The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Neighborhoods

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

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I’ve been thinking about Mrs. Dobrowski a lot as I work on this issue of the magazine. A widow, she lived across the street from us at my childhood home in Queens. On sunny days, she’d sit on the porch in her housedress reading the newspaper. On cloudy days, she watched TV. If I peered out through my window, I could make out the glare of the TV, bunny ear antennae perched on top. She would feed the neighborhood stray cats too and leave out a bowl of milk for them.

Later as I became a latchkey kid when my mom returned to work, my mom asked her to keep an eye out for me to make sure I was safely inside after school. She did. I could see her looking out her window as she took this duty very seriously. In return, my dad helped her shovel her walkway when it snowed or other simple home maintenance problems. In essence, she was a good neighbor and we looked out for each other. Mrs. Dobrowski walked that delicate balance of being friendly and helpful without ever being intrusive or nosy.

A central focus of this issue was what makes your neighborhood special? Our talented writer Christine Pasqueralle interviewed several families from various sections of town and the bottom line is that our neighborhoods are special because of the people who live in them who foster a sense of community. We plan on continuing this in future issues so be on the lookout for it and perhaps you’ll spot a neighbor or two.

Several area residents are also profiled in this issue. From the residents lovingly planting beautiful native gardens to increase pollination in our community to volunteers spending countless hours accompanying their therapy dogs to help out senior citizens or stressed out students, I’d be thrilled to have any of these residents as neighbors. And don’t forget to check out the story about the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund, a true community effort that assists Greeley students in paying for college. As a recipient of the scholarship said, “I thought college wasn’t even an option for me. (The fund) really gave me more than money–they gave me hope.” That’s the true essence of neighbors helping neighbors.

Warmly,

P.S. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to local nonprofit (914) Cares for organizing the inaugural Westchester Poverty Symposium held last month that I attended. The half-day symposium put a spotlight on poverty in Westchester County and explored strategies and partnerships to disrupt the cycle of poverty that exists throughout. Again, another prime example of neighbors helping neighbors.

Neighborhood Park in Briarcliff: Perfect for Families and Pups

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The Neighborhood Park area of Briarcliff Manor is perfect for families with growing children. The park itself was dedicated to the Village of Briarcliff Manor in 1954 and covers five acres of land featuring a baseball field, basketball court and playground. Many streets around the area are named for soldiers that served in combat, such as Schrade Road. The Wichman family calls Neighborhood Park home.

Amy, assistant to a high school Athletic Director, Steve, who works in sales, Zachary, age 16 and Madeline age 14 have lived in Neighborhood Park five years this April. The family moved from an Ossining townhouse because they were looking for more space and a neighborhood with a suburban feel. “Moving to Neighborhood Park allowed our kids to remain in the Ossining Schools and we also gained the benefit of access to the Briarcliff Recreation Department. My children utilized the Briarcliff Camps for the first few years we lived here. They had many friends in the neighborhood, both in Briarcliff and Ossining and were able to safely walk or ride bikes to see them,” says Amy.

Living in the neighborhood means close access to the park. The Wichman children can safely walk there with friends as well as to the local shops. “Now that our children are older, when they have friends over, they often walk to the shops, specifically, Euro Pizza and Starbucks,” says Amy. The neighborhood is the perfect place for families with pets too. The Wichmans have a puppy and they love walking her around the neighborhood. As Amy says, “Almost everybody seems to have a dog.”

In addition to the safe community feel of the area, Neighborhood Park also celebrates various events throughout the year. One family holds an annual Halloween party for the neighborhood children. As the years go by, the adults now gather while the kids trick-or-treat on their own. The Briarcliff Manor Community Day event is also an important part of the village. Says Amy, “The kids have a blast and we get to run into many friends and acquaintances.” Definitely a great way to meet new neighbors while catching up with old friends.