By Ellen Cooper
Earlier in the month, 37 Chappaqua women gathered at Lexington Square Cafe in Mount Kisco together to unite and reunite a neighborhood!
The neighborhood consists of Stornowaye (where I live), Killington, Aspen, Attitash, Breckenridge and Alta Lane. Resident Sandy Poster of Stornowaye dubbed this the ‘hood of the “Ski Slope Sisters,” cleverly referencing the names of the streets!
For many years, yearly block parties were arranged whereby families gathered together the week after Labor Day to meet and greet their neighbors. Potluck dishes were brought by each family, supplemented with Lange’s Deli’s famous chicken; kids were entertained by an ‘activities specialist’ and the day was capped off with a visit by the Good Humour ice cream truck.
But as the neighborhood shifted and families moved in and others moved out, the block party tradition faded.
One day, Iris Wertheim of Alta Lane and I were walking our dogs when we came upon another neighborhood setting up for a block party. Nostalgia set in, so I went to work!
The original thought of re- establishing the block party didn’t seem feasible with such short notice.
But Ingrid Hershman of Alta Lane said, “Let’s just go out with whoever can make it.”
The emails started flying! Flyers were stuffed into mailboxes and suddenly there were six, then 16, then 21, then finally, 37 women!
Gloria Gelles of Stornowaye, an original owner living in the neighborhood since 1968, recounted how Stornowaye used to be a dirt road that the post office wouldn’t even deliver mail to with it’s being an unpaved street. Instead mail was collected on nearby Whippoorwill.
In stark contrast, Liza Young moved in less than a year ago, finding a neighborhood of paved streets and 64 houses steeped in traditions of community, love and fun.
Ellen Cooper is a school social worker who has been living in Chappaqua for over 17 years. She and her husband Andy have two daughters who always loved block parties: Jenna , 23, and Jessie, 19. Two Golden Retrievers, Lucas and Earl, are also beloved family members.
