Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester
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By Stacey Saiontz
During the blizzard, my family was snowed in with our very special house guest, Barbara Winton. Barbara Winton is the daughter of humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton and Author of the book about his life titled If it is not Impossible. Ms. Winton was in New York, as she was one of the speakers at the United Nations Annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony.
Winton and I had been in touch a few years prior. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I serve as the Co-Chair of the Museum of Jewish Heritage’s Annual Spring Ladies Luncheon. Each year we honor a female Holocaust Survivor. A couple years ago, the honoree, Hanna Slome, attributed her story of survival to being one of “Nicky’s children” and explained that she was saved from the Nazis by being put on the Kindertransport from Prague to England that was set up by Sir Nicholas Winton.
In 1938, Sir Nicholas Winton, a stock broker in London, England responded to a request from his friend Martin Blake to join him in Prague. Blake had gone to Prague to help the Jewish refugees who had fled to Prague after Germany annexed the Sudetenland. After viewing the situation in Prague, Winton decided he needed to find a way to help the children. At the time, Kindertransports were helping children leave Germany and Austria to travel to safety in England. However, no one had set up a way to help the Czech children. Winton convinced the Home Office in England to agree to allow Czech children to be evacuated to England. The Home Office required a foster family to look after the children and a monetary amount to assist with repatriation at the end of the war.
Winton successfully organized eight trainloads of children, saving 669 children. The last train, the largest yet, was cancelled right before its departure as Germany invaded Poland resulting in the Czech border being closed. Unfortunately the majority of these children are thought to have died in concentration camps.
Although, Winton knew about her father’s work to save the Czech refugees, the mass public found out about his deeds in 1988, when a TV presenter in England discussed Winton’s rescue and announced on live TV that most of the audience in the studio were saved by Sir Nicholas Winton. It is estimated that there are approximately 6,000 people in this world who owe their existence to Sir Nicholas Winton.
While staying at our home, we organized a dinner honoring Ms. Winton. Three of her father’s “children” along with several Ambassadors joined us. It was so moving to see the “children” interact with Ms. Winton. Winton explained that while her father decided to organize the rescue mission because it was the right thing to do, he did not realize at the time the impact he would have on the childrens’ lives. It was not until meeting the “children” as adults that he realized how important his actions were on the “children’s” lives. May we all be inspired by the Sir Nicholas Wintons of the world to act ethically and try to make a difference in the lives of others.
Stacey Saiontz, a lawyer living in Chappaqua with her husband and two sons, is the co-chair of the Associates Board of the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust; a board member of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation; and a member of the Next Generation Board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. She is also a Committee member of the Chappaqua Cure in our Lifetime and serves on the Advocacy board of FARE, the Food Allergy non-profit.
By Heather Skolnick
What is the one place where everyone has fun (besides Disney)? The playground! What could be better than good, old fashioned fun outside?
Playgrounds offer an opportunity for children to be children. Playgrounds are one of the few places left where batteries are not needed, and there is nary an IPad, IPhone, or Playstation in sight. Kids can run around to their hearts’ content and can use their imaginations galore.
Playgrounds offer more than a place to just play. For moms and caretakers, they are a place to meet others.
New Chappaqua resident Nikki Cosentino has been using playgrounds as one way to meet other moms within the community. She comes with her two daughters and lets them play in an enclosed environment while she socializes. Nikki says, “We have moved twice since I had my first daughter, and I always head to the local playground right away to connect with other moms. The park was our first stop here after move-in day in April. Sure enough, I was able to chat with a local mom and get some inside tips on our new town while our kids played together.” Nannies, too, enjoy the social benefits of the playground. When my nanny started, she used the playground as a place to meet people caring for kids in the same age range.
Playgrounds also serve as a place where children can develop and hone social skills. Special Educator Janet Weingarden works with children in many of our local schools. She often uses the playground as a forum for learning. She said, “The way we learn social skills is through practice and watching others. Being in a playground is a particularly effective place to do both of those things.”
She continued, the playground “offers opportunities for sharing, turn taking, collaborating, cooperating and a fantastic opportunity to build empathy. There’s also an opportunity to practice social scripts…as well as problem solving skills.” It’s no wonder Janet often goes there with her students!
From a physical standpoint, the playground offers all kinds of ways to strengthen gross motor and motor planning skills. Play structures are also filled with opportunities to improve some sensory and vestibular sensitivities. Swinging on a tire swing provides vestibular input to help increase the ability to process movement. Jumping is an example of “heavy work” which many teachers and therapists have found to improve attention and calmness for hours afterwards. Physical activity also increases arousal level which can help raise confidence. All in all, the learning opportunities on the playground could rival the classroom!
Now that we know all the benefits of playgrounds, where can we find them within our community? Specifically in New Castle, there are five playgrounds from which to choose. According to the 2010 census, the town has an approximate population of 23,000 people, 23% of whom are under the age of 18. With about 5,300 kids to keep busy, it’s no wonder that the town has a plethora of exciting playgrounds!
Gedney Park is the first playground that comes to mind for most. It includes baseball fields, soccer fields, hiking trails and the pond. Gedney offers two playground areas. The main playground area includes two distinct playground structures (one for the bigger kids, one scaled down for smaller children) with all the standard fixings–twisty slides, bouncy bridges, things to climb, etc. There are also monkey bars, swings and even a clubhouse complete with sandbox area. What else could a child want? Town Recreation Superintendent Bob Snyder said that a new play structure offers tons of fun in a safe, updated format for children.
Still at Gedney, a short walk leads to another, smaller play structure. This area is ideal for families who might have another child playing baseball at the adjacent fields Some children like this mini playground because it’s more subdued, having far fewer children playing at a time. Lastly, Gedney Park also has clean bathroom facilities just off the path from the main playground. This is an important feature for the potty training set.
Discover the “Train Park”
Formally listed as Recreation Field Park on the Town’s website, my kids call it the “Train Park.” If someone doesn’t tell you it’s there, you’d never know. Set back behind Recreation Fields and also adjacent to the train’s rear parking lot, it’s not readily visible from the road. With its proximity to the town Library, it makes for a great combination outing. The playground itself offers lot of unique features sure to entertain the pre-school kids as well as more sophisticated activities like the “zip line” for older kids. This playground is also budgeted for an overhaul soon.
Chappaqua mother of two Dayna Lord recently had a playdate at Recreation Field Park. After her first visit there, she said, “This is one of the most kid-friendly parks around that can easily be combined with a trip into town, the library, diner or ice cream. This is a perfect park for toddlers and those learning to walk, too!” It sounds like she will be back soon!
Another fun option is Smith Park in Mount Kisco. This is a lesser known park as it is really tucked away amid residential streets. It offers a fun play structure with a well mulched ground to protect from any skinned knees. There’s a basketball court for older kids and a large grassy area for a catch or for walking your dog.
Millwood Park is another local option. Set atop the baseball field and adjacent to the tennis courts, the playground offers a standalone twisty slide, a set of swings, and a seesaw. This playground is a convenient option for families trying to entertain children while a softball game is underway.
Lastly, Amsterdam Park in Ossining also has a playground to entertain kids while a sibling is playing soccer. With so many options, there’s always a good reason to get the kids outside.
As the weather warms up, have the kids put down the electronics, and head to the playground!!
Heather Skolnick, her husband and three children live in New Castle. Heather works for a major retailer where she designs systems and processes to support Omnichannel shopping.
More than 150 guests, physicians, board members, employees, volunteers, elected officials, supporters, and artists gathered at Northern Westchester Hospital on January 21, 2016 to launch its centennial year and to celebrate 100 years of care. Both the executive and legislative branches of Westchester County government declared January 21, 2016 as Northern Westchester Hospital Day in Westchester.
A ribbon cutting ceremony unveiled a new interactive timeline, a touch screen with video vignettes and audio, that takes visitors through the evolution of 100 years of care in the community. The digital timeline includes key milestones for the hospital such as expansions, technological advances, partnerships, and key moments in medical history.
“Of course, so much has happened between our humble beginnings in 1916 and today: advancements in technology, our enhanced clinical capabilities, the growth and modernization of our campus, and most importantly, the positive impact we continue to have on the people who live in our community,” said Joel Seligman, President and CEO of Northern Westchester Hospital. “Thank you for being part of that rich history and continued evolution.”
Colorful, bright and festive artwork–a collection called “Celebrations”–from the Katonah Museum Artists’ Association (KMAA) and the Westchester Photographic Society (WPS) was unveiled. KMAA and WPS have been filling the halls of NWH and the Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center with beautiful artwork for many years. For the centennial year, each organization was asked to provide artwork honoring the Centennial celebration. The exhibit will remain on display throughout the year. Visit: nwhc.net/about-us/100-years
Editor’s Note: Additional Inside Press coverage about the kickoff can also be found theinsidepress.com/tag/northern-westchester-hospital/ Plus, stay tuned. We will be revisiting 100 years of service at Northern Westchester Hospital with our lens on women’s care in our upcoming May editions too.
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