The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Reflections from the Precipice

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On Climbing the COVID Mountain: A Heartfelt and Fact-Based Plea by an Emergency Room Doctor

By Dr. Evan Cohen

As an emergency physician, a husband and a father of two young children, I spend a lot of time thinking about Covid. Where we have been and where we are going. I find that despite all the destruction and pain that we have endured, the future is still ours to create.

Here, on the precipice of the Covid mountain I realize that I’ve gone through all of the stages of pandemic grief. In February and early March it was shock and disbelief. I did not think that Covid-19 would be so bad; it was being overblown by the media. Like Ebola, Bird Flu and SARS, it was happening far away and would not affect me. When it reached our shores and my community in New York, I felt certain that we could briefly quarantine our way out of the mess. As April rolled around, I was angry that so many people were dying. Selfishly, I was even more angry about the sacrifices that my family and I had to make. No more weekend date nights or get-togethers with friends, no vacations, no school or playdates for my children and there were no more escapes to the arcades and indoor playgrounds on those painful rainy days.  

Dr. Evan Cohen and his family

I stopped at the guilt stage during a frightening two weeks when my parents developed Covid. My father recovered very quickly, but as my mother’s illness lingered, I kept seeing her face superimposed onto my patients in the emergency department. I was constantly thinking about the possibility of someone so important to me lying in a hospital bed alone and with no effective treatments available. The worst part as a son and emergency doctor was that there was nothing that I could do other than call her every few hours to make sure her breathing wasn’t labored. After that experience, the Covid-related depression was almost a relief. It didn’t matter much that I am trained to recognize the risk factors for depression and get people help when they need it. I could only feel positive for so long while thinking about all that had been taken away from me, there was no end in sight. I remember leaving an interview I gave on Covid-related depression and feeling so hypocritical telling people how to try and battle the same gloom that I was feeling.

What kept me going during that time was the incredible support that I and my colleagues received from our community. As an ER doctor, I feel like I’ve been trained to deal with anything and anybody that comes through my doors. Having trained in Camden, New Jersey and worked all over the east coast of this country, nothing could shake or surprise me and I was proud of that. Many times, I was so good at separating emotion from reality that I forgot the value of my work. As a heartfelt reminder, our staff received countless letters of gratitude and witnessed several “drive-by” parades organized by the community. The hospital played “Fight Song” on the loudspeaker every time a Covid patient was discharged, a moment that always sent a shiver down my spine! I pray that every health care worker felt as appreciated as I did during those months.    

The summer offered me a much needed respite and life almost felt normal. My mood was tied to the case count and as cases trended down in my community, I was able to spend time with my extended family, take my children to the playground and pool club. I would go days at a time without seeing a Covid patient at work.  Now, with the summer in the rear view mirror and the weather getting too cold to play outside, I’ve reached the acceptance phase, although I’ve had to go through many of these painful phases again on my way here.  

I accept that Covid is real and won’t disappear if we just wish hard enough. I accept that many more people will get sick and die and I accept that there will be sacrifices this winter. I also accept that myself contracting Covid is not inevitable and that I have some control over how things work out.  

Nationwide, we are seeing the exponential spread of this illness come back with a vengeance.  As case counts reach a critical level, the internal calculus we have been doing has changed.  Chances are that any time there is any gathering of more than just a few people, there will be someone in the crowd with Covid. We are back to all Covid all the time. The biggest public health threat, hospital overcrowding, is happening again.  

I appreciate that it seems like fewer people are dying and going on ventilators compared to last spring. The best explanation I can come up with for this is complex but I think is partially related to the amazing work of the scientific community in narrowing down and creating effective therapeutics. Dedicated scientists were able to figure out in short order that hydroxychloroquine, early ventilator use and azithromycin were out and remdesivir, steroids, and blood thinners were in. I feel optimistic about the new arrival of monoclonal antibodies. Despite all of these drugs, the most important factor that I see is the availability of nurses and other health care workers to be adequately staffed to care for the large numbers of Covid patients in the hospitals. This just cannot be overstated for any medical condition that requires a high intensity of care! For anyone that has recovered from surgery or serious illness, you know how important it is to take your medications on time, eat nutritious foods, be clean, communicate with loved ones and be able to walk. One of my health care heroes, a nurse colleague, donated countless hours last spring cleaning soiled patients and feeding them. those being the most essential tools in her toolkit. Those simple but crucial things just can’t happen without adequate staffing in hospitals.  

Now, from standing on what I hope is the precipice, I see two futures. In one dark world, we have not learned from the mistakes of the past. Our Ids control our superego and we do what feels good. After all, it feels good to eat in a restaurant, to hang out with our friends, and to see our families. In this future, I see our schools closing down and my five-year-old son unable to sit still for Zoom kindergarten. I see my three-year-old daughter deprived of seeing her best friend and unable to get the amazing nurturing experience and growth she has been given this year at her nursery school. I see the death tolls rolling up. I see my colleagues in medicine going back into that dark place of last spring. In the other (brighter) future, I see us all banding back together the way we did in April. We can be supportive of each other during this time and simply do better at keeping the virus at bay.  I do not accept that we have given our best effort at controlling this pandemic.    

I believe that to act with conviction, you must first understand your WHY. My WHY with Covid is mainly driven by fear. I have a fear of my friends and family getting sick, of my children not being able to go to school, overcrowded hospitals and of coming down with a debilitating case of Covid just days before I was scheduled to receive the vaccine. I will never claim that my Covid behavior is perfect, but any sacrifices that I make are with those visions in mind. I know that everyone has different motivations in their lives; nevertheless I hope and believe that many of our WHYs are aligned.  

Whatever your goals and motivations, we have a path forward in this together. And, thanks to the knowledge we have now in terms of mask wearing and physical distancing, we can do better. On the other side of this peak will be hundreds of millions of miraculous life-saving vaccines. Out of this tragedy, it’s possible that the Covid vaccines will offer the most impactful gift that the house of medicine has ever given to humanity. 

As the winter rolls in and we get an influx of young adults home from college and a line-up of holidays that traditionally foster large gatherings, all that I ask is for all of us to realize what is at stake and how close we are to being on the other side of this mountain. I hope to see all of you when we get there.

Dr. Evan Cohen is originally from Rockland County, New York and obtained a B.S degree from Syracuse University. He obtained his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse New York and completed an emergency medicine residency at Cooper University Hospital in Camden New Jersey. Currently, he is serving as a medical director and practicing emergency physician in Orange County New York. He lives with his wife and two children in Chappaqua, New York.

 

New ‘Community Build Back’ Program Aims “to Enable Families to Stay in their Homes”

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Program will Assist Westchester Residents Facing Homelessness Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic

In an effort to stabilize communities and families in the County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Westchester County Executive George Latimer is announcing the Community Build Back Program.  The four pronged umbrella Program has four programs under it.  Two utilize HUD money, the RED STOP Eviction Project and the RED Rent HELP Project, and two separate ones utilize $10 million dollars in CARES ACT money the Blue Priority Homeowners Initiative and the Blue Small Business Landlord Initiative.

Latimer said: “As a result of COVID-19 and the impact on the economy, both the federal government and New York State issued moratoriums on tenant evictions.  Those moratoriums are coming to an end and unemployment benefits have been greatly diminished.  The Community Build Back Program will enable families to stay in their homes as we head into the fall/winter season.”  

The RED STOP Eviction Project utilizes federal HUD funds and will provide up to 4 months of rental or utility arrears for tenants facing eviction or shut off as long as they can demonstrate that their financial hardship is due to COVID.  Tenants must be within 21 days of eviction, must demonstrate ability to pay their rent going forward, and must live in a Westchester Urban County Consortium municipality.  Assistance is available through select non-profits including: Westchester Residential Opportunities, Community Housing Innovations, Washingtonville Housing Alliance and Choice of New Rochelle. 

RED Rent HELP Project – “moving forward” also utilizes federal HUD funds and will provide up to 12 months of rental assistance for families impacted by COVID but focus on households where the tenants worked in industries closed until Phase 4, or who worked for a business that no longer exists. RED Rent HELP Project will be run by the County’s Planning Department.

The Blue Priority Homeowners Initiative, uses $2.5 million dollars and focuses on homeowners facing foreclosure.  That part of the Program, which is estimated to help 325 households in the County, and assist them with up to 4 months of mortgage / cooperative arrears.  Homeowners must show that COVID has negatively impacted their ability to pay their mortgage.  The homeowner will also have to show that they were up to date on payments as of March 2020.  This part of the Program also runs until the end of the year and will be administered through select nonprofits including: Westchester Residential Opportunities, Community Housing Innovations, Washingtonville Housing Alliance, HDSW (Human Development Services of Westchester) and the Bridge Fund.

Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. Executive Director Marlene Zarfes said: “This eviction prevention program will be a lifesaver for so many County residents at risk of becoming homeless.  Westchester Residential Opportunities is proud to partner with the County to help keep people safely in their homes and keep families together.”

For the Blue Small Business Landlord Initiative, $7.5 million dollars has been earmarked to assist approximately 2,400 households in the County by working directly with their landlords and bringing their rent up to date. The Program runs from now until the end of 2020, and can cover up to 75% of back rent for up to 4 months of rent for landlords who can show that their tenants were up to date in March, but have since not been able to pay their rent due to COVID.  This program, to be done by lottery, will assist landlords who own between 4 and 20 units.  Blue Small Business Landlord Initiative will be run by the County’s Planning Department.

Building & Realty Institute (BRI) of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region Executive Director Tim Foley said: “We’re thankful for the creative leadership shown by Westchester County’s Community Build Back Program, and the focus on supplying urgently-needed aid to struggling tenants, landlords, and property owners alike. The landlords and property owners of the Building & Realty Institute have been checking in on our at-risk tenants, offering flexibility and payment plans on their rent, and trying to be as accommodating as possible to good tenants who lost their jobs or lost income due to the COVID pandemic. But as the public health and economic emergency stretches on with no end-date in sight, we need government to step up to stabilize our housing situation. With this four-prong approach, Westchester County is clearly doing so.”

Latimer said: “Landlords, many times, are small business owners who depend on the rent from their properties to support their own families.  We realize the chaos that nonpayment can put into their lives and their communities.  The last thing we want to see is a landlord lose their property over nonpayment.  That benefits no one.”

Board of Directors of the Apartment Owners Advisory Council Member Carol Danziger said: “I am thankful to Westchester County for setting up these programs aimed at helping tenants and landlords during this crisis. I’m a second-generation owner of a family-run small apartment building, like so many small business owners, COVID-19 took any financial problems we had and made them that much worse. After the financial hardships and unimaginable personal losses we’ve experienced, we are still here for our tenants if the needs arise, especially if anyone is struggling. But since we do basically everything ourselves and have no staff, there was no relief for us under the CARES Act previously, and we were quickly running out of options and flexibility. These subsidies and stabilization funds will help us remain steady while the public health emergency continues this fall.”

Fact Sheets and Applications (English and Spanish) for the programs are available on the County’s website at:  www.westchestergov.com/HousingHelp.

News courtesy of the Westchester County Executive Office

Accessing Non-COVID Medical Care During the Time of Corona

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To go or not to go to the doctor? That is the question, although the evidence is mounting that avoiding medical care when you are sick is at best, foolhardy. Still, with the threat of COVID-19, the reports of overwhelmed hospitals, and the shutdown of elective surgeries and non-essential medical care, for many the thought of going to a doctor or emergency room can cause the toughest amongst us to break into a sweat.

A new poll from the American College of Emergency Physicians reveals 80 percent of adults say they are concerned about contracting Covid-19 from another patient or visitor if they need to go to the emergency room. The poll further reveals that 29 percent of adults have actively delayed or avoided seeking medical care due to these concerns. An article published yesterday on this site revealed that emergency room avoidance is a problem that has hit close to home, too, increasing the risk of life threatening conditions.

Michele Older, an Edgemont resident, had been trying so hard to avoid going to any doctors during this pandemic, but she had no alternative when her 17-year-old son had an anaphylactic allergic reaction on the evening of April 30th. She was advised by her pediatrician on the phone that despite administering an epi-pen to her son, she had to go to the emergency room. Although afraid, she drove in the pouring rain that night to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. 

“It was very surreal,” recounts Older. “You couldn’t get into the hospital on your own, you had to knock on the emergency room door, and a nurse covered up in a hazmat suit came to the door and asked several times how old he was before they let me in with him.” Had he been 18 or older, Older would not have been permitted inside due to the stringent precautions all medical facilities are taking due to Covid.“They kept asking about his coughing, which had only started thirty minutes ago because of the allergic reaction, but you could tell they were fearful,” says Older. “Everyone was all masked up and seemed to be very careful and there were people going around cleaning constantly which was good. Everyone just seemed a little stressed, but very nice. It was not crowded and we had a private space. I wouldn’t avoid the hospital if I had another emergency.”

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Proving the adage that when it rains it pours, within a week’s time, Older’s son required several other doctor visits unrelated to his allergic reaction. A growth in his nose that had developed after a surgery he had in February for an injury had suddenly become intolerable. Older had put off bringing him to a doctor because of the pandemic, but her son was now complaining that he could not breathe out of his right nostril. She was able to quickly secure an appointment with his ENT specialist, who performed an in-office procedure.  Within that same week, Older had tele-health visits with her son’s allergist, his pediatrician, and his gastroenterologist for an unrelated issue. “The tele-health visits were great,” she says. “It normally takes weeks to see the gastroenterologist but we were able to set it up for the next day. He spent thirty minutes with us discussing some test results and I thought it was very convenient.”

The Doctors’ Perspective
Although non-essential in-person medical visits have been discouraged, patients who have possible cancer or abnormal studies have been able to be seen during this pandemic. Dr. Andrew Ashikari, a breast cancer surgeon at The Ashikari Breast Center at the Dobbs Ferry Pavilion of St. Johns Riverside Hospital and a longtime Chappaqua resident, tells his patients “if they are concerned about anything, especially swelling, a lump, or nipple discharge, they should see me regardless of the covid crisis.”

Dr. Ashikari has continued to see patients throughout the crisis since “with breast cancer, you really can’t do a breast exam with tele-health.” He has been seeing new diagnoses “but that slowed down a little because people aren’t getting mammography screenings since they were stopped due to covid. Most patients are coming in with palpable masses and then we are able to order diagnostic imaging.” Unfortunately “it has been a struggle” as many breast imagers were furloughed by radiology groups, but luckily for Dr. Ashikari and his patients, “they actually came in out of the goodness of their heart if I asked them that I needed something biopsied,” he explains.

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As far as taking precautions, Dr. Ashikari’s office screens patients by taking their temperatures, making sure they have no cough, wearing masks, spacing people’s appointments out, and putting patients immediately into a room so there is never more than one patient in the waiting room. “I’ve kept my staff hired the whole time and none tested positive or developed antibodies, so we know we’ve been taking the right precautions,” he says.

Photo courtesy of Northeast Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Dr. Doron Ilan, an orthopaedic hand surgeon at Northeast Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Westchester and Rockland Counties and an Armonk dad, has made adaptations to ensure patients get the care they need. “While non urgent surgeries have been postponed, patients with new or recurring injuries and conditions should not delay getting a good evaluation,” advises Dr. Ilan. “Patients continue to get hurt, suffer fractures, lacerations, ligament injuries, pinched nerves and we are here for them. We have instituted a number of options for our patients including telemedicine visits, in-person visits and orthopaedic urgent care where we can see you virtually or in-person the same day in most cases.”

Dr. Ilan’s office has taken numerous steps to keep their offices safe by instituting strict guidelines “including sanitizing each room before every patient, requiring face masks for all staff and patients, pre-screening patients for any illness, social distancing via spacing out visits and online check-in. In partnership with our stand alone surgery centers and outpatient hospital units we have been able to provide our patients with a safe environment to have urgent surgery and we expect to be cleared to do elective surgery in the near future,” he assures.

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Dr. Richard Stumacher, Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Northern Westchester Hospital and an Armonk dad, says he has “seen the fear” but people should not avoid getting the care that they need. “For people whose concerns or complaints can wait or can be taken care of by telehealth, it’s ok for them to avoid the ER and instead call their doctor and arrange a virtual visit. It is not ok for them to not see anyone,” advises Dr. Stumacher. But, as far as the people who needed to go to the hospital and did not go on time, “we’ve seen some challenging cases taking care of those who have been avoiding the hospital when they shouldn’t.”

“The truth is,” says Dr. Stumacher,” that now that we’re way beyond the surge and the numbers are coming down, there should be no excuse for anyone not to either contact their doctor, have a virtual visit, go to an office, or even an ER. The harm that they could be doing themselves by continuing to wait can put them at a greater risk than the risk for getting covid, as long as everyone is following proper procedures, wearing masks, and sterilizing everything. Our intervention has proven to be really successful and nobody is currently catching covid from anybody in our hospital.“

Patients’ Challenges
To reduce the risk of exposure, hospitals and doctors’ offices in New York have instituted policies throughout this crisis of only allowing adult patients into their facilities without family members or companions. While most patients understand the rationale behind these rules, it has been difficult for some since having a trusted companion can help ease anxiety over a medical procedure.

“I completely understand why it has to be this way,” says one Armonk mother battling breast cancer, “but it doesn’t stop me from being terrified when I’m dropped off alone to have surgery or when I have to go in for my chemo treatments. Even surrounded by amazing top-notch nurses and doctors, it’s hard to brave it all without your spouse.”

When an in-person visit can be avoided, however, most patients have been opting to delay a visit or take advantage of tele-health. Jennifer Kalapoutis, an Irvington resident, says that one of her daughters has not been getting her routine allergy shots because the allergist is not offering them right now and her other daughter is not going in to her orthodontist to fix a broken bracket in her braces.

“The orthodontist said he would see her if it was causing her pain, but he doesn’t recommend coming in otherwise,” says Kalapoutis. “I don’t want her to be seen. I don’t want to be exposed and I don’t want to expose anyone else.”

Victoria Assa, a Scarsdale resident, was very satisfied with her recent tele-health experience. In lieu of an in-person appointment with her daughter’s endocrinologist who manages her Type 1 diabetes, she scheduled a tele-visit. ”It went very smoothly,” says Assa, “and because of the advanced technology of her pump and her continuous glucose monitor, it was a very seamless appointment because all of the data was sent through the cloud and available to the doctor on her computer. “

Still, the public remains cautious and sub-consciously, many of us are being just a little more careful in our daily lives. Echoing a popular sentiment of many people over the last few months, Assa admits “I’m always thinking don’t take any risks because I don’t want to end up in an E.R.”

 

The Emergency Shelter Partnership: Helping the Homeless

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Mel Berger and ESP President Phyllis Ruppert
PHOTO BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN

In the winter it’s hard to imagine not coming home to a warm dinner, a cozy bed to sleep in, and a nutritious breakfast in the morning. But even in our affluent Westchester neighborhoods, that is not the case for everyone. There are homeless people right in our own backyard.

“My first awareness of homeless in our community was knowing that people lived in parked cars in different locations and in semi-abandoned buildings in the community,” says Rev. Dr. Paul Alcorn, longtime Pastor of the Bedford Presbyterian Church and member of the Northern Westchester Interfaith Clergy Association.

Mount Kisco pharmacist Melvin Berger, Chairman of The Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council often wondered what happened to the immigrants he saw in the courts. Then in 2004 he had learned that a homeless immigrant had frozen to death in the woods nearby. So through this confluence of events, Berger went to Alcorn with his concerns and the seeds for the Emergency Shelter Partnership (‘ESP’) were sown.

The two joined forces with the Northern Westchester Interfaith Clergy Association and the Town of Mount Kisco and developed a plan to launch an emergency shelter by mid-January. Berger also brought in Carola Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link. “I trusted her opinions and judgments when it came to making ESP happen.” Berger values her and Neighbors Link as a resource, and relies on her knowledge of their guests and their culture.

The partnership’s simple concept consisted of houses of worship opening their doors to offer a safe place to sleep to those in need of shelter. Alcorn says that his congregation had been very involved with the homeless in New York City so ESP was a natural next step for them. On January 24, 2005 the Bedford Presbyterian Church in Bedford Village opened its doors to provide shelter for four men. Volunteers from the organizing group provided the coverage each night of that first week. The American Red Cross provided the cots and bedding for the shelter. There are now 17 participating congregations in Northern Westchester.

From November through the end of March, between 10 and 30 shelter guests are picked up by a bus at the court house in Mount Kisco. “The program runs like clockwork,” says Noah Sorkin of Chappaqua who has been the coordinator of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester’s participation for the past ten years. Arriving around 9 p.m., they eat a buffet dinner and it is lights out by 10 p.m. A paid staffer and congregational volunteer remain with them overnight. Up around 6 a.m. for coffee and something light, they leave with a breakfast/lunch bag by 6:30 a.m.

Twice a week they shower at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester in Mount Kisco before they arrive for their evening meal. Each congregation adds their personal touch to the experience for the shelter guests from storytelling to musical experiences. Girl Scout Troops or Little League teams sometimes serve dinner, as this is a great opportunity for community service. “The congregants put a lot of love into this. It’s a credit to our congregation that we have a lot of repeat families. It has brought the best out of our congregation,” says Sorkin.

Berger says that the majority of the shelter guests are from Guatemala. “So many come from Chiquimula that the Mount Kisco Library named their Wednesday afternoon film festival for the homeless after that city.”

There is a lot of prep work that goes into this well-oiled machine. Berger has a good relationship with law enforcement. Prior to each congregation hosting the shelter, Berger reaches out to the fire and police departments in those neighborhoods so that they are aware that the house of worship has overnight guests.

Phyllis Ruppert of Mount Kisco had been on the team providing meals at St. Francis of Assisi Parish for at least five years when a year and a half ago she was asked to join the Board of Directors and now serves as President. “ESP is a group of compassionate people who care deeply about serving people in need and who are willing to mobilize their congregations to support homeless people.”

While ESP does so much for those in need, it is also so valuable to those who support the program. “All of a sudden, over the course of a winter we have hundreds of people volunteer and get to know and interact with some of the people who are struggling to survive. Some of the stereotypes are broken down,” says Alcorn.

One of the biggest challenges for ESP is financial support. Each member congregation makes a financial commitment as well as providing shelter. “We have one grant, a couple of holiday fundraisers and a list of loyal donors,” says Ruppert. They have expanded their fundraising activities this year and held an informational and fundraising event on October 15 to commemorate World Homeless Day. The driving forces of the ESP and volunteers spoke about their different experiences at the event that took place at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Hall in Mount Kisco.

And there are other challenges. “Severe winter weather causes us to move the hosting location to a congregation location closer to where we pick people up to minimize the need to drive,” says Ruppert who would also like to see that the accommodations are more sensitive to women’s needs, although their shelter guests are primarily and sometimes exclusively male.

The ESP has developed into more than just a traveling homeless shelter. With the educational programs they provide such as ones that teach them how to manage money, they have high hopes for their shelter guests. “My goal is to have all our shelter guests in a position to move up the ladder,” says Berger. He is very proud of what he calls his “success story.” One of their documented shelter guests got a place of his own, went back to school and now has a job as a chef.

“Our program is very successful and has been a model for other communities,” says Berger. The partnership has consulted with other towns to set up sister programs in the County.

“In the future I hope to expand the number of congregations hosting ESP and to mobilize the broader community to provide financial support,” says Ruppert. She would also like to see more unaffiliated people help this faith-based organization. “There is a lot of talent out there. We want to tap more members of the community to get involved. Everyone has some faith in something.”

EMERGENCY SHELTER PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Antioch Baptist Church – Bedford Hills

Bedford Community Church – Bedford Hills

Bedford Presbyterian Church – Bedford Village

Bet Torah Synagogue– Mt. Kisco

First Congregational Church – Chappaqua

Katonah United Methodist Church – Katonah

Katonah Presbyterian Church – Katonah

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection – Mt. Kisco

Pleasantville United Methodist Church – Pleasantville

The Presbyterian Church of Mt. Kisco – Mt. Kisco

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Mt. Kisco

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Katonah

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – Mt. Kisco

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester– Chappaqua

Temple Shaaray Tefila – Bedford Corners

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship – Mt. Kisco

United Methodist Church of Mt. Kisco – Mt. Kisco

For more information: www.emergencyshelterpartnership.org

SHEroes Among Us

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Shown, L-R: Lexi Draper (Junior Firefighter), Luci Labriola-Cuffe (Firefighter/EMS), Sue Macellaro (EMS), Elissa Weinhoff (EMS Training)
Shown, L-R: Lexi Draper (Junior Firefighter), Luci Labriola-Cuffe (Firefighter/EMS), Sue Macellaro (EMS), Elissa Weinhoff (EMS Training) Carolyn Simpson/Doublevison Photographers

Four women graciously took time out from their busy schedules to talk about their roles as volunteers in Armonk. On a Monday night, the night set aside each week for the members of the Armonk Volunteer Fire Department to meet for training, cleaning equipment, restocking the vehicles, and sharing a meal, these inspiring women spoke humbly of their varied, yet similar, roles in the department. As they spoke, each one began to learn more about the others, encouraging each other along the way. From a high school junior to a mother with three children, they are united in their common goal: helping people.

The Armonk FD is one of only nine departments in the county with a combined fire and ambulance service. All the others (some volunteer, some career) have separate departments. As one of the women put it, “we work more efficiently as a team when we have to work together.”

Luci Labriola-Cuffe is currently the Chief of Fire Training at the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, where all 58 fire departments in the county go for training. She volunteers both as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician in Armonk, and has the distinction of having served as Armonk’s first and only female Chief, from 2011 to 2013.

Beginning as an officer in the department and continuing for eight years, Labriola-Cuffe then moved through the ranks, first as an assistant chief for four years, then two years as Chief. Her husband is a police officer in North Castle. The two met while responding to the same calls.

Inspiration to serve? As a child, Labriola-Cuffe’s father suffered with a recurring and serious illness, which necessitated frequent visits to their home by emergency personnel. She was deeply touched by the great work of the EMT’s who repeatedly came to the house and cared for him. “I realized at a young age that I wanted to help people.” During her school years, she became a lifeguard, and continued through college. After graduating with a degree in cardiac rehabilitation and working in the field for a few years, she shifted gears and became a firefighter, the first in her family to join the fire department.

Most memorable call? Helping to deliver a baby in the home of an Armonk resident during October of 2014, alongside her husband. “It was the most exciting call,” she mused, noting that while the mom did all of the work, she was able to offer assistance. Of all the calls involving fires, accidents, and injuries, this one stood out in a good way. “It was thrilling,” she recalled with a smile.

Advice for anyone thinking about joining the department? “You CAN. There is nothing more rewarding than working together.” Labriola-Cuffe spoke of the sense of family, and of teamwork, amongst the fire and emergency medical teams. “You do get something out of this. This is a very rewarding job, and you are very fulfilled knowing you are helping other people.” She also spoke with empathy of the need to be there for the people whose calls she responds to. “They are having their worst day,” she realizes.

Lexi Draper, ready and waiting at the Armonk Fire House
Lexi Draper, ready and waiting at the Armonk Fire House. Eileen Gallagher Photo

Lexi Draper is a high school junior and a member of the Junior Corps, which is for young men and women from the age of 16 through 18. She initially wanted to join the ambulance corps, like her father, but is not yet old enough. Chief Carlos Cano offered her the option of joining the fire department as a junior firefighter, which she gladly accepted. The only girl in a class of about 23, Draper expressed gratitude that the boys have definitely included her as part of the team.

First call? There was a recent call regarding a mattress fire, which had ignited from a car on I-684. Though it was a school night, Draper was permitted to go on the call. (The Junior Corps has a weeknight curfew of 9 p.m. and a weekend time limit of 11 p.m., so as not to take away time from school and studies). Draper proudly described how she, while supervised by experienced members of the department, was put in charge of the nozzle at the end of the hose, an instrumental and rewarding moment for her. “Every call has one goal–putting out fire.”

Role models? Draper has been inspired by both of her parents. Her father serves as a member of the ambulance corps, and her mother is a nurse. Draper’s interest in science and medicine is a perfect fit.

Biggest challenge? Setting aside time for all her activities, including classes, homework, fire department training, and babysitting. Balancing her time becomes crucial.

Advice for peers? “Don’t be afraid to be the only girl to do what you want to do.”

A wife and mother of three boys, Elissa Weinhoff has always had a passion for medicine. First a pre-med student, and then a middle school science teacher, Weinhoff is currently in training as an Emergency Medical Technician. She is taking the extensive training course as well as riding along on the ambulance with EMT’s. Weinhoff plans to take the New York State exam on May 21. She will be on probation until she meets all of the requirements, and hopes to become a full fledged member of the Armonk Emergency Medical Services by this coming September.

Biggest challenge? Taking the required 200 hour course, which consists of a four hour class, two times a week. She travels to New Rochelle for this six month training. “It feels like you’re never going to know everything you need to know.”

Thoughts on volunteering? “This whole operation is unbelievable. This is a team, very supportive, patient–it really is like a family.”

Sue Macellaro has been a member of the Ambulance Corps for 11 years, and is now the Captain. She had been going through a job change years ago, and was not sure what she wanted to do. She even considered becoming a volunteer “candy striper” at a hospital. Encouraged by her husband, she chose to volunteer with the fire department in Armonk as an EMT.

Role model? Her father and brother were both firemen, and inspired her to help people in some capacity.

Most memorable call? Macellaro recalled two severe injuries. One was a young boy accidentally hit by a car. When she arrived at the scene, she found him awake, purple, and desperately gasping for breath. “I talked to him, and kept him awake,” she recounted, trying to keep him as calm as possible. The child fully recovered, but the accident stayed with her.

The second was a “burn call” for a man pinned behind the steering wheel of his car. The car caught on fire after a collision, and the man, a Polish citizen in the country for a visit, was severely burned. He had to be cut out of the car and he, too, was awake. “It was very overwhelming,” Macellaro recalled. “I couldn’t get the smell of burning hair out of my nose.” Visibly touched by the memory, she spoke of visiting the man in the burn unit of the hospital, trying to comfort him before he recovered enough to return home to his family in Poland. Macellaro also spoke of the peer support teams that assist the fire fighters and emergency medical technicians in times of tragedy such as this.

Range of experiences? “We see the gamut.” Serving the airport (HPN, which stands for Harrison Portchester North Castle), calls can range from plane crashes to the needs of older residents, now living at home longer and requiring the help of the ambulance corps more frequently.

In the candid discussion that followed, the women addressed the need for more volunteers, as well as challenges they all face as part of their job.

“It is getting tough,” Macellaro said matter-of-factly. “Many people work. Volunteers are a tough commodity these days.”

Labriola-Cuffe pointed out that perhaps the greatest need for volunteers is during the day, precisely when moms with children in school could be of assistance. Many of the firefighters and EMTs work or attend school during the day, and are less able to respond to calls. “Once you get through training (which is free and in-house for volunteers), you give what you can.”

“I wasn’t sure if I could do it, and then it suddenly took off,” said Macellaro, who added that education continues all the time.

As far as safety goes, whatever the emergency, the safety of the membership is the first priority. “Scene safety,” as Labriola-Cuffe referred to it, is what enables the volunteers to be able to go out on calls to help others.

Other aspects of volunteering? “Keep your mind open,” advised Labriola-Cuffe. At times, what a call starts out as and what you might actually encounter are two different things. “Be able to get back out there.” There are difficult situations to process, which may have lasting effects. However, there is an abundance of support, from the team as a whole as well as special peer support groups when needed.

For more information and ways to help, please visit www.armonkfd.com

Eileen Gallagher is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk magazines. Residing in Chappaqua with her husband and sons, she respects and appreciates the tireless work of all who dedicate themselves to saving lives and keeping their communities safe.