The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Korth & Shannahan: A Dynamic Family-Owned House Painting Business

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Will Korth, owner and founder of Korth & Shannahan Painting and Carpentry, started his career in the painting industry at the young age of 14. As a teenager, Will painted houses during his summer breaks from Horace Greeley High School. He started from the bottom of the ladder (literally) and climbed his way to the top of the company. Today, Will is the leader of a 40-person team of professional painters and carpenters that are dedicated to making Westchester a more beautiful place to live.

Founded in Family, Rooted in Westchester

For 44 years, the core values of Korth & Shannahan Painting have been founded in family. Today, owner Will is joined by his daughter Olivia Korth as she steps into the family business. Olivia is putting her Business Administration degree to use in her new role as the Director of Marketing & Recruitment for Korth Painting. Now the second generation to join her family business, Olivia finds her now role to be both challenging and exciting. This father-daughter team is tackling Westchester’s house painting industry head on.

Working with family surely comes with its benefits and challenges for this father-daughter duo. Will and Olivia both love working together every day and have become even closer than they were before Olivia came into the business. The pair certainly had to learn how to balance life and work as they navigate this new dynamic. In Olivia’s words, “We try not to ‘talk shop’ at home, or ‘talk family’ at the office. It’s all about balance.”

The perks of trusting a local and family-owned business are clear to Korth’s new and returning customers. When you call Korth & Shannahan to set up an estimate, Olivia is the one to pick up the phone. From there, she’ll send Will over to your home to provide an estimate for your project. There’s nothing better than working with a local family business.

Industry Leaders

Will Korth and his daughter Olivia Korth

Over their 44 years in the House Painting industry, Korth Painting has adapted to become the industry leader in the Westchester area, all the while keeping their roots firmly grounded in their local history.

Will Korth and his team are deeply committed to providing the highest quality workmanship for their customers. As Will says: “Customer service drives the bus.” Their outstanding service and attention to detail results in many repeat customers and long-lasting client relationships. One of Will’s favorite parts of the job is seeing the long-time customers that he painted for when he was a teenager. More than 40 years later, his customers still trust him to handle their home’s painting and carpentry needs.

Some of the notable customers the Korth team paints for include the Clintons, Clive Davis, and the Zabar family. Will is also proud of the work he’s done for local organizations such as the New Castle Historical Society and the Bedford Presbyterian Church. “Painting the Horace Greeley House was certainly a feather in our cap,” notes Will, who’s painted some of Westchester’s most notable historical buildings over the years.

A family owned and operated business like Korth & Shannahan Painting understands what it means to be dynamic. They’ve pivoted through five decades of change and survived a global Pandemic, using every challenge they’ve faced as an opportunity to learn and change with the times.

“Our customers will always get a team I know and trained, which ultimately results in consistently happy customers” says Korth. From their original service area of Chappaqua, Korth has expanded his base to now serve Northern and Southern Westchester as well. Armonk, Bedford, Pound Ridge, Mount Kisco, Chappaqua, Scarsdale and Rye are where Korth sees many of his customers. Will also provides a four-year warranty on every job he completes, which is double the industry standard. The team at Korth Painting works hard to stay ahead of new color trends, provide in-person color consultations, train their painters on new paint products, and find the best methods of paint application – all in the name of phenomenal customer service.    

To start your next project with Korth & Shannahan Painting, call 914-238-5388 or visit korthpainting.com.

A Treasured Friendship Circle over Canasta & Mah-Jongg – the Games Being Played Across Living Rooms & Generations

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(L-R): Aimee Marcus, Lisa Deitelzweig, Courtney Gordon, Debra Tillinger, Elizabeth Zimmerman and Cindy Rosenblatt   Photo by Donna Mueller

Chances are that if you live in the suburbs, you play or know someone who plays either mah-jongg or canasta. Though vastly different, the games are similar in the most important of ways; they are sources of socialization, entertainment, and cognitive stimulation. For many women who left the workforce to care for their children, these games are a lifeline where they can participate in adult conversation and share the experience of motherhood with other women in the suburbs. For some, these games are a passed down ritual from their mothers and grandmothers. For the elderly, it can ease loneliness and isolation.

What is Mah-jongg?

Mah-jongg is played by four people using domino-like tiles engraved with Chinese symbols and characters. The players draw and discard tiles to assemble a winning hand. Joan Rosenbaum, who teaches mah-jongg classes at North Castle Recreation Center, says “mah-jongg is a game of skill, strategy, socialization, and luck.”

Mah-jongg originated in China in the mid-1800’s primarily as a male gambling game. It began spreading throughout the world as a result of increased trade along ports of travel. In the 1920s it gained popularity in America. Naturally, with such widespread play across continents and cultures, various adaptations of the game developed and groups each had their own table rules. Many Chinese Americans played as a way of connecting to their heritage, but the game also became a popular pastime amongst Jewish women in the suburbs and in bungalow colonies in the Catskills. In 1937, a group of Jewish American women in New York City decided to standardize the rules of the game and formed the National Mah-jongg League. The league issues a card every year listing winning combinations of tile which change every year.

Rosenbaum eagerly awaits the new card’s release every Spring. After its release, her telephone always begins to ring with her friends calling to discuss the new hands. Rosenbaum remembers sitting by her mother and watching her play and wanting to be “just like her.”

“On game day in my house, I would put on a new tablecloth, put the racks out, mix the tiles, and sit down,” recalls Rosenbaum fondly. “The chattering would begin – what the women ate for dinner the night before, what they bought in the store, etc. Then the music of the clicking of the tiles began, a sound only a mah-jongg set can make. You cannot duplicate that wonderful sound.”

Armonk and Bedford residents Lisa Deitelzweig, Courtney Gordon, Aimee Marcus, Cindy Rosenblatt, Debra Tillinger, and Elizabeth Zimmerman have been playing together every Thursday for over 14 years. Both Tillinger and Zimmerman play with sets passed down from their grandmothers. They started playing when their children were in preschool and have kept Thursdays as their sacred mah-jongg day ever since. The women rotate houses weekly, serve lunch, and share lots of laughs.

“We went through the trenches together raising our children,” says Deitelzweig. “We support each other, and we have fun together. Our cardinal rule is ‘what is said at mah-jongg stays at mah-jongg.”

Besides playing and discussing everything ranging from politics, family, books, recipes, and tv shows, this group celebrates birthdays together and plans theatre and movie outings. Mah-jongg has been a jumping off point for many enriching activities in their lives.

What is Canasta?

Canasta, which means “basket” in Spanish, is a rummy-type game generally played by four players in two partnerships using two decks of cards. Players attempt to make melds of seven cards of the same rank and accrue as many points as possible. Canasta was invented in Uruguay in 1939 by two bridge players who wanted to create a quicker game than bridge but one with less of a luck factor than rummy. It spread throughout South America in the 1940’s, was introduced in America in 1949 and surged in popularity in the 1950’s. The Canasta League of America was founded to standardize the rules of the game.

Armonk resident Susan Cott, a private canasta instructor, says her whole life changed when she learned to play canasta.

“As a stay-at-home mom, I was always running errands and never made time for myself,” says Cott. “When I finally learned to play, it forced me to have at least one get-together a week with some friends. Additionally, I made so many new friends when my game would need a substitute player or when I would sub in someone else’s game.”

“Teaching canasta is such a joy for me,” she says. “There are two aspects that I love. Everyone is so confused at the first lesson, but then I start seeing the lightbulbs go off and that’s the best feeling for me. Secondly, I feel like I’m a matchmaker. When people walk away from my lessons having formed canasta groups and new friendships, that’s an amazing feeling. It’s very rewarding.”

Armonk resident Lori Cohen appreciates the game for its welcome diversion to her everyday life. “It’s my time to shut everything else out,” she says. “We’re often having so much fun chatting that we forget where we were in the game.”

During the pandemic, canasta and mah-jongg groups alike desperately missed their games. Determined to play, Rosenbaum and her friends took turns playing in each other’s garages dressed in coats and hats. One of her friend’s coats almost caught fire one day from one of the heaters. Zimmerman and her group played outside or on Facetime with iPad. To really spice things up, Bedford resident Darielle Cohen even invited her group over for “pool canasta” with an inflatable floating card table in her swimming pool. Clearly, no one was willing to relinquish these meaningful moments of fun and camaraderie.

Besides all the fun, both games demand some serious mental gymnastics to stay engaged in conversation while simultaneously paying attention to the game and formulating a strategy. One thing is undeniable; bits of conversation between hands, while shuffling tiles or cards over the years has led to beautiful friendships.

For more information on mah-jongg lessons through the Town of North Castle recreation department, go to northcastleny.com.

To reach Susan Cott for your own canasta lessons, you can email her at canastamastasusan@gmail.com.

Lessons are available by private instruction or via the Town of North Castle Recreation Department.

Notes of Deep Gratitude

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From the Founder and Director of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

Have you ever had the feeling of teetering but somehow knowing that a safety net was beneath you, ready to make sure you didn’t hit the ground?

This was the disorienting but ultimately comforting feeling I had in March and April of this year. I was hospitalized and in intensive care and yet knew that my friends and community would take care of me and my boys…and somehow make sure the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival would go on.

Dawn Evans Greenberg. Dawn’s Hair and Makeup Courtesy of Aura Salon and Style Bar in Chappaqua. www.auraboutiquesalon.com Photo by Donna Mueller

I had to hand over control to my husband, Paul, and to friends, and just focus on keeping myself alive for Jackson and Ben, my teenage sons. I don’t recommend falling ill, but for a means to learn to appreciate every breath we’re allowed, becoming vulnerable that way can’t be topped.

I entered the hospital for elective surgery on February 10th. My next memory was waking up to dozens of cards taped to my hospital wall. The cards were the only thing that held my attention–the only thing that made any sense. I recognized “Ossining Children’s Center” and read the message over and over again. And why did author Dan Gutman feel the need to write “get better soon?”  I was flattered but also puzzled. How did he know where I was and how did he know I needed well wishes?

The date was March 1st and I had lost three weeks of my life. I had a tube coming out of my trachea. I couldn’t speak or lift my arm.

The cards and what they represented from the community ended up being a highlight of my days. My husband would drive to NYU Langone Hospital each afternoon, always with more cards. So many cards. He told me that two dear friends Karen Visser and Robin Chwatko were taking care of our kids, along with dozens of other friends jumping in to help, even coordinating walking our beloved dog Flare. Beloved merchants reached out too. The Kings’ Scribe was facilitating the cards and they never seemed to stop. I couldn’t count them all and still treasure each one. 

Each day my husband would offer me my iphone, usually my umbilical cord, and I flat out declined it–a sign of just how sick I was. But he also knew I was worried about the festival and kept me current on book festival developments. Paul assured me that our volunteers were making sure it would happen in October. As the days went by toward my discharge of April 10th, I started to feel relief and excitement about getting back to real life.

Now, we’re three weeks away from the festival. I have gradually gotten stronger and feel incredibly optimistic about the future. The love that our community showed me that my family will be with me throughout the rest of my life. I will never stop being grateful.  

 

 

 

 

 

Surviving and Thriving in a Hamlet’s Pandemic: How Breezemont Rose to the Occasion

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The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world entirely. Across the globe, we saw people take initiative and ensure the safety of others with the use of masks, social distancing, and other protocols when the pandemic was still young. However, as time had passed and quarantine mandates began to lighten, there was a call to action for a safer sense of normalcy. Armonk, just like the rest of the world, faced the pandemic head on. Restaurants were only dining out, stores had limited space for consumers, and (almost) everyone wore masks. In a time of uncertainty, our town managed to come together and place the health and well-being of Armonkians above all else. 

In particular, the extraordinary initiatives put in place by places like the Byram Hills School District (which has been reported on here in a previous issue), and at Breezemont Day Camp (the focus of this article) were perfect examples of how any institution could take strides to help manage in a pandemic, even thrive, and help others thrive.  In the fall of 2020, the pandemic was at one of its many peaks.

With more people falling ill, there was a push for things to return as they once were…

Schools began to teach in person again, but the risk of exposure was high. As a way of making ends meet, Breezemont set up  up day care for children of teachers within our district! Within this facility, there were rooms students could take online classes, a playground for recess, and various other utilities that allowed these children to have a good time even if the world felt bleak. Although it might not seem like much, this opportunity allowed for those children to return to a sense of normalcy for the time being. Amongst the chaos of this pandemic, it was a trying time to be alive. Though options were slim and everyone had been waiting for a vaccination, these children could experience somewhat of a regular classroom experience. Within the nurturing walls of Breezemont, these children grew, experienced a once and a lifetime pandemic, and made friends with others they wouldn’t have met otherwise. 

Working amongst these children during this time was extremely valuable, personally. Seeing how the pandemic had affected people from ages 10 to 12 allowed me to step back and look at this pandemic from a different perspective. Most notably, I saw how their relationships developed with one another; most of them came into this program not knowing the other kids who were involved. Some had siblings, but others didn’t. Watching them adapt to their environment and create friendships with strangers was not only endearing to watch, but provided an escape from the daily dread that resulted from the  pandemic.

I remember when I was working with one of the children, it had been their first day, and it was scary. Being placed in an environment where you know no one can be intimidating, so being able to provide a sense of comfort to those kids made it all worthwhile.

As a community, Armonk came together and that type of unity is what got us through the pandemic. Without each other, who knows what would have happened.

The Chappaqua Fire Department Wants your Help!

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Fire Chief’s All-Important Call for Volunteers

Photos courtesy of the Chappaqua Fire Dept.

Chief Paul Eiden spoke to The Inside Press about the continuing and pressing need for firefighting volunteers from the community. He also provided valuable suggestions as to how Chappaqua residents can get involved. Fortunately, volunteers have joined throughout the summer to help the department respond to emergencies in the area. But while volunteers of any age over 16 are encouraged to join, Chief Eiden noted that adults who will not be attending school during the academic year are at this juncture the ideal candidates.

“The adults are the key because of the longevity we hope to obtain by bringing in folks who are out of school,” he explained. For those who would like to get involved, Eiden explains that no experience is required: “The only thing they really have to provide is their time.”

“The initial training at the fire academy is long,” he went on. “It’s north of 130 hours over a period of a couple of months, but we provide residents with any kind of training they need before they go to the academy, and then any type of support they need for skill refreshers.”

Intrigued? What You Need to Know

So what does that 130-hour training process look like?

Eiden describes the time commitment as a few nights during the week as well as every Saturday. Once that training process is completed, the fire department follows the New York State Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) requirements which allow their firefighters to qualify for pension credits.

For points to be allotted to the firefighters for alarm response, volunteers must make at least 10% of the alarm calls that the department receives per year. Eiden explained that given the number of alarm calls the Chappaqua Fire Department receives, this amounts to about 45 to 50 alarm calls per firefighter in a year, or about three to four per month.

“You know that there are people who will drop whatever they’re doing to help you at a moment’s notice, and you would do the same for them. It sounds very cliche to use the phrase ‘brotherhood and sisterhood’, but it really is true.”
– Chappaqua Fire Chief Paul Eiden

However, Eiden also noted that 95% of the Chappaqua Fire Department membership far exceeds this minimum, with each firefighter responding to about 30-50% of alarms per year. This allows the department to send multiple trucks on calls and alarms, which Eiden says is a “really good feeling as a chief, to know that I’ve got these folks coming in ready to work and able to do what we need to be done when there’s an emergency.”

“The minimum standards for the amount of time you have to give throughout the course of the year is not insurmountable,” Eiden ensures. “It’s definitely manageable within the family structure, whether or not you’ve got other activities outside of the work environment. We find a role for everybody.”

Even once volunteers begin responding to emergencies, Eiden finds that it is crucial for firefighters to continue practicing their skill set and keeping on top of drills and training. He uses the expression that “these skills are perishable,” particularly because Chappaqua does not receive as many emergency calls as a department in an urban environment would. As such, it is essential to regularly refresh the basics. One such opportunity is on Thursday nights when the firehouse hosts “house duty”.

House duty offers members an opportunity to run drills, training, and check their apparatus and equipment to make sure everything is functioning and properly in inventory. People come by to have their questions answered and to see what a volunteer fire department is all about. “For instance, Thursday night we’re going to have a drill we call ‘core competencies,’” Eiden said. “There are five or six different stations that each of the firefighters will go to: connecting a hydrant, putting up a ladder, starting a chainsaw.”

Working together so often, and in such stressful conditions, makes for a unique bond between members of the firehouse. Eiden says that “it really is a very large family… so that when you walk into that building you know that the person on your left and the person on your right have your back with whatever you need–whether it’s going out on an emergency or something going on at home.”

Indeed, the camaraderie between firefighters goes beyond just their time in the firehouse. Eiden tells a story of a time he was away on college visits with his daughter and had an electrical issue at his house. He called up another member of the firehouse, who used to be a general contractor, and he came over to Eiden’s house to resolve the problem while Eiden and his daughter were away.

“That kind of feeling is definetly what we are all about,” Eiden said. “You know that there are people who will drop whatever they’re doing to help you at a moment’s notice, and you would do the same for them. It sounds very cliche to use the phrase ‘brotherhood and sisterhood’, but it really is true.”

Eiden’s daughter is now a firefighter at Chappaqua Fire Department as well, and his son does the same in Mount Kisco. The chief expresses pride not only in his children becoming firefighters, but also in the relationships they are building as they grow within their departments and become leaders themselves. Outside of its work responding to emergencies, the firehouse reaches out to the community to spread fire prevention and safety tips.

Community Education Opportunities during Fire Prevention Month

October is Fire Prevention Month, which means that the Chappaqua Fire Department will visit the Chappaqua nursery schools to speak to the children and acclimate them to being around firefighters in case of an emergency.

And they make it fun and memorable, too. “We bring a couple of our firefighters, and we talk to the kids; the firefighters go from being in street clothes to being completely dressed including being on a tank of air where they sound like Darth Vader,” Eiden explained.

“The gist of that is so that the kids can see how they went from being just a regular person, who was talking to them and making them laugh, to being a firefighter, so that they’re not afraid if a firefighter has to come to their house for an emergency and they’re not all of a sudden intimidated by this person in weird clothing.”

As the firefighters go through the stages of getting into their gear for the children, they associate each step with things that the kids are familiar with. For example, they liken their protective clothing to hoods, raincoats, or boots one may wear when it rains. “We’ve found that really helps the kids have a better understanding of what’s going to happen when we show up,” Eiden said.

“Another thing we do is ask the teachers to emphasize when they’re doing the weekly recap note that goes out to the parents, fire drills in the home,” he went on. “In a corporate environment, we have fire drills in the office. Kids have fire drills at school. But how many families have a meeting place outside of the house in case a fire alarm goes off? Do the kids know they shouldn’t go back in to get their favorite toy or find the family dog? They have a job, and their job is to get out of the house.”

Teaching your children about what to do in case of an emergency, the location of fire extinguishers in the home, and setting up a meeting place outside of the home are key topics to discuss as a family to be prepared in case of an emergency. For more fire prevention insights, don’t miss the the Chappaqua Fire Department’s Open House, which is hosted on one of the first two weekends in October for Fire Prevention Month.

At the Open House, firefighters will start fires in a metal trough, so that residents can practice using a fire extinguisher to help put it out. Residents can also watch as firefighters use the jaws of life to cut up a car, simulating a car accident. They also offer activities for kids, including a fire hose with a nozzle on it and a spinning target which allows them to try using a fire hose.

Eiden says they also give out coloring books and “some take-home things so that if parents are really engaged, they can bring it home and extend those lessons.” Volunteer applications are available on the Chappaqua Fire Department’s website, and residents are always encouraged to get involved any way they can. Chief Eiden concluded: “What better thing to do then support your friends and neighbors in that way?”

Visit chappaquafd.org for more info.

Photos in this article are all courtesy of the Chappaqua Fire Department.