The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

kids

A Community that Shines

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dawn and ben
Dawn with Ben, 9, on a family vacation in Ogunquit, Maine

By Dawn Greenberg

When my kids were toddlers, I felt pure relief as summer came to an end–finally a bit of respite from tantrums, diapers and long, long days. My boys would soon fall back into the welcoming arms of their preschool teachers.

These days when September looms, I feel quite sad at the speed with which our summers fly by and wish we could have just…one…more….week….please!

I feel not a little anxious about what the new school year brings: the familiar knot in my belly worrying about different classmates and new routines to conquer. Particularly with kids who struggle a bit, my anxieties are multiplied but also eased by the support of other friends and parents and by the knowledge that our teachers are warm and welcoming–and ready for anything!

Luckily, we all soon fall back into our roles and routines (with the occasional backward glance at beach days, leisurely dinners on the deck and fireworks). I’ve always felt that our town is at its best during September/October: a slight coolness in the breeze, the leaves just beginning to turn, then an acceleration of activities like Community Day, fall festivals and Halloween. This is why we chose this time of year for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. Down in the hollow of St. Mary the Virgin’s lawn, you can imagine you’re in a quintessential New England town with yellow tips just starting to appear on trees on nearly hills. The morning of the CCBF, I’m at Bell school by 5 a.m., so excited and anxious for our 85+ authors to soon populate our big tent. Even more exciting is 10 a.m., when the eager readers pour in…and keep coming!

Our “little engine that could” book festival, has grown from a modest dream (maybe we’ll draw 1,000 kids!) to becoming the biggest children’s book festival in the metropolitan area, in only three years. It would be impossible to pull off without the year-round work of our core group of volunteers, plus hundreds more who magically appear on book festival day. Our sponsors are pivotal to helping us be the best we can be for the thousands of visitors who arrive. It’s a day for our community to shine!

We also knew that Chappaqua was a welcoming place for readers; after all, we are all about our good schools and teaching our kids about the wide world outside of our borders. What could be better than encouraging a love of books to remind us of our place in the universe and to expose kids to every corner of the globe? I’ve always known that an early love of reading puts you in good stead for life and it’s something I’m eager to encourage in every kid I meet. In interviewing Dr. Lyn McKay for this issue, I was thrilled to hear her amplification on the vital role of reading in kids’ academic and emotional development.

It has also been so uplifting and exciting to be involved in founding Chappaqua Cares with my partner Jessica Reinmann. Whether gathering food for the many food pantries with exploding need in our area, helping out a resident who finds herself in a painful situation or even gathering dolls to contribute to a parenting class for immigrant parents at Neighbor’s Link, we find our days to be intensely rewarding with a new challenge around every corner.

Our biggest production, building on the wonderful original Empty Bowls program begun in Chappaqua by Penny Vane, will be an amazing celebration in November called Empty Bowls Westchester (see Jessica’s article in this issue). We have high aims to provide funding not only for the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry but for many other pantries in our area. In fact, my amazing artistic neighbor Mindy Kombert and her friends in the Northern Westchester Artists’ Guild have worked tirelessly to help local folks find their inner artist to create gorgeous bowls to be given away at the event. So far we have created close to 100 bowls, with approximately 50 more needed–each a work of art and passion.

Whatever your fall brings–and I hope your expectations are high–I wish you an easy back-to-school transition with time still set aside to play…and read! We hope you’ll find some time to volunteer, too, and get involved in our wonderful, vibrant, giving community.

I’m very proud to call Chappaqua home.

-Dawn

 

 

Summer 2015: New Castle Day Camps, Your “Community Camp”

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sun-fun

Release from New Castle Town Hall:

Looking for a quality, affordable and 
convenient day camp to send your kids to this summer?

Why not choose one of the New Castle Recreation & Parks Day Camp programs!

We offer an affordable day camp program filled with opportunities for campers to be active, be creative and be themselves! Our goal is to host a safe, fun and affordable day camp for the residents of New Castle. Our staff are courteous, professional and always looking out for the well being of the campers. The camp administrative staff members have years of experience not only in a camp setting but as educators, counselors, nurses, coaches and parents. Depending on what camp your child attends, campers will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as: swimming, arts and crafts, music, sports, trips, special events, camp carnival and much more!

To access more detailed camp information and a camp registration form, please see our “Summer Day Camp” page by visiting www.ncdaycamps.com

Registration information can be found here.

The Day Camp Registration Form is required to enroll your child in camp. The form must be completed in full…no partial paperwork will be accepted!

Chappaqua Camping 101

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joe-camp-4By Joe Giannettino

I know what you’re thinking…the only thing Chappaqua and camping have in common is that they both begin with the letter “C.” Well, that doesn’t have to be the case.

I remember sitting around a fire pit with a few of my high-powered New Castle neighbors, cigars and scotches in-hand. One of them said (with a surprised tone in his voice), “This is really nice.” Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Now, I’ve been an outdoorsman my whole life, so the joy of hanging with friends around a fire wasn’t new to me at all.

I asked a simple question which set an entire chain of events in motion. “Have you guys ever gone camping?” Silence. Then came the jokes. “I only camp at the Four Seasons.” “Is there room service?” and, “do they have wifi?” After a few more drinks, I convinced this group of CEOs, lawyers and captains of industry to give camping the old college try.

These guys were total rookies, so I suggested Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Gardiner, New York. It’s about as intimidating as it sounds. Yogi’s is a family friendly campground about an hour away; complete with a swimming pool, general store and even an arcade. Hardly the rugged outdoors, but it was a start.

joe-camp-oneAs the date approached, the frantic emails intensified. Panicked fathers scrambled to figure out what they needed. I wish I could’ve have seen the salesman at Target as, one by one, the dads cleaned out their inventory of tents, sleeping bags, gadgets and fishing equipment. At this point, the Four Seasons would’ve been less expensive.The cars were packed, leaving barely enough room for the kids. Good thing it was only a short drive. We arrived at the campground, checked in and headed to our sites. A numbered stake divided each spot, which came outfitted with an old truck rim (for the campfire) and a faded picnic table. The task of unpacking began.

Fear set in as my fellow Chappaquans struggled to figure out which tent pole went where and how they were going to blow up a queen size air mattress using only their lungs. One of the guys brought a tent that rivalled the houses in Random Farms, complete with three bedrooms and a vestibule. My eight-year-old son became an entrepreneur that day, as each of the fathers gave him $10 to complete their tasks. It may have cost Mr. Random Farms $15.

With the tents finally set up, the next project was to collect firewood for our campfire. This was a necessity if we wanted to eat. The kids scattered like worker bees, each time bringing back twigs barely big enough to support a Barbie campfire. After about 15 minutes, one of the dads showed up with three perfectly bundled stacks of seasoned firewood he purchased from the general store. Not exactly living off the land, but effective.

One dad produced a cooler full of sausages and steaks purchased that morning from the Village Market. We were camping in style! Well, Chappaqua style anyway. Each link and steak sizzled as it hit the grill. The scent wafted. The kids were off riding bikes, fishing and playing wiffle ball. All was good in the world. Like our night around the fire pit, we enjoyed the warmth of the flames…and our friendships.

That camping trip became an annual tradition for all us dads and created lifelong memories.

joe-camp-3There are dozens of local campgrounds to suit every level. For beginners, I recommend Ward Pound Ridge, where rustic lean-to’s are available, or Croton Point Park with views of the Hudson. Both are within a 15-minute drive, and if all’s not going to plan (or it rains), it’s an easy trip back home. For more adventurous beginners, there are several Yogi Bear Campgrounds and KOA’s within a two-hour drive. They have all the amenities described above. New York also has many state campgrounds which are easy to enjoy.

Visit www.nysparks.com/parks/ for more info.

In today’s world of facebooking, tweeting and i-things, the great outdoors offers a rare opportunity to get back to basics, slow down and reconnect. If you haven’t slept under the stars, it’s never too late to start. Just make sure you give Target a heads-up that you’re coming.

Joe Giannettino is a life long resident of northern Westchester. He has two sons, Daniel and Michael. He enjoys fishing, softball and any other sport in which you can exaggerate your abilities.

Hey Coach!

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eric-kratzBy Eric Kratz

It is hard to believe that it’s been 14 years since I started coaching. The kids I coached at the beginning are now young men and women that can out-play me in the sports I helped them learn, but that’s what’s supposed to happen.

I became interested in coaching in 1992 after walking into a client’s office and admiring his wall filled with team photos. I had many long talks with him about how much work, but tremendous joy it was coaching his son. I was hooked…but a few things had to happen first. Like get married, have kids and buy a house somewhere in Westchester.

Fast forward to about 2002 and me running up and down the sidelines at the Boys and Girls Club coaching five-year-old boys on the basketball court.

I learned quickly that self-confidence and a love for the game were the most powerful things I could teach. Some kids have natural talents; others need to work hard to achieve basic skills. At the beginning of every season I would try to figure out where each kid could play at the start of the season that would get them into the game but not shake their confidence. As they learned and developed, I slowly moved them around to other positions. I explained this strategy to the kids and they really got it. Unfortunately, some parents didn’t. It still amazes me how some people are focused on playing time and winning at such a young age, when we really should be concentrating on teamwork and fundamentals.

hey-coachThe first time I coached 5th grade rec baseball we had a really interesting combination of kids. We were the Mets, and we played like our namesake. (I’m a Mets fan, but, let’s face it, being a Mets fan is tough). We had one really talented kid–I think he is now playing for Greeley–but the other 12 needed a little work. Some of the kids never played before. I tried to build their confidence throughout the season. I first put them in positions I thought they could handle to build up their confidence, then slowly moved them around, telling them what they needed to work on to get better.

By the end of the season, we had kids that could play several positions pretty well. We worked on the basics, base running, how to communicate and, most importantly, to support each other. All the teams made the playoffs, the top two got to play under the lights at the Rec field with the whole league watching in a championship game. It was a great experience. Too bad our town does not have more night sports events like high school football, but that’s another article for another time…

 “It still amazes me how some people are focused on playing time and winning at such a young age, when we really should be concentrating on teamwork and fundamentals.”

We were not supposed to get past the first round, but we kept on winning. The kids played with confidence and supported each other. We ended up winning the championship in extra innings. I know most of them probably forgot about it the next day, but it was the realization of my amateur coaching dreams.

This spring will be the last season that I coach a sport. It has been a fun ride. I hope the kids I coached enjoyed the experience and will have the confidence to compete in anything. I moved my office recently, and kept one wall to hang all of my team pictures.

Sometimes, when the day is not going the way I would like, I take a few minutes to look at the pictures and remember all the fun and great reactions the kids had when they made a nice play. I hope that wall of photos, and maybe this story, inspires others to coach and continue the tradition.

Eric Kratz has been living in Chappaqua since 1997. When not coaching, Eric owns a software company and can often be seen jogging along Seven Bridges Road.

 

Am I Giving My Kids an Edge?

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JanineBy Janine Marino

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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