The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Portraits and Profiles

Who was a teacher who impacted your life?

by INTERVIEWS BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Anthony Chiarlitti

“A teacher who had an impact on my life was Dr. Brian Brown, Iona College. His class consisted of reading Supreme Court decisions and discussing them. Reading 100 pages of opinions written by great legal minds and then openly speaking about them was intimidating at first, but Dr. Brown was able to push me past that. He sparked my interest in law and was able to get me to understand how legal arguments work, which is something that I have used in my professional career many times. Even in my personal time I find myself reading about cases on bizarrely specific topics purely out of curiosity.”

Anthony Chiarlitti grew up and resides in Pleasantville, he is currently a Detective Sergeant with the New Castle Police Department.

Amanda Blechman

“My English teacher, Karen Luten, changed how I saw myself. In high school, I believed being ‘good at science and math’ automatically meant I wasn’t strong in English. She saw something different–she saw potential. She made me feel capable, encouraged me to explore literature and writing, and helped me find confidence in a skill I had doubted. That confidence has stayed with me ever since. Today, writing is a big part of my work, and I carry her influence with me every day. I’m deeply grateful for the way she saw me–and helped me see myself.”

Amanda Blechman lives in Armonk with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking at home, and seeing Broadway musicals.

Samantha Day

“My third grade teacher, Ms. Zito, impacted me in ways I did not fully appreciate at the time. Beyond academics, she offered kindness and stability during a difficult period in my childhood, particularly while my parents were going through a divorce. Even when I did not always have the words to express what I was feeling, she made me feel seen, supported, and understood. She taught me the value of resilience, confidence, and perseverance, always encouraging me to believe in myself. Looking back, I realize how much her guidance and compassion shaped the person I became.”

Samantha Day grew up in Chappaqua and recently moved back with her husband, Connor and their two young children, Griffin and Spencer.

Suzanne Chazin

“My 11th- and 12th-grade math teacher, David Marain, at Tenafly High School in Tenafly, NJ. I was a mediocre math student, but he was always patient and encouraging. What stayed with me most, though, had nothing to do with math. ‘You don’t have to be the best,” he used to say. ‘You just have to do your best.’ He taught me that growth comes through challenge and that failure is only ‘a dot on a graph, not the whole line.’ Years later, when I began writing novels, I knew the failure curve was steep. Mr. Marain’s words helped me push through setbacks and focus on my efforts rather than immediate results.”

Suzanne Chazin is a journalist, creative-writing instructor, and mystery author in Chappaqua.

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!