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InsideSeptember/October 2009T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R N E W C A S T L E A N D B E Y O N DCHAPPAQUAWWW.INSIDECHAPPAQUA.COMTeach OurChildren WellBrenda Kramer’s Dos andDon'ts of DecoratingJanine Crowley HaynesTells the Truth about “Crazy”Lawrence Meyers Pays Tributeto the Enigmatic Edwin BarlowHealthy Eats Around Town!Chappaqua Goes Poe!See page 36$3.95

The Christophe DanhierRubilite Ring

InsideT H E M A G A Z I N E F O R N E W C A S T L E A N D B E Y O N DCHAPPAQUAw w w. i n s i d e c h a p p a q u a . c o mSeptember/October 200927253 Just Between UsThe Beauty of…In and Around Town6 Early 20th Century Garbat NCHS ExhibitBy Michael Kohn8 Lexington Center FundraiserHonors Memory of JonathanPfefferBy Pamela Brown10-13 HappeningsOn the CoverSix NewChappaqua x TeachersPhoto by Bill Bramswigbramswigphotography.comAdvertisers at a GlancePage 39F E AT U R E S15 The New Teacher on the BlockWhat are the qualities that our esteemed school district looks for when newteachers are hired? And how do these varied qualities translate into exceptionaleducational abilities? Vicki de Vries looks at both sides, allowing us tomeet a cross-section of some of Chappaqua's newest educators!22 Designing WomanBrenda Kelly Kramer, mom of six, does it with style. By Michall Jeffers25 Not so Crazy at AllJanine Crowley Haynes courageously pulls off an entirely lucid account ofher struggles with bipolar illness while imparting valuable lessons to herappreciative readers. By Michael Kohn27 Love Your Teacher WellGreeley grad and author Lawrence Meyers was on a mission in “Teacher ofthe Year”—to demystify a beloved and enigmatic teacher—Edwin Barlow—and reveal his precious gifts. Mission accomplished. By Michael Kohn37 We Asked our AdvertisersWhat’s Really Beautiful? By Jessica von BrachelPlus: Through the Eyes of Town Hall: The Beauty of New CastleNow Serving30 Healthy Dishes Abound inTown...some great picks!By Carol WassermanGotta Have Arts34 Art in Cantonese andSpanishThe current wall exhibit at thelibrary features the work of twotalented Chappaqua painters. Oneis Hispanic, the other Chinese; theinfluence of their heritage ontheir work showcases the richcultural diversity of our town.By Michall Jeffers36 Special Town-Wide Event:“CHAPPAQUA GOES POE”October 4th Kick OffEdgar Allen Poe’s spirit is capturedthrough October. Stay tuned forPoe readings, a Poe inspired scavengerhunt and ChappaquaOrchestra concert—and more!By Sarah BermanD E PA R T M E N T SInside Thoughts32 Time to Reinvent Yourself?For a pep talk anytime, you cancount on Chappaqua’s MaraWeissman, founder of Second Shift.Ricks Last Licks40 The Flap Over TwitterBy Rick Reynolds22September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 1

2 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW CASTLE AND BEYONDSubscribetoday!for your family, a friend, relative or business associate.Look Forward to Each Issue of Inside Chappaqua?Help Keep them Coming! Renew or begin a voluntarysubscription for November ’09-November ’11.Next 14 issues: $24Send this form with your payment to:Inside Chappaqua P.O. Box 643, Millwood, NY 10546Yes! I wish to begin asubscription for:________________________From:___________________Recipient Name and Address:________________________________________________________________________Visitwww.insidechappaqua.comand also Become a Fan ofInside Chappaqua onFacebookJ U S T B E T W E E N U SThe Beauty of…Publishing is pretty clear. So manydifferent voices all in one neatlittle package...it’s like forming anoriginal choir each time with newsongs to perform to keep engaging aloyal audience. Oh, and that audience.That would be all of you. The beauty of YOU ispretty clear too. Why else produce these pages if it werenot for you? On that note, I’d like to thank you for readingthis particular edition, and also, thank profusely theover 100 families who sent in voluntary subscriptionsover the late spring and summer to help IC weather thecutbacks in advertising that is hurting virtually all printmedia. (Not too late if yours is still sitting in a “to do”pile! Or see coupon on the left.)Please know that I amdeeply appreciative of your generosity and support.I hope this edition appears as beautiful to you as intendedand still chock full of the kind of good stuff you’vecome to expect from Inside Chappaqua Magazine.You know what? I’m going to keep my letter short andsweet this time—there is a beauty in word economizingtoo!—and let the articles speak for themselves. Enjoy.Oh, one thing, since I opened this letter with a musicanalogy, may I encourage musical instrument donationsvia contacting MusicMitzvah@gmail.com for more info?See lower left. Some fair disclosure: It’s my son’s barmitzvah project! Happy back to school and all that. Visitwww.insidechappaqua.com to download IC pages anytimeand check out our sponsor sites too.THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW CASTLE AND BEYONDwww.insidechappaqua.comSeptember/October 2009Volume 7, Number 1Editor and PublisherGrace BennettAssociate to the PublisherDesignJessica von BrachelLisa SalernoContributing EditorsDebra Hand, Michael KohnContributorsSarah Ellen Berman, Bill Bramswig, Pamela Brown,Vicki DeVries, Michelle Hecht, Michall Jeffers, Rick Reynolds,Carol Wasserman, Mara WeissmanWeb ConsultantGeneral CounselBill BramswigBrian M. HandInside Chappaqua is published seven times a year, and is owned andoperated by The Inside Press, Inc. Mailing address: PO Box 643,Millwood, NY 10546. Phone Number: 914-238-2600. Copyright © 2009.All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Reproduction of any portion isprohibited without permission from the publisher.Inside Chappaqua may not necessarily agree with any one editorial viewpointor necessarily endorse a particular product or service advertised.Buusiness profiles that accompany ads are by definition advertorial anddon’t necessarily reflect editorial viewpoints.4 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

Chappaqua is renowned for its excellent schoolswhich consistently rank among the best in thenation. In fact, many people move to Chappaquabecause of the outstanding reputation of its schools.Chappaqua’s schools are great because ofits talented and dedicated teachers andan administration and school boardthat are committed to excellence.But maintaining this high level ofexcellence requires a strong and growingtax base. As the Town of NewCastle’s single largest taxpayer, ChappaquaCrossing on the former Reader’sDigest site annually contributes over $1.5million in property taxes, of which $1.1million goes to the Chappaqua School District.Architect’s rendering of age-restricted housing at Chappaqua Crossing.Great Schools Need a Growing Tax BaseThe proposedChappaqua Crossingplan is projected togenerate over$5.2 millionannually in propertytax revenues.The Town is currently reviewing plans for developingthe Chappaqua Crossing property with a mix of agerestrictedhousing for adults 55 and over as well asaffordable senior housing and workforce housing forteachers and municipal employees.When the proposed Chappaqua Crossingplan is fully constructed it is projected togenerate over $5.2 million annually inproperty tax revenues, includingnearly $3.9 million in annual taxesto the School District.In these tough economic times, it’svitally important that Chappaqualook ahead for new sources of propertytax revenue to maintain its excellentschool system.To learn more about Chappaqua Crossingand the many benefits this plan will bring tothe Town and School District, please visitwww.chappaquacrossing.com.1 Reader’s Digest Road Chappaqua, NY 10514September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 5

IN&AROUNDT O W NEarly 20th Century Dresses Dazzleat the Horace Greeley House...through Dec.BY MICHAEL KOHNYears of mall experience shopping with my three daughtersonly partially qualified me for the splendid exhibitcurrently installed at the New Castle Historical Society,appropriately entitled “Dressed for the Occasion.” Evenso, I was enchanted by the ornate detail of the Victorianeraand early 20th century afternoon, wedding and gardendresses on display. A visit to the Horace GreeleyHouse on 100 King Street in Chappaqua will transportyou to an elegant time in our not too distant past whenwomen changed their outfits three times each day inorder to be “dressed for the occasion.”Toni Hutin chaired the Exhibit Committee and led agroup of dedicated volunteers who carefully siftedthrough, cleaned and organized the many family itemsgenerously donated by area residents. Supported by agrant from Mimi Sherman, the exhibit provides the visitorwith a beautiful and unique perspective into the lives ofNew Castle society people. Toni Kelly, who graciouslyguided me through the house, delighted me with descriptionsof bonnets, “mad money” holders for subwaychange, French lace, fans, hair combs, purses and garters.Today, a calling card is something you purchase to makephone calls. Back then, it was something you dropped offat a friend’s house to let them know you had stopped by.One item in particular caught my fancy—an eggplantcolored wedding dress. Why? The bridesmaids at mydaughter’s recent wedding wore eggplant. It’s amazinghow things come back into fashion after 140 years. Likemost of the other wedding dresses on display, mydaughter’s was white.The centerpiece of the exhibit is an exquisite lace weddingveil first worn by the daughter of Horace Greeley,83 Millwood RoadMillwood, NY 10546Phone: 914-762-5552762-4409Gabrielle Greeley Clendenin on April 23, 1891. It hasbeen passed down through the family and was mostrecently worn in 1996 by the great-great granddaughterof Horace Greeley.The exhibit includes children’s clothes and toys, togetherwith many fascinating accessories used by the ladiesof the time. There are also a variety of evening dressesdating to 1950 and a marvelous beaded dress which willmake you think Jackie O. The display of these newerdresses is part of an ongoing effort of the HistoricalSociety to increase their 20th century collection.I highly recommend this historical fashion tour. It’s alovely way to absorb a slice of our haute couture past.Just don’t try returning one of the 1910 shirtwaists fromLord and Taylor without a receipt.The exhibit runs through early December. The museumis open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays andSaturdays between 1 p.m.–4 p.m. For further information,the New Castle Historical Society can be contactedat (914) 238-4666, newcastlehs@aol.com andwww.newcastlehistoricalsociety.org6 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

HoulihanLawrence.comA SELECTION OF HOMES WE’VE SOLD IN 2009Offered at $1,649,00011 Mohegan Drive, ChappaquaListed & Sold by Houlihan Lawrence109 Hardscrabble Lake Drive, ChappaquaOffered at $1,627,000Listed by Houlihan Lawrence8 North Way, ChappaquaOffered at $1,575,000Listed & Sold by Houlihan Lawrence9 Bradley Farms, ChappaquaOffered at $1,495,000Listed by Houlihan Lawrence426 Hardscrabble Road, ChappaquaOffered at $1,350,000Listed & Sold by Houlihan Lawrence10 Deerfield Road, ChappaquaOffered at $1,275,000Listed & Sold by Houlihan Lawrence72 Oak Hill Road, ChappaquaOffered at $949,000Listed by Houlihan Lawrence23 Rose Lane, ChappaquaOffered at $899,000Listed by Houlihan Lawrence188 North Bedford Road, ChappaquaOffered at $799,500Listed by Houlihan Lawrence41 Jeffrey Lane, ChappaquaOffered at $799,000Listed & Sold by Houlihan Lawrence137 Seven Bridges Road, ChappaquaOffered at $699,000Listed & Sold by Houlihan LawrenceArmonk Brokerage914.273.9505The #1 Choice in Northern Westchester. *Despite the challenging marketplace of 2009, Houlihan Lawrencehas sold more homes than the next three competitors combined * .With 40% * market share no other Realtor comes close.Whether buying or selling a home we outperform the market with ourunparalleled internet presence and extensive agent network.Put the Houlihan Lawrence advantage to work for you.Chappaqua Brokerage ~ 45 South Greeley Avenue ~ 914.238.4766Bedford Brokerage914.234.9099Katonah Brokerage914.232.5007Pound Ridge Brokerage914.764.57628%8%21%HoulihanLawrence40%Somers Brokerage914.277.8040Houlihan Lawrence is Ranked #1 by a Significant Margin vs. Every Competitor in Northern Westchester. * Source: WPMLS 1/1/2009-7/24/2009, Dollar Volume, Single-Family Sold Properties, Zone 2

FRAMINGSmakes it to all three “A” lists!“I got a phone call one day last year from a woman who told me she had justmoved toGreenwich from L.A.Three e neighbors welcomed her with a luncheon andpresentedher with their lists of favorite stores and services inthe area.She told me,‘you were the only business on all three lists!’ Boy,was I happy to hear that.We’ve worked tirelessly for the last twenty years at being the most creative, highestquality custom frame shop anywhere.What a thrill to hear we made it to all three lists!”420 Main Streett l Armonk, NYl914. 273. 4242September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 9

In The Loupe...The InitialAttractionby Varda Singer & Ilene DavisFall is associated with new beginningslike the changing colors ofleaves on the trees. In a time whenour lives move so quickly, it is comfortingto hold on to some nostalgia.Many of us enjoy searching for thatitem that takes us back to a specialplace in time. Jewelry can do just thatwith its personal significance. One particularitem that has made its way backis the Initial pendant. Keeping up withthe fashion trends, designers haverecreated initials with distinctive signaturestyles. Produced in sterling silver,gold or platinum and adorned with diamondsand semi precious stones, theInitial options are limitless! Some oftheses pendants are crafted so beautifullythat they can be worn dressed upor down.Initials aren’t exclusive to the wearer’sname. Women are layering their owninitials with their husbands, kids,friends and even words of significance.Combining Initials with other significantcharms or birthstones make for amore personal statement. In addition,layering with longer or shorter necklacescreates a fresh look highlightingthe Initial piece.Always keeping in mind the currentstate of the economy, we suggest shoppingin your own jewelry box to see ifyou have any old Initials. Lucky if youdo, wear them as is or update themwith charms or gemstones. There isbeauty in simplicity and the Initial representsjust that!ICD has a complete line of Initialsavailable (including Hebrew initialsfrom Israeli designer Nirit Berman) foryou to see. And if you don’t see yours,we can easily get it for you! As alwayswe look forward to assisting you!ICDFor those in the loupe,Varda & IleneContemporary Jewelry75 So. Greeley Ave.ChappaquaAdvertisementT I M E L E S S E L E G A N C E I N F I N E J E W E L R Y914-238-3646www.ICDjewelry.com10 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009S P E C I A L E V E N T S / H A P P E N I N G SUnited Way’s “Top Chefs” Eventa Scrumptious SuccessRandi J. Brosterman and Robert Hutchens ofMount Kisco, Co-Chairs of the Top Chefs ofNorthern Westchester event.More than 140 guests gathered at theMount Kisco Country Club on Tuesday,June 23rd to enjoy an epicureanevening of delicious specialty dishes,fine wines, and sumptuous dessertspresented by some of the best culinarytalents from the region. The “Top Chefsof Northern Westchester” featured awine tasting arranged by Mount KiscoWine and Spirits, and served as the celebratoryfinale affair for United Way ofNorthern Westchester’s 50thAnniversary (1959-2009).Co-Chaired by Randi J. Brosterman andRobert Hutchens of Mount Kisco, theevent was sponsored by the Mount Kisco Country Club, Mount Kisco MedicalGroup and White Plains Linen of Peekskill. Dr. Scott Hayworth, President andCEO of MKMG, Tony Sciullo of White Plains Linen, and Mr. Huessin Ali,Manager of Mount Kisco Country Club, were on hand to accept sponsorshipawards presented by Naomi Adler, Esq., President & CEO, United Way ofWestchester and Putnam, and Dr. John Pinckney, President of the United Wayof Northern Westchester board. Receiving special recognition and appreciationfrom United Way were Grace Bennett, publisher and editor of InsideChappaqua, and the Record Review’s editor, RJ Marx, and writer, Eve Marx.Guests were hard pressed to choose afavorite delectable edible as the offeringsranged from sea scallops with lemon grassto grilled vegetable and goat cheesenapoleons and everything in between! Thisyear’s participating Executive Chefs andrestaurants included Anthony Rubeo ofArmonk Lobster House (Armonk), KevinBertrand of Crabtree’s Kittle House(Chappaqua), Christine Tegtmeier ofHappiness Is (Greenwich), John-MichaelHamlet of John-Michael’s (North Salem),Andre Molle of Le Chateau (South Salem),Garand Alcin and Dominique A.J. Baptisteof Lexington Square Café (Mount Kisco),Luis Allaico of Piero’s II (Mount Kisco),Daniel Rubino of Restaurant 353 (MountKisco), and KarenMiller of ThreeDogs Gluten-Free Bakery(BriarcliffManor).For more informationaboutUnited Way ofWestchester andPutnam, pleasecall (914) 997-6700 or visitUnited Wayonline atwww.uwwp.orgGrace Bennett, Publisher of InsideChappaqua and 2008-2009 MediaSponsor for United Way of NorthernWestchester, and Margaret A. Tramontine,Senior Director, United Way ofWestchester and Putnam.

S P E C I A L E V E N T S / H A P P E N I N G SGreeley Senior Launches an Exchange Programwith Australia’s Carey Grammar SchoolThe Horace Greeley Foreign ExchangeClub is offering an exciting opportunityfor two incoming 9th graders toparticipate in an exchange programwith The Carey Grammar School inMelbourne, Australia. This is a 7-week direct exchange program wherestudents will live in each other’shouses. Chappaqua students will goto Australia the summer after theyhave completed 9th grade (2010). Twostudents from Melbourne will cometo Greeley during second semester(February 2010) for 7-weeks.Alec Sherman, the founder andPresident of the Foreign ExchangeClub, is a senior at Horace GreeleyHigh School. In 2005, just after he finished7th grade at Seven Bridges, hisfamily re-located to Melbourne,Australia for two years. Alec and hissiblings, younger sister Katie andyounger brother Tyler, attended CareyGrammar School during this time.Alec wanted to share his experienceat Carey--which taught him aboutthe differences and similarities ofbeing a student on the other side ofthe world--with other students inChappaqua and began the groundworkfor this exchange program afew months before he left Australiawith Ms. Crabtree, the head ofexchanges at Carey.Once the Board of Education approvedthe exchange program, the Lions Clubof Pound Ridge agreed to sponsor andorganize the exchange, as they areone of the worldwide leaders in youthand student programs.Carey is a private, co-educational,international day school. It is one ofthe few schools to offer not only theVictoria Certificate of EducationProgram (VCE)-- the standard highschool curriculum--but also theInternational Baccalaureate Program(IB) for students in the High School.The school has two academic campusesin Victoria, Australia.Carey’s reputation as one ofAustralia’s elite independent schoolsbegan when the school was foundedin 1923 and a tradition of academicrigor was established. Carey is aschool with over 2,200 children, witha broad based curriculum and anextensive co-curricular and pastoralcare program. For many years,Alec, Tyler and Katie Sherman at Carey inschool uniform in June 2007.Carey’s graduating class hasachieved results that placed theSchool in the top ten academicschools in the state of Victoria.Horace Greeley High School hasnever before participated in anexchange program. Unlike Greeley,Carey has been running exchangeprograms for many years and it is acrucial element of their 9th gradecurriculum. Destinations of theirexchanges include: London,Germany, Canada, France, India,China, New Zealand, and otherparts of Australia. They are veryexcited about hosting students fromGreeley and sharing their classes,activities and ways of life. Ms.Crabtree will be visiting HGHS inSeptember to observe the studentculture and classes, and to meet thetwo selected HGHS students. Shewill use this information to selectthe Carey students in order to havea successful exchange for all. AtCarey, there are over 50 applicantsfor these two spots.Alec summed it up by adding, "TheCarey families are eager to showstudents their country and introducethem to their culture, slangwords, specialty foods and scenicwonders. Most importantly, the students,faculty and families are nice,friendly, and welcoming.”If you are interested in the exchangeprogram or to get involved in theclub, please email Alec atHGHSForeignExchangeClub@gmail.com.Hot off the Press:Danielle Weinstein andChristopher Koster were the firsttwo Greeley students to be acceptedas exchange students at Carey!AdvertisementThe DNA (Dedication,Niche, Authenticity)of Sheila SiderowIn the fifteen years since Sheila Siderowfounded her real estate firm, she has differentiatedherself through dedication toher clients, created a niche boutique style,and earned the community’s trust with hertell-it-like-it-is authenticity. The celebrationof this DNA is evident in her company’snew name and new location: SiderowRealty Guild at 26 South Greeley Avenuein Chappaqua. At her award-winningwebsite www.siderow.com clients can easilyaccess all properties throughoutWestchester and Connecticut.Her dedication to clients is Sheila’s way ofreplicating the feeling of shopping atNeiman Marcus. “The way you are treatedat Neiman’s, the feeling that ‘someonecares about me by offering a higher levelof personal service’, that is what I havealways strived for with my clients.”Working with just a few brokers, handpickedby her and networking throughoutthe country, Sheila is involved in everydetail of every relationship, from personallymeeting each buyer and seller to offeringfree services that help ease the stressesof transition for clients. Siderow RealtyGuild offers sellers free “houselifts” by talentedstagers who tweak each home sothat it presents at its most crisp-and-cleanbest. Peace-of-mind is provided with freecleanup, pre-market inspections, and listsof painters, electricians and handymen.For buyers, Siderow’s commitment tomaking families happy is unprecedented.“These clients are becoming part of mycommunity and the place that I love,”Sheila says. Going above and beyond forSheila meant founding both theChappaqua and Pleasantville Parents Pre-School Associations; supporting AutismSpeaks and referring families with specialneedschildren to services and programs;founding and chairing her own Womanto-WomanNetwork to provide singlewomen with the resources, referrals andsupport they need after separation,divorce or loss of a spouse.Her straight talk, constant market analysisand unparalleled client care are the trademarksof Sheila Siderow’s DNA. She is atrue original in a world of sameness.September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 11

AdvertisementThe Eyes Have It...SummerVision:pring and summer are allergySseason. Pollen and ragweed addto the regular culprits of dust, mold,pollution and pet dander to makeitchy, watery, red eyes attack fullforce. Some contact lens wearerssuddenly find their lenses uncomfortable,blurred or hazy. Swellingunder the lids produces discomfortand sometimes pulls the lens upfrom the center of the eye causingblurry and double vision.Sometimes switching to a newbrand of contact lenses, or dailydisposable lenses can really make adifference. Changing the solution orcare regimen can also improvesymptoms. Many kids are going tocamp where hygiene and takingcare of traditional lenses is difficultand would benefit from daily disposablelenses.Summer also brings the chance tospend plenty of time outdoors.However, people who wear glassesmay find them a nuisance duringphysical activity as they can slip, fogup or just get in the way. Contact lensesare often a good remedy, but thosepeople who are wearing progressiveor bifocal spectacle lenses may findthat regular contacts limit their vision.They may wish to be able to read amenu, sign a receipt, shop, checkemail or even catch up on their summerreading. In the past bifocal softcontact lenses were of poor designand limited range. However, todaymany great options are available,depending on the needs of the individual.Multifocal (bifocal) contactlenses are easy to use and don'tdepend on looking through differentparts of the lens like with spectaclelenses. Monthly, daily disposable, andeven lenses that also correct astigmatismare used with very good results.We will work with you to treat yourallergies and find a contact lens thatworks for you...in all seasons.575 MAIN STREET • ARMONK, NY 10504273-7337S P E C I A LE V E N T S / H A P P E N I N G SSupport for Pace Women’s Justice Centerat Desires by Mikolay October EventShop the week of Oct 11th-17th to benefit a deserving local charity. The PaceWomen’s Justice Center provides free legal aid to victim’s of domestic violencein the Westchester area. Customer’s will receive 10% off all in stockitems with an additional 10% going to the non-profit Justice Center. Join uson the final day of the sale at our Chappaqua store for a benefit cocktailparty! Enjoy fine wine generously donated by WineEnthusiast.com and gourmethor’dourves. Fabulous gift bag given with every purchase.Parenting Center Expandsat Bet Torah Nursery SchoolBet Torah Nursery School expands its Parenting Center this fall with brand newclasses for moms, babies and toddlers. Fall classes include Bagels and Blocks,Mommy & Me Musically, Hands-on Holidays, Yoga Babies and Yoga Moms.Classes will be offered at Bet Torah Nursery School, 60 Smith Avenue in Mt. Kisco.Shari Harris, LCSW, and Barbara Brandfon will offer conversation, support anda morning of fun for parents and children (to 20 months) on Thursdays from9:30 to 10:30 in Bagels and Blocks. Shari will lead a discussion group formoms, while Barbara, a twos preschool teacher at Bet Torah, will supervise art,play, and toddler time.Pam Gittleman, Bet Torah Nursery School music educator, will lead Mommy& Me Musically on Friday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15. After learning newsongs and revisiting children’s favorites, children will share a special challahsnack making for a fun-filled morning for adults and children from six totwenty months.Carol Offman,experienced yogainstructor of allages, will lead YogaBabies for momsand infants four totwelve months onThursday morningsfrom 9:45 to10:30. Moms Onlyare invited to joinCarol for YogaMoms on Thursdaymornings from10:45 to 11:45.Parents signing upto meet other parentsand families,learn somethingnew, share a specialmorning withtheir children orjust relax are invitedto call 666-7595,extension 110, formore informationand registration orvisit the Bet Torahwebsite atwww.bettorah.organd click on EarlyLearning/TheParenting Center.Two Byram Brook Place, Off Rt. 22, Armonk, NY 10504Tel. 914.219.5045 • armonklaser.com12 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

SPECIAL EVENTS/HAPPENINGSCommunity Day—Saturday, October 3There’s something for everyone atCommunity Day. At this annual celebration,sponsored by the RotaryClub of Chappaqua, residents andmerchants, gather in one place tosocialize, learn and have fun.The event will be held onSaturday,October 3 from 11 a.m. to4 p.m. and takes place at theChappaqua Train Station plaza.Plans are in the works for morerides than ever, musical entertainment,and of course every kids’favorite, the fire trucks will be backagain. More than 50 exhibitionbooths staffed by local merchants,school organizations, fire and policedepartments, arts organizations,after-school programs, NCCTV, ameet and greet with local and perhapsnational politicians, cottoncandy and many other surprises arein store for you. There Town of NewCastle will feature an expanded“Green Alley,” with many ideas onhelping the environment. At theSustainability Advisory Board’sbooth, come by to see what you cando at home to reduce your carbonfootprint.Tell them yousaw it inInside ChappaquaAdvertorialNew Castle Community TelevisionReaches OutBy: Robert L. UngerNew Castle Community TV is the area’sultimate media venue to involve all residentsof our Town and surrounding communitiesin the expression of their own thoughtsand to provide a public forum for views nomatter how controversial or mundane. It isthe ultimate First Amendment vehicle andallows, indeed encourages, residents toexpress their views in an unfettered format.Individuals, community groups, Town andbusiness groups are all encouraged to participate.To quote from the station’s Mission Statement: “The mission of NCCTV is tostrengthen our sense of community… by promoting and facilitating community useof public access television… To accomplish its mission, NCCTV will actively seekthe participation of residents in its programming and operations by making availableinstruction in the use of video equipment, assisting in the development and productionof programs… and otherwise providing a structure in which residents can learn,create and develop ways to get involved in public access television.”Current shows range, for instance, from programs on Political issues, Theater, Cooking,Movies, Bridge, Crossword Puzzles, Library, Historical Society, and other community servicegroup programming, through interviews with local business owners and others whocontribute to our community. Programs which provide an outlet for those who do notordinarily have access to “mainstream” media is an important part of NCCTV’S mission.Government officials, ranging from local through state are also frequently interviewed. Asa vital community service, NCCTV broadcasts Town Board Meetings and other governmentprograms of interest to local residents. School Board meetings, school plays, concerts andother educational programs, so important to parents are broadcast on a regular basis. Infact NCCTV runs three stations, Public, Government and School, 24 hours a day, sevendays a week. No commercial TV network does that.New Castle Community Television welcomes and encourages all those who might wantto produce a television program (including seeing themselves on TV!) to participate. Itis fun, satisfying and it will get you involved with a “family” of nice and dedicated people.How to do it?Many people who would like to participate are “camera shy”, don’t know how to start orare otherwise reticent. Now New Castle Community Television will provide the toolsnecessary for anyone to get involved.This fall, NCCTV will be offering four courses as part of the Chappaqua ContinuingEducation program which will teach anyone interested how to do this and be at least as“professional” as those already participating. Perhaps more so! These four courses arejust one Saturday each. Take one or more and join NCCTV’s family.The courses ar e:Shooting a Professional VideoEditing a Video for YouTube and the Web.Mastering iMovie ‘09Become a Public Access TV ProducerInstructors ar e:Carrie Krams—Station Manger, NCCTVLyle Anderson—Former head of technology—News Corp./TV GuideDavid Wolfson—Professional Cameraman—ABC TV (Eyewitness News)Some of these course titles might seem slightly intimidating. Fear not. They are taughtby professionals but they are designed for members of the community, not for professionals.In fact, since the courses are new, several current producers plan on taking thesecourses in the fall to increase their skills. And if you want to join NCCTV’s family withoutthe courses, NCCTV will welcome you anyway.Be on the lookout for the Adult Education brochures, which will be mailed very shortly,unleash your creative juices and come join us in an exciting, fun, satisfying venture. Itmay very well be one of the best things you have ever done!Bob Unger, a long time Chappaqua resident and former senior vice president of Marketing forPfizer, Inc., is currently President of the Board of New Castle Community Television. He hastaught marketing courses at Pace University; he is married to Susan Ruth Unger and is a proudfather and grandfather to two grandsons.September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 13

Enrich Your Child’s Dayat World Cup Nursery School& KindergartenOur before and after school programs offerchildren ages 3-535 an opportunity to explore science,theater, music, dance, fitness, sports, letters,numbers, math and reading. All programs aredesigned to be fun so that your child is not onlylearning and building new skills…but enjoying the experience!Music & MovementFun & FitnessWrite OnRecipe for ReadingCreative KidsSports ClubTae Kwon DoABC & 123Little ScientistsTheatre WorkshopGym & MoreCall Now to Register! 914-238238-9267160 Hunts Lane Chappaqua, NY 10514www.worldcupschools.comExclusively At575 MAIN STREETARMONK, NY 10504273-7337Emmary Day Spa24 South Greeley AvenueChappaqua, New York 10514914 238-8830www.emmarydayspa.comMassage, Facials, WaxingBody TreatmentsNow offering HydraFacial,Winner 2009 Best of Westchester “Best Facial”Sunday and Monday 9am to 5pmTuesday thru Saturday 9am to 8pmWe carry and useDermalogica productsGift certificates available!14 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

The Making of Good(Even Great) TeachersInsights into Hiring, and Snapshots of Chappaqua EducatorsBY VICKI DE VRIESPHOTOS BY BILL BRAMSWIGRemember the esteemedBritish boarding schoolteacher in Goodbye, Mr. Chips or Anne Sullivan, whopatiently taught Helen Keller? Did you cheer for bandteacher Glenn Holland in Mr. Holland’s Opus or for mathteacher Jaime Escalante, whose story of turning gangmembers into math geniuses was chronicled in Standand Deliver? Their inspiring stories highlight the qualitiesthat make good teachers great.How does our own Chappaqua Central School Districthire good teachers with even greater potential? Whileeconomic realities have limited hiring this year to leavereplacements, the District is “still looking to hire thebest teachers from the pool—just as we always have,”according to Assistant Superintendent of HumanResources Tom Cardellichio. He and DistrictSuperintendent Dr. David Fleishman have offered theirinsight into the making of a good teacher:What makes a teacher great?Fleishman: Great teachers need both academic skillsand the ability to connect with kids emotionally. Theyalso have to be lifelong learners and keep up withchanges in society. Staying on top of the professionincludes keeping up with new research, acquiring newknowledge, and maintaining good relations with kidsand colleagues.Cardellichio: Intelligence is primary, as is “cognitiveempathy”—the ability to get inside a child’s head andfigure out what they know and don’t know. That’s differentfrom emotional empathy, which is also on any standardlist of what makes a great teacher.Certainly, teachers have to be compassionate. Also,there’s knowledge of subject. Those [four qualities] arehard to learn on the job, whereas pedagogical movesand techniques can be taught.What accounts for the District’s successfuleducational system?Cardellichio: One contributing factor is the culture ofrespect for education. Our students are motivated andwork hard, their parents value education, and thatallows teachers to do the work that they do. We alsospend a lot of time trying to hire good teachers andallow them to do good work. So, there’s a kind of synergisticeffect.What also distinguishes the District is the emphasis weput on actual performance. So, for example, when we’rehiring administrators, they spend a day with us observingclassrooms and talking about what they’ve seen.Teachers are asked to teach a lesson and then reflect onwhat they did.Fleishman: Virtually none of our teachers are new toteaching—less than 10%.What happens once a teacher is hired?Fleishman: Our goal is to foster the greatest successpossible with a multi-faceted approach to supportingour teachers. A staff development team works withteachers in their classroom. For example, we have a literacyconsultant who works with our elementary andmiddle-school teachers to give hands-on help and collaboratewith them.We’ve also hired a new staff developer to help teachersworking on the new math curriculum. Informal workgoes on all the time as teachers share ideas with eachother.Cardellichio: Some of our teachers new to the Districthave mentors in their first year. Also, teachers arealways taking in-service courses coordinated by DeputySuperintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. LynMcKay.How does the District evaluate hired teachersas part of the State-mandated tenure process?Cardellichio: We have an annual professional performancereview that evaluates teachers every four years,although it could be more often. In the interveningyears, teachers are involved in a self-evaluation process.And teachers who are not tenured are usually evaluatedby their principal three times a year.September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 15

Fleishman: Also, for already tenured teachers, we’ve putin place the Teacher Action Research Program. It allowstenured teachers to research a question about studentlearning in the classroom. All of these forms of evaluationtie into the idea that teaching is a craft thatrequires practice like anything else. The more practice ateacher has, the greater the likelihood that a teachercan get better and better.Individual teachers bring their own history and experienceto the table as well, making each class and classroomunique. The following six relatively new teachersreflect the high caliber of the Chappaqua educators andunderscore the high level of achievement in the District:If Indiana Jones needed a stand-in, HoraceGreeley High School social studies teacher Patrick Healycould apply. Last summer, he went on a 12-day trip toTurkey and then backpacked through Eastern Europe forseveral weeks. He shares his experiences with his students,tying them to historic people, places and events.“Teaching allows you to follow your passion, and thereare different things to do every day,” Healy said, notingthere’s “always something new to learn about history.”His easygoing enthusiasm about teaching history seemsto be infectious: “Students havetold me they noticed I reallyenjoy my job.”Healy expressed warm appreciationfor his Greeley colleagues.“You get the sensethat the teachers love beingthere, that this is an overwhelminglypopular placewith a lot of enthusiasm.” Andhe recalled that at least half ofhis students during the pastschool year thanked him or said,“Have a great weekend,” on their way outof class.“I was even invited to the Senior Prom,” he said, whichspeaks to Healy’s ability to relate to students, whom hedescribed as “amazing” and “eager to learn.” He valueshelping students make connections between currentand historic events. During the presidential campaign,for example, Healy took advantage of Internet resourcesto utilize in class.If given unlimited funds, Healy would make his classroom“a super-sized jet to fly my students and me allaround the world. After all, you can learn only so muchhearing about history. Actually touching the VietnamMemorial in Washington, D.C. and the engravings of allthe veterans who died, or seeing and smelling theSistine Chapel or breathing in the dust around the GreatPyramid” would truly bring history to life.change [cheynj] (v) to make the form, nature,content, future course, etc of (Kittle House)different from what it is or from what it wouldbe if left alone.Crabtree’sKittleHouseRestaurant & InnEleven Kittle RoadChappaqua New York 10514www.kittlehouse.comtwitter.com/KittleHouse914 666 804416 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

Few people have bottlefeda baby kangaroo inAustralia or studied mangroveforests in Kenya.Jessica Hermesch, sixthgrade science teacher atRobert E. Bell Middle School,has done both.“I love to be put into a new situationand learn from it,” saidHermesch. Wanting to travel aftercollege graduation, she obtained a planeticket and a work visa to New Zealand, followed byanother work visa to Australia. “Being in a different situationgot me thinking differently,” she explained. It wasin Australia that she began to see teaching as “a way tomaintain my connection with the things I love,” shesaid.Why science? “I grew up being in love with animals andtreating things nicely,” she explained, crediting her parentsfor instilling in her a respect for nature and theenvironment. Sixth-grade science, focusing on life, earthand physical science, was a natural fit. “I’ve always hada lot of curiosity about how things work.”Getting students to think for themselves is an importantpart of her teaching approach. “I love seeing kids perkup and get excited about a topic in science,” she said. “Iwant students to be independent thinkers and takeownership of their learning, to go beyond the textbookand apply their learning to the real world.” A case inpoint is her popular Forensics Crime Lab class, what shedubs “Chappaqua CSI.” Students tested synthetic bloodand matched what turned out to be a fellow classmate’sfingerprints.“I feel like I’m living my hobby,” said Hermesch, adding “Iwant to be the learner I want my students to be.” Overthe summer, she took a course on insects and climatechange at the Bronx Zoo. “It’s important to let kids seethat you’re learning,” she commented, adding that it’salso okay for them to see that teachers are people andpeople make mistakes.On a typical day the pastschool year, Sharra Jackson’sfirst-grade students at GrafflinElementary School studentssometimes called her “Mom”by accident. Their error didn’tupset Jackson, who notedthat “kids at this age need alot of patient nurturing.Every day, each one needsindividualized attention.”Jackson first aspired to be alawyer, but while a college internfor a family court judge, she had theopportunity to play with children in a daycare centerthe judge had created. “It was great seeing their eyeslight up because I was teaching them something,”Looking for aSynagogue to call your own?Ongoing learning opportunitiesinclude Introduction to Judaism andBeginning & Intermediate HebrewJoin Today!Contact us for details about membership incentives.Experience Jewish Community at Temple Beth ElProspective members welcome!(call for times & tickets)TEMPLE BETH ELOF NORTHERN WESTCHESTER September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 17

Jackson said. It clicked: she could make a difference byteaching kids. Even though she has eight years of teachingunder her belt (one in Chappaqua), Jackson stillfinds it rewarding and loves “seeing the proverbial lightbulb go on when a kid goes ‘Ohhh.’”Jackson has a no-nonsense approach to teaching—“weget our work done and then we have fun.” She helpedher first-grade class create their own set of rules andconsequences, which fostered a sense of communityand order, which she believes is indispensible. “Kidsneed rules—just like society,” commented Jackson.“Without rules, things can descend into chaos.”Jackson puts a premium on organization and neatness,reinforced as homework assignments in which studentsorganize their bedrooms or a drawer in their homes.Having an organized approach to life won’t guaranteesuccess, she said, but it will help students be “more aptto succeed.” She also stresses the development of independence.“A lot of things are done for children thatthey can do for themselves, but children need to be selfreliant,”Jackson said, adding that she always encouragesthem to keep trying when they say “I can’t” do something.And knowing the “type” of learner each student isenables Jackson to appropriately tailor lesson material.“I believe children are going to rise up to meet goals. I’mnot afraid to expect the best from my kids,” she said. “Ifyou have faith in them, it doesn’t matter what age theyare. They’re going to feel it. And they’re going to knowyou believe in them.”Renee Mattiello has wantedto be a teacher since she wasfive years old. The oldest childin a large family who enjoyedhelping younger siblings, sherelates well to primaryschool children, who are“eager to learn” and “eager tocome to class.”A Westorchard ElementarySchool fourth grade teacher,Mattiello said she loves “teachingyounger kids the fundamentals”and having the same studentsthe entire day. “Teaching is like no other job. You’re anurse, parent, friend, helper, besides instructor. I try toteach children as individuals, but they all need a hugevery day.”Mattiello chalks success up to clear expectations ofbehavior and academic goals. When children know whatis expected of them, they gain a sense of security. Herown high school government teacher influencedMattiello’s teaching philosophy, as he “taught from anotebook that was a compilation of ideas and basicknowledge” rather than from a textbook, lectured withinsight, made sure students knew what to expect andcommanded respect. “I try to create an environmentthat is similar,” she said.New Castle Physical Therapyand Personal Training is dedicatedto providing quality healthcare in aprofessional and compassionatemanner. We schedule one clientper hour to ensure superior serviceand optimal results. The clinic hasa welcoming atmosphere with stateof the art equipment. Our experiencedand knowledgeable staff is committedto helping you achieve yourrehabilitation and fitness goals.www.newcastlept.netAdam Pliskow MSPTMatthew MarucciMSPT, OCS, CSCS16 Schuman RoadMillwood, NY 10546914.488.5440Member of theHospital for Special SurgeryRehabilitation Network18 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

In addition, “no matter what their learning style is, I tryto make my students feel that they’re part of the classroomand that everyone matters,” Mattiello pointed out.Mattiello enjoys seeing her students accomplish goals,like her second graders’ PowerPoint presentationdescribing the life cycle of the frog. The activity demonstratedmastery of a science lesson and a new computerprogram, as well as gave students a sense of accomplishment.Similarly, classroom “publishing parties” celebratestudent writing. “Parents enjoyed being part oftheir children’s learning experience.”Taco, senorita, and sombreromay be commonplace words inour culture, but they signifymore to Dawn Stapleton, nowa second-year Spanishteacher at Seven BridgesMiddle School. She wants herstudents to appreciate thecultures that speak Spanish,not just to learn another language.Following one year of teachingat Seven Bridges, Stapleton creditsher “supportive department that’sbeen willing to share and be helpful,” she said. A collegeSpanish major with a minor in American Studies,Stapleton taught English while living abroad. After fiveyears of working in the sales and marketing departmentof an educational publishing company, she realized thatteaching would bring her loves together—working withchildren and helping them learn Spanish—so earned amasters degree.Stapleton described teaching as “an awesome professionand a great job experience, if you’re passionate aboutteaching, love being creative every day, love kids, andhave patience.” Learning another language also aids inEnglish grammar and vocabulary. “My students in generalare excited about learning,” she added, explainingthat she motivates them by incorporating art, music andliterature into her lessons. “I aspire to create fun activities”that are also “dynamic and interesting.” The wholepoint is to help her students know “how important it isto speak, understand, read and write another language,”as well as “to communicate with people who are differentfrom themselves.”This past school year, her seventh grade students studieda Mexican holiday called Dia de Los Muertos (Day of theDead), which celebrates the memory of loved ones. “Thisactivity gave them another perspective on how other culturesdeal with death,” explained Stapleton. This fall,fifth grade Spanish classes will, for the first time, meetfive days a week, enabling Stapleton and her fellow languageteachers to further expand their curricula.Stapleton believes that great teachers possess patience,flexibility, high expectations for students, a positive attitude,creativity, energy and the ability to simplify complexconcepts. She added that parental support makes aIce Cream Parlor Open Year Round!We also serve Only 8 andFrogurt Frozen YogurtSalads, wraps & sandwiches, made to orderCatering Specialists—we cater to your needsDine in our comfortable dining room or carry outVisit us Today914-238-069031 South Greeley AvenueChappaqua, New York 10514September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 19

ig difference in classroom success for both studentsand teachers alike. “Parents are the teacher’s strongestallies,” she said.Roaring Brook School thirdgradeteacher JennySteingruebner calls herself “apretty active person” indescribing her hobbies ofrock-climbing, hiking, biking,kayaking, skydiving andscuba-diving. Given thephysical rigors of teaching, itis a good thing thatSteingruebner has preparedherself so well.Being a teacher allowsSteingruebner to do all of the things sheloves—helping, encouraging and teaching kids who are“curious about the world and excited about learning,” shesaid. “Every child has strengths and the ability to succeed.I feel it is my job to build on the strengths of my studentsand create an environment in which kids want to learnand have confidence in their abilities.”Children learn best when they are “able to make senseof the world and construct their own understanding,rather than be dictated to,” she added. Steingruebneralso believes that a teacher is “responsible for contributingto the development of the whole child—social, emotionaland academic.”“No two students will ever be the same, nor will twoclasses,” she said, noting that teachers must get to knowtheir students and tailor teaching to student strengthsand needs. “I want my students to find their strengthsand soar and not ever reflect on what they can’t do.”Steinngruebner recalls that one of her own teachers“believed in me when I didn’t. He wouldn’t let me quitwhen I was down… and showed me the importance ofsetting a goal and sticking to it. I learned a lot aboutpersonal success from him.”Steingruebner likes incorporating computers and digitalcameras into the curriculum, allowing her students tocreate newsletters, literary magazines and PowerPointpresentations on a variety of topics to keep their motivationhigh. “It makes sense to teach kids safe ways to usecomputers and technology in our fast-paced, tech-savvyworld,” she added. Indeed, if given unlimited funds, shewould probably spend it on technology, specifically a laptopfor every student. She does not believe the 45 minutesof computer lab time the students receive eachweek is adequate to take advantage of the “amazingways they can use computers in their learning.”If there is anything Steingruebner would like more of,it’s time. “There’s not enough time in the day to doeverything I want to do.”VICKI DE VRIES is a freelance writer/editor and educator livingin Westchester County.MEYER & SPENCER LLPAttorneys at LawCharter Members of the Greater Chappaqua Chamber of CommercePRACTICE AREAS:ESTATE PLANNING: • Wills • Trusts • Business SuccessionESTATES: • Probate • AdministrationREAL ESTATE: • Purchases • Sales • Bank ClosingsELDER LAW: • Asset Protection • Crisis Planning• Medicaid/Nursing Home AdmissionsLITIGATION: • Commercial • Personal InjurySECURITIES: • Arbitrations in the NY Stock Exchangeand NASDCORPORATE: • Start-ups • Business Contracts27 S. Greeley Ave. • Chappaqua NY 10514 • 914-238-2860_______________________421 Route 6 • Mahopac NY 10541 • 845-628-0009www.meyer-spencer.comVisit our Web Site for valuable checklists for purchasing a home, selling a home, estate planning and elder lawMember of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys20 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

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Designing WomanBY MICHALL JEFFERSPHOTO BY BILL BRAMSWIGInterior Designer Brenda Kelly Kramer, hard at work in her kitchen.can’t imagine living in a house“Iwhere the kids aren’t allowed toclimb all over the furniture,” laughsBrenda Kelly Kramer. Far from thestereotype of the ultra intense, pretentiousinterior decorator of old, shedelights in creating homes that areas comfortable as they are beautiful.She understands that pulling togethera look that is both elegant andinviting can be stressful, and shestrives to put her clients at ease. “Itshould be fun,” is her motto.Her talent has been recognized bymajor publications. House Beautifulawarded her “Kitchen of the Month,”and touted her use of old wood andvintage marble (all found on theinternet) to create a new kitchenwith a classic country feel. She’sbeen featured in The New YorkTimes; and in two articles in BetterHomes and Gardens, with a third inthe works.Her background is equally interesting.Her mom is the great-greatgranddaughterof Vice President JohnC. Calhoun, the Southern firebrandwho’s mentioned in the movieAmistad. Another ancestor is Dr.William Drennan, the Irish poet whocoined the phrase “The Emerald Isle.”Her dad is British, a former RoyalNavy officer. He received an MBE22 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009from Queen Elizabeth II, whomBrenda got to meet in Bermuda.“I was very much influenced by thedécor of my childhood. I grew up ina beautiful 1920’s Tudor overlookingthe Hudson in Irvington. My dadstarted the collection of the DundeeMarmalade and stoneware containersdisplayed in my glass kitchencabinet. Our dining room chandeliercame from The Crown House, herein town; we also had an old brassone from Russia. So I grew up learningto appreciate antiques. Mymom, who has superb taste, is myrole model. I’m also inspired byJackie Kennedy’s style. I love thephotographs of her White Housebedroom; all blue except for a leopardthrow on the chaise.”Never one to be stuffy or predictable,Brenda has learned tomake designing a treasure hunt. “Ilove to explore and to research tofind exactly the right piece. Thosemarble countertops were from theUniversity of California at Berkeley;the flooring is from a barn inupstate New York; the subway tile,which is cracked and worn, comesfrom Bucks County. On the top ofthe kitchen island is karri woodfrom Australia.. It’s totally practical,since it came already full of holesand scratches, and looks like a bigslab of Hershey’s chocolate.”With her keen eye, Brenda findsgreat deals others might overlook.“The green step stool was $5 at aChappaqua tag sale. The kitchenstools are from Calhoun’s. When therestaurant went out of business, Iasked the owner if I could buythem. He gave them to me, andeven delivered! The dishtowels arefrom an estate sale, as is the rattanporch furniture. I did the reweavingmyself, from a picture I have in abook. My petite chaise was beingthrown out by a neighbor. I scour E-bay, and even found the originaladvertisement for our neighborhooddevelopment, which I had framedfor the kitchen. Remember, you canalways have a lamp rewired, andhave furniture reupholstered. Thethrill is in the hunt!”Brenda and her husband have livedin Chappaqua since 1990. They’reonly the second owners of theirhouse, which was built in 1931. It’shere they’re raising their six boys,who range in age from fifteen toyear old twins. In addition to bei ngan avid gardener, Brenda is also acompetitive tennis player, an artist,a model, and an accomplished figureskater. To say that she’s blessedwith super-high energy is an understatement.Brenda’s enthusiasm is contagious,and she’s happy to share her tips forsuccessful decorating. Do: As muchas possible, think of different waysto use what you already have. Beingcreative can save you a lot of money.Then, fill in with new things. Mix itup. I have priceless antiques and tagsale items. Every found piece has astory, and this makes for good conversation.Invest your money ingood furniture. You can alwaysrecover later to follow trends. Pick afocal point of the room, such as afireplace or bay window, and workfrom there. Pick colors that you love,but save a favorite as an accentcolor. That way, it will really pop.Pick fabric and paint colors beforeany major purchases; then, be certainthat the rugs, draperies, andfurniture coordinate. Repeat patternsin a room, and then use themin other areas of the house to tie itall together. Consider painting afloor; this is a good way to give abreezy, informal look. I used taupe inContinued on page 24

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my sunroom, to make it feel like abeach house. Make sure each roomhas a good flow.Don’t: Make unnecessary changes ina home you’ve just bought. Livewith it for awhile, to determinewhat you really need to do. Hastemakes waste! Get talked into somethingyou hate, thinking that you’lllearn to love it later. Pick your paintcolor only from a small chip, or buylarge quantities of paint withoutfirst trying it on a wall. Better topaint a small section first, and see ifit works. Blow a lot of money onBUETI BROTHERSB U I L D E R SNew HomesAdditionsAlterationsDesign/BuildEstablished 1949 in New Castle241-1117trendy items. If it’s not in yourbudget, don’t buy a $1000Dransfield & Ross feather pillowwhen you can get a similar stylefrom TJ Maxx for $50. Hug the wallswith the furniture. Instead, createconversation areas; employ endtables and lamps in pairs. Let someoneelse’s vision overtake your own.If you love bold colors, use them.Worry about dents or spots; thesemake a home feel lived in.When do you need to hire a decorator?When you have no idea how tostart the process. When you needprofessionalexpertise to putthings together.And, of course,when you want towork with someonewho knowswhere to geteverything, andwho can oftenbuy items at adiscounted price.Even Brenda hasgoofs, and she’squick to admitthem. “Nothing is perfect, and neitherare we. I bought a beautifulwhite and green needlepoint rug forour family room. Within 15 minutes,it was covered in juice stains.What was I thinking? I got a cheapwool remnant instead, and itworked just fine. I also made a mistakeusing expensive cushions formy kitchen chairs and stools. Theygot totally trashed!”It’s this easy going attitude and abilityto find just the right fix for any homedecorating problem that has madeBrenda Kelly Kramer so appreciatedand sought after as a designer. That,and the fact that tackling even themost daunting project with Brendais just plain fun. For contact info, goto www.brendakellykramer.comIn addition to her writing as a CulturalJournalist, MICHALL JEFFERS’ eponymouscable TV show, featuring celebrity interviews,reviews, and commentary, is seenthroughout the tri-state area.She can be reached at michalljeffers@optonline.net; website:www.michalljeffers.com. Open allUgg Boots • Vineyard VinesLabor DayNorthface • Tommy Bahama weekendQuicksilver • TimberlandAdidas • NikeLevi/Dockers • Merrell • JansportSaucony • RainbowTeva • BirkenstockReef • Puma • New BalanceSpyder • CrocsMinnetonka • FryeVolcom • Keen SandalsArc’Teryx • Prana • HunterJ41 • XCVIwww.squiresny.comChristopher Blue Stretch Jeans for WOMEN!Check outourwebsiteBack to School24 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

Crazy About Haynes...A poignant little book delves deep into oneChappaqua mom’s struggle with bipolar illnessBY MICHAEL KOHNPHOTO BY MICHELLE HECHTQuite frankly, I had no ideawhat to expect when I setout to interview a selfdescribed“crazy” person.After reading Janine CrowleyHaynes’ “My Kind of Crazy—Living in a Bipolar World,” ananecdotal guide to her experienceliving with mental illness,my head was buzzingwith preconceived notionsand memories of the “crazy”people I had encountered inmy life. When I finally satdown to coffee with her, I metone of the most centeredpeople with whom I haveever been acquainted. Somuch for personal bias!“My Kind of Crazy”* tracksHaynes’ experience in a psychiatrichospital following asuicide attempt. Interspersedthrough this intense and personalnarrative are accountsfrom her childhood, the progressionof her disease, andpoignantly, a chapter writtenby her son about his experienceliving in his mother’sbipolar world. Nevertheless,side by side with the pathos,the book is laced with humor. “Ihave my mother to thank for that,”notes Haynes.To those in despair, Haynes offersthat “there is light at the end of thecrazy tunnel. Even if it takes a longtime, there is hope. Even if you can’tget out of bed anymore, it will getbetter.” The road to healing, accordingto Haynes, begins first and foremostby dismantling the stigma andshame associated with mental illnessas “you let go and accept it andown it and deal with it.”Haynes did not fully anticipate thepersonal growth she experienced intelling her story along with the outpouringof affection and empathyfrom family and friends that commenced.“It opened up lines of communication,”she said. “It made merealize how much my husband andson had to deal with taking care of asick wife and mother.” In addition,Haynes finds herself reveling in hernew found role as the “go to” friendfor those struggling with their ownmental health issues. “I love thatpeople are able to feel comfortableenough with me that they are able toshare their own struggles,” she notes.And writing the book trumped therapytoo! “I hate to say it, but [writing]it was better than any therapist.Still, I want to give them theirdue,” she says. Her son’s contributionshelped promote family dialogue.“He’s funny,” saysJanine. “He can joke about itnow. That’s where the healingcomes in. Laugh at thefunny parts and cry at thesad parts.Her best advice for gettingbetter? Antitheticallyenough...embracing the illness.“You own it. You askyourself—what do I have todo to fix it? I had to sink to areal low before I had thatepiphany.”During the hour or so I spentwith Janine Crowley Haynes,I learned a lot about what“crazy” is and what “crazy”doesn’t have to be. She jokedthat during her manic phases,she would call herselfMother Nature, thinking thatshe could control the weather.Before I left, I drew a pictureof the earth and pointedout that our world has twopoles. I guess you could saythat we are all living in abipolar world.In a world where so manypeople seem to be writingmemoirs about their personal strugglesand tragedies, Haynes distinguishedherself from the crowd bynot leaving me with the suspicionthat she had written a book just toget on “Oprah,” the way so manyseem to do. Rather, I was left withthe feeling that she wrote the bookand just put it out there forwhomever it might help. She wasparticularly proud that the book wasslowly seeping into the psychiatriccommunity and has been used as atool in education. “My Kind of Crazy”is sure to touch and entertain you.MICHAEL KOHN is a contributing editor toInside Chappaqua Magazine.*See Excerpt on page 26.September/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 25

STEFFI NOSSEN SCHOOL OF DANCE Performing Groups For information:914-328-1900www.steffinossen.orgKIDS’ NIGHT OUTOpen to the CommunityWorld Cup Gymnastics offersKids’ Night Out on Saturday nights from6:00—10:00 pm for children ages 3-12.Children enjoy many fun and excitingactivities in our big and little gyms. There istumbling, obstacle courses, dance, music,trampoline fun, themed projects, movietime and special activities every night.Unlimited pizza, water, juiceand ice pops are served!The UltimatePlaydate! Pizza MoviesGamestrampoline arts/craftsCall Now to Register!914-238238-9267160 Hunts Lane Chappaqua, NY 10514www.worldcupschools.comExcerpt from My Kind ofCrazy – Living in aBipolar World by JanineCrowley HaynesThe psychotic mind isan interesting thing.The term losing yourmind is quite fitting.You actually lose controlof your thoughtprocess. Once thathappens, it is hard totrust your ownthinking. I knew mythoughts were notright. My thoughtswere scrambled,and I made nosense when Ispoke. When you’re psychotic,it is a constant battle between the rationaland the irrational, an endless deciphering of the realand the unreal, a never-ending struggle to determinewhich voices are the voices that are only in yourhead.Sometimes psychosis gives way to beautifulthoughts and visions. Other times, it produces horrific,nightmarish images and feelings. Looking backon my first psychotic episode, I experienced all ofthe above. I was seeing things, hearing things, andfeeling things that weren’t really there. Seeing angelwings attached to my son’s back was a more pleasingvision than when I saw my husband wearing hisbrain on the outside of his cranium. Hearing a lyricalsymphony triumphs over the cacophony of voicesin your head that tell you, you do not deserve tolive. “It could make your skin crawl” is a commonphrase that people use to describe something repulsive.I wonder if that saying has a psychotic origin. Iprefer the feeling of fresh, clean water running allover my body to the feeling of spiders crawling allover me, but, unfortunately, I don’t get to choose.Reprinted with permission of the author.26 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

Piecing together BarlowIn his engaging new book, a former Greeley studentuncovers a recluse teacher’s life long giftsBY MICHAEL KOHNWithout a doubt, any person who valuesthe importance of a qualityeducation can look back and name atleast one teacher who was an importantinfluence in life. Most of us can rememberthat one great teacher we considereda treasured gift without whom we wouldnot be the people we are today. So when Iwas asked to interview Lawrence Meyersabout his biography of Edwin Barlow, whotaught mathematics at Horace Greeley for35 years, my first reaction was less thanenthusiastic. Okay, so some former studentwrote about his favorite teacher. Ithought I would read a couple of chaptersto get a feel for the book so I could conducta coherent interview. However, whenI picked the book up, I couldn’t put itdown. For anyone who has ever loved ateacher, “Teacher of the Year—TheMystery and Legacy of Edwin Barlow” is amust read.More remarkable than merely crafting an excellentbook, Meyers, now a television writer/producer andentrepreneur, had almost no facts about Barlow’s lifeupon which to write other than the school memories ofstudents and Barlow’s teaching colleagues. When Barlowdied, he left no written record, had almost no possessionsand had severed contact with his family decadesearlier. He never married and had no children. His was atruly monastic life without close friends. The man wastotally defined by his vocation—he was a teacher.According to Meyers, Barlow was influenced by the “categoricalimperative” of Immanuel Kant and the teachingsof Aquinas. The fundamental thrust of Barlow’s lifewas finding God, not so much in the religious sense, butin discovering one’s true self and one’s true mission inlife. By using reason and intellect, the gifts given to himby God, Barlow found his mission, his vocation—teaching;and devoted his life to becoming the most perfectteacher he could be. Teaching became his sacred duty.Meyers deftly assembles the missing pieces of the jigsawpuzzle that was Barlow and constructs a portrait whichleads us to an understanding of what made this mysteriousman tick, including the underpinnings of his controversialteaching methods, which often included beratinghis students. Without sugarcoating the potential damagethat may have caused some, Meyers portrays a man whobelieved it was his duty to impart his knowledge to hisstudents, to make them understand that education isnot a choice, but a serious business.I asked Meyers if he found any irony inthe fact that he learned so many importantlife lessons from a recluse. “In lookingover how he ran his classroom,instruction was self-directed. He empoweredstudents to come to conclusionsand make those final conclusions ontheir own. For example, he never reallysaid he was available for afterschoolhelp. If you had the fortitude, you couldgo. He would be there. You would receivethe award of enlightenment if you went,”said Meyers. For Barlow, mathematicswas life; one equation, one solution.Meyers raises as many questions as heanswers. Perhaps this is the legacy ofEdwin Barlow. The enigma and mysteryof this “teacher of the year” will surelymake you think.MICHAEL KOHN is a contributing editor atInside Chappaqua Magazine.Excerpt from Teacher of the Year:“What is that?”Mister Barlow’s voice shatters the customary silenceof his classroom. The muscles in each student’sbody seize. Breaths are held. Only the second handof the clock above the door defiantly presses on,each successive “tick” raising the level of suspense.A student is frozen at the blackboard, chalk firmly inhand, just completing the end of a diagonal line separatingtwo numbers (presumably a fraction). The onlymovement comes from a vein pulsing in his neck.The clock powers on.Tick, tick, tick.Snap!The force of student’s tensed musclecleaves the chalk at its center,sending a cloud of microparticlesfloating past the board.“It’s a fraction?” the student says.“That is not a fraction, Mr. Jones!Do you know why it is not a fraction”?The student replies that, “it isone number over another andthat makes a fraction.”Excerpt continues on next pageSeptember/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 27

CATHY HAIR& Co. Day SpaStart the school yearoff right with anew look!All students, come intoCathy Hair & Companyfor Color or ScruplesBlazing Highlights anda haircut, and receive$20 off($5 off a haircut only).Stop by and nourish yoursun-kissed skin with aBody Scrub and Facial.Keep an eye out for ourmassage therapistCOMING SOON!Don't forget about your nailswhile you're in!101 Bedford Road (Rt. 117)Chappaqua, NY 10514914-238-2301Mon-Sat 9-6www.cathyhairdayspa.comMister Barlow’s rubbery face contorts with anger.The edges of his mouth tighten and the bellowingcommences, the tirade slicing across the room, certainwords especially enunciated to have the maximumeffect.“No, it isn’t, you vegetable! A fraction consists of anumerator separated from a denominator by a horizontalline whose length does not exceed the width ofeither number written! What you’ve written couldbe mistaken for any number of things!”Mister Barlow punctuates his oration with a firmquotation, jabbing his finger at the student from theback of class, emphasizing every single word. . ..• • •Mister Barlow is a short, oddly built man with a roundtorso. His disproportionately short limbs give his heada more imposing appearance, characterized by anunusually broad forehead framed by a long, brushedbacksilver mane—such that the midpoint of his faceis at the eyebrow line. He carries intense eyes, lowmountedears, and distinctively sculpted lips thatrarely lift into a smile (in the classroom anyway).He shuffles through campus with a slight limp, hissomnambulistic stare fixed straight ahead. Healways wears ancient, thin trousers and a navy-blueparka. A piece of one ear is missing.Every student cuts a wide swath for Mister Barlow.He never alters his pace and the students never,ever, bump into him. Unlike other teachers who areboth openly and secretly subject to ridicule, MisterBarlow is untouchable—literally and figuratively.The myths surrounding Mister Barlow are the stuff ofa Grimm fairy tale. They say he was in World War I.They say he was in World War II and his ear was shotoff. They say he was in Korea and had his balls blownoff. They say he’d been in World War I, World War II,and Korea and had part of his ear and his balls blownoff. They say he’d lost his wife and children in a carcrash. Others say it was a house fire. Others saythey’d been murdered. They say he lives at theschool, that he sleeps above the rafters in the auditoriumor in the nurse’s office or in his car. They say hesleeps at his classroom desk. They say he doesn’tsleep, ever. They say he lives in Mount Kisco, inKatonah, in Bedford Hills, in Boston, in Portugal. Theysay he is a vampire. They say he rises every nightalong with the Headless Horseman in nearby SleepyHollow cemetery. They say he is Horace Greeley himself,that he is Methuselah, that he is Elvis.Nobody knows for certain. Mister Barlow exertsgreat effort, it is said, to protect his privacy. Nobody,however, knows why.Reprinted with permission of the author.Meyers, Lawrence. Teacher of the Year—The Mysteryand Legacy of Edwin Barlow (H.H. & Sons, 2009)Catch up with Lawrence Meyers on October 10,2 pm-4 pm, at the New Castle Community Centerfor a free reading and book signing.28 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

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N O WHealthy Picks from Around TownSTORY AND PHOTOBY CAROL WASSERMANCeviche de Pescado at Don Emilio at Lobos Cafe.Clients always ask me, whatshould I eat when I go out?Losing weight (or simply learning toeat better for health reasons) doesn’tmean you have to give up yourfavorite restaurants. I counsel peopleall day long on how to loseweight and keep it off. The first stepis learning to eat better. The goodnews is that doesn’t mean you haveto cook all your meals at home orforgo dining out. Chappaqua hassome fantastic restaurants, whichI frequent often; and here are mytips for a healthy (and fun!) night onthe town.It’s hard to find a healthier restaurantthan one which uses organicand local produce; offers naturallyraisedmeats and poultry, andserves wild seafood. Crabtree’s KittleHouse does just this.Glenn Vogt, a partner, gushes abouthis new all-organic salad. It’s called:Vegetables, Fruits, Leaves, Nut andHerbs. This is as healthy as it gets;and Vogt says it’s really fun to eattoo! It’s a play on cooked and raw,hot and cold, creamy and crunchy.Also try the light and fresh, linecaughthalibut entrée which is theKittle House’s way of supportingenvironmentally-conscious fisheries.Don Emilio at Lobo’s Café is the newMexican place smack in the centerS E R V I N Gof town. It’s a bustling, fun spot withauthentic food. I like to start with amargarita, rocks, no sugar or salt.It’s a bit tart and only a bit sweettoo. A real kick in the pants! It’s somuch healthier than your traditionalsugar and salt-laden one. Then, Igo for the guacamole—more “guac”and less chip with every bite. I bombardeach chip with as much vitamin-packedavocado goodness as itcan withstand. Or sometimes, I justask for a spoon to replace my chip!Don Emilio, the proprietor, recommendsthe Ceviche de Pescado (redsnapper or scallops marinated inlime juice with vegetables). And foran entrée, try the Huachinango a laVeracruzana, a baked red snapper ina special tomato sauce. It’s servedover rice, but you can ask for vegetablesinstead; they are happy tooblige.Mmmmmm—Italian! Grappolo’s andVillarina’s are your best bet. Italiansdo vegetables really well. A soup,salad, and side of greens (spinach,broccoli rabe, string beans, etc.) isone of my favorite healthy meals. AtGrappolo’s, I always start with a sideof broccoli rabe, which I order formy appetizer. It’s really good andvery healthy. You can probably getyour daily calcium requirementfrom their generous portion. Greensare chock full of calcium, didn’t youknow? Then, I move on to theirappetizer of P.E.I. mussels, and finally,the roasted beet and arugulasalad. They also have the most deliciouswines by the glass and acreamy bean dip to have with yourbread in place of butter.Mmmmmm.Gail and Patrick’s Café in the centerof town has a lot of salad and vegetableoptions. I like to go for dishesthat include whole grains. Wholegrains will fill you up for hours onfew calories and they are packedwith nutrition, including antioxidants!Some good choices includeCajun Shrimp and Barley and Wild RiceOrzo. Either of these paired with acouple sides of veggies make for aspectacular meal. Try Carrots andShallots, Lemon Herb Asparagus,Green Beans Almondine andBroccoli Rabe.Le Jardin offers some wonderfulsalad options, including a TunaNicoise with freshly grilled tuna anda salmon salad with both poachedand smoked salmon. One of thesesalads paired with an appetizer ofsautéed shrimp would make for asatisfying and healthy meal.Steamed mussels is a nice choicefor an entrée, but ask for a side ofvegetables in place of the fries. Ortry the roasted sole. They also serveomelets for breakfast and lunch.I order mine without the cheese.Here are a few final tips for healthyrestaurant ordering. It’s usually easyto replace a side of French fries orwhite rice with steamed vegetables,a baked potato or brown rice. Forthe most nutrition, start your mealwith a salad or soup made with lotsof vegetables and/or beans. I willalso order a side of vegetables withmy meal, but if it ends up being toomuch food, I will finish the vegetablesand take the leftover entréeportion home for lunch the nextday. And finally, sometimes, I won’teven accept the breadbasket so I’mnot tempted to eat from it!Carol Anne Wasserman is a holistichealth counselor specializing in permanentweight loss via the use of whole,natural, and organic foods. She lives inChappaqua and has a healthy cookingshow on local public television calledGet Healthy With Carol. For more informationor to sign up for Carol’s HealthyLiving Newsletter, please visitwww.GetHealthyWithCarol.com.30 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

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I N S I D ET H O U G H T SREINVENTION:It’s Just What The Doctor OrderedBY MARA WEISSMAN“A desk is adangerous place fromwhich towatch the world.”—John le CarreThere is an ad for jelly featuringtwo boys, around 10 and 12years old, walking a bike along aroad. The younger one says to theother “Nobody has ever asked mewhat I want to do when I grow up.”The older, and perhaps wiser boyreplies, “That’s because your nameis Smucker.”Most of us do not have a family businessto join nor did we enjoy thecomfort, as kids, of knowing exactlywhere and for whom we would workwhen we were adults. Now that weare grown up, we are in the midst ofdoing whatever it is we chose as acareer for several decades. Ideally, weare pretty good at whatever it is thatwe are doing. Over the last decade,as members of the work force wehave experienced employability, seniority,tenure longevity, performancemeasurability and mobility. Today,with unemployment at 9.5%, a 25year high, words like expendability,outsourced, and right-sized haveentered our everyday vocabulary.The Future Of Work, a piece in arecent issue of TIME magazine,reported that changes in work/lifetrends, the growth of high tech,changes in employee benefits, environmentalism,the influence ofwomen in the workplace, Boomers,Gen-Xers, Gen-Yers, and the continuingobsolescence of Americanmanufacturing, will yield “…a moreflexible, more freelance, more collaborativeand far less secure workworld.” This is our wake up call.Reinvention is a necessity but canbe a daunting task for those on thesame path for so long.So where do we start? Say youare a lawyer. You don’t want togive that up and become alandscape architect. Riskaverse by nature, few lawyerswould choose this path. Youmay choose to develop a newarea of expertise. Take continuinglegal education courses,read everything you can, takesomeone to lunch and pick hisbrain. Can you transition from aworker bee to a rainmaker? Yes youcan but you need a game plan thatincludes a day at the spa or golfingwith your rolodex.If the risk of extinction is imminentfor you, here are TenCommandments to follow:■ Think big and outside the box. Beopen to change.■ Picture yourself doing what youwant to do next.■ Understand that EDUCATION iskey; you will have to be open tolearning a new business languageand new substantive information■ Seek out people in your new fieldof interest. Use every contact youcan think of and go for the “ask.”■ Obtain work experience relevantto your new field of interest. Youmay have to be an intern or workfor free until you get your degree,license or client base.■ Be willing to take a back seat,management-wise.■ Manage your expectations.Change takes time.■ Find a mentor.■ Think about your passions in life.Try to parlay those into a newway to earn a living.■ Understand that you own yourcareer and the choice is yours,nobody else’s.Reinvention can be scary, particularlyif it involves a financial compromise.I recently launched my ownHuman Resources legal, operational,and strategic consulting business soI know first hand what it requires. Ido business development by dayand client work at night, I am the ITand accounting departments, andknow that new business is everywhere.It’s different from my formerprofessional life but it’s what I setout to do. Understanding thisstrange new workplace, identifyingyour passions, anticipating the nexttrend, and mastering the art of networkingare the keys to a successfulreinvention. What have you got tolose?MARA WEISSMANN, Esquire is President ofWISE HR Strategies LLC and Founder ofSecond Shift, an educational events andnetworking organization for careerwomen. She is a practicing attorney andadvises on employment issues and strategies(mara@wisehrstrategies.com;www.wisehrstrategies.com).32 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

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G O T T A H A V E A R T SArt In Cantonese And SpanishBY MICHALL JEFFERSPHOTO BY MICHELLE HECHTArtists Grace Lam Chui and Marie Lou Ortiz display their work.There is no better example of both the rich culturaldiversity of Chappaqua, and the exceptional talent ofNew Castle artists, than the current exhibition at theChappaqua library.The much sought after Gallery is booked solidly for thenext two years. So when Library Director PamelaThornton and Curator Larry D’Amico recently received arequest to exhibit the artwork of two gifted local artists,they voiced their approval, and decided to display thepaintings on the walls of the library itself. The strikingpictures vividly showcase the ethnic backgrounds ofMarie Lou Ortiz, who is of Puerto Rican descent, andGrace Lam Chui, who was born and raised in Hong Kong.The artwork, with subtitles in Spanish or Cantonese, isespecially interesting when seen in juxtaposition. As anartist, Chui is balanced, disciplined, and precise. Thewarm colors and sensual style of Ortiz is vibrantlyLatina. Chui’s work features a lot of “negative space,”area purposely left blank, while Ortiz fills her canvaseswith detail. Shown together, they form a complementarydynamic.While there were challenges involved in hanging the displayin the limited venue, the artists were in goodhands. Thornton has performed the Herculean task ofmaking everything run smoothly at the library complexsince 2007; D’Amico is an acclaimed artist in his ownright, with impressive credentials as a Curator. Theystate their credo, “We respect the artists and the work.We’ve done this many times, and our goal is to show thepaintings off to their best possible advantage in thespace available.”While paintings often have to be framed to be presentedproperly, in the case of Chui’s Chinese brush and inkhanging scrolls, “That would go against tradition,”explains D’Amico. As for Ortiz’s oversized work, framingwould be prohibitively expensive, and the outer edgesare painted instead.The result of this careful consideration is an art showthat is both educational and a delight to the eyes.Ortiz’s signature piece, 1950’s Adjuntas Plaza, is particularlyevocative. In the artist’s words, “This is the park inPuerto Rico where my mother, Maria Magdalena Aviles,played as a child. While I prefer to work in pastels, this isdone in acrylic, as is Tanama, which shows the mountainsof my mom’s barrio, or district. I created it especiallyfor this exhibit; I was inspired by the zinc roofs, andthe healthy atmosphere of the area. The challenge inworking on large canvases with acrylic is that you mustmake choices and work very quickly, because it dries sofast. Also, the scope must be taken into considerationwhen conceiving the image, as I do when I’m working ona mural. Historical accuracy is very important to me, andI do a lot of research before I ever begin, to make sureeverything you see is faithful to the period.”Ortiz reflects, “Puerto Rican art and culture are a mixtureof many influences from very different groups: thenative Indians, the Taino; the Spaniards, who conquered;and the Africans who were brought there as slaves. I’vebeen to Puerto Rico many times to visit relatives. Islandstyle, which is slower and more colorful, is so differentfrom the way we live here on the mainland. It’s hard toexplain, so I try to convey this feeling through my paintings.”The first one to recognize and encourage Ortiz’s talentwas her teacher, Sister Celeste, so it’s not surprising thatOrtiz is a dedicated teacher herself, and uses her gift toenrich the lives of her own students.To the Western eye, the long panels created by GraceLam Chui look simple, elegant, effortless. In fact, theyare the result of ten years of study with a very demandingMaster Artist in Chui’s native Hong Kong. “In Chinesebrush and ink work, no mistakes are allowed,” explainsChui. “Every imperfection means the work must beimmediately destroyed, and the artist must start over34 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009

from the beginning No sketching ahead of time isallowed; it’s all done freehand. The rules are very strict: apicture must be completed in one sitting, only one brushmay be used, and the painting must always be done on aspecial type of rice paper. When you are looking at thiskind of art, which is formally called Hanging Scroll, Inkand Color on Paper, what you are seeing is most likelythe result of a dozen previous tries.” D’Amico understandsthis well, and adds, “It’s not unusual for a studentto spend an entire year learning to draw a single line.”Chui continues, “There are four major areas of culture inwhich all Chinese ladies are expected to be accomplished,in order to marry well: music, calligraphy, chess,and painting. Chinese painting uses colors found innature and the Earth; for example, the red will comefrom reddish sand. Hong Kong is unique because we aresteeped in the ancient traditions of China, and alsoinfluenced by contact with the West. Watercolor is veryWestern, and has become quite popular. One of myscrolls features a saying which is used in both Chineseand English: Grow where you’re planted. I created thisjust before I left for America.”This beautiful exhibit, which underscores how much isadded to the culture of the town by inhabitants of differentheritages, colors, and faiths, will run throughSeptember 20th.MICHALL JEFFERS and her husband, John Warner, have lived inChappaqua so long, they remember when there was only onelocal place to eat Chinese food, and no Hispanic restaurants atall. Michall can be reached at michalljeffers@optonline.net;website: www.michalljeffers.com.Fine Mexican Cuisine& Warm Hospitality57-59 King StreetChappaqua, NY 10514Ph. (914) 238-2368Fax: (914) 238-2369donemilioatloboscafe.comEDonEmilioNo1@aol.comHappy HourHalf Price DrinksMon-Fri, 4 pm-7 pmNew CastleCommunity Sing2009/2010SeasonMusic Inspiredby PoeSaturday, October 17,2009 at 8:00 pmChappaqua LibraryAuditoriumChappaqua Chamber SeriesAll year at the Chappaqua LibrarySaturday, December 5, 2009 at 3:00 pmBell Middle School AuditoriumTim Fain/Edward Arron inBrahm’s DoubleSunday, May 23, 2010 at 3:00 pm914-921-4642www.chappaquaorchestra.orgSeptember/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 35

G O T T A H A V E A R T SBeyond the RavenBY SARAH ELLEN BERMANThe raven will soar atthe ChappaquaLibrary during October.October 4 will be the kickofffor Chappaqua GoesPoe, a month of eventsinspired by Edgar AllanPoe. Countless works ofart, ranging from literatureto music, reflect Poe'swork and many of themwill come to light this fall.Chappaqua Goes Poe isbeing spearheaded byJoan Kuhn, the library'sCultural ProgrammingSpecialist. The librarydecided to highlight anauthor this fall and subsequentlychose Poe. Hiswork is particularlyappropriate for the timearound Halloween. It hasbeen described by WaltWhitman, in his essay, The Significance of Edgar Poe, ashaving a, "demoniac undertone behind every page." Inhis short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Poewrote, "He is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, hieroglyphics;exhibiting in his solutions of each a degree ofacumen which appears to the ordinary apprehensionpraeternatureal." Many puzzles will be presented at thelibrary in various forms; ranging from the literary to aspecially designed crossword puzzle by Stan Kurzban,Library Board President.Kuhn related that her goal of getting, "everybodyinvolved" is well on its way to being accomplished.Everyone is, "bending over backward," to assist her ininsuring the success of the events. Merchants will advertisethe programs and the local schools are discussingincorporating Poe in the curriculum. The staff will donblack garments and wear black nail polish. The BruceMuseum is lending their preserved raven to enhance theeerie atmosphere.For the kick-off day, Kuhn has assembled a stellar lineupof people to read selections from Poe's work. TownSupervisor Barbara Gerrard, State Representative AdamBradley, Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Grace Bennett,Editor and Publisher of Inside Chappaqua, and MarvelleGilbert, who will be representing the seniors in town.In the afternoon, The Chappaqua Orchestra will presenta concert of Poe inspired work at the library. ExecutiveDirector Marjorie Perlin noted that contemporary andclassical composers have been largely influenced by Poeand the Orchestra's program will, "give voice to that."Larry D’Amico36 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009They will present parts ofDebussy's unfinishedopera based on The Fallof the House of Usher,Rachmaninoff's choralsymphony, The Bells andan adaptation of themusic for the ballet,Murder at the Masque.Perlin has also discoveredsome local links to Poeincluding Mary Greeley'sobsession with the occultand Poe's letter to theeditor (written to HoraceGreeley), which will beinterspersed with themusical part of the program.While some of theOrchestra's concerts "arestrictly music, in this wereally want to cover Poe,his work and what it wasabout his work that otherpeople found interesting."The spirit of Poe will prevail during the month ofOctober. Programs will include: a poe-etry walk sponsoredby the Children's Room at the library, a Poeinspired meal at the Kittle House during which AlanSklar will read, The Pit and the Pendulum, the presentationof a quilt in which each square will encapsulate apiece of Poe's oeuvre, films, artwork by Greeley students(to be judged by a representative of the KatonahMuseum of Art), and Goth Day in town. A panel fromthe Mystery Writers of America, group of authors, "whowrite in the Poe genre," according to Kuhn, will speak atthe library on October 27. They are, "The group behindthe Edgars." The Edgars are prestigious literary awardswhich are granted annually to mystery writers. Thepanel of five will include the illustrious writers WendyCorsi Staub and Reed Farrel Coleman.Z, as Zahra Baird, the new Head of Teen Services, at thelibrary has dubbed herself, is particularly enthusiasticabout the possibilities of introducing Poe to her constituents.She observed that Poe is, "The forerunner ofthings teens like to read," including horror and detectivestories such as those of Arthur Conan Doyle. Although Zconcedes that some find Poe too dark, "He has somethingfor everyone, you just have to find it. Part of mycontribution is resources that are accessible." One of theteen book groups will read and discuss, The Man WhoWas Poe by Avi.Z is also working on a Poe scavenger hunt which willtake place on October 30 in conjunction with theContinued on page 38

W E A S K E D O U R A D V E R T I S E R SWhat’s Really Beautiful?BY JESSICA VON BRACHELStep back and take in the variedbeauty that surrounds you.Whether it’s our gorgeous parks, thefaces of our neighbors, the acts ofkindness and generosity that seemto multiply during challenging times,there’s an ample supply of lovelinesshere. It only takes a moment topause and rediscover, or perhapscome upon for the first time greatbeauty in familiar surroundings. Inthis issue, we took time out to askour advertisers where they findbeauty or about their inspiration forcreating beautiful things.Beauty By DesignJudy Gilmartin-Willsey ofFRAMINGS in Armonk has aformal education in beauty.As a Parson’s School of Designgraduate and the child of anartist, Gilmartin-Willsey wasraised and taught to see beautyin the smallest things, thesimplest things and the mostgrand as well.So what is beauty then? “Thequality that gives pleasure tothe mind or senses and isassociated with such propertiesas harmony of form orcolor, excellence of artistryand originality,” she says. Onthe other hand, in her travelsshe’s come across people witha completely different aestheticassembled from whatthey themselves have beenexposed to.At FRAMINGS, Gilmartin-Willsey, will put her knowledgeto work finding the rightpresentation for your artworkand helping you select accessoriesfor your home.FRAMINGS, 420 Main Streetin Armonk. 273-4242. JudyGilmartin-Willsey and CarterWillsey, co-owners.Eye-Popping EleganceScott and TaraMikolay of Desiresby Mikolay balancethe creation ofoutwardly beautifulobjects with a passion forthe beauty that comes from within.“It is how you conduct your life andact towards others that really matter,”says Tara. To that end, theMikolays continue their annualcharity event this month. (Readmore about it in our Happeningssection!) As for the outer beauty, thevariety of Scott’s gorgeous designswill compliment your own best features.Want to make your eye colorpop or find the right color of gold tomatch your hair and complexion?Set up an appointment with a personalshopping assistant to bringout your best assets. It is really allabout the accessories. Desires byMikolay, 55 King Street. 238-2223A Taste for BeautyAs the creatorof customcakes,NatalieJohnsonspends herdays makingbeautifulthings.Findingmuch of herinspirationin nature’swonderful blend of hues, tints andshades, she is able to give herexquisite, realistic sugar flowersgreat depth and beauty. She’ll alsofind what’s beautiful from her customer’spoint of view, highlighting apattern, fabric or selection of colorsspecific to the event and incorporateit into the look of the cake for afinal result that is truly sweet tolook upon. A World of Cakes, 238-0020 or visit www.aworldofcakes.comPretty CoolPatrick Filacchione ofGail Patrick’s Cafe invitesyou to bask in the beautyof an easygoing, lowcost dining experience.Grab a lunch date and gofor the always fresh anddelicious and generous“three item plate special”(at $7.95, it may truly be one of thebest deals in town) and kick backfrom your busy day. “We’ve made apoint of keeping our price point veryreasonable and beautifying the environmentfor our customers; it’squaint, clean and comfortable.”Here’s another beautiful thought:Gail and Patrick plan to retain theiroh-so-popular ice cream bar yearround. Gail Patrick’s Cafe, 31 SouthGreeley Avenue 238-0690Skin DeepClients of Lucia DiGiorgio, Proprietorof Armonk Laser Hair Removal, tellher they feel younger and prettierwith smooth, hairless skin. “Plus,”she says, “Never having to wax orshave again is a beautiful feeling!”Armonk Laser Hair Removal,2 Byram Brook Place, Armonk.219-5045The Beauty of YouthThere may be nothingmore satisfying thanthe varied and abundantjoys childrenshare so generously.Play Care DirectorCarol Cleary and herloving and dedicatedstaff are fortunate to delight in thecarefree sounds and sights of childrenlaughing on the cheery newplayground. For Cleary and herteam, true beauty is simply theirhappy, smiling students and theirequally delighted parents. Play CareNursery & Preschool is located at210 Orchard Ridge Road. 238-6206See “Beauty of New Castle” on next pageSeptember/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 37

Town Hall Officials Weigh in...on the Beauty of New Castle!I remember Nancy Laun who lives near the DuckPond talking about the graceful beauty of the cranesthat visit the Pond. There’s the remarkable beauty ofthe town in the fall—when you can look at the hills ineither direction and see nothing but multiple shadesof gold, crimson, and orange. What’s most beautifulto me? The happy faces of so many children excitedabout Halloween at the Town’s Ragamuffin Parade!All in all, we live in a very, very beautiful town thatwe are all fortunate to call our home.— Town Supervisor Barbara S. GerrardMany of us can attest to the beauty of the eveningbaseball games on the Recreational Field in the summerand the beauty of our parks and open spaces.What also makes our town beautiful is our sense ofcommunity as evidenced at Community Day, theHoliday Tree lighting, and summer performances atthe Gazebo. I can go on and on!!— Deputy Supervisor Elise Kessler MottelThe people..... Residents in our town constantly surpriseyou with random acts of kindness and compassion.—Town Councilman Michael WolfensohnWhat is beautiful about this town is that it is welcomingand open to a diverse population.—Town Councilman John BuckleyGARDENHOUSESCHOOLOF BRIARCLIFF25 South State RoadBriarcliff Manor, NY914-941-040438 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009ENROLL NOW!AGES 2.5 - 6Garden House School ofNew York & London now inWestchester! Accepting childrenfor the 2009 - 2010 school year.We teach our Early Reading and WritingProgram along with a developmentallyappropriate, classic curriculum includingFrench, Music & Ballet.www.gardenhouseschool.comContinued from page 36Department of Parks andRecreation and TeenAlliance. "It's a traditionalevent with Poe flavor." Theevent will include thescreening of a spooky filmreplete with goody bags,pizza and potions. "Poe ishappening and we're gettingon the bandwagon!"Additionally, Z has scheduledPoe Lego Madness onOctober 2 for 5th through8th graders.Karen Baker, Library-Media Specialist at Seven Bridges Middle School, hasbeen brainstorming about ways, "To get middle schoolstudents excited about Poe." To increase the appeal ofPoe, she will focus on his poetry and new ways of presentingPoe's work. "One way authors and publishers aremaking these classics more accessible is through graphicnovels." One of Baker's goals is, "To introduce middleschoolers to it with the hope that later on they'll readthe originals." Seven Bridges and Bell are consideringholding a contest where students will create public serviceannouncements regarding Poe in the form of podcastsor flip videos.For full details on all Poe events go to Chappaqualibrary.org.SARAH ELLEN BERMAN is a literature aficionado.

InsideT H E M A G A Z I N E F O R N E W C A S T L E A N D B E Y O N D September/OctoberT H E M A G A Z I N E F O R N E W C A S T L E A N D B E Y O N DCHAPPAQUACover SponsorsGreeley Home and HardwareDesires by MikolayEye Gallery2009Advertisers at a GlanceDance Emotions .............................29 Meyer and Spencer ........................20Don Emilio at Lobos Cafe..............35 Millwood Garden ..............................6Emmary Day Spa............................14 Music Mitzvah ..................................4Eye Designs of Armonk .................14 NCCTV, Robert Unger ....................13A World of Cakes............................31Academic Tutoring,Allan Schneider..............................33Armonk Laser Hair Removal ........12Beecher Funeral Home ..................33Bet Torah Nursery School .............23Bramswig Photography..................38Bueti Brothers Builders..................24Camp Connection ..........................38Cathy Hair and Co. Day Spa .........28Chappaqua Crossing........................5Chappaqua Framing ......................29Chappaqua FriendsNursery School ...............................29Club Fit............................................33College Planning Services .............10Crabtree's Kittle House..................16Eye Designs, “The Eyes Have it”....12FRAMINGS of Armonk .....................9Gail Patrick's Cafe ..........................19Garden House School ....................38Grappolo Locanda Restaurant......31Houlihan Lawrence..........................7ICD Contemporary Jewelry .............3ICD In the Loupe ............................10Jean Jacques' Culinary Creations ...31Jodi's Gym .......................................23Julio Bicycles.................................. 35Le Jardin French Bistro ................. 31Life, The Place to Be.......................21Many's Moving and Storage ..........21March Boutique................................2Maria Briones, MD,Internal Medicine...........................29New Castle Physical Therapy........18Nicolaysen Agency, Inc. .................33Perfectly Personal by Jen ...............26PlayCare ..........................................28Rosenthal JCC .................................24Sheila Siderow ................................11Squires Family Clothing andFootwear..........................................24Steffi Nossen School of Dance .....26Temple Beth El of NorthernWestchester ................................... 17The Perennial Chef ..........................2Westchester Craft Show................23Westchester Tree Life, Inc. ............39World Cup Kids Night Out ............26World Cup Nursery School andKindergarten...................................14westtreelife@aol.comSeptember/October 2009 Inside Chappaqua 39

R I C K ’ SLast LicksThe Flap Over TwitterBY RICK REYNOLDSPrior to Samuel Morse’s telegraphand Alexander Graham Bell’stelephone, indeed going back amillion or more years, we hadactual face-to-face communication.For better or worse, you knew when“people” were disgusted with you bythe look of their hominid brows andthe glisten of their canines.Technology changed all that: fromdots and dashes, to voice only, toemails, to IM’s, to phone texting (ifyou have fingers like styluses), andnow—if your thoughts run 140characters or less—we have Twitter.Unless you live in a cave, you knowthat the Twittersphere is sopervasive, one needs to run TweetScans to see what people areTwittering about you. Already, friendsdon’t let friends Twitter drunk, asimbibers often go a Tweet too far.Your mother Twitters, Barack ObamaTwitters, Hilary and Bill Twitter—infact everyone in our governmentTwitters—though it’s said our moredignified English counterparts onDowning Street “don’t engage inemotive political dialogue.” I’m prettysure Rome fell shortly after a Latinversion of Twitter hit the stalls.40 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2009With fingers like a bricklayer’s, Ican’t really text or Twitter, at leaston phone keys. One finger strokehits a minimum of three keys, andthat’s assuming I can see clearlyenough to aim for the right one. It’ssad, because as a child, I lovedpushing buttons. I was the one inthe high rise elevator pushing all ofthe floor buttons, to the dismay ofmy parents and other riders—butthey were reasonable-sized buttons.My dad told me that if I kept it up, Iwould be more reviled than thosewho leave trouser burps just beforestepping off the elevator. After that,I resorted to just pushing the big redbutton—for the nice sound effectsand the herky-jerky motion.Anyway, when Twitterers show methey can Twitter using their elbows,I’ll believe there’s hope for me.Thankfully, there’s TwitSay, whichallows voice-to-text conversion forTwitter, Facebook, Pownce, andother social networks, however,you’re unceremoniously cut offafter you’ve spoken words totaling140 letters. This can lead tointeresting and undesirable results.So we’ve gone full circle, convertingspeech to telegraph, to phone, totext, to IM, to Tweets, to speechactivatedTwitters.But wait. For those who don’t havethe time or patience to read (letalone type) 140 characters on a cellphone, we now have Flaps. Ablogger, Matt Ibsen has come upwith Flapper, which automaticallyshortens 140 character Tweets to 26character Flaps. Flapper’s logo, thehummingbird, flaps faster (or so thethinking goes) than a bird tweets,and so for those of us too busy tosneeze, Flapper can take posts fromTwitter, Facebook, and MySpace, andautomatically shorten them to amaximum Flap of 26 characters.This is perfect for someone like me,who has little time to think aboutwhat I’m posting, and find mymissives to be irrelevant by the timeI get to the end.As the next new thing, Flappingdefinitely takes micro blogging tothe next level. If Twitter is microspeak,Flapper is nano-speak, in anon-verbal sense, of course.If all this leaves you seeing red,there’s help on the way. Someonehas come up with the Primal Tweet(140 uppercase A’s), which I’vefound to be a great release. It’s notas much fun as elevator buttons,but you won’t get grounded for it.That our kids live, eat, and breathethis stuff should be of little concern.After all, Twitter is based on, “Whatare you up to, now?” If you’re not aparent, “who cares?”Chappaqua alumnus and long-timeresident, humorist RICK REYNOLDSdivides his time among book, blog(www.my-pnl.blogspot.com,)magazine column, and marketingcommunications assignments. Heresides in southern New Hampshirewith his wife, daughter and two dogs.

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