Sept/Oct 2013 - Inside Chappaqua

Find us on Community Day: Sept. 21 

Sept/Oct 2013 

Feed Me Fresh Gala: Sept. 28 

Rosenthal JCC Fall Fest: Sept. 29 

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September /October 2013 Inside Chappaqua 1

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Chappaqua, NY 10514 

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2 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2013

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4 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2013 

THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW CASTLE AND BEYOND 

Greeley’s Dream Team Roundup 

10. Evan’s Legacy 

Alyssa Ashley remembers the tragic loss of 

Chappaqua teen Evan Lieberman and shares 

how his family is choosing to move forward in 

his memory. 

12. Dangerous Drivers 

We’ve all been cut off at an intersection or watched 

someone run a stop sign at least once. Jordan Rosenthal 

shares surprising statistics about distracted driving and 

offers a solution to make the roads safer for all of us. 

16. Experience Chappaqua’s “Renaissance” 

Interested in goings-on this coming autumn and winter? 

Paige Schoenberg reveals the exciting, new events that the 

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce has planned. 

18. Rewiring Chappaqua 

Hurricane Sandy highlighted the need for more direct 

contact between authorities and residents, and educators 

increasingly try to integrate 21st century technology 

into curricula. Rachel Neuburger explores the various new 

advances in technology that have been introduced in town. 

20. “What I Learned from Disconnecting” 

Imagine going a whole day without your phone or computer. 

Amelia Abemayor did just that, and shares her experience 

distancing herself from the technology that has 

become crucial to her everyday life. 

24. We’re all Writers Here 

Each June, the winners of the Young Writers 

Contest are announced in schools and online. Liora Fishman 

explains the history behind the contest and offers 

insights from previous winners as to what the contest 

means to them. 

27. Bookworms Unite 

As October approaches, preparation continues and excitement 

is building for the first-ever Chappaqua Children’s 

Book Festival. Sarah Jane Weill uncovers the details. 

28. Q&A with Barbara Dee 

Rachel Neuberger catches up with Chappaqua 

Children’s Book Author Barbara Dee. 

30. Getting Involved in a Club at Greeley 

Ever wonder what the clubs at Greeley actually do? Rachel 

Schelling explores the various ways that students get involved 

outside of the classroom and fields. 

32. Tomato, anyone? 

Julia Desmarais reveals the incredible story behind and people 

involved with the Chappaqua Community Garden. 

34. One Year to Go 

Guest Editor Lindsay Hand reflects on her years growing up in 

Chappaqua, and looks toward the future. 

42. Beyond the Classroom 

Ashley Grund discusses the importance of strong studentteacher 

relationships, and chats with two students and teachers 

about their time together. 

pg. 16 pg. 32 pg. 38 

pg. 41 

36. Her Impression A Poem by Matanya Harow 

Departments 

Guest Editor 

6. “Oh, the Places you’ll Go” 

By Lindsay Hand 

Just Between Us 

8. Linking Communities 

Plus: Join our Growing Internet E-Mail List! 

See Details. 

Happenings 

14. “Swim Across America” 

An extraordinary success this summer. 

By Zarah Kavarana 

15. Inside Feed Me Fresh 

Maggie Mae Pup Reporter 

38. Reading Has Gone to the Dogs 

By Maggie Mae with Ronni Diamondstein 

Cover Art and Page Design 

by Ari N. Bennett 

Mount Kisco Child Care Center 

9 T H A N N U A L 

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Call 914 241-2135, x 243 or cmeyer@mkccc.org 

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to view more of Ari’s work!

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Dr. Seuss’ 

words, repeated to 

me on the threshold 

of graduating 

elementary school 

and then middle 

school, have again 

begun to swirl 

around my mind. 

That book was the 

main inspiration 

for my first-ever 

Inside Chappaqua article back in 2010, 

but Dr. Seuss’ messages and motivations 

have stuck with me and made 

more sense as I’ve grown and matured. 

It seems rather silly, doesn’t it? A 

seventeen year-old obsessing over a 

children’s book. That’s the wonder of it 

all, though; our younger selves had no 

idea of the impact those stories would 

have on our lives. 

Sure, there’s a huge, terrifying, wonderful 

world outside of Chappaqua. 

I read all about it in the Magic Tree 

House books, going on adventures and 

first learning about history through 

the eyes of two young children not so 

G U E S T E D I T O R 

“Oh, the places you’ll go!” 

different from myself. The books of 

my childhood shaped who I am, the 

messages within staying with me and 

taking on new meanings as I’ve gained 

more experience in the world. 

From Potter to Gatsby, Tolkien to 

Hemingway, books have always been 

part of me. I know that between the 

covers of a book I will always find 

escape and a place in which I can lose 

myself and forget about “real life” for a 

while. This lifelong love of reading has 

fueled my excitement for the first-ever 

Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 

this October. 

I am beyond thrilled to reprise my 

role as Inside Chappaqua guest editorin-chief 

and to again work with the 

original “Dream Team” of Greeley 

writers, all of us about to enter our 

senior year. I thank them for their 

incredible work and not hesitating to 

be part of both this and our first issue 

in September 2011, and wish them 

all the best this year, in college and 

beyond. A huge “thank you,” of course, 

to Grace Bennett, for again providing 

this extraordinary opportunity, and to 

my family, for always being there for 

me. Their constant support and belief 

in me has increased my confidence and 

shown me that I have the ability to accomplish 

anything I put my mind to. 

And thank you, Chappaqua, for being 

an open, enlightening community 

in which youth can grow and flourish. 

Our formative years here will no doubt 

influence the decisions my classmates 

and I make going forward; Chappaqua 

has played a key part in shaping who 

we are, and now it’s time to put all of 

that into the “real world.” 

Our experiences growing up and 

the messages we’ve absorbed will stay 

with us forever, and help us to rise to 

unexpected and exciting 

places. 

Oh, the places we’ll 

go, indeed. 

–Lindsay Hand 

HGHS Class of 2014 

Beginning our 11th Year! 


Consider a voluntary subscription for 

your home or a gift subscription to a family 

member (your college student will love it!), 

friend, and/or a neighbor 

(who has moved, for example) 

November 2013 through November 2014 

Next 8 Issues: $25 

(includes shipping and handling) 

Send this form with your payment to: 

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Recipient Name & Address 

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From: 


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J U S T B E T W E E N U S 

While Lindsay Hand 

and the rest of the Greeley 

dream team were so 

busy and ably pulling 

together this edition of 

Inside Chappaqua (great 

job everyone!!!), I experienced 

something rather 

unique and wonderful 

and thank Cynthia Peterson, 

executive director of 

the Chappaqua Orchestra, 

for a very special 

invite…Braving a July 

heat wave and perhaps 

some trepidation at 

the prospect of visiting 

a maximum security 

prison (I know I felt it as 

the only media covering 

the event), eight members 

of the Chappaqua 

Orchestra, otherwise 

known as an octet!, 

visited the Shawangunk 

Correctional Facility in 

Wallkill, New York. 

After leaving our cell phones in our 

cars, locking up possessions in a locker 

room at a Visitor’s Center, and getting 

our hands stamped for clearance, 

we were all escorted through several 

secured entry points before reaching a 

Associate Editor 

Carine Feist 


(L-R) The Chappaqua Orchestra members at Shawangunk were: Seth Jacobs 

(cello), Elizabeth Romano (bassoon), Lou Pappas (doublebass), Cynthia Peterson 

(executive director), Adam Schommer (horn), Yang Sun Kim (violin), Chie 

Yoshinaka (violin), Eric Drucker (clarinet), and Jules Lai (viola). Far right: 

Deputy Supdt. for Programs Neville Andrews and Offender Rehabilitation 

Coordinator Ebony Blacke. The program at Shawangunk: Octet for Strings, 

Winds and Brass, by Franz Schubert (two movements); duets for two violins, 

by Bela Bartok; Danzas Cubanas, by Ignacio Cervantes, arranged for Horn 

and Bassoon by Paquito D’Rivera; Clarinet Quintet, by W.A. Mozart (one 

movement); Moon River, After You, and Summertime (by George Gershwin) 

arranged for two violins and doublebass and Sister Sadie by Horace Silver, 

performed as a jazz bass solo. 


Sept/Oct 2013 • Volume 11, Number 1 

Publisher and Editor 

Grace Bennett 

Guest Editor: Lindsay Hand 

Graphic Designer 

Dina Spalvieri 

Inside Chappaqua TM is published six to eight times a year, 

and is owned and operated by The Inside Press, Inc. 

Mailing address: PO Box 643, Millwood, NY 10546. 

Phone Number: 914-238-2600. Copyright © 2013. 

All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Reproduction of any 

portion is prohibited without permission from the publisher. 

Inside Chappaqua may not necessarily agree with any one editorial viewpoint or necessarily 

endorse a particular product or service advertised. Editorial submissions should be mailed to the 

above address (please enclose an SASE) or sent to editor@insidechappaqua.com. 

For more information, rates and advertising calendar, go to www.insidechappaqua.com. 

General Counsel: Brian Hand 

gymnasium where rows of chairs were 

set up in advance. 

The octet members warmed up a bit, 

and soon, inmates began to come in 

and take their seats with a distinct air 

of anticipation. (No photography was 

allowed of the inmates seated; they 

would have each had to sign a clearance 

form first.) Across 

Web Design 

Annette van Ommeren 

Contributors 

Hidenao Abe, Amelia Abemayor, Alyssa Ashley, Ari Bennett 

Anna Bennett, Julia Desmarais, Ronni Diamondstein, Liora Fishman 

Ashley Grund, Zarah Kavarana, Rachel Neuburger, Jordan Rosenthal 

Paige Schoenberg, Carolyn Simpson, Sarah Jane Weill 

the front row, about 

a dozen correctional 

staff were seated 

including Shawangunk 

Superintendent, 

Joseph Smith. They 

all were treated to 

an hour of musical 

scores, duets and a 

solo, to the delight 

and ultimately a 

standing ovation by 

some 40 inmates plus 

correctional staff. I 

had a short period 

right after to ask a 

few of the inmates– 

Ronald Robertson, 

Louis Martino and 

Anthony Jennings–for feedback. 

Robertson (a man in 

his 40s) noted that it was the 

first time he had ever heard 

classical music. “The opportunity 

to was truly a blessing,” 

he said. Martin said he has 

had a lifelong love for classical 

music. “It was all I listened 

to as a young boy on public 

radio.” Jennings, head of the 

“Inmate Liaison Committee” 

at Shawangunk, said, “I 

felt it was my duty to come 

and I encouraged others to 

also experience it.” 

Almost 90 inmates 

signed up, noted Shawangunk’s 

Deputy Superintendent 

for Progams Neville Andrews, 

who added that the 

men also enjoy other arts 

and lectures periodically 

through a Visiting Professor 

Program at SUNY New 

Paltz. “It breaks up their daily routines. 

Most of all, the link to the outside community 

means a lot to them.” That was 

easy to see. 

The next day, I asked Peterson to 

send me a statement about the Chappaqua 

Orchestra’s decision to perform 

at Shawangunk–and about how the 

experience was received by the octet 

members following the one hour long 

performance. Stated Peterson: “Our 

mission is to bring great music and 

great performances to all segments of 

the community. We hope to impact 

people's lives, not merely entertain. 

The wonderful musicians were greeted 

with a highly responsive group of 

listeners, creating a shared, communal 

experience. The musicians were deeply 

touched by the audience's show of 

appreciation–a standing ovation. All 

were affected by the events of the afternoon.” 

Kudos to the amazing Chappaqua 

Orchestra, and wishing everyone 

I met at Shawangunk well. 

Save the Date: Sept. 20, 1:30 p.m. 

Grace Bennett, publisher of Inside Chappaqua, will present a 

slide show and speak at the Larchmont Avenue Church about 

her trip to ten countries in Africa as a member of the press 

corps. traveling with Secretary Hillary Clinton. This free, public 

event is sponsored by The Woman’s Club of Larchmont.

DE Inside Chappaqua Sept/Oct 2013_Layout 1 7/31/13 1:11 PM Page 1 

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Tragedy struck on July 18th, 

2011, when 19-year-old Evan 

Lieberman, a beloved brother, 

son and friend, passed away 

after fighting for his life and undergoing 

several serious surgeries 

after a horrible car accident. 

Evan’s family has created many 

events in his honor to raise 

money to rebuild the waiting 

room of the Maria Fareri Trauma 

Center in the Westchester 

Medical Center, among other 

things, and to raise awareness 

and provide a form of support 

for other families. 

Moving Past Tragedy 

Evan Lieberman’s Legacy 

By Alyssa Ashley 

The biggest event is the 

annual Evan Lieberman Westchester 

Medical Center Trauma Run. 

The event is a fifteen-obstacle course 

spanning three miles of the Medical 

Center’s Valhalla Campus; the course 

is designed for people of all ages and 

athletic abilities, and challenges participants 

to run through the woods, 

scramble through mud, and navigate 

through different obstacles. 

(L-R): Alyssa Lentini, Rachel Lieberman and 

Alyssa Ashley 

Evan’s sisters Rachel (left) and Jamie at an Evan’s Team “Trauma Run” 

Completing the event is rewarding 

and satisfying, and leaves participants 

proud to have gone through numerous 

complicated obstacles in support of a 

great cause. 

Other events created in Evan’s name 

include the Poker Tournament and 

Dodgeball Event. What makes the 

Dodgeball Event so special is that it is 

not only an opportunity to raise money 

for an important cause and spend 

time with friends, but dodgeball was a 

favorite pastime of Evan’s, and so the 

event is very close to his family’s and 

friends’ hearts. 

In his senior year at Horace Greeley 

High School, Evan won the dodgeball 

tournament and enjoyed going to 

play the game with friends during his 

free time. The last Dodgeball Event 

raised an astonishing $25,000 for 

the hospital and to help raise awareness 

and support others struggling 

through tragedy. These events are ways 

to carry on Evan’s legacy and help 

other families going through 

similar situations, by raising 

money and spreading 

knowledge about situations 

such as Evan’s. The desire to 

reconstruct the waiting room 

of the Maria Fareri Trauma 

Center arose because it is not 

a comfortable environment 

and is not one of the nicest 

places to spend anxious hours 

awaiting life-changing news. 

The Lieberman family 

has raised $200,000 that 

has gone directly to the 

reconstruction of the waiting 

room, which has been 

described as a “very small 

place that adds even more stress to 

families.” Rebuilding it will add a level 

of comfort and relief to anxious families 

during times of unexpected and 

heartbreaking disaster. 

Evan was a very personable and 

fun-loving young man. A big fan of all 

kinds of movies and an ESPN junkie, 

he was always looking for a laugh and 

fun things to do with his friends. His 

family, friends, and the entire Chappaqua 

community will always remember 

his strength and legacy, as everyone 

continues to participate in these 

numerous events and help in any way 

possible. To learn more about different 

ways to get involved, please visit 

www.evansteamny.com. 

Alyssa Ashley is a senior 

at Horace Greeley High 

School. Growing up, her 

favorite book was Are You 

There God? It’s Me, 

Margaret. 



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Well It Can’t Be My Fault! 

Bad Driving Habits In and Around Chappaqua 

As a teen and a new driver, I catch 

a lot of flack for the driving habits 

of my peers. Sure, we are young and 

occasionally reckless, but do we really 

deserve all of this negative press? 

Have we not just completed hours 

upon hours of mandatory 

supervised driving, classroom 

time, and the most 

stressful seven minutes 

ever–the road test? Even if 

people say that all of that 

education fades quickly, we 

still have the upper hand on 

adults who are years out of 

the education system and 

simply pay homage to the 

DMV to finally replace that 

license photo from the age 

of big hair. So, who’s the 

real culprit? 

The Role of Age 

To my fellow teen drivers, recognize 

that if people are calling on us to be 

safer, more respectful drivers, there 

must be a reason. Sure, driving is 

exciting, exhilarating, and an opportunity 

to taste responsibility and 

freedom; our young age gives us a false 

sense of invincibility. But the statistics 

speak for themselves. According to the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

per mile driven, drivers ages 

16 to 19 are three times more likely to 

be involved in a fatal crash than drivers 

over 20 years old. Numbers like 

that should sicken parents and teens 

alike. Those statistics alone should be 

enough to encourage us to slow down, 

buckle up, and most importantly not 

look at that extra appendage we call a 

cell phone. Textinganddrivingsafety.com 

reports that drivers who are texting 

are 23 times more likely to get into a 

car crash, and that’s at ANY age. Three 

out of every four teen drivers surveyed 

felt confident in their driving abilities 

while texting, yet they fail to acknowledge 

that false confidence is deadly, as 

car crashes are the number one cause 

of death among teens.* 


By Jordan Rosenthal 

But to that point, teens are not the 

only ones who use their smartphones 

at every possible moment. While we 

are, for the most part, more techsavvy, 

adults distract themselves just 

as often as teens do to send a quick 

text. In fact, adults have many other 

distractions they have to manage. 

Teens don’t have to deal with rowdy 

children in the back seat fighting over 

the imaginary line in the middle that 

“she crossed again!” Furthermore, I 

have heard enough stories of spilled 

coffee, finishing makeup, and even 

shaving on the way to work to be quite 

sure adults find their own distractions. 

Parents are urged to be good examples, 

and are charged with the responsibility 

of coaching their teen drivers. I know 

not everyone–including adults–signals 

before pulling away from the curb in 

good Driver Education fashion. 

We Are No Exception 

Detective Daniel Corrado of the New 

Castle Police Department emphasized 

that while both adults and teens are 

guilty of distracted driving, the only 

inherent difference is that adults 

understand through experience the 

subtleties of driving as well as the dangers 

of being reckless. Teenage drivers 

need time to learn the difference 

between when they are in control of 

the car and when they are not, as well 

as how to drive in various conditions: 

if they took Driver Ed in the summer, 

for example, they have not driven 

on the slick fallen leaves of autumn. 

Also, very few people realize that five 

seconds looking down at a cell phone 

while driving 30 miles per hour means 

you have traveled 220 feet. That’s 

undoubtedly a low speed in the minds 

of most drivers, yet whatever occurs in 

that distance does not discriminate by 

age, gender, or supposed skill behind 

the wheel. Here in Chappaqua, the 

fight against bad driving has picked 

up momentum. Reports of numerous 

hit-and-runs have been heard, as well 

as witness accounts of people failing 

to parallel park correctly, a skill us 

teens are forced to perfect for the 

road test. The “Chappaqua Moms” 

Facebook group has been a hotbed 

of discussion and complaint about 

driving here in town. “I don’t 

think it's about bad driving as 

much as it is about a self-centered 

attitude of entitlement and competitiveness 

and a general lack 

of consideration for our fellow 

drivers who may also have equally 

pressing needs to be wherever 

they want to go,” noted long time 

Chappaqua resident Penny Vane. 

“Our Smartphone technologies only 

serve to enhance and aggravate the 

risks and perceived rewards of driving 

self-absorbed and selfishly.” 

Therein lies the answer to who is the 

culprit: any driver who takes his or her 

eyes off of the wheel at any time…so in 

other words, EVERYONE. It cannot be 

a matter of finger pointing or blamegiving. 

New drivers, accept responsibility; 

old drivers, you too! If you 

can resolve to do one less distracting 

task while driving, everyone around 

you will benefit and the roads will be 

exceedingly safer. Be smart, be savvy, 

know your habits, and realize we’re all 

in this one together. 

Jordan Rosenthal is a 

senior at Horace Greeley 

High School. Growing 

up, his favorite book was 

Tikki Tikki Tembo. 

Editor’s Note: DORC (Distracted 

Operators Risk Casualties), a non 

profit organization started by the Liebermans 

of Chappaqua after their son 

Evan died two years ago following a 

terrible car accident (see Evan’s Legacy 

story on page 10 too) has also spurred 

a great deal of conversation locally and 

state wide about teenage texting and 

driving, in particular. 

For more info, visit www.dorcs.org.

Advertorial 

Majestic and Breathtaking: “Castle of New Castle” 

Early in the 20th century, the Tudor 

Revival style, based on English country 

homes of the Henry VIII and Elizabeth 

I period, became a popular choice 

for homeowners in the burgeoning 

suburbs and an alternative to the 

Colonial Revival, which was considered 

bland and lacking in warmth. Exterior 

features included half-timbered stucco 

walls, steep tiled or slated roofs with 

multiple gables, elaborate tall chimneys, 

and casement windows with 

leaded panes. Inside rooms often had 

exposed-beam or coffered ceilings, 

arched doorways, and varnished or 

stained wood paneling or wainscoting. 

Hamilton Road was the main thoroughfare 

through one of the earliest 

suburban subdivisions in Chappaqua, 

developed by John Isaac Devoe Bristol 

and his son-in-law, Albert Turner, and 

called Perry Heights after Bristol’s illustrious 

ancestor Oliver Hazard Perry. 

In 1925, Irving S. and Hazel B. Fellner 

bought a couple of lots at the top of 

the hill to build their new Tudor style 

house with spectacular, countryside 

views. Completed in 1927, and largely 

unaltered, it is a fine example of picturesque 

architecture steeped in the 

traditions of English history. 

its richly detailed architecture. The 

asymmetrical layout of their rooms 

and the varied levels of their floors are 

classic Tudor style: step down from 

the hall into the living room, and step 

up from the living room to the dining 

room. The living room features 

exposed decorative ceiling beams, a 

high open hearth, built-in cabinets and 

bookshelves, and a large bay window 

with leaded-glass casements. Atop the 

casements are stained-glass panels 

portraying Columbus-era caravels. 

Many furnishings were acquired 

from the former Crown House in 

Chappaqua. The current owners have 

meticulously cultivated and restored 

the property’s glorious gardens, 

including a boxwood English herb garden, 

reminiscent of this bygone era. 

This is a rare opportunity to 

own one of Chappaqua’s premier 

residences, notes listing 

agent, Jeanne Coon. To learn 

The current owners furnished and more about this home, go to 

decorated the interior to complement jeannecoon.houlihanlawrence.com 


Early on Sunday, 

July 14, the Chappaqua 

Swim and 

Tennis Club was 

flooded with swimmers 

of all ages who 

were eager to jump 

in the pool and 

swim to raise money 

for the grassroots 

organization, Swim 

Across America. 

The event helped 

raise both money 

and awareness for cancer research, prevention, 

and treatment. This was Swim 

Across America’s second year hosting 

the event at the Chappaqua Swim and 

Tennis Club. In 2012, the event raised 

$30K, which made it the third most 

successful Swim Across America event 

in the greater New York area. According 

to Media Chair, Jean Fufidio, the 

total amount raised for this year is currently 

in the process of being tallied, 

but the number is already well over 

last year’s mark. 

H A P P E N I N G S 

Chappaqua Kids’ Laps had Heart and Soul in 

NY’s Third Most Successful “Swim Across America” 

Article and Photos by Zarah Kavarana 

well regarded hospitals and managedcare 

facilities. 

Silver medalist in the 1976 Olympics 

and volunteer coach, Bobby Hackett, 

highlighted the benefits of the event. 

He said, “It’s a community getting 

together for a cause and everybody 

here knows somebody who has directly 

or indirectly been impacted by cancer. 

For me, it’s an opportunity to give 

back and raise some funds to hopefully 

make peoples lives better.” 

To describe Swim Across America, 

Fufido said, “Swim Across America is 

a community-minded organization 

where it’s national in scope, but local 

in heart.” 

The Long Island Sound Chapter, 

which includes a large number of 

Westchester County members, is now 

the largest in the organization and 

has raised over $12 million since its 

start in 1992. In 2012 alone, it raised 

about $1 million with support from its 

community. The chapter has a goal of 

raising $1.2 million this year. 

Swim Across America, Inc. was originally 

founded in 1987. Through the 

Swimmers had options to fit their 

years, it has united and attracted over 

comfort and experience levels. They 

5,000 recreational and competitive 

could swim one mile or half a mile, individually 

or with a team. Participants 

swimmers, Olympians, kayakers, boaters, 

and volunteers in the fight against 

came out for a variety of reasons, 

cancer. Today, it offers 50 swims in 14 

ultimately uniting together against 

different states with multiple chapters. 

cancer. Nineteen-year-old Henry 

Swim Across America has raised more 

Simon decided to take part as a tribute 

than $40 million, which has ultimately 

to his father, David Simon, who died of 

gone toward research and prevention 

cancer in 2007. He said, “It really started 

when Coach Dan brought Swim 

programs at some of America’s most 


Across America 

to the Chappaqua 

Swim and Tennis 

Club. He asked 

me if it was okay 

making a Team 

Karen and David 

because my Dad 

was a big part of 

this club when he 

was still alive, and 

a lot of kids knew 

him. I really just do 

it in honor of him 

so that everyone 

doesn’t forget and remembers that it 

[cancer] touches everyone, not just a 

few people.” 

Ten-year-old Joseph Weiner also 

participated for the ones he has loved 

and lost. “The event helps raise money 

to help fight cancer and people I know 

have died from having that and it’s really 

sad. I do the best I can to help.” 

Following the event was a free swim 

clinic from former Olympic swimmer 

and Katonah resident, Bobby Hackett. 

He worked with attendees, giving 

them helpful tips that would greater 

improve their skills. Hackett would 

first explain, then demonstrate the 

hint, and call a few swimmers at a time 

into the water to try out what they 

were just taught. 

Complimentary food and beverages 

were available throughout the 

event, and a kiddie pool was open for 

the little ones. Medals, t-shirts, and 

beach towels were given to those who 

participated. 

Many of those who could not or 

chose not to swim made a pledge to 

the Swim Across America website: 

www.swimacrossamerica.org. Inside 

Chappaqua readers are also encouraged 

to donate what they can to this 

influential cause. 

Zarah Kavarana, Inside Chappaqua 

Magazine’s summer intern, is entering 

her sophomore year at Boston University 

this September.

MKCCC to Host 9th Annual 

Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening 


(MKCCC) will host its 9th Annual Feed 

Me Fresh: An Edible Evening event 

on Saturday, September 28 beginning 

at 6 p.m.. The flagship fundraiser will 

once again be hosted by Eric Hadar at 

Ivanna Farms in Bedford Corners, NY. 

The Honorary co-chairs are Beverley & 

Sabin Streeter and Twink & Jim Wood. 

This year’s honorees include Dottie 

Jordan, who is retiring after nearly 

30 years as Executive Director of the 

Center. David Griff, MKCCC’s President 

of the Board of Directors, noted: 

“Under Dottie’s leadership the Center 

has become the preeminent child care 

center in Westchester County.” The 

Center will also honor the late Grace 

Marwell and the Marwell Family. 

Grace was a founding member of the 

Mount Kisco Child Care Center’s Board 

of Directors. As a board member and 

long-time volunteer, Grace helped 

set the standards for the high-quality 

programming at MKCCC. She and her 

family have been dedicated to MKCCC 

for over four decades. 

In keeping with the Center’s seasonal 

and local farm-to-table philosophy, 

the event will feature pumpkin specialty 

drinks and tastings from many 

of Westchester’s top restaurants. For 

a full listing of restaurant participants 

and other sponsors (including Inside 

Chappaqua Magazine!) plus information 

about tickets, donations, and 

additional sponsorship opportunities, 

please contact Christine Meyer at 241- 

2135 or email: cmeyer@mkccc.org. 

About the Mount Kisco Child Care 

Center (MKCCC) 

MKCCC is a non-profit, NAEYCaccredited 

childcare facility serving 

families in Northern Westchester communities 

since 1971. MKCCC provides 

exceptional and affordable early care 

and education to a diverse group of 

children from three months to eleven 

years of age. Our experienced and 

professional teachers, along with our 

innovative curriculum and programs, 

such as JEWEL (MKCCC’s Intergenerational 

Program) and Feed Me Fresh 

(MKCCC’s garden-to-table, sustainable 

nutrition program) create a childhood 

experience like no other. 

MKCCC is located at 95 Radio Circle, 

Mount Kisco, NY, 10549. For additional 

information, please visit www.mkccc. 

org. or call 241-2135. Follow MKCCC 

on www.facebook.com/MKCCC and 

www.twitter.com/MKCCC10549 

for the latest news and updates. 


9 T H A N N U A L 

F E E D M E F R E S H 

A n E d i b l e E v e n i n g 

 

S AT U R DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 3 

B E G I N N I N G AT 6 P. M . 

Hosted by 

Eric Hadar, Ivanna Farms, Bedford Corners, NY 

Honoring 

Dottie Jordan, the late Grace Marwell and the Marwell Family 

Proceeds to benefit children at Mount Kisco Child Care 

Center and provide need-based scholarship support. 

Call 914 241-2135, x 243 or cmeyer@mkccc.org 

for more information. 


Chamber of Commerce Unites Residents and Merchants 

What do a restaurant, a preschool, 

a clothing retailer, and 

a dentist have in common? All 

are members of the Chappaqua-Millwood 

Chamber of 

Commerce, a local association 

that aims to bring together 

New Castle businesses and the 

community. 

The Chamber was founded 

just over one year ago in 

2012 by Rob Greenstein and 

Christine Yeres, who hoped to 

help local merchants expand 

their businesses while at the 

same time creating a sense 

of community that many felt 

had begun to fade over the 

years. When the Chamber 

was first formed, only a few of 

the town’s many businesses 

were members. Thanks to the 

tremendous efforts of the 

Chamber Board, that number 

has grown to include over 170 

diverse local enterprises 

Carlyn Simpson Photo* 

A Community-Minded Mission 

The Chamber supports these 

and other establishments with 

the “Shop Local” initiative, 

which encourages residents 

to shop at smaller stores in 

Chappaqua and Millwood instead 

of at big-box chains. This 

helps merchants by increasing 

revenue and benefits customers 

by providing a unique, 

personalized shopping experience 

that cannot be found at larger retailers. 

As part of their plan to boost the 

local economy, the Chamber promotes 

the 3/50 Project, which reinforces the 

economic benefits of shopping locally. 

*Editor’s Note: Carolyn Simpson of 

Doublevision Photographers graduated 

from Syracuse University with a BFA 

in Photography. Through her lens she 

has photographed many things, from 

the cobblestoned streets of Italy to the 

smiling faces of families at holiday 

time. With over 20 years of experience, 

Carolyn strives to always capture the 

essence of the moment. She specializes 

in Events, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Portraits 

and Architecture Photography. 

By Paige Schoenberg 

Hillary Clinton enjoying Chappaqua’s Summer Sidewalk Sales. 

For every dollar spent at a local store, 

more money is returned to the community 

than would be if that money 

was spent elsewhere. 

Of every $100 spent locally, $68 

comes back to the town through taxes, 

payroll, and other expenditures, as 

compared to only $43 for every $100 

spent in a national chain. 

The Chamber also participates in 

the American Express Small Business 

Saturday, a nationwide program advocating 

the importance of supporting 

small businesses. 

The program, which provides free 

marketing materials for merchants, is 

run by the American Express Company 


and backed by corporations such 

as Facebook, Twitter, and FedEx. 

Helping Business and the Community 

Thrive Together 

These campaigns are important 

to revitalize the local 

economy, but the Chamber 

recognizes that creating a sense 

of community is of equal value. 

To achieve their goal of making 

local businesses a part of the 

greater community, the Chamber 

has held several events, 

designed to increase spirit and 

bring residents into stores and 

restaurants. Recent events 

include the first annual Tails 

to Trails pet fair in Millwood, 

sponsored by Drug Mart and the 

Millwood Animal Hospital, and 

the May Madness Sweepstakes, 

which gave customers a chance 

to win one of four iPad minis 

by registering at participating 

merchants. Free family-friendly 

movies were shown in Millwood 

Park on Friday nights in June 

and July. 

During July, the Chamber 

worked with the New Castle Recreation 

and Parks Department to 

host the Summer Concert Series, 

which featured the Chappaqua 

Orchestra and Bruce Springsteen 

and Neil Diamond cover bands, 

and local food vendors were on 

hand to provide refreshments. 

The Chamber hopes that these kinds 

of larger events, in addition to the 

popular Sidewalk Sales in late July, will 

draw crowds from the surrounding 

area as well. 

Ready for a Busy Fall 

New Castle residents have several 

upcoming events to look forward to. In 

October, the Chamber will organize its 

second annual Fall Festival in downtown 

Chappaqua. Planned activities 

include pie-baking and doughnuteating 

contests, hayrides, and food 

tastings by local restaurants. Stores 

will sponsor activities, and merchandise 

will be available for purchase. The

Chamber will 

be running a 

Community Day 

table to highlight 

future happenings. 

Two returning 

events, the Taste 

of Chappaqua 

and the Holiday 

Stroll, will take 

place in November 

or early 

December. Last 

year’s Holiday 

Stroll featured 

carolers, ice 

sculptures, and 

©Hidenao Abe, StudioAbe 

Chappaqua Fall Festival Apple Pie Contest 

One of four movie nights at Millwood Park this summer 

refreshments as part of a joint event 

with the New Castle Historical Society’s 

annual tree lighting, at which the 

Horace Greeley High School Madrigal 

Choir and the Chappaqua Orchestra 

performed. 

Residents can also expect new lighted 

snowflakes in time for the holidays, 

which will add a bit of winter sparkle 

to the Rt. 120 bridge and throughout 

the downtown area. 

The decorations are 

part of a combined effort 

with the New Castle 

Beautification Advisory 

Board to boost foot traffic 

by improving the appearance 

of Chappaqua’s 

downtown area. 

The Chamber actively 

participates in town 

matters and encourages 

residents to get involved. 

Currently, the Chamber 

posts a weekly Chamber- 

Chat on the New Castle 

NOW website to publicize 

town meetings and 

community activities, as 

well as special promotions 

from merchants. The 

Chamber also sends updates through 

email blasts and the Chappaqua-Millwood 

Chamber of Commerce Facebook 

page. An independent Chamber 

website and mobile app is 

in the works. 

Paige Schoenberg is a 


High School. Growing up, 

her favorite book was Put 

Me in the Zoo. 

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Technology in Town: 

Changing the Way Chappaqua Works 

The purpose of 

technology is to make 

life safer, easier, and 

more interesting for 

people everywhere. 

This has certainly been 

the case in New Castle, 

where recent technological 

initiatives have 

changed the way the 

town functions. New 

technological advancements 

and communication 

developments 

cover all facets of life 

in Chappaqua; here are 

just a few examples of 

the myriad benefits 

residents and students have received 

over the past year: 

Adjusting Post-Hurricane Sandy 

The ferocity of Hurricane Sandy, 

the infamous late-October storm, took 

many by surprise. Seventy percent of 

households in Chappaqua lost electricity, 

and schools were closed for almost 

two weeks as the town went through 

the lengthy process of rehabilitation. 

Sandy was a wake-up call for the town, 

as it was clear that the traditional 

system of communications would not 

suffice if a similar natural disaster were 

to occur in the future. 

Before and during the hurricane, 

the town utilized a system called Nixle 

to cover its communication needs. 

The system sent advisory messages to 

citizens containing important safety 

information and reported road closings 

via text messages and email. 

What this system lacked, however, 

was an element of vital importance in 

emergencies: a telephone component. 

“The more information we can get to 

the residents,” said Town Administrator 

Penny Paderewski, “the better it is 

for everyone.” 

Hence the reason, in early January 

of this year, a new safety system was 

introduced, called CodeRED. This new 


By Rachel Neuburger 

alert system sends not only emails and 

text messages, but also delivers “robocalls,” 

pre-recorded messages with 

safety updates, to both cellular devices 

and home phones. These telephone 

messages are of particular importance 

during emergency situations–such as 

devastating hurricanes–and can be 

sent by the Town Administrator or 

Commissioner of Public Works. 

In addition to the implementation 

of CodeRED, the town has also established 

a new mapping system, viewable 

by residents on their computers, that 

shows where road blockages are during 

major weather situations. Just like 

CodeRED, this system will only be in 

operation during significant storms. 

Bringing Schools Up-To-Date 

The Chappaqua school district is 

dedicated to applying emerging technology 

to the learning experience–a 

commitment embodied in the hard 

work done by the district’s Technology 

Department. Led by Director of Instructional 

Technology Darleen Nicolosi, 

the department looks to evolve 

the understanding of what it means to 

be a 21st-century learner, and to help 

students use technology creatively, 

productively, and responsibly. 

One of the most prominent and 

lauded examples of the Technology 

Department’s work can be found in the 

L.I.F.E. School, an alternative-learning 

community at Horace Greeley High 

School. For the 2012-2013 school 

year, the L.I.F.E. School 

received a grant for a 

one-year iPad program 

for juniors. According 

to program director Jon 

Hirsch, the iPads serve 

as an enormous gamechanger 

for students, 

greatly benefiting 

the collaborative and 

research-oriented environment 

for which the 

program is known. The 

iPads are used to make 

videos, presentations, 

and projects, and their 

Internet capabilities allow 

for the use of Twitter 

and messaging as learning tools. 

“They are very helpful for communication 

and organization,” said L.I.F.E. 

school senior Olivia Sackler. 

While Chappaqua high school 

students reap many benefits from the 

Technology Department, the department’s 

initiatives extend to all students. 

Elementary school classrooms 

are well equipped for the modern 

learning experience: each contains a 

Windows computer cluster with one 

computer connected to a presentation 

monitor. 

In addition, the music classrooms at 

the elementary schools are equipped 

with SMART boards and other SMART 

technology that enhances music 

lessons and allows students to view 

concerts from the convenience of the 

classroom. With these tools at hand, 

younger students can learn in an interactive 

fashion, exploring the wealth 

of learning opportunities that will be 

available to them in years to come, 

while simultaneously establishing fundamental 

research and study skills. 

Perhaps the most unexpected and 

unique of this year’s technological 

initiatives, however, can be found at 

Seven Bridges Middle School: through 

a Chappaqua School Foundation grant 

–one of the most common sources of 

funding for technological projects–art 

students use Cintiq drawing tablets 

continued on page 19

FRAME: AFTON 

Untitled-5 1 

4/8/13 11:22 AM 

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The Source of Support for the Jewish Community Since 1897 

www.riversidememorialmountvernon.com 

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Continuing to maintain the high service standards of the 

Rosenthal, Grossberg, and Alpert families 


continued from page 18 

to design three-dimensional artwork, 

which is then produced in real life using 

a state-of-the-art 3-D printer. This 

printer has greatly enhanced the art 

and graphic design classes offered at 

the school. 

While thus far this incredible design 

tool is only in use at Seven Bridges, 

middle school students across the 

district have access to many other 

tools, including Macbook laptop carts. 

These laptops have been used in every 

core subject as well as in language, 

Cameras and iPhones and Kindles, Oh My! 

Technology. 

It’s all around us; in our 

homes, our schools, even 

hidden in the deep depths 

of the earth. But what is 

it, really? By definition, 

technology is the application 

of scientific knowledge 

for practical purposes. 

However, in a world 

where the number of Facebook friends 

defines a person and cell phones have 

practically become extensions of our 

bodies, technology has truly developed 

into more than just a simple dictionary 

definition. 

art and music courses, and come with 

programs such as Garage Band, iMovie 

and iPhoto, which are often used in 

class projects. 

Public opinion has been highly 

positive for improvements introduced 

this year, and the Chappaqua School 

Foundation is consistently supporting 

new initiatives with its many grants 

and projects. As these and copious 

other recent technological initiatives 

show, the town of New Castle and the 

Chappaqua Central School District 

are devoted to using 21st century 

By Amelia Abemayor 

Whether you’re a new-age Kindle or 

Nook owner or prefer to stick to plain 

old books, it is hard to imagine that we 

once lived in a world where technology 

did not have a major presence in 

everyday life. As society grows more 

and more dependent on technology, it 

seems as if we are losing the ability to 

survive without it. Just thinking about 

a day without my electronics gives 

me the chills, and leaves me wondering: 

what technology can we not live 

without? 

I first looked at myself, your everyday 

teenage girl (who, according to her 

parents, happens to be a “technology 

addict”). I chose a random, standard 

day, and set out to go about my life normally; 

but this day was different. It was 

a day sans technology: I went to school 

with no phone, no laptop, and essentially 

(what felt like) no dignity. I soon 

realized the drastic effects technology 

has on me. Whether it is in class, or 

simply sitting at the school lunch table, 

technology's presence has become irrevocably 

entwined with my life. 

innovation to make life easier, safer, 

and more enriching for all residents, 

whether they are raising a family or 

learning their ABCs. 

Rachel Neuburger is a 



up, her favorite book 

was A Bad Case of 

Stripes. 

second a computer was in sight. 

Although my attempted research 

was unsuccessful, I was still eager to 

further investigate our world’s relationship 

with technology. I talked to 

friends, family, even my 84-year-old 

grandmother. The answers were all different 

and unique in their own way, just 

like every update of the 

iPhone. Some said they 

could go days without the 

buzzing and beeps, while 

others said they would 

experience the same 

withdrawal affects I 

dealt with that day. 

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While I sat there with nothing but 

my backpack, my friends and peers 

were attached to their phones and practically 

drooling over their computers. 

Even teachers and staff throughout my 

classes relied on every piece of technology 

in their classrooms to teach. The 

struggle soon became real. It was hard 

to come to the realization that my life 

had been controlled by my electronics 

all this time, but I still tried to stick the 

day out. 

That was, of 

course, until I got 

home. I felt empty, 

like something 

was missing; 

the withdrawal 

symptoms really 

hit when I got 

home from school. 

Unfortunately, 

my experiment 

failed miserably 

as I checked every 

single notification 

possible the 

It’s really crazy to think about. 

Could you go a day, even an hour 

without air conditioning? What about 

no cars, trains or planes? It would feel 

like the apocalypse, or the return of the 

Middle Ages. Technology has become 

so completely ingrained in our lives 

that it would be virtually impossible to 

eliminate it for even a day. 

All in all, our love-hate relationship 

with technology keeps on growing and 

growing as our world keeps on advancing. 

Soon enough, the thought of a 

technology-free world won’t even be 

present in our minds. The world we live 

in today, and the future that awaits us, 

is constantly depending on technology 

in every single way. 

Amelia Abemayor is a 



up, her favorite book was 

Amelia Bedelia.

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1.9 acres. Thoughtful renovations throughout; kitchen, 

breakfast room and family room open to stone 

patio. Four bedrooms with third level office/bath. 


Chappaqua Brokerage 914.238.4766 

THE EXCLUSIVE WORLD-WIDE REACH OF FIVE GLOBAL NETWORKS. 

THE LOCAL EXPERTISE OF THE MARKET LEADER. 


Chappaqua’s #1 Selling Real Estate Brokerage 

Serenity 

Elegant, quality-crafted Colonial commands 

stunning distant views from magnificent 

6.03-acre setting in prized neighborhood. 

Gated entry, rich stonework, specimen 

trees and gorgeous plantings. Kenneth 

Alpert designed interior; palatial master 

bedroom suite. WEB# CQ863790 

CHAPPAQUA ................$3,500,000 

Impressive and Unique 

Completely expanded and restored this home is both 

magical and unique. Enjoy grand entertaining from 

the formal living and dining rooms, and oversized 

great room. Relax in your own private master suite/ 

balcony overlooking 2 acres of gardens. Gated entry. 


Country Club Living 

Beautifully renovated classic Colonial offering the 

style and quality of prized Lawrence Farms East homes. 

Superbly crafted custom interior. An exquisite setting 

highlighted by a Armand Benedek landscape/pool 

design, Har-Tru tennis court, and vibrant gardens. 

WEB# CQ854696 CHAPPAQUA ....$1,795,000 

Style and Flair 

Impeccably maintained home on lush private 

property with exquisite landscaping and Gunite pool. 

Living room and library with fireplaces, open chef’s 

kitchen leads to wrap-around deck. Light-filled rooms 

with architectural detailing. Minutes to town center. 

WEB# CQ865369 CHAPPAQUA......$1,575,000 

Pure Perfection 

This Random Farms Colonial offers undisputed style 

and flair. Top-quality and finely detailed throughout. 

Unique granite and marble tiles, a myriad of builtins 

for display, work space and storage. Great flow, 

inside and out. Warm and welcoming ambience. 


Chappaqua Charm 

Sun-filled Colonial is legal Two-Family home. Soaring 

ceilings, abundant windows, hardwood floors. Bright 

chef’s kitchen with center island and breakfast area. 

Cottage area offers living room with fireplace, bedroom 

and kitchen. Gorgeous setting. Minutes to all. 


Quaker Village 

All the charm and elegance of an English Inn. New 

chef’s kitchen with quartzite stone counters with 

French doors out to deck and pool/spa. Formal 

dining room with fireplace. Two master bedroomsuites. 

On 1.3 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac. 


Source: EAMLS, 1/1/2013 – 7/17/2013, all properties, total volume and units sold by office, zone 2 Chappaqua School district 


Budding Authors Get A Chance to Shine 

By Liora Fishman 

As winter approaches, the 34th Annual 

Friends of the Chappaqua Library 

Young Writers Contest will begin to accept 

entries from gifted student writers 

in the Chappaqua school district. 

The contest acknowledges the wide 

range of exceptional and inventive 

writers in the community and gives all 

students the chance to try their hand 

at writing a variety of genres, from 

poetry to nonfiction to short stories. 

The contest accepts student-written 

literature and showcases the talent 

of the applicants in the form of first, 

second and third place prizes. Winners 

are presented with certificates and 

monetary prizes, and a bound copy of 

all the work is placed in the stacks of 

the Chappaqua Library. 

The Young Writers Contest is a 

program offered through Friends of 

the Chappaqua Library, a group that 

meets monthly to coordinate events 

that enhance the community’s interaction 

with the Chappaqua Library. The 

group hopes to promote creativity and 

literary inspiration through the contest 

by “encouraging students around 

the district to share their writing in a 

more public way than just turning it in 

for a grade,” explained Cheryl Ehrlich, 

coordinator of the Young Writers 

Contest. 

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Contestants may submit one piece 

per category, for a total of three works. 

Often, students choose to submit 

works they have completed in school, 

though some choose to create their 

pieces outside of school. Eva Sibinga, 

former Greeley student and winner of 

the 2012 Young Writers Contest’s Fiction 

section, submitted her story 

“A Decision at Hopewell” after completing 

it for her Creative Writing 

class. “That piece was actually the only 

thing I've ever submitted to a contest,” 

said Sibinga. “I regret not submitting 

to the YWC other years, though. I really 

love the Chappaqua Library, and 

it felt good to participate in something 

that they sponsor.” 

For many students who often find 

themselves immersed in the science 

and math departments in school, the 

contest is a means for literary expression 

and creativity that they would 

otherwise be unconnected with. “At 

school I'm often very focused on 

math and science, [but] I really enjoy 

English and I love this outlet–it's my 

way of keeping in touch with that side 

of me,” said Rachel Neuburger, 2012 

Honorable Mention recipient for her 

non-fiction piece, “Confessions of an 

Obnoxious Vegetarian.” 

The contest has a long history of 

maintaining integrity in regard to its 

choices of winners, insisting on strict 

procedures writers must follow in 

order for their piece to be reviewed by 

the judges. “The Young Writers Contest 

has been sponsored by the Friends 

of the Chappaqua Library for close 

to 35 years, and I just carry on the 

traditions that came before me. I've 

streamlined certain 

procedures, 

but the rules don't 

change,” added 

Ehrlich. 

One of those 

rules is the “blind” 

policy, which 

insists that those 

submitting pieces 

omit their names 

on their writing. 

Should a writer’s 

name be on his or 

her entry, the panel 

of judges will not review the piece. 

“In years past, some coordinators 

would white out the names, but really, 

this isn't fair to the other submitters 

who follow the rules,” said Ehrlich. 

However, a new element of the 

contest utilizes the ease of the Internet, 

allowing submissions to be made 

online. This development was first put 

into effect in the 2013 Young Writers 

Contest, setting the precedent for 

the future contests in hopes of being 

more environmentally friendly and 

straightforward. Students can upload 

their work as a PDF to the Chappaqua 

Library’s Submittable account. 

The Young Writers Contest encourages 

students to create a piece of writing 

to take pride in and fosters creativity 

and experimentation in regard to 

students’ writing. “It's a really positive 

way to get yourself out there and get 

some feedback on your writing, and 

get comfortable with the idea of sharing 

your form of expression, which can 

be scary but is often very rewarding,” 

said Sibinga. 

Additionally, the contest showcases 

the student talent that would otherwise 

be unrecognized. “[The Young 

Writers Contest] shows how much talent 

there is in the district, and I think 

it inspires students to throw their 

work in the mix and get involved,” said 

Neuberger. 

Ehrlich couldn’t agree more: “It's as 

much about the submitting as the winning,” 

she explained. “Sure it's great to 

win, but the act of submitting lets you 

feel the value in your work. You also 

on some level declare to yourself ‘I am 

a writer.’ Writing is a life skill that lets 

you communicate with and persuade 

and move others.” 

The deadline for the 2014 Young 

Writers Contest, expected to be in late 

March, will be announced 

shortly. 

Liora Fishman is 

a senior at Horace 

Greeley High School. 

Growing up, she loved 

the Harry Potter 

books.

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Pierce House - “An Important Stop 

on the Road to Freedom” 

In the early 1720s, Quakers migrated 

from Long Island to settle in and 

around Pleasantville. The Pierce Family 

made their way to the area in 1740. 

Quakers owned five of the seven main 

farms in Pleasantville during this time 

period. 

In 1805, Joseph Pierce inherited 

125 acres of property from his father, 

James. The home, known as Pierce 

House, is believed to have been built 

around 1813. The original house 

consisted of just the front two rooms 

of the current structure. An ardent 

Quaker, Joseph Pierce became a key 

figure in providing a safe path for 

slaves escaping through Westchester. 

Pierce House played an important role 

in the Underground Railroad, offering 

nighttime shelter 

for those seeking 

freedom. 

This finely crafted, 

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Colonial home has 

undergone a number 

of changes over the 

years. The library 

and interior arches 

were added in the 

late 1880’s, when the 

house served as the 

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for Children. During their ownership 

of the house, the Payne family of 

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paneling in the living room and the 

library. They also expanded the living 

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Today, this historic house has been 

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A Literary Event Like No Other: 

The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 

By Sarah Jane Weill 

Booklovers, rejoice! On October 5, 

2013, the Bell Middle School parking 

lot will be filled with more than 70 

children’s book authors all armed and 

ready to meet their readers. It will be 

an event never before seen here in 

Chappaqua, and is definitely something 

to get excited about! 

The idea for the Chappaqua Children’s 

Book Festival (or CCBF) 

stemmed from Tarrytown’s Sunnyside 

Book Day, an annual event lasting 15 

years during which 50 to 60 children’s 

book authors and illustrators gathered 

at Washington Irving’s house to 

meet their fans. The beloved event was 

a great opportunity for writers and 

young readers to mingle in a unique 

environment. However, this past year 

Sunnyside announced that it would no 

longer be continuing the event. This 

unfortunate announcement had one 

positive effect: it led to the inspiration 

to bring about something similar to 

New Castle. 

Come One, Come All 

The premise of the CCBF is to create 

an event that will attract a wide 

spectrum of readers throughout Chappaqua 

as well as surrounding towns. 

With an impressive goal of around 

3,000 attendees, the CCBF will be a 

strong community event. “We want 

this to be an event when everyone 

comes out,” commented Dawn Greenberg, 

one of the event’s volunteer 

organizers who helped bring this idea 

to life. The event will be a great place 

to meet people 

and a chance 

for the longtime 

Chappaqua 

families 

and the newer 

families to 

meet. 

The schedule for the event is casual, 

flexible and accessible to all. Authors 

and illustrators will have their own tables 

and be available for book signings 

and conversations with fans, along 

with having books for sale. Some authors 

will be partaking in readings that 

are open to everyone; there will also be 

arts and crafts activities to enjoy. Local 

restaurants and food trucks will provide 

the food; 

in addition, all 

desserts will be 

literary-themed 

and sold by the 

Great American 

Bake Sale. Admission 

is free, 

so families are encouraged to come and 

go as they please, enjoying as much as 

they want in the fashion they want to. 

Coming Together 

The most exciting part about this 

event is the list of authors and illustrators 

expected to be in attendance; 

to name just a couple, Tony Abbott, 

author of the Secrets of Droon series, 

and Victoria Kann, author and illustrator 

of Pinkalicious, will both be 

there. With 70 authors already signed 

up and more on a waiting list, a wide 

range of books from all genres will be 

represented. All of the authors on the 

list are from around the area; a great 

number of fantastic children’s and 

Young Adult authors who live in Chappaqua 

are attending the event. 

Many of the authors were originally 

a part of the Sunnyside Book Day; 

other authors have either been recruited 

by friends already planning on 

attending or by relatives living in the 

area who heard about the event. Most 

of these authors work from home, and 

are therefore thrilled to get the opportunity 

to interact with their fans. 

Their enthusiasm, coupled with the 

excitement of young readers, will make 

the CCBF that much more thrilling and 

rewarding. 

A Group Effort 

Getting an event like this up and 

running is no easy task. The entire 

preparation for the CCBF has been run 

completely through no-pay volunteer 

efforts, as the CCBF is run by a nonprofit 

organization. All of the money 

needed for the event has been acquired 

through various fundraisers such as a 

special tea with some of the authors 

and an art auction that sold off pieces 

created by some of the illustrators. 

People from all parts of the town 

have come together to help out with 

the preparations; Greenberg recalled 

that once she got the idea for the 

festival, she called her friends and 

immediately got positive responses. 

“This job is only possible because of 

the enthusiasm,” she remarked. The 

organization of the CCBF has largely 

been a group effort; the community’s 

excitement over this upcoming event 

clearly shows how hard people have 

worked to make the event a success. 

Adding to the event’s remarkableness 

is its great efforts to give back 

to the literary 

community in 

the area. Three 

charities that 

work to promote 

literacy 

and encourage 

reading and 

writing–Lit- 

World, Behind the Book, and Pace 

Literary Center–will have their own 

spaces at the event. These charities are 

all crucial in the literary community, 

and the mutual support between them 

and the CBFF will come to benefit 

everyone. 

Looking forward, if all is successful, 

those responsible for the CCBF are 

hoping to make this an annual event. 

This would not only make our town 

stronger, but it would also connect 

Chappaqua to the outside literary 

world; it could become a huge aspect of 

the fall festivities in town. 

“October is the perfect time of the 

year, as it’s the lull between back to 

school and Christmas,” added Greenberg. 

It is an event that is very much 

needed in our community; it can be 

something that readers, writers, and 

people from all throughout Westchester 

can look forward to. So, book lover 

or not, mark your calendars and get 

ready for a new, exciting event here in 

Chappaqua! 

Sarah Jane Weill is a 



up, her favorite book was 

If You Give A Mouse A 

Cookie. 


A Chat With Chappaqua Author Barbara Dee 

By Rachel Neuburger 

Chappaqua resident and author of 

children’s and young adult literature 

Barbara Dee is thrilled to be participating 

in the inaugural Chappaqua 

Children’s Book Festival this October. 

Dee’s four published works include 

Solving Zoe–a 2010 Bank Street Best 

Children’s Book of the Year–and Just 

Another Day in my Insanely Real Life, 

which received a starred review from 

Publishers Weekly. 

How did you start writing 

books for children 

and young adults? 

I’ve always written for 

kids–in fact, on my 

website you can see the 

“book” I wrote when I 

was five! After teaching, 

practicing law, and 

being a stay-at-home mom, I decided 

to see if I could get published. I knew 

it would be hard, but I also knew I’d 

never forgive myself if I didn’t at least 

try. Now I can’t imagine doing anything 

else! 

What’s your writing 

process? 

A: I like to swim 

laps at Club Fit in 

Briarcliff or go on 

the treadmill in 

the early morning, 

then sit down 

at my computer 

and focus on 

nothing but writing. 

I try not to break my concentration 

by running errands or chatting on 

the phone during writing time–I need 

a few uninterrupted hours to get into 

the “zone.” 

What authors and works 

inspire you? 

I’m always inspired by 

books with humor, complex 

characters, and great 

dialogue. Hilary McKay’s 

Casson family series is a big 

inspiration, because every character is 

so surprising. Recently I’ve loved Wonder 

by R. J. Palacio, which manages to 

be both heartbreaking and funny. 

If you could be any one of your characters, 

which would you choose? 

I’m pretty introverted and tend to 

over-think before I act, so I’d love to 

be a fearless, uninhibited character 

like Francesca in This is Me From Now 

On, or the performance artist mom 

in Trauma Queen. In my newest book 

(which doesn’t have a title yet, but will 

be published by Simon & Schuster in 

September 2014), the character Maya 

Lopez would be my choice, because she 

stands up to bullies and is fiercely loyal 

to her best friend. 

Are you looking forward to 

the Chappaqua Children’s 

Book Festival? 

Can’t wait! I always love 

the chance to chat with 

readers, parents, teachers 

and librarians (not to mention 

other authors). 

Helping to put together the CCBF has 

been a special thrill, because it’s all 

about promoting literacy and the love 

of books–right here in Chappaqua. 

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Making A Difference 

The Many Ways in which Greeley Students Help Our Community 

You are standing in a 

crowd. Pushing and shoving, 

kids of various ages 

rush past you; there is an 

overwhelming noise, the 

noise of people advertising 

and friends chatting and 

officials planning. You are 

surrounded by organized 

chaos. Where are you? A 

circus, a carnival, a street 

fair? No – you are at the 

Greeley activity fair! The 

Greeley activity fair is a 

tradition at the high school 

that features one of the 

school’s most prominent 

features: clubs. At the fair, each club 

is assigned a booth; club members 

bring signs, flyers and candy to attract 

new members, who can sign up and 

get more information regarding club 

activities and events. 

While some people just come for the 

sweets, clubs do gain new members 

this way, and it demonstrates just how 

important clubs are to the Greeley 

community; so many students get 

involved in this event because they 

genuinely care. An incredible variety 

of clubs, from the engineering club to 

Make a Wish to the opera club, can be 

found at Greeley. If a club does not exist, 

students can apply to form a new 

one. With such a broad range of clubs, 

it is easy to see why almost all Greeley 

students are involved in some way. The 

largest percent of students are members 

of SADD or SHARE, two of the 

most popular clubs at Greeley. 

Don’t Be Sad, Be SADD 

SADD, or Students Against Drunk 

Driving, is a national organization 

that Greeley has become a part of. The 

Greeley chapter aims to “raise awareness 

within Greeley about the dangers 

of drinking and driving, texting while 

driving, and driving high,” explained 

one of its presidents, Evan Baitch. 

This past year, SADD organized a 

drunk driving simulation to show the 

student body what happens during a 

drunk driving accident. SADD helped 

students to not only actually see what 

happens at an accident itself, but also 

to understand the ramifications of 

such an event. 


By Rachel Schelling 

Executive Leaders from Horace Greeley High School’s SADD Club. 

Other events include D’s Day, where 

30 or more volunteers dress up in all 

black and remain silent to represent 

the tragedies due to drunk driving 

every day, and the pledge campaign, 

when SADD gets hundreds of teachers 

and students to sign pledges that state 

that they will drive safe over the holidays; 

the pledges are then displayed 

around school to remind students of 

their promise. The difference between 

SADD and so many others clubs is that 

students actually pay attention to the 

various events SADD holds throughout 

the year; the Greeley chapter has 

really spread understanding of the 

many dangers of driving while under 

the influence or distracted, which has 

hopefully made a difference out on the 

roads here in Chappaqua. 

SHARE-ing is Caring 

SHARE is the largest community 

service club at Greeley. It includes 11 

‘projects’: the Horace Greeley Scholarship 

Fund, Casa de Lengua, the Pinwheel 

Project, Boys & Girls Club, Midnight 

Run, Bunches of Lunches, AFYA, 

Blood Drive, Food Bank, Blythedale, 

and Think Fit for Kids. These all center 

around hands-on involvement in helping 

the community. Most students involved 

in SHARE have a hand in many 

different projects. Lizzy Pott, one of 

the club’s presidents, said, “To me, the 

appeal of SHARE is its incredibly wide 

scope of service and the amount of 

involvement it influences. Countless 

students– including me–have joined 

SHARE with the intention of participating 

in only one project and have 

ended up being an active 

participant in multiple 

organizations due to the 

excitement and inspiration 

the club exudes.” 

Since SHARE is so far 

reaching, it organizes 

many different events 

throughout the year 

that attract a variety of 

students. Some of these 

events include two blood 

drives, the Scholarship 

Fund’s annual spelling bee, 

and a night of ice cream 

scooping at Ben & Jerry’s 

to benefit Think Fit for Kids. SHARE 

strives not only to get students involved 

but also but the entire community, 

so keep an eye out for upcoming 

events! 

Many clubs at Greeley are either 

headed by or founded by the Class of 

2014. The students of this class are 

involved in clubs as far reaching as 

Students for Social Justice and Global 

Schoolhouse and as close to home as 

the Tribune and the Quake, two of the 

school publications. All students in 

clubs have chosen to get involved in 

this way because they are passionate 

about what the clubs stand for. For 

those in positions of power in these 

clubs, there is the added benefit of 

leadership experience and an increased 

role in the actions, organization, and 

event planning of the clubs. 

The popularity of clubs at Greeley 

is due to the incredible things they 

have to offer. Clubs give students the 

opportunity to explore and find their 

passions while making friends, learning 

new skills, and getting involved in 

something they believe in. Greeley is 

fortunate to be home to so many successful 

clubs that, year by year, work 

tirelessly and truly make a difference 

in our community here in Chappaqua 

as well as in the world 

beyond. 

Rachel Schelling is a senior 

at Horace Greeley High 

School. Growing up, her 

favorite book was Harold 

and the Purple Crayon.

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71 Houses 2012 

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$850,000 2012 

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© 2013 Ultherapy is a registered trademark of Ulthera Inc. 1002221A 


Inch By Inch, Row By Row 

How A Garden is Helping the Community Grow, One Plant at a Time 

It's a warm summer day, and 

you're strolling through town. 

You pass Starbucks, popping in 

for a quick Frappuccino to keep 

the heat away. You continue 

on your walk, crossing the 

street, passing Susan Lawrence, 

and sipping your drink. It is 

a gorgeous and lazy day–you 

have nowhere to be, so you are 

letting your feet lead the way. 

Across the street you see the 

Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance 

Corps, and then something 

else catches your eye– 

right next to the Ambulance 

Corps (on its land, in fact) is 

a fenced-in area buzzing with 

busy men, women, and children. Curiosity 

gets the better of you, and you 

cross the road–beautiful flowers, rich 

green lettuce, and lovely little herbs fill 

your vision; the smells of fresh water, 

dirt, and plants fill your nose. Plant 

beds made of wood or surrounded 

by stones are lined up throughout 

the space, each with small paths cut 

through for walking, kneeling and 

growing; nets are hung up for cultivating 

beans, and there are signs staked in 

to give the plots a "homey" feel. 

Photos by Alina Wang 

Dr. Susan Rubin 

Everyone 

is busy. 

Some are 

bringing 

piles of plant 

matter over 

to compost 

bins, some 

are digging 

out the pathways, 

some 

are weeding, 

and 

everyone 

is helping in 

some way. You are at the Chappaqua 

Community (emphasis on "community") 

Garden on one of their work days– 

when everyone who has a plot stops by 

to help out with general garden maintenance 

for an hour or two. Started by 

Suzi Novak and InterGenerate in the 

Spring of 2011 when she noticed that 

some Ambulance Corps workers were 

growing tomatoes in the space, this 

garden has been a wonderful addition 

to the Chappaqua community. 


By Julia Desmarais 

Volunteers hard at work in the Chappaqua Community Garden 

Now in its third year, the garden is 

home to 22 beds, all of which are filled 

with various plants. There are relatively 

few rules that govern each plot, as 

everyone builds theirs differently and 

grows different things. There is one 

very important rule: everything must 

be organic. In addition to these beds, 

there are four special beds known as 

the "Giving Garden." Everyone who 

has a plot in the Community Garden 

volunteers time here, and the food gets 

donated to people in need. 

While organically grown vegetables 

are good for everyone, they are especially 

important for growing kids. 

If you want your kids to eat healthfully, 

get them out to the garden. It's 

organic, it's fresh and delicious, and 

it's something that they'll want to eat. 

As Dr. Susan Rubin, co-chair of the 

Chappaqua Community Garden, health 

professional, food and garden educator, 

environmental activist and local 

mother said, "When kids grow food, 

they eat food." The great thing about 

this garden is they can grow the food. 

There are gardeners here of every skill 

level, and others who are always willing 

and ready to help. 

The community feeling at the garden 

is a special one and is truthfully the 

real draw for gardening experts and 

novices alike; advice sharing, potluck 

dinners, and seed swaps at Local are 

only some of the many activities to 

participate in. Cameron Kelly, a longtime 

gardener, gardens at home but 

also has a plot at the Chappaqua 

Community Garden. 

She loves the opportunity 

the town garden gives her to 

meet neighbors, learn from 

them, and be a part of the 

community that has been 

created there. "The most 

important message," she 

shared, "is that everyone can 

do this." Yes, gardening is a 

skill, but it is a skill that anyone 

can learn, green thumb 

or not. Susan's advice coincides 

with this–start small, 

she suggests, and grow 

herbs. They are very easy to 

grow, and great to have! 

The Ambulance Corps and Chappaqua 

Paint and Hardware understand 

the value of the Chappaqua Community 

Garden, and both have been very 

generous with their help. The Ambulance 

Corps has given land and a water 

supply, while Chappaqua Paint and 

Hardware has supplied hoses and put 

in a shed to hold the gardening tools. 

It has really become a huge, welcoming 

community affair in which the whole 

town is involved. 

Rubin is very happy with how far the 

garden has come, and she hopes that 

in the future it will expand as more 

residents discover the benefits and excitement 

of the garden. Her dream is to 

move it onto the Chappaqua Crossing 

property someday, where it can be bigger 

and better. With enough support, 

there is no doubt that this would be a 

successful endeavor and an extraordinary 

benefit to the Chappaqua community, 

as seen in what the garden has 

achieved already. 

If you would like to get involved with 

this amazing venture, you can contact 

Susan Rubin through her website, 

www.drsusanrubin.com, or Suzi Novak 

through her email, 

suzin@jsgnovak.com. 

Julia Desmarais is a 


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One more year. 

I have been waiting for this moment. 

The moment when I can say 

“one more year until I go to college, 

until I am an adult, until my life really 

begins.” From the Friday night fro-yo 

runs to the seemingly endless piles of 

work each year to the fun times spent 

with friends, Chappaqua is filled with 

memories upon memories. I have 

spent my entire life so far here, and 

though I have had some experiences 

living on my own away from home, I 

don’t think anything can prepare me 

for leaving completely. 

It’s weird to think about the future. 

Sure, it’s exciting, but it’s also big and 

scary. It’s like part of me is Nemo –daring, 

adventurous, anxious to explore 

–and the other part is Marlin, holding 

that unruly part of me back, worried 

about what might happen if I let 

myself go. This final year here at home 

is important not only for obvious 

reasons–academics, family, and friends 

–but because it is my last chance to 

ready myself for immersion in the outside 

world, to come to terms with the 

fact that while I know my family will 

always be there for me, once I leave, 

I’m essentially on my own. 

I know that I have lived a sheltered 

life here in Chappaqua, with many 

advantages not enjoyed by so many 

others. I have been so fortunate; I 

grew up with loving family, amazing 

friends and fantastic education. I have 

had so many opportunities to expand 

my horizons, challenge myself and 

test my abilities. The real test, however, 

will come next year, when I am 

living on my own in college, away from 

everything that I always just took for 

granted. As excited as I am for this 


The Great Unknown 

By Lindsay Hand 

new experience, I am admittedly nervous 

for my future endeavors and know 

I will miss almost everything about 

home. 

There are the little things: brownies 

from the Farmer’s Market every 

Saturday, bumping into that person I 

knew five years ago in Starbucks, and 

that community feel at the homecoming 

game every Fall and Relay For 

Life each Spring. While we all might 

have complaints or pet peeves about 

one thing or another, I recognize that 

Chappaqua is a unique place in which 

I have been very lucky to have grown 

up, and it will most definitely be a culture 

shock when I’m no longer in this 

familiar environment. 

There’s No Crystal Ball 

It is one thing to think about the 

future from the comfort and familiarity 

of one’s house, but it is something 

else entirely to go out there and live 

it. Going to college and having 

to actually live life without 

parents (laundry doesn’t just 

clean itself) is an experience 

unlike anything any of us have 

ever been through before, 

other than, possibly, in small 

doses each summer; there are 

so many more responsibilities 

to manage, decisions to make. 

All of the studying and working 

hard over the years has 

not necessarily answered the 

question that plagues everyone 

from childhood through adolescence: 

“what do you want to be when you 

grow up?” 

A decade ago, our answers would 

have ranged from astronauts to Disney 

princesses to firefighters. Now, the 

answer doesn’t come so easily, and 

I’m pretty sure there’s no college 

major called Being a Disney Princess. 

In many ways, this is probably what 

scares us all the most; at 17-years-old, 

how can we possibly know for sure 

what we want to do for the entirety of 

our lives? I, personally, have no idea 

where life will lead me. All I can do is 

pursue my passions, go with the flow 

and make my life as full and happy as 

I can. Hopefully the rest will all fall 

into place. 

As I 

stand at the 

precipice of 

my senior 

year of high 

school, ready 

to jump into 

my future, 

I am held 

back by the 

sudden shock 

that after this 

year, I may 

never again 

see many of 

the people 

with whom I have grown up. We’ll all 

move on, finding our niches whatever 

and wherever they may be, and going 

our separate ways. The future is arriving, 

and we have to make the most of 

this last year together. 

“Again, you can’t connect the dots 

looking forward; you can only connect 

them looking backwards. So you have 

to trust that the dots will somehow 

connect in your future. You have to 

trust in something–your gut, destiny, 

life, karma, whatever.” – Steve Jobs 

Two-time Inside 

Chappaqua Guest 

Editor Lindsay Hand 

is a senior at Horace 

Greeley High School. 

Growing up, she loved 

the Magic Treehouse 

books.

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Her Impression 

By: Matanya Harow 

Apples carved with numbers 

Floating strands of hair 

Lights are out 

No one’s home 

Sick because I care. 

Mirror stands, triumphant 

A liar to its core 

Jumping jacks 

Shaking knees 

Nothing left to store. 

Alone inside her head 

All else wastes away 

Fragile bones 

Empty flesh 

Starving day by day. 

Parents, disregarded 

Ruled by rules alone 

Fearing food 

Loving food 

Self-control is shown. 

And I’m her older brother 

I witness from the side 

Shouting fights 

Tears of fear 

Other things implied. 

Family, torn apart 

Hospital, depression 

Sneaky truths 

Little tricks 

Driven by obsession. 

And I will not complain 

Hide it all and cope 

But it’s hard 

And I’m lost 

Left with only hope… 

Only hope… 

Hope… 

Matanya Harow, 18, graduated high school in Israel 

this past June. His poem is about the impact of his 

sister’s eating disorder on himself and his family. 

I’m going to be embarrassingly candid 

here. Prior to this summer, the last 

time I got myself to the gym was first 

semester of my sophomore year of college–aka, 

a year and a half ago–when a 

friend forced me. I stayed for about 25 

minutes, got a smoothie, and left. And 

the last time I got a “real” work out… 

never? 

Aesthetically, I’ve always been somewhat 

satisfied with my body image. My 

weight has fluctuated some through the 

years, but I have never been considered, 

though I really hate the term, “fat.” At 

5’3” and my weight hovering around 

110 pounds, I am not really a candidate 

for a weight loss camp–still, that’s the 

kind of push I needed. It was only this 

past spring that I found my body changing 

in ways that troubled me. With the 

combination of Amherst’s (at UMass) 

candied bacon donuts and my (truly) 

sedentary lifestyle, I felt bloated on the 

outside and morbid on the inside. My 

mom, one of the few who understand 

how unhealthy my habits actually were, 

offered to set me up with a trainer at 

Prescriptions for Fitness in Chappaqua 

and I agreed to try. 

Soon after, I met my trainer, Amber 

Jo, a friendly young woman (with a 

rockin’ bod) just three years my senior. 

After filling out some forms and testing 

my abilities, Amber customized a 

routine for me. She designed a “circuit,” 

which is a series of different exercises 

performed one after the other, and 

then repeated a number of times, which 

challenged my strength and endurance 

alike. And by “challenged,” I mean I was 

sweating bullets and flopping all over 

the place rather than working out. Fortunately, 

at Prescriptions for Fitness, I 

Fit at Last 

By Anna Bennett 

was given a private space, where I didn’t 

have to worry about looking funny or 

struggling in front of others. There, 

I was able to learn different kinds of 

exercises (and flop around all I wanted) 

in an intimate, judge-free zone. 

Advertorial 

Amber Jo of Prescriptions 

for Fitness 

trained Greeley grad 

(Class of 2010) Anna 

Bennett this summer. 

Between sessions, 

Amber texted me 

copies of what we 

did together. This 

way, I could exercise 

on my own and 

keep what I had 

learned fresh in my 

mind. Although 

I couldn’t push 

myself quite as far 

as Amber would, I 

went from doing 

nothing to doing 

something, which 

was a huge accomplishment 

for me. Many of the exercises 

we did involved floor work and weights, 

so I could work out easily on my own at 

home too. 

Week by week, I still struggled, but 

felt a gradual improvement. The initial 

workouts that made me feel absolutely 

miserable became tolerable, and then, 

even (gasp!) enjoyable. Feeling myself 

perform in ways that I was once incapable 

(as in doing a real pushup!) and 

Amber proudly acknowledging the ways 

in which I had improved was a great 

boost to my self esteem. At the conclusion 

of my 12 sessions (thanks Mom!), I 

can say that I now “know how” to work 

out and am motivated to continue on. 

For me, having Amber as my trainer 

was crucial to my personal growth, and 

probably crucial to my future health. 

Editor’s Note: You’re welcome, Anna. 


Bet 

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Since I was a puppy I have heard 

people say to my owner, “Maggie 

should be a therapy dog.” Because I am 

small, calm, very gentle with children 

and a hypoallergenic poodle they 

thought that would be a good job for 

me. And I like to have people pet me. 

My owner said that these dogs visited 

hospitals, elder care centers, schools 

and other places to help people feel 

better and happy. Then I heard about 

a therapy dog that has children read 

to him at the Chappaqua Library. I 

thought this was really a great thing 

since I love when my owner, who is a 

former School Librarian, reads to me. 

So I contacted Miriam Budin, Head of 

Children’s Services, to find out about 

their program Short Tales for Too Tall. 

Children sign up for a fifteen-minute 

session to read to Too Tall, a retired 

rescued Greyhound racing dog. Accompanied 

by his owner, Anne Quick, Too 

Tall listens to each child read either a 

book of their choice or one that the 

library provides. “We’ve had a number 

of different therapy dogs over the past 

ten years and have structured the programs 

in a variety of ways, but we’ve 

come to feel that a private session with 

the therapy dog feels extra-special, 

even though it limits the number of 

children who can participate” says 

Budin. “The response to Too Tall, a particularly 

elegant, gentle and gracious 

dog has been wholly positive.” 

M A G G I E M A E P U P R E P O R T E R T M 

Reading has Gone to the Dogs 

By Maggie Mae...with Ronni Diamondstein 

When Quick, a Young Adult Librarian 

adopted Too Tall, she immediately 

began to train him as a certified 

therapy dog as well as a R.E.A.D 

(Reading Education Assistance Dog). 

Too Tall told me he likes the children 

reading to him and especially enjoys 

the treat they give him at the end of 

the session. “Even though it may look 

like I am sleeping with my eyes closed, 

completely relaxed with my head in 

the child’s lap, I am paying attention,” 

says Too Tall. “I have a vivid imagination 

and close my eyes to picture the 

stories being read to me.” And he adds 

that Quick reads to him all the time 

too. “Her mission in having people 

read to me is not only to introduce and 

foster a love for learning and literacy, 

but also to share me with others and 

teach people what ‘greyt’ pets retired 

racers make.” 

“Dogs don’t care if you read fast or 

slowly. They just like to be with people,” 

said Quick. A parent of one of Too 

Tall’s readers told me that she brings 

her seven-year-old son so that he has 

a “noncritical” listener. Her son had 

brought his own copy of a Henry and 

Mudge book by Cynthia Rylant, which 

is a popular series about a boy and his 

dog. Marielle, an eight-year-old from 

Briarcliff Manor wouldn’t miss a session 

with Too Tall, “I love reading and I 

love dogs!” 

Quick says she always gets terrific 

feedback and that the parents enjoy 

Too Tall can’t take his eyes off Thomas as he it as much as the kids. “Some of our 

reads to him about a boy and his dog. 

readers were afraid of dogs before 


Photos by Ronni Diamondstein 

Eight-year-old Marielle of Briarcliff Manor 

never misses an opportunity to read to Too Tall 

meeting Too Tall. Some were afraid of 

reading,” says Budin. “Anne Quick and 

Too Tall have such an encouraging way 

about them that the response to their 

visits has been entirely 

positive.” Short Tales for Too 

Tall will continue this fall 

at the Chappaqua Library. 

Check the Chappaqua 

Library website for more 

details about this special 

program for children: www.chappaqualibrary.org. 

Wow! All this talk about reading 

makes me want to sit on my owner’s 

lap and curl up with a good book. Then 

maybe I can be a R.E.A.D dog too! 

Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter 

at maggiemae10514@gmail.com 

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with 

her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, 

who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is 

a freelance writer, PR consultant and 

award-winning photographer who has 

worked in the US and abroad. 

Maggie Mae’s Must Do: 

Top Hat and Tails Gala 

October 18th 

Launching a new feature to highlight 

pet events, charities and organizations 

and am wagging my tail with joy to tell 

you about a special event for the SPCA 

of Westchester, the 11th Annual Top 

Hat and Cocktails Gala. This hot dog of 

an affair will be held at the Ritz Carlton 

in White Plains on Friday, October 18, 

2013 from 7:00 to 9:30PM. Step out in 

style with your dog for a fun evening 

of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, canine ice 

cream bar, animal communicator, live 

music, dancing and a silent auction. 

Tickets are $200 per person. Well 

socialized dogs and their owners will 

enjoy this event that supports the many 

wonderful programs of the 

SPCA of Westchester. 

For more details visit 

www.spca914.org.

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Advertisers at a Glance • Sept/Oct 2013 

Inside Front: 

Inside Back: 

William Raveis 

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Bet Torah................................................................. 37 

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Bilotta..................................................................... 17 

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Maria Briones, M.D.P.C............................................. 31 

Camp Connection..................................................... 40 

Chappaqua Friends Nursery School.......................... 40 

Club Fit.................................................................... 33 

Mike Cola................................................................. 40 

Dance Emotions....................................................... 35 

Toni DiMichelo, Houlihan Lawrence......................... 31 

Douglas Elliman Real Estate ...................................... 9 

Emmary Day Spa...................................................... 39 

Lydia Evans, M.D...................................................... 21 

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Eye Level Learning Center........................................ 26 

Family Britches........................................................ 35 

Feed Me Fresh Fundraiser........................................ 15 

Gamechanger........................................................... 24 

Houlihan Lawrence Home Listings........................22,23 

Jodi’s Gym............................................................... 28 

Dr. Alexandra Chan Katz.......................................... 40 

La Pentola Italian Pizzeria....................................... 29 

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Houlihan Lawrence 

Metro North Computer Consulting, Inc.................... 20 

Mount Kisco Child Care Center................................. 11 

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Riverside Memorial Chapel....................................... 19 

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Rosenthal JCC Fall Fest............................................ 35 

Squires Family Clothing & Footwear......................... 33 

Steffi Nossen School of Dance................................... 33 

Temple Beth El......................................................... 25 

The Butlers Air Quality............................................. 40 

The Good Dish.......................................................... 28 

The Gym at Armonk.................................................. 29 

The Khader Center................................................... 37 

Total Turf................................................................ 31 

Visiting Veterinary Practice 

of Westchester......................................................... 39 

WeeZee World............................................................ 7 

Westchester Tree Life, Inc........................................ 36 

William Raveis Home Listings.................................... 3 

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More Than Just A Teacher 

The Relationship That Goes Beyond the Classroom 

By Ashley Grund 

Teachers: an essential part 

of the life of a high school student. 

Many Chappaqua residents 

love our school district 

for one thing in particular– 

outstanding teachers. The importance 

of the relationships 

built between students and 

teachers in high school cannot 

be stressed enough. Our 

teachers become not merely 

just the adults seen every day 

in the classroom, but mentors 

that have a lasting impact. 

This type of relationship may 

be rare for some students, but 

it exists in and throughout 

the Greeley community. 

Senior Julia Fortier knows 

what it is like to have this profound 

connection with a teacher. 

Julia had Mr. Steven Houser 

from ninth through eleventh grade as 

both a history teacher and cross country 

and track coach. Sadly, this past 

school year marked Mr. Houser’s last 

year at Greeley after teaching there for 

34 years. When asked to describe the 

relationship he has with Julia, he said 

that he and Julia have been “buddies 

since ninth grade.” The connection 

that they have emanates when they 

are together; Julia feels lucky to have 

had someone who has had such an impact 

on so many students throughout 

his teaching career. 

Julia’s appreciation for Mr. Houser 

has grown both in the classroom and 

on track. She enjoyed the three classes 

she had with him and described him 

as a coach who is “very supportive and 

didn’t put too much pressure on anybody.” 

Mr. Houser recognizes that this 

relationship doesn’t come with every 

student. “It takes a special person that 

can go beyond ‘I have to do this for 

my next test.’ When this happens, it is 

extremely fulfilling, and it happened 

with Julia,’” Houser said, with a big 

smile on his face. 

Julia Fortier and Mr. Houser 


For Senior Noah Weissman, Mrs. 

Jacqueline Abair helped him to channel 

the confidence that was hidden 

within himself. As a sophomore in a 

freshman/sophomore English class, 

Noah took it upon himself to form relationships 

with the younger students. 

Mrs. Abair noticed this, and it is one 

of the many reasons she loved having 

Noah in the classroom. “It really 

impressed me how Noah welcomed 

the younger students,” beamed Abair. 

Noah was at first not a particularly 

strong English student, but always 

reached out for help, met with Mrs. 

Abair, communicated his ideas and 

eventually succeeded. “Mrs. Abair gave 

me the confidence I needed going into 

the peer leadership program tryouts. 

She noticed these qualities in me and 

knew that those evaluating me would 

be able to notice those qualities as 

well,” explained Noah. 

Making a Difference 

Mrs. Abair feels very humbled knowing 

that she has had an impact on 

Noah, and this relationship serves as a 

reminder of just how rewarding teaching 

can be. “Teaching is an honor, as is 

being able to work with children and 

knowing that you can make a difference,” 

she added. 

Hearing both Julia’s and Noah’s 

stories made me reflect on the bonds 

I have had with my teachers. After 

freshman year, I discovered a unique 

opportunity in Greeley’s Chinese 

program. Since the beginning of 

sophomore year, I have been learning 

Mandarin Chinese and have loved 

every minute. People have often 

asked me, “Why Chinese?” The 

answer to this question lies in 

our teacher, Mrs. Ping Li, or “Li 

laoshi,” as we call her in class. 

Whether we are learning the 

correct way to say the tones 

on all the eccentric characters, 

or having a “culture day” with 

a Chinese food celebration, 

there is never a dull moment 

in class. As I approach my third 

year of Chinese with Mrs. Li, I 

am thankful for having such a 

great opportunity to learn this 

unique language in such depth 

and breadth. We are constantly 

reminded of the exact question 

that I often hear from all my 

friends: Why Chinese? 

Instilling Confidence 

Mrs. Li tells us that our learning 

of Chinese will stretch beyond 

the doors of the classroom. Chinese 

opens the door for many career paths, 

study abroad opportunities in college 

and other opportunities that one 

would not otherwise be able to take 

on. Mrs. Li has also instilled confidence 

in me that I carry over into 

other areas of my life. She constantly 

reminds us that by learning Chinese, 

we are going to make a difference in 

the world. 

No matter how students feel about 

their teachers, there are always those 

that we will remember and tell our 

children and our children’s children 

about. For some, teachers may even 

affect the choice of career path or 

courses in college. 

When a student can finally get past 

some of the frustrations of the high 

school workload and dig deeper into 

what is really important, teachers are 

always there for them at the end of 

the day. They are the ones that make 

school more than just school, and turn 

it into something extraordinary and 

life changing. 

Ashley Grund is a 



up, her favorite 

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Sept/Oct 2013 - Inside Chappaqua

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