The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Portraits and Profiles

What is your favorite flower?

by INTERVIEWS BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Minobu Minamizato

“Being Japanese, it may sound a bit cliché to choose cherry blossoms, but no other flower brings me back to my childhood so vividly. When the blossoms peak in April, the scene is unforgettable. Pink petals appear everywhere–through parks, along riverbanks, and across school paths. Walking on a carpet of petals, you wonder who your new teacher will be or how you’ll get along with new classmates as the school year starts. Feeling the warm sunshine, excitement and anxiety drift back and forth in your mind. We celebrate cherry blossom season by eating lunch under the trees and welcoming petals that land on our lunch box or in tea.”

Minobu Minamizato lives in Chappaqua with her husband and daughter and works in the railroad industry.

Richard Smith

“My favorite flower is the hydrangea. We have two hydrangea plants in our yard, one in the front and one in the back. The front yard hydrangea produces purple or pink flowers, and our backyard plant makes white flowers. This is primarily because of the Ph levels in the soil which I find so interesting.”

Richard Smith has had two careers. He spent over 20 years as a professional actor, appearing in seven national tours and on Broadway. He next made a career in food and beverage working with many Certified Master Chefs and receiving recognition from the American Academy of Chefs. In retirement, he still enjoys acting locally and he can be found behind the counter at Susan Lawrence Catering.

Lara Stangel

“I’ve loved the bird of paradise since childhood, captivated by its striking resemblance to a statuesque, elegant bird. On January 2, 2000, I met the man who would become my husband at a party in downtown Manhattan. After I had to cancel our first date because of the flu, he surprised me the next day with a spectacular arrangement of tropical flowers overflowing with birds of paradise. He was a comedy writer by trade, the outrageous, nontraditional bouquet was equal parts irony and audacity: a funny, over-the-top way of shocking me into noticing what he already knew was love at first sight. I never told him the bird of paradise was my favorite flower; somehow, he just knew.”

Lara Stangel lives in Armonk with her husband Justin and daughters Emily and Ashley.

Lorraine Isaac

“My favorite flower is the Martha Washington geranium. When my parents moved into an assisted living facility, they lost one of their joys – gardening. I brought them a bright pink Martha Washington geranium. Soon enough, it quadrupled in size and was covered with spectacular flowers. My dad began to miss doing yardwork, so he lined up a series of cuttings from the geranium plant on the windowsills with plans to give them away. Sadly, this past year he passed away. But luckily, I have one of my dad’s geraniums to remind me of his effort to make the world more beautiful.”

Lorraine Isaac is a retired English teacher who currently works as a library assistant at her local library. She has lived in Briarcliff Manor for over 20 years.

What is your secret super power?

by INTERVIEWS BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Kristine Rothman

“Grace under fire is my secret super power. The ability to stay calm, centered, and grounded even when life gets chaotic. Whether it’s a packed multi-level class, a hectic morning with my boys, or one of those days when everything seems to happen at once, I find strength in taking a deep breath and moving through it with steadiness. I may be buzzing on the inside, but on the outside, I stay composed–cool as a cucumber–and ready to handle whatever comes my way.”

Kristine Rothman is a classical Pilates instructor at Breathe Pilates and Yoga, where she loves helping clients find strength, balance, and confidence through mindful movement. She lives in Chappaqua with her husband, two sons, and their two handsome Bernedoodles, Shea and Citi.

Lorenzo Thantu

“My secret super power is a combination of self-reflection, empathy, intuition, optimism, and resilience that has shaped my personal journey. Self-reflection gives me the courage to look inward and truly know myself. With empathy, I can open my heart to others, striving to understand their feelings and offer genuine care. Intuition guides me when the path ahead is uncertain and empowers me to make the right decision in almost all situations. Optimism reminds me to always seek light even when the world feels heavy. Resilience helps me recover from setbacks, teaching me that I am stronger than I once was.”

Lorenzo Thantu lives in Chappaqua with his family. He was a United States Environmental Protection Agency remedial project manager in the Superfund program for four decades.

Paige Stelzl

“Resilience is my secret super power. In both personal and professional, I have had to tackle big and small feats. Whether it be a long-term goal or a day-to-day series of events, I am able to lock in my focus with great resilience to get the job done. Nothing stands in my way when I have a task in mind. I am unstoppable!”

Paige Stelzl, is a 31-year-old Pleasantville native and the owner of Untied-Chappaqua, who is celebrating 10 years as a business owner.

Lori Kanner

“My secret super power is kindness/caring and being a connector. I always tell my kids to surround themselves with people who light up when they walk into a room. I try to model that. Kindness and connecting people bring me joy and it truly makes a difference for others. It builds community and gives everyone a sense of belonging–being seen and heard. When I connect with someone I am always thinking, how can I help personally or by connecting that person with someone else. Kindness costs nothing but wow it makes you feel incredible! By being kind and connecting others I try to leave places better than I found them.”

Lori Kanner is a member of the Byram Hills Board of Education. She lives in Armonk.

What is one of the most thoughtful gifts you have ever given or received?

by INTERVIEWS BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Shohreh Anand

“About four years ago, I helped my elderly parents clear their attic. Among the stuff in boxes, was a sixty-year-old, 8-track tape. I had it converted to a digital audio file. A rarity for its time, it was a home recording of voices of our family, my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins, having a celebration and joyous conversation. A nostalgic sense of happiness and sadness filled me, and I knew I had to pass along this serendipitous gift to the children and grandchildren of those voices on the tape, most of whom, long gone. From the reactions I got, they treasured this gift as much as I did.”

Shohreh Anand is a long time Chappaqua resident, and a former Chappaqua Library trustee.

Michael Johnson

“One of the most thoughtful gifts I ever received was an Apple IIGS computer as a child. At the time my parents thought of it as an important investment in their children’s future. I can remember the huge box of manuals it came with that had instructions on how to write programs for it. I was hooked almost instantly. That gift sparked a lifelong passion for technology, giving me both joy in the moment and direction for the future. It wasn’t until much later that I understood how impactful that one machine was.”

Michael Johnson is one of the original engineers at Hinge and still writes code daily. He lives in Chappaqua with his wife and cats.

Erica Molina

“Last Chanukah, my daughters gave me a deeply meaningful gift–a ‘doctored’ version of the last family photo we took before my husband, Alex, passed away. It was from my niece’s bat mitzvah, just two months before Alex’s passing, and included my niece. My daughters had it professionally edited so that only we were in the picture, preserving a special moment we shared. I could feel their love in every detail of the gift.”

Erica Molina is the Membership Engagement Specialist at Temple Beth El in Chappaqua. She lives in Armonk with her two daughters: Arielle, a freshman at the University of South Carolina, and Amelia, a junior at Byram Hills.

Susanna Reich

“In 7th grade I chose French for my foreign language, and in high school added Latin. I didn’t stick with it long enough to read the classics but was delighted when my father gave me a copy of Winnie Ille Pu, the Latin edition of Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne, one of my favorite authors. Dad didn’t often give gifts, and this one felt very personal. It’s the only Latin book ever to make the New York Times bestseller list. I still have it.”

Susanna Reich, a children’s book author, grew up in Hastings and lives in Briarcliff with her husband Gary Golio, also a children’s book author. Gary studied classical Greek, so between the two of them they can usually solve a challenging crossword puzzle.

What book from your childhood had the strongest impact on you?

by INTERVIEWS BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Marc E. Childs

“Curious George Goes to the Hospital serves as a reminder to me of the innocence and vulnerability of children and our momentous responsibility to protect them.”

Marc E. Childs, MD is a retired Pediatrician at MKMG/Caremount, former Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the New York Medical College and a dedicated advocate for children’s health and well-being. He has lived, with his family, in Chappaqua for the last 30 years. He very much enjoys photography and is a member of the Katonah Museum Artists’ Association. His website: haikuphotographs.com

Jee-Young Moon

“Stories of people from different times and places have always inspired me. Edison’s story taught me that one size does not fit all. Marie Curie inspired me to pursue passion beyond social barriers. Helen Keller and Ms. Sullivan showed the power of perseverance and devotion. Yu Gwan-sun’s stand for Korean independence showed courage and justice. These stories stay with me.”

Jee-Young Moon lives in Chappaqua. She and her husband, Wanki, have a joyful 7-year-old daughter, Adela. She works as a statistician, seeking knowledge and wisdom through data and hoping her research makes a small difference in people’s lives.

Cathy Paulsen

“I am the oldest of five children and the only girl. My mother worked in the Greenburgh Library, and she inspired me to follow in her footsteps. My only escape from the noise and chaos of my brothers was to hide in my small room and read. One of my favorite series was Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene. I wanted to be her. She was smart, kind to others, had a cute boyfriend, Ned, and a cool blue convertible. She was an only child whose father was a widower, and he was supportive of her interests. Nancy was a forerunner for the feminist movement of the 1960s, and she became an inspiration for me as a Young Adult librarian.”

Cathy Paulsen is the Head of Teen Services at the Chappaqua Library and lives in Pleasantville.

Meg Kirschner Waxman

“The book from my childhood that had the strongest impact on me was All of a Kind Family. It tells the story of five Jewish sisters growing up on the Lower East Side in the early 1900’s. I loved their adventures, and I felt that the story gave me a glimpse into what my grandmother’s life must have been like when she was growing up.”

Meg Kirschner Waxman has three children, Phoebe, Robbie, and Allie with her husband Peter. She lives in Armonk. Meg is a teacher, a tutor, an acting coach and the emcee of the annual Frosty Parade!

What Is The Best Advice You Ever Received?

by RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Steve Biren

“Be easy on the people, but hard on the issues.’ This advice has served me well in my careers as a ‘rocket scientist’ engineer and an intellectual property attorney and has been revived in retirement as I administer several social media groups. So many people today have it backwards; they argue and call each other names, and then wuss out when it comes to discussing the issues. The best way to approach the difficult issues of the day, in my opinion, is to have a vigorous discussion on the merits while treating each other with dignity and respect.”

Steve Biren is a long-time Chappaqua resident. Now retired and widowed, he is as an editor for The Examiner, a docent for the Pray Museum, spends time with his Chappaqua family, and plays golf and tennis.

Dana Dince

“The best advice came years ago during yoga shavasana. While we all embraced stillness and the summer breeze through the open studio windows and doors, the teacher said, ‘Allow Peace.’ Unexpectedly, I burst into tears on the mat. The weight of years of absorbing life’s challenges stoically hid a deeper craving for inner peace. Those two words changed me.”

Dana Dince has been a SPED Teaching Assistant at Bell for 17 years; co-runs the Bell Green Bulldogs Club featuring Hydroponics, Bell (traditional) Gardening and Sustainability; and works with the PTA as a school administrator and coach for the 2025 Science Olympiad.

Elissa Weinhoff

“The best advice I’ve gotten is to do your absolute best in whatever you are doing.”

Elissa Weinhoff has been married to her high school sweetheart Greg for 30 years and has three sons Nate, Spencer, and Ben. She owns Sugar Hi in Armonk with her twin sister, is a first responder at Armonk Fire Department, and has been an EMT for over 10 years. Her passion is saving lives and helping people in her community.

Stacey Winnick

“The best advice I ever received was my father’s adage: ‘Roll with the punches.’ Ed Winnick was the youngest of six boys growing up in the depths of the Depression. He served in WW2 and exhibited a mental toughness perfectly captured by his advice to take life as it comes. When I didn’t get into my first college choice, I was devastated, but his words rang true. I got an appointment with the admissions director, took two summer classes, and was finally accepted. ‘Roll with the punches’ is my mantra: a reminder of my father and life’s trials and tribulations.”

Stacey Winnick is a vintage clothing and sustainability influencer. She appraises and blogs on antiques on her Instagram “Turn your Cutter into Cash” and serves on the Briarcliff Sustainability Advisory Committee.