The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Chappaqua

Am I Giving My Kids an Edge?

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JanineBy Janine Marino

When Grace asked me to guest edit this issue, slated to focus on some of the many exceptional children we had in the area, I thought, ”exceptional,” that’s one of the descriptors that sold me on Chappaqua in the first place.

I’ll never forget my first day at the bus stop seven years ago. I ran down in sweats, no bra, yesterday’s mascara and some serious bed head. Before me stood a perfectly put-together woman, right down to the Gucci shoes.  There were other women in various degrees of “fabulous” and yeah, I was not one of them.  I thought to myself, well at least I wasn’t wearing my PJs like I did in my old town! (And I won Best Dressed at that bus stop.) Everyone was pretty nice, but, regardless, I just couldn’t break into a conversation. They had obviously known each other for a long time and I was the new girl. I wondered how my kids would fare.

Janine and her kids Steven, Michaela and Alex at Michaela's Sweet Sixteen last year. Note: older son Steven now towers over Janine. Rising Star Photography
Janine and her kids Steven, Michaela and Alex at Michaela’s Sweet Sixteen last year. Note: older son Steven now towers over Janine. Rising Star Photography

I’d quickly come to learn that Chappaqua had a large chunk of type A people. Me, I teeter between B + and A -. Before I even moved here, a friend of mine had signed me up for two PTA committees at Roaring Brook. Uh…thanks? I was thrust right into the thick of it. I enjoyed the exuberant involvement these parents had. They seemed to know everything about anything that had to do with the school and the town. I also enjoyed the first back to school night…sushi and Starbucks…a far cry from the two boxes of Entenmann’s at my last school. I quickly learned that my kids were behind the curve, not having private pitching lessons or voice lessons in second and fourth grades. I was also concerned that maybe my then three-year-old would not be able to color in the lines because I hadn’t sent him to the double-the-price preschool that many seemed to be raving about. But still, I liked that everyone had a definite opinion…let’s call it “passion” for…you name it!

One thing I cannot deny here in Chappaqua is the real sense of community. People want the best for the town, their kids, the schools, everything. There are so many helpful, charitable people. Someone will bring you soup when you’re sick or pick up your kids when you are stuck. Sure, there are plenty of entitled folks too, but I’m quick to point out to my kids the good eggs and try to nip in the bud any spoiled behavior. No, I will not bring Frappuccinos to my 16-yr-old and her friends at Greeley in the middle of a school day. (And yes, I was asked.)

With two in high school now, I’m really starting to feel the pressures that go along with this great town. Kids are thinking about college in 9th grade. My son Steven at 14 already knows exactly what he needs to get into Syracuse. And, of course, every kid is “expected” to take multiple AP classes and have private tutoring (because, you know, a B is failing).

Seems everyone has to have “an edge.” You need to apply for early action to college. If you don’t, your kids will feel “left out.” Juniors are already posting their college visits on Facebook and Instagram. My 11th grader, Michaela, hasn’t been anywhere yet. Perhaps it’s because I’ve downgraded my type A-/B+ personality to a B- to counterbalance. I’m not sure. But I promise, we will get there soon, and my first will be off and running.

There’s no doubt there’s a lot of keeping up and aiming high that comes along with living in Chappaqua. However, I think my kids will come out feeling very lucky to be part of this exceptionally beautiful and spirited town. And maybe, just maybe….they’ll have an edge.

Janine Marino is a freelance copywriter and creative marketing consultant as well as the Marketing/Creative Director for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. She’s an avid tennis player, makeup junkie and according to her kids, a “weird but, 
fun” mom.

Extended Parking for Downtown Shopping Considered

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By Eileen Gallagher

Hard to believe, but winter is (officially) almost over. This winter has been rough in many ways, not the least of which on our downtown. Merchants did not have a level of sustainable activity typical for this season. To that end, the town board is considering a proposal to have a three month period of “Shopping Local” during which parking time limits will be extended to allow for three hour parking.  If the experiment is successful, three hour parking would become the new regulation.

For those who ride their bicycles to the Chappaqua train station, the board is planning to purchase bicycle stands, or rings, to provide a place to lock the bikes. Currently bikes are chained to the metal fence at the station, which impedes handicap access to the elevator. Jill Shapiro, town administrator, will look into selecting a grassy area for the bikes, out of the way of the cars at the station.

Ethics, Anyone?

Next week’s town board meeting (Tuesday, March 11) will feature a public hearing on the proposed changes to the ethics code and board. The board discussed, among other things, an amended code of ethics for New Castle.  Also on the table are the expansion of the ethics board from three to five members, and the elimination of party requirements. The ethics board would no longer include a town employee, and all members would have to be elected by a supermajority of the board (four out of five vote minimum rather than three).

As an aside, Rob Greenstein mentioned that he will be sending an apology to a member of the ethics board that just resigned, alluding to a statement he made at the last board meeting that the ethics board “is a joke.” Greenstein clarified that, in his statement, he was referring to the way the board is set up, not the integrity or ability of the individual members.

Vision Test

The word “vision” was highlighted throughout a presentation given by engineers at WSP, a professional services firm out of Pleasantville. What is the vision of the town? How would they like the look and feel of the downtown to be? David Weiss and Robert Severance stressed their eagerness to collaborate with the board on all aspects of proposed improvements, including reinforcing roads, “bumping out” sidewalks, and restructuring the intersection of King Street and South Greeley Avenue (by Starbucks) to be safer and “less confusing” for drivers. According to Severance, the traffic would flow more efficiently with an all-way stop sign, and even better with a traffic signal. These options will be up for discussion.

One question for WSP was the cost of burying the downtown’s electric, phone, and cable lines as part of the work being considered, and possible ways to mitigate these costs. Weiss indicated that there are ways of cost sharing to make it more manageable, and would include such costs in their proposal.

Timing of work such as gas line replacement and pavement reinforcement is a big concern. After the major disruption during the Route 120 bridge work, the board would like to ensure that any work taking place will be the most cost efficient and convenient for merchants and shoppers. Work would likely take place during the summer, when school is out, traffic is not as dense, and there are fewer weather related stoppages.

For information on several topics currently trending in town, consider attending the newly announced “Conversation With the Supervisor” sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Castle on Tuesday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. As their website states, topics and issues to be discussed include: Master Plan update; Moving Town Hall to Chappaqua Crossing; Updates on development projects: Chappaqua Crossing, Conifer’s Hunts Place, The Spa and Mosque proposed plans; Property revaluation; and Westchester County government consolidation of services considerations.

Chappaquans WANT Affordable Housing: The RIGHT Kind

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By Eileen Gallagher

“Affordable Housing” is the buzz phrase these days, and with it debate taking place in our town, throughout Westchester, and, in fact, across the country.  Briefly, New Castle is in the midst of a legal maelstrom involving Conifer, a real estate company specializing in the construction of affordable housing units. The merits of affordable housing are not in question, however. As real estate agents would say, it’s all about location.

Many New Castle residents have personal opinions about 54 Hunts Place, the location chosen by then-Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and Conifer to place a 28 unit apartment building. Where is this address, you might ask? It’s quite easy to locate, though tricky to get to. As you enter town via the Quaker Street bridge, look to your left at the tract of contaminated dirt bound on three sides by the Metro North tracks, Saw Mill River Parkway, and the bridge you are spanning.

If you recall, the housing discrimination lawsuit filed by Craig Gurian and subsequently settled by then County Executive Andy Spano in 2009 stipulated that the affordable housing units built in Westchester should adhere to several qualifications, including the seamless integration of the units into a neighborhood, the avoidance of an isolated location, or the stigmatizing of the units as affordable housing. The idea is to provide housing opportunities for those of much more modest income levels.

As a member of the community organization “Chappaqua for Responsible Affordable Housing”, or CFRAH, I have been in attendance at several state and county hearings regarding 54 Hunts Place.  These hearings are related to the funding approval of the county and the requirement of several variances from the state before the property can be developed. In December, I took a step away from the myriad of analyses, finances, stipulations, regulations, and accusations, and wrote a letter from my heart. The letter was addressed to the members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, but was meant for all. I wanted to put back into the complicated equation the factor that has been missing for so long — the people.

You see, after all the dust settles and the final shingles are in place, there will be people living in these units. Husbands and wives, moms and dads, children of all ages. People with the same fragility and sensitivity as anyone else. People whose needs extend beyond four walls and a roof. People who, as some in this process have put it, would fight for the chance to live anywhere in Chappaqua.

Members of CFRAH have been working for years now to have wonderfully located and planned units in our town, and have met with resistance from previous town supervisors. The lot had been chosen, the die had been cast. Conifer stands to receive over two million dollars for 54 Hunts Place. What would the residents get? Life in a cramped apartment with triple pane windows to fend off noise and fumes of trains and traffic. Their neighbors?  A stone bridge, steel train tracks, and speeding cars.

Here is my letter:

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you as you decide the fate of the dangerously located and ultimately isolating and stigmatizing building known as 54 Hunts Place.

I have attended meetings and watched in sorrow as the developers and their legal representatives virtually salivate over the windfall they anticipate. I refuse to throw my hands up in despair, however, as I ask you to think not about budgets and dollars, but about the families who would desperately apply to live in affordable housing. All of us, whether legislator or represented, old or young, deserve to reside in the comfort and safety of the place we call home. 

I have heard the argument that too much time and money has been invested already in this site. We have to stop, and strip away the safety of mere figures on paper. If you truly represent all people of Westchester, present and future, please see that this is not in the best interest, or any level of interest, of their safety and well-being. 

I was an accountant in a big eight firm many years ago, before I returned to earn my Masters in Education. I went from analyzing numbers on a spreadsheet in a sterile office environment to working in a poor section of Queens with the most challenging yet rewarding group of children I could ever meet. Quite an about-face for me, yet I learned more in those four years than fifty years of accounting could have taught me. Looking in the eyes of another person, there is no hiding. No rationalizing. No words to utter. Only true caring.

Please consider that there are much better, safer, healthier and viable options in New Castle. I recall the words of the prayer that (then) Chairman Jenkins speaks before each meeting: 

“Almighty God, give us the strength courage and wisdom to always act in the interest of the people of Westchester while we are in this chamber. Let us keep in mind that every decision that we make impacts upon the life, health, and safety of all of our great county residents. Amen.”

If these words are sincere, which I believe in my heart they are, I cannot think of how the decision to allow this unsafe building closely confined by a railroad, highway, and bridge and sitting atop contaminated property could be made. 

Thank you sincerely for your consideration.

Very truly, 

Eileen Gallagher

Tramps Like Us

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Tramps Like Us to Kick Off Town Summer Concert Series

Chamber Head Interviews Mark Salore, 
Leader of the Band–and Chappaqua Dad!

By Robert Greenstein

Mark Salore and Brian “Bo” Ognan performing in White Plains at the 4th of July celebration at White Plains High School for a crowd of approximately 15,000 people.
Mark Salore and Brian “Bo” Ognan performing in White Plains at the 4th of July celebration at White Plains High School for a crowd of approximately 15,000 people.

The New Castle Summer Concert series is a great tradition bringing families together to celebrate community and listen to great music.  Performances will be held on Wednesday nights on July 10, 17, 24, 31. This year the Chamber is working with the Recreation & Parks Department and assisting in event planning, booking performers and improving the overall concert experience.  

Besides having lots of food vendors, this year we hope to have activities for kids, merchants showcasing their services and lots of pre-concert activities like wine tastings & happy hours. Since Tramps Like Us, www.trampslikeus.com, a very popular Bruce Springsteen tribute band, will be kicking things off on July 10th, I decide to catch up with Mark Salore, who happens to be a Chappaqua dad and leader of the band.

How was your band formed, and how many guys are in it?  

The band was formed in late 1989-1990, by the insistence of a club owner in Greenwich Village. We performed there regularly, as a classic rock band which included the music of Bruce Springsteen.  He wanted a Springsteen tribute band in his club as he had dozens of other tribute acts, but none featuring his favorite, Bruce Springsteen. Thus the forming of Tramps Like Us. The band is made up of five members.

Have you always been a Bruce Springsteen tribute band?

No. The band originally started out as a classic rock cover band/original band in the early 80s.

Are you all big Bruce Springsteen fans?

Yes everyone in the band is a big Bruce Springsteen fan, some bigger than others but you need to love the music in order to do what we do and be good at it.

How long have you lived in Chappaqua, and is anyone else in the band local?

I moved to Chappaqua in 1998. My drummer and I grew up in Ardsley and he still lives there. The other members are from New York City, New Jersey and CT.

What makes your Springsteen tribute band different from the others?

There are a few different things that I feel separates us from other Springsteen tribute bands, and there are several of them out there. First of all, I believe our musicianship is second to none.

Our keyboard player Kenneth Hope, has been composing music since the age of four. Ken’s impeccable musical credentials include studies at the Schmidt Conservatory of Music, and he has studied extensively with Maestro Stahl (conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra and San Diego Philharmonic Orchestra).

Our bass player Jon Sanborn, is the son of the world renowned saxophone player David Sanborn. He has played with artists such as Eric Clapton Steely Dan and Harry Connick Jr. to name a few.

Our saxophone player, Brian Ognan, has played with many major acts himself such as Sam and Dave, Hall and Oates, Taylor Dayne, Joan Jett, Georgia Satellites, Don Henley, John Entwistle and many others. Both have degrees from the Berklee College of Music.

Rudy Feinauer, our drummer, has performed or recorded big names in the music industry himself.

Mark with Carter, who goes to Grafflin, his wife, Lori, and Michael who is at Bell. Photo by Carolyn Simpson
Mark with Carter, who goes to Grafflin, his wife, Lori, and Michael who is at Bell. Photo by Carolyn Simpson

Rudy has also taught drums and percussion at colleges and public schools, as well as gives private lessons. Rudy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Percussion from the New England Conservatory of Music.

Another thing that separates this band from other tribute bands is we do not look to impersonate or look and dress like the act that we pay tribute to. Most tribute bands look to find members who are look-alikes or impersonators of the act they are paying tribute to which seems to take precedence over musicianship and the love of the music they are playing–and the final result is that the music suffers.

Everyone in this act loves the music they play and I believe it comes across very well to the audience during our performances.

How many Springsteen songs do you play?

Our repertoire of songs is constantly growing and right now I think it’s about 120 songs.

What’s your favorite Springsteen song to perform?

I have a handful of songs that are my favorite ones to play in no particular order they are Backstreets,  Lost In The Flood, Thunder Road and Jungleland.

What’s the best venue you’ve ever played?

That’s a very tough question to answer…with almost 25 years of performing we played hundreds of different venues. Some of our favorite ones to perform at our Showcase Live in Foxborough  Massachusetts which is connected to Gillette Stadium, BB Kings in Time Square in New York City and of course the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

What’s the biggest venue you 
played at?

I believe the biggest venue or crowd we ever play too was in North Hempstead Beach Park in Long Island. We played for a Fourth of July event a few years back and there was an  estimated 15,000 people. Also, a few months back, we were featured on live TV on Fox 5’s morning Show: Good Day NY which was quite a thrill.

Have you ever met Bruce Springsteen?

Photo by Carolyn Simpson
Photo by Carolyn Simpson

The band has several direct connections to Bruce Springsteen the most notable one would be his former manager and producer Mike Appel who’s in constant touch with Bruce and is a very good friend of mine personally and big fan of the band. He has spoken to Bruce about us dozens of times and told him how good the band was in his opinion. On one occasion Mike brought Bruce to one of our performances at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Unfortunately, in this case, the show was sold out and there was a long line of people waiting to get in. Bruce decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to go in at that point as it may cause a problem with the crowd control. I met him after that show at a bar a few blocks down from the Stone Pony and had a nice long conversation with him. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have been invited to several shows as a VIP guest and was invited backstage. I have met all the members of The E Street Band on several occasions.

How many Springsteen concerts have you been to?

Not as many as people would think. I know dozens of people who’ve been to hundreds of Springsteen concerts and a lot of people I meet ask me that same question. I would probably have to say since seeing him first in 1978, I have seen him a total of 30 to 35 times.

What advice would you give to kids who are starting a band?

Be persistent and dedicated as it’s very hard when you start out. Pick a handful of your favorite songs and try to learn them as best as possible. I think it’s important to play original music as well but before one could get to that step I believe they need to be able to perform songs that they like and understand the whole concept of music the way it’s written and performed and go from there. Also, If you do not study with the teacher, ask friends or parents for  help if it is available as I did when I was growing up. I was fortunate to have an older friend who played guitar and was able to teach me some things that I could not figure out by myself. That went a long way for me as anytime I hit a stumbling block, my friend was there to get me back on track.

I grew up a huge Jimi Hendrix fan, and anyone knowing his music knows just how incredible his guitar playing was as well as very complicated and original unlike anyone before him. I spent hours and hours in high school sitting in my room trying to learn Hendrix songs that today, you can just go to YouTube and watch a free instructional video of how to play whatever song you’d like. I would suggest that kids take advantage of this free technology with whatever instrument they are playing. I wish I had that available when I was just getting started.

How do you balance your music with other obligations–wife, children, job, coaching your kids sports?

I’m not really sure how I do it? I somehow find the time to be able do the all the bookings, managing, promotion, PR, website, newsletters, etc. for the band, which is a great deal of work. I do have a very good support system at home. My wife does all the bookkeeping and accounting, as well as shuffling our kids to and from sports on the weekends when I sometimes disappear for 2 or 3 days at a time. I have two sons, ages 12 and 10, and I feel extremely lucky to be able to coach them in football, basketball and baseball in whatever spare time I can create. I am a very busy guy, but it’s all good… No complaints here!

Besides your concert on July 10 to kick off the Summer Concert series in Chappaqua, any other big concerts coming up?

We have a rare local gig at a brand new smaller intimate type venue in Mt. Kisco called MTK Tavern on Friday, June 14th in which I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of my friends from town.

Our summer schedule is packed with a lot of outdoor summer concerts in the tri-state area and several private country club events in and around Westchester, as well as some corporate family parties. We are also doing a few fundraising events as well. We have a big fundraising concert that is in the works for Sandy Hook, CT on July 27. You can always find our latest schedule on our website: www.trampslikeus.com.