The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

In the Know

Joyful Living: Chappaqua

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Abigail Pfeffer, the author’s daughter, prepares to plant window boxes.

“Joyful living” – two simple words that sum up this month’s theme of the magazine just in time for Mother’s Day. It should be easy enough to achieve. After all, we live in one of the most beautiful parts of Westchester County. But honestly, I’ve been having a hard time lately embracing “joyful living” with this never ending winter. I’ve tried to trick myself by thinking that spring is on the horizon. I’ve painted my toes a lovely shade of pastel pink. I’ve done a thorough spring cleaning in my house but still Mother Nature refuses to cooperate.

Nevertheless, I wanted to highlight six facts I learned while putting together this issue that made me smile and appreciate this great community that we call home.

1.The dedicated group of 30 parent volunteers that make up the Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF) have raised more than $3.8 million since they were founded in 1993. These funds get earmarked for projects that are beyond the scope of the school budget. And while I attended the cover shoot for this month’s magazine at the iLab located at Horace Greeley High School, I got to see firsthand how generous donations coupled with a “can do attitude” make dreams turn into reality. The iLab was created through a grant from CSF six years ago that has left a lasting impression on the district. The iLab has been so successful at Greeley that CSF has partnered with the district to create innovative learning spaces and classrooms in all six schools.

2. Most weekends during the spring I can be spotted on a soccer field. With three kids that play town soccer, there’s a pretty good chance that you will find me or my youngest child learning the basics such as dribbling or my oldest now playing left-mid on his travel team. I knew that there was a devoted group of parent volunteers that make these programs happen as my husband used to coach AYSO soccer. But I had no idea how extensive the group of volunteers is. There are more than 100 volunteers in our town that make games and practices happen every weekend. There’s even a VIP team to serve kids with special needs so that everyone gets a chance to kick the black and white ball around.

3. I love planting my window boxes each spring. After a major house renovation this winter plus the harsh weather, I also am in need of various shrubs, plants and trees for my property. When Mother’s Day rolls around, I begin my weekly pilgrimage to my favorite nursery. I want only the freshest flowers, the lushest bushes and if necessary I will wait for them to arrive. But this year, I’ll be sure to ask my trusted advisor at the nursery, if they are recommending native plants after reading Missy Fabel’s terrific article on the benefits of native plants.

4. Don’t miss Eric Doppelt’s poignant tribute to his Aunt Jane who passed away from pancreatic cancer. The little vignettes that he shares about his aunt paint a picture of his loving relationship with her. From great sadness, he was galvanized to action and has raised more than $150K for pancreatic cancer research.

5. Last summer a friend took me kayaking on Candlewood Lake. Having grown up in the city, I had never been kayaking before and I loved everything about it. The tranquility of being on the water, the rhythmic strokes needed to propel the kayak forward. It was one of those rare afternoons when I felt truly present and appreciative of the beautiful scenery. Luckily there are many options for kayakers of all levels right here in Westchester. Read our round-up of local spots and take to the waters!

6. Speaking of water, I am counting the days until my beloved local pool club opens on Memorial Day. The second I park my car there, I know that the kids will have fun jumping in the water with their buddies and I’ll get to catch up with a friend or two. So dive in to Amy Kelley’s story to pick a pool club that’s just right for you.

Enjoy,

Joyful Living: Armonk

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“Joyful living” – two simple words that sum up this month’s theme of the magazine just in time for Mother’s Day. It should be easy enough to achieve. After all, we live in one of the most beautiful parts of Westchester County. But honestly, I’ve been having a hard time lately embracing “joyful living” with this never ending winter. I’ve tried to trick myself by thinking that spring is on the horizon. I’ve painted my toes a lovely shade of pastel pink. I’ve done a thorough spring cleaning in my house but still Mother Nature refuses to cooperate.

Nevertheless, I wanted to highlight six facts I learned while putting together this issue that made me smile and will likely make you appreciate living in North Castle.

1. Once upon a time there was a little girl named Bonnie Gleicher living in the Windmill community. Gleicher loved theater and had leading roles in her school plays. As a young girl, she was “young Jane” in Jane Eyre on Broadway and played an orphan in the Broadway national tour of Annie. Fast forward seventeen years, and Gleicher composed the music and lyrics for Addy and Uno–a family musical about disabilities and friendship featuring a colorful cast of puppets that is currently playing off-Broadway. There’s definitely more to come from this talented composer.

2. Danny McManus is a fifth-grader at Wampus Elementary School living with leukemia. Nine of his friends voluntarily shaved their heads to raise money for leukemia research. There’s no doubt that Danny has a strong support network here and friends who are willing to go the extra mile. From his teacher Mrs. Marchesini who has put together videos for him from his classmates to fellow churchgoers at St. Patrick’s, the McManuses have a community who truly cares about Danny’s recovery.

3. Students in the Dr. Robert Pavlica Authentic Science Program at Byram Hills High School are lucky to have educator Stephanie Greenwald at the helm as the program director. She’s passionate about her job and calls it “the absolute best job I ever had.” Read our up close and personal article on her and you’ll see why the students in the program garner numerous awards and accolades from the most prestigious science programs.

4. Speaking of accolades, The Armonk Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for their Citizen of the Year event this month at the Whippoorwill Club on May 15th. Big congratst to Judy Gilmartin-Willsey and the Armonk Independent Fire Department for all that they do day in and day out to make this town a better and safer place to live, work and play in.

5. As far as I’m concerned every day should be Mother’s Day. With three kids ages 10 and under, there is a lot of worrying when it comes to parenting. Just read Armonk mom Marlene Kern Fischer’s essay and you’ll see what I’m talking about. That’s why the moms in your life should be celebrated and for me, having a meal with loved ones where I don’t have to be a short order cook or clean up afterwards sounds heavenly. Check out some delicious local options to make mom happy.

6. A few summers ago, a friend of mine took me kayaking on Candlewood Lake. Having grown up in the city, I had never been kayaking before and I loved everything about it. The tranquility of being on the water, the rhythmic strokes needed to propel the kayak forward. It was one of those rare afternoons when I felt truly present and appreciative of the beautiful scenery. Luckily there are many options for kayakers of all levels right here in Westchester. Read our round-up of local spots and take to the waters!

Enjoy,

Celebrating Spring in the Castles

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Call me a curmudgeon but I was deeply disappointed when the groundhog said we wouldn’t have an early spring this year. I know I’m supposed to relish these last few weeks of winter but frankly I don’t. We aren’t a skiing or snowboarding family so the thought of more snow, icy roads and school closures is enough to drive me batty and have me counting the days until the official start of spring.

But there are subtle signs of spring all around us. I start to notice more joggers out on Quaker Road without hats and gloves, the streams bubbling with running water instead of frozen ice. As I pass the duck pond, I see that it is slowly starting to melt and is that a crocus growing in my front yard?

One of my favorite parts of being an editor of this magazine is meeting residents and hearing their stories. The idea of doing an article on some of the expats that live in this community had been germinating in my mind for quite some time. As a former expat living in London, I was highly attuned to accents that I would hear in the library or at a local coffee shop. I wanted to highlight what an enriching experience it can be living in the Castles and from what I learned these expats are fully acclimated to the community and you just might bump into them on the soccer field or in your local park this spring. Be sure to give them a warm welcome!

With spring’s arrival, maybe it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and try your hand at surviving in the wilderness. A great course offered by New Castle Recreation and Parks can teach you how to build a fire, create a temporary dwelling or compass reading. If that doesn’t suit you, catch up with a friend on a walk around town or on the North County Trailway and soak in some early spring sun. Be sure to stop for a delicious (perhaps iced?) coffee afterwards. Check out Amy Kelly’s story for some local suggestions.

As soon as April showers begin, I’ve got one thing on my mind: CAMP! Preparing for my older two to attend sleep-away for the first time and trying to figure out what to do with my youngest. Luckily Shauna Levy’s article offers some tips as you plan for summer.

So how do you plan on celebrating spring in New Castle? Write to me at stacey@insidepress.com and your idea just might turn into an article for a future edition. I love hearing from readers who have story suggestions.

Enjoy,

Welcome Arlo to the Family

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We had been talking about getting a dog for the past year for my daughter’s 7th birthday this October. She had her heart set on a particular breed and frankly we hadn’t exactly gotten the ball rolling with doggie research. We were doing a big construction project in the house and were too busy with that.

But something changed after I did a photo shoot of rescues at the SPCA in Briarcliff Manor for this magazine. I had the opportunity to meet some adorable Weimeraner/chocolate lab mixes who were from a large litter and came from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina (For more rescues up for adoption at the SPCA, see page 19). I quickly snapped a photo to my dog-loving husband of one of these pups and he said “take him home.” Well, it wasn’t so simple. The one I had my heart set on was already adopted but a few of his brothers and sisters were coming in that weekend from their foster homes and I could get a chance to meet them.

A bit apprehensive about taking a puppy home to add to the chaotic mix of construction and three young kids, my husband said “the timing is never going to be perfect. You can’t always have all your ducks in a row.” Fast forward to the following weekend where we met one of those rescues named Arlo and fell in love. And the rest is history.

Love and unity is our theme this season and I think having Arlo join the family is a perfect example of love and unity. Instead of bringing chaos to the house, I argue that he has brought a certain sense of calmness (at least in the first week- these are after all early days!) as all of us marvel at him. Plus I’m noticing that my kids are actually fighting a bit less as all of their attention is focused on Arlo.

Both editions and theinsidepress.com are chock full of other stories about love and unity. Take a peek at the story about the little known Baha’i faith, which emphasizes inclusivity or read Dan Levitz’s heart-warming essay about his aging parents.  Love and unity is all around us. And as you gather around the holiday table with your family (furry friends included!), stop and soak it all in.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season,

Gratitude for the “Helpers” in Our Community

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As this issue was going to press, my Facebook feed was deluged with media coverage about the Las Vegas shootings and pleas from friends to help victims of the many hurricanes that recently struck the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. These days it is so easy to fall into a state of despair every time you turn on the news no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.

When I was a little girl, the television show “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” was a perennial favorite in my house. I loved his calming voice as he took off his shoes and sang the theme song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. The hit television show didn’t shy away from current events of the day. Mr. Rogers used to say whenever you faced a scary or upsetting situation his mother would tell him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

As a parent, I’m hoping to instill that sense of helping and volunteerism in my young children. Volunteering gives you gratitude (our issue’s theme by the way!) for all that you have and also provides you with a sense of purpose. It also helps to know that you can play an active role in helping someone in the face of tragedy.

That’s one of the reasons why I am so grateful to highlight our cover story on the tremendous work that the volunteers do at Northern Westchester Hospital day in and day out. Volunteer Idelle Skriloff repeats the adage that many volunteers share about their experience –“Volunteering gives me so much more than I give.”

Another wonderful volunteer organization featured in this issue is the Emergency Shelter Partnership. A consortium of 17 houses of worship in Northern Westchester band together to help provide a warm meal and a safe place for the homeless to sleep during the harsh winter months. And if you think homelessness is only an urban problem, think again. Many of the homeless who are helped through the program reside in Mount Kisco.

While the victims of the mass shooting and the hurricanes certainly need our help, remember that there are people and local organizations here in our own backyard that need your help too. And what can be more neighborly than that?

Best,
Stacey Pfeffer
Editor, Inside Press