Abby Woodworth
“My favorite local place to get away is Rockwood Hall on Phelps Way in Sleepy Hollow. It is the grounds of an old Gilded Age mansion. There are miles of hiking trails, the old stone foundation of the mansion and amazing Hudson River views. I enjoy going for sunset hikes with my husband, catching up with my college son over an am walk, but my favorite visit was seeing fireworks over the Hudson on the 4th with my youngest son.”
Abby Woodworth lives in Mount Pleasant. She is a member of the Byram Hills Education Foundation Board and volunteers regularly at 914Cares in Armonk with her friend 92-year-old Loretta Adamo.
Hidenao Abe
“Being raised in several countries, my ‘town’ could be several places including Tokyo. I have lived in Chappaqua for the past 17 years, the place I’ve stayed put the longest and now consider home. Flights to New York thus feel like coming home. Spending some moments on Haneda airport’s rooftop observation deck prior to boarding fills me with joy, relief and optimism. Its ambience awakens joyful memories of my childhood airplane obsession. Spotting the plane for my flight to New York gives me a sense of relief and parked within reach from the deck – a sign of peaceful society – makes me feel optimistic that freedom from fear is indeed possible”
Hidenao Abe lives in Chappaqua and is a photographer and former board member of Chappaqua School Foundation and Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund.
Chris Hildenbrand
“There are so many areas in Town that are spirit-lifting, but two that stand out are Whippoorwill Park and Glazier Arboretum. It is not an exaggeration to say that we have spent parts of almost every day with our dogs in one of those two incredible preserves! They are five minutes from our home but allow for a total escape into nature, for both active exercise and peaceful contemplation.”
Chris Hildenbrand has lived in Chappaqua with his family since 1998. Chris works in investment management, and in Town ran youth baseball and softball and served on the New Castle Town Board.
Jennifer Sugar Frawley
“I love Rockwood Hall in Mt Pleasant on the Hudson. It has the ruins of William Rockefeller’s majestic house and beautiful special trees. When you walk the property you feel transported to the Gilded Age. The beauty of the 1,000-acre park is that anyone can walk or enjoy the ruins of the house and the nature surrounding you. I remember my children rolling down the grassy hill on a warm summer day.”
Jennifer Sugar Frawley is a Pleasantville resident who resided in Chappaqua for 58 years. She works for a local chiropractor and as a personal assistant for a friend and artist.
“Mid October: Haul tree out of basement because we’re bored and forgot to make plans for Columbus Day weekend. Next, spend afternoon looking for decorations in a box labeled ‘Xmas,’ but it’s behind another box labeled ‘broken lamp.’ Swear to family that the lights were not this tangled when I put them in the box last April. Go to CVS to buy new lights. Buy Batmobile ornament that hangs in office because it’s too good to share with the family. Go back to CVS because I forgot to buy lights. Plug in tree. Switch to outlet that works. That’s how we do it every year. And we like it just fine.”
“Given being born on Thanksgiving, it has always been the most special holiday for me. The tradition of making everyone’s favorite dishes, setting a beautiful table and the scent of roasting turkey creates a warm and welcoming environment. As a child, we spent Thanksgiving at my aunt’s home, and she always had a birthday cake for me with sparklers. Music and singing after dinner was a given and my dad and uncle Sam would dance across the living room which brought lots of laughs from everyone.”
“Christmas Eve continues to bring my family together for an evening of family time, laughter, and Nonna Rosaria’s original, fresh seafood recipes. I remember, as a child, setting the huge Christmas table in the basement of our Brownstone in the Arthur Avenue section of the Bronx. Decades later, we resume our traditions, now alternating host houses yearly to accommodate 60! Mom continues to make seafood salad, bacala, and stuffed lobster to name a few of ‘the 7 fishes.’ Since moving to Chappaqua, we never miss St. John and Mary’s children’s mass with its pageant and beautifully simulated story about the birth of Jesus.”
my family, my sons, my cats, dogs, animals, and chickens in the barn. The trees are lit, cats lying underneath. The room is filled with beautifully decorated gifts and warmth. On Christmas morning we pick leftover herbs from the garden and start cooking. My mom is setting up the cookies. Ryan’s chopping in the kitchen, Jeffrey and my husband Jeff take care of the animals. Aromas fill the air, and the Lord is in our hearts as we await the family.”
“Hatchet by Gary Paulsen had a strong impact on my life. This was one of the first books that gave me that feeling of wanting to read non-stop to find out what happened in the end. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It jump-started my love of reading for the sense of adventure. The book delivered a great lesson on perseverance and the will to survive. It spoke to my spirit of being a problem solver and determination to succeed in the face of adversity.”
“When I was four, my older sister Alyssa taught me to read my first book, Kangaroo Stew. My sister infused within me the belief that I was limitless, even when I was diagnosed with an ocular condition that left me legally blind in one eye. My first book opened me to a world where I would regularly escape. I eventually became an English teacher. Now it was my turn – I opened up worlds through literature for hundreds of students. I have always thought that books are an imagination gateway.”
“I was never much of a reader even though I was really good at it. My mom was a kindergarten teacher, and I was surrounded by books. But I loved reading the encyclopedia. I loved the little snippets of information and distinctly recall reading about this stuff called ‘gold leaf.’ So apropos as I am a professional picture framer who deals in gilded gold leaf frames every single day. So, there you have it. Catcher in the Rye. Nope. How to Win Friends and Influence People. Nope. Funk and Wagnalls. You bet.”
“During these difficult times, I find it important to focus on myself. I hope that doesn’t sound selfish, but I think taking care of my physical and emotional wellbeing is a necessity these days. I try to set aside time to do just that, whether it is working out, taking a walk, or just having a cup of tea.”
“When at Miller House, imagining the embattled colonial soldiers recovering under the shade of the sycamore tree, I feel it’s my duty to honor their sacrifices by choosing peace of mind and happiness in the present moment.”
“Peace isn’t the absence of conflict but rather the presence of grace.
“There are things that I can control and things that I can’t. Rather than force a solution, I try to allow myself enough time to determine what I can control and then on to what action I can take.”
“In spring, I love walking through town to see the magnificent array of flowering trees. April is National Poetry Month and I draw inspiration from a book of Richard Wright’s haiku poems illustrated by photographer Nina Crews, called Seeing Into Tomorrow. While walking around, I take photos of the clear blue skies and newly vibrant trees to pair with poems from the book.”
“As temperatures moderate and days grow longer, I love seeing nature’s awakening as the trees grow their leaves, flowers bloom and birds return and begin to chirp. Going for walks with my wife, Madeline, and my dog, Carmella, are a family favorite to soak in the natural beauty that surrounds us in Chappaqua. And, there is no better way to mark the end of spring than marching with CVAC at Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade.”
“The thing I enjoy most about spring in Chappaqua is participating in Community Clean Up Day. It gives me a sense of pride to help beautify the community.”
