kids Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Helping Children in their Hour of Need

December 2, 2018 by Shauna Levy

An oftentimes overlooked portion of the population exists mere miles away from the borders of Armonk. The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison that houses approximately 1,000 adult females. Armonk resident Joscelyn Read is working alongside organizations such as Hour Children to enhance the quality of life for the mothers within these walls and the children they’ve left beyond the bars.

Building Bridges Through Bars

Hour Children works to nurture relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children with the belief that a strong family connection maximizes a child’s stability and a woman’s chances of success upon reentry. The organization’s mission immediately resonated with Read, who acknowledges that it doesn’t always elicit that reaction, saying, “It’s a population that people don’t want to think about. They assume the prisoners did something bad and should be there. But, in truth, having met these women, many are lovely. They are human beings who often feel terrible about their actions. With a twist of fate, anyone could be in their position. I believe in second chances.”

Describing herself as someone who “likes to get in the thick of things,” Read makes good on those words by regularly opening the doors of her home to the children of women within the confines of Bedford Correctional. “I can’t imagine anything more difficult than having a parent in prison. For the past year and a half, I host two sisters four times a year for three to four nights while they visit their mom in prison from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” she explains. “It’s the only way for them to keep the connection with their mother alive. Beyond that, I get the opportunity to be a positive influence in their lives and it gives their guardian, in this case the maternal grandmother, a break during which they know the children are in a safe place.”

The Innocence of Children

Of her role, Read says, “The biggest question I get is whether I feel nervous about having these kids in my house. People would be surprised that despite the stark socioeconomic differences, these girls are just like every other kid. They love playing with Legos, watching Nickelodeon and going to the movies. They’re innocents. What sets them apart is their strength. To travel by van six hours or more to see your mom while staying at a stranger’s home is the definition of bravery.”

The sisters aren’t the only children benefitting from the experience. “My children, ages seven and eight, see the girls as friends and love when they visit,” Read says. “They’ve also learned that there are children who don’t have the material possessions and support system that they have. This past summer, we even picked the girls up for their visit early so that they could join us at Hershey Park. We are teaching that kindness is not the exception –it’s the expectation.”

“The biggest question I get is whether I feel nervous about having these kids in my house. People would be surprised that despite the stark socioeconomic differences, these girls are just like every other kid. They love playing with Legos, watching Nickelodeon and going to the movies. They’re innocents. What sets them apart is their strength. To travel by van six hours or more to see your mom while staying at a stranger’s home is the definition of bravery.” – Joscelyn Read

Though the Read family strives to fill these visits with fun and laughter, the true purpose is never far from the peripheral. “There’s excitement to see their mother, but also a sadness as reality hits that they haven’t seen her in three to four months. They cry thinking about continuing this pattern for another four years as she serves her sentence. The last day is always the most emotional. They want to keep seeing their mom and they like staying at my house where they not only have their own beds, but their own rooms as well–luxuries they don’t have at home,” Read states.

Paying It Forward

The statistics for the children of Hour Children are grim. Read reports that children whose mothers are in prison have a much lower college rate versus those whose fathers are in prison. She hopes to crack a dent in that rate, saying, “These girls have to go to college. I love to mentor because I know firsthand how strong an impact it can have on a child’s future. Growing up, I was a little sister in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. My mom wasn’t stable and my “big sister” was so important. We would do little activities like make dinner or go bowling. Just having someone show interest in my life was huge and formative. I will absolutely stay in touch with these girls beyond their time in the program. I will be there to make sure they keep their lives on track. I’m paying it forward.”

To find out more about the organization, visit www.hourchildren.org.

Bronx Lacrosse Greeley Alumn’s Efforts to Empower Students In the Classroom & On the Field

August 29, 2018 by Amy Kelley

Horace Greeley grad Dan Leventhal (‘10) loves lacrosse. He played it in high school and continued on at Tufts University, where he won a national championship and majored in sociology. Now, he’s brought his favorite sport to the South Bronx, where he says it has the power to change the lives of local kids for the better, both on the playing field and in the classroom.

Leventhal spent some time in Israel after graduating from college and from there, he joined Teach for America and was assigned to The Highbridge Green School, a middle school in the South Bronx. He just finished his third year there teaching math to eighth graders.

In 2015, Leventhal decided to start a lacrosse program at the school, and he launched it in the spring of 2016, at Highbridge Green, a school he says is located in the poorest congressional district in America.

“The kids all love lacrosse,” Leventhal said. “In the South Bronx, everyone’s playing basketball. It gives them uniqueness and a chance to differentiate themselves. It’s a fast-paced sport, combinging basketball, football and soccer,” Leventhal added.

“These kids have so much going on at home,” he added. “This gives them a release.” And that’s what Leventhal’s aim is: to help the lacrosse scholars, as they are called, deal with their lives successfully.

And Leventhal said so far, outcomes of program participation have shown positive results, including better attendance, punctuality and higher achievement in various markers of reading and math learning on average when Bronx Lacrosse scholars are compared with other students at Highbridge Green. In order to participate in the program, a certain grade point average is required, Leventhal said. “I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” the principal of The Highbridge Green School has said of the achievements of the Bronx Lacrosse scholars.

Last spring and fall, a girls’ program was added at The Highbridge Green School and there’s also a Bronx Lacrosse program now at another local middle school.

While lacrosse is a spring sport, Bronx Lacrosse has the student athletes training in the fall also, Leventhal said, and even during the summer. “What we’ve done this summer is gotten our kids scholarships at different lacrosse camps. It’s a great opportunity for them,” he said, adding that next year Bronx Lacrosse will be looking for even more camp opportunities and also aiming to find sponsors to help foot the bill for the kids to go on fall trips to play lacrosse with teams from other programs. Bronx Lacrosse has already traveled to Connecticut and to Chappaqua.

“It is a lacrosse organization, but the mission is to keep kids out of the streets and create positive outcomes,” Leventhal said. “It’s an organization that aims to empower youth in the classroom and on the field.” To that end, Bronx Lacrosse has two full-time program coordinators besides Leventhal.

Anyone interested in the initiative can watch Highbridge: A Bronx Lacrosse Story on YouTube and check out the program’s website at bronxlacrosse.org.

This past year, besides growing his organization and teaching math, Leventhal played in the World Lacrosse Championship as a midfielder for Israel’s team, which placed 7th of 45. “Some of our games were on ESPN so it was exciting for the kids to watch me,” Leventhal said. “And make fun of me.”

Most funding for the program currently comes from money distributed from each school’s principal as well as from NYC’s after-school program, Leventhal said, but as he transitions to full-time with Bronx Lacrosse he will be focusing on developing other fundraising sources.

Of his latest plans, Leventhal said “Fundraising is a major priority. We’re going to have a big fundraiser, probably next spring.” Leventhal said his desire to give back is motivated in part by his upbringing in Chappaqua. “I had a lot of opportunity growing up,” he said. “My parents always got me whatever I needed for sports. That’s our goal here–to make these things accessible to these kids.”

Safeguarding Your Child’s Health at School

August 29, 2018 by Amy Kelley

As summer comes to a close, local parents can be found buying notebooks, pencils and clothes and getting ready for the changes in routines and activities that a new school year brings. But what about safeguarding the health of children returning to school?

Along with new challenges and commitments can come new exposure to all kinds of viruses, not to mention that plague of camps and classrooms alike: lice. According to Dr. Ellen Lestz, a pediatrician with White Plains Hospital Physicians Associates in Armonk, weather changes such as those experienced in our area in the fall cause viruses to be more prevalent, and “your standard communicable things” are the most common at back-to-school time: Viruses that cause maladies such as colds, coughs and gastrointestinal problems.

Handwashing Is Key

Dr. Lestz said handwashing is the “most important” defense. Noting that many classrooms have hand sanitizer available, she stressed that children should clean their hands before lunch or a snack. “It’s good when teachers reinforce this at the beginning of the year,” she said, “and when they teach children how to cough and sneeze appropriately.”

Kids and adults alike should sneeze or cough into their elbows, not their hands, and if a hand is accidentally used to stifle a cough or a sneeze, handwashing should follow right away.

Lestz also pointed out that students need a nutritious diet and enough sleep to remain healthy, and she recommended that parents work on changing sleep schedules about a week in advance of the school year, back to school-year timeframes.

“I think that will kind of prime their immune systems,” she said.

Keeping Lice at Bay

As far as lice goes, Lestz said that while probably more common at camp, it can be a problem at school as well. Besides the usual admonitions not to share hats or combs and to keep long hair back, Lestz said there’s not a lot of evidence that over-the-counter products advertised to repel lice actually work.

But when a kid does have lice, Lestz said it can be a good idea to call on a lice professional. Besides great combouts, these lice-eradication experts are good at communicating to parents and children the steps they need to take in order to prevent recurrence. “They’re so, so thorough,” Lestz said.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) also recommends that parents review proper hygiene to prevent the spread of infections before school starts, and parents should know their school’s policy regarding when to keep sick kids home.

Parents should also have child care plans for sick children if needed, and in addition to required up-to-date vaccines, the NASN Back-to-School family checklist also recommends flu vaccinations. Of course, parents should communicate any health concerns or issues their children have with school nurses.

Other ways of preparing for optimal mental and emotional health may include getting youngsters back in touch with school friends after a summer apart. Lestz suggested arranging a few playdates. And to avoid anxiety, make sure all summer assignments are completed, if possible, with time to spare. “If your child’s nervous, understand their feelings and have open communication with them,” Lestz added.

25 Great Reasons to Discover Music in Chappaqua

June 1, 2018 by The Inside Press

Proudly celebrating its silver anniversary–a quarter century of service, music and harmony in the community, Music in Chappaqua, lead by director Janet Angier, salutes its students past and present, thanks its outstanding faculty and is excited for the next 25 years of music making! Here’s why:

1. You’re Never Too Young: Early childhood beginners, middle school and high school students are encouraged and welcomed to take up an instrument or improve their skills with our award-winning faculty

2. …And, You’re Never Too Old: Stopped playing when life became busy with career and family? In celebration of our quarter century, Music in Chappaqua is offering new adult students a 15 percent discount to come play and study with us. Just mention this article during the month of June for your first time discount..

3. Amazing Faculty: Enthusiastic, caring, supportive, encouraging, accomplished, and dedicated teachers on staff

4. We Listen to You: We match teachers with students’ learning styles, music preferences, and personalities

5. Award Winning Students: Whether you’re interested in classical music competitions, NYSSMA, NYSMTA, singer-songwriter or vocal competitions, our students are prepared to perform at their highest potential and go on to win across the board

6. Students Pursue Their Passions: Many of our students go on to continue their study at prestigious colleges and universities including The Manhattan School of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy, Julliard, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Berklee, and more

7. Students Become Professional Performers: Thriving careers in music started at Music in Chappaqua; such as world renowned mezzo soprano Stephanie Marshall, who now performs with the English National Opera, began her studies with our director, Janet Angier

8. All Genres of Music: Classical, Jazz, Broadway, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Pop, Hip-hop, Rock, Progressive Rock, Metal and everything in between – we teach all styles and levels

9. All Instruments: Voice, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Clarinet, Flute, Saxophones, Trumpet, Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums, Songwriting, Harmonica, and Ukulele

10. Easy Scheduling: Open 7 days a week all year round; generally follows the public-school calendar, extremely flexible summer opportunities

11. Flexible Teaching Locations: Lessons are offered in our Chappaqua studios or in the comfort of your home

12. Custom Tailored Curriculum: Your musical aspirations, needs and wants are listened to and a custom tailored program is designed for your private lessons or Rock Workshop experience

13. Specialized Approach: We aim to suit each individual student’s personal artistic and educational requirements

14. Serving Pros and Non-Pros: From absolute beginners to professionals who are preparing to go into the recording studio, all levels of skill are welcome to study with us

15. Positive Learning Environment: With opportunities to meet and make new friends performing or collaborating in rock bands, songwriting sessions, and recitals

16. Confidence and Self Expression: Students are encouraged and inspired with enthusiasm and exuberance; we believe real music making creates students who are comfortable and confident in their performances and with who they are as a person

17. Regular Performance Opportunities: Year-round performances offered including Open Mic Nights, Singer-Songwriter Shows, Formal Recitals, and Rock & Roll Shows

18. Fantastic Performance Venues: Performances take place where so many stars have launched careers; notable venues have included Steinway Hall, The Wainwright House, Rockwood Music Hall, and NYC’s The Bitter End

19. Beautiful Facility: Clean, modern exterior and interior designs, a relaxing lobby welcomes students and guests with visibility into cutting-edge, lesson studios

20. State of the Art Equipment: Four grand pianos, a fully equipped Rock rehearsal room, plus the latest computer hardware and software, all designed to enhance the learning and performance process

21. Beautiful Landscaping: Modern culture, art, architecture and design tucked into a convenient Chappaqua location, our space exudes peace and tranquility; a proud recipient of The Beautification Award from the Town of New Castle

22. Summer Rock and Roll Camp: A highly successful day camp that runs for 6-week long sessions, The New York Rock Academy places kids and teens at any playing level into bands with others of similar age, musical taste, and playing ability

23. Giving Back to The Community: Local groups and activities are sponsored by Music in Chappaqua such as the Town of New Castle’s Summer Concert Series and the recent March For Our Lives Benefit Concert

24. A Trustworthy Business For 25 Years: Proudly celebrating a quarter century of service, music and harmony in the community

25. You! Music in Chappaqua looks forward to welcoming you into our studios soon!

Learning from Experience: Local Young Entrepreneurs Rack Up Life Lessons

June 1, 2018 by Amy Kelley

Camp counselors, lifeguards, the desk at the pool: teens join the workforce in droves when school’s out, often taking these classic summer jobs. But some entrepreneurial local teens–and even younger kids–will spend this summer working for themselves, at new businesses or endeavors they started. They’ll make money but they’ll also be paid in life lessons other young people may not necessarily learn until after college.

Matching Jobs with Teens

Mac Yavner and Spencer McGowan, both 16 and juniors at Horace Greeley High School, are the third owners of Teen Agency (teenagency.org) which matches teens with community members who seek to employ them. “We hope to develop (the agency) and we hope to sell it when we graduate from Greeley,” McGowan said. “We started with parents asking us for babysitters and tutors but one of our goals was to get different kinds of jobs.”

After working on getting more visibility for the agency, different requests did come in. A homeowner wanted logs moved so Yavner and McGowan enlisted friends who play football to put some muscle into it. Then an elderly couple asked for someone to change the batteries in their smoke detectors, and word spread in their development about that service. “Word gets around,” Yavner said. “Before Thanksgiving, one person asked for help moving furniture, then a lot of people asked for the same thing.”

Yavner and McGowan are in business for the experience; they will madonate their profits to a food allergy charity that helps people who can’t afford epipens and don’t have insurance.

But they both say they’re really profiting by what they’ve learned. “What you put in is what you get out,” Yavner said. “If you try to make money and be successful it’s definitely within reach,” McGowan added.

Jewelry Making Biz: Bijoux by Chloe

Byram Hills High School Senior Chloe Perline has been running her jewelry-making business, Bijoux by Chloe, for about three years, and she plans to continue her efforts while at Syracuse University next fall. “I started making little bracelets a few years ago and my friends really liked them,” she said. That led to the creation of a website, bijouxbychloe.com, and Perline said her business is going very well, and she’s learned about a lot more than jewelry making. “There’s a lot to it,” she said. “Figuring out pricing and marketing–it’s a lot of work but it’s really fun too.”

‘Rent a Teenager’

Mason Greenstein,14, and a freshman at Horace Greeley, is a student with a competing business called Rentateenager.com that provides responsible teenagers to perform various jobs. “We offer a less expensive option than professional expert services. Some of the services we offer include sports coaching, tutoring, baby sitting, dog walking, yard work, after school drivers, photographers and anything else that a teenager can help with,” explained Greenstein.

Greenstein feels that the business has taught him to hone in on his organizational skills. “I have a lot of teenagers offering their services. I also have a lot of people who want teenagers for various jobs. Everything needs to be organized so I can promptly provide the right teenager for specific requests.”

The Paint Can Kid

In Chappaqua, 11-year-old Michael Weyne has joined the ranks of the hamlet’s younger entrepreneurs as The Paint Can Kid (the name, by the way, is trademarked.) Weyne will come with his dad, Jonathan Weyne, to pick up old paint cans for a mere $2 per can–and for a lot of cans there’s a volume discount. Handling old paint cans wasn’t Weyne’s first business idea –he had another plan but realized he needed startup money.

“He asked me how to get capital,” Jonathan Weyne said. “I said you could have it, borrow it, or earn it–so I challenged him to start a summer business and earn $10,000.” Weyne overheard his dad and a neighbor discuss getting rid of paint cans, and another business idea was born. He researched his idea extensively and launched The Paint Can Kid last summer, when he was 10, and gave out more than 25 flyers to people listening to music on a summer evening at the bandstand.

Weyne wound up with so many prospective customers, he was booked 4-6 weeks out. He takes the cans and sorts out the cans that have a lot of good paint left. Those, he found, Habitat for Humanity will take, so he’s currently setting that up. As for the rest, Weyne empties the paint into a large bin because he and his dad, a physician who runs clinical trials for biopharmaceutical company Regeneron, are inventing a machine that will separate out much of the water so the remaining paint can be recycled and used. They crush the cans and recycled 133 pounds of steel this past Earth Day.

Will he make it to $10,000 this year? Weyne estimates his chances at 70/30. After all, he’s making money but he’s also spending it–and learning all about business expenses like gas and mileage.

Michael “filed his first income tax return this year,” Jonathan Weyne said, adding that the business is an LLC. While Jonathan Weyne acknowledged that it has been time-consuming helping Michael with his business, he said he truly enjoys this time with Michael (and with Michael’s younger siblings, Alex and Nicole, who are occasionally enlisted as unpaid interns). The Paint Can Kid can be reached at 914-200-3344.

Tutoring Business: A Family Affair

Jake Horwitz, who is currently running Turning Point Tutoring from Scotland as he studies abroad, took over the business from his brother Robbie, who started it as a junior at Greeley. Horwitz said it’s doing well and he currently employs 12 tutors. He credits his success to “great students at Horace Greeley” who serve as tutors, and calls customer service “essential.”

“The most important part of a small business is the people,” Horwitz, 20, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, added.

From Sneakers to Snapshots

Greg Skriloff, a junior at Byram Hills High School in Armonk, offers web design and development as well as photography –his website is greg.skriloff.com. But his start in business was buying and reselling limited edition sneakers, a lucrative effort he continues to this day. “That’s when I’d date back my entrepreneurship in general to when I was 11 or 12 years old. I’d set up a whole process, get a few pairs from each release and re-sell them.” Skriloff “It really teaches you how to separate yourself and manage your time,” Skriloff said. “For example, a kid in high school would ordinarily be going out on a Friday night. But a business changes your priorities.”