what makes your neighborhood special - the inside press · 2020. 2. 29. · magazine (which we are...

MARCH 2020 | INSIDE ARMONK | 00

ALL IN A (DOG’S) DAY WORK

THE MAGAZINE FOR NORTH CASTLE & BEYOND | THEINSIDEPRESS.C0M | MARCH 2020

What MakesYour Neighborhood

Special

PLUS: BEE-FRIENDLY

GARDENS

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02 | INSIDE ARMONK | MARCH 2020

good neighborscover story19| Local Love forthe NeighborhoodBY CHRISTINE PASQUERALLE

18MARCH 2020THE MAGAZINE FOR NORTH CASTLE & BEYOND | THEINSIDEPRESS.COM

in the know6 Neighbors Helping NeighborsBY STACEY PFEFFER

inside thoughts14 The Art of Being Neighborlyon my Cul-de-SacBY DAN LEVITZ

features18 All in a (Dog) Day’s WorkBY ROBIN CHWATKO

22 Pollinator Pathway Gardens Gaining Local SupportBY MISSY FABEL

24 Mars Rover Semi-Finalist

25 Spotlight on Evelyn FarkasBY GRACE BENNETT

28 Sing Sing Prison MuseumBY JENNIFER SABIN POUX

happenings30 • Inaugural Poverty Symposium• Kids Kloset Event• A Tree Grows in Pleasantville Fundraiser

sponsor wisdom31 My Fitness Journey at Life Time: Part 2BY STACEY PFEFFER

etcetera32 Going on a Bear Hunt in the ‘BurbsBY JENNIFER DRUBIN CLARK

We are officially in our 17th year, and I couldn’t be prouder of this company launched in 2003, and especially of our team whose mission is to create features which shine a light on all the wonderful, big hearted people living here and all the fun and vital happenings in this area–and also to give our sponsors an effective place to share their news too! We have two terrific new additions to our team: Robin Chwatko, as advertising manager, and Sherry Topel, who is managing accounts, too.

If we missed your story or sponsorship ‘in print,’ remember to contact me about our online edition, insidepress.com, for possible publication and/or advertising options, too. In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy just one of 11 springtime ‘Inside Press’ editions–Inside Chappaqua & Millwood, Inside Armonk and the new Inside Briarcliff/Ossin-ing/Pleasantville Magazine (which we are calling ‘BOP’ Magazine) that we produce. We love sharing the joys of your hometown and supporting local efforts to protect our precious environment. I love hearing from readers, too. Drop me a note anytime: [email protected]

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HealtH Newsyou can usebrought to you by White Plains hosPital Physician associates

Taking a Temperature on Your HealthColder weather, high wind and less sunshine may be ideal for winter enthusiasts, but they are not exactly “health friendly.” Research has shown a correlation between cold weather and health conditions like stroke and heart attack. Dr. ChristineAshour, family medicine physician with White Plains Hospital Physician Associates in Armonk and Yorktown Heights, explains how to protect yourself when the temperature drops:

PROTECT yOuR hEaRT. The cold makes heart vessels constrict, which can be a problem for those middle-aged or older. High blood pressure or high cholesterol could further increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

Older people with known heart conditions, decreased mobility, or history of falls should avoid strenuous activities. “See a doctor immediately if you develop any chest discomfort or shortness of breath, discomfort in the arms, neck or jaw, lightheadedness and cold sweats, nausea or vomiting,” notes Dr. Ashour.

PROTECT yOuR baCk. Light stretching of the upper body, including arms, neck and back, is a great way to prevent muscular injuries while shoveling. Dr. Ashour advises pushing snow instead of lifting it, and point your feet in the direction you are throwing the snow instead of twisting your torso.

SEal in ThE hEaT. “Make sure the family is properly outfitted to protect against hypothermia,” says Dr. Ashour. “In colder temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced, which could lead to a lower body temperature, and in some situations can prevent the heart, nervous system and other organs from functioning normally.”

Frostbite, or freezing of the skin, can occur even when wearing gloves, thick socks and ear and face protection. Taking frequent breaks inside to warm up, and being attune to feelings of numbness and tingling can prevent this worst case scenario.

wphpa.org

Travel Tips from Your DoctorPlanning a trip to exotic Africa, or spring breaking in Aruba? After you click to confirm that great deal on airline tickets, you should schedule a visit with a doctor. Dr. Michael Zuckman, an internal medicine specialist with White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk, reviews the health to-dos we need to check off before we jet off.

OuR Doctors. YOuR NeighborhooD.No matter where you live in northern Westchester, it’s easy and convenient to find a White Plains Hospital Physician Associates doctor or specialist near you. Our redesigned, modern outpatient facilities in armonk, Somers and yorktownprovide comprehensive care for the entire family. Expert physicians in primary care and multiple specialties offer personalized service, and same-day appointments are often available. In addition, our Armonk location includes an Urgent Care center, open seven days a week, with extended hours and short wait times.

Visit wphpa.org to learn more.

GeTimmunizeD

In addition to the standard vaccinations, your doctor may recommend additional shots –which typically take 7-10days to be fully effective andmay require multiple doses. “Ifyou want to have a safe andhealthy vacation, these thingsshould be thought about asmuch in advance as possible,”says Dr. Zuckman. “Even ifyou forget and wait until thelast minute, it’s better to havepartial immunity than noimmunity.”

Be sure to bring your exact itinerary with you to your doctor appointment, because recommendations for someone who is camping out in the open versus someone glamping in a screened hut may be different, even if they are going to the same place.

Some shots your doctor might recommend include: Thyphoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Malaria, Rabies, Japanese encephalitis. (Find more information about specific vaccinations based on destination at the CDC’s website: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list)

use commonsense

Foodborne illnesses like the norovirus have taken over entire cruise ships and ruined many a family vacation. Watching what and where you eat is one of the best ways to fend off sickness in areas of the world where healthcare is less developed. “Avoid eating from food carts and street vendors, and don’t eat uncooked foods, or drink non-bottled or unboiled beverages,” notes Dr. Zuckman.

ProTecTYourselffrom biTes

For viral illnesses from mosquitoes, such as Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya, use a mosquito repellent containing permethrin when going outdoors in areas known for mosquitoes, especially at dawn and dusk. Zika is especially dangerous for pregnant women, their partners, and couples planning to become pregnant in the next 6 months.

bring the whole family to receivevaccinations quickly and convenientlyin Armonk. call (914) 849-7900 toschedule an appointment.

White Plains hosPital is a member ofthe montefiore health system


Taking a Temperature on Your Health Colder weather, high wind and less sunshine may be ideal for winter enthusiasts, but they are not exactly “health friendly.” Research has shown a correlation between cold weather and health conditions like stroke and heart attack. Dr. Christine Ashour, family medicine physician with White Plains Hospital Physician Associates in Armonk and Yorktown Heights, explains how to protect yourself when the temperature drops:






wphpa.org




GeTimmunizeD




use commonsense













wphpa.org




GeTimmunizeD




use commonsense













wphpa.org




GeTimmunizeD




use commonsense













wphpa.org


OuR Doctors. YOuR NeighborhooD.No matter where you live in northern Westchester, it’s easy and convenient to find a White Plains Hospital Physician Associates doctor or specialist near you. Our redesigned, modern outpatient facilities in armonk, Somers and yorktown provide comprehensive care for the entire family. Expert physicians in primary care and multiple specialties offer personalized service, and same-day appointments are often available. In addition, our Armonk location includes an Urgent Care center, open seven days a week, with extended hours and short wait times.


GeT immunizeD




use common sense


ProTecT Yourself from biTes


bring the whole family to receive vaccinations quickly and conveniently in Armonk. call (914) 849-7900 to schedule an appointment.

White Plains hosPital is a member of the montefiore health system








wphpa.org




GeT immunizeD




use common sense













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GeT immunizeD




use common sense






neighborhoods are special because of the people who live in them who foster a sense of community. We plan on continuing this in future issues so be on the lookout for it and perhaps you’ll spot a neighbor or two.

Several area residents are also profiled in this issue. From the resi-dents lovingly planting beautiful native gardens to increase pollination in our community to volunteers spending countless hours accompa-nying their therapy dogs to help out senior citizens or stressed out students, I’d be thrilled to have any of these residents as neighbors.

Warmly,

P.S. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to local nonprofit (914) Cares for organizing the inaugural Westchester Poverty Symposium held last month that I attended. The half-day symposium put a spot-light on poverty in Westchester County and explored strategies and partnerships to disrupt the cycle of poverty that exists throughout. Again, another prime example of neighbors helping neighbors. See Happenings on page 30.

I ’ve been thinking about Mrs. Dobrowski a lot as I work on this issue of the magazine. A widow, she lived across the street from us at my childhood home in Queens. On sunny days, she’d sit

on the porch in her housedress reading the newspa-per. On cloudy days, she watched TV. If I peered out through my window, I could make out the glare of the TV, bunny ear antennae perched on top. She would feed the neighborhood stray cats too and leave out a bowl of milk for them.

Later as I became a latchkey kid when my mom re-turned to work, my mom asked her to keep an eye out

for me to make sure I was safely inside after school. She did. I could see her looking out her window as she took this duty very seriously. In return, my dad helped her shovel her walkway when it snowed or other simple home maintenance problems. In essence, she was a good neighbor and we looked out for each other. Mrs. Dobrowski walked that delicate balance of being friendly and helpful without ever being intrusive or nosy.

A central focus of this issue was what makes your neighborhood special? Our talented writer Christine Pasqueralle interviewed several families from various sections of town and the bottom line is that our


Thank you for your article in the Winter 2019-20 edition of Inside Armonk about our wonderful North Castle Library. It is indeed a treasure and the true heart of our community. Your readers may not have realized the enormous range of free services, information and entertainment to be found there. We would like to point out that the many programs you mentioned, as well as furnishings and other needed equipment, are paid for each year by the Friends of the North Castle Public Library, not only from the proceeds of the annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show, but also through twice-yearly fundraising appeals. We urge everyone to support the library by donating to these appeals with a check in any amount or by going to friendsncpl.org, clicking on Donate and becoming a Friend. It’s one of the best investments you can make for your family and your home town. And be sure to attend the Armonk Outdoor Art Show–voted #2 in the nation two years in a row–next October 3rd and 4th!

Marilyn Heimerdinger and Lydia SingerCo-Chairs, Community Support CommitteeFriends of the North Castle Library, Inc.

Letter to the Editor:

in the know Neighbors Helping Neighbors

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WINTER 2019/2020 | INSIDE ARMONK | 00

THE MAGAZINE FOR NORTH CASTLE & BEYOND | THEINSIDEPRESS.C0M | WINTER 2019/2020

LENDING A HANDMaking Holiday Memories

AppreciatingOur Community Treasure

Our'TOP TEN' Roundups!

THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW CASTLE & BEYOND | THEINSIDEPRESS.C0M | WINTER 2019/2020

LENDING A HANDMaking Holiday Memories

How Local Leaders are Inspiring A New Generation of Volunteers and Readers

Our'TOP TEN' Roundups!

New CastleHolocaust Memorial

Accounts ManagerSHERRY TOPEL

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Advertising Manager ROBIN CHWATKO

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EditorSTACEY PFEFFER

Publisher & Editor-in-ChiefGRACE BENNETT

Mailing address: Inside Chappaqua, PO Box 643, Millwood, NY 10546Telephone: 914-238-2600

Inside Chappaqua is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse or not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of any information, services or resources made available through this publication.The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising that appears in this publication.The views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.

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March 2020Volume 17, Number 1

THE MAGAZINE FOR NORTH CASTLE & BEYOND | THEINSIDEPRESS.C0M

ARMONKEXPERTISE

COUNTYREACH

T H E R I C C I T E AM A T K E L L E R W I L L I AM S NY R EA L T Y � 1 2 0 B LOOM I NGDA L E ROAD � S U I T E 1 0 1

WH I T E P L A I N S , NY 1 0 6 0 � � H T T P : / / T H E R I C C I T E AM . COM � 9 1 4 . 4 3 7 . 6 1 3 1

JUSTINE DENICH, ABRLicensed Real Estate Sales Person [email protected]

A FRESHAPPROACHAs an Armonk resident, I have a unique perspective on what makes this area special and what will matter most to local home buyers.

As a member of The Ricci Team powered by Xperience, our MISSION is to meet your needs and exceed your expectations so that you would never hesitate to refer us to your friends, family, and co-workers. We are a team of county-wide experts committed to creating an enjoyable and outstanding experience for you throughout your entire transaction.

I am not here to market myself or my brand, I am here to help you achieve your real estate dreams.

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU

NEED HELP?CONTACT ME TODAY!


Your Byram Hills | Westchester Connection

387 Main Street, Armonk, NY 10504

Grace LoBelloLicensed Real Estate Salesperson

914.525.1658 | [email protected]

Now that 2020 is here:

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ARTICLES BY CHRISTINE PASQUERALLEPHOTOS COURTESY OF FAMILIES INTERVIEWED

Editor’s Note: Good neighbors are invaluable and make our communities a special place to live. They are there for you in a pinch when you run out of butter or need your plants watered. They offer camaraderie while waiting for the school bus and they help each other out when times are tough or tornadoes hit!

We wanted to profile several distinct areas of North Castle to capture the flavor of each neighborhood. One thing stands out in all of them – a passion for the place these families call home.

Christine Pasqueralle is a freelance writer, wife and mom of two. Based in Hawthorne, Christine enjoys yoga, the arts and exploring NYC and the surrounding areas.

“We loved the land, the homes

have a lot of property and our house sits on a

preserve.”- Sara

“We love living here because the town has become our family. There is always a sense of

support - people go above and beyond to help each other

out.” - Rachel

“Living in a neighborhood where we can be physically

active outdoors is really important to us. You’ll find us running through the streets

of our neighborhood and taking our kids on hikes along the

trails in Westmoreland Sanctuary,” - Jenni

“We instantly fell in love when we

pulled into our street and saw all the

neighborhood kids riding their bikes together - it was an unscheduled playdate which is

so unheard of these days.” - Leena

It’s the people who ultimately make a neighborhood great.


What Makes Your Neighborhood

Special

Good Neighbors


Yale Farms: Outdoor Livingat Its Best

Armonk’s Yale Farms sits on the border of Greenwich, CT and its historical roots lie in Connecticut as well. CT native and Yale graduate John W. Sterling once owned the land and upon his death in 1918, donated it to the university. Yale Farms is situat-ed near Whippoorwill Ridge Park and Wampus Brook Park and residents can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as tennis, walking trails, picnicking and more at nearby North Castle Community Park.

The Milim family has lived in Yale Farms since 2013. Rachel, Director of Brant Lake Sports Academy for Girls and Matthew, a small business owner, live with their children Ryan, age 10.5, Samuel, age 8.5 and Jack, age 5. The family was originally looking for a small town community close to the city but with more of a country feel. “We were looking for a place we can raise our family and that included great schools, great activities and a town with true character,” says Rachel.

Living in Yale Farms has given the Milim family a real sense of community. “We love living here because the town has become our family. There is always a sense of support - people go above and beyond to help each other out. Whether it’s a fundraiser, meal trains or just driving carpool, the saying ‘it takes a village’ is very real and it works in this town,” states Rachel.

There are always fun events going on in the neighborhood or in town. As Rachel says, “Community events are BIG in Armonk.” Some of the family’s favorites include the Chamber of Commerce Frosty Day Parade, Byram Hills Preschool Association’s Carnival, various 5K fundraisers and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

One favorite holiday of the Milim family is Halloween. “Halloween is a big deal here. The entire town trick-or-treats on Glendale and Wampus Avenues. Homes are decorated to the nines and filled with candy. Police monitor the area to make sure it’s a fun-filled and safe Halloween for kids of all ages!”

Banksville: A Quiet Hamlet Bordering Armonk, Bedford

and GreenwichBanksville is a hamlet in the town of North Castle. Known as the Eastern District of North Castle, it lies on the Bedford side of Armonk and also borders backcountry Greenwich, CT. The ham-let was named for Samuel Banks, a farmer who settled there in 1695 and is buried in Middle Patent Rural Cemetery in Bedford.

Living in Banksville affords its residents the best of many towns including Bedford, Armonk and Greenwich. One family that calls Banksville home is the Katz family. Sara and Lewis both work in financial services and have three children - Natalie, age 10, Mer-cer, age 9 and Miles, age 6. The Katz family moved to Banksville from New York City in the summer of 2010. They figured if they were going to leave the city, they definitely wanted to move somewhere with lots of land and more space.

They soon found what they were looking for in Banksville. As Sara says, “We loved the land, the homes have a lot of property and our house sits on a preserve.” The family loves the country feel and natural beauty the neighborhood offers residents. Since there is so much open green space, there are more chances for the neighborhood kids to get together and play, whether it be bike-riding, soccer, football and more.

Living further from the Armonk town center gives Banksville residents the chance to frequent not only Armonk’s downtown, but also those of Bedford and Greenwich. This allows for more diverse interactions and the chance to meet a variety of people from different areas. Some favorite spots for the Katz family include Happiness Is, a fine foods market, The Study Fine Wines & Spirits, Greens Nails and Banksville Pizza, all situated along North Street, the small commercial hub of the hamlet.

The Katz family enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors around Banksville, whether it be going for a jog into backcountry Green-wich or playing at Memorial Park in Bedford Hills. The Banksville community is one that enjoys its natural surroundings as well as each other’s company. As Sara says, “Everyone is lovely and giv-ing - people are always willing to carpool or watch each other’s kids.” A true testament to the neighborhood.

Good Neighbors

Neighborhood spotlights continue on page 12.


W W W. E Y E D E S I G N S O F W E S T C H E S T E R . C O M | ( 9 1 4 ) 2 7 3 - 7 3 3 7

O F A R M O N K

From Northern to Southern Westchester, The Kori Sassower Team has you covered.

We live, love and breathe Westchester. Contact us to discuss how we can help you with your real estate needs.

Kori SassowerLic. Assoc. R.E. Broker in NY + CT [email protected] M: 914.727.0169 O: 914.223.7623

KORI SASSOWER TEAM IS A TEAM OF REAL ESTATE AGENTS AFFILIATED WITH COMPASS. COMPASS IS A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER AND ABIDES BY EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY LAWS.


Loving the Lake and So Much More About Windmill Farm

The Windmill Farm section of Armonk has much to offer including unspoiled natural beauty, winding roads and wildlife. Windmill Farm, originally known as Windmill Manor, was the sprawling estate of Dr. Charles Paterno. His son Carlo developed the land into a residential community in the 1940’s. The neighborhood features the Windmill Club, historic windmills and a breathtaking landscape.

The Benerofe family has called Windmill Farm home for nine years. Jenni is a chef and owner of The Balaboosta Chef, offering private and group cooking classes, Jory is Vice President of Creative Strategy for Vineyard Vines, daughter Noa is 12 and son Levin is 10. One of the reasons the family moved to Armonk was to be close to family. “We were also attracted to the small town vibe, top-notch schools, larger plots of land and the built-in, lake-side social life that living in Windmill Farm allows,” says Jenni.

Access to the Windmill Club has given the Benefores opportuni-ties to form lasting friendships with many neighbors. Jenni says, “Our entire family has made such special memories as well as life-long friendships during summers spent at the lake at the Windmill Club.” The Windmill Club offers amenities such as lake swimming, tennis, basketball and a newly-renovated clubhouse. The Bene-fores take advantage of the neighborhood’s outdoor spaces as well. “Living in a neighborhood where we can be physically active outdoors is really important to us. You’ll find us running through the streets of our neighborhood and taking our kids on hikes along the trails in Westmoreland Sanctuary,” says Jenni.

Windmill Farm neighbors love to socialize but especially come together in times of need. In addition to the many pot luck dinners, BBQ’s, holiday parties and more, neighbors are there for one another. As Jenni says, “I’m proud to live in a community that is infinitely helpful and compassionate in times of crisis. Our neighborhood always comes through with meal trains, carpools and donations when needed.” The family also participates in and donates services to the Stayin’ Alive 5K Fun Run, held each spring at the Windmill Club, raising grant money for the First Responders of Northern Westchester. Adding up everything the area has to offer Jenni states, “All of these things make living in Armonk so special!”

Living in Downtown Armonk:Just Close Enough to the Action

Living in downtown Armonk affords its residents easy access to many points of interest including restaurants, shops and green spaces. The Kapur family calls the area home and has many reasons to love living there.

Leena, a stay-at-home-mom, Nick, who works in energy infor-mation and children Deven, age 8, Sareena, age 6 and Naya, age 4 enjoy all that their Armonk neighborhood has to offer. The family moved to the area 6.5 years ago after their second child was born. They were looking for more space than they had in their Manhattan apartment. “My family was in Long Island, Nick’s was in Connecticut, so Westchester was the perfect in-between for us. We had this idealistic view of living in a neighborhood where kids could ride their bikes and play with other kids in the neighborhood,” says Leena.

Fortunately for the family, that view became a reality when they found their Armonk home. As Leena says, “We instantly fell in love when we pulled into our street and saw all the neighborhood kids riding their bikes together - it was an unscheduled playdate which is so unheard of these days.” The easy access to down-town make the Kapurs neighborhood ideal for the family. “It’s an easy 8-minute walk from our house - and super friendly neigh-bors,” says Leena.

The neighborhood is also a hot-spot for Halloween celebrations. Each year, close to 2,000 trick-or-treaters and their families come for Halloween. Neighbors decorate their lawns and create a special atmosphere for all involved. And it’s not just the kids that get into the spirit, many of the adults wear costumes and the event has grown with each passing year. In addition, during the holiday season, families stroll throughout the neighborhood singing carols.

Living in downtown Armonk, there’s always something to do. Says Leena, “We have many impromptu play dates for the kids at the playground and usually plan neighborhood drinks with our neighbors every couple of weeks.” Luckily there are many local restaurant options within short walking distance.

Good Neighborscontinued from page 10


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BY DAN LEVITZ

It’s a week before the big day and our family has convened to strategize a significant plan of action. This approach must be executed with meticulous detail so that the inevitable impending onslaught will be met with preci-

sion. A disciplined chain of command will ensure that whatever blueprint we settle upon will come from the top. Which is most definitely not me. My wife, Laurie, has decided, as The Decider, that the candy should be put into easy to distribute, pre-packed little bags with plump pumpkins on them. While this laborious option will guarantee fairness and efficiency (and trackable statistical data my wise-guy son adds) I tend to lean towards the more chaotic and subjective. Why not greet each kid, assess quality of costume (along with their trick or treat statement) and then distribute loose candy based upon this information? With 200 to 300 trick or treaters expected you can see why I am not The Decider. Welcome to life on my cul-de-sac.

When we moved to our Northern Westchester digs everything seemed new and a bit odd but exciting too. In the city we’d walk the kids to school every morning and it was a sweet ritual. Leaving that and other distinct urban scenarios behind made me hesitant to embrace the move to this beautiful bucolic suburb. However, almost immediately, it was clear that the more rural versions of our established routines were equally wonderful. In this case, we’d lose the family time spent walking to school as, now, the bus-stop is literally in front of our house. This simple fact of geography led to very fast friendships for the kids, as well as par-ents, who would all gather on a near daily basis. It would be impossible not to notice that we’d absolutely landed in a neighborhood.

Some of the bus-stop relationships evolved into friendships that still remain. Others were fleeting and on occasion a little contentious but that’s just the way life is with people interacting daily, sometimes before coffee. What became intriguing to me over time was the evolution of the bus stop.

You’d see your kids eventually age out along with their peers followed by new kids which were often younger siblings you might know. At one point a whole new crop of kids populates the space by the house and, not being connected to it other than seeing it from the window, you realize that that particular aspect of living in the cul-de-sac always continues. Just as sweet as ever but no longer a direct part of our lives.

It may be a personal flaw but I’m very quick to base opinions upon my initial impression of people. Fair or not, neighbors show themselves one way or another and, unwittingly, I reach a conclusion about who they are which will never change unless they prove otherwise. I know this is absurd and not particularly neighborly but here we are. Shortly after we landed in our house a neighbor said hello and within 10 seconds told me I needed a new roof on my house. Probably a wonderful person but, for me, he’ll always be that guy who was critical of our new abode when I was at the height of emotional vulnerability homeowner-wise.

Along those lines, when the kids were young, there was a mother at the bus stop with a child the same age as my son. She wasn’t particularly friendly, even a bit abrupt, and I rashly concluded she was just kind of a hard case. Our kids became friends and I got to know her a little better and, of course, she turned out to be a very kind person. It turned out this single mom had serious health issues and I always felt terrible about my initial shallow rush to judgement. One December she came by to ask me to tune an electric guitar she’d bought for her daughter. I happily did so and she gave me a warm and spontaneous hug. I watched her walk away, guitar in hand, in light December snow headed up towards her house at the end of the cul-de-sac. The neighborhood is quite simply a community of folks living in close proximity and all that that entails.

Dan Levitz is an art dealer and writer and has lived in Chappaqua for more than 15 years.

The Art of BeingNeighborly

on my Cul-de-Sac

inside thoughts

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BY ROBIN CHWATKO

It’s almost time for Armonk resident Tobie Di Pietro’s shift at The Bristal Assisted Living Facility. He stretches and gets into his uniform. As he enters the building, it’s clear that he’s a valued member of the Bristal family–he is greeted with excitement from both residents and staff alike, a small crowd has formed awaiting his arrival.

Ready to get to work, he enthusiastically makes himself comfortable, curling up in the lap of one of the eager residents. Tobie is a therapy dog–an 8-year-old Havanese whose job is as simple as it is important- to bring joy, comfort and calm to the people he meets.

It is well-known (and scientifically proven) that interaction with pets has significant benefits to the psychological and physiological well-being of their human counterparts. Animals, and dogs especially, are said to reduce anxiety and stress, lower blood pres-sure, build confidence and encourage communication. As Tobie moves from lap to lap –27 in all–his impact is clear. Residents regale Tobie and his human partner Karen with stories of their own dogs, their grandchildren, their ailments, and even gossip about fellow residents. Smiles spread across faces as Tobie gently snuggles, stiffened hands relax with every stroke of his soft fur.

Meet Some Caring &Compassionate Caninesin your Neighborhood

ALL IN A (DOG) DAY’S WORK:

PHOTO BY LYNDA SHENKMAN


SCHNAUZER SOOTHES STRESSED AREA STUDENTSWhen Alexa Krugel was a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School, she started to feel the stress of the high-pressure, high-achieving environment. She soon came to realize that there was a lack of student-run organizations or initiatives to help alleviate this stress and address mental health issues and the stigmas that come with them. She took it upon herself to create such an outlet for her peers and called it the Mental Wellness Club. The club meets regularly throughout the school year, but around the time of midterms and final exams, they partner with the PTA for “Stress Less Week”. Open to all students, the week focuses on distracting, stress-reducing, mindful activities to allow them to decompress, including yoga, meditation, exercise and, of course, therapy dogs.

Enter a 92-pound giant schnauzer named Maus and his owner, Christine Meyer, who were participants since the club’s inception. Dogs are actually Christine’s business, as she is the owner of Wags N‘ Whiskers, a pet groomer and supply store in Chap-paqua, a town staple since 1991.

“Maus’s presence was commanding, truly remarkable", said Christine. “Physically he was just such a striking dog, people were drawn to him and had questions–what kind of dog he was, how his eyebrows grew so long–he was magnetic. He looked in-timidating, but he was just a big mush.” Certified as a therapy dog at age 6, Christine says that he had no idea how large he was, and practically demanded attention,

TOBIE: A HAVANESE WITH HEART Karen, Tobie’s owner, is a first-time dog owner and lifelong volunteer. She contends that the level of giving she experiences through Tobie is unmatched. “Sharing this with Tobie is truly something special, magical even,” she says. “Volunteering together leaves me on Cloud Nine–we connect with people on so many levels, it’s like Tobie seems to know what each person needs.”

This is even more evident in the “Reflections” wing, home to residents in the memory care program at the Bristal. “It’s incredible that the minute they see Tobie, they can recall the name of a childhood dog, or a story about a pet they used to have,” says Karen.

Maytha Ramirez, Director of Recreation at the Bristal, agrees. “It is so important in this community to have that positivity, energy and stimulation–the dynamic changes completely when Tobie enters the room. He gets them talking and brings so much happiness into their lives and their routine.”

In addition to the Bristal, Tobie and Karen volunteer at several county libraries, corpo-rations including Pepsi and Amscan, and women’s shelters. “Tobie is my boyfriend,” exclaims one resident, pulling Tobie closer. She winks and whispers, “He really just comes here for me.”

MAUS' PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINE MEYER

TOBIE'S PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBIN CHWATKO

MAUS' PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXA KRUGEL


by reading to her. She makes private home visits and is a popular resident of Pleas-antville, where she can be seen getting pets and snuggles from neighbors on the street. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are encouraged to interact with a variety of people while they are on-duty.

Skye recently made her first trip to hospice, visiting a woman who had not spoken or communicated in days. Yet, the minute Skye entered the room, her eyes lit up, and she was even able to pet her once Skye every so gingerly offered her sweet, furry paw.

Sometimes, it seems, you just need a helping paw.

Robin Chwatko loved writing this piece as she truly believes in the healing power of the paw. She lives in Chap-paqua with her son, her cat Winnie, and her dogs Ollie and Ruby.

PLEASANTVILLE’S SKYEIS ALWAYS BRIGHT

You can’t help but grin when you meet Skye–a 3-year-old sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog/Poodle mix) who is a 60 pound shaggy poof of kindness, calm and love. Under all that fluff seems to be a knowing smile that, no matter what your mood, she has the power to brighten your day.

Skye’s owner Lynda Shenkman has had and loved many dogs. But the moment she met mellow, sweet Skye, she knew she was destined for therapy work. The mark of a therapy dog is its stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personality–basi-cally Skye in a nutshell.

“We started our training with Skye early, when she was just over a year old,” says Shenkman. “It was clear right away that this was her calling, she knew right away what she needed to do. The minute she puts on her vest and bandana, she knows it’s time to work.”

Therapy dogs may be trained by just about anyone, but must meet set standards and be tested to be certified and registered and actively participate in a program.

Skye works primarily on college campuses and libraries–where kids build confidence

nudging closer to students, even leaning on them or sitting on them until they gave in and pet him. “Maus just KNEW what his role was. As humans we don’t necessarily know who is hurting, but dogs always do. It is a real gift to share my dog with others.”

“My favorite part of having Maus at Greeley was the sense of community he brought. I would always see students who were not friends petting him together and laughing over their common love of the dog,” said Elizabeth Mortati, another Greeley student and club member. “It was really sweet to see how Maus would lift everyone's mood and bring students together.”

Sadly, Maus passed away this January at the age of 11. A fixture in Chappaqua and at the schools he visited, he touched and will be missed by many. His legacy will continue with his 4-year-old sister, another giant schnauzer named Freedom, who was recently certified.

Now a freshman at the University of Michigan, Alexa reflects on the positive experience and indelible impact Maus had on her and her fellow students, and what a positive addition he was to the program she started. “Maus brought so much joy- he was happy, he was comforting, and everyone loved him. He was a familiar face-people developed close relationships with him. Every time he came to the school our worries melted away for a moment.”

SKYE'S PHOTOS BY LYNDA SHENKMAN

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BY MISSY FABEL

J ust last year at a meeting of the Earthwatch Institute, a prominent environmental non-profit, scientists de-clared the bee to be the most important living being on the planet. This notion was shared by Albert Ein-stein more than a century ago who boldly stated that

“if bees disappear, humans would have four years to live.” Yet bees are at risk of extinction. In fact, in some regions of the world, they have disappeared up to 90 percent.

While that news is sobering, local residents and county-wide initiatives are doing their part to keep bees and other pollina-tors happily buzzing in the communities of Northern West-chester.

Bees, butterflies, birds and even bats are all pollinators that play a vital role in the transfer of pollen from one plant to another, enabling fertilization and the production of fruit and seeds. More than 30% of our food grows as a result of polli-nators. Yet, the habitat loss of native plants and widespread use of pesticides and herbicides are causing worldwide decline of pollinators.

The History Behind theFirst Pollinator Pathway

Sarah Bergman started the very first Pollinator Pathway in Seattle more than a decade ago as part of a social and ecological project to combat the decline in pollinators. In an effort to connect two green spaces more than a mile apart, Ms. Bergman went door to door to the homeowners in-be-tween to create a mile long 12-foot-wide corridor of pollinator

friendly gardens, a literal “pathway” to sustain pollinators with pesticide-free habitat and nutrition.

With increasing public awareness of the decline of pollinators, particularly native bees, Bergman’s idea caught on. In 2018, Norwalk, Wilton and Ridgefield together with Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership (H2H) set up the first Pollinator Pathways in Connecticut. Westchester fol-lowed their lead and New Castle Pollinator Pathway Coalition (NCPPC) is among the more than 16 municipalities, organiza-tions and hundreds of individuals joining Pollinator Pathways in Westchester.

Pollinator Pathways in New CastleThe New Castle Pollinator Pathway Coalition (NCPPC) is a volunteer effort consisting of individuals and organizations that support pollinators by connecting properties and green spaces to create a more hospitable environment for bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife.

Pollinator Pathway signs have been popping up in New Castle on resident’s mailboxes and downtown near the train station in recent months. These signs mark just some of the properties that are part of the NCCPC.

According to New Castle resident Victoria Alzapiedi, founder of New Castle Healthy Yards and co-chair of NCCPC, more than 130 public and private properties are already on the Pathway and the list is growing. “I’m so excited that there are so many property owners in our community signing on to the New Castle Pollinator Pathway. Not using pesticides and other lawn chemicals and adding native plants–including specific host and nectar plants for each species of butterfly, moth, and bee - will attract these important insects to your

Pollinator PathwayGardens

Gaining Local Support

Pollinator pathway garden in downtown Chappaqua. Prior to this, the area was full of weeds.

PHOTO CREDIT: MISSY FABEL


yard and provide a haven for them to live and to thrive,” Alzapiedi explained.

Pollinator Friendly Gardens Gain Traction in Other Towns

Garden clubs and other organizations in Pleasantville, Bedford, North Castle and other towns in Westchester are also spreading the word, through education, outreach and the creation of pollinator friendly gardens.

“Our mission includes educating peo-ple about ways to help the planet,” says Phina Geiger, president of the Pleasantville Garden Club, whose members planted a demonstration garden next to a playground in Mt. Pleasant this past spring. “Many of the plants we used were ones from our yards, tried and true locally sourced native plants that people may not know about, but can come and see and be inspired to use in their own yards. The Pleasantville Garden club is also partnering with their Parks & Recreation department to promote Pollinator Pathways in other areas of town, she added.

Plans to add native and pollinator friendly plants are also in the works in Armonk. This spring, the North Castle Public Library is adding native trees, shrubs and peren-nials to its foundation planting as part of the New York Library Association (NYLA) state-wide Sustainable Library Certification Program. “We wanted to enhance the land-scaping in front of our library,” says Edie Martimucci, Director of North Castle Public Library, “and using native plants just makes sense from an environmental and sustain-ability standpoint.”

Tips for Creating aPollinator Friendly Garden

Whether you live in an apartment with a balcony, a typical suburban home, a large estate or are a commercial business in town, everyone can participate in Pollinator Pathway by avoiding the use of pesticides and choosing native plants. Nature pre-serves, such as Glazier Arboretum in New Castle, Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve in North Castle, town and county parks, schools, typical backyards and front yards, even window boxes can help support pollinators.

“It’s simple, really,” declares Filipine de Hoogland of Westchester Pollinators. “Many people already have native trees and shrubs in their yards with natural pesticide free areas. If we connect our pollinator

Pollinator Pathway sign on Route 120PHOTO CREDIT: MISSY FABEL

How to Join the Pollinator

Pathway Initiative● Include native plants on your property for all seasons● Avoid using pesticides and herbicides ● Consider leaving some bare ground for nesting native bees and leaving some autumn leaves for overwintering eggs and pupae of pollinating insects● If you reside in New Castle, register at: www.pollinator-pathway.org/new-castle

A bee on wild sweet WilliamPHOTO CREDIT: MISSY FABEL

Why are PollinatorsUnder Threat?

● Habitat loss due to urban develop-ment and agriculture● Widespread application of pesticides● Climate change

friendly yards, we can construct pathways. Pathways create safe territory for our pol-linators and other wildlife to survive.” She also suggests informing your landscaping company about the steps you are planning to take to create a pollinator friendly yard, so they can help you achieve your goals.

Year-Round Needsfor Pollinators

Pollinators need nectar and pollen in all seasons. Native spring flowering trees and shrubs are an important nectar and pollen source early in the season as well as common native plants often considered “weeds,” such as the common violet. Vio-lets provide nectar as well as leafy greens for the recently hatched butterfly larvae of the Great Spangled Fritillary. Consider leaving violets and other wildflowers in your lawn in spring.

Aster and goldenrod are vital sources of both nectar and pollen in the fall. White wood aster naturally colonizes the wood-land edges common in suburban land-scapes and can easily be encouraged to spread. Leaving some leaf litter in your garden or natural area also helps support pollinators by providing cover for overwin-tering insects.

Local Pollinator EventsOn the Horizon

Look for NCPPC and Westchester Pol-linator events this spring and summer, including activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day as well as national Pollinator Week, June 22-28. In addition, mark your calendar for The Chappaqua Garden Club’s Mother’s Day weekend plant sale from May 7-10. The sale offers hundreds of native plants including specific pollinator friendly plant combination kits for sun, shade, wet and dry areas, according to Chappaqua Garden Club co-president Melanie Smith. For more information, visit chappaquagardenclub.com

For more information on Pollinator Path-ways and how to start one in your town, visit pollinator-pathway.org.

Missy is a native plant landscape de-signer and consultant, teacher, writer and naturalist in Chappaqua. She is a Steering Committee member of the Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, a member of the Town of New Castle Conservation Board and co-chair of the NCPPC.


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N ora Lowe, a Byram Hills High School sophomore was selected as a national semifinalist for the Mars 2020

“Name the Rover” contest and is now eligible to enter into the next round of competition.

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover is one step closer to having its own name after 155 students across the U.S. were chosen as semifinalists. Just one student will be selected to win the grand prize–the honor of naming the rover and an invitation to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The currently unnamed rover is a robotic scientist weighing more than 2,300 pounds (1,000 kilograms). It will search for signs of past microbial life on Mars, characterize the planet’s climate and geology, collect samples and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet.

“This rover is the first leg of a round-trip mission to Mars that will advance understanding in key science fields like astrobiology,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. “This contest is a cool way to engage the next generation and encourage careers in all STEM fields. The chosen name will help define this rover’s unique personality among our fleet of Martian spacecraft.”

Nora’s entry was selected as New York’s winner in the high school category. The suggested name was Ambition Tardigrada.

NEWS COURTESY OF THEBYRAM HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Nora Lowe Selected As

National Semifinalist

for Mars 2020“Name the Rover”

Contest

Byram Hills High School

Nora Lowe

PHOTO COURTESY OF BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER


BY GRACE BENNETT

An interview with the very accomplished Evelyn Farkas might have started ‘anywhere’ but we started with her raison d'etre for being ‘back in Chappaqua,’ her childhood home, and her ‘connection’ to the 17th District: “I grew up here, and I never really left… I don’t have my own

nuclear family, so this is where I come back to as often as possible, for holidays and more…

“I left my town to serve my country,” she added pointedly. “I came back to serve my country,” said Far-kas, whose campaign announced over $460,000 raised by the first filing deadline, just six weeks post launching.

The 52-year-old Farkas, MSNBC National Security contributor and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President Obama, speaks proudly of her parents who raised her —94- and 81-year-old Hungarian immigrants who fled Hungary after the Communist Revolution failed. “They came to

Conversation with Chappaqua Nativeand National Security Expert

Evelyn Farkas And Now Congressional Candidate

for the 17th District

PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT


America for freedom and economic op-portunity,” after moving from Manhattan's 'Little Hungary' to Chappaqua when Evelyn was one month old; she and her three siblings graduated from Horace Greeley High School.

“When his ship docked in Brooklyn, my dad was 31, and he had to learn English. He knew a little from music and films, but that was all. He took odd jobs and eventually got his Master’s in Library Sciences from Columbia University. He had a Ph.D. and a law degree, so he was on track to be a judge in Hungary. My mother was 13 years younger, so when she came to the U.S. she did a year of high school and college in Oklahoma where she studied pharmacy. They moved to Westchester because he got a job as director of the Briarcliff Manor Public Library. They chose Chappaqua for the schools. I’m so grateful to this district and my schooling. When I got to college, I realized just how well prepared I was.”

I asked her what stood out the most for her in Chappaqua schools: “I learned to write really well–it was a fantastic education, starting at Grafflin elementary school. I can still sing the school song!” We shared a laugh as Farkas recited its lyrics. Greeley, she elaborated, gave her “a great start” with advanced placement in Social Studies, for example. She also recalled a guidance counselor who had a huge impact on her life; she said he helped her navigate college admissions–eventually landing at Franklin & Marshall College with a double major in government and German; she related that her mom worked at three hospitals to supplement her dad’s modest income, so that they could afford her years at F&M, from where, upon graduation, she landed a first job at the Council on Foreign Relations. She described a “massive debt” not paid off until many years later with federal assis-tance. Today she is on F&M’s board.

Breaking Barriers“I do pride myself on working my way up–being self-made,” said Farkas, who after two years overseas went on to graduate school outside Boston to get a Masters and PhD at Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. While she was there, she served as a fellow for the House foreign af-fairs committee, and worked inside Bosnia for six months. As a Human Rights Officer,

“it was the most absorbing, meaningful job I’ve had to date.” What followed: The Marine Corps hired Farkas as one of its first two women assistant professors and eventually promoted her to associate after she finished her doctorate. It was on to the Senate Armed services staff for Senator Carl Levin (“a phenomenal member”) who endorsed Farkas to represent NY-17 in Congress in the late fall.

For nearly a decade, Farkas worked on “a whole swath of issues… combatting terror-ism but also narcotics, Asia Pacific policy, export control, and homeland defense after 9/11.” This led to a key appointment on a post 9/11 commission “getting to the bottom of the nexus between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.” She also worked at the American Security Project founded by Senator John Kerry with whom she worked closely with on environmental issues before returning to the Department of Defense and reporting to “the head of the U.S.-European Command.” Farkas then became the Sherpa to Secretary Leon Panetta for the 2012 NATO summit which led to her most pivotal role when appointed to become Obama’s Assistant Director of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Euroasia.

“Of course, famously, one of my countries invaded the other... I was alarmed to hear that the Trump campaign had this weird relationship to the Kremlin. I knew exactly what that meant because I knew how the Kremlin operated. And that probably repre-sented something more serious. I went on national TV and raised the alarm. I said we need to get involved and Congress needs to get involved.”

Farkas barreled ahead, speaking and writing op-eds—while weathering time con-suming and costly attacks by the far right, she related. “Ultimately the Republicans still in control of Congress made me testify. Of course, there was nothing to it, nobody was leaking to me. I just have a brain and I could put the dots together.”

The Pros of 'Inside Washington' Tenure

That brain and resolve eventually land-ed Farkas as a contributor at MSNBC. Ensconced in her role there, Farkas stated that she did not think she would be a poli-

tician. But then in the fall, after Nita Lowey announced her retirement, friends who had worked for Nita and strangers in the district convinced Evelyn to run.

“People said to me they wanted someone who understands national security issues, who’s a fighter, who will protect both our democracy and our economic opportu-nities; these are issues near and dear to me…"

“So is looking at gun safety and fighting hard so that our children don’t need to be afraid to go to school or working to make sure health care is accessible to more peo-ple at more affordable rates, Farkas added. “I will fight, it’s in my DNA.” Farkas em-phasized her national stature and that she knows how to get things done at the federal level. “For seven years, I drafted and passed legislation. I know the ranking members, the senior staffers... I already have a voice that people listen to. They follow me on Twitter, they watch me on MSNBC, and care what I have to say.”

Climate Changeas a #1 Priority

She describes the ‘backdrop to everything’ regarding her priorities boils down to “pro-tecting our freedom and our economic way of life,” and in that, her Number 1 priority, she makes clear, is the climate crisis. “With the planet on fire literally and melting, we can’t ignore the climate crisis. While that’s my top priority, there are other issues. And we have to tackle them all.” “All of us are affected by what’s happening: Along the Hudson, Long Island Sound, Rye Brook: all affect the district and those who live here–connected to that are issues pertaining to the airport for example. We do have to manage our air quality and noise.”

Gun safety is a very close second prior-ity, calling the current state of affairs “an appalling blemish on our society.”“It’s also preventable… Do background checks. It’s so basic. Many of these shooters would not otherwise have had access to weapons. Mental illness would have disqualified some too. Farkas also advocates no fly/no buy legislation, noting her background in counter terrorism. “Appallingly, people who are banned from


Israeli government has enabled Trump and others to make support a partisan issue when it has always been a bipartisan issue. Some people–and Trump is at the forefront of this–are changing the bipartisan support. He says ridiculous things like only he sup-ports Israel, only the Republicans support Israel… There’s Nita Lowey, there’s Senator Levin, and many others.”

Mandating Educationto Fight Hate

Farkas said that we also can’t always as-sume negative intentions to those making criticisms of Israel any more than of any other country. “That said, we do have to educate. There are younger people coming into Congress who have probably never traveled to Israel. Our commitment to Israel isn’t just political and military–it is moral.“

“This is why if you have people not educat-ed in the history–and even don’t know how we in America did nothing and turned Jews away during the Holocaust… we now have a moral responsibility to Israel and to the Jewish people. In Congress, I would rectify this lack in education. I also view it as a broader issue than Israel and antisemitism. I’m against all ‘isms.’”

Time was almost up. Early in the interview, Farkas had shared her motivation in break-ing barriers: “I’m a Doer. Even though I can be a Thinker, I’m a Doer.” I asked her for a final thought. “Although I grew up here in Chappaqua, we did struggle. But we got by because of its excellent education system.I feel I want to protect that for future gener-ations–that political freedom, that economic opportunity. I will fight for this district. From day one, I will be able to deliver. Because I’ve already legislated at the Federal level.”

For more information, please visit evelyn-forny.com

Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor of the Inside Press and a recipient of the Bernard Rosenshein Courage to Care Award of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. Special thanks to Beth Besen for assistance with this article–second in a series of Inside Press spotlights on NY-17 congressional candidates.

flying because of suspicion they might be involved with terrorism are not on a banned list for buying firearms!”

Another must do, she emphasized, is a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons. “I worked for the military and saw weapons in Afghanistan and Iraq and been out to battle zones. Those weapons belong in the hands of our military, and af-ter that, our law enforcement. I don’t want those types of weapons on the streets of America.”

Protecting women’s rights, Farkas stated, is also a high priority. “It’s bad enough that at the state level there was an attack on Roe v. Wade, and not only that but access to reproductive health care. We need to work harder at getting equal pay for women and even harder for women of color across the board. We need to rectify that.”

Speaking of women, Farkas said she has received words of encouragement from Hil-lary Clinton for whom she helped fundraise in 2008, and again in 2016, “joining a group of other Chappaqua women at that time. “I spoke with her recently about this race… she had a number of pieces of concrete advice; her last was my favorite, and that was: ‘Have fun.’ She also said, 'call me anytime’ when I offered to keep in touch!”

Addressing Today’s Antisemitism

As I was working on shaping this story, antisemitism had passed a boiling point–with brutal and lethal attacks on Hasidic and ‘visibly” Jews in particular in Crown Heights, Williamsburg, Jersey City and Monsey with memories of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting still searing through Jewish and public consciousness. How are we going to heal this country, I asked Farkas. How do we take this deep division developed over these last three years and bring this country back together? How would you address antisemitism, I asked.

Farkas said that knowledge of the Holo-caust was “ingrained in me,” despite that her parents weren’t Jewish, she said her grandparents had friends growing up who were Jewish who were terribly affected… It was a horrible time period in Hungary’s history. Coming out of that, my parents

wanted us to understand how horrible humans could be to each other and have an awareness so we could do everything to prevent it.”

Farkas explained that her family history shaped her world view and she geared her education choices toward preventing atroc-ities. The genocide in Bosnia, she related, was one of her doctoral topics. “I’ve been wanted to stop hate from the beginning of my life.

Taking on Trump“But now I’m also disgusted by what Trump has done,” she continued. “He says he’s proud of his daughter and Jewish son in law, but he is aiding and abetting anti-Sem-itism, aiding and abetting ‘otherism’ and hatred of African Americans, the LGBTQ and Muslim communities.”

Farkas said she spoke at a Jewish Federa-tion of Peace lecture series in Pennsylvania. She recalled that the series was named after a prominent survivor, Leo Camp, who had survived Auschwitz. “We have to remember so that it doesn’t happen again,” Farkas said. Referring to a recent article about another survivor, she added: “This man, who didn’t even want to speak to his immediate family about his experience, is now so alarmed by what is happening that he is speaking out publicly as much as possible. I know many of the survivors who are very old doing just that.”

In our discussion about antisemitism, Far-kas noted that she is “absolutely opposed to the BDS Movement.

“I think it’s bad for Israel. It is bad for U.S./Israeli relations. At best, it’s misguided. When it comes to Israel, yes, we need a two-state solution. Israel has the right to remain a Jewish state and I believe the Palestinians should have their own state as well. We need to remain shoulder to shoulder with Israel on security. I’ve worked on that in the Pentagon…” She said that “giving Israel the “qualitative military edge in defense means giving Israel the ability to deter all the other bad actors in the area from taking military action against Israel.”She stated that Trump has “done more to put Israel at risk, to diminish protections than any other President in my lifetime. Politically, it also concerns me that the


BY JENNIFER SABIN POUX

In 1929, the New York Yankees played an exhibition game in an unusual location. It wasn’t a major league stadium or even a famous park. And Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and their teammates weren’t playing a team known for its athletic prowess.

That game on September 5th was between the Yankees and the Ossining Orioles. The venue? Sing Sing Prison. The Orioles were the best team in the Mutual Welfare League, a.k.a. a prison team.

The Yankees toured the prison before playing in their iconic pinstripes. One man who was incarcerated at Sing Sing was too ill to watch the game, so Ruth autographed his cell wall. Apparently, the Yankees signed a number of baseballs and handed them out. One ball from that momentous game, signed by Ruth and Gehrig, was acquired by Sing Sing Prison Museum just before this past New Year at an auction in Seattle.

Brent Glass is the Interim Director of the museum which will open in part in late 2020. He says that ball, which will be on exhibit along with its history, is significant to the museum because it connects several prison stories.

The ball will “help us tell the story of one approach…to try to encourage men who are incarcerated to partake in recreation, and to become integrated in society when they leave.”

It also helps tell the stories of Sing Sing in popular culture.

Glass says Warden Lewis E. Lawes, who was in charge of Sing Sing at the time of the game, implemented a progressive theory about the importance of rehabilitating the men under his watch in part by making life more interesting for them and giving them recreational and athletic opportunities. He was also connected to Hollywood; Lawes had written several screenplays including, “Over the Wall,” about a man incarcerated at Sing Sing of course.

Over the prison walls is where three Ruth homeruns landed that day in 1929. The Orioles wore hand-me-down NY Giants uniforms to face their professional opponents, but that didn’t help. No surprise – the game was a rout. The Yankees won 17-3. And they gave the men of Sing Sing a great show.

Sing Sing Prison Acquires a New Story and Preps for Museum Opening

The baseball signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during a game between the Yankees and the inmates. The ball was recently acquired for the museum.PHOTO CREDIT: MBA AUCTIONS

Archival image of the PowerhousePHOTOS COURTESY OF SING SING MUSEUM

Six Tidbits About Sing Sing• The 1,200 cells in the historic cellblock built in 1825 were seven-feet long, six-and-a-half feet high, and three-feet, seven inches wide.

• In the 19th century, some prisoners were subjected to punishments like the “shower bath,” similar to waterboarding.

• David Berkowitz, aka “the Son of Sam,” was incarcerated at Sing Sing.

• Some Hollywood movies filmed scenes at Sing Sing including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

• Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed at Sing Sing

• Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Harry Houdini and B.B. King have all performed at Sing Sing


A New Cultural InstitutionWhen we think about Westchester’s many cultural institutions, Sing Sing Prison does not come to mind. It doesn’t make any Hudson Valley must-see lists, yet. But that will change in this next decade, with the creation of the Sing Sing Prison Museum, opening in full in 2025. The museum’s founders are on a mission to make the museum one of Westchester’s great cultural tourism destinations.

You might go for the history, or you might go to gain a greater understanding of America’s prison complex. You might be interested in the more macabre aspects of the fabled penitentiary. Or you might go for the baseball.

The Sing Sing museum will be devoted to telling stories like the Yankees game, as well as the full story of the institution and its evolution. It will highlight stories of its brutal past and most infamous prisoners like Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and those of the ordinary men incarcerated there, as well as their families, and the rehabilitation work occurring there in the 21st century. And the museum’s installations will be designed to encourage visitors to examine the greater social justice issues of the prison system.

“That’s one of our major goals for the museum is to challenge people to reimagine the criminal justice system and to take action to create a more just society,” says Glass.

Glass, who is also Director Emeritus of Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, says all stakeholders will be included in the creation of the museum. “We want to tell the story of how incarceration has affected everyone at Sing Sing. We want to talk to the men who are incarcerated. What stories do they think are important to tell? We want to talk to people who have been victims of crimes. We don’t want to leave their stories out.” And he says the museum will include the stories of the people who have worked there over the years.

Why build a museum at Sing Sing now? Glass says, “Every chapter in criminal justice history has a few pages written at Sing Sing.” Unlike a popular museum like Alcatraz, Sing Sing is still operating. And he adds that its proximity to New York City and historic sites in the Hudson Valley makes it a perfect location. It will also bring tourism and millions of tourist dollars to Ossining. The museum founders estimate that 260 jobs in the museum and the wider community will be created, as well as 100 construction jobs.

The Sing Sing Prison Museum will open a preview center in 2020 at the Powerhouse on the prison campus. The Powerhouse provided electricity to the prison from the 1930’s to the 1960’s and will be repurposed with the construction of exhibition spaces, classrooms and a theater, as well as space for re-entry programs to help released prisoners acclimate to society.

When the full museum opens in 2025, Glass says visitors will be able to enter the historic cellblock. “We would break into the prison in effect through a secure corridor that would connect the Powerhouse to the historic cellblock which is about 100 yards south of the Powerhouse. The historic cellblock, built in 1825, would be the centerpiece of the visitor experience because it is an extraordinary ruin that nobody gets to see at this point.”

Sing Sing has a notorious past–including 614 executions in the 20th century–but it is working to bring a sense of humanity to its prisoners through a variety of arts and

educational programs. Rehabilitation Through the Arts provides year-round theater workshops and performance to the prisoners of Sing Sing. They also run workshops in dance, visual arts, music and creative writing. Hudson Link for Higher Education provides college educational opportunities to prisoners through private funding. The correctional facility has a garden and a professional master gardener, Douglass DeCandia, who works with

the prisoners. There are also programs for the families of prisoners.

Perhaps some of the families of early twentieth century prisoners might still have their signed baseballs from the 1929 game against the Yankees. Glass is hoping the museum might be able to acquire a few more. In the meantime, this one will be on view at Sing Sing’s new museum later this year, a wonderful testament to the idea that people who are incarcerated benefit from the occasional diversion and a reminder of what’s possible on the outside.

Jennifer Sabin Poux is a freelance journalist and writer who lives in Pocantico Hills. For nearly two decades, she wrote and produced for ABC News. She has written on politics for the Huffington Post, and her short stories, essays and articles can be found in Fiction, Kitchen Sink Publishing and The Hook.

A rendering of the powerhousePHOTOS COURTESY OF SING SING MUSEUM


happenings

Strike a pose! Junior models from ages 5-15 will traipse down the runway all in the name of raising critical funds for Kids Kloset, a North White Plains non-profit that donates clothing and footwear to local children in need. Since the non-profit opened their doors in 2011, they have packed over 19,000 “Bags of Love” containing a week’s worth of new or gently used, stylish, well-fitting and seasonally appropriate clothing and footwear. They have also distributed more than 5,000 winter coats and thousands of diapers through their recently launched program Baby Bank. The event will be held at the Willow Ridge Country Club from 4-6:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 914cares.org/kidskloset.

15th Annual A Tree Grows in PleasantvilleFundraiser Raises More Than $440,000

The benefit, now in its 15th year, supports JCCA’s Pleasantville Cottage Campus programs for vulnerable children with serious emotional and family problems. This year’s event focused on enhancing the well-being and safety of the children and young people who JCCA cares for. The costs of many of the services JCCA provides—tutoring, therapeutic arts, recreation and internships—are not completely supported through government reimbursement. Yet these are some of the very things that have the greatest impact on a child’s sense of self-worth and happiness, and help them feel loved and no different than children who are far more fortunate.

The event was co-chaired by Leah Alani, of Chappaqua; Alisa Gershman, of Briarcliff Manor; and Ali Rosenberg, of Mount Kisco. JCCA Trustee Stephanie Spiegel, of Chappaqua, was one of the original co-chairs of the first Tree fundraiser in 2006 and served as Honorary Co-Chair for the 2020 event.

Honorees were Steffi Green, of Chappaqua; Jen Krugel, of Chappaqua; Judy Shapiro, of Armonk; and Liz Templeton, of Chappaqua. All have been dedicated Pleasantville Campus volunteers for many years, volunteering alongside their own children and families, and provided countless hugs, smiles, and emotional support to hundreds of campus youth.

Tree event honoree Judy Shapiro, of Armonk, with her husband Cliff / PHOTO BY EDUARDO PATINO

Save the Date:Kids’ Kloset Fashion ShowMarch 8th

The Westchester Poverty Sympo-sium was an opportunity for individ-uals to come together to learn about innovative, community-driven part-nerships focused on helping those in need. Elected officials, non-profit organizations and several school districts attended the sold-out event and learned actionable items to help the estimated 10% of Westchester residents living in poverty.

(914)CaresInauguralPoverty

SymposiumSpotlights

Those in Need

Marie (Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for NYS), Alyzza Ozer (CEO Boys and Girls Club Northern Westchester, Jessica Reinmann

Mayor Andre Rainey (Peekskill), Chairwoman of (914) Cares Jessica Reinmann, Mayor Gina Picinich (Mt. Kisco)

Mayor Andre Rainey, Jessica Reinmann, Carola Bracco (ED Neighbor’s Link)

WINTER 2019/2020 | INSIDE ARMONK | 31

BY STACEY PFEFFER

For those of you who are regular readers of this magazine, you’ll recall the first part of this series ran in the last edition. As we go to press, I am at the end of my 90-day complimentary

membership at Life Time. While I haven’t made radical transformations, I have made significant progress with my fitness goals and learned about common misconceptions that were holding me back from achieving my goals.

As an editor, there is a lot of thought that goes into every word that shows up on these pages. I chose the word “journey” for this series in the headline because fitness truly is a journey. There are “ups” and “downs” and twists and turns. Even in a short window of 90 days, I’ve had setbacks but overall, I am more fit than I was when I started. My skeletal muscle mass has increased and my body fat per-centage has reduced by almost 2 percent. Although the scale hovers around the same weight, there is no doubt that my body composi-tion has changed. Here’s five things I attribute these results to:

1. Don’t skimp on calories. I undergo a resting metabolic assessmentwhich provides me with a lot of data points. First of all, for my

activity level I am undereating. I’d say I eat roughly 1,200 calories daily but my personal trainer, Nick Cerone explains that this is essentially helping my body hold onto fat aka those stubborn five pounds that we all want to shed. He wants me to increase my calories to almost 2,000. I am dumbfounded and think that this is going to backfire but I put my trust into him and wait to see what happens.

2. Pass the protein, please. In order to increase skeletal musclemass, Cerone explains that I need to eat close to 100 grams of

protein a day. Again, I am skeptical and frankly mystified as to how I am going to achieve this. He suggests I keep a food diary to track my protein intake (and calories) on myfitnesspal.com which is free for this purpose. I’ve had to rethink a lot about food. So now in-stead of reaching for Special K cereal and a banana for breakfast, I’m more apt to have Greek yogurt and berries plus granola or an om-elet. It is all about nutrient-dense foods that will fuel my workouts. This has been by far the hardest part for me and most days I do not reach my protein goals but it is something I continually strive for.

3.Aim for full-body strength training moves for efficiency. Ceronelikes to have me do moves such as lunges with overhead press

using free weights or goblet squats with a dumbbell instead of moves that work on a single area like tricep dips. “Doing a full body exercise makes the workout more efficient and increases the amount

of muscle tissue used at one time which increases calorie expenditure. This ultimately leads to more weight loss,” Cerone explains.

4.Get out of your comfort zone and mix up your fitness routine. Foryears, I have tried yoga with no success but during my onboard-

ing session I am urged to try ROOT or SOL especially since I need to improve my flexibility which is key for runners. During these cold winter months, I love the fact that they offer hot yoga.

I take a class with Stacy Bergman and she says something that really resonates with me- “be thankful for the almosts.” She explains you may be struggling with a move or position but have gratitude that you are trying and getting there slowly. She also explains at the beginning of class that as soon as we get on the mat, we are in a judgment-free zone. I like that as I feel pretty foolish and clumsy doing simple moves like tree. I am definitely incorporating yoga at least once a week into my fitness routine.

5. There will be setbacks and obstacles. That’s all part of thejourney. Just as I was hoping to kick my fitness routine into high

gear as 2020 started, everyone in my family, including me was sick. I didn’t do a bit of exercise for ten days which for me hasn’t happened since giving birth. I can’t beat myself up over this. I know obstacles are just around the corner whether it be caring for a loved one or battling weight gain in middle age, they will happen. So, I slowly eased my way back to the gym and continued on my journey one lunge at a time.

Stacey Pfeffer is the editor of all three Inside Press publications.

SPONSOR LIFESTYLES

Lessons from My Fitness Journey

at Life Time:Part 2

The author with personal trainer Nick Cerone


BY JENNIFER DRUBIN CLARK

We were bored. REAL bored. “We” being my 3-year-old son and myself. The school day was over, our stomachs were full, the weather was crummy, and we had just

about exhausted every activity within our house AND the tri-town area (Armonk, Chappaqua and Bedford as we refer to them). It was then, with fierce intent, the idea-heavens rained down upon us. Before we knew it, we were packing up bags of snacks, clothes and shoes suitable for any terrain, binoculars, a camera, and a pen with paper…we were going on a bear hunt.

Perhaps Michael Rosen, the famed author of “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” got into our heads?

The car was packed and I found myself more excited about this adventure than any other we’d gone in the past. Why? Because I, mommy here, actually had NO idea where on Westchester’s green earth we were going to find a bear. Yes, a fake one…although I wondered at times if we would have more luck finding a real one? Anyways, off we went!

The sun shade was down and his bin-oculars were in full effect as we cruised towards Main Street. Never thought my child could be so silent on a car ride. Bless this bear hunt.

Growing up in the Rocky Mountains, sur-rounded by carved wooden bears, I had a premonition that we might have a sighting if we headed towards Hickory and Tweed. After all, biking plus skiing = wildlife! The door made its’ familiar jingle as we entered and I secretly prayed that our first bear sighting was going to be just around the corner, literally. FAIL.

“Hi, can I help you find something?” a nice saleswoman asked as Spencer knelt down to focus his binoculars on a piece of dirt.

“Um yea. We’re actually looking for bears….,” I said.

Spencer looked up at me annoyed that I asked for help. He really wants to feel the hunt. I saw it in his eyes. That’s when the saleswoman and I locked eyes, she must have her own kids…she “got it”, and she “forgot” I asked for help as she motioned her eyeballs up the stairs (where they do rentals/ fittings).

“Momma, there’s no bears in here,” he said.

“Wait bud, let’s check upstairs!,” I replied.

Lo and behold, the carved wooden bear I was hoping to see. He stands tall. My son is beside himself. We document our first sighting with time and location, and snap his picture. I give the nice saleswoman a nudge as we walked out in pure elation and off we went to find our next “furry” friend.

This next one wasn’t so easy, BUT the powers of the universe have a funny way of showing us that they’re paying attention. Spencer NEEDED hot chocolate to carry on. He was just so exhausted and that was the only thing that could bring him the energy we needed to keep on trekking. Keeping in line with our animal hunt theme, we landed at The Beehive. He opted for whipped cream and I took a pass.

Now, this time for real, no help here, we get back in the car, I do the loopty loop to get out of the parking lot, and I hear and feel violent jeers coming from the back of the car.

“BEAR, BEAR, BEAR, BEAR, BEAR, BEAR,” my son screams excitedly.

Holy crap. Kid scared the freaking hot chocolate out of me. But he wasn’t lying and he sure wasn’t seeing things. There he stood, our next beautiful sighting; perched nicely above the westward parking lot. Anyone wondering how old a kid is before they’re capable of shedding joyful tears? Three. We jotted down the details from our second sighting, snapped his photo, and slowly regained normal heartbeats.

How were we ever going to top this?!!! I mean we went on a bear hunt and actually found a bear all by ourselves!

As I glanced into my rearview mirror, I saw the yawns coming. My hunting partner was starting to fade. It was 4 p.m. and if I let him fall asleep then, bedtime would be bru-tal. This is when you pull out your mommy tricks…

“Bud, we did so good today. I can’t believe we found TWO bears! Ice cream time?” I ask.

He stays up. Our bear hunt ends with us sitting on a cow licking ice cream cones for the day. A few days later, we decided to go on another wildlife hunt. As luck would have it our town is a hotbed of other wildlife including the Armonk Eagle and the Guard-ian Lions sitting outside of David Chen.

Can you help us find more animals in Ar-monk? Pack up your kid and your car and go and get your hunt on!

Jennifer Drubin Clark is a comedi-an, entrepreneur, writer and a local volunteer. An Armonk mom with two active toddlers and a rescue pooch, Jennifer loves architecture, hats, ski-ing, and fast cars. She holds a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and previously worked in digital product development at WWE and Verizon.

Bear Hunting in the‘Burbs with My Son

One of the bears sighted during our hunt PHOTO BY JENNIFER DRUBIN CLARK

etcetera

STACEY SPORNLicensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.772.2331 | [email protected] Main Street, Armonk, NY 10504Information source: HGMLS, 01/01-12/31 2019, Byram School District.Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Then and now, I’l l cheer you on!Love where you l ive. SELLING ARMONKone happy cl ient at a time!

#1 RAVEIS AGENT IN ARMONK FOR 2018 & 2019 #3 AGENT IN BYRAM HILLSFollow Me on Social Media: @slshomes @Stacey Sporn

STACEY SPORNLicensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.772.2331 | [email protected] Main Street, Armonk, NY 10504Information source: HGMLS, 01/01-12/31 2019, Byram School District.Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.



STACEY SPORNLicensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.772.2331 | [email protected] 387 Main Street, Armonk, NY 10504Information source: HGMLS, 01/01-12/31 2019, Byram School District. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.



STACEY SPORNLicensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.772.2331 | [email protected] 387 Main Street, Armonk, NY 10504Information source: HGMLS, 01/01-12/31 2019, Byram School District. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.



His two tiny babies spent twelve days in Northern Westchester Hospital’s Level III NICU, the highest possible level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a community hospital.

“We learned everything there. The NICU nurses took great care of our babies – and us.”

We deliver more than babies. We deliver experience…when it matters most.

nwhc.net/maternity

what makes your neighborhood special - the inside press · 2020. 2. 29. · magazine (which we are...

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