Westchester Family - October 2022

Alexa Wilding

On being a cancer mom and a cancer survivor (who writes about her highs and lows @alexawilding) and shares about her rollercoaster journey to accepting her many identities and her take on the word resilience

Fall iS Here!

Our favorites for

Family Road Trips

Halloween Thrills

Pumpkin Picking

Bucket List Fun!

Thornton-Donovan School

An individual, global & thematic educational experience

it all started over a century ago, when a small elementary school nicknamed the “Little Red Schoolhouse” was founded in New Rochelle with the primary goal of meeting the changing needs of its students, community and society.

Today, 121 years later, Thornton-Donovan school still retains that mission, with a philosophy and curriculum that directly contribute to the devel opment of students who can use their individual talents to meet the challenges of life.

Although the school now serves students from kindergar ten to grade 12, small class sizes continue to allow an individual approach to education.

Thornton-Donovan welcomes students from any part of the globe who possess ability, who are motivated, who have selfdiscipline and who will both gain from and give to the school. The school may also admit a youngster who has the potential for academic success but whose record does not demonstrate it. Qualified pupils are accepted regardless of race, creed, or inter national origin.

Thornton-Donovan places a strong emphasis on international education and exposing students to the globe. In fact, each year has a theme which is usually a geographical area or important historical figure. From the very moment you step onto any of the campus’s five buildings, you are surrounded by the unique art and artifacts obtained from worldly travels and influen tial figures.

The capstone of their approach to thematic education is the travel study expe rience, where students, faculty and family members travel to thematically relevant locales. Recent trips have taken the school to South Africa, Albania, Iceland, Mongolia, the Balkans, the Andes, Italy and more.

Throughout the years, ThorntonDonovan students have created and ran many different afterschool programs such as a school newspaper, technology club, rocket club, chess club, a school newspaper

and photography. Young athletes can join basketball, tennis, rugby or soccer. Because it is such a diverse school, students with all kinds of interests can easily find others who share their hobbies and develop friendships to last a lifetime.

In addition to their academic programs, they also offer a summer camp for children ages 3-14 featuring myriad activities like karate, drama, fitness, STEM, dancing, Zumba, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, yoga and much more.

The Thornton-Donovan education is a personalized one for each and every student, and is customized to their inter ests and talents based on a yearly theme. Small class size, usually 8-14 students, makes this approach to learning possible. Encouraging children to develop into the

persons they will become, unhindered in exploration of their passions, is the key to a T-D education. This type of unique academic experience is a key factor in a student’s long term success. It’s no wonder its alumni are brilliant students from all walks of life: doctors, scientists, and danc ers, lawyers, engineers, musicians, business owners, just to name a few.

Thornton-Donovan is proud to be Cognia accredited, and has been recog nized for its support of students with high academic potential by the Johns Hopkins University Center. The school is in the 95th percentile of the most diverse private schools in America while also being in the top 20% K-12 schools in the country.

To learn more about enrollment, visit td.edu.

Westchester Family partner

Unlocking Student Potential Since 1904

Unlocking Student Potential Since 1904

Premier Boarding & Day School for Grades 6-12 + PG

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Phone: (631) 686-1600 ext 414

Phone: (631) 686-1600 ext 414

Email: admissions@knoxschool.org

Web: www.knoxschool.org

Email: admissions@knoxschool.org Web: www.knoxschool.org

541 Long Beach Road Saint James Long Island, New York

541 Long Beach Road Saint James Long Island, New York

Autumn Arrives

New York is gorgeous in the fall. Even at the height of the pandemic, we had our windows open and could hear the rustle of the leaves as they changed with the seasons.

Now that we are all out and about, we are all in for Autumn 2022. We’ve got you covered this season! From our favorite picks for Family Road Trips (page 40), Halloween Fun (page 22), and Pumpkin Picking (page 58) to the pièce de résistance, our Fall Bucket

List (page 48).

Lastly, our cover mom this month, Alexa Wilding, is pure inspiration. Alexa shares about being a cancer mom and a cancer survivor who writes about her highs and lows on IG @alexawilding shares with NYF about her rollercoaster journey to accepting her many identities (page 28).

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Keeping Kids Healthy this School Year

BY DONNA DUARTE�LADD

Kids are back at school, and while we always worry about them picking up a cold or getting the flu, there are currently a few viruses to contend with. What sort of tips and good hygiene habits can we have kids implement to keep these viruses at bay?

We chatted with Dr. Sandra Bonat, Pediatric Physician Advisor at VIP StarNetwork, who shared her expert tips and shared why it’s essential parents should encourage their children to practice good health habits now that we are Back to School.

First, is this normal to have this many viruses circulating in the world? It feels like we are going backward health-wise versus forward.

Currently, we have a number of respiratory viruses circulating, including influenza and RSV, that we do not normally see a lot of activity from at this time of year.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, because of changes in people’s behaviors, including social distancing, mask-wearing, frequent hand washing and isolation, influenza, RSV, and many of the other respiratory viruses virtually disappeared.

The steps we took to limit our exposure to Covid-19 also limited our exposure to other viruses. Our immune systems need exposure to pathogens to keep up our memory response, and this did not occur during the first year of the pandemic. When we started taking off our masks and discontinued social distancing, viruses began circulating again, even though it was out of season, because the overall population immunity was low.

In addition, some of the changes in seasonality of respiratory viruses may also be due to the presence of the Covid-19 virus and how it interacts and possibly interferes with the replication of other respiratory viruses, causing a change in the seasonal transmission patterns of other viruses.

For the most part, many kids are vaccinated; how can parents be proactive in keeping their kids safe?

The best way to reduce the risk of both Covid-19 and Influenza is to get vaccinated. Both parents and children should complete their Covid-19 vaccination primary series and get their booster dose/s if eligible. In addition, parents and children should get the seasonal influenza vaccine. Good hand hygiene is essential to reducing the spread of infections.

Masks can also be worn for protection, especially during times of high community activity of Covid 19 and other respiratory viruses. In addition, if your child is sick, it is important to keep them home while they are ill, and parents should stay home from work when they are ill.

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at home, especially when someone in the house is ill, is also an effective way to reduce the risk of getting sick. Parents should encourage their children to practice good health habits such as eating a healthy

diet, getting a good amount of sleep, and being physically active.

When the kids are in school, what should they do? (for example: wipe off their books? Still, use hand sanitizer?

Hand sanitizer use and/or frequent hand washing are both excellent ways to prevent infection. Sanitizing frequently used surfaces is helpful in reducing infection transmission but can be more difficult in the school setting.

Parents should also encourage kids to try and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Children should not share food or drinks at school. Parents can teach children to cover their mouth and nose with their el bows or a tissue when they sneeze. Masks can be used during periods of increased Covid-19 activity at the school and in the community.

Parents should keep their children at home when they are sick and get them tested for COVID-19 if they have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with Covid-19.

Monkey Pox looks and sounds pretty scary. Are kids able to get vaccinated for Monkey

Pox yet? Like the Covid vaccine, will kids be able to access being vaccinated for Monkey Pox quickly? Is it necessary?

Children have been mostly spared from the current outbreak of Monkeypox. To date, there have been only two children in New York that have contracted Monkeypox. Currently, there is a limited supply of Monkeypox vaccine, and it is only being offered to people that have had close contact with a person with a confirmed case of monkeypox and also to people from higher risk categories, including men who have sex with men and those who have multiple unknown sexual partners.

If a child has a family member or close

contact who has Monkeypox then it would be recommended for that child to be vaccinated. Otherwise, currently, the Monkeypox vaccine is not necessary for most children. The Federal Government and the state of New York are working to increase supply and improve access to the vaccine to ensure availability to anyone that may need it.

Dr. Sandra Bonat is a Pediatric Physician Advisor at VIP StarNetwork, a leading provider of mobile and onsite health services, including COVID testing and vaccinations. Dr. Bonat has almost 30 years of experience in the medical field and is leading her company’s efforts to safely vaccinate young children.

“The steps we took to limit our exposure to Covid-19 also limited our exposure to other viruses. Our immune systems need exposure to pathogens to keep up our memory response, and this did not occur during the first year of the pandemic.”

Fall Races

By SeRena nORR

The race is on! Move together as a family at one of the many community running events happening this fall in Westchester. Local races are a great way to get involved in your community, support/donate to local causes, and have fun! Below, you’ll find some races for families happening this fall that even the youngest of runners/walkers can participate in.

Happy family running!

saturday, october 8th at 8:00am (Armonk)

9th Annual Stayin’ Alive 5K and Fun Run

This race benefits Stayin’ Alive, Inc, a charity that support the First Responders of Northern Westchester. This includes a 5K with prizes awarded to top finishers. The race also includes a .6 mile Fun Run where kids run one lap around Windmill Lake. The race/ fundraiser costs $50 per person and $10 per person for the fun run. Windmill Club 10 Maple Way, Armonk, NY 10504.

sunday, october 16th at 9:30am (Katonah)

10th Annual 5K Trail Race and One-Mile Family Fun Run

Help raise funds for the Somers Library Foundation by running, walking, or jogging in the gorgeous Reis Park. The one-mile family fun run is a great way to support, which kicks off at 10:15am after the 5K. Awards are given out for the top finishers by age and gender and a free t-shirt to the first 100 who register. Reis Park, 82 Primrose Street, Katonah, NY 10536.

sunday, october, 23rd at 8:30am (Katonah)

Run the Farm at Muscoot Farm

Run around Muscoot Farm with your family as a part of the annual Run the Farm race. This five-mile trail race kicks off with a kids’ race at 8:30am, divided by two age groups. Group one is for kids age 7-12 who will run a 1.1 race and group two is for kids age six and under will run 0.6 miles. This includes a

This is followed by the main race at 9:30am. The beautiful course will have you running through farm roads, forests, meadows, steep hills, by streams, over a wooden bridge, and over stone walls. This one always sells-out so be sure to get sign up in advance. The race $45 per adult and $22 per child. Muscoot Farm, 51 NY-100, Katonah, NY 10536.

saturday, october 29th, 2022 at 9:00am (Sleepy Hollow)

Sleepy Hollow Halloween 10K and Sleepy Hollow Kids Halloween Fun Run

This beautiful race will have you and family running along the Hudson River. This includes views of the Headless Horseman Bridge, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Old Dutch Church. It kicks off with the Sleepy Hollow Kids Halloween Fun Run (onemile run) at 9:00am, which includes race participation and kids’ activities. The 10K starts at 9:30am and costs $40 per person. This fun race also encourages participants to don their Halloween costumes for an early celebration. There is also be race-day awards and raffles. Morse School, 30 Pocantico Street, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.

sunday, november 20th at 2:00pm (Irvington)

Peter K. Oley Turkey Trot

Before your Thanksgiving feast enjoy a 2.5mile run with your family through the village of Irvington. This race started in 1978 and

has been going strong ever since. It starts at the Dows Lane Elementary School and loops through the village and ends at Memorial Park. The race is $15 per person. Dows Elementary School, 6 Dows Lane, Irvington, NY 10533.

thursday, november 24th at 8:00am (Mount Vernon)

We Run Mount Vernon’s 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk Join We Run Mount Vernon on Thanksgiving for their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk! The race kicks off at Hartley Park where you and your family can dress like a turkey or simply enjoy this beautiful run before your feast. The race is $30 for a non-member and $25 for members. Kid 12 and under are $10. Hartley Park, North Third Avenue entrance. Turkey Trot ends at Hartley Park, East Lincoln entrance.

thursday, november 24th at 8:00am (Valhalla)

Westchester Turkey Trot

Participate in the Westchester Turket Trot, which includes a 5K and 10K run/walk. There is also a kids’ 5K division and a kids’ dash (ages 8 and under) where your little one runs for 100 meters and receives a ribbon at the end. Race prices vary from $42.99-$9.99, depending on the course length you will run. Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY 10595.

Families can run for a cause in Westchester this season

We are focused on optimal oral health while providing a safe, comfortable, and FUN environment – come check out our submarine-themed o ce space!

dentists have

training to work with special needs patients

By Serena norr

One of New York’s beloved Halloween events is here. This popular event is now illuminating in Westchester and lasts until November 20th.

The Deets:

You and your family can admire over 7,000 illuminated and hand-carved pumpkins and original music at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor. The walk-through experience is around 45-minutes, where you can see bright and creative displays, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Pumpkin Planetarium.

New creations this year include an animated “Jack” Smith working in his shop with a hive of glowing bees.

Stay for the Treats!

After your fun walking tour, you can enjoy fall-themed treats, snacks, and drinks at their nearby cafe. There is also an on-site store with Halloween-related and Blaze items for sale.

Blaze: Hudson Valley Details

Van Cortlandt Manor

525 South Riverside Avenue Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

Times for the Blaze-Hudson Valley range from 7:30 pm-10:30pm. Tickets start at $40 for adults and $32 for children 3-17. Children 2 and under are free. All events are held rain or shine. Visitors should visit hudsonvalley.org/ covid for their current policies.

Oct. 21,

Open a world of opportunities for your child with a bilingual education that emphasizes the sciences at German International School New York, a Pre-K to grade 12 college preparatory program.

Entering Pre-K or Kindergarten children are not required to speak or understand German and build the foundation of being bilingual by first grade.

Join our Open House events and learn how we nurture independent thinkers and develop global citizens.

GISNY.ORG

c ardinal s pellman h igh school

1 Cardinal Spellman Place, Bronx NY 718-881-8000 x206 cardinalspellman.org admissions@cardinalspellman. org

Cardinal Spellman HS, a co-educational college preparatory school, offers College Credit, Advanced Placement, Regents, Honors, and Elective Courses.

Located on a 13-acre campus with all-weather athletic fields and track, fitness room, weight room, and auditorium with professional stage and seating. Priding itself on small school friendliness with big school opportunities, Spellman graduating class earns over $48 million in scholarships.

the cedar school

200 Pemberwick Road, Greenwich, CT 203- 808-5005 thecedarschool.org info@thecedarschool.org

The Cedar School, located in Greenwich, CT, is a coed high school for bright students with mild-tomoderate language-based learning differences. Cedar provides a rich academic setting with researchedbased support. The school’s multisensory approach allows students to pursue a rigorous curriculum while mastering the skills they need for college and beyond.

e F academy i nternational h igh school

New York Campus (Grade 9-12)

582 Columbus Ave, Thornwood, NY 10594 efacademy.org/new-york

EF Academy is an international high school, offering day and boarding options for grades 9-12. Students live and learn with peers from 60+ nationalities and are offered pathways in the US High School Diploma and International

Baccalaureate Diploma Programs. Through diversified instruction, we empower the next generation of Global Changemakers.

French-american school of n ew york Harbor Campus (Grade 9-12) 320 E. Boston Post Rd, Mamaroneck, NY 914-2500401 fasny.org

Founded in 1980, FASNY is the only school in the New York metropolitan area accredited to offer both the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and the French baccalaureate. Whether participating in the FrenchAmerican Program or the International Program, the innovative approach is the same, based on values of respect, empathy, and positivity, centered on learning, continuous progress, and the well-being of students.

g erman i nternational school n ew york (gisny )

50 Partridge Road, White Plains, NY 10605

admissions@gisny.org 914- 948-6513 GISNY.ORG

For over 40 years, GISNY, an independent, bilingual Pre-K through Grade 12 college preparatory program, has cultivated students to develop into curious, analytical, and conscientious global citizens.

GISNY is the only school in the tri-state area where graduates earn the NYS High School Diploma and the German International Abitur. No German is required for entering Pre-K or Kindergarten children. All nationalities are welcome!

the h arvey s chool

260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 harveyschool.org 914-232-3161

A Harvey School educational

journey is as unique as each student, allowing students to become their best selves. When students connect with their teachers, they challenge themselves and grow intellectually.

Harvey’s college-preparatory program cultivates academic excellence, artistic exploration, and athletic achievement. There’s nothing more powerful than a student who believes they can make a difference. Join them for Open House, Sat. Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register to attend at .harveyschool.org/ admissions/upcomingevents/2022openhouse

i ona Preparatory u pper school

255 Wilmot Road New Rochelle, N.Y. 10804 914- 632-0714 admissions@ionaprep.org IonaPrep.org/openhouse @IonaPrep

Rigorous academics with three levels of study, a personalized and comprehensive school counseling and college advisement program, local and international service and leadership opportunities, championship athletics, and myriad activities provide students with the foundation for success in college and beyond. Discover education for higher expectations at a fall Open House.

the k ing school

1450 Newfield Avenue Stamford, CT 203-322-3496 kingschoolct.org

King School unlocks the power of wonder PreKGrade 12. Graduates leave school full of possibility — ready to succeed and better prepared to better the world. Join us for an upcoming admission event or Open House on October

30, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

the k nox school 541 Long Beach Road St. James NY 11780 631.686.1600 knoxschool.org admissions@knoxschool.org

The Knox School is Long Island’s oldest established private school. An inclusive environment provides students with a broad world perspective and a wide range of skills to prepare them for success after high school. A Knox education unlocks every student’s potential.

the m ontfort academy

125 E. Birch Street Mt. Vernon NY 914-699-7090 themontfortacademy.org

The Montfort Academy is a classical curriculum co-educational Catholic high school focused on the

students’ mind, body and soul. Montfort challenges students to think deeply and speak confidently. Extensive club offerings, 15 athletic teams and AP courses. 30% of the class was accepted into the top 1% of colleges. Rated A+ by Niche.

thornton-Donovan school

100 Overlook Circle New Rochelle 914-632-8836 td.edu

Thornton-Donovan, a boutique-like K - 12 school in a bucolic-like setting, continues to offer education in the old-fashioned way. Its five homes, located on five acres, are all loaded with tech, and its small class size average of 10, makes it very much like home schooling. T-D is a K-12, 120 year-old independent and international day school. Call to schedule a personal tour!

The Benefits of Tutoring

By Vered Ornstein

As the school year begins again, the question of the effectiveness of tutoring comes to the forefront for many caregivers. As the education system begins to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are looking to tutoring to help fill in the gaps caused by lapses in in-person learning. Research shows that tutoring can lead to significant increases in school performance and grades, but these improvements vary depending on the tutoring method, grade level of the student, and subject area being taught.

Let’s take a deeper look at these factors to help you determine the most effective way to help your student succeed through extra learning opportunities.

Does tutoring work?

A meta-analysis published recently by the Poverty Action Lab titled “The Transformative Potential of Tutoring for PreK-12 Learning Outcomes: Lessons from

Randomized Evaluations” looked at hundreds of studies examining the impact of tutoring across grade levels and topics. It found that overall, students who engaged in tutoring programs advanced nearly 16 percentage points when compared to students who did not use tutors, which is considered huge growth by specialists in the field.

The key factors that make tutoring so effective, as outlined in the meta-analysis are: additional instructional time simply gives students who have fallen behind the opportunity to catch up with their peers; customization of learning and teaching strategies are theorized to work because they adjusts to a student’s individual needs rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all model of learning often present in a traditional classroom setting; and mentorship bonds between tutors and students encourage a positive learning environment, broadly speaking.

What type of tutoring is best? Every student is individual in the way they

learn and retain information, and there is no one-size-fits-all tutoring method guaranteed to work. However, the research suggests several factors that are generally produce the best results. For one, it’s understood that professional or paraprofessional tutors, such as teachers or college students studying education, yield better outcomes than nonprofessional tutors like volunteers or parents.

The takeaways

When properly utilized, tutoring can be incredibly successful and beneficial for students of all ages. For literacy programs, tutoring is most effective when implemented at a young age. Math tutoring for older students can likewise be very impactful, and high schoolers who prepared for and retook standardized exams, with or without a tutor, generally scored better than students who did not prepare. For most students above grade 2, tutoring is most beneficial when conducted three times a week.

Providing children with the support they need sets them up for success in school and beyond, and tutoring is an important step in ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive academically.

Alliance Francaise of Westchester

280 Dobbs Ferry Road - Suite 302

White Plains, NY 10607 914- 681-8735 | afwestchesterny.org

Alliance Française is the best place for children and teens to learn French! Native speakers and experienced tutors will help your child improve their grades or achieve specific goals, such as preparing for the AP French or DELF exams. Lessons are available in-person or online, at home or at AFW.

Sylvan Learning Center of Pleasantville

57 Wheeler Avenue

Pleasantville, NY 10570 914- 579-2584

sylvanlearning.com/pleasantvilleny Pleasantville.NY@sylvanlearning.com

Sylvan is the leading provider of tutoring to students in grades K-12 in Reading, Math, Writing, Study Skills and SAT Prep. Sylvan’s trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction to each student. At Sylvan, students develop the skills to do better in school and the confidence to do better in everything else. Ask about their NEW FAMILY SAVINGS offer for a Sylvan Insight Assessment and 10 tutoring sessions

Spooky, fun event S in we S tcHe S ter — anD beyonD

By Serena norr

It’s that special time of year again: Halloween! We love celebrating Halloween in Westchester with quintessential events like Blaze: Hudson Valley, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and the SUP Witches Festival as well as tons of local parades and costume contests. You’ll also find not-to-so-scary celebrations for the littlest trick-or-treaters at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester and the Westchester Children’s Museum as well as some mini road trips to explore nearby areas offering festive events for the whole family. Have a spooky Halloween adventure!

Hearts of the Hollow (Carmel)

Monday, October 31st, times range from 10:00am-3:00pm

Watch a version of “The Legends of Sleepy Hollow” in this musical re-telling. Designed for kids ages nine and up, the musical includes 20 original songs mixed with suspense, adventure, and romance. Memorial Park, 201 Gypsy Trail Road, Carmel, NY. heartsofthehollow.com

Blaze: Hudson Valley (Croton-onHudson)

Sunday, September 16th-Sunday, November 20th, times range from 7:30pm-10:30pm

This fun event takes place from September

16th-November 20th (that’s 54 nights!) where you and your family can admire over 7,000 il luminated and hand-carved pumpkins, along with original music, at the historic Van Cort landt Manor. The walk-through experience is around 45-minutes where you can see bright and creative displays, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Pumpkin Planetarium. New creations this year include an animated “Jack” Smith working in his shop with a hive of glowing bees. After your fun walking tour, enjoy fall-themed treats, snacks, and drinks at their nearby cafe. There is also an on-site store with Halloween-related and Blaze items for sale. Tickets start at $40 for adults and $32 for children 3-17. Children age two and under

FARRELL VOICE STUDIO

Children, teens and adults!

Whether you or your child is beginning or looking to reach vocal goals for Broadway work or a pop career- achieve a warm and brilliant tone, diaphragm support, breath control, a seamless “mix”, powerful belt and ringing soprano high notes!

Work includes performance of the song: musical theater, pop, Latin, folk, opera! Off-Broadway and cabaret singer, recording artist and mom of two teen singers!

Native Spanish speaker.

Studio in Westchester - offering lessons at your home or by zoom.

At Whitby, we know your child. We always know where they are academically and socially.

We challenge and support them to achieve their personal best and take charge of their learning. Come see for yourself.

Fall Admissions Events

Early Childhood Exploration October 6 @ 9:30 AM

All School Open House October 23 @ 1:00 PM

All School Open House November 16 @ 9:30 AM

whitbyschool.org/thinkwhitby2022

Co-ed Independent School | Greenwich, CT

Baccalaureate

Lower School Grades 1-4

Middle School Grades 5-8

October 2022 | Westchester Family 23 Visit: CynthiaFarrellNYC.Com email: Cynthia@CynthiaFarrellNYC.Com (917) 756-8040

Whitby Montessori

are free. Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riv erside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. tickets.hudsonvalley.org/events

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Irvington)

Sunday, November 13th, times range from 10:00am-3:00pm

Learn about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow with your family in this interactive event. This self-paced event lets you tour Washington Irving’s house as you watch a shadow puppet short film and enjoy games. Advance tickets are required. There will be no tickets sold on site. Tickets are in $12 for adults and $10 for children age 3-17. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, 3 West Sunnyside Lane, Irvington, NY 10533. hudsonvalley.org/events/home-of-the-legend

Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party (Yonkers)

Tuesday, November 1st from 12:00pm-5:00pm

Have a bricktastic Halloween adventure at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Enjoy a day at LEGOLAND, plus Halloween fun with Brick-or-Treat. This includes spooky activities, a brand new 4D Halloween movie, “The Great Monster Chase,” fun games, and tons of LEGO Halloween activities. Kids will also enjoy monster training where they will learn how to become a little monster, brickor-treat where they can collect LEGO bricks to complete a spooky creation, and spooky creative workshops. Plus, tons of building, character appearances, and so much more! LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, 39 Fitzgerald Street Ridge Hill Mall, Yonkers, NY. Tickets start at $27.99 per person. legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester/ whats-inside/events/brick-or-treat-event

Boo at the Zoo (Bronx, NY)

Saturdays and Sunday, October 1st-October 30th, various times

Take a trip to the Bronx Zoo for Boo at the Zoo. Come dressed up and enjoy familyfriendly event as you watch costumed charac ters and look at festive decor throughout the Zoo. Tickets to all of the Halloween activities are included with your Zoo admission. The Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx, NY 10460. bronxzoo.com/boo-at-the-zoo

Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion (Wappingers Falls)

Saturday, October 1st-Monday,October

31st, various times

For a seriously spooky Halloween experience

visit the Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion. The haunted experience includes two attractions (the Asylum and the Wicked Woods). Post screams enjoy food, drinks, and mini donuts. Reservations are required. Tickets range from $30-$38 per person, depending on the date you attend. 38 Sheafe Roadd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. thehauntedmansion.com.

‘Terror At Quassy’ (Middlebury, CT)

Friday, October 7th-Sunday,October 30th, various times

For a terrifying adventure, take a trip to Quassy Amusement Park & Waterpark and experi ence ‘Terror At Quassy.’ The second annual event includes numerous haunted attractions throughout the park. This includes a zombie hospital, dungeons, misty walkway, a haunted catacombs, and cemetery. New attractions this year includes an infinity hall and clown house. Additionally, many of the park’s major rides, restaurant, arcade, and gift shop will be open during “Terror At Quassy” nights. Tickets are $29.99 per person. Parking is $10. Quassy Amusement Park, Lake Quassapaug, Rt. 64, 2132 Middlebury Road. Middlebury, CT 06762. quassy.com/special-events

Norwalk Fright Nights: Into the Depp (Norwalk, CT)

Friday, October 14th-Monday, October 31st from 7:00pm-11:30pm

Make this a Halloween to remember by experiencing Norwalk Fright Nights: Into the Depp, a frightening 30-minute walkthrough haunted house filled with outlandish surprises at every turn. Produced by The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, this year’s theme is inspired by the spirited movie characters portrayed by the actor Johnny Depp. This live experience features dozens of live actors, amazing set designs, and enough thrills for a lifetime. There is also bar service and lounge seating available. Norwalk Fright Nights and Into the Depp are a part of the

larger fundraising efforts produced by The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts. All proceeds benefit the organization’s student scholarship fund, which provides support for young talent to attend college and study the arts. Note: *Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Please use your best judgement when bringing young children. Tickets range from $25 per person-$40 per person for a VIP ticket. The SoNo Collection, 100 North Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 . norwalk-conservatory. ticketleap.com/intothedepp/

SUP Witches Festival (Sleepy Hollow) Sunday, October 16th from 12:00pm-4:00pm

Rain date: October 23rd

Celebrate the witchy season Sleepy Hollow style at the SUP Witch’s Festival. The 3rd annual festival features a paddle where witches take off at Horan’s Landing and paddle along the Hudson. You can also watch or stroll along the riverwalk to watch the witches pass. The event also includes local vendors, brews, and spooky views. All who are paddling must wear a costume. The event is $30 per person if you bring your own SUP equipment (kayaks welcome) or $45 to rent SUP equipment (includes board, paddle, leash, PFD). All guests interested in participating must pre-register in advance (registration opens on September 16th). Horan’s Landing, 57 River Street, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. rivertownssupyoga.com/ sup-witches-festival

A Very Fluffy Halloween (Pleasant Valley)

Friday, October 21st-Monday, October 31st, various times

Take a drive to Pleasant Valley to Lilymoore Farm to see a Halloween event like no other. Enjoy a 1.5 hour guided farm tour where you and your family can meet the animals of Lilymoore Farm and Dreaming of A Chance pigeon sanctuary. This includes alpacas and goats in Halloween costumes. Plus, enjoy crafting at the end of the tour. Tickets are $22.95 for kids ages 11 and up and $18.95 for kids ages 3-10 years old. 21 Moore Road, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569. www. lilymoorefarm.com

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Family Storytelling Event (Sleepy Hollow) Sunday, October 23rd from 1:00pm-2:00pm Listen to actor/storyteller David Neilsen

Learning Together with Wonder

Kindergarten Play Day

Saturday, October 15, 10am to 12pm

Four and five year olds are invited to visit Blue Rock School for a morning of storytelling, crafts, and play while their parents learn about our progressive approach to education infused with the arts, nature, and imagination.

Fall Info Session & Campus Tour

Saturday, November 19, 10am to 12pm

Contact us to register or schedule a private tour admissions@bluerockschool.org or 845-535-3353

BLUE ROCK SCHOOL

Where Learning Comes Alive! Independent K-8 School in West Nyack, NY www.bluerockschool.org

Do you know a boy who loves to sing?

Do you know a boy who loves to sing?

Do you know a boy who loves to sing?

Saint Thomas Choir School in the heart of New York City nurtures and educates the treble choristers of the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. The school’s small size and low faculty-to-student ratio allow teachers to address the academic strengths and needs of each child, while a school-wide focus on music ensures that boys with a passion for singing can grow in extraordinary ways. The unique choir school experience prepares boys for a meaningful journey through adolescence and beyond, regardless of their professional goals. Learn more about the opportunity of a lifetime at www.choirschool.org

Saint Thomas Choir School in the heart of New York City nurtures and educates the treble choristers of the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. The school’s small size and low faculty-to-student ratio allow teachers to address the academic strengths and needs of each child, while a school-wide focus on music ensures that boys with a passion for singing can grow in extraordinary ways. The unique choir school experience prepares boys for a meaningful journey through adolescence and beyond, regardless of their professional goals. Learn more about the opportunity of a lifetime at www.choirschool.org

.

Saint Thomas Choir School in the heart of New York City nurtures and educates the treble choristers of the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. The school’s small size and low faculty-to-student ratio allow teachers to address the academic strengths and needs of each child, while a school-wide focus on music ensures that boys with a passion for singing can grow in extraordinary ways. The unique choir school experience prepares boys for a meaningful journey through adolescence and beyond, regardless of their professional goals. Learn more about the opportunity of a lifetime at www.choirschool.org.

Open House and Chorister for a Day: Sunday, October 23 n

Open House and Chorister for a Day: Sunday, October 23 n Contact admissions@choirschool.org

Open House and Chorister for a Day: Sunday, October 23 n Contact admissions@choirschool.org

admissions@choirschool.org

retell Washington Irving’s,: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This fun family event also includes Halloween treats and activities. It is slated to take place outdoors but will be moved indoors if needed. The event is limited to 40 seats. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Hudson Valley Writers Center, 300 Riverside Drive, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. writerscenter.org/calendar/legend1pm

Hulda’s Night at Rockefeller State Park Preserve (Sleepy Hollow)

Wednesday, October 19-22 and October 26-29. 6:00pm and 7:00pm.

Enjoy a Halloween experience like no other with Hulda’s Night. The event starts where you walk through a path illuminated by lanterns until you join a traveler. Your journey continues as you listen to more stories about war and a witch living nearby. Your group goes down to the witch’s spring trail as you are guided to Hulda’s home, eventually meeting Hulda herself who tells your group a story. Tickets are $30.00 per person. Rockefeller State Park Preserve, 25 Sleepy Hollow Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. friendsrock.org/huldas-night

Halloween Fun (Chappaqua)

Thursday, October 27th from 4:00pm-5:00pm

Kids ages 4-8 can enjoy stories, activities and trick-or-treating at the Chappaqua Library. Kids are welcome to wear costumes but they are not required. The event is free but families must register to participate Chappaqua Library, 195 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY 10514. eventbrite.com/e/halloween-fun-for-ages4-to-8-registration-396724943987

WMN Unite’s Halloween Party (Mount Kisco)

Friday, October 28th from 6:00pm-8:30pm

Join the non-profit organization, WMN Unite, for their annual Halloween party/fundraiser. Guests can dress up and connect in this fun community event. Tea House at Leonard Park, 25 Wallace Drive, Mt Kisco, NY 10549.

Woodfield Cottage: A Haunting Halloween Interactive Experience (Valhalla)

Saturday, October 29th-Monday, October 31st from 10:00am-4:00pm

Have a spooky family experience at this interactive experience. Wear your Halloween costume, carve pumpkins, and toast marshmallows as you listen to Halloween

stories. Families can then create scary art and watch Halloween movies by candlelight such as “Casper” or “Corpse Bride.” Additionally, hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. The event takes places outdoors (except for the crafts). Bring blankets and warm clothes. Woodfield Cottage, 20 Hammond House Road, Valhalla, NY 10595. facebook. com/events/woodfield-cottage/woodfieldcottage-a-haunting-halloween-interactiveexperience-/591005545494061

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” with The Apoca-Lips Cast (Peekskill) Saturday, October 29th at 8:30pm Experience the classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with your older kids or enjoy a night out by watching it on the big screen at the Paramount Hudson Valley. The event is strictly for ages 17 and older. Come dressed as your favorite character or in your best halloween costume. Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 paramounthudsonvalley.com/events/rockyhorror-picture-show/

Nyack Halloween Parade (Nyack)

Saturday, October 29th at 5:00pm Rain date: October 30th

The beloved Nyack Halloween Parade is back and better than ever. Presented by The Nyack Chamber of Commerce, dress up in your costume or float and participate in this fun community event. Downtown Nyack Main Street & Broadway, Nyack, NY. visitnyack.org/ calendar/category/parades

Halloween (not spooky) Spooktacular (Rye)

Saturday, October 29th from 10:00am-4:00pm

Have a not-so-spooky Halloween experience at the Westchester Children’s Museum. Enjoy crafts, interactive Science workshops, and tons more. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes! Westchester Children’s Museum. 100 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY 10580. discoverwcm.org

ForTheCulture Foundation Trick or Treat (Nyack)

Saturday, October 29th at 3:30pm

Visit the Palisades Center Mall for the second annual halloween event hosted by ForTheCulture Foundation. Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994. eventbrite.com/e/fortheculturefoundation-trick-or-treat-tickets-399497877907

Tarrytown Halloween Parade

Saturday, October 29th from 5:30pm-6:30pm

Rain date: October 30th

Dress up with your kids and enjoy the 20th annual Village of Tarrytown Halloween Parade. Participate with a theme as a group or float for a chance to win prizes. However, you do have to register to be eligible for prizes. The parade features a route from along Broadway to Tarrytown’s Main Street. After the parade, enjoy a block party with a DJ and live music, outdoor dining, performers, and much more! You can also watch the parade. Patriots Park, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. visitsleepyhollow.com/event/tarrytownhalloween-parade

Lyndhurst Spirited Mansion Weekend (Tarrytown)

Sunday, October 30th from 9:30am-3:00pm

Visit Lyndhurst Mansion for their “Explore at Your Own Pace” event. Families can Visitors can walk through the mansion without a guided tour, view the seasonal decorations, and take in beauty of this historic mansion. This includes viewing the decorated entrance hall, reception room, parlor, library, and Victorian dining room. Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase on-site. Tickets are$24 for adults and $16 for kids ages 6-16. All visitors must have a pre-purchased ticket to enter the Mansion. En try begins promptly at the designated time and tickets do sell out. Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. lyndhurst.org/ events/halloween-weekend-posted

Halloween Party & Costume Contest

(Pound Ridge)

Monday, October 31st from 4:00pm-6:00pm

Have fun dressing up with your kids and celebrate on Halloween night in Pound Ridge. Hosted by The Market at Pound Ridge Square, enjoy a costume contest with prizes and a party. The Market at Pound Ridge Square. 55 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576. poundridgemarket.com

Lightbridge Academy of Scarsdale

the soon-to-be-opened Lightbridge Academy of Scarsdale is currently accepting enrollment for a variety of educational child care options in their toddler, pre-school, and Pre-K programs.

At this facility, children receive the utmost of care from Lightbridge Academy’s caring and nurturing early childhood pro fessionals. Created on a foundation of family values called the Circle of Care, Lightbridge Academy places an emphasis on the educa tion and development of every child, who receives specialized care, guidance, and learning.

Designed for kids ages six weeks-Pre-K age, Lightbridge Academy provides inten tional teaching and theme-based lessons to impact the whole child. This includes a hands-on, multi-sensory approach and child-led exploration featuring the teachings of educational leaders, such as Fredrich Fröbel, Howard Gardner, Loris Malaguzzi, Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget.

Lessons develop and build the skills around each child’s age and developmental stage. Educators encourage children with a “learning is fun” philosophy through play, positive reinforcement, and learning where they naturally gravitate. Every classroom is designed with learning centers where chil dren engage in teacher-led activities, child-

led interests, and individual play. Through this model, educators unlock every child’s potential to prepare them for elementary school — and beyond.

Additionally, Lightbridge Academy is located in a state-of-the-art child care facil ity, providing a professional and nurturing environment. This allows both parents and children to feel comfortable in their homeaway-from-home.

Lightbridge also offers flexibility for families with extended hours, back-up care, and even occasional evening babysitting. Children receive nutritionally-balanced meal plans and nutritious snacks, such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and protein options.

With open enrollment, you can sign up anytime (as long as space permits) with op tions ranging from care for two-five days.

Visit lightbridgeacademy.com/locations/ scarsdale-ny/ to schedule your tour of Lightbridge Academy of Scarsdale.

Westchester Family partner

the Many SideS of alexa Wilding

By CriS Pearl S tein

As I sit here and write this story, it’s been a week since my conversation with Alexa Wilding (mom of 9-year-old twins Lou and West) and the cancer mom you probably know from the raw and honest writing she shares on her Instagram feed. It may have been a week, but I have not stopped thinking about our conversation for one second since.

We spoke for over an hour and a half, almost double the amount of time my interviews usually take, and we could have easily gone another hour. Alexa’s story is wild (no pun intended), painful, magical, horrible, and, at times, hard to believe. And although her story is riveting—after seeing her son Lou through choroid plexus carcinoma (twice!) a rare pediatric brain cancer for which West is not at risk, she herself gets diagnosed with breast cancer—it’s her take on the events and how she got through it all that really mesmerized me. She spoke about nature as medicine, about being present through the good and the bad, and about the many identities we as moms have that we maybe don’t allow ourselves to explore. Even if you don’t have a sick child, and even if you are not sick yourself, this interview will push your mind to see life through a fresh pair of eyes. Or at the very least, will help you see yourself anew— Alexa says we are all prisms, shifting and growing, our many chards of glass catching rays of light as we turn. I couldn’t think of a better metaphor.

CP: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

AW: I am a writer, a singer/songwriter, a twin mother, a cancer mom and now, a cancer survivor. It’s a very long byline, but they all are starting to inform each other. I was mostly born and raised in New York City, downtown to two very art-y parents so I had a

really fun upbringing. I left the city about 4 years ago to move upstate. I had gone to Bard College so I knew it was beautiful here, but leaving the city was such a big deal. Now that we’re here I can’t imagine being anywhere else. When you’re someone who doesn’t really have a connection to nature as a city kid it can really win you over and provide a lot of medicine, which I’ve needed these last few years. My husband works at Bard College’s contemporary art museum, and it’s been fun visiting him where I went to school, and really fun for my kids when shows are going up to run wild in the galleries. We’ve made a really lovely life for ourselves up here. The Hudson Valley completely exploded during the pandemic which was interesting, but I think there’s a lot of positives in that we saw a lot of families looking for the same thing. To feel more connected. And when you wake up and see the mountains you can’t help but just be turned into a Buddhist, a crazy New Age lady. I wake up, I have my coffee, I stand on my porch and say, “Thank you mountains, thank you for watching over me and my family, thank you for always being there.” It’s amazing what the move from city to country can do.

CP: That’s amazing.

AW: Yeah and it can really get you out of yourself. And for me getting out of myself has meant, I’ve had to both learn how to be super present these last few years as a mother, an artist, a wife and a daughter, but I’ve also been forced to hand a lot over. When you have a child with cancer in remission, when you yourself then become a cancer survivor, it’s like Buddhism boot camp that you didn’t sign up for. Nature has been the medicine for me, just seeing things on a daily basis, like the mountains, my daily hikes, the river, knowing that things exist that are greater than me and my story make

Alexa Wilding has had many titles on her byline: Daughter, Wife, Singer/Songwriter, Twin Mom, Cancer Mom, Cancer Survivor and now, Writer. Read on to hear how she’s learning to accept them all as part of the most important identity of all: Herself.

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

me feel much more secure in the unknown. That said, I do miss the city a lot (laughs).

CP: It’s funny how that works right?

AW: Yeah, and whenever I go in I’m seduced again. I’m like, black boots on pavement, I’ve got my coat, I’ve got my bag, I’m doing things, I’m going to pop into the Met, I’m going to go to the bookstore. And then I get back on the train and I’m like (takes a deep breath) I’m going home. I can breathe again. Leaving the city was a big part of our story and it was difficult because when we first got up here we were only here for a few months and then my son had a cancer recurrence. So we had worked so hard to make this big move and it was almost like the city was like, mmm we still have some work to do with you guys. So that was tough and I ended up commuting back and forth to be with both of my kids during that time.

CP: That’s so tough. It’s funny because when I asked you to tell me a little bit about yourself, you sort of hit on exactly one of the two main themes I want to talk to you about today: the concept of identity, changing identities. The first big change was going from maiden to mother. What was that like for you?

AW: It was a brutal process as it is for most moth ers, and we don’t talk about it enough because we’re supposed to be so blessed and happy with our baby, or babies in my case. I think we’re talking more about postpartum depression and that transition, but it’s still a fraught subject. For me it was a very wild time. I had spent over 10 years as a singer/songwriter, I was named one to watch in all the magazines, I got to tour with some amazing bands and I was so committed to this idea. I was going to be the next Stevie Nicks. I had all my eggs in that basket and I loved every second of it. I was a part of the Lower East Side music scene, I got to work with some of my Indie Rock heroes. It was a very privileged, very fun time. And then the music industry itself was having an identity crisis and my rising coincided with the industry collapsing. One month I was one to watch, and then the next month my record deal fell through, no one bought the self-produced record, the band fell apart, and I was pregnant.

CP: What year was this?

AW: This was 2012. I knew I wanted to be a mother, but I didn’t know how it was going to work and when I got pregnant with my first pregnancy which ended in a miscarriage I was almost relieved to have an out. I felt very guilty about that. It was really interesting that that

pregnancy ended—and again, miscarriage is another thing we don’t talk enough about, until you share you had one then five other women will be like, “Me too.” And that pregnancy that didn’t work out actually gave me a second to think about do I really want to do this and why am I doing this. And it gave us a few months, my husband and I, to really think on that. I always tell people, there’s never a right time to have children, it’s always going to be fraught, it’s always going to be com plicated. But I was ready, I was ready to take a beat from this identity that was suddenly feeling very punishing and wasn’t nurturing me anymore. Having that miscar riage gave me a second to really think and decide that yes, I really do want to be a mother. I was very lucky I got pregnant soon after with two babies.

CP: Was that a surprise?

AW: Total surprise. It was not IVF, identical twins do not run in my family. It was such a tender thing because I remember thinking how nice of God, or whoever is up there, how nice of them to give me two babies when I lost one. So I had these two little babies and I remember feeling a lot of guilt because I grew up hearing my mom’s story of when I was born: she felt love like she never felt, she looked in my eyes, blah blah blah. These two little creatures came out of me and my first thought, I mean, of course I loved them, but my first thought was Oh my God, how am I going to be enough for two babies? I’m ly ing here, I can’t even hold them, they have to put me back together. And that first year with them I didn’t think I needed any help. That was a very brutal year. When I see new mothers I always say to them, “You’re doing a great job,” because nobody knows unless they’ve been there how much it takes to get out for that walk, to get to that playground.

CP: The prep is longer than the outing.

AW: Yeah! So the next change was around seven or eight months, my son Lou stopped nursing. We couldn’t figure out what was going on, because West had a healthy appetite, and the months went on and he was declining. We couldn’t figure out what was going on, it was a horrible time. My husband was very busy at his job, I was alone. We did have a part-time caregiver at that point because I just really needed the help. That last month leading up to my boys’ first birthday still comes up in my memory as the most difficult initiation of my life because I knew something was wrong. But nobody could figure it out. We went through one pediatrician after the next, and that last day, my friend Ben Lee, the Australian songwriter was in town and he asked me to open a show for him, and I was like, “Yes! I’m back!”. And I was like what kind of person am I that I just said yes to a show when I have a vomiting, listless baby at home? But I had to do this show. That morning I put my guitar and a bag with a dress by the door, and I strapped Lou to my chest to go see one last pediatrician. I really thought I was coming back for that guitar and I really thought I was playing that show. We ran over to Mount Sinai. While we were waiting for the sub way we ran into a photographer friend of mine, Jonathan Waiter, who took the last pictures of me before I became a mother. I saw him on the platform and he was bald and

“ it took me a while to understand that if you’ve been through something extraordinary you can actually be of service, but you also have to be ready to be of service.”

SPOTLIGHT on WOMEN’S HEALTH

Staying healthy and feeling happy as you age

As we age our bodies all go through some changes. Women may begin to recognize signs of aging, like a shift in their metabolism and start to question their lifestyle habits and how these decisions

brought together a panel of experts—a primary care physician, endocrinologist, cardiologist and radiologist—to share their knowledge.

PUMP UP THE VITAMINS

“As women age, certain vitamins and minerals become more critical to their overall health and ��������������������������� Leiser, an internal medicine physician at Scarsdale Medical Group. “The B vitamins become less abundant in women as they get older but are essential to promoting positive moods and higher energy.” So consider stocking up on these vitamins at your next pharmacy visit.

FEEL THE BURN

“Our metabolism gradually slows the older we get,” says Dr. Kay Lovig, an endocrinologist who focuses on women’s health at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates. “This makes us weaker, depleting our energy and making us tire more easily, on top of adding on the extra unwanted weight.” She recommends eating smaller meals, with a lower glycemic index and incorporating strength training into your exercise routine which burns more calories.

“Heart disease continues to be considered a ‘mostly male health issue,’ but in reality, it is the number one killer of women in the United States,” says cardiologist Dr. Gabriela Grasa from White Plains Hospital Physician Associates.

“The good news is nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented– with small, simple changes.” In addition to daily exercise, she advises to quit smoking and adopt a diet focused on greens and grains, ��������������������������� ��������������������������� the heart.

ASK YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN TO HELP DETERMINE YOUR DIETARY AND SUPPLEMENT NEEDS AT YOUR NEXT VISIT.

FEELING EXHAUSTED AND NOT ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT? SPEAK TO AN ENDOCRINOLOGISTS TO HAVE YOUR THYROID CHECKED.

Prioritize your health and understand your risk factors.

32 WestchesterFamily.com | October 2022 CARE FOR YOUR HEART

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, BLOOD SUGAR AND WEIGHT.

WPHOSPITAL.ORG/HEALTHMATTERS AND TAKE A HEALTH ASSESSMENT or call to make an appointment at 914-849-MyMD

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY in fighting breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When was the last time you had a mammogram? If you aren’t sure, it’s probably been too long.

During the peak of the pandemic, mammogram screenings were down sharply according to the American College of Radiology. While they have since rebounded, the group estimates that nearly 15% of eligible women still haven’t returned to get screened.

“Tumors can begin to grow and advance in a relatively short span of time,” underscoring the importance of regular breast cancer screenings, says Dr. Pamela Weber, Director of Outpatient Imaging at White Plains Hospital Imaging Center in New Rochelle.

According to the latest guidance from the American College of Radiology, women should start having annual breast mammograms at age 40. Your physician can help you decide what is acceptable.

However, she adds, doctors suggest that certain groups ��������������������������������������������������� sooner — as early as age 30. Women who may be at higher risk include those who have a family history of ������������������������������������������������������ relative developed breast cancer at a young age. Breast

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Asian and Hispanic women, typically is diagnosed when those women are in their 50s – over a decade earlier than for most Caucasian women.

The CDC reports that about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women – and about 42,000 women die of the disease each year in the U.S. “There really is no excuse not to get back on track with your mammograms,” Dr. Weber says. “Or to start if you haven’t already.”

White Plains Hospital makes it more convenient to get a technologically advanced, 3-D mammogram with some of the most advanced units in Westchester.

Get your mammogram at one of our locations in White Plains, Armonk or New Rochelle. Learn more or request an appointment online at wphospital.org/mammo.

wearing a mask. At the time I didn’t know what cancer was, and he looked at me and he said, “Love”. I didn’t know if he was calling me love or what. It was this very mystical thing. I said, “I have to go, my baby is sick” and he said, “Oh I shouldn’t be around your baby if your baby’s sick,” and he ran off. I got on the train and I checked to make sure I hadn’t seen a ghost. It was so weird.

CP: I have chills!

AW: I know, I know. I was like what the hell, why is Jonathan bald? I didn’t put it together. We get to Mount Sinai, did all these tests, and I had that feeling that a bomb was about to go off. I’m holding this beautiful baby that I don’t even know and I was maybe about to lose him. Meredith Grossman at Mount Sinai was our new pediatrician and she thought to measure his head and she figured it out. She said his head was swollen, something was going on. I remember standing on the corner of 98th and Madison, she told me I needed to meet her in the ER, and it was out of a dream when you can’t move your feet. I knew the minute we walked through those doors we’d be passing into a new world. And I think about that corner so much. I unfortunately had to revisit it so many times, and for myself this past year which has been bonkers. We walked through those doors and I handed my child over. And the irony is, I became a mother when I released my child into the arms of someone else. That was a really profound moment for me. As mothers it’s the most unnatural thing to have to acknowledge that you alone can’t give your child what they need.

CP: And that can be interpreted in such a minute way or in such a cosmically huge way like you’re talking about. That is a metaphor for motherhood if I’ve ever heard one. You may have given them life but you alone in a vacuum can’t do it.

AW: No, and that was a big awakening for me. I realized my children, I brought them here but they are on their own paths. Being a mother is actually being of service and bringing them along on those paths, wher ever those paths are going to lead. And sometimes you get one that’s really complicated. And I did. That was my initiation. Of course I remember so much shame looking at this nurse and being like, “Are we going home tonight? I have a show.” It’s taken me all these years, my kids are nine now, to forgive myself for that and to see that I was asking for that show because it’s what I needed.

CP: But first of all, you didn’t know. Number two, I think you were asking almost a deeper question. It was, has my life just changed or has it not just changed?

AW: Exactly. It would be many years before I claimed the guitar and the dress at the door. Thus started this incredible year of saving Lou. It was really bad that first year, and complicated with two babies, one is healthy and at home, the other has a rare form of brain cancer and a tumor. So we saw Lou through this horrific time, he had a very complicated tumor, it was very complicated to remove. When I saw the looks on the team’s face I didn’t realize how close I was to losing my child. Next thing I know I’m Cancer Mom.

CP: Ok so let’s talk about that. You barely have a chance to grapple with the new identity of Mother, and now you’re being forced into this identity Cancer Mom. Can you talk to me about the push and pull between regular mom and Cancer Mom? Because you actually do have two children—you’re Regular Mom to one kid, and you’re Cancer Mom to another kid.

AW: Lou had to do 6 months of high dose chemo, and you basically live in the hospital when they’re that young because it’s too dangerous. I went to a girls’ boarding school and there were echoes of that because it was mostly moms and we were all living on the hall together. We’d have cocktail hour at 6pm, with hummus and pretzels and Cokes. It’s funny that I get nostalgic for that time because it was awful, but it was wonderful to have mirrors like that of all these mothers. We were all struggling to take care of our children through every mother’s absolute worst nightmare, trying to take care of ourselves. I will never forget those first mothers I met because we were all trying to survive and when you become a cancer mom you are immediately martyred. You’re immediately martyred because you are seen as the selfless caregiver who always has her fight face forward, who gracefully accepts the GoFundMe contributions, who gracefully accepts the visits from the social workers and all the different people who come in. You become this hostess with the mostess of your hospital room. It was so funny because here I was in the hospital room decorating it with sheepskins and baskets, trying to make it look like a Domino spread. All of us had a secret life. We had things we were doing to stay alive. For me it was writing. My dear friend Molly is a big part of my

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

story. She was a guardian angel and said, “You need to write and send me what you write.” So that was my secret life and I was writing about some really private things, things that I was doing to survive. There were moms who were shoplifting, there were moms with addiction issues, there was the dad I always talk about, the only dad on the hall, whose wife “couldn’t handle it” and we were fascinated by her. Like, who is this mom who doesn’t get to be here? I say all that just to paint a picture. But the push and pull can really be seen in two ways. I still have dreams about taking breaks from the hospital room and wandering those streets to get a coffee or being really bad and getting in a cab to go down to Strand.

CP: “being really bad” (gestures air quotes)

AW: Right? Or can I go take myself for a glass of wine? Is that ok? So there’s that push pull of taking care of my child and then I really want to go buy a book of poetry, I really want to go have a glass of rosé, I really

want to go to that cafe on the corner with the really cute barista because I miss my husband and it’s complicated. But the push pull can really be seen that first Hallow een. There are two kids. West is invited to a Halloween party in our building. There’s a Halloween parade at the hospital, which we can’t be a part of because Lou has no immune system, so we can watch it from the room. In my mind I thought they all needed costumes. I find my self running out to Cheap Jack’s in the Garment District, got Lou a Superman costume and got West a boxing costume. I just remember standing there with one bag for Lou and one bag for West. First of all, the absurdity that I thought I had to pull off Halloween when my child is throwing up in buckets, but I didn’t know where to go first. And to this day I don’t know where I went first. But I have pictures of myself in both locations.

CP: I want to say you don’t remember because it almost doesn’t matter. That choice may have seemed

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

pivotal in that moment, but ultimately you couldn’t be in two places at once and yet you ended up fulfilling both duties. You were there for both of them.

AW: Absolutely. And just like I had to hand Lou over on that first day, I learned finally how to bring the support in. We had my mom live in the apartment for a while, we raised money so we could have a full-time caregiver to help at home with West because I was going back and forth. I remember those nights being with West who must have been so confused, he was two. I would put him to sleep in his crib and go back to my bed. In the middle of the night I would work my way to his room, I’d sleep on the sofa because it felt a little closer. And by the end of the night I would be on the floor by his crib just wanting to make sure he knew I was there. It’s a heartbreaking push pull for twins. There was another twin mom at the hospital, Maria, who became my best friend and I had Molly. It was wonderful to have that support because the push pull is just a nightmare. They really got me through it. And by the end of Lou’s first treatment I had applied to an MFA program in writing, gotten in, and made and recorded my third album. I wasn’t trying to win the Supermom Award, it’s just that I had to do those things at that time to get through it. Now if we push forward to Lou’s recurrence four years later, I didn’t understand why I wasn’t writing my book and making records, but I was in a completely different place. It’s interesting what you need at different times to get through what life throws at you.

CP: So you went from Singer/Songwriter to Mom to Cancer Mom and now you’re morphing into this Writer identity it sounds like.

AW: Yeah and survivor. People start looking to you for wisdom. I was happy to share our story but I wasn’t really there yet. I think it was Cheryl Strayed who had that famous quote, “You can’t write from the wound, you have to write from the scar.” And I was very much in the wound, but I was trying. It took me a while to under stand that if you’ve been through something extraordi nary you can actually be of service, but you also have to be ready to be of service.

CP: But that goes back to your point of becoming a martyr. I think Cancer Mom is the type of identity that overshadows all the other identities and so no one can see past that and people don’t know what to do with the other parts of you.

AW: And if they’re shining really bright it’s really confusing. I’m sure there’s a lot of moms that can relate to this, but there’s always that mom that doesn’t like you on the playground. We’ve all experienced the mom that we just can’t connect with. There was a type of mom in the hospital that I definitely annoyed. It was the one that was really attached to the dark place and couldn’t get dressed in the morning and couldn’t get out of bed and couldn’t find herself outside of this new identity that was forced on her. I get it. I would wake up every morning at the hospital, put on a nice dress, put on some lipstick, that was my way of taking care of myself. But I’m sure she would see me and be like, What’s her problem? She thinks she’s so great in her dresses and her lipstick and her smiles. But that was just how I was going through it. I still have

trouble sometimes with parents who can’t fathom how you’re showing up when you’ve been through maybe more than they’ve been through. It can sometimes make them feel less than and that’s a really awful place.

CP: How we perform as mothers is the most vulnerable thing and so when that is threatened we are sort of pitted against each other even when we shouldn’t be. You said you used your appearance as your coping mechanism, almost like dress for the day you want to have. But that’s not everyone’s coping mechanism so instead of just understanding that there’s a difference there, some people become so worried about their own performance as a mother.

AW: Absolutely, but I think those people that we rub the wrong way, or who rub us the wrong way, they’re our greatest teachers. The mom who couldn’t get dressed in the morning who always gave me a death stare, I realize now that I was envious of her ability to just sit with how awful it was. I couldn’t let myself sit with it, and so it’s just interesting, after everything I’ve been through now, cancer twice with Lou and now myself as a breast cancer survivor, when I come up against that opposite person, whether it be at the playground or in school or just in life, I just want so badly to reach over the divide and say, We have so much more in common than you know. I need what you have and you need what I have.

CP: Do you have any advice for a mother or a parent who has just gotten the news of a terrible medical diagnosis regarding their child?

AW: My advice is twofold: You cannot do this alone, it’s not your job to do this alone. And to make sure that you have an out on a daily basis so you can experience those other parts of yourself. We are like prisms, we have all these different parts and at certain times in life one shard of glass hits the light and others don’t see the light. But we’re always turning and to deny ourselves those other parts is a huge disservice, but it happens so frequently especially as mothers who are forced into extreme caregiving. So my advice would be the minute you get that diagnosis you need to hand it over to as many people as you are comfortable. Call five friends, call your entire family, let them set up a GoFundMe or a meal train. It’s the most unnatural thing to not care for your family, but not only do other people need to take care of your family but they’re going to need to take care of you. I get a lot of DMs like, My best friend’s son was just diagnosed with leukemia.

“ i realized my children, i brought them here but they are on their own paths. Being a mother is actually being of service and bringing them along on those paths, wherever those paths are going to lead.”

What can I do? And I find myself always saying that the kid’s going to be fine, the kid’s going to have doctors, social workers, specialists, so get something for the mom. Venmo her so she can go get a pedicure, so she can go take a walk and get a coffee. If cash isn’t an issue, offer to go sit with that child so she can go to Strand and go buy that poetry book because that poetry book is going to help her get through the day.

CP: Tell me when Cancer Patient, your new identity, appeared. Were you ready to accept that?

AW: No. One day I didn’t feel like writing and I de cided to go get that mammogram I was supposed to get. When they told me it was like someone saying something in a new language.

CP: Are you in remission?

AW: Yeah, so I was diagnosed in November, it was supposed to just be early breast cancer, a lumpectomy, some radiation and we’ll be done. Days before my Janu ary lumpectomy they discovered a third lump and it was too far away. So I had 48 hours to prepare for losing my breast. And everyone was so worried about me and right fully so because to be retraumatized in the hospital now as the patient it was so far out.

CP: You can’t make this stuff up.

AW: No, it was ridiculous! There I was standing on the corner of 98th and Madison about to lose my breast, like what? What is this? When you Google “how to prepare for a mastectomy?” all these things come up, all these things you can buy, I didn’t have any of that stuff. It was very profound to be back on that corner. I left Ian and the boys up here in Hudson because I knew this was about me. I had my parents take care of me. My dad and his wife, my stepmom, still live in the city and I went in so I could be a daughter, and I could just be Alexa. Here’s another example of the prism turning. I have two wonderful parents, my mom is really special to me, but my dad is one of the most positive people in the world. You want him around when shit hits the fan. I’m proud that I think I’m carrying that lineage along. I was headed into the OR, I had this spiritual moment, and I just laid down. I felt this power that I’ve yet to feel since, but it was this wonderful reminder that despite it all I am a person, I am a body, I have needs and we’re going to take care of them.

CP: And you deserve to be cared for, too.

AW: And I deserve to be cared for, too. The lesson in the breast cancer experience which is hopefully going to be a brush, because yes they removed the breast, I’m can

cer free, it was early, I don’t have the gene, it was a fluke, we don’t know why this happened, it shouldn’t come back. The lesson was, it brought me back to myself. And we don’t have to tie up these stories with a fancy bow, and this is not a fancy bow. This is like a funny bow, it’s frayed and it’s gotten run over a couple of times (laughs), but it’s how I’m wrapping it up right now.

CP: It forced you to turn the gaze back onto yourself.

AW: One hundred percent. And I had felt so isolated up in the country, I hadn’t been to the city in over a year during the pandemic, and next thing you know I’m there every two weeks getting reconstruction, staying at my dad’s, being fed, watching Curb Your Enthusiasm, living with my parents like I’m 12. That first walk I took with my dad after my mastectomy in Central Park was just like when I was a kid. It was such a reminder how to be there for someone, just be there.

CP: The second theme that I wanted to touch on is resilience. What does resilience mean to you? And to what do you owe your resilience?

AW: Resilience is one of those words that we take for granted, we hear it so much. For me it’s not so much how we snap back but how we show up. There’s so much emphasis on snapping back and you don’t snap back. You are changed. There should be more focus on how you show up and the thing about resilience is it’s like a rubber band. To be truly resilient you have to give yourself the grace to not always show up the way you like to. There were times I showed up on that corner of 98th and Madison not my best, and there were times I showed up like let’s do this. Resilience is accepting all those different parts of ourselves.

CP: A rubber band is many sizes.

AW: And it can get stretched in different ways. Being diagnosed with breast cancer after seeing a child through brain cancer twice I was stretched to the absolute.

CP: So why didn’t you break? What kept you from snapping?

AW: The love of others around me. The friends that showed up. People always say, what can you do, how can you show up, and there’s going to be the people that show up with meals, that show up with cash, that show up with doctor referrals. Everybody can have a part of being a part of your support team, but there will be those few people that show up with love with a capital L. Love with a capital L is I see you, can you believe this? Can you believe we’re here? Can you believe we’re at 98th and Madison again? They don’t try to fix it, they hold space, they maybe have some ideas that can keep you grounded. Or my my dad taking me on that walk. My children after walk ing through that door, Lou said, “Where’s your boob?” (laughs) and just to be able to laugh. What keeps me resilient is love with a capital L and sometimes you have to look for it because if you’ve been stretched to a certain point it can be really devastating that not everyone can meet you over here. But the people who can are sometimes the last people you ever thought would. That’s what keeps me going. Those people will show up and in return you’re going to find yourself as one and that’s so cool.

“ for me, resilience is not so much how we snap back but how we show up. There’s so much emphasis on snapping back and you don’t snap back. you are changed.”

�al� RoadFamil� Trip�

BY MIA SALAS

Fall decor, pumpkin treats and farm festivals are finally here!

If you’re looking to make the most of the cozy season, have you considered planning a road trip with your family? Road trips are the perfect, quick escape from the city where you can dive into family friendly fall and winter festivities. Whether it’s apple picking or nature hikes, tractor rides or fudge tastings, your kiddos will have plenty of fun activities to do, all while exploring the history of unique towns. We’ve rounded up some of the best road trip destinations for your family this year. Get your train tickets or GPS ready, because these are fall vacays you do not want to miss!

Central Massachusetts

Antsy kiddos who could not last hours in a car? Not to worry– Central Massachusetts is a quick 30-minute flight away. In fact, there are 4 flights arriving daily from NYC, both from JFK and LGA, making it easier than ever to plan your getaway. Once you arrive we recommend you set up camp at a brand name or boutique hotel in Worcester, MA. You’ll be 30 minutes or less from a ton of family-friendly attractions, like the Southwick’s Zoo, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Old Sturbridge Village and the Ecotarium.

If you’re looking for some outdoor fun, we recommend you go on a family hike to Lookout Rock or the summit of Wachusett Mountain. But with 22 state parks in the region, you’ll have your pick of hiking trails. Central Massachusetts also has plenty of seasonal celebrations: you don’t want to miss KidsFest, AppleFest, BooFest, and Fall Food Truck Fest at Wachusett Mountain. The Annual Harvest Festival is also a family-favorite because of its well-loved scarecrow contest. And we can’t forget about Southwick Zoo’s Festival of Illumination, showcasing the stories of legendary creatures and fairytales through handmade Chinese lanterns. Add on all the usual fall classics–apple picking, cider donuts, and tractor rides– and Central Massachusetts is the place to be! Book your amazingly convenient flight today.

New Jersey

New Jersey is home to some of the most exciting family destinations in the Northeast - from the quaint shops of Cape May to High Point State Park in the Skylands. Families come back year after year for coolweather experiences and adventurous ways to enjoy every last one of those fall and winter days.

Enjoy the great outdoors, for New Jersey’s 130 miles of coastline deliv ers some of the most magnificent (and Instagrammable) views in the U.S. Visit mural-filled Asbury Park. Travel scenic byways for an impromptu leaf-peeping session. Hike serene nature trails. Go snow tubing in winter at Mountain Creek Resort and skiing at American Dream year-round. Enjoy the East Coast’s famed national and state parks like Liberty State Park, the Delaware Water Gap and Paterson Great Falls.

New Jersey is bountiful in the arts, history, culture and more. The New Jersey State Museum and The Newark Museum of Art are famous family go-tos. Princeton’s Tony Award-winning McCarter Theatre provides unforgettable live music, dance and theater performances including American Repertory Ballet’s The Nutcracker November 25–27 and A Christmas Carol December 7 – 24. Dive in and discover over 15,000 aquatic animals and the Northeast’s largest collection of sharks at The New Jersey State Aquarium on the Camden waterfront. Also along the Delaware: Big Kahuna’s Indoor Water Park - always a huge splash with kids.

Looking for a quick 3-day family getaway? A road trip with stops at New Jersey’s top spots will do the trick. Choose the best journey for your crew including American Revolution, Scenic Byways, Anthony Bourdain

Food Trail and Black Heritage itineraries. Spend time together, learn something new, and see the best places to play, dine and stay.

Discover more at VisitNJ.org. Get your free Travel Guide and sign up for their informative e-newsletter.

Newport, RI

Only a few hours from NYC, Newport, Rhode Island brings fall festivities to the next level. Cider tasting and apple picking at Rocky Brook Orchard, named one of the best apple orchards in New England, offers eighty varieties of apples to choose from.

Next on your fall bucket list is The Pachet Brook Tree Farm for a family-friendly hayride that leads you to a pumpkin patch. Looking for more adventure, visit Escobar’s Highland Farm, and wind your way out of their 8-acre corn maze.

Experience more outdoor fun aboard a pedal-powered rail bike with Rail Explorers. The tour includes dif ferent experiences such as an evening lantern or fireside tours.

Newport isn’t short of sport or history; your family can visit the interactive Sailing Museum, Audrain Automobile Museum and Internation al Tennis Hall of Fame with just one ticket. Newport has family-friendly year-round events and activities, so be sure to check out the extensive cal endar of seasonal events at Discov erNewport.org.

Discover Newport

Frederick, Maryland

Location, location, location! This fall road trip includes the National Scenic Byways and historic downtowns. Once you arrive at Frederick, Maryland, you are a short drive from Baltimore, Washington, D.C, and Gettysburg, making this the perfect getaway. There are truly so many family adventures you can embark on here! And the best part? You can take your time by staying a few days at one of Frederick County’s 20 nationally-branded hotels.

There’s no shortage of fall festivals at the many farms and pumpkin patches in Frederick County, offering hayrides, apple cannons, corn mazes, arts & crafts, duck races, farm animals, and more. And if your kids are craving a sweet treat, Frederick has some of the best creameries with farm-fresh ice cream. For a blast to the past, check out Walkersville Southern Railroad and Monocacy National Battlefield. Little ones will also love saying hello to the many animals at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, while older kids may enjoy a hike to the cascading waterfall in Cunningham Falls State Park. Last but not least, the food scene in Frederick is top-notch and super kid-friendly: don’t miss Pretzel and Pizza Creations, a restaurant where everything is made out of delicious pretzel dough, including the pizza crust.

Putnam County, NY

This gem in New York is easy to travel to, making it an ideal road trip. A must-first stop is the Tilly Foster Farm. Only Putnam County, NY, would have a farm that regularly attracts families from all over to come and visit during the fall season. What makes Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster, NY, special? There’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy! From candle making to farm animals, sculptures to fishing, fresh veggies to concerts, this farm is the talk of the season every year.

But beyond Tilly Foster Farm, Putnam County offers a spooky, kid-friendly musical, Hearts of the Hollow, that runs weekends through October 31. With 20 original songs, your kiddos will definitely be singing them all night long. And if you want to sneak in some apple picking on your trip, look no further than the Boscobel Heritage Applefest in Hudson Valley. Packed with cider pressing, apple preserving, arts & crafts, and sweet cider sampling, it’s a must-visit.

Visit Frederick

Jamie Martorano

FALL FOR NEW JERSEY ADVENTURES

Team up with cool-weather favorites from the sands of the Jersey Shore straight up to the Skylands. Enjoy pumpkin patches, apple picking and hayrides. Parks dressed in gold and crimson leaves. Discover iconic eateries and sporting events—from the grid iron to the greens. Plus, journeys like our Scenic Byway and Black Heritage itineraries. You’ll find hundreds of destinations worth falling for.

Get your free official travel guide and discover more at VisitNJ.org

Rockland County, NY

Just 30 miles north of NYC, Rockland County makes the perfect family road trip. Nestled among 32,000 acres of untouched parkland, you can expect lots of outdoor fun: hiking trails, mountain vistas, and plenty of fall foliage. There’s also exquisite waterfront villages along the Hudson River that feature world-class restaurants, art galleries, shopping, champion golf courses, historic sites, and more.

If you’re looking to get your fall fix, visit one of the many farms and farmer’s markets for fresh produce, pumpkin picking, and apple picking. We recommend Orchards of Conklin, the oldest working farm in Rockland County. You can pick your own pumpkins and apples, escape the corn maze, and shop homemade pies, donuts, and cookies.

And with all the nature surrounding you, it can be tricky to choose just one hiking adventure. One family-favorite is Buttermilk Falls, which has several trails leading to the falls and steam with

overlooks and areas for picnicking.

Take your time planning this trip, because Rockland County has natural, hidden gems you’ll want to explore for a while!

New York FamilY partN er

Discover Newport for Fall Family Fun

p lanning family adventures this sea son? Look no further than Newport, RI for the best of fall festivities: apple pick ing, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and cider treats. Newport is activity-packed during any season, but there’s something special about fall and winter that brings families back year after year.

Between fairs, festivals, and fall foliage sunset tours, Newport has no shortage of seasonal family fun. An annual favorite is the Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Fair, October 1-2. Little ones and bigger kids alike enjoy sack races, hay rides, mud pits, tug-of-war, live music, scarecrow competitions, and plenty of prizes.

Newport also offers top-notch farms for fall festivities, such as Rocky Brook Or chard: a family-run orchard that’s become one of the best apple orchards in New Eng land. When it comes to pumpkin picking, families love Pachet Brook Tree Farm for its fun hayride leading up to the pumpkins.

And for an epic corn maze, Escobar’s High land Farm is adored by kids. This year’s corn maze theme is “Field of Dreams”, promoting health, happiness, and love.

Another way to experience Newport’s fall beauty is by hopping on a scenic pedalpowered rail bike ride along abandoned railroad tracks. Rail Explorers leads 90-minute, breathtaking tours around the Narragansett Bay. Head over to Thames

Street afterwards for a sweet treat at one of the ice cream shops.

And for chillier days spent indoors, Newport has stellar sports and history mu seums. Conveniently, the Sailing Museum, Audrain Automobile Museum, and the In ternational Tennis Hall of Fame teamed up to provide access to all three with one ticket.

Check out the full Newport experience at DiscoverNewport.org.

Heighten

SENSES

Make moments that matter in hip & historic Frederick County, Maryland. Wander quaint downtowns where historic buildings host locally-owned shops. Indulge in world-class restaurants and embrace our lively arts scene. Venture outdoors in National & State Parks and experience our storied past at Civil War battlefields. Unwind at dozens of wineries, breweries & distilleries. visitfrederick.org • 800–999–3613

Fall

Bucket list

40 amazing things to do this season

By Serena norr

Fall is one of our favorite seasons where you and your family can discover so many fun things to do! This year is packed with things to see and do, ranging from the new Harry Potter Experience to the classic Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze to indoor attractions at the Paladoes Center. Check off a few – or all of these – bucket list adventures to have the best fall ever!

1. Experience The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. Visit one of the most popular Hal loween events in Westchester from now until November 20th. This includes viewing over

7,000 illuminated and hand-carved pumpkins, along with original music, at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor. The walk-through experi ence is around 45-minutes where you can see bright and creative displays, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Pumpkin Planetarium. New creations this year include an animated “Jack” Smith working in his shop with a hive of glowing bees. After your fun walking tour, enjoy fall-themed treats, snacks, and drinks at their nearby cafe. There is also an on-site store with Halloween-related and Blaze items for sale. Times for the Blaze-Hudson Valley range from 7:30pm-10:30pm. Tickets start at $40 for adults and $32 for children 3-17. Children 2 and under are free. Van Cortlandt Manor, 525

South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. tickets.hudsonvalley.org/events

2.Rock out in Pound Ridge with your fam ily. Attend the annual Pound Ridge Harvest Festival. Held on Saturday, October 1st from 1:00pm-6:00pm, this year’s event is headlined by Grammy-award winning artist, Blues Trav eler! The festival will be opened by local artists Badger Scratch and Platinum Moon who won this year’s Battle of the Bands. The festival also includes a Root Beer Garden, rides, inflatables, crafts, games, and prizes. Local restaurants, specialty food purveyors and craft beer gardens add to the “Oktoberfest feel” of the event. This year Harvest Festival is excited to welcome Craft

Fall in Love with Rockland County!

Explore our village shops and restaurants.

Experience the natural splendor of the Hudson Valley.

Enjoy fabulous fall golf, hiking, camping, and more!

For a Great Getaway that’s not far away, make your next... explorerocklandny.com

New York, and Sony Hall as its Presenting Part ners! Tickets are $35 per person. Pound Ridge Town Park, Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576. eventbrite.com/e/pound-ridge-harvestfestival-2022-vip-pass-tickets-380739099897

3. Find some cool art at the Art at the Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Art collectors will love exploring and soaking in art at the annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Celebrating its 60th year, view the original work of over 160 artists from around the world. The event, held on Saturday, October 1st-Sunday, October 2nd from 10:00am-5:00pm, also includes food and beverages and free children’s activities such as art lessons and interactive projects during the show. 205 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY. armonkoutdoorartshow.org

4. Watch the Wizard of Oz at a Beautiful Barn. Watching the “Wizard of Oz” is one of our fa vorite movies to watch with our kids. Now, you can watch it with your closest friends in Pound Ridge as a part of the Bedford Playhouse’s “Yel low Brick Road Fest.” Held on Saturday, Octo ber 8th at 5pm at the idyllic Maple Grove Farm, this family-friendly Wizard of Oz-themed event includes tons of kids’ activities, signature cock tails, a Wizard of Oz costume content (along with prizes!), popcorn, and a delicious Kansasstyle buffet barbecue. Be sure to bring a blanket and some lawn chairs to watch the movie under the stars. Maple Grove Farm, 1185 Old Post Road, Pound Ridge, NY 10576. bedfordplayhouse. org/family-friendly-event

5. Visit Nyack’s Famous Street Fair. Enjoy the ultimate family foodie festival on Sunday, October 9th from 10:00am-5:00pm at The Ny ack Famous Street Fair. Located in downtown Nyack, the event will include 250 exhibitors with arts, crafts, retail, home decor, live music, shopping, and food. The event is free and held rain or shine. Downtown Nyack, Main Street & Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960. visitnyack.org/ event/nyacks-street-fair-oct2022

6. Check Out the Serious Fun Art Festival in White Plains. Have some serious fun with your family in October at this jam-packed arts and music festival in White Plains. Hosted by Arts Westchester, the event includes live music, theater, live mural painting, family art-making, a public art walking tour, dancing, and much more. Events on Saturday include free Serious Fun Block Party performances, followed by live music from headliner Sammy Rae & the Friends on Sunday, October 16th. Kicks off Wednesday, October 12th-Sunday, October 16th, vari

ous times. Various locations in White Plains. artswestchester.org/serious-fun-arts-fest

7. Find a book (or two) at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. The 9th Annual Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival kicks off on October 15th from 10:00am-4:00pm with 160 children’s book authors and illustrators. The fun event includes book signings, read ings, illustrator demos, with a percentage of proceeds going to literacy programs throughout Westchester and Metro New York. Food will be also available from food trucks and the Chap paqua Farmers Market. Admission and parking are free and the event is rain or shine. Chap paqua Train Station, Allen Place, Chappaqua, NY 10514. ccbfestival.org

8. Visit Greenburgh Nature Center’s Fall Festi val. Enjoy Greenburgh Nature Center’s outdoor festival featuring live music, crafts, games, a pumpkin and scarecrow walk, apple cider dem onstrations and tastings. Local vendors will also be on-hand selling sustainable items, meadow dedication, and more. Saturday, October 22ndSunday, October 23rd from 10:00am-3:00pm. Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. greenburghnaturecenter. org/events__trashed/program-event-calendar/

9. Support local artisans at the Westchester Craft Crawl. This interactive crafting experi ence allows artists and art lovers to connect. During the event, artists open their studios over the course of two where patrons can visit over 50+ professional artists at four tour stops located between Ossining and Croton. Check out their website for the latest on the stops and featured artists. Saturday, October 22nd-Sunday, October 23rd. Various locations. westchestercraftcrawl.com

10. Paddle on the Hudson River. Celebrate the witchy season Sleepy Hollow style at the SUP Witch’s Festival. The 3rd annual festival features a paddle where witches take off at Horan’s Landing and paddle along the Hudson. You can also watch or stroll along the riverwalk to watch the witches pass. The event also includes local vendors, brews, and spooky views. All who are paddling must wear a costume. The event is $30 if you’re bringing your own SUP equipment (kayaks welcome) or $45 to rent SUP equipment (includes board, paddle, leash, PFD). All guests interested in participating must pre-register in advance. Sunday, October 16th from 12:00pm4:00pm, Rain date: October 23rd. Horan’s Land ing, 57 River Street, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. rivertownssupyoga.com/sup-witches-festival

11. Enjoy a Halloween-themed farm tour. Take a drive to Pleasant Valley to Lilymoore Farm to see a Halloween event like no other. Enjoy a 1.5 hour guided farm tour where you and your family can meet the animals of Lilymoore Farm and Dreaming of A Chance pigeon sanctuary. This includes alpacas and goats in Halloween costumes. Plus, enjoy crafting at the end of the tour. Tickets are $22.95 for kids ages 11 and up and $18.95 for kids ages 3-10 years old. Friday, October 21st-Monday, October 31st, various times. 21 Moore Road, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569. www.lilymoorefarm.com

12. Experience the Legend of Sleepy Hollow Family Storytelling Event. Listen to actor/ storyteller David Neilsen retell Washington Irving’s,: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This fun family event also includes Halloween treats and activities. It is slated to take place outdoors but will be moved indoors if needed. The event is limited to 40 seats. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Sunday, October 23rd from

Hommocks Park Ice Rink

1:00pm-2:00pm. Hudson Valley Writers Center, 300 Riverside Drive, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. writerscenter.org/calendar/legend1pm

13. Experience Hulda’s Night at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Enjoy a Halloween experi ence like no other with Hulda’s Night. The event starts where you walk through a path illumi nated by lanterns until you join a traveler. Your journey continues as you listen to more stories about war and a witch living nearby. Your group goes down to the witch’s spring trail as you are guided to Hulda’s home, eventually meeting Hulda herself who tells your group a story. Tick ets are $30.00 per person. Wednesday, October 19-22 and October 26-29. 6:00pm and 7:00pm. Rockefeller State Park Preserve, 25 Sleepy Hollow Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. friendsrock.org/ huldas-night

14. Visit Woodfield Cottage: A Haunting Hal loween Interactive Experience. Have a spooky family experience at this interactive experi ence. Wear your Halloween costume, carve pumpkins, and toast marshmallows as you listen to Halloween stories. Families can then create scary art and watch Halloween movies by candlelight such as “Casper” or “Corpse Bride.” Additionally, hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. The event takes places outdoors (except for the crafts). Bring blankets and warm clothes. Saturday, October 29th-Monday, October 31st from 10:00am-4:00pm. Woodfield Cottage, 20 Hammond House Road, Valhalla, NY 10595. facebook.com/events/woodfield-cot tage/woodfield-cottage-a-haunting-halloweeninteractive-experience-/591005545494061

15. Experience a local Halloween Parade. We love this season for dressing up and experienc ing Halloween. Some local parades to check out include Nyack Halloween Parade (Downtown Nyack Main Street & Broadway, Nyack, NY. visitnyack.org/calendar/category/parades) on Saturday, October 29th at 5:00pm; the 20th an nual Tarrytown Halloween Parade/block party on Saturday, October 29th at 3:30pm (Patriots Park, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. visitsleepyhollow. com/event/tarrytown-halloween-parade), or the Halloween Party & Costume Contest in Pound Ridge on Monday, October 31st from 4:00pm6:00pm (The Market at Pound Ridge Square. 55 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576. poundridgemarket.com)

16. Explore Lyndhurst Spirited Mansion

Visit Lyndhurst Mansion for their “Explore at Your Own Pace” event. Families can visit the mansion without a guided tour, view the

seasonal decorations, and take in the beauty of this historic mansion. This includes viewing the decorated entrance hall, reception room, parlor, library, and Victorian dining room. Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase on-site. Tickets are $24 for adults and $16 for kids ages 6-16. All visitors must have a pre-purchased ticket to enter the Mansion. Entry begins promptly at the designated time and tickets do sell out. Saturday, October 29th from 10:00am-4:00pm. Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. lynd hurst.org/events/halloween-weekend-posted

17. Experience the Bedford Music Festival

The first-annual Bedford Music Festival kicks off this year at John Jay Homestead. Hosted by destination 39.3, the event is raising awareness to showcase the beauty, vitality and diversity of Bedford, New York. The festival features The Spin Doctors, along with several local bands. John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St, Katonah, NY 10536. johnjayhomestead.org

18. Climbing Fun at the Palisades Climb Adventure. Vist the world’s tallest indoor ropes course right in West Nyack at the Palisades Climb Adventure. Standing at 85-feet tall with over 75 unique challenge elements, climbers of all skill levels will love this adventurous and fun course. They also offer a Sky Tykes course for little ones under 48 inches tall. WednesdayFriday from 3:00pm-7:00pm; Saturday from 11:00am-9:00pm; Sunday, 11:00am-7:00pm. Admission is $26.99 per person or $9.99 for Sky Tykes. 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY. palisadesclimb.com

19. Enjoy indoor ice skating. Spend the day at Hommocks Park Ice Rink, Mamaroneck’s popular enclosed public skating facility. They

offer skating lessons, hockey, free skating op portunities, and you can host your birthday party at the rink. Don’t miss character skating on November 6th from 1:00pm-3:30pm as well as extended public skating when school is out. 140 Hommocks Road, Larchmont, NY 10538. Various hours. townofmamaroneckny.org/282/ Hommocks-Park-Ice-Rink

20. Spend a day at the Palisades Center. As the weather starts to dip, we love having options for some indoor fun like a trip to the Palisades Center. With over 200 stores, 16 sit-down restaurants, and over 25 entertainment attrac tions, including a bowling alley, ice rink, the world’s tallest indoor ropes course, glow-inthe-dark mini-golf, and more, you and your family will find tons of things to do and enjoy. They also host tons of events, such as the 2nd annual halloween event on Saturday, October 29th from 5:30pm-6:30pm. (eventbrite.com/e/ fortheculture-foundation-trick-or-treattickets-399497877907). Palisades Center) or the Shop Small Holiday Pop Up on November 26th from 11:00am-4:00pm, to name a few (palisadescenter.com/event/shop-small-holi day-pop-up/). Open Monday-Thursday from 11:00am-7:00pm; Friday and Saturday from 11:00am-9:30pm and Sunday from 11:00am7:00pm. 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994. palisadescenter.com

21. Enjoy a farm-filled weekend away at the idyllic East Hill Farm. Spend the weekend away with your kids at The Inn at East Hill Farm during their Fall Family Weekends. Located at the base of picturesque Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, this all inclusive resort offers a relaxed environment along with tons of fun ac tivities for kids. This includes boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, water skiing, cross-

Palisades Center

country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and swimming. They also offer a variety of activities for the kids, which changes every weekend. This includes arts and crafts, storytime, sports, corn holel, a magic show, and much more. Attend Oktoberfest (east-hill-farm.com/events/event/ oktoberfest) on Sunday, October 2nd for an authentic German feast, featuring Slow Cooked German Short Ribs, Apple Fritter with Maple Syrup, Warm German Potato Salad, and much more. They are also hosting Harvest Fest Week end (east-hill-farm.com/events/event/harvestfest-weekend/) from October 14-16th where you can enjoy a fun weekend of events, such as arts and crafts, milking in the barn, patting the bunnies, annual pumpkin roll, and more. 60 Monadnock Street, Troy, New Hampshire 03465. East-hill-farm.com

22. Load up on Apples, pumpkins, and apple cider donuts! Westchester is all about apple picking, pumpkins, and apple cider donuts this fall. Some Westchester favorites include Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard (130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY 10560, harvestmoonfarman dorchard.com) ; Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm (1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, wilkensfarm.com) and Stuart’s Fruit Farm (62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs, NY 10527, stuartsfarm.com).

23. Experience Applefest. For even more apple activities, take a trip to Warwick, NY for Ap plefest. This annual and free event brings in over 30,000 visitors for a day of live entertain ment, music, a kids’ carnival, a farmers’ market, local vendors, an apple pie baking contest, and tons more. 2 Bank Street. Warwick, NY, 10990, warwickapplefest.com

24. Walk through a corn maze. Visit Wilkens Farm (1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, wilkensfarm.com/corn-maze) or Outhouse Orchards (139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem , NY 10560, outhouseorchardsny. com/the-corn-maze) for a fun walk through their impressive corn mazes.

25. Visit the Westchester Children’s Museum. Take a trip to the Westchester Children’s Mu seum to enjoy an afternoon of fun interactive activities, STEAM programs, and permanent exhibits. Some fall programs include Museum Minis, Collage Workshop with Michael Albert, My Superpower Workshop Series, and more. They are also hosting a Halloween (not spooky) Spooktacular on October 29th from 10:00am4:00pm (discoverwcm.org/spooktacular) with crafts, interactive Science workshops, and tons

more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes! Westchester Children’s Museum. 100 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY 10580. Discoverwcm.org

26. Take a Family Field Trip at Stone Barns Center. Enjoy a day at the farm with your kids and experience a tour of Stone Barns Center. Tours take place two Saturdays per month at 11:00am or 1:00pm. Stone Barns Center, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591, stone barnscenter.org/event/family-field-trips/all

27. Discover the Untermyer Gardens Conser vancy. For some fall outdoor discovery, check out the incredible Untermyer Gardens Conser vancy. This free attraction was once one of the most celebrated gardens in America. Over the years, this has included neglect and decay of the grounds which have been undergoing restor ative projects. During a visit, you’ll have access to explore six beautiful gardens. They also offer weekend family tours to better learn more about the history. You also take in a concert over the summer as part of the Minnie Unter myer Concert Series or visit during the holidays to see Walled Garden illuminated by more than 100,000 lights. The garden is open everyday from 9:00am-7:00pm (last entry is at 6:30pm). 945 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701.

28. Attend the Living History Experience. Learn Westchester’s Revolutionary War period with Revolutionary Westchester 250. Held in Tarrytown at Pierson Park on October 22nd from 12:00pm-5:00pm, this free event features historical figures such as George Washington, Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Franklin, and more. There will also be multiple reenactors, military horses, craft demos, a military equip ment tent, and more. Pierson Park, 238 West Main Street, Tarrytown, NY 10591, rw250.org/ news-events/revolution-on-the-hudson-living-

history-experience

29. Visit The Hudson River Museum. For a day of art, culture, and music (in the summer), check out The Hudson River Museum. As the largest cultural institution in Westchester, you’ll find a rotating collection of exhibits, a planetarium, a beautiful outdoor amphitheater, and educational spaces. Older kids (ages 8+) will love The Sky Tonight show that features a tour of Westchester’s night sky with a look at visible planets, stars, the Milky Way, comets, seasonal constellations, and more! Hudson River Museum. 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701. hrm.org

30. Visit LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester. For some indoor fun and discov ery, check out LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Located in the Ridge Hill shopping complex, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center of fers 12 LEGO-themed attractions. This includes a 4D movie theater, two rides, and Miniland where you’ll see the coolest mini version of New York made with 1.5 million LEGO bricks. Designed for kids ages 3-10, they also offer New Master Model Builder Workshop, the Little Play Squad - Preschooler Program, and the LEGO NINJAGO Ninja Training Camp (for summer), to name a few special programs. This fall, check out Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party (legolanddis coverycenter.com) on Friday, September 23rdTuesday, November 1st from 12:00pm-5:00pm where they can enjoy spooky activities, a brand new 4D Halloween movie, “The Great Monster Chase,” fun games, and tons of LEGO Hal loween activities. Kids will also enjoy monster training where they will learn how to become a little monster, brick-or-treat where they can col lect LEGO bricks to complete a spooky creation, and spooky creative workshops. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, 39 Fitzgerald

Monster Mini Golf

Street, Yonkers, NY 10710. legolanddiscoverycen ter.com/westchester/

31. Fly high at iFLY Indoor SkydivingWestchester. For some high flying fun, visit the interactive iFLY Indoor Skydiving Park. Located in Ridge Hill, your kids will enjoy a stimulated feeling of skydiving through iFLY’s vertical wind tunnels. Flyers can start at age three and will be guided through the process by iFLY’s instructions. They also offer a “Kids Can Fly Like a Superhero” program where kids (ages 4-16) receive 1-on-1 coaching in a group setting. 849 Ridge Hill Boulevard, Yonkers, NY 10710. iflyworld.com/westchester

32. Play Monster Mini Golf. Enjoy a new way to experience mini golf with black lights, monsters, and music at Monster Mini Golf. The course includes 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini golf featuring fun and comical pop-art as well as interactions from “live” monsters who will greet you along the way. Admission is $12 for mini monsters and $13 for big monsters. 49 East Midland Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652. mon sterminigolf.com/paramus and Ridge Hill Mall,

221 Market Street 2nd Floor, Cole Street Parking Lot, 4th Level, Yonkers, NY, 10710, monstermin igolf.com/yonkers

33. From Spooktacular Night Walks to Bronx Zoo Mornings and School Break camps, WCS Education has something to offer for every fam ily! Check out our programs at bronxzoo.com/ learn/families

34. An award-winning event, the Norman Bird Sanctuary Annual Harvest Fair, is one not to miss. Challenge friends to a sack race, scarecrow building competition, rope climbing, live mu sic, and feast on delish fall food

35. Spend an October weekend in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, to visit Phantoms by Firelight at Old Sturbridge Village

36. Head to East Rutherford, NJ to American Dream. Get your thrills in at Nickelodeon Universe, North America’s largest indoor theme park or enjoy the world’s largest indoor wave pool at DreamWorks Water Park. Shop at Saks Fifth Avenue, Zara, and more! End your day at

Carpaccio, Bergen County’s #1 New Restaurant

37. Check out Museum of The City of New York’s Movies for Minis, a new series of monthly movies accompanied by an art-making work shop for kids of all ages. Check dates at mcny.org

38. Best NYC views from 300 feet with special event opportunities at the Dream Wheel NJ! Tip: Park in lot C at the American Dream Mall and go to the 3rd floor

39. Check out Palisades Climb Adventure which is the world’s tallest indoor ropes course, stand ing 85 feet tall and featuring over 75 unique challenge elements designed for climbers of all ages and skill levels. For younger visitors, check out the Sky Tykes course, which allows for easy parental guidance at any course level

40. Take a day or evning trip to Times Square for Times Square is for families; discover kidfriendly attractions, family-style restaurants, immersive shops, free outdoor events, and theater. Explore the Times Square Family Fun Guide at tsq.org/families

C

C hildren’s Book Festival

150 authors, story time, activities, crafts, all day fun, food trucks And more!

ART BY HUDSON TALBOTT

Pumpkin Picking!

Discover family-friendly farms in and around Westchester

By Serena norr

It’s one of our favorite times of the year: fall pumpkin picking! In Westchester (and the surrounding area), there are tons of places where you can explore some beautiful local farms, enjoy hay rides, delicious farm treats (hello, apple cider donuts), and farm festivals. Some farms do require reservations and picking dates vary, so be sure to check their websites/social media pages before you visit. Check out our list below as you soak in the magic of fall with your family.

Barton Orchards

There are so many fun activities and events happening at Barton Orchards this fall. Check out Hocus Pocus Live, family fun weekend, live music, and more! The farm also has hayrides, a petting zoo, a fun park, and pick-your-own pumpkins. Visit the country store for treats and farm concessions. Admission is free Monday-Friday. Weekends $15 admission. You can also make a whole day out of it with a visit to Tree Top Adventures (open from 11:00am-3:00pm daily). Kids ages seven and up can swing and climb through the trees where they can experience a fun and challenging course for all skill levels. Reservations can be made directly on their website. Barton Orchards, 63 Apple Tree Lane., Poughquag, NY 12570. 845227-2306. staging.tangibleagency.com/barton

Dykeman Farms

Starting on September 25th you’ll find

over 70 varieties of pumpkins at Dykeman Farms. You’ll also find winter squashes, fall decorations, apples and free hay rides on the weekends. Parking is free and reservations are not required for pumpkin picking. The farm also has a store where you get seasonal produce, including their freshly-picked corn. Dykeman Farms, 31 Dykeman Lane, Pawling, NY 12564, 845-832-6068. www.dykemanfarm. com

Fishkill Farms

Get your pumpkins at Fishkill Farms in late September-October. Visit their PickYour-Own Page (fishkillfarms.com/visit/ pick-your-own) on Thursday or Friday the weekend you plan to visit for the most up-todate information. Reservations are required for all visits. During your visit, you can also enjoy their fall harvest festivals (held every weekend in September-October) with live music, food, and, of course, yummy apple cider donuts. Visit their on-site farm store and outdoor market for homemade pies and treats, artisanal cheeses, local meats, maple

syrup, locally made coffee, tea, local NY state cider, and tons more. Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. 845-897-4377. Fishkillfarms.com.

Greig Farm

Pick-your-own pumpkins at Greig Farm from late September-October. They also have an impressive farmers’ market open daily (10:00am- 7:00pm) stocked with local goods and produce from all around the Hudson Valley as well as a kitchen that serves breakfast, lunch, and to-go dinners. Behind the barn, kids can feed pygmy goats and koi fish from their pond behind Grandiflora, The farm also has a three hiking loops that you and your family can explore and soak in the beauty of the Catskill Mountains as well as nearby ponds, geese, ducks, turtles, frogs, and more. The farm is open daily from 9:00am-7:00pm. Greig Farm, 227 Pitcher Lane., Red Hook, NY 12571. 845-758-8007. Greigfarm.com.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

You can start picking your pumpkins

at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard on September 17th. During your visit enjoy live country music, a BBQ lunch, hot apple cider donuts, and much more! Shop their on-site farm store for apples, farm-pressed sweet and hard cider, pasture-raised meats, fresh baked goods, and more. This farm gets very busy and reservations are required to pick. Note that each reservation ticket allows entry to the orchard for up to four people only. If you bring a party of more than four people, you will need to purchase an extra reservation. The pumpkin patch is open during the week and on apple picking on the weekends! Children under three years old are free. Parking entry is for one car only. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY 10560. 914-485-1210. Harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com.

Hurds Family Farm

Pumpkin picking starts in late September at Hurds Family Farm. They have tons of activities and attractions for families where you’ll find a bounce pillow, hayrides, giant

slides, kids corral, a playground area, duck races, obstacle courses, nature trails, and corn mazes. Pair your visit with some fall treats and food at Hurds with hot apple cider donuts, apple cider, local spirits, pizza, a variety of pies, maple syrup cotton candy, and much more! Hurds Family Farm is open on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am-5:00pm and Monday and Friday from 10:00am-4:00pm. They offer different tiered tickets with a VIP ($23 per person) or ultimate ticket ($29 per person) options. Kids under age three are free, but must be accompanied by an adult. You can also purchase apple picking or pumpkin picking separately and pay for the activities a la carte. Hurds Family Farm, 2187 State Rte. 32, Modena, NY 12548. 845-883-7825. Hurdsfamilyfarm.com.

Kelder’s Farm

This farm is a bit of a drive from Westchester but it offers so many novelties that makes this day trip worth it. Enjoy pumpkin picking in September-October where you

can find over a dozen varieties. They also have other fall favorites like gourds and squashes. During the fall, you and and your family can enjoy many events such as the fall harvest celebration from September 24th-October 31st, apple and pumpkin cannons, hay rides, and more! Tickets range from $12.95 per person (picking only) to $23.95 per person for a weekend pass. Kids two and under and adults 80 and older are free. Note: They are a cashless farm; however you can load cash onto a Kelder’s Farm gift card. Kelder’s Farm, 5755 US Route 209, Kerhonkson, NY 12446, 845-626-7137. keldersfarm.com

Outhouse Orchards

Pick from a wide selection of pumpkins and gourds at Outhouse Orchards. You and your family can also enjoy hay rides, a corn maze, and yummy treats from their 1940s barn converted into a farm store. Outhouse Orchards, 139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY 10560. 914-277-3188. outhouseorchardsny.com

Stuart’s Fruit Farm

Opened since 1828, this family-run farm is open every day from 10:00am-5:00pm from now until November. You can pick pumpkins from the field, or purchase a pre-picked pumpkin at their on-site store. You can also find gourds, Indian corn and corn stalks. Stuart’s only accepts cash or checks. They also only use farm bags; no outside bags are permitted. Stuart’s Fruit Farm, 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs, NY. 914-2452784. Stuartsfarm.com.

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

The pumpkin patch at Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm is open Wednesdays-Mondays from 10:00am-4:30pm in October with anticipated start date of October 1st. There are no reservations needed and parking is free. The farm also has a bakery to get delicious pies and cider donuts can be ordered outside the bakery and a country market where you’ll find local crafts and country-themed gifts. Wilkens Farm, 1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. 914-245-5111. wilkensfarm.com.

By Shara Levine

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester |

Brick or Treat Presents: Monster Party

WHEN: Sept. 23- Nov. 1, Mondays-Fridays, 12-5pm; Saturdays-Sundays, 10am-7pm

WHERE: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, 39 Fitzgerald St., Yonkers

AGES: 3-12

WHAT: Say Brick-or-Treat, as you get into the Halloween spirit with all types of spooky activities and a brand new 4D Halloween movie - The Great Monster Chase.

WANT TO GO?: $29.99. 914-775-6015. legolanddiscoverycenter.com/ westchester

The Legend: Cirque Performance

WHEN: Sept. 23- Oct. 16, Fridays, 7pm; Saturdays, 2pm and 7pm; Sundays, 2pm and 7:30pm

WHERE: Westchester Circus Arts at the Village of Sleepy Hollow, 60 Continental Street, Sleepy Hollow

AGES: 9 and older

WHAT: See this Cirque adaptation of Washington Irving’s iconic ghost story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with narration by Washington Irving himself, in hologram form!

WANT TO GO?: $30 when purchased online; $40 at the door. 914-275-5711. SleepyHollowLegend.com

Bedford Playhouse: Yellow Brick Road Fest

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 5-10pm

WHERE: Maple Grove Farm, 1185 Old Post Road, Pound Ridge

AGES: All

WHAT: The Yellow Brick Road Fest is a themed event with clever activities, Kansas-style picnic BBQ, and an outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz.

WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $12.24. 914-234-6704. bedfordplayhouse.org

Yorktown Fall Festival and Car Show

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 9, 11am-5pm

WHERE: Jefferson Valley Mall, 650 Lee Blvd., Yorktown Heights

AGES: All

WHAT: Come out for a day of family fun with children’s rides, musical performances, dog costume parade, dance performances, crafts, food, and more.

WANT TO GO?: yorktownchamber.org

Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15, 10am-4pm

WHERE: Chappaqua Train Station, Allen Place, Chappaqua

AGES: 3-12

WHAT: This will have authors covering multiple genres and reading levels, author readings and special presentations, illustrator demos, book signings, and more!

WANT TO GO?: 914-263-5566. ccbfestival.org

Battle of Pell’s Point Encampment

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15, 10am-4pm

WHERE: St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon

AGES: All

WHAT: This annual event includes re-enactments, performances, demonstrations and more.

WANT TO GO?: 914-667-4116. nps.gov/sapa

Celebrate Día de Muertos

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 16, 3pm

WHERE: Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah

AGES: All

WHAT: Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of live music, dance, and stories, all capturing the colorful, passionate, inviting traditions of Latin America.

WANT TO GO?: 914-232-1252. caramoor.org

Chabad of the Rivertowns Tot Parade

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 17, 4pm

WHERE: Chabad of Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Caramoor on oct. 16.

Westchester Circus a rts offers its own take on the legend of Sleepy Hollow, through oct. 16.

AGES: 0-7

WHAT: Hora with the Torah features games, dancing, a Simchat Torah Parade, and create your own Torah cupcake with By the Way Bakery.

WANT TO GO?: 914-693-6100. chabadrt.org.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

WHEN: Oct. 22- Dec. 16, See website for daily schedule

WHERE: Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2957 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights

AGES: All

WHAT: Experience a nighttime woodland trail experience filled with magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the Harry Potter™ and Fantastic Beasts™ films.

WANT TO GO?: Individual tickets start at $35. hpforbiddenforestexperience. com/westchester

ArtsFest

WHEN: Oct. 20-23, See website for schedule

WHERE: Various Locations in New Rochelle and Pelham, 515 North Ave., New Rochelle

AGES: All

WHAT: New Rochelle and Pelham will come alive with creative works of all kinds including gallery shows,

live music, films, dance performances and so much more.

WANT TO GO?: Prices Varynewrochellearts.org

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 22, 11am

WHERE: Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville

AGES: 5 and older

WHAT: Celebrate Halloween with this kid-friendly classic. Come to E.T. in costume and you’ll get to take home some spook-tacular prizes.

WANT TO GO?: $16; $11 members; $9 ages 13 and younger. 914-747-5555. burnsfilmcenter.org

Fall Festival

WHEN: Oct. 22-23, 10am-3pm

WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Rd., Scarsdale

AGES: All

WHAT: Celebrate fall with live music, crafts and games, a pumpkin and scarecrow walk, apple cider demonstrations and tastings, vendors selling sustainable items, meadow dedication, and more.

WANT TO GO?: 914-723-3470. greenburghnaturecenter.org/ program-event-calendar

WestchesterFamily.com provides a rich array of local resources, useful content, directories and interactive tools to help families meet and celebrate the challenges of parenting.

Westchester Couple Rethinks Cereal

How the gluten-free, high-protein Three Wishes brand is changing the way kids eat breakfast

By Serena norr

You’ve probably seen Three Wishes and their bright boxes popping in your local grocery store. We were thrilled to learn that this cereal disrupter was created by Margaret Wishingrad and Ian Wishingrad, a Westchester couple who love cereal but didn’t love how most cereals are really dessert in disguise.

Created mid-COVID, the brand managed to weather the storm during that challenging time, releasing their low-sugar, high-protein, and grain-and-gluten-free cereal made from chickpeas. Families will find delicious flavors like cocoa, cinnamon, honey, strawberry, unsweetened, fruity, and the limited edition pumpkin spice. Read on to learn more about Margaret and this delicious new line that kids of all ages will love.

How did the idea for Three Wishes come about?

Cereal is great for teaching toddlers how to use their hands and develop pincer skills. When my son, Ellis, started picking up and playing with his food, I discovered that none of the cereals on the shelf were both kid-

friendly and nutritious. I knew I had to create my own, so I went out and did it.

Why was it important for you to create your own company?

It was less about creating my own company and more about creating a solution to a problem I faced – and was sure others faced, too. The best advice I can give to any entrepreneur is not to start a company just to start a company. By making sure you’re actually solving a real problem, your business will have the heart it needs to thrive.

Tell us more about your cereal line and what to expect.

We love cereal. When we had our first son, Ellis, we decided to turn the cupboard upside down. We wished to create a new kind of cereal – one made from nutrient dense ingredients, not commodity grains like wheat, rice, corn, and oats.

Three Wishes is high in protein, low in sugar, gluten and grain-free, abd 100% vegan. It tastes incredible so you can enjoy the deliciously nostalgic cereal flavors you love –without any of the bad stuff.

What are some of your favorite flavors?

For us, developing flavors truly means we come up with the cereal flavors of our dreams. Every week, our whole team meets to brainstorm the wildest and most delicious flavors we can imagine. I’m proud of each and every one of our flavors, but lately I can’t stop eating our newest flavor, strawberry.

What are some of your favorite things to do with your family in Westchester?

With two kids, we’re constantly bopping around from activity-to-activity. Between school, camp, sports, and friends, we’re always on the move and love connecting with our local community in Westchester.

Where can we find Three Wishes?

You can find us in Westchester at DeCicco’s, Balduccis, Wegmans, Stew Leonards, and Whole Foods!

Anything else to add?

We are super appreciative of our local com munity. As a brand that launched mid-COVID, we couldn’t be more grateful towards our neigh bors who have made our dreams come true!

Presents ParentEd Talks

Top tips and tricks to level up your parenting game

Join us online to hear from experts on timely issues affecting families, educators and caregivers, and get top tips and tricks to level up your parenting game. Sign up for the entire 2022–2023 ParentEd Talks series for free, and then join any live talk you are interested in throughout the year.

Co-authors Sam Goldstein, Ph.D., and Robert B. Brooks, Ph.D. | Oct. 12, 2022

The Extraordinary Power of a Resilient Mindset

Author Lisa Miller, Ph.D. | Nov. 1, 2022

What the Neuroscience of Spirituality Reveals About Our Capacity for Health, Happiness and Resilience

Alison Gopnik, Ph.D. | Nov. 17, 2022

Curious Children, Wise Elders: How Childhood and Elderhood Shape Intelligence and Learning*

Author Julie Bogart | Dec. 6, 2022

Raising Critical Thinkers: Media Literacy for the Digital Age

Jeffery Robinson and Khalil Gibran Muhammad | Jan. 19, 2023

How to Talk to Kids About Race at Home and in the Classroom

Author and researcher Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D. | Feb. 7, 2023 Modeling a Loving, Equal Partnership for Your Kids

New York Times-bestselling author Edward Hallowell, M.D. | March 2, 2023

The Shifting ADHD/ADD Lens: Moving From Disability to Ability

Cultural researcher, parenting expert and columnist

Jessica Joelle Alexander | March 22, 2023

The Danish Way: Insights Into International Parenting*

Sociologist and author Christine Carter, Ph.D. | April 18, 2023 The Habits of Highly Effective Adolescents

Trauma specialist and author Laura van Dernoot Lipsky | May 4, 2023 Transforming Trauma and Navigating Overwhelm

Behavioral scientist and author Elizabeth Jordan | June 6, 2023 The Perils of Permissive Parenting

*Attendees will be eligible to win prizes, courtesy of Happiest Baby.

Register for FREE at WestchesterFamily.com/ParentEd

Attendees will be eligible to win a $100 Amazon gift card at each ParentEd talk.

Attendees of the Nov. 17 and March 22 events will also be eligible to win a SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet (valued at $1,695) or a $500 Happiest Baby gift card, courtesy of Happiest Baby.