The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

thanksgiving

Chappaqua Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service and Dinner

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The Chappaqua Interfaith Council will hold its annual Thanksgiving Service this year at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, 220 South Bedford Road, Chappaqua at 3 p.m. A free community dinner will follow the service. Everyone is welcome. Prayers, readings, music and songs will be performed by members of all the participating faith communities and some guests.  This year the focus of the service will be the celebration of diversity and differences in our community.

The Rev. Canon Alan Dennis of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal will be the featured speaker.  Rev. Dennis, who was born in South Africa, came to Chappaqua last year after a long career in parishes as far flung as Capetown, where he experienced the problems of apartheid, and Toronto and as close as New York City and Pelham.

This is the twelfth year the Chappaqua Interfaith Council has offered a meal following the service. Over 300 guests are expected to attend. Once again the Kittle House is graciously providing the turkey, mashed potatoes and sides for the dinner.  Other village businesses will be contributing as well.  Community members will also contribute favorite side dishes and desserts.

This year the Council will gratefully accept tax-deductible monetary donations and non-perishable food items for the Northern Westchester Community Center, which provides food, clothing and service to the needy in the area.

The Chappaqua Interfaith Council includes representatives, both lay and clergy, from the following faith communities: Baha’is of New Castle; Chappaqua Friends Meeting; The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal; First Congregational Church; Lutheran Church of our Redeemer; St. John and St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and the Upper Westchester Muslim Society

For further information, please contact Candie Downing at 914 419-7216 or candiedow9@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Traditions

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Volunteering, Shopping and Turkey OH MY!
By Heather Skolnick

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season for many. Thanksgiving triggers autumnal images of softly falling leaves and a feeling of chill in the air–a sure sign of what’s to come weather-wise. It signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season for those in retail with a daily countdown to Christmas. And for many, it evokes memories of meals and unique traditions that encircle the meal. These Thanksgiving traditions can be pretty wide and varied.

As a child, my Thanksgiving traditions were pretty straight forward–extended family came to eat. And eat we did. We enjoyed turkey with the standard carbohydrate-laden fixings, and enough desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth of a small nation. The meal was not complete until we all suffered from indigestion–all before 7 p.m. It was what we did before the meal that was different. Each year, my father and I awoke earlier than most on a holiday, put on sweats, and took a short drive to a neighboring town. We then participated in a local “Turkey Trot”–a five mile run in an attempt to help offset the meal we’d be eating a few hours later. That was our tradition.

My husband’s family didn’t believe in the “Turkey Trot”–instead, Thanksgiving was all about football. Neal, his brothers, cousins, dads and friends all got together to play a serious game of touch football. The colder, wetter and muddier it was outside, the better the game. While their game would end before dinner, the trash talking around that game could last an entire year. Area resident and brother Lyle said, “We would even keep track of records, from most touchdowns, consecutive games with a reception, best play, to worst mistake, and most times ‘giving in’!” Building on the football theme, after playing, they would all return home and begin watching the football games on TV before indulging in their meal.

Other Thanksgiving traditions abound as well. The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is, of course, available to one and all on TV. However, heading in to the city to watch it “live” is a popular tradition for some in our area. From seeing the balloons to watching the performers, the parade route is packed with onlookers of all ages.

Signaling the official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday shopping has long been a tradition for some. Amazing short-lived deals often abound on that day, with stores opening early and staying open late. Eager to squeeze an extra shopping day in before the holidays, shopping on Thursday evening has more recently become another (albeit, controversial) option. Many big-box retailers and shopping centers are now open for post-dinner shopping.

turkey paradeKatonah mom Samantha Holcman and her family spend their Thanksgiving doing a little bit of each of these things. They start celebrating at the Thanksgiving Parade. Samantha said, “It’s such an exciting, iconic way to spend the holiday and so easy for local New Yorkers…my kids love it and we love to watch the parade through their reactions.” Later, the Holcman family dines back in Westchester at one of our fabulous local restaurants, choosing a different restaurant each year. Lastly, Samantha’s husband Brad and his mother go shopping and scour stores for bargains, sometimes not returning until 10 a.m. the next day! Of shopping Thursday night, Samantha said, “For people that like a deal, it’s a unique and very fun experience.”

Volunteering is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving while enjoying some quality family time. One option is to spend part of the day together, helping to provide a meal for others. Neighbor’s Link coordinates a food drive in anticipation of the holiday. On the actual day, they provide a full Thanksgiving meal and a full bag of groceries to take home.

Armonk mom Abby Hollander will be doing just that. She, along with her family, will be serving Thanksgiving meals in coordination with local religious affiliates. Abby decided to begin volunteering on Thanksgiving because “I thought it was really important as my son turns five this December to expose him to those less fortunate and show him what he can do to help. “ She continued, “We want to teach him to appreciate and be thankful for what he has. We really want him to see how he can help make the world a better place.  It’s a tough concept to explain to such a young child so we hope by showing him and participating he will also feel proud that he helped even in a small way.”

The common theme threaded through all of these traditions can clearly be identified as spending quality time together as a family and/or with those who are most important to you. So whether you are a traditionalist in your Thanksgiving approach or not, let’s remember that Thanksgiving is about being surrounded by those who are important to you and appreciating the moment.

Heather Skolnick is a New Castle resident with her husband and three young children. They will be enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family and food, with a little football mixed in.

Thanksgiving Traditions – Traditional and Not so Traditional

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Lisa McGowan’s two children, Lexie and Spencer, enjoying the Macy’s parade several years ago
Lisa McGowan’s two children, Lexie and Spencer, enjoying the Macy’s parade several years ago

By Heather Skolnick

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season for many. Thanksgiving triggers autumn images of softly falling leaves and a feeling of chill in the air–a sure sign of what’s to come weather-wise.  It signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season for those in retail with a daily countdown to Christmas or Hanukkah. And for many, it evokes memories of meals and unique traditions that encircle the meal. These Thanksgiving traditions can be pretty wide and varied.

As a child, my Thanksgiving traditions were pretty straight forward–extended family came to eat. And eat we did. We enjoyed turkey with the standard carbohydrate-laden fixings, and enough desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth of a small nation. The meal was not complete until we all suffered from indigestion–all before 7 p.m. It was what we did before the meal that was different. Each year, my father and I awoke earlier than most on a holiday, put on sweats, and took a short drive to a neighboring town. We then participated in a local “Turkey Trot”–a five-mile run in an attempt to help offset the meal we’d be eating a few hours later. That was our tradition.

My husband’s family didn’t believe in the “Turkey Trot”–instead, Thanksgiving was all about football.  Neal, his brothers, cousins, dads and friends all got together to play a serious game of touch football. The colder, wetter and muddier it was outside, the better the game. While their game would end before dinner, the trash talking around that game could last an entire year.  Area resident and brother Lyle said, ““We would even keep track of records, from most touchdowns, consecutive games with a reception, best play, to worst mistake, and most times ‘giving in’!” Building on the football theme, after playing, they would all return home and begin watching the football games on TV before indulging in their meal.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a popular tradition for some. Chappaqua resident Lisa McGowan has a deep rooted tradition of going every year with her family that began when she was a child. She and her family spend the night before in the city, and begin heading to the festivities at 6:30am to secure their spot. She says about the parade, “Now that my children are older, it’s no longer about the characters. The thing that is constant no matter their age is that it’s about being together, family and tradition–rain or shine.” Lisa is dedicated to the tradition, having gone in years when the weather was spring like as well as rain and snow!

Signaling the official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday shopping has long been a tradition for some. Amazing short-lived deals often abound on that day with stores opening early and staying open late. Eager to squeeze an extra shopping day in before the holidays, shopping on Thursday evening has more recently become an option. Many big box retailers and shopping centers are now open for post-dinner shopping.

Let’s not forget our local stores, many of whom offer great deals after Thanksgiving too! Best of all: Shopping local offers the convenience of holiday shopping nearby without the hassle of maddening crowds.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving while enjoying some quality family time.  One option is to spend part of the day together, helping to provide a meal for others. Neighbor’s Link coordinates a food drive in anticipation of the holiday.  Susan Aarhus spoke to me about what Neighbor’s Link provides to the community. She shared that on the actual day, they provide a full Thanksgiving meal and a full bag of groceries to take home. Area resident Nitasha Kumar said of her experience volunteering with the Westchester Basket Brigade last year, “My son along with three other kids had so much fun running around counting and setting out the boxes. But what hit him most was when the head coordinator talked to the group about the mission of the organization….bringing food to homeless. He then realized that there are others who are not as fortunate as we are.”  What a wonderful way to spend the day.

While many think of a nice home cooked meal for Thanksgiving, another option is dining out. While many restaurants are closed for the holiday, some do remain open for those of us who are not so inclined to cook and many also provide catered take out options to eat in your own home.

The common theme threaded through all of these traditions can clearly be identified as spending quality time together as a family and/or with those who are most important to you. So whether you are a traditionalist in your Thanksgiving approach or not, remember that Thanksgiving is about being surrounded by those who are important to you and appreciating the moment.

Heather Skolnick is a New Castle resident along with her husband and three children. She works for a retailer designing their Omnichannel Process and Systems.

A Community Celebrates Thanksgiving

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interfaith-storyby Ronni Diamondstein

Like the Pilgrims and the Native Americans in Plymouth, Massachusetts nearly 400 years ago members of all faiths in Chappaqua will gather as a united community to give thanks and enjoy a meal on Sunday, November 24th at The First Congregational Church of Chappaqua. The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service starts at 4 p.m. and is followed by a dinner. Sponsored by The Chappaqua Interfaith Council, this popular event has grown from a small affair to a well-attended and much enjoyed Sunday afternoon experience.

The service celebrates how different communities give thanks. This year, Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason, President of The Council, will welcome everyone and participants from the member congregations will conduct the service, which includes prayers and music arranged by the various clergy. “The service originally consisted of prayers alone and at some point music was introduced,” said Rev. Dr. Mason.

“For more than 25 years, there has been an interfaith Thanksgiving service in New Castle, and seven years ago, in 2006, we expanded the event to include a community meal, which has been a great success, ” says Elinor Griffith, a lay representative from St. John and St. Mary’s Catholic Church who joined the Council in 2004. “Nearly 350 people–   children, teens and adults, representing all local faith groups, from the Muslims and Jews to Baha’is, Catholics, Protestants and Quakers, attended last year’s event at St. John and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.”

“The service is uplifting and peaceful,” says Margaret Goodnough, a parishioner of St. Mary and St. John’s Catholic Church who looks forward to it every year. “It shows what we all have in common: love, caring, kindness and peace.”

Susan Pecker, a member of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester finds the service heartwarming. “There is such a sense of community and I particularly enjoy the music.” Rev. Dr. Mason recalls that one year the youth choir of the Baha’is gave a performance that “knocked everyone’s socks off.”

The reception following the service has evolved over the years from light refreshments to a plentiful Thanksgiving dinner. In the past five years, Crabtree’s Kittle House has donated the turkey, potatoes, gravy and cranberry relish. Members of the congregations provide the rest of the meal including delicious desserts.

The dinner is more than a culinary dining experience; it is an opportunity to get to know neighbors of other faiths. Esther Gates, a longtime Chappaqua resident and member of the First Congregational Church says that everyone is encouraged to sit with people they don’t know. When she attended the dinner two years ago at Temple Beth El, she dined with its Rabbi and members of the Baha’is of Northern Westchester.  “The more you can bring people together to know each other the better. It’s a way of breaking down barriers,” says Gates.

Rev. Dr. Mason sums it up: “The best part of the service is how welcoming and warm it feels in a large church or synagogue to have all these different faiths together.” There is always an offering too. Last year attendees were asked to bring canned goods to be donated to the Interfaith Food Pantry in Pleasantville.

The Chappaqua Interfaith Council was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1981, even though the roots of the Council go back much further. The Council is composed of eight congregations: Baha’is of New Castle, Chappaqua Friends Meeting, First Congregational Church, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal, Upper Westchester Muslim Society and St. John and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

“It is a gathering of clergy and lay leaders from our town’s faith groups who are devoted to building bridges of understanding between our communities,” says Griffith about the Council’s mission. In the aftermath of 9/11, for example, The Chappaqua Interfaith Council together with the Friends of the Chappaqua Library, arranged to have Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, an Islamic scholar and visiting Imam of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, speak at the Chappaqua Library Theater. The Council also co-sponsored the Library’s screening of the documentary film “Mothers of Bedford” on February 21, 2013. The film follows five mothers incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in NY State as they work to “parent” from behind bars with the help of an innovative parenting program inside the prison.

In 2012, the spring event was “Mark Twain and the Minister.” Steve Courtney, editor of publications at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, spoke about Twain and his close friendship with the minister Joseph Twichell. In 2011, a panel discussion comprised of local representatives of different faiths discussed the topic, “Is Rationality the Death of Religion?” All are welcome to the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, November 24, 4 p.m., First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Road, Chappaqua.  http://www.fcc-chappaqua.org/directions.htm

Ronni Diamondstein, owner of Maggie Mae Pup Reporter™ is a Chappaqua based freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and former School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.

Thanksgiving Day Sandy Relief For Rockaway

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Food and More Still Needed For Thanksgiving Day Sandy Relief

Help us put together a Thanksgiving dinner for thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. The group, Rockaway Help is a collection of Rockaway natives working to organize resources and support the area’s recovery after Hurricane Sandy’s devastation in October 2012.

So, as a result, Susan Rubin & Grace Bennett are rounding up Turkey day food and bringing it on out to Rockaway on Thanksgiving morning.  If you live near Chappaqua or Pleasantville  and would like to donate anything, simply get it to me by Wednesday night or first thing Thursday morning. 

Leaving for Far Rockaway Thursday at 10 a.m.

Email drsusanrubin@gmail.com for details.

Here’s what the Rockaway folks need:

  • Food ( Sides, Turkey, Ham, Desserts, Salad etc)
  • Beverages (REALLY in need of this)
  • Tablecloths
  • Eating Utensils
  • Napkins, cups,plates
  • Disposable gloves
  • Take-out containers (For folks to take food to where they are staying in case we are unable to seat them)

Here’s the link for more information:

http://rockawayhelp.com/thanksgiving-dinner-in-far-rockaway/