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Chaotic is the New Happy

March 5, 2016 by The Inside Press

Jodi Baretz and her sometimes happy family.

By Jodi Baretz

When Grace asked me to write an essay on “Happy Homes,” I chuckled a bit to myself! I’m not sure what goes on in your house, but in mine, it is certainly not always happy. I would describe my home as a loving, accepting, nurturing environment, but a bit chaotic and tense at times. Overall, we are a “happy” family but from the look on my teenager’s face, you may not think so.

I have a little problem with always striving for happiness. Happiness is a fleeting feeling, not a state that we should expect all the time. Families are messy. Life is messy. Kids are messy. Instead of happy home, let’s aim for a full adventure recognizing our full range of feelings; things may not always be perfect, but embrace the good, bad and ugly because they are there anyway. By being more aware that there will always be set backs, bad grades, tons of drama and spilled milk, we can certainly tolerate challenging times a bit more.

Having expectations of what activities we want our children to be involved in can create stress in a home. We may want our son to play baseball, but they want to take an art class. My son is a wrestler. I never would have picked it for him (and was shell shocked at the first meet), but it turned out to be one of his greatest experiences that had a huge (positive) impact on his life. Guess what? We don’t always know what is best for our kids. A common fear among my clients is that their child doesn’t have many friends or found an activity they enjoy. We can encourage, but not force this. We can expose them to activities, but ultimately, they have to be on board. They will find interests and friends in their own time. They are not always on our timeline. Accepting and making our child feel comfortable with who they are is the true key to a happy home and happy child.

“Instead of happy home, let’s aim for a full adventure recognizing our full range of feelings.”

On Facebook, it might look like everyone has a “happy home,” and we tend to feel “less than” if ours does not measure up. Most of you realize things are not always as they seem, but seeing those happy families on social media can have an impact. If you are struggling with issues in your house, chances are other families are too. They just don’t post it. Alternatively, we may want to be mindful about over posting. We all love and are proud of our children, and it’s great to share special moments, but if you are chronically posting familial bliss, it’s wise to stop and think about why so many of us have the need to do this, and how it affects others.

Instead of a permanently “happy home,” how do we create happy moments or create wonderful memories with our families? My biggest fear is one day my kids are going to look up from their phones and ask, “What happened to my childhood?” Kids don’t remember their best day of television. Creating memories has become increasingly difficult. We are rarely all disconnected from our devices at the same time and long enough to connect as a family. Thank goodness for dinner time, family vacations and carpools.

As my kids get older, these are the times I value and the only times I can get them to engage with me.

Creating memories does not have to be forced. One way to make them is by making the ordinary moments extraordinary. Meet every moment with your child as a new exciting adventure. Take a step back and appreciate them for who they are and how lucky you are to have them, without trying to change them. Gratitude goes a long way. The feeling is what you will remember. Life goes so fast and before you know it, the kids are gone. One memory from last month that stuck with me is my son getting out of the car, walking into a friends house and I sat back, watched, savored the moment and realized how very lucky I am. I hope

I always remember that!

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC is a psychotherapist and holistic health coach at The Center for Health and Healing in Mt. Kisco. She is a speaker on mindfulness topics and runs a Mindful is the New Skinny bootcamp to help women ease stress and get lighter inside and out. Jodi is a Chappaqua mom of two teenage boys. Visit jodibaretz.com.

Here Comes the Sun: Solar Power in New Castle

March 5, 2016 by The Inside Press

A first commercial solar installation on Greeley Avenue in Chap- paqua, which won Sunrise Solar an award from the Town of New Castle’s Sustainability Committee. — A first commercial solar installation on Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua, which won Sunrise Solar an award
from the Town of New Castle’s Sustainability Committee.

By Eileen Gallagher

Looking to lower your electric bills? Longing to go green? Interested in protecting the environment? Curious about the Solarize signage that was appearing throughout town? Going solar might be the perfect fit for you!

Why did we see all those”Solarize” signs around town?

New Castle Sustainability Advisory Board chairperson Steve Wolk and Alicia Molloy (the initiative manager) described how Solarize came about in town:

New Castle and other towns were looking into Solarize Westchester, a program started by NY Sun (a NYS government program). Per their website, http://ny-sun.ny.gov/About/NY-Sun-FAQ, this program “is part of the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to “protect the environment and lower energy costs for all New Yorkers by improving the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid.”

Wolk described how the program can help towns to adopt a high amount of solar on residential homes and small commercial buildings by using the program to reduce risk and reduce the cost of solar.

New Castle was able to link with Somers because, as Wolk explained, the towns needed to be contiguous, and their colleagues were “great partners and people they could collaborate with and potentially share marketing materials and ideas.” The feeling was that there would be a higher probability of getting to be one of the “chosen towns” by working with Somers.

New Castle and Somers filled out an application in which they described what they would do as part of this initiative, and were selected for the program.

Why go solar now?

Molloy explained that there has really never been a better time to convert to solar in terms of pricing and incentives. “Energy costs are always going to keep going up.” Costs aside, she stressed the need for a greener future, leading the way to “get off of fossil fuels and think in renewable energy.”

Can solar panels really power a home?

If your house has a proper amount of sunlight, as a solar installer will assess, you could potentially power your entire home using solar energy.

Any power generated and unused by your home goes back into the grid, and you are credited for that portion.

Is your home a good fit for solar?

The ideal candidates for solar installation would be homes facing south, south-east or south-west, with little to no shade, and a clear roof of less than 15 years with no obstructions. If the roof is shaded, trees might need to be trimmed. Ground-mounting is possible, but cost would be higher due to the need for a structure to place the panels on. Westchester and particularly New Castle is challenged by the large amount of trees.

Which provider to use?

Residents are always free to choose their own solar provider. For example, Sunrise Solar Solutions of Briarcliff Manor is a company whose CEO is a resident of Chappaqua. Rand Manasse, along with Sunrise Solar’s president, Doug Hertz, described their attractive solar installations as setting them apart from other installers. As a seven year subsidiary of Sunrise Building and Remodeling, they recognize the importance and value placed on the quality as well as appearance of the equipment on one’s home.

How long will it take to recover expenses?

According to Manasse, the average return on investment is five to six years for purchased systems and Day One for financed systems. And this is for a system that has a warrantied life of 25 years and will most likely produce energy for well over 30.

The savings on a solar system for the typical home in Westchester is $60,000 over the life of the system.

Selling your home in the near future?

Purchasing equipment rather than leasing might be a better fit for you. Per Hertz, “In a recent study by the Department of Energy it was shown that for every dollar invested in a solar system you add 3 dollars to the value of your home at resale. Reporting from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have shown issues with selling homes with leased systems. Not only does ownership create more value, but it removes the legal impediments to a sale that a lease entails.”

Peter Martin and Kendal Sandlin in New Castle

Tips from Sunrise Solar Solutions

Shop local. Not every Solarize partner is equally invested in the community. Once the campaign is over, a national firm with spread out interests may be far less responsive than a reputable local installer with longstanding ties to the community.
Look for long-term value, not bargains. The saying goes, it’s penny-wise and pound-foolish. When making a significant investment in your home, pricing is important, but it’s just one of many factors to consider. Invest in a system that can offer you significant savings for many years to come, not just today. It’s very important to note that a higher quality installation can actually save you more money in the long-term.

For more information, solarizewestchester.com/solarize-somers-new-castle/ and sunrisesolarllc.com

Markets have you Down?

March 5, 2016 by The Inside Press

By Scott Kahan

It’s been a rough start for the equity markets in 2016. It’s hard not to panic and want to sell everything waiting for the markets to settle down. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a steady 4% return every year rather than all these ups and downs? Consider this: Since 1950, the U.S. markets have experienced a decline of between 5% and 10% in 35% of all calendar years; 20% of the time a decline of 10-15%, and 17% of our last 56 stock market years have seen downturns, at some point in the year, of more than 20%.

The very fact that stock downturns scare people is one reason why stocks deliver a higher return than bonds. Economists call it the “risk premium;” which is a form of compensation for investors who tolerate the extra risk–compared to that of a risk-free asset. Over their history, stocks have delivered higher long-term returns than bonds and cash.

But you should view your investments through a financial planning filter. Before you make changes to your portfolio, you should review your goals and objectives. If they haven’t changed, then there is probably no reason to make major portfolio changes. It may be a good time though to rebalance your portfolio based on your overall goals and objectives.

Market downturns give an advantage to those who are willing to practice disciplined re-balancing among different asset classes. Basically, that means that when stocks go down, any new cash goes disproportionately into stocks to bring them back up to their former share of the overall portfolio. This approach takes the emotions out of investing.

If you’re accumulating for retirement by putting money in the market every month or quarter, each downturn means you can buy shares at a bargain price while many other investors are selling out at or near the bottom. Over time, as the market recovers, this can give a little extra kick to your overall return.

If you are in retirement, you should have 12-18 months of liquid funds available in a money market so you don’t have to sell when prices are low. As you rebalance during the year, you fill that cash “bucket” to maintain the needed liquidity.

If you are focused on your financial planning, then market downturns should not be a time to panic, but rather viewed as a normal occurrence and possibly an opportunity.

Scott M. Kahan, is a Certified Financial Planner® professional and President of Financial Asset Management Corporation, a fee-only wealth management firm located at 26 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. Call 238-8900 or write to skahan@famcorporation.com.

Chat with the Chamber of Commerce: You Asked, They Answered!

March 4, 2016 by Inside Press

A Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce “Ask me Anything” event at Crabtree’s Kittle House gave 14 business owners and consultants a chance to share their business acumen with New Castle residents. The casual gathering drew visitors who were invited to rotate from table to table in ten minute segments following introductions of each presenter at the podium.

Good humor was in abundance. “I’ll try to be brief,” said Vinnie Milazzo, owner of the Chappaqua Village Market, “but I do have four years of stories to tell.” Local healer Benadette Bloom described herself as a “medical intuitive.” “I’ll also teach you to do what I do.”

L-R: Jennifer Bancroft, Chamber Manager with Dawn Dankner Rosen, Chamber President.

Discussing the first time offering, Dawn Dankner Rosen, who heads the Chamber, said she “thought it would be fun to have an event where you can meet up with experts in different fields for no fee, and ask them anything that comes to mind.” She said the board aimed to feature a “cross section” of owners and is considering regular “Ask me Anything” gatherings. — Grace Bennett

(L-R) Bernadette Bloom, Nicole Hair and Melysa Diament

Beth Rordham, Joan Bigg and Frank Bastone

(L-R): John Grimes, Ted Holmes and Rand Mark Manasse

L-R: Johanna Kline, Wendy Nolan, Deena Bochier

Ray Pahini and Rita Ross — Ray Rahni and Rita Ross

Chappaqua Crossing Groundbreaking: “‘Super’ for Us”

March 2, 2016 by Inside Press

By Matt Smith

“It takes a village,” Summit Development President Felix Charney began his speech on the morning of Super Tuesday, to kick off the official Groundbreaking ceremony for the new retail complex at Chappaqua Crossing Headquarters. “Given your presence here in this room, this is a village. And given the contribution that each of you in this room has made in one form or another, over the course of [the review of] this project, we all now have something today we can celebrate, and hopefully be very proud of… It’s Super Tuesday [in the political world], but it’s super for us, ‘cause it’s been a hell of a long ride, and we finally made it through.”

The groundbreaking official first dig. (L-R) Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; Summit Development President Felix Charney; New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein; Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz; Jeff Melby, Senior Vice President Life Time Real Estate and Development; Jake Grossman, co-President Grossman Companies. Photo by Matt Smith. — The groundbreaking official first dig.
(L-R) Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett;
Summit Development President Felix Charney; New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein; Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz;
Jeff Melby, Senior Vice President Life Time Real Estate and Development;
Jake Grossman, co-President Grossman Companies. Photo by Matt Smith.

The plan, which Charney noted was 11 years in review and spanned the terms of four different town supervisors — Janet Wells, Barbara Gerrard, Susan Carpenter, and Rob Greenstein, all of whom were in attendance — will add a Whole Foods Market, LifeTime Fitness, and 28 affordable housing units to the former Reader’s Digest campus off Bedford and Roaring Brook Roads.

“This is a unique project — there is nothing like it in Westchester,” Charney continues. “The fact is, this is a magnificent town with phenomenal schools — it deserves amenities [whose standards are held] at the same bar.”

To that end, the development also includes plans for 91 luxury townhomes, a completely decked-out 500,000-square-foot cultural center, and a shuttle connecting to the Metro-North train station in the center of town, all of which are underway.

To say the 75 community members in attendance were in high spirits during the ceremony would be an understatement. “The truth is, a lot of people didn’t know if they would ever see it happen, and it’s happening,” says New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein. Despite the arduous process, he notes that “together, we made sure we ended up with a project that would benefit our entire community. We ensured the residents of New Castle the best possible outcome, amenities and aesthetics, as well as the commercial tax dollars we desperately need.” In short, as he states, “What started out as the longest and most controversial land use application in our town’s history, ended up as the perfect example of the benefits of working together.”

During the ceremony, representatives from both of the “retail village” companies expanded upon how their respective companies would specifically contribute to the well-being of the community.

“To be able to be part of a project that brings Whole Foods Market to Northern Westchester County and the great town of Chappaqua is something we’re so excited about,” says Whole Foods representative Michael Sinatra, adding that the opening of the store will satisfy customers who, through social media, expressed a need for such a venue in Northern Westchester. “One thing we really hang our hat on is our ability to partner with local non-profits, our local schools, [and] local food banks, and that’s also something we’ll look to extend when we open this property next year.”

Comments Brian Smith, area director of LifeTime Fitness, of their specific plans: “This [facility] destination will be unique [as opposed to others in Westchester]. It will have a broad array of highly personalized programs and services, that will allow our members to really go after the things they are most passionate about. If we can do [here] what we’ve done in our other facilities in Westchester, which is [to] really create a third home for folks in the community, I think we’ll have succeeded. We are honored and privileged to be here with you all today, and we are so excited about bringing this thing to life next year.”

The morning was capped off by an official groundbreaking, complete with a first dig and initial bulldozing — “‘Cause who doesn’t want to toss some dirt?” jokes Charney — and a lunch, catered (quite appropriately) by Whole Foods.

Overview of the Village. Photo by John Vecchiolla.

Despite the grueling process and the long road ahead to completion, Greenstein, who, in fact, was once opposed to the project, now admits he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. “I personally think when this project is completed — maybe… four to five years down the road — there’s going to be some people that are going to say, “I can’t even believe that there was ever opposition to it,” because that’s how great I think the project is going to end up.”

Echoes Deputy Westchester County Executive Kevin Plunkett: “It shows that if we all work together, even over a long period of time, good things [can] happen and we can make a difference in Westchester County.” That we can, Mr. Plunkett, and we look forward to seeing what you, Charney, and Greenstein, can create with the rest of your team, and see how “this iconic piece of Westchester” can be repurposed for the next generation.

Chappaqua Crossing is located at 480 Bedford Road, just off of RT-117. CNB Builders will be in charge of construction. Whole Foods Market, the first building within the retail village to be constructed, is currently set to open in January 2017. For more information, please visit www.chappaquacrossing.com.

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Chaotic is the New Happy

Here Comes the Sun: Solar Power in New Castle