The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Spring

“What do you enjoy most about our community in the spring?”

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By Ronni Diamondstein and Illustrated by Naava Katz

Robbin Friedman:

“In spring, I love walking through town to see the magnificent array of flowering trees. April is National Poetry Month and I draw inspiration from a book of Richard Wright’s haiku poems illustrated by photographer Nina Crews, called Seeing Into Tomorrow. While walking around, I take photos of the clear blue skies and newly vibrant trees to pair with poems from the book.”

Robbin Friedman is the head of children’s services at the Chappaqua Library.

Marc Hirschfield:

“As temperatures moderate and days grow longer, I love seeing nature’s awakening as the trees grow their leaves, flowers bloom and birds return and begin to chirp. Going for walks with my wife, Madeline, and my dog, Carmella, are a family favorite to soak in the natural beauty that surrounds us in Chappaqua. And, there is no better way to mark the end of spring than marching with CVAC at Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade.”

Marc Hirschfield is the Captain of the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps. He and his wife, Madeline, moved to Chappaqua in 2002. They have one college-aged son, Ben.

Vincent Conyers:

“The thing I enjoy most about spring in Chappaqua is participating in Community Clean Up Day. It gives me a sense of pride to help beautify the community.”

Vincent Conyers is a retired NYC high school social studies teacher, avid art collector, member of the Board of Directors at Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center in Ridgefield, Connecticut and proud member of the Rotary Club of Belmopan in Belize, C.A.

Alexa Troob:


“Running in my neighborhood, the Farmers Market, people out everywhere, eating outside–community, (and) gardening in my backyard.”

Alexa Troob is a senior at Horace Greeley High School. She loves running, animals, writing, nature, soccer, and yoga.

Ronni Diamondstein is a journalist, photographer, retired school librarian and the author of Jackie and the Books She Loved. She lives in Chappaqua with her dog Maggie Mae. ronnidiamondstein.com

Naava Katz is an illustrator who lives with her family in Chappaqua. naavakatz.com

Spring Gardening: What to Plant & When

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PHOTO BY WENDY ROSEN

With spring around the corner, we reached out to some local gardening experts for guidance on what you can plant in your garden that will bloom this spring and summer. Whether you naturally have a “green thumb,” or you are newly interested in growing vegetables or flowers, we have you covered!

Lisa Eichler, a talented garden designer in Westchester County and proprietor of Legarden Designs, recommends using a “sequence of blooms” to keep your garden blooming beautifully all season long. When designing and installing gardens for her clients, Eichler likes to use a mix of evergreens, flowering shrubs, perennials, and annuals to ensure the garden stays aesthetic throughout the season. Annuals need to be planted every year, while perennials are planted once and last for multiple years.

Photo by Lisa EichLer

Planting Before the Frost Date

According to Eichler, any planting done before the “frost date” of May 10th is called spring planting and is subject to freezing. Thus, it is best to choose hardy, cool weather flowers, which can be found at your local nursery in late March. In a spring container, Eichler may include pansies, which she loves for their “colorful and happy little faces,” as well as sweet alyssum and hyacinth, both of which have a lovely fragrance. She also recommends nemesia, which come in a wide range of colors, and ranunculus, which has both annual and perennial varieties. If one wants to add daffodils or tulips to an early spring container, these can be purchased already sprouting from the nursery. When these cool weather flowers start to wither by mid-June, they can be pulled from the garden and replaced with summer flowers.

Early flowering perennials, such as phlox, can also be purchased from the nursery and planted in early spring, but they have a limited flowering time, as is the case with most perennials. Some favorite perennials that Eichler loves to use are “creeping Jenny” (botanical name: Lysimachia nummularia), which is a yellow vine that lasts the whole season, and hellebores, known for their rose-like blossoms and green foliage.

Photo by Wendy Rosen

Planting After the Frost Date

After May 10th, gardeners can begin their summer planting. Some deer-resistant summer annuals include ageratum and begonias. Eichler also likes to include colorful grasses, commonly known as fountain grass, to add dimension. One of her favorite plants is coleus, which offers lovely foliage.

Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

Tom Roth of family-owned Roth Nursery, which has been in Armonk since 1948, supplied us with helpful information on flowering bushes and evergreens that can be planted in early spring. Roth has worked at his family business since he was a young man and works alongside his brothers, Carl and Walter, and his son, Tommy Jr.

Some deer-resistant, flowering evergreen shrubs that Roth recommends planting after the ground thaws in early spring include broadleaf evergreens like andromeda, which produce white flowers, P.J.M, which sprout purple flowers, and certain species of holly, like American holly and Dragon Lady Holly, which produce red berries. His recommendations for deciduous flowering shrubs include viburnum and spirea. Boxwoods, while they do not flower, are also a great choice for deer-resistant evergreen shrubs. As for bigger evergreens, Roth suggests Norway spruces, Green Giants, and white spruces.

Perennials that Roth suggests planting in early spring include bleeding hearts, ferns, Russian sage, catmint flowers, and any herbs. He recommends keeping things moist while they get established, which usually takes a season.

Planting Your Own Vegetables

Armonk resident Wendy Rosen of Homegrown Gardens, Inc. designs and builds beautiful vegetable gardens for her clients. Rosen had been in film production for many years when the pandemic hit, slowing the industry significantly. Rosen had her own vegetable garden for 20 years, so curating beautiful gardens for others was a natural next step.

“I needed a new creative outlet and Homegrown Gardens was born,” she said. “Producing a garden is similar to producing a TV commercial; it’s all problem-solving and finding solutions.”

Photo by Wendy Rosen

Rosen teams up with carpenters and masons to build enclosures and sets her clients’ gardens up from soup to nuts. She finds it especially rewarding when clients text her pictures of their harvests throughout the year.

“One thing I’ve always loved most about having a garden is sharing our harvest. Most people bring a bottle of red to a dinner party, I bring a squash!” she says.

For spring gardening, Rosen recommends planting cucumber seeds outdoors in mid to late March, carrot seeds in late March, and beans in mid to late April.

For summer gardening, she advises planting peas outdoors in early May and tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, zucchini, and basil all on Mother’s Day.

For fall gardening, Rosen says fennel seeds can be planted outdoors in late July, radishes and peas in early August, carrots and kale in mid to late August, lettuce in early September, and spinach in mid-September.

Replacing and replanting new vegetable plants ensures a long growing season. Each season, Rosen recommends rotating everything in your garden as each variety takes different nutrients from the soil.

Each of our experts was a treasure trove of information and had plenty more to share. To contact Lisa Eichler, visit her website at legardendesigns.com. Roth Nursery is open to the public and is located at 42 N Greenwich Road in Armonk, phone # (914) 273-8399. To contact Wendy Rosen, visit her website at homegrowngardensinc.com.

Spring Spotlights & To Dos in Briarcliff Manor

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Photo Courtesy of Briarcliff Manor Department of Parks and Recreation

Briarcliff Manor is an idyllic village with much to offer its community. With its mix of charming shops, great restaurants and plenty of bucolic outdoor spaces, there are so many things to explore throughout the village. And spring is the perfect time to take in some special events, hike or bike on a trail, or just bask in a sunshine-filled park and relax for a bit. 

Nestled along the scenic Hudson River and at just under six square miles of land, Briarcliff Manor is a wonderful place to raise a family or just visit for the day. The 2020 census put its population at 7,569 and it is situated within the Town of Ossining and the Town of Mount Pleasant. Briarcliff Manor was incorporated as a village in 1902 and it maintains over 172 acres of active and passive parkland.

Easter Egg Hunt Photo by Police Officer Gregory Campus for the Briarcliff Manor Police Department

Discover ‘Famed’ Tree Streets

Some neighborhoods of note in Briarcliff Manor include Scarborough, Chilmark and the famed “tree streets” such as Elm Road, Oak Road and Satinwood Lane–which is an ideal neighborhood for families to trick-or-treat on Halloween. Briarcliff Manor’s Crossroads neighborhood is a development of streets named after local World War II veterans including Schrade Road and Dunn Lane. 

This Spring, come see what Briarcliff Manor has to offer! Whether you’re a longtime resident, new to the neighborhood or just visiting, there are many things to explore within the village. 

Get Up To Speed On Real Estate Trends

The Briarcliff Manor Chamber of Commerce is planning a real estate event tentatively scheduled for late February at The Briarcliff Manor. Board member Hillary Landau will be moderating a panel of local realtors about trends in the general Westchester area as well as what makes Briarcliff Manor stand out. It will cover what realtors think buyers would like to see in a local community as well as what businesses they’d like to have in their community. 

Spring Cleaning Opp

Now is the perfect time to gather up all that unwanted paper and take it to be shredded. The Westchester County Mobile Shredder will be at 10 Buckout Road on Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Your space and your mind will feel a lot lighter. 

Make Your Voice Count

Make sure your voice is heard – don’t forget to come out and vote at the Annual Village Election. It takes place on Monday, March 14 from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.at the William J. Vescio Community Center at 1 Library Road.

Briarcliff Manor Public Library Photo courtesy of Briarcliff Manor Library

April 9th Egg Hunt 

Gather the kids and and come down to Law Memorial Park for the annual Spring Egg Hunt (weather permitting). This event is always a lot of fun and in addition to the hunt there will be jelly bean and chocolate egg guessing contests, a children’s entertainer and even a visit from the village’s mascot Briar Bear–who comes out of hibernation especially for this event. 

Summer Concerts Kickoff In May

Briarcliff Manor is a wonderful place to listen to live music. In late May, the Recreation Advisory Committee will sponsor a concert at Law Memorial Park to kickoff the “unofficial” start of the summer season. Further down the road, the Chamber of Commerce will partner with the village on its popular Summer Concert Series scheduled for Thursdays in July at Law Memorial Park.

In Addition…

• Dreaming of those summer days? Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of the Village pool, currently scheduled for Sunday, May 29.

• Time to get out and move! Want to find the best trails for just that? Download the Hiking Project App which features many of Briarcliff Manor’s and other local trails including the Kate Kennard Trail, Pocantico Lake Trail and the Richard Wishing Park Walking Path. Briarcliff Manor has so many park spaces for a wide variety of activities including basketball, playgrounds, baseball and soccer fields, fishing and so much more. One of the village’s newest additions are the Pickleball Courts at Chilmark Park.

• Also in early May, the outdoor clay tennis court season opens–there are three clay courts at Law Memorial Park in addition to a year-round all-weather court.

The Village has a ton of great shops for whatever’s on your wish list. In May, the Chamber will present the Spring Sidewall Stroll, a tag sale along Pleasantville Road incorporating as many businesses as possible. Businesses not located along the road will have tables set up to converse with the community. Also planned for the event are live bands and food trucks. 

Jim Domzalski, the Chamber’s President, speaks of the closeness of the community as a whole, as well as the importance of these community events. “There’s something about walking down that main street that is so charming and familiar. What makes us unique is that small town feel. It’s such a wonderful and friendly place. We all want to be able to get together and do it safely.”

So why not take a stroll through town, grab a coffee and treat and head to Law Memorial Park to sit and relax with a good book. Did I mention the Briarcliff Manor Public Library is located right there?

Join A Book Club

The library features many programs for its patrons–including a variety of book clubs on offer, which are currently being held over Zoom. There’s also an online class on Ancient Egypt for seniors being offered through Westchester Community College taking place late February through early March.

The ‘Human Library’

On April 30, the library will host the ‘Human Library.’ This is a learning platform that uses library terminology to match “books,” or those who have experienced prejudice, with “readers,” those who want to learn more. Each reader “checks out” a book for a 30-minute conversation and the idea is to help “un-judge” people. 

Human Library is a Copenhagen-based organization that hosts programs on a global level and has received local support here through the Library Board, the Friends, staff and patrons. 

The library’s Director Donna Pesce says, “This library is a place that brings the residents such joy. They love to visit, to browse and discover an interesting book or to sit in a comfortable chair to read. But it is the warm and personal environment that our patrons most appreciate.”

Get To Know The History Keepers

Keeping the history of the area alive and well for residents and visitors alike, the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society is anticipating a spring reopening of their space on the lower level of the library. Unfortunately, their space was damaged by Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Karen Smith, the Society’s Executive Director says, “Our center is a project-in-motion.” She hopes people can resume visits in the spring and says, “We’ll be ready to welcome all visitors and ready to answer all questions about Briarcliff Manor history.”

As Josh Ringel, the Village Manager puts it, “Briarcliff offers a rustic residential environment, with top quality schools, ample parks and trails, and convenient access to NYC via the Scarborough Train Station.” It’s truly a fantastic place to live or visit and has so much to offer both residents and visitors alike. Come out this spring and discover what Briarcliff Manor has in store for you.

Dates may be subject to change – please check briarcliffmanor.org, briarcliffmanorchamber.com and briarcliffmanorlibrary.org for the most up-to-date information.

Briarcliff Pool shot circa 1927 … the current pool is in the same exact footprint, and the pavilion is now located directly behind where the kids are standing on the end wall. The original pool shared a common wall with the pond on the right, which has now been reconfigured and pushed further south, away from the pool, to create a grass lounging area. Photos courtesy of Briarcliff Manor Parks and Recreation

Sweet and Beautiful

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I’ve been thinking about beauty a lot lately. With 2019 marking the 16th year of publishing Inside Chappaqua we wanted to mark our sweet 16 by featuring some sweet and beautiful content. First off, check out the sumptuous desserts from local restaurants, on pages 31 and 36.

This issue includes several essays on the evolving concept of beauty from different perspectives. High school senior Julia Bialek’s essay discusses how social media puts pressures on teens to conform to a certain unattainable societal standard of beauty but she’s hopeful that more campaigns like Dove’s real beauty will change people’s attitudes about what constitutes beauty.

Marlene Kern Fischer’s essay touches on the cookie cutter mold of beauty that prevailed during the Laverne & Shirley years and how as she has grown a bit older her idea of beauty has evolved. I identify strongly with it. When I was 16, I was in awe of the popular sitcom Beverly Hills 90210. I wanted to look like one of the characters Brenda played by Shannen Doherty so badly that I had my hair cut and colored the same color.

But modern day me would never walk into a salon and ask to look like a celebrity. I’m more comfortable in my own skin and have come to realize that confidence is beautiful. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading Daniel Levitz’s heartwarming essay about his wife’s beauty which still awes him even though they are no longer nineteen-year-olds. I hope you will too!

And there are some additional articles in this issue that also celebrate beautiful things. Empty Bowls, a division of (914) Cares fights hunger locally and this year’s fundraiser in our community pulled in $120,000 in funds to help feed the 1 in 5 Westchester residents who are food insecure. Local award-winning Haiku poet Scott Mason sees the beauty and wonder in nature’s smallest creatures.

Luckily with spring approaching, our town and its surroundings serve as inspiration for his poetry. My favorite sign of spring is the chorus of small frogs called peepers that I hear in the small pond behind my house. My children love the sound of the ducks flapping their wings around in the water.

Here’s to a sweet and beautiful spring for all of you.

Enjoy, 

P.S. I am so proud of our publisher Grace Bennett celebrating a 16th year of publishing Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines. I am also embracing our new slogan: ‘Sharing the Heart of your Community.’ In more news, the Inside Press also launched its latest hyperlocal magazine this month, Inside Pleasantville.

Taking a Break to ‘Just Breathe’

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As I write this column during winter break, my family is about to embark on our annual pilgrimage to South Florida. We can’t wait for the airplane to depart from Westchester County Airport. We need sunshine, long afternoons by the pool and the gentle breeze of the palm trees.

There is some predictability about these trips. We will use the hotel’s waffle maker for breakfast. One of us will inevitably get sunburnt. I can pretty much guarantee what restaurants we will eat at with the grandparents. My kids not true gourmands yet, relish a dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Delray Beach.

And I will delight in knowing that I don’t have to load and unload the dishwasher. I won’t have to nag my kids to put on their shoes so they can make the bus. I don’t have to concoct a dinner in 20 minutes because everyone is starving and I can abandon my after-school chauffeur duties. In short, I will breathe.

After reading Connie Whitehouse’s essay about high school students exploring gap year options, I completely get it and secretly wish that we were traveling to South Africa instead of South Florida. Although I never went on a gap year or studied abroad, I did live in the UK for two years in my young adulthood with my husband and we can both unequivocally say it was a formative experience. Pushing me out of my comfort zone truly broadened my horizons and changed my perspective on so many things.

With the rigor of high school in a highly competitive yet award-winning school district, I fully understand one parent who commented “I just want my daughter to take a year to breathe and just be.”

As I was discussing the piece with the writer, I said to her “Wow, I wish they had gap year options when I was a high school student.” She said that she overheard many of the parents in attendance at the fair saying they wish they too had gone on a gap year.

So with spring approaching and warmer weather coming, I hope you will get a chance to step outside your comfort zone and

just breathe.

Here’s to a sweet and beautiful spring for all of you.

Enjoy,

 

 

 

P.S. I am so proud of our publisher Grace Bennett celebrating a 16th year of publishing Inside Armonk and Inside Chappaqua Magazines. I am also embracing our new slogan: Sharing the Heart of your Community. In more news, the Inside Press also launched its latest hyperlocal magazine this month, Inside Pleasantville.