, top-notch schools, larger plots of land and the built-in, lakeside social life that living in Windmill Farm allows,” says Jenni. 

Access to the Windmill Club has given the Benerofes opportunities to form lasting friendships with many neighbors. Jenni says, “Our entire family has made such special memories as well as lifelong friendships during summers spent at the lake at the Windmill Club.” The Windmill Club offers amenities such as lake swimming, tennis, basketball and a newly-renovated clubhouse. The Benerofes take advantage of the neighborhood’s outdoor spaces as well. “Living in a neighborhood where we can be physically active outdoors is really important to us. You’ll find us running through the streets of our neighborhood and taking our kids on hikes along the trails in Westmoreland Sanctuary,” says Jenni.

Windmill Farm neighbors love to socialize but especially come together in times of need. In addition to the many pot luck dinners, BBQ’s, holiday parties and more, neighbors are there for one another. As Jenni says, “I’m proud to live in a community that is infinitely helpful and compassionate in times of crisis. Our neighborhood always comes through with meal trains, carpools and donations when needed.” The family also participates in and donates services to the Stayin’ Alive 5K Fun Run, held each spring at the Windmill Club, raising grant money for the First Responders of Northern Westchester. Adding up everything the area has to offer Jenni states, “All of these things make living in Armonk so special!”

Banksville: A Quiet Hamlet Bordering Armonk, Bedford and Greenwich

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Banksville is a hamlet in the town of North Castle. Known as the Eastern District of North Castle, it lies on the Bedford side of Armonk and also borders backcountry Greenwich, CT. The hamlet was named for Samuel Banks, a farmer who settled there in 1695 and is buried in Middle Patent Rural Cemetery in Bedford.

Living in Banksville affords its residents the best of many towns including Bedford, Armonk and Greenwich. One family that calls Banksville home is the Katz family. Sara and Lewis both work in financial services and have three children – Natalie, age 10, Mercer, age 9 and Miles, age 6. The Katz family moved to Banksville from New York City in the summer of 2010. They figured if they were going to leave the city, they definitely wanted to move somewhere with lots of land and more space.

They soon found what they were looking for in Banksville. As Sara says, “We loved the land, the homes have a lot of property and our house sits on a preserve.” The family loves the country feel and natural beauty the neighborhood offers residents. Since there is so much open green space, there are more chances for the neighborhood kids to get together and play, whether it be bike-riding, soccer, football and more.

Living further from the Armonk town center gives Banksville residents the chance to frequent not only Armonk’s downtown, but also those of Bedford and Greenwich. This allows for more diverse interactions and the chance to meet a variety of people from different areas. Some favorite spots for the Katz family include Happiness Is, a fine foods market, The Study Fine Wines & Spirits, Greens Nails and Banksville Pizza, all situated along North Street, the small commercial hub of the hamlet.

The Katz family enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors around Banksville, whether it be going for a jog into backcountry Greenwich or playing at Memorial Park in Bedford Hills. The Banksville community is one that enjoys its natural surroundings as well as each other’s company. As Sara says, “Everyone is lovely and giving – people are always willing to carpool or watch each other’s kids.” A true testament to the neighborhood.

Yale Farms: Outdoor Living at Its Best

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Armonk’s Yale Farms sits on the border of Greenwich, CT and its historical roots lie in Connecticut as well. CT native and Yale graduate John W. Sterling once owned the land and upon his death in 1918, donated it to the university. Yale Farms is situated near Whippoorwill Ridge Park and Wampus Brook Park and residents can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as tennis, walking trails, picnicking and more at nearby North Castle Community Park.

The Milim family has lived in Yale Farms since 2013. Rachel, Director of Brant Lake Sports Academy for Girls and Matthew, a small business owner, live with their children Ryan, age 10.5, Samuel, age 8.5 and Jack, age 5. The family was originally looking for a small town community close to the city but with more of a country feel. “We were looking for a place we can raise our family and that included great schools, great activities and a town with true character,” says Rachel.

Living in Yale Farms has given the Milim family a real sense of community. “We love living here because the town has become our family. There is always a sense of support – people go above and beyond to help each other out. Whether it’s a fundraiser, meal trains or just driving carpool, the saying ‘it takes a village’ is very real and it works in this town,” states Rachel.

There are always fun events going on in the neighborhood or in town. As Rachel says, “Community events are BIG in Armonk.” Some of the family’s favorites include the Chamber of Commerce Frosty Day Parade, Byram Hills Preschool Association’s Carnival, various 5K fundraisers and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

One favorite holiday of the Milim family is Halloween. “Halloween is a big deal here. The entire town trick-or-treats on Glendale and Wampus Avenues. Homes are decorated to the nines and filled with candy. Police monitor the area to make sure it’s a fun-filled and safe Halloween for kids of all ages!”