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Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes: November 22 and 23

October 26, 2019 by The Inside Press

The Ossining Children’s Center (OCC) will be the beneficiary of the Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes, Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23, 2019. The event is produced in partnership with Holbrook Cottage, a lifestyle shop located in Briarcliff Manor.

The Festive Stroll, founded 21 years ago by Sue Taub of Holbrook Cottage and of Briarcliff Manor, will feature decorating traditions from around the world that will be displayed in three Sleepy Hollow homes. In addition to the magnificent decorations, the Stroll will highlight the rich history of the Philipse Manor neighborhood.

Two of the classic homes, both built in the 1920’s, will whisk strollers away to countries around the world through creative table settings, unique floral displays, and Christmas trees decorated in styles representing various cultures. Guests will travel from the British Isles, to Scandinavia, to Latin America, experiencing a rich tapestry of global Christmas traditions.

Thanksgiving will also be celebrated along the Stroll in a home that will become the true expression of a harvest bounty. Abundant displays of flowers and gourds will give visitors wonderful ideas to take home for their very own Thanksgiving celebrations the following Thursday!          

Guests will also experience Hanukkah through children’s eyes, in a whimsically decorated playroom featuring games and songs. The room will be punctuated with an eclectic display of menorahs, encompassing many styles and traditions.

On Friday, November 22, there will be a Festive Stroll Benefit Luncheon at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, located in Scarborough, NY. Throughout the weekend, small festive touches will entice guests into the holiday spirit. Victorian carolers and a jovial holiday display will greet shoppers as they enter Holbrook Cottage to browse through the distinctive decorative items available for purchase. “The Stroll is an immersive holiday experience attracting revelers from as far as Eastern Connecticut and Southern New Jersey,” said Festive Stroll committee chair Clorissa Gioscia of Briarcliff Manor. “This year promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

All Festive Stroll proceeds will go to the Ossining Children’s Center’s Tuition Assistance Fund. OCC’s tuition program provides quality educational child care to children here regardless of their families’ incomes. Each year the Center enables more than 100 low- and moderate-income parents to maintain steady employment and to model a positive work ethic for their children. During their time at OCC children gain the skills and tools they need to succeed in school and in life. OCC instills a strong foundation enabling every child to reach their full potential. For more information about tour times and destinations and ticket purchase options for the Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes call the Ossining Children’s Center at 941-0230, ext. 22. Also be sure to visit ossiningchildrenscenter.org

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Briarcliff Manor, creative, Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes, games, Holiday Homes, Holiday Stroll, lifestyle, Ossining Children's Center, Songs

Halloween Haunt at Smith’s Tavern

October 26, 2019 by The Inside Press

Ghouls, goblins and ghosts just might make an appearance at the fifth annual Halloween Haunt sponsored by the North Castle Historical Society. The two-day event features a haunted house, pumpkin painting, games, face painting and more.

Admission is $7.00 and the event will take place rain or shine.

October 26: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
October 27: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: face painting, games, halloween, haunted house, North Castle Historical Society

Horace Greeley High School Recognizes 90 Years!

August 29, 2018 by The Inside Press

Horace Greeley High School will recognize the Chappaqua Central School district’s 90th Anniversary during ‘Homecoming’ weekend Friday, September 14th through Saturday, September 15th. In September 1928, Chappaqua School District opened on the site of Robert E. Bell Middle School, serving grades K-12. In 1957, grades 9-12 were relocated to its present site, in its current configuration.

The weekend will kick-off with the Varsity Volleyball Team playing Arlington in the Main Gym at 4:30 p.m. Food trucks, a Spirit Walk including decades worth of Greeley memorabilia and spirited activities organized by student clubs will open to the community at 5 p.m. There are rumblings that the ever-popular dunk tank may return to add to the excitement. The evening will cap off with Friday Night Lights as Greeley Varsity Football faces Walter Panas High School on the Greeley Competition Field at 7 p.m. This year the team welcomes Joe Kearns, Varsity head coach. Be on the lookout for future Quakers taking the field at halftime. The band, cheerleaders and vocal group (tba) will bring on the school spirit throughout the evening.

Homecoming Weekend Game Schedule

(subject to change)

Friday 9/14

4:30 p.m. Varsity Volleyball vs. Arlington
7 p.m. Varsity Football vs. Walter Panas

Saturday 9/15

11 a.m. Varsity Field Hockey vs. North Rockland
12 p.m. Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Red Hook
2 p.m. Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Saunders

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Chappaqua Central School District, games, homecoming, schedule

Strategies for Reducing Screen Time During the Holidays

December 1, 2016 by Donna Abemayor

screenagersIn today’s society we are consumed with screens; whether we are participating in work or leisure activities; children, teenagers, and adults are often engaged with electronics. Childhood activities such as, hopscotch, spud, building forts out of cardboard boxes, and charades have become games of the past. Interpersonal communication as we once knew often ceases to exist. Simple conversation has been replaced by texting and emailing on our laptops, tablets, and IPhones.

In September, the documentary Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age was viewed in our community at the Wallace Auditorium located at the former Reader’s Digest headquarters. The Chappaqua Moms group on Facebook brought this dynamic documentary to the New Castle community. The topic of the overuse of screens by today’s children affects most households.

Julie Scott, co-administrator of Chappaqua Mom’s Facebook page, describes this growing problem as an “epidemic.” She expressed concern that “children don’t know how to unplug.”

Delaney Ruston, Assistant Professor and Filmmaker in Residence in the Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook Medicine filmmaker of Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age shares similar views. As the filmmaker for Screenagers, she reports that most children are on screens 6.5 hour per day; excluding time spent doing homework. This makes the film relatable to most families.

Bringing the documentary to the Wallace theatre created a central viewing location for the local community.  For more information about how technology impacts child development and poses challenges for parents, visit screenagersmovie.com.

Outside the Wallace auditorium prior to a screening of Screenagers: (L-R): Chappaqua Moms’s Julia Scott and Georgia Frasch, town board member Lisa Katz, Rev. Martha Jacobson of the First Congregational Church, and Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein.
Outside the Wallace auditorium prior to a screening of Screenagers: (L-R): Chappaqua Moms’s Julia Scott and Georgia Frasch, town board member Lisa Katz, Rev. Martha Jacobson of the First Congregational Church, and Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein.

Dr. Ruston reports that her two children’s use of screens was her motivation for making the film. At the time that she made the film, they were 12 and 14 and despite attempts to engage them in alternative activities they continued to use screens. Both children were “sneaking screens” even when they were told not to in their household. At this point, she began to look at different methods to curtail their use. As a primary care physician, she began to view it as an addiction. According to Dr. Ruston, “activity on screens affects the nucleus accebens.”
This is the reward circuit of the brain.

When we do anything we consider rewarding; the neurotransmitter dopamine is activated, and this is often what happens to addicts. When we are on screens, dopamine is released and a feeling of enjoyment and pleasure surface and motivates us to continue use.

The problem of screen overuse is a problem that affects families throughout the world. According to Lisa Tabb, co-producer of Screenagers, the documentary has been viewed 1,000 times nationwide and in all 52 states in the United States. The following countries have also had viewings: Australia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, New Zeeland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

As parents, what are some practical solutions to help lessen this problem during everyday use and holidays, when use increases? Delany Ruston, suggests the following:

  • Calm, frequent conversations, which open up the ideas of what the child gains from the screens
  • Looking at it in as a curious; non-judgmental light
  • Parents gradually try to unplug as well, and designate app free-days in the house; instead of total non-use of screens
  • Brainstorming what can be done when not texting; such as quality time with family members and reading
  • Purchasing items like an alarm clock to encourage less use of the screens and reliance on the phone for alarms
  • Focusing more on rewards than punishment

Stephanie O’ Leary, Pys.D, a local child psychologist with a practice in Mount Kiso and mom of two agrees with these recommendations in terms of striking a balance and brainstorming about alternative rewarding activities. In addition to her practice, she writes a blog and facilitates virtual parenting webinars.

On her website, www.stephanieoleary.com, she discusses the challenges of “parenting in the real world,” and specifically addresses concerns about the use of screens among children. She also adds, “to tolerate the fall-out when children are told that there may be some restrictions of time is important.”

Dr. Leary reports in her practice she sees an increase of use during holiday seasons. She recommends a software system to monitor the content of children’s use. A parent can block inappropriate content and apps, as well as restrict mature content sites and certain apps.

She reports utilizing a product called Net Nanny, which worked well with her family. These monitoring systems work across your desktop, laptop, and phone. Dr. Leary agrees with not making it a right and wrong conversation, but having open, non- judgmental conversations, which allow the child and parent to be thoughtful screen consumers.

Donna Abemayor is a local resident and frequent contributor to Inside Chappaqua.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Digital addiction, Digital Age, games, iphones, Parenting in a Digital Age, SCREENAGERS, Too much screen time

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