sports

Growing Up Greeley

March 7, 2014 by The Inside Press

By Tim Bloom

I have lived in Chappaqua my entire life, except for eight summers in Maine and one in China. I loved growing up here, given the beauty of the town, the cohesiveness of the community and the myriad opportunities to do almost anything. There were times, mostly in recent years, where I felt how small Chappaqua is and how insulated we are from what life is really like “out there.” But, that doesn’t mean I didn’t have some defining moments, mostly thanks to some influential figures I had the good fortune to encounter along the way.

Now that I am in college, I can see what a great education I got here; from a terrific kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kane, at Roaring Brook, to one of my favorite instructors at Seven Bridges, Mr. Knisely, who taught me how to write and do research. At Greeley I learned how to learn. I also learned how to ask the right questions, but most importantly, I learned how to advocate for myself, and to speak up if something seemed unfair, unethical or just plain wrong. I think it’s hard for some to do that sometimes because the ramifications for speaking up can be significant, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.

There is a sense here that the stakes are high in everything kids do. While that may be true, I am glad I was allowed to screw up sometimes and didn’t always have a backup plan. If we get rescued every time we mess up, we are doomed to repeat those mistakes. There is a lot of pressure on us to always do well, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. I hope parents let their kids fail sometimes because that is how we learn how not to fail the next time.

I played baseball, soccer and eventually football here and was lucky enough to have played for the legendary Bill Tribou at Greeley. He always expected the best from us, and he was a big influence on my determination to always try my hardest at everything I undertake. I also benefited enormously from joining the Chappaqua Fire Department. I believe real community service should be in one’s community or at least close to it. Being a volunteer firefighter has been one of the highlights for me of growing up here. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but it is a meaningful way to help my friends, neighbors and community.

I am now at a university that is many, many times larger than Greeley and I live in a big city for the first time in my life. I play in the band, am pledging a fraternity, and am on the business staff of a professional theatre company celebrating its 125th year. While it’s exciting and a lot of fun, I appreciate having grown up in a beautiful small town, and having received an education that prepared me very well for college. Don’t know where I will end up living, but I do know how lucky I am to have spent my first 18 years growing up in Chappaqua.

Tim Bloom, HGHS Class of 2013, was Student Council President, a recipient of the Chappaqua Rotary’s Jill Goodman Service award. Tim is a first year student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is studying Political Science and is a member of the business staff of Mask and Wig Club.

Town Sports “VIP” Programs a Hit

May 28, 2013 by The Inside Press

By Gillian Hand

Every Saturday afternoon, sneakers are laced, team jerseys put on, and excitement builds. It’s game day. Players head to the field, ready for an afternoon of soccer.

This isn’t just any Chappaqua sport, though. This is AYSO VIP, a program dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable sports experience for children with mental, social or physical disabilities that prevent them from participating on town teams. VIP, which stands for “Very Important Player,” teaches the foundation and skills of the game while also addressing the particular needs of every player. Like mainstream AYSO soccer, the program runs in both the fall and spring, and plays like any other AYSO sport.

With over 20 players, ranging from ages four to 14, VIP allows all children with varying disabilities the opportunity to learn, have fun and be a part of a team. The program helps build self-esteem and provides chances for exercise and socialization with others. At the start of each session, each player is assigned a “buddy”–an able-bodied volunteer helper who assists them both on and off the field. Each practice/game starts with group stretching, after which players can choose to play in the game or simply work on their skills with their buddies. These volunteers stay with the children throughout the practice, always teaching, assisting and encouraging. Whether it’s a high-five for a good kick or a cheer for a goal, buddies keep the kids in high spirits and enthusiastic about the game. There is always space set aside for one-on-one attention, and many different activities that the players can engage in.

Part of the Team

VIP Coordinator Josh Lurie first learned about VIP when he brought his daughter Charlotte to a similar program in Tarrytown several years ago. Thrilled with the opportunity it presented for his special needs child, he went to AYSO to propose a VIP program in Chappaqua. In 2010, the program was born here in town, and with support from the community and AYSO, VIP has progressed into the “fun, safe and healthy sports environment” Lurie hoped it to be. He even hopes to eventually have games against the VIP teams in other towns.

Josh Lurie and his daughter, Charlotte. Photo by Joanna Segal

Parents of the players, says Lurie, have been incredibly grateful for the program. “They can sit down and watch their kids run around, which they usually don’t get the opportunity to do.” Parent Joanna Segal, who’s daughter Leora, age 12, participates in VIP, finds the program wonderful. With two other daughters who play Chappaqua sports, she loves being able to also see Leora as part of a team, enjoying not only the sports themselves but the social aspect as well. “Leora is so excited when she wakes up in the morning knowing it’s game day,” said Segal. “She puts on her uniform proudly and is so thrilled to be part of the team. VIP has allowed her to be more connected to the community.”

Expanding Beyond Soccer

The popularity of the VIP soccer program convinced Lurie that a similar program could be offered during the winter. With the assistance of the New Castle Youth Basketball Association, which helps scheduling court time, VIP basketball was introduced two years ago, and has become popular as well. Not only does the basketball program give the kids another activity to engage in during soccer’s off season, but it also provides an outlet for winter activity and maintains the contact with the friends they made during the fall.

As the program and its need for buddies grew, a Greeley club was formed to recruit and coordinate the volunteers. VIP Special Connection, formed by Greeley students Margot Putnam and Dana Weinberg about a year ago, spreads word of the program and informs the volunteers of practice time and location. Special Connection has doubled the number of volunteer buddies, typically 7th through 12th graders, many of whom form relationships with the VIP children and truly get to know them.

Changing Lives

“VIP has been one of the most rewarding things in any aspect of my life.” said Lurie. “You can see the impact it has on kids.” Kids gain a sense of joy and normalcy, which may not always come easily to them. As they score a goal and look up to see their parents cheering for them from the sidelines, or return to their families after the concluding VIP cheer, the players’ smiles are contagious. As a VIP “buddy” who has worked with these young soccer and basketball players for the past two years, I can’t help but smile along with them. Being able to see their progress and happiness is a feeling like no other, and it’s a privilege for me to be able to participate in this extraordinary program. For more info, visit

chappaquaayso.org/VIP.asp.

Gillian Hand will be a freshman at Horace Greeley High School in the fall.

Remarkable Individuals

May 28, 2013 by The Inside Press

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

Outsiders are often unacquainted with the world inhabited by special needs children. Tomes on the subject are few and far between. Eager to shed light on their rewarding lives, several local families graciously shared their perspective.

Debra Marino spoke of the way in which siblings explain their brothers’ and sisters’ differences to others. When her son, Dylan Bower wanders over to greet his sister Alana and her friends, Alana says, “This is my brother. He has autism. He can’t speak too well.”

For Dylan, being among typical kids–which he enjoys immensely– brings its own set of challenges. One day when he was at a pool, talking and splashing to his heart’s content, one of the other boys asked Marino: “What’s wrong with him?” “His brain works differently from yours,” she responded. The next question posed was: “Is it catching?”

Max Krooks’ energy is amazing. On vacations in La Quinta, California, his days include swimming, biking and shuffleboard. “I don’t get tired,” he related. Having cerebral palsy and being developmentally delayed diminishes neither his pace nor his desire to remain active. After a busy day, he craves muffin tops from Stew Leonard’s.

At home, Krooks is always on the go. Every week he smiles from the saddle when he participates in the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding program. Volunteers surround Cinnamon, his usual horse, as Krooks posts and trots around the ring. His proud mother, Robin Krooks, watches each session and revels in his success. “He’s an equestrian when he’s on a horse,” she said. In a magical dance, the riders follow the gait of the horses. This practice translates into dramatic improvements in posture and movement in their daily routines.

Another important facet of Max’s life involves–you guessed it–more sports. His long list of activities includes playing VIP soccer (AYSO’s program for kids with special needs) and competing in the Special Olympics as part of North East Westchester Special Recreation’s swim team. He often asks his mother whether she will be attending his activities. “He loves when people cheer him on,” his mother related.

Lee Block is an advocate for people with Asperger’s, like himself. He eagerly answered a reporter’s questions. “I can share my experiences and hope people will learn from them,” he said.

Attending a talk by John Elder Robison, the author of “Look Me in the Eye,” was a pivotal moment for Block. Robinson’s memoir focuses on his life with Asperger’s. “I felt very connected. That’s exactly how I felt. I understand his predicament,” Block said.

Block described his comfort level when he is with his Aspy friends. “Most boys my age like to play sports and talk about girls,” Block explained. “We stick to our own little world and that’s how I like it,” he continued.

His mother, Toddi Gutner, added further insight into this aspect of Block’s life. After deciding that public school was not a good fit for her son, she and her husband enrolled him at the Winston Preparatory School. Here, they found a compatible environment, one that eschews loud music, lockers and bells. Gutner explained the way in which this setting meets her son’s needs: “I’m not different there,” he told her. “That’s human nature,” Gutner mused. “Everybody needs their own people.”

Lori D’Adamo’s son Joseph, who is classified as multi-disabled due to the effects of a seizure disorder, benefits greatly from his participation in North East Special Recreation. He enjoys a slew of fun activities including bowling, field trips and dances at the American Legion Hall.

Joseph’s parents nurture his passion for Broadway musicals by taking him to the theatre once a month. His happiness radiates during the shows. When Lori looks at him sitting beside her, she sees him “beaming from ear to ear.”

At home, Joseph often bursts into song spontaneously, singing one of his favorite tunes. His mom is often treated to a rendition of “Luck be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls.”

The inspiration for this article came from Sarah Ellen Rindsberg’s fond recollection of the baby’s voice in “Look Homeward, Angel.”