The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

winter

Creating Winter Warmth

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Last winter was one of the coldest and snowiest on record. It was also the winter that I was on an endless pursuit for a warm winter coat as I was house training a new puppy and seemed to be outdoors for an ungodly amount of time. As I am of short stature and particularly picky about my sartorial choices, I finally found my coat at the end of the season and instead looked for other ways to warm my heart and soul during that relentless winter.

As I look out my window while writing this column, snow has blanketed my backyard and beautiful icicles are forming on my pine trees. It is the first snowfall of the season and my kids couldn’t be happier. Me? Not so much…I have to wrap up this edition and was hoping to finalize it instead of having a dreaded snow day.

But as I’m leafing through the pages herein, I come across Dan Levitz’s beautiful essay on how winters actually help with community and family bonding. And I wholeheartedly agree. With an unanticipated early dismissal yesterday, my neighbor on the cul-de-sac invites my kids and I over for a playdate. The kids get busy to work on crafts and us moms get busy imbibing a nice glass of wine while the snow picks up. That morning while I was on my “bread and milk” run before the snowy Armageddon hit us, I asked her if she needed any groceries too. If there’s anything I learned after living here for seven years is that we have to help each other out if we are going to survive the long winter.

And help we do…just perusing through Facebook last night there were several messages about the MetroNorth schedules and which roads/highways to avoid (practically all!). After spending admittedly too much time on social media, I put my iPhone down and curled up with a good book. As a source said in Anna Young’s article about local book clubs– “There’s nothing like having a cup of tea with your book with the fireplace going. It’s perfect.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s the best antidote to a cold winter night.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth,

From Cabin Fever to Spring Fever

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Woman Discovers What Kind of Chair She is

By Janine Crowley Haynes

Ah…spring is finally here, but there’s no denying it was one heck of a cold and lonely winter. However, with the help of social media, I survived. Uploading TGIF photos of my dog wearing a Hawaiian lei propped up by a pink mai tai helped to temper my cabin fever. Also, I took up coloring again…as in…coloring in a coloring book. It’s only the first paragraph, so please don’t judge me quite yet.

I know I was not alone in my innocuous endeavors to maintain sanity. Last winter, I noticed a strong uptick of social media postings of crazy cat videos and unlikely interspecies alliances. The Youtube video of the cockatoo feeding individual strands of spaghetti to his canine companion is, not only adorbs, but a metaphorical template for ending world hunger. Also, tagging and sharing anything wine-related was considered a lifesaving ritual that friends did for one another. You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy wine was more than just a platitude; it was a public service announcement for the online adult community. I discovered that the Roman god of wine, Bacchus, is alive, well, and on the internet engineering kitchen faucets flowing with fruity, full-bodied pinot noirs. Now there’s a jobs program. We can build it. We have the technology. Let’s get to work, America.

But nothing kept away my winter blues quite like sipping and clicking. That is, sipping hot cocoa and clicking on the latest online quiz. My index finger robotically clicked on teasers like Let’s Play! and Take this Quiz!.…I mean, come on, who doesn’t want to know what kind of dog they’d be? Most of my friends are golden retrievers and German shepherds. I happen to be a husky, playful but tends to disappear for days at a time. Days is an understatement–I disappeared for an entire winter. I burrowed beneath the frozen layers of snow and nestled warmly in the cyber bosom of self-discovery. I suckled on the teet of BuzzFeed and PlayBuzz quizzes till my belly was full and my mind ripe with fantastical notions of who I really am.

Who knew the definition of an alternative lifestyle could be extended to life as an inanimate object? Isn’t everyone just the slightest bit curious about what piece of furniture they’d be? I’m an upholstered wingback armchair. Translation: I’m comfortably sophisticated and often found next to fireplaces. This is how I project myself in the world. It pleases me to know I’m not a beer-stained barcalounger with mystery meat rotting beneath my cushions, begging the question, “Dude, what’s that smell?” Ahem…FYI, I’ve been tested and actually smell like lavender which makes people feel relaxed in my presence. This is consistent with my purple aura results. Defining myself by my hue is not shallow–it’s cool and pairs nicely with my hippie name, Blossom, and my musical note, G.

Interestingly, from the countless hours of quiz taking, a pattern definitely emerged. A pattern of relaxed 
sophistication, and I’m comfortable with that label. Speaking of labels, PlayBuzz told me if I were a suit, I’d be Jennifer Aniston’s Gucci scarlet red tuxedo–shirt optional. This is serendipitous because I also got Rachel in Which Friends Character Are You? quiz…and…and…I scored Bradley Cooper as a celebrity husband, who was Jen’s onscreen hubby in the movie He’s Just Not That Into You….Crazy, right? Not me, silly, my results. Coincidence? I think not. Jen and I are practically twins.

Sure, I could’ve spent the winter baking decadent red velvet cupcakes, which PlayBuzz reveals is my confectionery makeup, but nothing fed my soul quite like esteem-building scrumptious morsels of self-discovery. The brilliance of these quizzes is that you can never really be wrong, only alike or unalike from your friends’ results. For example, invisibility and flying–both awesome superpowers, just different. Cinderella and Elsa–equally respectable Disney princesses, just different journeys.

So, I’d say this winter, albeit long, was kind of a productive cerebral season for me. I’ve come away with plenty of insights, at least, enough to write this bizarro essay. Now that it’s spring, I can head back into the woods for my daily walks fully aware of what kind of woodland creature I’d be. After reading this, you might be thinking I’m a real piece of work, and you’d be correct. I happen to be the famous painting At the Moulin Rouge because, like Toulouse-Lautrec, I seek out alternative crowds and, apparently, alternative thinking. What piece of work are you? Go to PlayBuzz and take the quiz!  

Janine Crowley Haynes is the author of My Kind of Crazy–Living in a Bipolar World.

May all your Holidays be Bright!

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Beth Besen, Executive Editor

Ahhhh, December. From fa la las to latkes and snow angels to Nutcracker soldiers, the sounds and sights of the holiday season are upon us. Our kids are counting down the days to their holiday vacations. And, let’s be honest, we’re excited too! Whether we’re anticipating a lengthy break or just looking forward to a long weekend amongst loved ones, the very fact that everything actually slows down and then stops for one full calendar day is truly wonderful!

Maybe you’re hosting friends and family this year? Make sure to take them into town and show off this pretty place we call home. After all, Chappaqua always looks especially lovely for the holidays, trimmed in twinkling lights, inviting shoppers and diners while beckoning neighbors and visitors to linger just a bit longer.

One magical event worth mentioning–the annual tree lighting, which took place this year on December 6th. Hope you got to town early; not just for the best view, but for the noteworthy special addition to the evening! Either way, be sure to enjoy our story about The Chappaqua Orchestra; we’re sure it’ll strike a chord of pleasure.

Indeed, our picture-perfect setting sets a tone of warmth and good cheer. But it’s not all showy surfaces. Another reason to be proud of our town is the safety we feel here. When our middle school students roam the town on Fridays, we worry and fret, but we also know that they are inherently safe. Our crossing guards do their best and, we, in the true spirit of community, do the rest! Eyes and ears keep kindly track of everyone and everything from kids and pets to coyotes and any other threats. And though we’ve had our share of severe winters (and been humbled by a handful of extreme storms), our infrastructure is stronger and sounder than ever. Local emergency response teams use systems like Code Red and Nixle to keep us informed and help us feel protected, connected and safe. We are the very definition of the Village that “it takes.” Read more about our town’s preparation for winter in Ready Set Winter.

Who are the neighbors we rub elbows with in town? Some, of course, we know well. Others are friendly faces we see so regularly that we develop a patterned acquaintanceship-relationship; we grab the same coffees, catch the same trains, join carpool lanes and walk pets on similar schedules. We know, and perhaps wonder about that which we don’t know. Sound like the start of a good mystery novel or thriller? I’m not the one to write it, but I know (or, case in point, know of) a couple of local guys who very well could! Yes, spoiler alert, there are authors among us. And, as books are presents we open again and again, I suggest you flip to A Literary Taste of Chappaqua for a couple of really great gift ideas.

Speaking of gifts, we’ve got a few more thoughtful suggestions inside, and they’re not necessarily the usual suspects. We know that you know that “all that glitters is not gold”, that “good things come in small packages”, that, as the infamous Grinch pondered, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.” Still, we’ve asked some readers to share their favorite “unconventional” gifts, and added a few ideas of our own. We encourage you to use The Gift of Time as a point of departure to think outside the everyday gift box!

Even as we celebrate the many joyous moments the holiday season brings, it’s equally important to recognize that stress and tension often come along for the ride. Perfect family get-togethers are the hallmark, of, well, Hallmark. Movies, that is. Real life comes with ups and downs. For most of us, mood swings are managed and turbulence is tolerated. But, for others, life is exponentially harder. Mental illness, like its physical counterpart, can hurt. Intensely. Directly. And indirectly too. The holidays can be particularly hard. Visions of sugarplums simply don’t dance for everyone at this time of year. December days darken early, but the truth is, mental illness can darken any month and any family. To help shed some light and offer first-person insights, we bring you Time To Talk and When It’s Personal. Do make and take some time to read and enjoy these critically important articles.

A year ago, I wrote my first guest editorial for Inside Chappaqua. The theme was one of Healthy Holidays, and it was a labor of appreciation and pay-it-forward love. As is often the case, paying something forward comes back to you in kind. Since that holiday issue, I’ve had the good fortune to become acquainted with many new faces and places, explore issues known and new, and work with some truly inspiring, bright, funny and talented people. What a wonderful gift! Thank you, Grace; thank you, sponsors; thank you, readers!

Wishing everyone the very best this holiday and in the year ahead,

Beth Besen

Ready…Set… Armonk Winter!

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Armonk’s twinkling lights invite shoppers and diners to enjoy the holiday season. Sam Morell Photos
Armonk’s twinkling lights invite shoppers and diners to enjoy the holiday season. Sam Morell Photos

By Miriam Longobardi

“Snow day!” To some, those words bring joyful shouts while, to others, groans of dread. Students, teachers and snowplow companies are in the first category. Weary parents, store owners, and those expected to report to work regardless of the weather are among those in the second. Regardless of how we feel about it, winter is upon us. I spoke with some local people who help ensure that folks can get out and about and also picked up a few Inside tips on ways to enjoy Armonk this winter season.

While many of us were sunning by the pool or trying to keep cool indoors during the summer months, the town was already earnestly preparing for winter storms. Town administrator Joan Goldberg said, “We’ve increased staffing levels and added several new trucks this year. With the economic downturn of recent years we’d been forced to make some staff cuts and some of the equipment was not able to be replaced. I’m glad we’ve been able to make some changes this year.”

Keeping the town open for business is a priority and involves more than merely clearing all the roads and side streets. Over seven miles of state-owned but town-maintained sidewalks are in need of snow removal. New snow blowers have been added to the arsenal of equipment so shop owners and offices can remain open and people can move about safely.

All is calm and bright in the Town of North Castle.
All is calm and bright in the Town of North Castle.

Goldberg shared that there are some things residents do inadvertently which are counter-productive to snow removal and de-icing. “I don’t think most people know that putting snow on the roads is against the law. Even people that think they’re doing the right thing by pushing the snow across the street or off to the side are actually removing some of the sand and de-icing chemicals the trucks spread. They literally wipe away what the trucks just put down.” She also pointed out that the town is not liable for damages caused to vehicles when they are out working, so if it is possible, staying home and out of the way is the safest course of action even in an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Once roads are cleared, there are lots of activities available for children and adults alike. Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Matt Trainor shared that the kids’ gourmet cooking class and singing classes are among the more popular choices. Organizations like Mad Science or The Nature of Things offer programs that can spark the imaginations of young scientists. Other ongoing programs for first- though eighth- graders are karate and basketball. “What I like about our basketball program is that there’s no pressure. There are no tryouts or anything like that. Parents often call and ask and they like knowing that if their child wants to play basketball, he or she can just sign-up and play.” Trainor added further, “We offer art classes in oil or watercolor painting for both adults and children. There are a multitude of outside contractors that we work with.” Occasionally the Recreation Department pairs up with local restaurants to offer cooking classes, or will offer different types of dancing, such as ballroom or line-dancing, but the fitness classes fill up fastest. Adult fitness classes like yoga and pilates are the most popular and are ongoing options.

One truck and driver from the intrepid snowplow force, out clearing roads during the early morning hours in Armonk last winter.
One truck and driver from the intrepid snowplow force, out clearing roads during the early morning hours in Armonk last winter.

North Castle Town Supervisor Michael Schiliro’s personal favorite winter tradition in Armonk is the annual Frosty Parade that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. The parade culminates a day filled with children’s activities such as a scavenger hunt, hayrides, and winter crafts. The parade marks Frosty returning to his hometown of Armonk and children and families are invited to join in as he passes. The village square named in the famous winter song written by lyricist Steve Nelson is said to be Armonk’s Historic District. Nelson was in the midst of building a home in Armonk at the time he was writing the song made memorable by Gene Autry, and then lived there for the rest of his life. This year’s parade was dedicated to 37-year North Castle Town Councilwoman and lifelong Armonk resident Becky Kittredge who passed away in August. Kittredge, who was also the former North Castle Deputy Supervisor, often played the role of “Mrs. Frosty” in the parade. Schiliro said, “The Frosty Parade really represents community and family fun.”

What do some residents have to say about winter? Andrea Kosakowski, who has been living in Armonk five years told me, “My daughter does not like getting sick but my son loves winter! He loves the holidays, waking up and seeing snow falling and of course, snow days, at least until we use too many and have to give back. But he was born on a snowy day so he’s a snow kid.” Denise Aversa, whose children Gianna, a senior and son, Antonio, a freshman, grew up in Armonk and attend Byram Hills High School, said, “Winter is time for comfort, good food and a fire. I’m looking forward to getting snowed in with my family.” Julie Dickens, owner of Beascakes Bakery in Armonk Town Center, told me, “Winter is a time when lots of people stop in to buy some of the cookie dough we sell. Baking cookies is a great thing to do at home on a snowy day.”

Theresa and Anthony Kosakowski, ages eight and 10 respectively, enjoying outdoor fun during a a snow day in Armonk.
Theresa and Anthony Kosakowski, ages eight and 10 respectively, enjoying outdoor fun during a a snow day in Armonk.

As temperatures plunge and snow starts to fall, you have plenty of options. Your child can take a cooking class and whip you up a gourmet meal and then you can work it off in a fitness class because roads will be cleared for you to get there. Whether you stay cozy indoors or you brave the elements for some outdoor fun or shopping locally, the town of Armonk is ready!

Miriam Longobardi is a freelance writer, fourth grade teacher and single mother of two daughters living in Westchester. A breast cancer survivor, she volunteers for the American Cancer Society and has completed four marathons and travels the world. Follow her on Twitter @writerMimiLong.

Free “Citizen Preparedness” Training in New Castle

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Monday, October 6, 2014, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., New Castle is hosting a free Citizen Preparedness Corps training session called Prepare, Respond, Recover: What To Do When Disaster Strikes.  snow scene

A trained representative from the American Red Cross will conduct a session of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program. The program lasts about two hours and provides a comprehensive overview on how to prepare for natural and man-made disasters, and how to respond to and recover from them.

This program will take place in the Assembly Room, New Castle Town Hall, 200 South Greeley, Avenue, Chappaqua, NY 10514.redcross-logo