Sometime in September, I conceived a “Live Well” theme to offer a boost to my sponsors. I regularly look for ways to do that but I also like to keep these things on the up and up with all my valued readers (that means you). Those pages are now called “Words and Wisdom from Our Sponsors.” Special thanks to IC associate Carine Feist (who produced the recipes feature) and IC designer Dina Spalvieri (who toiled from three locations after losing power to close this issue!), and writers Lisa Ballou and Jean Sheff for their write-ups. I think you’ll enjoy hearing “what’s new” at all these wonderful local establishments. As one poster circulating in social media playfully suggests, “Occupy King Street.”
Which brings me to thinking about the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. I have personally been quite moved these last few months by the ever growing efforts to address and in time correct the behemoth of an income gap between rich and poor. Whatever your opinion of OWS, we can all agree that the desire and quest to live well– and struggle less– is shared by all.
Early in October, I met different persons at Zuccotti Park who shared their concerns with me. These included three farmers from upstate, New York, who worry that
corporate powers- that-be will flex lobbying muscles and drown out advocacy messages to prevent horizontal hydraulic fracturing (known as “fracking”)–natural gas drilling using high-pressure injections of water, sand, and chemicals to release trapped gas. Opponents point to environmental and health impacts and document a significant number of accidents contaminating our waters. As farmers, they passionately related, contaminated water would affect the quality of their crops and ultimately the taste too of food on all our plates. Their concern is now my concern too, and I promised their voices would be heard in this magazine, and they are depicted on the right of this page.
Now back to this issue! For five 1987 high school grads from Chappaqua, the decision to come back to live here was easy as pie. It was a nice life growing up and they wanted their families to experience the same. More on “Coming Full Circle” with special thanks to Ted Holmes for gathering his fellow classmates for a shoot by professional photographer Jamie Kilgore. Just before the weird October snow hit too! Vicki de Vries even incorporated a sidebar about why our very own Rick Reynolds chose to come home to Chappaqua too.
For so many in New Castle, efforts to live well were seriously challenged by the storm that almost stole Halloween, of course. The cover shot by Chatschik (Dr. B) Bisdikian offers a pretty reminder of a difficult time. Relief was at hand though at the New Castle Community Center as documented in Sarah Ellen Berman’s story on Refuge From the Storm.
In other arenas: Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a popular Chappaqua obstetrician/gynecologist (who happened to deliver my son too!) is living well promoting her amazing role in a new reality TV series: Working Wives of Westchester. Now a regional VP for Arbonne International, Jill Kay’s prescription for living well is on page 30. Hitting the music scene (with our writer Miriam Longobardi) to meet new friends or listen to local talent such as Jon Cobert and Chris Fox is a quality of life enhancer for sure.
Finally, this issue is also celebratory…including stories about Greeley’s 200-year festivities, Mark Twain mania at the Chappaqua Library and the 100-year celebration plans for Chappaqua’s magnificent First Congregational Church. Enjoy.
Grace
