The British kitchen-and-design brand makes its way across the pond to Mamaroneck to elevate Westchester interiors.
British kitchen-and-design brand Cabbonet has opened a gallery in Mamaroneck. Founded in early 2019 by designer Andrew Hays under the umbrella of acclaimed London design house ARTEIM, Cabbonet features bespoke finishes that celebrate the art of tactility, new and old materials, and experiments with traditional finishes in contemporary contexts. The company offers doors and sliding panels made from woven metal, sculpted wood surfaces, bespoke hardware, elegant vitrines, and unique products, including glass spice drawers, sinks, and cabinet doors made from exotic stone, to name a few.
“I personally love our Sliding Woven Metal Cabinet, which draws inspiration from the traditional meat safe and adds an element of glamour to any interior,” says Hays. “I’m also fond of our Oilcloth Island, which combines a layer of metal with a layer of vividly veined natural stone to create an effortlessly modern centerpiece to a kitchen or dining space.”
“Working with an interior designer or architect or directly with the homeowner, our teams work collaboratively to create the perfect interior.” —Andrew Hays
At the heart of the showroom located in the Northeast Architectural space on East Boston Post Road is a carefully curated vignette showcasing the brand’s eclectic style and selections of materials and finishes, which are plentiful.
Whether you are working with a designer or architect upon entering Cabbonet, or you need design help, there is something for everyone. “Design professionals are attracted to the brand’s materiality and unique details, which give them the opportunity to create something beautiful and inspiring that responds to their vision for their client,” says Hays. “Working with an interior designer or architect or directly with the homeowner, our teams work collaboratively to create the perfect interior.”
Hays says Cabbonet has clients of all backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles. “The unifying factor are those who appreciate beautifully crafted and highly practical kitchens and above all are design-savvy,” he says.
The eclectic style and materials that Cabbonet is known for are on full display in its new Mamaroneck showroom.
In addition to the Mamaroneck showroom, Cabbonet has also opened in Denver and will be opening another location in Los Angeles. “[We] embrace eclecticism and draw inspiration from a mix of design periods referencing both the past and a modern global lifestyle,” adds Hays. “Because the focus is on materials, the ways in which the elements can be combined are limitless, and therefore no two jobs are ever the same.”
Forging careers in industries that range from government to agriculture, these 24 rising stars under the age of 35 are changing the business and cultural landscapes of Westchester County.
By Paul Adler, Nick Brandi, Cristiana Caruso, Joe Cesarano, and Michelle Gillan Larkin
It was a series of national tragedies that spurred Brandon Lloyd on to a life of public service. “I remember sitting in my dorm, watching the verdict in the Michael Brown case,” recalls Lloyd. “That verdict coupled with the tragic death of Trayvon Martin three years prior served as a catalyst for me to become involved in politics. I resented the fact that I felt powerless and had no ability to effect change, and I believed entering politics would give me the agency to do so.”
As Lower Hudson Valley regional representative for the Office of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Lloyd is already making this dream a reality, maintaining relationships and communication with elected officials throughout Westchester and serving as Hochul’s representative at public events, city council meetings, village and town boards, and the County Board of Legislators. Lloyd also reports back to the governor on local developments as well as those in the state capitol. “It’s very rewarding to hold this rank,” says Lloyd, “as it allows me to represent underserved and marginalized communities throughout the region while elevating and uplifting their voices so that they are recognized by the state.”—PA
Madeline Clappin, 29
Strategic Director & Cofounder
Arketekcher
It’s thanks to people like Madeline Clappin that our county’s future looks so bright. Clappin cofounded her own architectural firm in the middle of a pandemic — a feat that would be impressive for a 29-year-old at any time in history. Her firm, Arketekcher, has been a resounding success since its 2021 genesis, serving more than 50 projects across Westchester and New York City, growing to four employees and earning a 2022 Best of Westchester win.
In addition to her work with Arketekcher, Clappin is also the co-chair of the Urban Land Institute, serves as a member of the AIA Unified Task Force, and helped found the Waterfront Task Force. “To me, finding a way to land a project is a puzzle to be solved. We are never discouraged by failure and parlay our relationships into new opportunities,” says Clappin. “By investing a lot of time and energy into our pursuit of work, we’ve been able to open a lot of doors that are often closed to firms of our size.”—PA
Rachel Greenspan, 31
Senior Director
GHP Office Realty LLC
Rachel Greenspan knows how to close a deal. Focusing on the sales, acquisitions, and financing of GHP Office Realty’s owned and managed commercial and industrial properties, Greenspan has had to fill a multitude of responsibilities. Since taking on her role, in 2019, she and her team have administered over $208 million in acquisition, refinance, and modification loans, including lines of credit. On top of leasing vacant space in order to sell three properties and facilitating those transactions, totaling 216,830 square feet, Greenspan also contributed to the acquisition of two new properties, one in Westchester County and the other in Charleston County, SC, expanding the company’s footprint in the process.
But brokering leases isn’t the only ship that Greenspan helms. Overseeing all of the suburban Tristate area, she works closely with property management on GHP’s major capital improvement projects. Greenspan prides herself on her drive and close attention to detail, bringing both to the table whether she’s dealing with a small, local company or a national brand. The 31-year-old doesn’t see herself slowing down anytime soon: In addition to working as a registered New York State licensed real estate agent, she is in the process of completing her real estate broker’s license in South Carolina.—CC
Austin Schatz, 31
Cofounder & CEO
Westchester Mushroom Company
Austin Schatz wants mushrooms to be your new favorite food. Founded in 2021 with cohorts and fellow farmers Jonathan Vantman and Benny Liu, Schatz turned his interest of creating tangible sustainability into a full-scale operation, creating Westchester County’s first-ever indoor mushroom farm. Always conscious of the importance of an accessible agricultural presence within a community, Schatz can be found anywhere from farming the mushrooms to managing the company’s social media to brokering deals with local restaurants. Schatz is also big on quality control, making sure his products are harvested mere hours, not days, before they are ready for your table.
Found in all ten DeCicco & Sons locations, available as a subscription service, and on the menu at nearly a dozen Westchester restaurants, Schatz’s shrooms have transcended being just an ingredient: They are a love letter to the local and farming community. “Westchester Mushroom Company has allowed me to bring my passion for growing food to my broader community; there is no higher reward,” says Schatz. “We’re proud to join a growing movement of young farmers and producers who are bringing agriculture back to a county that was once an agricultural hub.” —CC
Katherine Wonder, 30
President
Sunset Bridge Consulting
Katherine Wonder is a social media maven. Having launched her consulting business in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Wonder helps her small-business clients focus on social media growth, targeted content creation, and specially designed marketing campaigns. From real estate teams to contractors to hair salons, she works with companies across multiple disciplines. Wonder takes every client assignment personally and gives each her undivided attention. In 2023, she was honored as one of Alignable’s Local Business Persons of the Year. But Wonder also wants to share her marketing and social media savvy with the masses. Navigate to her company’s Instagram, and you’ll find dozens of handy videos — all created by Wonder — on how to help yourself or your small business. On top of all her duties as president of Sunset Bridge Consulting, Wonder is also a published children’s-book author. —CC
Ashley Scott
Ashley Scott, 28
Digital Product Senior Analyst
PepsiCo
As a member of the Strategy and Transformation team, Ashley Scott manages the product-development process for PepsiCo’s data marketplace platform, which includes the design, build, and implementation of the enterprise-wide, platform-based data solution. She ensures that product delivery is aligned with stakeholder goals to provide a global data-standardization platform. “One of the things I enjoy most about working at PepsiCo is that they provide a space for me to thrive professionally,” says Scott. “As a result of their investments in digital transformation, I have been able to expand my skillset and explore opportunities to succeed.”
Passionate about “encouraging and championing diversity in the pipeline,” Scott founded her own consultancy, Data Girl Ash, in her spare time. The entrepreneurial sideline offers educational resources, career coaching, and mentorship to college students, postgraduates, and working professionals who aspire to pivot to the tech-and-data arena without a technical background. In this role, she demonstrates tactical approaches to making data-driven decisions while empowering others to succeed, underlining her unwavering commitment to use her success to help those who share her passions for data and technology.—MGL
Neel Anand, 28
Owner
Westchester Technology Group
While some young entrepreneurs take many years to build a successful company, success has come more quickly, and naturally, for Neel Anand, the 28-year-old owner of Westchester Technology Group. In just over five years, Anand has grown his business from a single-proprietor consultancy to one of the top IT companies in the county. The young business owner garnered the attention of an outside investor after securing an impressive array of clients, including auto dealerships, construction firms, small businesses, and even a national pharmaceutical company. And he is setting his goals even higher. “Truthfully, even with the accomplishments we have made, I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface yet,” Anand says. “My goal was to create a seven-figure company. Now that we’ve reached that, I’m pushing hard to create an eight-figure company before I turn 30.” And with impressive testimonials from satisfied clients who hail his drive, coupled with a charismatic, “can-do” personality, one would be wise not to bet against him.—JC
Chelsea Pagano, 28
Communications & Marketing Manager
Westchester County Government
Barely 28 years old, Chelsea Pagano has plenty on her plate. As communications and marketing manager for Westchester County government, she is a key liaison for functions such as IT services, website maintenance and design, and translation. She is also responsible for producing brochures and flyers, advertisements and eblasts, scheduling, proclamations and certificates, journal ads, and even graphic design (which she quickly learned and mastered), as needed. But it’s possible that Pagano never shines brighter than when she is managing the county executive’s social media presence. With her keen eye and culture savvy, Pagano grew the county’s audience on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter by double digits while increasing the county’s LinkedIn audience by triple digits. She has also worked to utilize video more effectively on all platforms.
“Chelsea is one of the most diligent, creative, and dedicated people I have ever worked with,” says Catherine Cioffi, director of communications for Westchester County. “Chelsea comes to work every day with positivity and innovation, and seeing her grow in her career has been a joy. We are very lucky to have her!” —NB
Shannon Sullivan, 30
Director of Camp & Teen Services
YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester
Shannon Sullivan is a dedicated, lifelong Girl Scout and cheer coach who embodies the YMCA values and mission in everything she does. Responsible for overseeing all the camping and teen programs offered by the YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester, she supervises more than 100 program staff and volunteers for the roughly 800 young campers who show up each year to spend their summer with the YMCA. But that’s not all.
This double master’s degree holder also runs the YMCA’s acclaimed teen programs, including the Teen Leaders Program, which promotes the Y’s values in the development of teenagers throughout the community. She also oversees the Youth and Government Program, which teaches teens the importance of being involved in local and state government while providing hands-on experience. During her tenure with the teen programs, Sullivan doubled participation, created two new programs, and secured funding to keep these programs free for community teens. It’s no wonder, then, that under her direction, YMCA Camp Combe received the “Most Loved Summer Camp” distinction from Hulafrog in 2022. —NB
Nicholas Lombardi, 27
Senior Community Engagement & Communications Manager
The Arc Westchester
As the brother of a young adult with autism, Nicholas Lombardi brings a unique, firsthand perspective to his role at The Arc Westchester. The Hawthorne-based organization supports children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families, by offering programs and services that foster independence, productivity, and participation in community life. From an early age, Lombardi learned to embrace people of differing abilities and celebrate their contributions to the community. “As a society, we can always do better when it comes to finding meaningful ways for people with developmental disabilities to engage in their communities,” he says.
Technologically skilled and richly versed in the world of social media, Lombardi writes articles and creates content for the organization’s website and social media platforms on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube in an effort to increase the organization’s online visibility and community engagement. —MGL
Alyson Kuritzky, 33
Associate in Family & Matrimonial Law
Abrams Fensterman LLP
Considered both collegial and collaborative, Alyson Kuritzky has already proved herself to be more than just another attorney. As an associate in the White Plains Family & Matrimonial Law Department at Abrams Fensterman, LLP, Kuritzky handles family law and divorce matters for high net worth clients and helps supervise and run the firm’s White Plains Matrimonial Department. She is involved in more than 50% of the department’s cases and is a second chair at trials to Jill Spielberg, one of the region’s premier matrimonial attorneys. But Kuritzky’s impact is felt beyond the courtroom; she has also helped grow and shape the culture of the White Plains Matrimonial Department and is regarded as a “go-to” person in that department.
Colleagues also aver that Kuritzky’s work ethic is unmatched, demonstrating a tenacious yet consistent support of her coworkers. She is also known for her unparalleled dedication to her clients — a dedication that often sees her working around the clock to ensure their needs are met. In key ways, she is already a leader and represents the future of the Westchester legal community. –NB
Jonah Bassuk, 16
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Strong Heroes, Inc.
If anyone truly personifies a natural-born leader, it’s Rye Brook’s Jonah Bassuk. This is clearly demonstrated by his role as founder and CEO of Strong Heroes, Inc., a Westchester-based organization dedicated to eradicating health inequities and maximizing health outcomes across all populations, particularly among children and historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. But what’s truly mind-boggling is that Bassuk manages his considerable corporate responsibilities while attending classes as an 11th grader at Blind Brook High School. Here’s just a snapshot of what this trailblazing teenager has accomplished so far:
Through Strong Heroes, Inc., over 8,000 toys, books, and resources have been donated to children’s hospitals. The organization has also secured volunteer service in excess of 600 hours and monetary donations from more than 500 individuals. A zealous advocate for community engagement, public policy, and more equitable health outcomes for all stakeholders, Bassuk and Strong Heroes also partnered with New York Medical College to provide IT equipment that helped engender a collaborative health-equity program. His social enterprise has even provided numerous scholarships to students from underrepresented populations, enabling real-world, hands-on experience in the healthcare and medical professions.
“Education, access, and policy have an enormous impact on the lives of individuals and families,” says Bassuk. “When we positively influence social determinants, we can achieve extraordinary outcomes.” —NB
Yecenia Tovar, 33
Assistant Court Clerk
Village of Bronxville
Yecenia Tovar has spent her entire career working in the court system. Currently, she assists two judges with courtroom duties in the Bronxville criminal, traffic and vehicle, parking, civil, and landlord-tenant sections. While devoting her career to the legal field, Tovar has continued to work very closely with her community. She started an organization called LatinXvote, which during the pandemic registered more than 100 people to vote and get counted by the U.S. Census. She has also worked alongside Westchester County legislators to secure funding for a self-defense program at the YWCA in Yonkers for local women. For her dedicated work to the people around her, Tovar has received proclamations from Yonkers mayor Mike Spano, County Legislator Christopher Johnson, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman. She was also recently appointed chairwoman of the Yonkers Youth Bureau Board and serves as a member of the Yonkers Planning Board.
As a first-generation Mexican American woman, Tovar has worked hard to represent people who share a similar background and lead by example while inspiring the next generation. Her love for her Yonkers community is unmeasurable, as she devotes substantial time and effort every day to make Westchester’s largest city a better place. —CC
Alessandra Cortina, 34
Founder & Owner
The Cortina Law Group and the ALC Consulting Group, LLC
Alessandra Cortina is here to create a legacy. Beginning her career in human resources as a generalist for a Fortune 100 financial institution, Cortina was hungry for more. Pivoting her entire life, she enrolled in New York Law School in TriBeCa to chase her dream of being an attorney. After law school, she continued to work in the corporate world, but she knew her mission wasn’t over; she wanted to open her own company and law firm. With the birth of ALC Consulting Group, LLC, and The Cortina Law Group, Cortina is helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and high-performing professionals realize their dreams — doing her share of inspiring along the way.
“Being a lawyer and mentor for women in business is important to me because I get to help women build generational wealth and protect their legacies. We aren’t taught how to do this; it’s something we learn through experience, success, hardships, and trials,” Cortina says. “My passion is to support women as they build their businesses and empower them through providing knowledge, education, and the tools they need for success. My desire is to see women become confident and protected business owners.” —CC
James Nolan, 33
County Legislator, District 15
Westchester County Board of Legislators
James Nolan is only the fifth person under the age of 35 to ever be elected as a county legislator. Representing District 15 in Yonkers and Bronxville, Nolan is the minority whip of Westchester County and serves as chairperson for the Westchester County Appointments Committee. But public service and politics weren’t Nolan’s first callings in life. He started his career by founding The Michael Nolan Foundation in memory of his brother, who was slain in a 2015 shooting. The group gives athletic scholarships to one student-athlete from each Yonkers public school. Nolan currently serves as the only Republican on the Board of Legislators, securing funds for public safety, community-based groups, and infrastructure projects.
Nolan doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks his own walk, knowing well the community he represents. In addition to his political position, he holds a union job as a sanitation worker in Yonkers and is one of the only elected officials in the county who is a card-carrying union member. —CC
Kahleel Neil, 25
Director of Marketing & Sales
WOW! Building Maintenance Solutions Inc.
At just 25 years old, Kahleel Neil is already a veritable master of marketing. As director of marketing and sales for WOW! Building Maintenance Solutions Inc., Neil is constantly producing sales materials, developing marketing campaigns to increase revenue, and building relationships with industry partners and clients throughout the region. Neil is also responsible for growing the company’s customer base, analyzing market data, and managing a team of sales and marketing professionals.
Not only has Neil excelled in this role by bringing company revenue up to $1 million a year through his campaigns and strategies; he also developed and implemented a successful customer-retention program that currently stands at an incredible rate of 99%. Neil even created training programs for the company’s sales and marketing teams. “I feel like I have transitioned from being this fresh newbie to a seasoned professional with an in-depth understanding of what marketing and sales means for a brand,” shares Neil. “I see myself growing professionally to become one of the best-known marketers in the USA.” —PA
Jack Hornickel, 34
Staff Attorney, Food and Farm Business Law Clinic
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Growing up in Midwestern farm communities, Jack Hornickel has been surrounded by agriculture his entire life. Upon moving to New York City for college, he stumbled on his first Greenmarket while exploring the Bronx by bicycle. The urban-rural connection that centered around fresh food not only felt reminiscent of home but also inspired and motivated him. In 2012, Hornickel enrolled in law school to support regionalized food systems and act as an advocate for small farmers. Since then, he has provided countless hours of pro bono legal services with the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic.
In addition to his legal practice and supervision of law students, Hornickel is constantly working to build improved management systems, more effective programming, and innovative policy proposals. With a deep-seated passion for making the Hudson Valley a better place, he has conducted novel research on the impact of farm-labor legislation, delivered guest lectures with several institutions, and, at the height of the pandemic, created a cost-share program for farm estate planning. Hornickel’s mission remains unchanged from the time he first stumbled upon that Bronx farmers market: to improve conditions for New York State agriculture while exercising care and humility in providing direct service. —CC
Meghan McMahon Bautista, 31
Manager, Learning & Development
PURE Insurance
A common thread in the life of this rising star is to give back and help others in their respective career paths. Meghan McMahon Bautista gets to apply that philosophy regularly as manager of Learning & Development for PURE Insurance, a fast-growing specialty property-and-casualty insurer. Having quickly worked her way up through the HR track, Bautista oversees enterprise-wide development opportunities for the firm’s more than 1,000 employees across the U.S.
She holds a BA in biological psychology from Pace University, where she received the Biological Psychology Award at graduation. Bautista also holds an MA in industrial organizational psychology from CUNY School of Professional Studies and is an ATD-certified training facilitator and an active member of the International Society for Organization Development and Change. During her time at PURE, Bautista also completed her master’s in industrial organization psychology from CUNY.
“There is plenty of research out there that supports the connection between employee well-being and overall company growth and profitability,” says Bautista. “At the end of the day, it comes down to a simple truth: When people feel valued, understood, and truly supported by their employers, they perform at their best.” —NB
Kamran Saliani, 28
Founder, Artistic Director & Actor
Irvington Shakespeare Company
Each day, Kamran Saliani works to bring culture, community, and great drama to our county. As founder, artistic director, and main resident actor of the Irvington Shakespeare Company (ISC), Saliani selects the productions that the ISC will produce. “I fundraise for the season and build relations with community members, local leadership, and our wonderful businesses and institutions within Irvington and beyond,” he says. “I am also responsible for hiring the cast and crew for our shows and being the point of contact for schools and groups who want to work with us for workshops.”
Over the past three years alone, Saliani has raised more than $100,000 to stage four productions with the ISC and has performed in more than 60 productions himself, including films, theatrical works, and staged readings. Notably, legendary British actor Sir Ian McKellen recently trusted Saliani to stage a revival of his acclaimed one-man show, Acting Shakespeare. “Shakespeare’s works reflect many of the themes and challenges present in our world today, offering catharsis and hope,” reflects Saliani. “The Irvington Shakespeare Company seeks to decolonize and perform Shakespeare’s plays in ways that everyone can understand in order to better process this critical moment in time.” —PA
Shyjab Villacis, 27
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Cabanillas & Associates
According to his boss, Cabanillas & Associates CEO Christopher Cabanillas, the life story of Shyjab Villacis is “the personification of the American Dream.” Cabanillas notes that Villacis came to America at age 4 with his father, speaking no English and with “nothing more than the clothes on their backs.” Excelling in school, Villacis launched his professional career in marketing after snagging a coveted job in digital operations with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Today, Villacis is director of marketing and public relations at Cabanillas & Associates, where he has raised the law firm’s social media platforms from roughly 1,000 followers to nearly 90,000, while also serving as executive producer of Univision Radio’s El Show De Cabanillas on LaX 96.3 FM and Mega 97.9 FM. The firm specializes in immigration law and other legal services for the Hispanic community in Westchester. “The work I do is so important because it’s directly changing people’s lives for the better,” explains Villacis. “We are helping people achieve the American Dream every single day.” —PA
Kirsten James, 29
Communications Manager
Iona University
At just 29 years old, Kirsten James already has a pretty impressive professional reach. As the communications manager of Iona University, James develops internal and external communications for the school, such as press releases and talking points, while producing and pitching a range of compelling news stories. James is also tasked with copy-writing duties and creates content for the university’s website and marketing materials. “Every day is different, and there’s always a new story in the pipeline, which makes my job very exciting,” says James.
Additionally, James writes all emails for Iona’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and works with local media, like News12 Westchester, to get the university’s message out. “I feel the work I do is important because it makes a difference,” says James. “Whether it’s sharing good news about Iona in a press release or sharing someone’s human interest story, I know what I write sparks something — a conversation, a phone call to loved ones — and the stories are written memories that will live on forever.” —PA
Patrick Murphy, 29
Owner & President
New Logical LLC
In order to meet the needs of his clients from all angles, Patrick Murphy has to wear a lot of hats. In the eight years he’s been in business, Murphy has moved not only local but national mountains. He introduced professional livestreaming to amateur and semiprofessional sports teams and leagues, covering events as large as the United States of America Snowboarding and Freeski Association (USASA) Finals and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in soccer. Murphy has also brought many local business staples in Westchester into the 21st century, including helping the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce use modern media to help its businesses connect. He’s personally advised and glued together the IT components of the Town of Rye’s Town Council and Park Commission meeting livestreams and made them among the only in New York State to be simulcast on public television, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (the streams will soon be added to Instagram and TikTok as well). Murphy also oversees social media pages and websites for four elected officials in Westchester, the entire Nassau BOCES school system, three local sports teams, three real estate brokerages, the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, and multiple local restaurants. Murphy remains as versatile and multitalented as a Swiss Army knife in the eyes of his clients, who know he can fix many of their problems at the drop of a hat. —CC
Annie Vargas, 26
Sustainability Education Associate
Groundwork Hudson Valley
Promoting environmental sustainability from the ground up takes many different forms for 26-year-old Annie Vargas. In their role as an intergenerational educator at Yonkers-based environmental group Groundwork Hudson Valley, Vargas teaches public school students and members of the community about issues such as climate change, alternative growing systems, and food equity. They also help oversee the group’s science barge, a floating garden that yields up to 300 pounds of produce every year and provides a perfect venue for the organization’s ongoing lessons about renewable energy and hydroponic systems. Vargas is also fluent in Spanish and intermediate in American Sign Language, enhancing the accessibility of the group’s educational mission in vulnerable communities like Yonkers, where food insecurity, urban heat islands, and air pollution pose quality-of-life challenges. In addition to their full-time job, Vargas is furthering their own environmental education by pursuing a master’s degree in ethnobotany — because their commitment to this important cause doesn’t end just because the workday has. —JC
Frank Tobitsch, 29
Design Director
American Christmas
If you’ve ever been besotted by Christmas in Manhattan or felt the holiday spirit magically infuse you during a stroll down your own Main Street, there’s agood chance you have Frank Tobitsch to thank. An architect of seasonal joy, Tobitsch is responsible for developing creative programs and design concepts for the Mount Vernon-based American Christmas that not only serve the business objectives but ensure that the products maintain the company’s standards of creative excellence, timeliness, and profitability.
But ushering in the most wonderful time of the year is no easy task. Tobitsch’s position requires an excellent creative aesthetic and digital design knowledge, which are just some of the feathers in his cap. He is a visionary in terms of design and constantly pushes the envelope with new and thought-provoking designs. But for all of his talents, Tobitsch remains very mindful of the colleagues who support his efforts, not only by serving as a mentor to his team members but also making everyone around him want to be a better leader. —CC
Photos courtesy of respective eateries unless otherwise noted.
Why spend a fortune to get a superior meal in our well-heeled county? Here are some of Westchester’s inexpensive — yet delicious — eats.
By Cristiana Caruso and Michelle Gillan Larkin
It’s known that Westchester is a veritable and delectable font of finer dining, but when the appetite craves a meal that won’t break the bank, the county offers a wealth of quality eats at a more palatable price point. For us, that dine-or-dash number is $14, preferably less, and it is entirely possible to fill up and do it well, with style. From chef-led fast-casual cafés and often-pricey farm-to-fork and vegetarian meals to lesser-known lunch specials, we think you’ll find these options fit the bill for a solid, even elevated, meal, with a price tag that’s easy to stomach.
Fast Casual
Affordable, sit-down-quality cuisine in pleasing, café-like surrounds or convenient takeaway carriers
On the other side of the spectrum from its burger-slinging sibling restaurant, Duke’s Ramen is offering authentic Japanese ramen counter service with a Westchester twist. Like a lighthouse bringing you to safe shores, let the neon ramen sign guide you to a spot at the counter, but leave any thoughts about overpriced bowls in the rearview. Warming slurps of pork belly or chicken chashu ramen will run you $13, with plenty of wiggle room to add toppings like a soft-boiled egg or wood ear mushrooms for an extra buck or two.
With a cult following for good reason, Latusion consistently produces Peruvian Latin fusion dishes with flair. There is no wrong way to order off the menu, but one of the most economical epicurious entrées is the boneless fusion wings. At just $14, you’ll receive a massive tin of marinated boneless wings, fries, and blue cheese, to enjoy in their lushly decorated new brick-and-mortar space. It won’t take long until you’re transported somewhere else from the Harrison storefront.
Hailing from Southern India and a master of both Indian and French cooking, Jose Kochuveetil offers the best of both worlds at his family-run, fusion-style establishment, where the mixed-grill lineup is a sleeper hit among pricier Provençales, Dijonnaises, and myriad curries. Marinated and grilled beef, pork, or chicken (or all three in one plentiful platter for the same cost-conscious price of $13.25) is served with basmati rice, salad, and house-made yogurt and mayonnaise sauces, for a filling and fully affordable entrée-esque experience.
The entire protein-packed menu (save one special burger) at this modern, white-tile-and-stainless-steel standby weighs in at less than $14, including the signature gyro and souvlaki platters, which come complete with fries and salad. Owner George Menegatos serves “real gyros,” noting: “In Greece, gyros are always pork.” Hand-stacked in the traditional manner, the pork (or chicken, if you must) is thinly sliced, marinated, skewered, and placed in a rotisserie, as opposed to Americanized gyro meat, which is simply ground beef molded with lamb. If you opt for one swaddled in a fluffy pita, expect fries tucked inside instead of lettuce (score!).
A succinct but plentiful menu covers all the Mexican street-food classics, like nachos, tacos (three per order), burritos, quesadillas, and rice bowls, with off-the-cob street corn and churros adding a dash of culinary cachet. Nearly every single cooked-to-order dish comes in at under $14, including on-trend birria burritos and quesadillas, and even a blooming rice bowl with steak. The ambience is intimately inviting and roomy, sporting hand-painted murals; at the Yonkers location, a wall of repeating Frida Kahlo faces presides over it all.
Photo courtesy of Tako
Vegetarian
With a reputation for sporting a hefty price tag, these vegetarian spots buck the trend.
Tucked in between two fluffy pillows of laffa bread, the “Mexighanoush” taco layers spice, flavor, and savings. Black-bean falafel, eggplant baba ghanoush, pico de gallo, and chipotle mayo make a meal full of fiber and vitamins for $10.39 — a meal you can feel good about from all angles.
Calling this upbeat, quick-serve stop a “destination focusing equally on nutrition and taste,” the Caligiuri brothers (Anthony, Greg, and Mark), dish up a vast array of easy-on-the-wallet juices and energizing smoothies, protein- and super-food-laced bowls, craft sandwiches and wraps, blossoming salads, and all-day breakfast. Vegetarian, vegan, and GF options abound, but there’s plenty of meat on the menu too.
Locally sourced farm fare is the focus at this fast-casual hotspot situated in a petite shopping strip, regardless of whether you order from the meat-based or vegetarian side of the menu. The “burger” offerings shine brightest, particularly the signature beet burger, piled high with vegan Swiss cheese, watercress, pickled onions, and secret sauce, and includes change for a ten.
Serving up healthy vegan meals for 15 years, this Caribbean-inspired hidden gem has unique takes on the standard. Grab Jolo’s famous Philly Ribz sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayonnaise, for a hearty, meat-and-dairy-free meal that’s only $14. Good for the environment, the body, and your bank account.
While many of the signature dishes come in just a tick over budget, the lengthy lineup of authentic dosas, paratha wraps, and roti rollups at this village vegetarian are a steal. Ten bucks, give or take, will fill your belly with healthful, protein-packed paneer, lentils, and chickpeas while tickling your taste buds with the seasonings and spices of India. “Our combination of chutneys provides a different flavor in every bite,” says owner Jasumati Vaghji.
Handhelds
Easy-to-consume eats at a price that’s even easier to swallow. (Look ma, one hand!)
Boasting “farm-to-taco” ingredients sourced from Hudson Valley farmers, the same holds true for the dozen burritos in the lineup, half of which come in at $14 or less. Owner David Starkey’s top pick is the La Flor, which involves an orb of freshly made organic wheat and cassava root dough hugging roasted cauliflower, kale, guac, cilantro pesto, and rice and beans. “When you slice it in half, you see all these beautiful colors,” he says, with flavors to match.
Let’s be frank: We all know the all-American hot dog isn’t sending anyone to the poorhouse anytime soon, but did you know that the next-level dogs Dennis Rubich dishes out won’t either? His staggering array of accoutrements — “from classic to fantastic [for] some fun on a bun” — includes toppings of Dalmatia fig jam, blue-cheese crumbles, guacamole, fried pickles, red-onion sauce, chili sauce, nacho cheese, and good ol’ classic kraut. Even an upgrade to hot sausage or a veggie dog won’t leave you broke.
These thin, airy baguettes that eat like a meal are traditionally layered with Vietnamese ham and roasted ham, plus pickled veggies and mayo-like condiments, but at this cash-only quick-stop spot, they can also be stuffed deep with highfalutin fried shrimp, catfish, grilled tofu, or short ribs while still managing to stay on budget ($8–$11) and be overly delicious. (Not for nothin’: Protein-packed pho and rice bowls are also a steal.)
Say “cheap” about chicken ’til the cows come home, but the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich at this distinctly Southern corner nook is an on-budget standout. “You don’t usually see fried chicken made with an organic bird,” says owner Hassan Jarane. Plus, the delicate, crunchy coating (fashioned from rice flour) boasts every bit of the finger-lickin’ goodness carnivores crave. Eight other sammies ($13 or less) feature smoked, crispy pork belly with garlic aioli and freshly sliced Prime beef brisket sure to placate committed beef buffs.
A hotspot with a special place in the hearts of downtown NewRo dwellers, Taco Tuesday will get you the signature tacos starting at just $1. If you show up on any of the other six days of the week, you can still indulge in the soft tortillas and tender meat. For $10, the mini taco platter awaits, made up of a combo of al pastor, roast pork, steak, chicken, and chorizo.
Perched at the very edge of the Hudson, with sweeping liquid vistas as a mesmerizing side dish, Jimmy Rugova’s upmarket taco lineup beckons with ingredients and kitchen twists unheard of at such an easy-to-stomach price point. Nine pockets of perfection (served two per order, priced $9–$12) are on offer, from hearty slow-cooked beef birria with avocado mousse and chicken in citrus confit to blackened monkfish, Spanish octopus with chorizo, and the showstopping poached shrimp with eel sauce in a crisp wonton shell.
Mason Sandwich Co. is rife with creative sandwiches stacked to the high heavens. With nearly half the ’wiches on the menu coming in under budget, the crispy eggplant with Oaxaca cheese and the buttermilk battered chickwich are calling your name. And how could we pass on the house-made potato chips?
Mason Sandwich Co. Photo by Andre Baranowski
Walkables
Take your food for a sunny-day stroll with these affordable mobile meals that hold up well on the go (even in the car).
Dishing up as many savories as it is sweets, this local pie shop is a sleeper hit for a stellar, filling, and fast meal that may flash you back to Grandma’s kitchen. At $6.95 a slice (which obviously means get two), it’s impossible to pass up favorites like the buffalo chicken, sausage and cheddar, shepherd’s, and mac ’n’ cheese pies. Even picking only two is a monumental task.
Taylor ham egg and cheese pie. Photo courtesy of Noble Pies
Chow down on a massive tin of the Greek hotspot’s namesake: Gyro Gyro fries. Crispy, well-seasoned French fries are topped with a choice of protein (get the beef-and-lamb gyro meat), mozzarella, and the joint’s special pink sauce. The dish works as a one-two punch of cheesy goodness and comfort without any pains to your wallet, running you $11.95 for a simple, satisfying meal.
A buffet with endless options and only running you $7.99 a pound, there is truly something for everyone at this Jamaican restaurant. Offering homestyle cooking with love in each bite, pack your plate with foods like jerk chicken, plantains, pepper steak, seasoned rice, and candied yams. While you can easily stay within budget, we won’t judge if the smells of goodness make you go a bit overboard.
Out of a small walk-up window framed by eye-catching neon, you’ll be served home-cooked Kerala fare with a price tag that may have you doing a double take. The Street Box, reminiscent of Southern Indian street food, comes with your choice of five proteins — including a cauliflower option — banana chips, street-cart fries, rice, and chopped naan. Depending on your meat choice, this’ll run you $10 to $13, but for an extra $5, you can splurge and get double meat, because double the goodness, natch.
You know it; we know it; the people in the line at 53rd and 6th know it: This now-iconic, yellow-and-red umbrella-clad cart serves some of the best cheap eats, especially if you were a commuter back in the day. If you’ve got a chicken-and-rice hankering (or beef or falafel), no MetroCard is required: Bounce over to the Yonkers location for their signature platter, for $12.99. Extra white sauce, please.
Lunch Specials
A savvy way to sample the cuisine and avoid the pricier dinner menu.
Gustico Latin Kitchen
Yonkers
Siblings Fernando and Yolanda Tiaeo muster “memories of home” with nostalgic favorites from the Dominican Republic, providing ample opportunity for fellow immigrants and newbies alike to get a taste of it all. “When Dominican people taste the roasted chicken, the flavors will right away remind them of their grandmothers’ cooking,” says Fernando. Roasted or stewed, with a side salad, plantains, or rice and beans, that chicken platter will set you back less than $10 at lunchtime; the goat stew, pepper steak, ribs, salmon, and pork chops won’t do much worse.
A bento box is kind of like meal prepping… if someone else put it together, and it was full of delicious food you didn’t have to make yourself. Find the solution to your daily kitchen dilemmas with a $10.25 box that comes with soup or salad, shumai, edamame, rice, and protein options, such as chicken katsu or shrimp tempura. Yes, that is enough food to double as dinner. Talk about stretching a buck!
Let your nose guide you to a vibrant, colorful booth at the back of La Hacienda Meat & Grocery — a spectacular specialty market and immaculate luncheonette — for tender pork and a heartwarming testament to home-cooking and family vibes. The soul-soothing pernil (pork shoulder) is marinated for two days, then slow-roasted for four hours and served up with rice and beans — an impossible value for only $11. Grab a Jarritos to wash it all down, and give our love and respect to Rich and Frankie Magana, the Jalisco brothers, who are the brains and heart behind it all.
La Hacienda Meat & Grocery. Photo by Michelle Gillian Larkin
Festive and bright, with blue-and-yellow decor, this is a taco- and burrito-lover’s paradise, particularly at lunch, when you can get it all on one plate, alongside rice, beans, and salad for $9 per combo. Carne asada and fajitas of chicken, shrimp, and steak are served for a song, as well.
Around noon, dive into the essence of Peru without swimming south or selling your firstborn, with $11.95 specials that run the gamut, from fresh, succulent ceviche and traditional fish Milanese with yucca fries and salad to a simple and soothing free-range rotisserie chicken, served by the quarter, with soup, rice and beans, and salad or plantains.
It’s hard choosing just one sushi roll, so Tomo has found a solution: You can have three delectable rolls for $13 at lunchtime. With options like the spicy crunchy tuna, yellowtail jalapeno, and eel banana, it’s still a tough decision, but at least every single one will be the correct one.
Adobe Stock | Tsvettina
Is a hot dog a sandwich?
According to Merriam-Webster, a sandwich is “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between.” By technical definition then, the hot dog is a sandwich, yet some of us choose to look past society’s labels and declare that the concept of a sandwich is more metaphysical than architectural. In fact, some proponents have even gone so far as to say that hot dogs are actually tacos (wild claims, we know). Here’s what our readers had to say:
In our 10th year, Westchester Magazine celebrates these 13 outstanding individuals who have tirelessly dedicated themselves to improving the quality of life around the county — and in some cases, even around the world.
By Regina Molaro, Deborah Skolnik, and Nick Brandi
The 2023 Healthcare Heroes Editors’ Humanitarian Award
Courtesy of WMCHealth
Dr. Augustine Moscatello
Director, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery Westchester Medical Center; Professor & Chair, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, New York Medical College
Courtesy of WMCHealth
Dr. Manoj Abraham
Associate Director of Otolaryngology, MidHudson Regional Hospital, and Founding Partner of Facial, Plastic, Reconstructive & Laser Surgery in Poughkeepsie; past-President, New York Facial Plastic Surgery Society and the Dutchess County Medical Society; Westchester Magazine Healthcare Hero, 2014
If “inspiring” is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Drs. Augustine Moscatello and Manoj Abraham of WMCHealth, then “brave” must be the second. In September of 2022, these two highly accomplished physicians mounted a medical mission to use their world-class surgical skills to render vital aid to the hapless and war-torn people of Ukraine. After touching down in Krakow, Poland, the two surgeons spent roughly the next 12 hours riding a bus and being cleared by security checkpoints en route to Western Ukraine and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital, where the casualties were waiting. During the 10-day mission of mercy, Drs. Moscatello and Abraham evaluated and treated approximately three dozen patients, both civilian and military, most of whom were the victims of gunshots or artillery blasts. The doctors’ days often began at 5 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m., frequently amid the ominous din of emergency alerts and air-raid sirens.
During his career, Dr. Moscatello, has led or participated in more than two dozen medical missions worldwide, ranging from Cuba and Vietnam to Thailand, India, and Ethiopia, while Dr. Abraham is himself a multidecade veteran of international medical missions and survived ethnic violence as a child. The physicians concur that their time in Ukraine was unlike anything they had experienced before.
“The people of Ukraine are being battered by this war. As physicians, we were fortunate to help civilians and military personnel injured in the conflict,” says Dr. Moscatello. “We developed training programs for Ukrainian physicians, so they are familiar with the advanced surgical skills necessary to treat these horrendous injuries. We taught these techniques while we were in Ukraine and are developing a program to bring Ukrainian surgeons to the U.S. for this training.”
At press time, Dr. Moscatello, Dr. Abraham, and their colleagues were scheduled to return to Ukraine in April. Dr. Abraham estimates that the September 2022 mission provided more than $1 million in donated medical supplies and services.
Ellen Bloom, MPH
Director of Community Affairs for NYP Westchester, NYP Westchester Behavioral Health Center, and NYP Hudson Valley Hospital
Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
From a young age, Ellen Bloom was focused on giving back to her community. When she was a teen, she became a candy striper at Bronxville’s Lawrence Hospital, which is now NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester.
“I’ve always been sensitive to the plight of marginalized or victimized individuals. I am empathetic and believe strongly in being an advocate for people whose voices may not be heard or those who need support and guidance in getting basic needs met,” says Bloom.
“I’ve always been sensitive to the plight of marginalized or victimized individuals.”
She has been directing community-outreach programs and implementing regional grassroots initiatives for more than 30 years. A champion for health and wellness, Bloom helped NYP allocate $250,000 to community organizations in 2022.
During the pandemic, she brought hope to her community. Bloom teamed up with Westchester Behavioral Health Center to create virtual programs to address the fear that many students were experiencing due to isolation. Interactive Zoom discussions on anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders were introduced. In 2022, NYP’s team hosted 228 virtual events, which touched 12,000 lives.
Last year, Bloom helped dramatically increase funding for Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP) by establishing sponsorships. The revenue raised was four times the amount generated in 2021. Bloom also was instrumental in coordinating the distribution of nearly 24 tons of food through her work with the nonprofit organization Feeding Westchester.
Always cooking up ideas, Bloom also helped develop Physician in the Kitchen, which invites community members to learn how to cook healthy recipes while working alongside a chef and a physician.
Dr. Caroline DeFilippo
Medical Director for Adult Primary Care and Population Health, Optum
Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
“I treat the people I grew up with, and I love it.”
“I treat the people I grew up with, and I love it,” says Dr. Caroline DeFilippo. A general internist, she practices in Mount Kisco — just 15 minutes from her childhood home in Armonk. But professionally, she’s leagues from where she started. Not only is she a highly respected physician, Dr. DeFilippo also serves as medical director for adult primary care and population health for Optum. Although Dr. DeFilippo is continuously rated as one of the top doctors at Optum for patient satisfaction, she also works to provide all of Optum’s internal medicine and family practice physicians with resources to help patients that have diabetes, mental health issues, and other conditions. Additionally, she strives to head off doctor burnout and helms the Serious Illness Conversation Program, which trains healthcare professionals to have meaningful discussions with patients who face life-threatening conditions. With doctors’ workloads mounting and patients using new channels to call or email questions, Dr. DeFilippo’s extra effort sets a high bar. “That’s the challenge we’re trying to navigate as a profession, to be able to say to patients: ‘We want to be available and support you’ but do it in an efficient way. We need to engage through new channels while keeping our focus on the patients who are in the office, in front of us.” That means a conscious balance between big-picture challenges and one-on-one relationships. For example, DeFilippo calls her patients to discuss every test result and urge them to stick with their health plans. “It’s a way of saying, ‘I’m thinking of you,’” she says. “Face-to-face or not, the phone still has a way of bridging the distance. And people notice.”
Guy Fessenden
Executive Director, CHOICE of NY
Courtesy of Guy Fessenden
“People only listen to celebrities and kooks. I wasn’t famous, so I had to do something odd,” says Guy Fessenden, who ran cross-country from New York to California on a mission to generate awareness for mental illness and eliminate the stigma associated with it.
Determined to honor the strength of his daughter, Suzanne, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Fessenden managed to win the hearts of local media from coast to coast.
Although he had initially planned to return to his career in technology after his journey, Fessenden ultimately chose a different path. “Running alone for 600 hours allowed me an opportunity to think. Since I wanted to help people like my daughter, I decided to continue this work,” says Fessenden.
That’s when he joined CHOICE of NY, a peer-run, nonprofit, mental-health-advocacy agency based in New Rochelle. At the time, CHOICE served 120 people per month. Today, with Fessenden at the helm, the agency works with more than 3,000 people monthly.
Fessenden says he is honored to be part of an organization that saves lives while restoring people’s dignity and confidence. “Eighty percent of the people we work with have families that have given up on them. Once that happens, they start crashing,” he says.
CHOICE of NY is there to provide a safety net. Beyond case-management services, it offers job training and placement, a wellness center, food pantry, clothing lending service, and more.
A motivational speaker, Fessenden moonlights as a standup comedian who performs regularly. He uses comedy as a tool to connect with people and get his message across.
Dr. Mill Etienne, MPH, FAAN, FAES
Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, New York Medical College
Photo courtesy of New York Medical College
Dr. Mill Etienne has accomplished so much in his career, one might suspect the universe had granted him 36-hour days.
Dr. Mill Etienne has accomplished so much in his career, one might suspect the universe had granted him 36-hour days. This busy neurologist is immediate past president of the New York State Neurological Society, chairs the Westchester Medical Center Health Equity Task Force, and is a U.S. Navy captain. He’s also New York Medical College’s vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and associate dean for student affairs. Ever since the 2020 founding of the college’s Task Force on Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias in Medicine, Dr. Etienne has been an outspoken team member. The initiative employs various strategies to raise students’ awareness of healthcare disparities and implicit bias toward marginalized people. One way it demonstrated the disparity in maternal and infant mortality, which disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities, was through hosting lectures by the families of women who died during pregnancy. In one case,“[the woman’s partner] felt they’d been judged because they were a young, Black couple,” Dr. Etienne says. The group also outlines how to respond to microaggressions. Rather than call out the offender on platforms such as social media, “you explain how what they said might make some people feel and give them an opportunity to correct that action,” he says.
Dr. Etienne is also an advisor to the Medical Student for a Day program, which invites Black, Hispanic, and other disadvantaged children to visit the medical school, and was keynote speaker at New York’s first Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit, inspiring Black middle and high schoolers to pursue healthcare careers. His aim is to create a better future — by working tirelessly toward it now.
Dr. Sandra Kesh
Physician, Summit / Westmed, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine
Courtesy of Dr. Sandra Kesh
Establishing trust with patients and enabling them to feel as if they’re heard and valued is paramount to Dr. Sandra Kesh. It’s also a key focus of her practice, which serves a large population of medically complicated and vulnerable patients.
“Listening to our patients’ stories, and what matters most to them, is critical. Despite all the recent changes in healthcare, the doctor-patient relationship remains the bedrock of medicine,” says Dr. Kesh, who’s held such positions as vice president, deputy medical director, and chief of population health during her distinguished tenure at Westmed, now part of Summit Health.
During casual discussions, Dr. Kesh notes that patients often raise concerns that have not been addressed. “Visits these days are rushed because there are so many checkboxes doctors have to click. But when you take time to truly understand the patient’s narrative, you’re able to offer the best care,” she says.
Open and engaging, it’s easy to understand how Dr. Kesh makes people feel at ease. Her leadership skills and knowledge of infectious diseases proved essential during the COVID pandemic, when she successfully led Westmed’s response.
With so much information circulating and “more unknowns than knowns,” it was hard for many to understand the real risks. Dr. Kesh helped ease fears by crafting messaging that was clear and concise. She further shared her expertise through the media, with appearances on CBS’ The Doctors, ABC News, CNBC, and WVOX Westchester, in addition to USA Today. “It was important for me to help keep people calm during a time of chaos,” says Dr. Kesh. In 2020, she was named a Notable LGBTQ Leader/Executive by Crain’s New York Business.
Healthcare Heroes 2023 Editors’ Award for Transformative Leadership
Dr. Robert E. Michler
Surgeon-in-Chief, Montefiore Health System; Chairman of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and Department of Surgery, Montefiore-Einstein
Courtesy of White Plains Hospital
In a sense, it would be fair to say that Dr. Robert Michler is the new face of cardiac surgery in Westchester County. As director of White Plains Hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiac surgery program, Dr. Michler presides over an elite team that performs a full-suite of world-class cardiac services, including complex cardiac surgery, mitral valve repair surgery, aortic valve and aneurysm surgery, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. To date, his center has achieved a 30-day survival rate of 100%, far exceeding national quality and performance metrics.
But just who is Dr. Robert E. Michler? A graduate of Harvard University and Dartmouth Medical School, with residencies at Columbia University and Harvard, Dr. Michler was one of the first physicians to perform minimally invasive and robotic surgery in heart patients. His pivotal work in robotics led to FDA approval of this advanced technology for mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass surgery. The American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation named him a “Mitral Valve Repair Reference Surgeon” for the quality of his work — a distinction held by only a handful of heart surgeons in the U.S. In 2017, Dr. Michler received the Vladimir Borakovsky Prize from the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Health for “his personal contributions to the development of cardiovascular surgery.”
Dr. Michler is also the founder and chairman of Heart Care International, which performs pediatric heart surgery in underserved regions of the world. Since 1994, Heart Care International has treated over 2,000 children with heart disease and has performed heart surgery on more than 1,300 children and young adults in Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Peru, and Mexico. He is a highly sought-after health authority who has provided commentary to NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Dr. Marshal Peris
Chief of Spine Surgery, Northern Westchester Hospital
Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
No matter the medical specialty, there’s always someone people dub “the guy.” For orthopedic and spine surgery, that physician is Dr. Marshal Peris, chief of spine surgery at Northern Westchester Hospital. But that’s not the only hat he’s worn at the institution: From 2011 to 2018, he was a trustee and the hospital’s president of medical staff, overseeing the creation of a new ER and six operating rooms. Currently, he is on the Clinical Governance Committee of Optum, the healthcare company under which he practices, and a member of its Clinical Consistency group. “We’re creating algorithms for taking care of certain patient problems,” he says. “In my specialty, how do you take care of someone with lower-back pain? What’s the first step in treating them, and then, what do you do if there’s no improvement after several weeks?”
As part of One World Surgery, Dr. Peris assisted in 180 consultations and 24 surgeries in Honduras.
Previously, Dr. Peris was vice president of CareMount Medical, a company Optum recently acquired. Under his watch, CareMount flourished, growing from 70 to 650 healthcare professionals. In his very limited spare time, Dr. Peris, former president of the Westchester County Medical Society, advocates legislation to help doctors practice affordably and is a passionate volunteer. As part of an organization called One World Surgery, he traveled to Honduras and assisted in 180 consultations and 24 surgeries. Closer to home, he participates in the Westchester County Medical Society’s annual community activity commemorating 9/11. “One year we worked on a farm in Yorktown; another year we cleaned up a garden outside the community center in Port Chester,” he says. Such down-to-earth efforts exemplify the giving spirit of a true healer.
Sharon Herl
Principal, Elizabeth Seton Children’s School
Courtesy of Elizabeth Seton Children’s School
All school principals aim to provide their students with an excellent education and the chance to bond with peers. For Sharon Herl, however, this task is uniquely challenging. She is the principal of Elizabeth Seton Children’s School in Yonkers, which is located on the site of Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, a facility that serves children with multiple complex medical needs. Yet, through hard work, innovation, and tenacious advocacy, Herl has created a remarkable learning environment. In her 30-plus years as principal, she has enhanced the offerings for the school’s nearly 135 children, all of whom are long-term residents of the center. She oversaw the expansion of the school’s half-day preschool to a full-day program and eliminated a stressful midday break for older students.
Under Herl’s leadership, Elizabeth Seton Children’s School has been a School of Excellence for 15 consecutive years.
Nor has Herl overlooked the frailest children, who need high-tech medical help, including respiratory and life-sustaining equipment. “They have their classrooms in the same part of the building where they live,” says Herl, who had to lobby the New York State Education Department directly for that special arrangement. But Herl also emphasizes a warm and inclusive atmosphere, celebrating all religious holidays, along with proms and graduation ceremonies. No wonder the school has been named a School of Excellence by the National Association of Special Education Teachers for 15 consecutive years. During COVID, Herl helped introduce remote learning and later, small-group instruction. “We were able to bring back a limited number of staff, then over time, everyone came back,” she says. “The children’s faces totally changed when they saw their teachers and therapists again. You could see that recognition of ‘I remember you! I’ve really missed you!’”
Jolie Sutter, LCSW-R
Social Worker, NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Cancer Center
Courtesy of Jolie Sutter
It takes a special person to work with people who were recently diagnosed with cancer and are about to undergo treatment. Social worker Jolie Sutter is certainly ideal for the role. When meeting newcomers to the NYP Westchester Cancer Center, she strives to get to know the person rather than the patient.
As an amputee, Sutter has lots of experience as a patient. “I know how I like to be treated. As a patient, I’m not always treated to the standard of excellence that I set for myself as a healthcare professional,” she says.
Rather than solely focusing on mental health and social needs, Sutter is proudly involved in all aspects of patient well-being. “The words ‘cancer,’ ‘chemotherapy,’ and ‘radiation’ create all kinds of intense feelings. Getting to know patients from a personal standpoint and being part of their journeys is my honor,” says Sutter.
Although she has personally undergone multiple surgeries, Sutter’s dedication to her patients always trumps her own medical issues. Every day, she arrives to work, often on crutches, armed with a smile and eager to make a difference.
“Jolie is truly the unifying link for everyone here at our cancer center and is an indispensable and special member of our team,” says her colleague, Dr. Nancy Mills.
“You would think sadness is the prevailing emotion here, but it’s not. My goal is to elicit smiles and laughter from my patients and rarely, if ever, do my team and I fail,” says Sutter.
Kimrita Louise Hill
Certified Peer Specialist/Supervisor, CHOICE of NY
Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
Hill educates colleagues and the community on how to effectively and compassionately work with those who are mentally ill.
Most people have scars from childhood, but Kimrita Louise Hill’s scars run much deeper than most. Before being called into her current career, Hill received quite a hard-knocks education from being homeless and time spent in mental hospitals and jail.
It’s no wonder that Hill’s life was consumed by darkness. During her childhood, she endured various forms of abuse, which eventually led to drug use, sex work, violence to herself and others, and even losing custody of her children. In a final act of desperation, Hill attempted suicide. But rather than let the past determine her future, Hill decided it was time to rise from the ashes of her hapless existence.
When Hill joined a women’s group at St. Vincent’s Hospital, she connected with Louise Ellis, LCSW-R, who encouraged her to become a peer specialist.
At CHOICE of NY, a peer-run, nonprofit advocacy agency, Hill works with people who are mentally ill. Since Hill was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, she can provide unique compassion and support to those whom society too often lets slip into oblivion.
A regular speaker at the Westchester Police Academy, Hill educates colleagues and the community on how to effectively and compassionately work with those who are mentally ill. She also educates police officers, detectives, first responders, federal agents, and other groups.
Although Hill still hears voices and experiences powerful episodes of guilt, the light always eclipses the darkness. She has been sober 19 years; she is also a mother, grandmother, and perhaps most of all, an unforgettable inspiration.
Dr. Claudia Felberg
Medical Director and Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Physician, Scarsdale Medical Group; Section Chief, Pulmonology, White Plains Hospital; Vice President, Medical Staff, White Plains Hospital
Photo courtesy of Dr. Claudia Felberg
Dr. Claudia Felberg’s role in managing patient health goes well beyond the parameters of a traditional doctor-patient relationship. During a long and illustrious career that has included more than 80,000 patient appointments, she’s made lasting connections and has been alongside many of her patients as they celebrated milestone events.
“For me, taking care of patients is like taking care of my family. Every single patient who comes to my office becomes a friend. We talk about the good and the bad,” says Dr. Felberg. She’s also there to comfort them as they navigate life-threatening illnesses.
“Dr. Felberg took care of me during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even on her days off, she asked me to stay in touch with her. I always tell her that I am breathing today because of her,” says one of her patients.
“I find the time because I want to,” says Dr. Felberg, “because medicine is not just about doing a physical exam or trying to find out what hurts. It’s about understanding the whole person.”
During the pandemic, Dr. Felberg helped establish an outdoor COVID-19 testing center at Scarsdale Medical Group. She was also instrumental in helping those who struggled with persistent respiratory issues. In addition, Dr. Felberg connected many Westchester-based people with the lifesaving medical care they so desperately needed.
“Dr. Felberg is what all physicians should aspire to be,” says Dr. Michael Palumbo, EVP & Chief Medical Officer of White Plains Hospital. “She is dedicated to her patients, respected by her colleagues, and incredibly passionate about her profession. She has contributed so much to the health of our community.”
Our Healthcare Heroes
These 13 amazing individuals have stepped up to make helping others a personal mandate. They may be your neighbors, healthcare providers, or leaders in the communities where you live and/or work. They represent the pillars of our community and are a key factor in the quality of life we have come to expect in Westchester County. We are privileged to have them among us and honored to showcase them to the grateful community they serve.
Our Method
We typically receive anywhere from 80 to 120 Healthcare Heroes nominations each year, submitted by family, friends, patients, coworkers, managers, hospital CEOs and presidents, and even public officials. After being vetted, that collection is distilled down to the 40 or 50 strongest nominations, representing a diverse roster that includes not only doctors and nurses but also therapists, executives, entrepreneurs, and public servants. From this group, our six judges independently select their top-tier candidates (Tier 1), along with three to five “alternates” (Tier 2), from single-blind, redacted nominations that reveal neither the names nor the current professional affiliations of the nominees. Then, a differentiated value of points is awarded to each selection, according to whether they are Tier 1 or Tier 2, with the top point-earners declared to be winners.
Our Judges
It is with the deepest gratitude that we acknowledge our blue-ribbon panel of judges — each an accomplished healthcare provider in their own right and a leader in the community. They are:
Robert W. Amler, MD, MBA
New York Medical College, Vice President, Government Affairs; Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice and Institute of Public Health; Professor of Public Health, Pediatrics, and Environmental Health Science
Sherlita Amler, MD, MS
Commissioner of Health, Westchester County
Kathy Reilly Fallon, MD
Board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, Midtown Manhattan Health Center; Founder and Chairwoman, Heavenly Productions Foundation
Mary H. Gadomski, BSN, RN
Executive Director, Montefiore Home Care
Jessica Zwerling, MD, MS
Director, Montefiore Hudson Valley Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease; Professor of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Program Director, UCNS Geriatric Neurology Fellowship; Director, Memory Disorders Center at Blondell; Associate Director, Center for the Aging Brain; Clinical Director, Einstein Aging Study
Nitin Gupta, MD, FAAP
Board-certified general pediatrician and Owner/Founder of Rivertowns Pediatrics, Dobbs Ferry
Get a beautiful, lush garden with plenty to harvest but without any of the work, thanks to this local company.
Have you always dreamed of having a lush garden with a bountiful harvest in your backyard, but you don’t have the time, skills, or energy? Now you can have your tomatoes and eat them, too, thanks to the area company Homefront Farmers.
Not only can they design a beautiful vegetable garden and construct it for you on-site; they can also prune, weed, harvest, and care for it throughout the season.
“We have built over 650 gardens to date and maintained about 250 client gardens weekly from April through November,” says Marissa Perri, director of sales and marketing at Homefront Farmers. “We view ourselves as an upscale homesteading company, since we also tap maple trees, do beekeeping, grow mushrooms, build composters, and chicken runs. We love helping families learn how to make their land as fruitful as possible, using sustainable homesteading methods.”
An example of the keyhole garden design the company is known for.
They can build gardens throughout the winter, so there is never a bad time to reach out. And no garden is too big or too small, according to Perri. They can tailor the layout to fit your property size and family needs.
If you already have a garden on your property, that’s okay too. They will plant the produce you want and tend it throughout the season. For garden planting and maintenance, this usually takes place from early April through mid-May, to get all the spring and summer crops in. They will also plant the right crops during the hotter summer months into fall. “We are actively managing succession plantings, so our clients have a steady stream of lettuces and other crops that are hard to grow in the summer heat,” says Perri. “Toward the end of summer, we do a big fall planting of peas, lettuces, spinach, baby greens, carrots, and more, so our clients’ gardens are still producing abundantly in a season when most people have already put their gardens to bed.”
If you have a desire to get your hands dirty but need a bit of help with the planning, they have that covered too.
The process starts off with a comprehensive virtual consultation with the master gardener to discuss what produce you want to grow for the season. A garden blueprint is then finalized, and the team plants seeds, weeds, thins, prunes, and trellises all season long. They are certified organic through Bay State, which has extremely rigorous standards, and use only organic integrated management approaches to deal with plant disease and garden insects.
“Growing food for people is an incredibly intimate experience, and we don’t take that responsibility and privilege lightly.”
—Marissa Perri
They grow only organic certified varieties that you can’t find in nurseries or big-box stores. “We grow all of Dan Barber’s (of Blue Hill at Stone Barns) varieties, which are always a fan favorite,” says Perri. “We do this because we love the varieties, tastes, and textures but also the uniqueness fosters engagement and curiosity for the children in the families we service.”
One of the founding employees of Homefront Farmers, Miranda Gould now serves as director of client operations.
If you decide to go the maintenance route, each client is generally assigned one homestead manager for the season. They will send recap emails following each visit to share everything they have done, crops they have harvested, what might be coming up, and some of their favorite recipes for the produce picked right from your garden.
“Growing food for people is an incredibly intimate experience, and we don’t take that responsibility and privilege lightly,” says Perri.
Etoile is a new, French-inspired home shop in Bronxville, offering locals a taste of the elegant city right here in Westchester.
A new home store has hit the scene in Bronxville. Named Etoile, it is the realization of a longtime aspiration for owner and interior designer Patricia Knox.
Photo by Emily Tull Pollakowski
“It was always a dream of mine to open a retail concept that included beautifully curated items for the home,” says Knox, who previously worked at Ralph Lauren. “We offer a low-key environment where a customer can pick up a beautiful accessory for their home, a wedding gift, inquire about design services, or just stop in to sit down and chat.”
Kitchen designed by Patricia Knox. Courtesy Etoile.
Knox, who attends both Deco Off and Maison et Object in Paris annually, gets a serious dose of inspiration and ideas from the fashionable city. “There is a story that Christian Dior found a shiny, metal star on the way to his first meeting as a courtier, and he kept it with him as his lucky charm,” says Knox. “Fashion and couture have always influenced home design, and who better to be inspired by than Christian Dior.”
Etoile, which means “star” in French, is inspired by Dior’s story. The vibe upon entering is welcoming and luxurious yet approachable. “We encourage customers to walk around, look at everything, ask questions, grab a water from the bar, and make themselves at home,” says Knox. “Anything in the shop can go home that day, so we like to think of it as our dream home.”
Some of her favorite items include the custom pillows that were designed for the shop and the custom furniture pieces.
Courtesy Etoile
This summer you can expect to find colorful, silk Ikat pillows, dinnerware, and small clutch bags in silk Ikat prints, all from Italy. For those who like to entertain, Etoile also carries colorful cordless lamps and handblown glassware – perfect for summer dinner parties.
Etoile is also an excellent place to visit if you’re looking for something unique for your home or as a gift. “Generally speaking, when we sell out of special items, we won’t replace them with the same items,” says Knox. “We want our customers to have exclusivity to the items that they purchase and to know they won’t see it everywhere.” J’adore!
Beach accessories to refresh your Westchester home. Photos courtesy of respective companies. Featured Adobe Stock | siraphol.
Can’t make it to the beach? These blue and breezy accessories and furnishings will get you in the mood for summer.
By Jenn Andrlik and Sabrina Sucato
With summer right around the corner in Westchester, there’s no time like the present to add a few beach accessories to your home. Whether you’re decorating for outdoors, indoors, or both, these blue and breezy finds will make it feel like you’re on vacation (well, almost) right in your abode.
Love the idea of chilling in a hammock by the beach? This chic hanging chair from Anthropologie is ideal for indoor or outdoor use and comes in a soothing shade of indigo.
Wild Strelitzia Deep Blue Serving Tray, $85; Sarza, Rye; sarzastore.com
For all your summer dinner parties, this deep blue serving tray is the perfect beach-inspired accessory. Use it for appetizers or bite-sized desserts so that the pop of color can shine through.
If you already have outdoor furniture but want to give it a summer refresh, consider these elegant outdoor pillows. The versatile accessories are an easy way to bring the beach vibes home.
French Blue with Contrast White Embroidered Piping in Wipeable Linen, $27 each; Etoile, Bronxville; etoilehome.com
How lovely is this linen placement? Get it in an elegant shade of French blue, then breathe a sigh of relief as you effortlessly wipe away any crumbs or spills once dinner concludes.
Tina Frey Fleur Bowl Medium, White, $175; Current Home, Scarsdale; currenthomeny.com
With curves reminiscent of those of a seashell, this lovely bowl from Tina Frey is a perfect option for a centerpiece. Fill it with fresh citrus or potpourri for a chic anchor on your table.
Roos Outdoor Chaise, $3,299; Arhaus, The Westchester, White Plains; arhaus.com
Bring the beach to you with this elegant outdoor chaise. While it’s made for outdoor use, it’s pretty enough that it could easily work inside your home as well.
Add a splash to your bathroom or mudroom with this fun wallpaper from Ethan Allen. While the pattern is eye-catching, the hues are soft enough to add a beachy aesthetic without feeling overwhelming.
When it’s time for a round of summer drinks and appetizers, look no further than these nautical cocktail picks. With fun shapes and a variety of designs, these will add an unexpected pop to cocktails and small bites.
How do you score on the best holes in Westchester County? We asked the experts who know just how to approach them.
Golf requires multiple skills, both mental and physical. The wonderful courses in Westchester call for them all, so we chose 18 holes to make up a Skills Tester Course that demonstrates the full gamut of techniques you’d need, then asked the PGA pros who play those holes for a living how to put a par or better on your scorecard.
HOLE 1
Fenway GC #18 Scarsdale 512 yards // Par 5
Our round starts with making choices — hopefully smart ones. The uphill finishing hole at Fenway brings water, sand, and out-of-bounds into play, so the first step to scoring par is to engage your brain. “If you hit a good tee shot, you can go for the green in two,” says head pro Tyler Jaramillo, “but it’s a hard ‘go-for-it’ because the green has out-of-bounds all around, and you’re probably not hitting off a level lie. The tee shot doesn’t need to be long, but it must be straight, because there are deep bunkers on the left and the creek on the right. If you lay up off the tee to the bottom of the road, though, and then lay up short of the road at the top of the hill, you’ve got an easy 120-yard shot to the green.”
HOLE 2
GlenArbor GC #4 Bedford Hills 415 yards // Par 4
The drive determines your likely success on the #1 handicap hole at GlenArbor. Long matters a lot, but straight may matter more, since there’s trouble both left and right. Head pro David Gagnon says the most important step is the first one you take, walking up to the tee box. That’s when you should mentally visualize a positive picture of a long, straight drive. “Then just let go,” he says. “Forget all those technical swing thoughts and swing free.”
Pound Ridge GC, Hole 2
HOLE 3
Bonnie Briar CC #11 Larchmont 453 yards // Par 4
This dogleg right may play downhill, but it’s still a long, long journey from tee to green. The best line to the green is from the right side of the fairway, but beware the bunker just off the short grass that’s within reach of a solid drive. The second shot is long, too (and blind, to boot), but at least the green isn’t surrounded by sand. Check your approach line before you swing and aim for the left side of the green, which tilts right.
HOLE 4
Century CC #13 Purchase 140 yards // Par 3
“Just don’t think about the water,” says head pro Nelson Long, who retired from Century last year after nearly five decades at the club. “It’s a short hole without a lot of depth to the green, so pick the right club for the distance, relax your grip, and take a couple of practice swings to build a smooth tempo.” Long’s buttery-smooth swing is a great one to emulate — it qualified him to play in two USGA championships, 45 years apart: the U.S. Junior in 1968 and the U.S. Senior Open in 2013.
GlenArbor GC Hole 4
HOLE 5
Anglebrook GC #13 Lincolndale 582 yards // Par 5
It may be one of the most intimidating par fives in the county, but head pro AJ Berglund says par is very, very possible. “It’s all about giving yourself the best third shot,” he says. “Off the tee, you have more room to the right than you think, and your ball will funnel left to the center of the fairway on both your tee shot and second shot. The second shot is really the key. With a good one down to the flat before the water, you’ve got a much better chance at putting the ball on the proper tier on the huge green. People get scared by the length of the hole, but it’s not a hard par if you play it smart.”
HOLE 6
Wykagyl CC #15 New Rochelle 341 yards // Par 4
“The 15th hole at Wykagyl may be short, but it is no walk in the park,” says director of instruction Anna Ausanio. “When I step onto the tee, I play a conservative shot, using either a hybrid or fairway wood to give me comfortable yardage to the green. My most crucial move while making that swing is to allow my arms to start first from the top of the backswing back down to the ball. This produces a nice, high, baby draw. My worst mistake is trying to overpower my shot and not being patient, causing me to come over the top.” She points out that the hole’s green is very tricky, too, with multiple tiers and a false front, so choose a layup distance where you can hit a wedge you believe in.
HOLE 7
Pelham CC #2 Pelham 210 yards // Par 3
One of the finest par 3s in Westchester, Pelham’s second hole gives you a lot to think about on the tee box, but proper club selection is absolutely paramount. The hole is long but plays downhill. The green is large, but so is the bunker guarding it on the left. Long and right may be safe, but you’ll be left with a dangerous flop shot from a downhill lie in long rough to a green that’s sloping away from you. Short is safe only if your ball lands in a narrow flat on the right front of the green, otherwise it may well slide down to the bunker. So pick the right club and aim for the center of the green.
HOLE 8
Knollwood CC #6 Elmsford 432 yards // Par 4
The #1 handicap hole at Knollwood is named Tribulation for more than one reason. The tee shot needs to land in the left half of the fairway to avoid being blocked by trees on the right. Your second must carry two intimidating high-lipped cross bunkers 60 yards from the green. Just to top it off, the green has three convoluted tiers and more than one edge where a poorly judged putt can run off into more trouble.
HOLE 9
Leewood CC #15 Eastchester 464 yards // Par 4
You’ll need a good drive and an even better second shot to reach the green on this par 4, which played as a par 5 until the course was renovated a few years ago. Many mere mortals will hit a fairway wood into the green, and head pro Dean Johnson says setting up for one makes a big difference. “The ball should be just inside your front heel,” Johnson says. “The only time you play it further back in your stance is if you want a lower ball flight.” For solid contact, Johnson adds, “The swing should have a sweeping motion, not a downward strike like with an iron.”
HOLE 10
Pound Ridge GC #2 Pound Ridge 451 yards // Par 4
A pond protects the green on the excruciatingly hard 2nd hole at Pound Ridge, so second-shot layups are the norm rather than the exception. You can still get your par, though, if you chip or pitch your approach shot with finesse. Head pro Brad Worthington says preparation for the shot is essential. He asks himself: Is the ball sitting up or down in the grass? “If it’s sitting down, I’ll play the ball back in my stance and account for more run.” Also, where do I want the ball to land, on an upslope or a downslope? When it comes to technique, he says, “I set up with 80 percent of my weight on my lead leg. For the backswing, I simply lift the club with my trail elbow, and for the downswing, I pivot toward the target and extend my arms. Since my arms are not over-accelerating relative to my body, each pitch comes out high and lands softly. A successful shot rolls slowly and finishes close to the pin.”
HOLE 11
Golf Club of Purchase #16 Purchase 435 yards // Par 4
Jack Nicklaus says he was inspired by the 11th hole at Augusta when he designed this hole. A lake protects the left side of the green, and, depending on your tee shot, you’re challenging it with an approach shot that may need to fly 200 yards. There is a bailout on the right side of the green, but it will leave you with a pitch back toward the lake. Director of golf Carl Alexander says, “The key to playing this hole is to keep your ball out of the penalty areas, right off the tee and left by the green. If you’re out of position on the tee ball, playing short of the green is always an excellent choice to save par and avoid making more than bogey. Par is well earned and often appreciated.”
HOLE 12
Quaker Ridge GC #17 Scarsdale 344 yards // Par 4
After two demanding par 4s to start the back nine, it seems like a relief to play a short one. But don’t count your par until the ball is in the cup. Hitting this tiny green is the challenge, according to head pro Mario Guerra, who cautions that a good sand game will come in handy if you miss. His formula for blasting up and out of the bunker with confidence? “Forget hitting two inches behind the ball. Take a steep backswing and aim to hit down and under the ball. Be sure to follow thru without trying to scoop the ball, and it will pop up onto the green.”
HOLE 13
Salem GC #2 Salem 198 yards // Par 3
Head pro Kevin Breen points out that this fine par 3 plays downhill, but you should note where the pin is located, since the green is long enough to call for different clubs if it’s cut in the back or front. The green also has two tiers, and reaching the back one can be difficult if you don’t have the right club for the distance.
Century CC, Hole 13
HOLE 14
Sunningdale GC #16 Scarsdale 560 yards // Par 5
Head pro Christopher Toulson says every shot counts on this long par 5. “The ideal tee shot is down the right-hand side of the fairway, but Underhill Road and out-of-bounds lurk right. If you drive conservatively to the left, your next shot becomes more challenging, since it will be played into an area that is gradually narrowed by a creek on the right and a penalty area on the left. You can avoid this trouble by laying back, but then you will be faced with a third shot from a tricky downhill lie. Because the green is small and elevated and usually firm, having a shorter third shot from a level lie increases your chances of holding the green. But in order to access this level area, you’ll have to play a bold second shot with a longer club. The 16th green is spectacular. It cants gently from left to right with a subtle spine running through its center. If you mishit your approach shot, the green’s fierce false front will sweep your ball back, leaving you with an exacting uphill chip. The golfer will want a shorter approach into this demanding green, which in turn puts a premium on a well-played drive and second shot.”
HOLE 15
Sleepy Hollow #18 Scarborough 426 yards // Par 4
Wykagyl CC, Hole 15
Few golf clubs generate more mishits by average players than mid or long irons, yet that’s just the club necessary to reach the elevated green on the finishing hole at Sleepy Hollow. Head pro David Young, who retired after 20 years at the club last year, says it’s not a hard shot to hit as long as you let the club do the work. “Take plenty of club and position the back of the ball in the midpoint of your stance,” he says, “then concentrate on a smooth, slow tempo. Don’t rush your swing, and don’t try to lift the ball; it will go farther and higher than you think.”
Leewood CC, Hole 15
HOLE 16
Westchester Hills GC #7 White Plains 344 yards // Par 4
A driver may not be the best choice from the tee on this short-but-tricky par 4. The best club, in fact, is the one you never, ever hit to the right, since out-of-bounds hugs the right side of the fairway from tee to green, relieved only grudgingly by a bunker that can be almost as punishing. Hit a club that’s long enough to put you within short-iron range, though, because the approach shot to the small well-bunkered green needs to fly high and land softly.
An often overlooked but quite valid strategy for this uphill par 3 is to lay up in front of the green, then chip to leave yourself a makeable par putt. The shot is known as a “Patroni” at Apawamis, named for the former head pro who used it consistently to avoid the three deadly misses on the hole. Right or left leaves you at best with a bunker shot and at worst with a flop out of long rough, while any shot long and over the green is simply dead on arrival.
Quaker Ridge GC, Hole 17
Of course, you can aim to hit the narrow, sloping green, but what are the odds?
HOLE 18
Westchester CC West #3 Rye 460 yards // Par 5
Our finishing hole offers a multitude of challenges and opportunities. It’s a short par 5, but the scorecard doesn’t begin to tell the real story. “Off the tee,” director of golf Ben Hoffhine explains, “the fairway is generous but flanked by bunkers. About 230 yards from the green, the fairway pitches downhill, which can give your drive a big kick. Regardless of whether you get that advantage or not, you then have a decision to make. The green and approach are perched on top of a hill that’s covered in thick rough from 90 yards in. In other words, short is not good, so think twice before swinging for the fences. A layup to the 100-yard marker is safe, but it leaves a third shot severely up hill to a blind green. Once on the green, you have to navigate a ridge that plays havoc with many putts.” After you hole out, Hoffhine says, “Look back down the fairway and over to the fourth hole — one of many great vistas on the golf course.”
Sleepy Hollow, Hole 18
Putt for Dough
The one club you need on every hole is your putter. We asked Bill Smittle, a PGA professional with special insights into the art and science of the flat stick, what he teaches his students about how to roll their rocks most effectively.
“Putting is all about geometry,” he says. “You have to read the line, get your ball started on that line, and control the ball’s speed.”
After coaching hundreds of good golfers over the years, Smittle concludes that most of us think we’re good at reading greens, but we’re not. Especially on Westchester’s slick carpets, most players under-read the breaks. He says we should follow these steps:
Look for the general slope of the green in the surrounding landscape as you walk up to it.
Find the best line from behind your ball.
Step up and straddle the line to check your read with your feet.
Go to the low side of the line to confirm.
“Then forget that nonsense about the three-foot circle. You want to make every single putt.”
With Passover and Easter just around the corner, we sought out the top places and best menus so you can enjoy your holiday.
By Julia Mallon and Hannah Teligades
Whether you’re looking for the perfect all-around prix-fixe meal, a catering service with endless options, or dinner with the Easter Bunny, Westchester has something for every Passover and Easter celebration.
By The Way Bakery has a variety of cakes, tortes, and cookies perfect for a sweet treat during Passover. All baked goods are wheat-free, dairy-free, and kosher pareve. The holiday menu is consistent with the Sephardic tradition of using kitniyot (rice and corn) during Passover. Desserts include Safta’s seven-layer cake, hazelnut crème torte, cinnamon streusel coffee cake, coconut macaroons, and more. (The deadline to order in time for Passover is March 31.)
Epstein’s offers an extensive catering menu for Passover, with a choice between a holiday dinner and a classic Seder dinner. The traditional holiday dinner includes soup, an entrée, two sides, matzo, and gravy ($25.99 per person), and the five-course Seder dinner ($30.99 per person) featuring an appetizer, soup, entrée, two sides, and gravy, plus cranberry compote or Tsimmis dessert and matzo. Choices include chopped liver, stuffed cabbage, souffles, kugels, and cakes. Epstein’s also has a broader menu of trays available if you plan on feeding a larger number of guests.
For $72 a person on April 5, Moderne Barn is serving a three-course Passover menu featuring renditions of traditional Seder dishes. Notable entrées include the grilled Atlantic salmon with Moroccan black lentils, garlic spinach, and eggplant chutney, and the red wine braised beef brisket with green beans, mashed potatoes, and fried shoestring onions. There is also an abbreviated version of the menu available for takeout.
This seasoned Kosher grocery store has everything you need for a feast and no less. The extensive Passover menu includes a variety of meat dishes from braised short rib to Moroccan lamb shanks, schnitzels, salmon, kugels, Mediterranean platters, and a matzo lasagna. It also has Seder packages for six or 12 people. Place your orders by the end of day March 29. All orders are pickup only.
There’s no shortage of treats here — with almond or coconut macaroons (by the half pound), lemon, cocoa, or charoset burst cakes, as well as flourless cheesecake, Passover brownies, or espresso, chocolate, and grand Marnier pots de crème. (Orders must be placed by phone before April 2.)
Looking to serve show-stopping dishes at your own Passover celebration? Susan Lawrence boutique catering makes hosting easy with its gorgeous presentations. A traditional favorite is the Gefilte fish, updated with delicate julienne vegetables, garden fresh dill aspic, fresh flower petals, and a pink horseradish sauce. This dairy-free first course comes in packages of six, and entrées can range in serving four to 10 guests. There are full cakes available for dessert, including a Passover strawberry shortcake and Passover crème brulée cheesecake. (Orders must be placed by Saturday, April 1 at 4 p.m. Pickup is on April 5.)
During Passover, pick up a matzah pizza pie complete with Kosher toppings from Nick’s Pizza and Ice Cream. The Yalla Matzah Pizza pop-up was started by nine-year-old Armonk resident Hudson Greenstein. Call in to place your order. The pop-up offers full pies and personal pies throughout Passover.
If you’re looking to splurge on a classic but delicious steakhouse dinner for Easter, Benjamin Steakhouse is doing an appetizer, entrée, side, and dessert for $89.95 per person. The menu features choices of Blue Point oysters, lobster bisque, bone-in ribeye, chicken parmesan, and chocolate mousse cake. And now for the surprise guest…the Easter Bunny will be available for complimentary photos from 12-4 p.m., and dinner will go until 10 p.m.
The Brazilian steakhouse will be open all day Easter Sunday for family brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 2-9 p.m. There will be fixed dinner pricing all day. There is also a Brazilian-inspired Easter to-go package available for pickup or delivery on April 8 and April 9, featuring a choice of fire-roasted meats, tasty Brazilian sides, Pão de Queijo, and cocoa fudge brownies.
If you’re looking to dine out this Easter Sunday, head over to Goosefeather, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. In addition to the regular menu, a few specials will be available. Look for the tuna tartare tacos with avocado, pineapple, and Thai chili, along with braised lamb ribs with pho flavors, ginger-garlic crème, and papaya salad.
This modern French spot is serving up a half rack of Colorado lamb all Easter Sunday. Enjoy a prix fixe, three-course menu for $125 or a four-course version for $165. Other dinner menu highlights include Maine diver scallops, medallions of veal tenderloin, and a sautéed foie gras with house-made brioche.
Prefer an Easter brunch over dinner? From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Moderne Barn will serve a curated list of holiday brunch specials. The chef special of the day will be grilled leg of lamb with Greek salad and mustard onions for $42. The standard dinner menu will also be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Seth’s will also be offering an Easter dessert menu. There’s a six-inch whipped cream cakes that serves about six people for $49, as well as cheesecakes in an assortment of flavors, apple tart, coffee cakes, sticky bun loafs, and an assortment of butter cookies. Place your order by April 2.
Nothing says Easter dessert like cakes shaped as Easter eggs so elaborate you won’t want to cut into them. Susan Lawrence’s Fabergé Easter egg cakes are made of white cake with dark chocolate and white chocolate ganache filling, and yes, they are shaped like eggs. Other Easter dinner specials for catering include the spiral sliced ham with honey-mustard glaze, garlic shrimp, asparagus soup, quiche Lorraine, and key lime coconut cream pie with macadamia nut and coconut crust. (Orders must be placed by Tuesday, April 4, at 4 p.m. Pickup is April 8.)
A company in Hastings-on-Hudson brings therapy and sustainability to the forefront of home organization.
With the celebration of Earth Day in April, we wanted to introduce you to a local business that takes organizing to a whole new level — a green level! Balaboste was started in 2021 by Gal Yaguri, who has 20 years of professional experience in global business operations and an interior design certificate from the Parsons School of Design but decided to make a change in her career.
“My last job was with a leadership development company,” says Yaguri. “There, I gained professional language and skills that enhanced critical thinking as well as an ability to communicate more thoughtfully and hold space for others, which are critical aspects in the work of space organization.”
She loves HGTV shows, home design, and was always the friend who gave tips and advice to help them organize. “Balaboste is the perfect culmination of my studies and professional experience combined into one offering,” she says.
Balaboste is a Yiddish word that means “good homemaker.” But Yaguri finds that being a good homemaker like her grandmother and many women before us is not just someone who cleans, cooks, and keeps things tidy, it is a lifestyle and a practice.
Her organizing philosophy is two-fold, wellness in the space (therapeutic) and a deep focus on sustainability and zero waste.
“I have been exploring somatic and mindfulness theories, which I thoughtfully weave into everyday practice,” says Yaguri. “This informs the work I do with a heightened focus on the impact of energy in a physical space.”
She says objects hold energy and with too many objects in a space we can feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable. People who are downsizing, which makes up about 50 percent of her overall clientele, may go through a range of emotions during the editing process. This is where the therapeutic approach comes in. She meets the client where they are and they work through the process together. Then comes the inevitable question: What do you do with all that stuff?
Gal Yaguri. Photo courtesy of Balaboste.
“I have been exploring somatic and mindfulness theories, which I thoughtfully weave into daily practice”
—Gal Yaguri
Yaguri has innovated the space organization field by offering sustainable solutions for the removal and management of unused goods. Currently, she has more than 20 organizations where she donates items so they don’t go to waste. She is also spearheading a Take It or Leave It garage, a reuse space in Hastings on Hudson.
As for her organization, services are offered as three options:
My Space, which is a full project-management service that supports big life events, such as downsizing, renovations, partings, or new beginnings.
My Self, which is a space-organizing service helping to declutter, sort, and repurpose.
Finally, there is One Step at a Time, which can begin with a small project, like a drawer or a cabinet. This service is offered virtually or in-person.
