September 2020
westchesterfamily.com
Apple Picking spots!
“Little Kid, Big City” Mom
Beth Beckman on Why She Loves New York
Coping in the age of COVID Tips for kids and parents
It’s time to visit the Empire State Building!
Welcome to Oakwood Friends School!
On September 14th, Oakwood launches the Fall semester! With health and safety our overarching policy, we welcome students, boarding and day, grades 5-12, for our 5-day, in-person programming, including academic and extracurricular. Protocols meet and exceed all NYS health and safety standards and guidelines. • Staff fully trained to engage students both in-person and remotely. Ample classroom and socially distanced instructional spaces in multiple outdoor classroom locations and newly constructed interior classrooms • SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) integrated into programming; full-time school counselors to support students in- and outside the classroom • Social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion central to community For complete details about our Health & Safety Protocols, and 2020 life at Oakwood, go to: OakwoodFriends.org
Join our Virtual Open Houses Tues Sept 29 • 7:00 PM and Tues Oct 13 • 7:00 PM Upper School Day & Boarding Programs (5 and 7-day) Middle School Day Program 22 Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie, NY For more info or to join us, write or call: admissions@oakwoodfriends.org (845) 462-4200
Discover! oakwoodfriends.org
contents
September 2020
NewYorkFamily.com | WestchesterFamily.com
pg. 22
pg. 15
pg. 30
pg. 20
FEATURES 14 | Family Day Out Our roundup of the farms open during COVID-19 for fall apple picking 20 | Beth Beckman: Mom in the Know Beth Beckman, founder of Little Kid, Big City, and co-founder of FOMOfeed Kids on the city she loves! 26 | Back To School Our roundup of ready-made kids’ lunches 30 | Family Fun We have all the details on visiting the iconic Empire State Building
Stories & columns
Directories
4 | Editor’s Note September New York, Baby
8 | Activities & Classes 16 | Education Directory
6 | Mom Stories Why I am sending my Autistic son to school 22 | Ask The Expert Tips for parents and kids on how to cope with emotions as we head back to school in the age of COVID-19
on the Cover Photo: Ana Gambuto | anagambuto.com Hair & Makeup: Buffy Hernandez | buffysaintmarie.com Jumpsuit: Ulla Johnson
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Editor’s Note
NewYorkFamily.com WestchesterFamily.com Publisher: Clifford Luster Executive Editor: Donna Duarte-Ladd Digital Editor: Katarina Avendaño Senior Adviser: Susan Weiss Digital Director: Erik Bliss Partnership Managers: Erin Brof, Mary Cassidy, Shelli Goldberg-Peck, LynnMarie Hanley, Nina Spiegelman Ad Operations Manager: Rosalia Bobé Art Director: Leah Mitch Web Developer: Sylvan Migdal Graphic Designers: Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti Nina Gallo Photography
New York, Baby! We are heading back to school. And yes, for the millionth time, it is different, weird, bizarre, and hard — it has been really challenging in many ways. Some of your friends are moving away, and we get it. If this period has taught us anything, we all have to do what is best for our families. No judgments. What many of us do know about New York; it is a tough city to shake off. Sure, things are whacky right now, but this is a resilient city. So this month we have a few helpful articles for the new school year. Wondering what vitamins and tonics can be helpful this year? Check out Back to School Wellness for Mom (page 26). While many of us are taking deep breaths while we enter into a historic school year,
The Emotional Scientist (page 22), Dr. Marc Brackett shares how we and our kids can cope in the time of COVID-19. And let’s not forget that Fall is around the corner, and we have a list of the best Fall Apple Picking (page 14) in New York. Lastly, as we go into September, we want you to know all that this city offers whether you live in it or in the suburbs. This month’s cover mom, Beth Beckman, of Little Kid, Big City and Fomofeed Kids tends to quietly stay out of her gorgeous photos and posts, but we managed to capture her at the iconic Empire State Building (page 30). And in her cover feature Mom In The Know (page 28) she shares on her new book and all the spots we can enjoy in and around NYC. Donna Ladd Executive Editor
Editorial Contributors: Jana Beauchamp, Courtney Ingalls, Regan Mies, Mia Salas Editorial Interns: Jenna Fanelli, Katrina Makayan, Marta Rybczynski
Contact Information
ADVERTISING: (718) 260-4554 Advertising@NewYorkFamily.com Circulation: (718) 260-8336 Tina@NewYorkFamily.com
Address: New York Family Media/Schneps Media 1 MetroTech Center North, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
President: Victoria Schneps-Yunis CEO: Joshua Schneps Group Publisher: Clifford Luster
New York Family has been awarded the PMA Gold Award for Excellence both overall and in Website Design
2020
New York Family is published monthly by Queens Family Media, LLC.
get in touch Share your feedback and ideas about family life in the city! Email us at editorial@newyorkfamily.com and tag us at #newyorkfamily
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Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
Reproduction of New York Family Media in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. All rights reserved. ©2020 Queens Family Media, LLC
DE V ELOPIN G P OTE N TIAL, E N RICHIN G L I V ES A ND CR EAT I NG CO M M UNI T Y S I NCE 1944
Online and In-person Lessons and Classes t New Flexible Tuition Structure t Financial Aid Program
www.hbms.org
Early Childhood t Suzuki t K-12 t Adults t Classical and Jazz A supportive, joyful learning environment, a focus on the whole person, exceptional teaching, and a multifaceted curriculum. 25 SCHOOL LANE
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Serving Children with Special Needs
• Child-friendly environment and caring staff • Special needs welcomed • State-of-the-art technology and sterilization techniques • Game Rooms, Theater with large-screen TV • Serving the community for over 25 years
Penny Resnick Graulich, DMD Fatina Shtivelman DDS Dayna Mermelstein DMD Emelie Preis, DDS Voted one of Westchester’s Top Pediatric Dentists
115 Main Street, Suite 302, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 (914) 633-4440 MainStreetPediatricDentistry.com September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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mom stories
Why I’m Sending My Autistic Son to School When it comes to school plans, my choices are very limited By Donna Duarte-LaDD
S
ince coronavirus entered the hemisphere, I have been walking a tight rope when it comes to my child’s special needs. The first two months of the COVID shutdown, my four-year-old son regressed in severe extremities. Within weeks of quarantine, he ended up in the hospital, was diagnosed with a compulsive disorder, and I was labeled by the very person I chose to advocate for him a failure as a mother (this is another story, and this person has since been replaced). Never mind, he is on the ASD spectrum, and the doctors (who were saints) explained how his compulsion led us to the hospital. It was on me, not my husband, who also parents our children. The mother is the one who is expected to be the ‘super’ parent. I have now labeled this time as one of the roughest periods of my life. And I’m not alone. Stat news recently shared that “Years ago, a University of Wisconsin-Madison study showed that autism mothers experience levels of stress comparable to those of combat soldiers — and that’s without a global pandemic.” Yikes. My child tends to be in his bubble, happily, but as social interaction is necessary for all children’s growth, it is especially crucial for children with Autism. After the hospital stay, quarantine, and negative COVID tests, my son went to daycare during the school break in the hope that socialization would
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Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
help with his developmental regression. He exhausted the staff. I was politely told not to return; the daycare workers were unable to ‘handle’ him. Many parents with special needs kids hear these words more often then we’d prefer. The truth is he is not a lot to handle; the daycare workers were not equipped or educated in special needs to understand a child with autism. I have learned not to take it personally. Most children have to find the right school fit, and during a pandemic, watching a child with special needs is pretty extra. When it comes to kids with special needs, it takes a team of experts to teach the child. A strong squad sees his/ her strengths and builds on them to make this beautiful human’s life, one of value. We all know as parents that having a teacher that ‘gets’ our kid means we are going to have a great school year. However, our child health trumps even a good school experience in the time of COVID. We all have had to decide how to proceed with our children’s education here in New York. When it comes to returning to school and sending my son out in COVID, there are no pods or yurts where my son can safely learn. After speaking to my son’s IEP coordinator and teachers regarding going back to school — the decision was as an overwhelming yes for this is the appropriate route for us to take. Fortunately, my son is in a small class that will be even smaller this year. I do not foresee any crowded hallways such as the viral tweet that Georgia student Hannah Anderson shared. Not cool, North Paulding High School! So in a few weeks, most of our kids will either be remote or blended learning. And the gist of it all is I have no judgment on how a parent decides their child’s educated path this school year. What I do know is when you or I see parents sending their kids to school in the next few weeks, or heading to their ‘pod’ know we are all genuinely doing the best we can. This is not ideal for anyone; let’s work on being there for each other, judgment aside.
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centralparkdance Where Every Student is Special
WELCOMES YOU BACK T0
FALL 2020 Celebrating 38 Years Offering: â&#x20AC;˘ Live classes â&#x20AC;˘ Virtual classes â&#x20AC;˘ CPD OUTSIDE â&#x20AC;˘ CPD COMES TO YOU â&#x20AC;˘ Dance Pods Providing a safe studio atmosphere and enforcing comprehensive and strict COVID regulations for students and staff. With air puriďŹ cation devices throughout the entire facility that uses innovative technology to break down viruses, allergens, mold, and bacteria with a 99.999% efďŹ ciency rate.
centralparkdance.com â&#x20AC;˘ 914-723-2940 September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Activities Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
Amadeus Conservatory of Music 201 King Street Chappaqua St. Matthew’s Church 362 Cantitoe Street Bedford 914 238 0388 Amadeusconservatory.com Find your inner musician? Virtually, In person and in your home. Lessons are available in the following instruments: Piano, voice, violin, viola, cello, bass, drums, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, guitar, and harp! For more information please visit their website amadeusconservatory. com, call them at 914238-0388 or email at amadeusconservatory ofmusic@gmail.com
Artistree Performing Arts 114 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck 914-835-2200 artistreearts.com info@artistreearts.com Artistree Performing Arts offers classes in the
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performing arts for ages preschool-high school. Join them in the studio or have them come to you and your private group with classes in acting, singing, dance and film. This Fall’s Performance Workshop Shows are: “Descendants” (1st-5th Grade); “Matilda, Jr” (4th8th Grade) and “Newsies” (9th-12th Grade.) Artistree also runs theater camps for preschool-10th grade during both the February and Spring Breaks, as well as all summer long. COVID-19 Safety Protocols are available on their website.
voice, strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion for students (and adults) of all ages. Their world-class faculty provides a premier music education, which include comprehensive ensemble programs in orchestral, chamber music, jazz and rock groups. For toddlers between 15 months and 5 years, they offer Musikgarten classes, and are proud to offer group music classes for children with special needs, provided by FunForCure, Inc. Sign up for a free trial lesson today!
Crestwood Music Education Center
1 Odell Plaza, Yonkers 914-965-7676 Gymcats.net GymCats Gymnastics offers classes for ages 20 months and up, boys and girls, beginners through advanced gymnastics. We strongly believe that gymnastics is the foundation for all sports. We build athletes here at GymCats and every child walks out feeling more
453 White Plains Road, Eastchester 914-961-3497 crestwoodmusic.com Register for our Summer and Fall/Winter semesters! Serving Westchester County for 34 years, the Crestwood Music Education Center offers private lessons online and in-person in piano, guitar,
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
GymCats Gymnastics at Equalize Fitness
confident about themselves than when they arrived! We are very COVID conscious. We have small Classes, low occupancy, and following CDC guidelines. We will accommodate private classes, learning pods, individual lessons, and private birthday parties.
Hoff-Barthelson Music School 25 School Lane, Scarsdale 914-723-1169 hbms.org hb@hbms.org Online and in-person instruction. New flexible pricing structure. Financial aid available. At Hoff-Barthelson, students find a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service. Students enjoy a supportive, joyful learning environment; a focus on the whole person; exceptional teaching; and a multifaceted curriculum. Their unique comprehensive
Preschool – high school
FAll ClAsses
Begin september 9 in our studio or create Your own Backyard class! covid-19 safetY Precautions in Place
ArtistreeArts.com | 914-835-2200 114 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck
DISCOVER YOUR INNER CHAMPION! AT WORLD CUP GYMNASTICS Call 914-238-4967 or register at worldcupgymnastics.com Whether you are a beginner or experienced gymnast, a toddler or a teenager, there is a class for you at World �up �ymnas�cs�
Registe
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CHAMP our IO Today! N
Our gymnasts health and safety is our top priority. That is why we have put vital infection control protocols and plans in place to keep our students moving and socializing during this unusual time. See our reopening plan at www.worldcupgymnastics.com. 170 Joan Corwin Way | Chappaqua, NY 10514 September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Activities Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
program for students at all stages of development combines individual lessons on more than 20 instruments and voice with regular access to professional accompaniment; musicianship classes; myriad performance opportunities; an ensembles program featuring orchestras, choruses, chamber groups and jazz ensembles; and written performance critiques and progress reports.
Katonah Art Center 40 Radio Circle Dr., Mt. Kisco 914-232-4843 katonahartcenter.com KAC, the longtime hub of artistic learning in Northern Westchester, is now located in Mt. Kisco! KACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff of locally and nationally renown artists, and 20 years of excellence in the arts, makes it the premier choice for students looking to learn about and excel in the visual arts. Drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, fused glass, 3D printing, STEAM classes and
more. All ages and all levels welcome. After school and weekend classes available. Voted #1 by Westchester Family readers!
Launch Math+Science Centers 212-600-1010 launchmath.com info@launchmath.com For more than a decade, Launch Math + Science Centers have provided toddlers to tweens with inspiring math instruction and STEM-based camps and classes. For Fall 2020, they have introduced their new LAUNCH STUDY HALL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Antidote for Remote Learning! Launch instructors are ready to work privately with your child or with a small group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; virtually or in your home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to provide supplemental homework help and instruction. Let Launch see to it that your child successfully completes the required lessons each day they study from home.
Real-life rocket scientist, Scott Heifetz, founded Launch with one mission in mind: Inspire children to love and learn math and science. Visit their website, launchmath.com, to find out more and sign your child up today!
Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2039;usical Munchkins 914-771-7000 â&#x20AC;&#x2039;â&#x20AC;&#x2039;â&#x20AC;&#x2039;musicalmunchkins.com Musical Munchkins has been making kids happy with music for 36 years! Although, more ideal to be together with young children in the classroom, they have created wonderful, virtual ZOOM classes. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep the music going in your home with their fun-filled activities until they can be together, in person, again. Grab your drums, shakers and whatever else you can improvise with and come join them in their virtual world of song and dance! Their experienced teachers have enhanced their virtual curriculum in order to tend to young hearts and minds while
engaging and building music skills in a sweet virtual format. Join them and connect joyfully with their happy, upbeat classes.
The Play Group Theatre One N. Broadway, White Plains 914-946-4433 playgroup.org The Play Group Theatre provides a nurturing, creatively charged environment where kids and teens can unplug, connect with a diverse group of artistic peers, and engage in a broad array of theatre classes and performance programs. From their Black Box to their MainStage, from the rehearsal studio to the design studio â&#x20AC;&#x201D; creative thinking begins at PGT!
READ. WRITE. GROW! 914-924-5139 read-write-grow.org fdivittorwg@gmail.com Reading with fluency and comprehension is the basis for all learning. Writing
Fall Back Into Dance Pre-K ~ Pre-Professional
Dance from ANYWHERE with our virtual classes!
Modern ~ Jazz ~ Ballet Tap ~ Hip Hop Creative Movement Master Classes Adaptive Dance
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Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
Find your inner musician! In Person At AmAdeus & VIrtuAl lessons
Amadeus is accepting students in all instruments including piano, strings, winds, brass and voice. Home Lessons Available • Suzuki Violin • Preschool Music Beginning SeptemBer 8
www.amadeusconservatory.com
GYMNASTICS CLASSES
ALSO AVAILABLE
• Develop Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Coordination & Confidence • Ages 20 mos & Up • Boys & Girls • Beginner – Advanced • Small Classes • Low Occupancy • Following CDC Guidelines • Space Is Limited
Private Lessons Private Classes Private Pods Private Parties
914-238-0388 • amadeusconservatoryofmusic@gmail.com 201 King Street, Chappaqua St. Matthew’s Church, 362 Cantitoe Street, Bedford
READ. WRITE. GROW! Literacy for Growing Minds
Research-driven reading and writing support with Private Tutor, France Di Vitto (M.S. Childhood Special Education). Di Vitto creates lessons to meet your child’s unique literacy needs, supplementing today’s Distance Learning format. FREE initial consultation
Lessons available online and/or in your home. For more information visit: www.read-write-grow.org. Call: 914-924-5139 or Write: fdivittorwg@gmail.com
Our goal is to build a physical and mental foundation for ALL sports and to promote athleticism and good health through participation in gymnastics.
“We specialize in beginners.” At Equalize Fitness
GymCats Gymnastics One Odell Plaza, Yonkers (Exit 9 off Saw Mill River Pkwy)
(914) 965-7676 www.Gymcats.net
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Activities Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
accurately, clearly, and creatively allows us to communicate with the world around us. Meet France Di Vitto, M.S. (Childhood Special Ed.), who loves working with children to improve their reading and writing skills! Di Vitto creates research-driven lessons, to meet the unique literacy needs of each student. As children develop a passion for reading and writing, reading comprehension grows, and writing becomes a form of expression rather than a chore. Lessons available online, or in your home. Flexible schedules supplement Distance Learning protocols for the fall.
SPORTIME Harbor Island E. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck 914-777-5050 sportimeny.com/Harbor-Island
SPORTIME Lake Isle 660 White Plains Road, Eastchester 914-777-5151
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sportimeny.com/Lake-Isle SPORTIME is THE place for tennis players in Westchester! One low cost membership gives adults and children access to two sister clubs conveniently located in Mamaroneck and Lake Isle. Programs for adults include lessons, clinics and leagues. Programs and lessons for children and juniors start as young as 3 through developmental ages 5 - 10 to teens through 18. Whatever your level is, beginner to advanced, we’ve got the perfect program for you. Ask about our premier John McEnroe Tennis Academy at SPORTIME Lake Isle. Fall season starts September 14th. Visit sportimeny.com to review their COVID-19 safety guidelines. Register today!
Steffi Nossen School of Dance 216 Central Park Ave., White Plains 328-1900; steffinossen.org
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
Become part of the Steffi Nossen School of Dance virtual community. Dance from wherever you are! To provide us all with the safest experience, the year will begin with a robust and engaging virtual class schedule. To maintain flexibility, safety and quality, the year will be divided into three ten-week sessions. Try your first class for free! Dancers of all abilities have a home at their school.
Studio B Dance Center 277White Plains Road, Eastchester 793-2799 studiobdance.com Studio B Dance Center is celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season Live and In-Person. They are a licensed and certified Safer Studio™. Sanitizing stations at all entry and exit points, masks will be required for staff, parents and children over 5, specially marked and gridded floors designed for social disdancing, and all classrooms
and bathrooms cleaned before the start of every class. Choose from their extensive class offerings, private and semi-private lessons, as well as a create your own class pod option. Open seven days a week for ages 2 and up. Free studio jacket when you register for the 2020-21 season.
World Cup Gymnastics 160 Hunts Lane, Chappaqua 914-238-9267 worldcupgymnastics.com World Cup Gymnastics’ programs help to establish a solid fitness foundation for a healthy and active start to a child’s life and an opportunity for every child to discover their inner champion through the sport of gymnastics. Join their recreational gymnastics classes or try out for their competitive teams. No matter the skill level, there is a program for your child at World Cup
E Trial Clas s FRE
www.musicalmunchkins.com â&#x20AC;¢ (914) 771-70000
VIRTUAL ZOOM CLASSES
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in-person classes to resume when safe!
Toddler and chool Classes Pres
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SPORTIME JOHN McENROE TENNIS ACADEMY
Tennis programs, lessons, camps and more for children, juniors & adults. Registration for the 2020-21 Tennis Season going on now! Call today! SPORTIME Harbor Island Mamaroneck www.SportimeNY.com//HI 914-777-5050 SPORTIME Lake Isle, John McEnroe Tennis Academy, Westchester , Eastchester www.SportimeNY.com/LISLE 914-777-5151
The safety and health of our members, employees and guests are important to us. All SPORTIME locations follow COVID-19 Related Guidelines, please visit our website at www.SportimeNY.com/COVID19-Guide for more information.
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Family Day Out
Fall Apple Picking!
A
s we head into fall in the time of Coronavirus’s, we have learned by now that our kids need to get out. Luckily there are plenty of fun family adventures that are part of living in this beautiful state. For really, there is nothing like New York in the fall. Apple picking is definitely one of those early fall days out that we all look forward to every season. And yes, with COVID-19 outdoor activities this year will be different and have guidelines. The good news is we have a round-up of the farms that will be open.
Things to keep in mind : • Some are open only on weekends • Most if not all are masks requires past the age of two • Bring your own bag • Some farms are reservation only • Some farms will close once they reach 50 % capacity • Most stores seem to be open on the farms but at half capacity with social distancing enforced • Many extras such as hayrides and annual festivals are canceled. We strongly encourage you to look up the website or call the farm you plan to visit as many farms have to change their hours and how they run their farms according to health guidelines. The farms have worked hard to accommodate visitors and are happy to be open for apple picking for fall 2020!
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Westchester County, N.Y. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-485-1210. Harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com Stuart’s Farm 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs 914-245-2784. Stuartsfarm.com Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm 1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111. Wilkensfarm.com
Dutchess County, N.Y. Barton Orchards 63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag 845-227-2306. bartonorchards.com Cedar Heights Orchard Crosby Lane, Rhinebeck 845-876-3231. rhinebeckapples.com Fishkill Farms 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction 845-897-4377. Fishkillfarms.com Fraleigh’s Rose Hill Farm 19 Rose Hill Farm, off Rte. 9, Red Hook 845-758-4215. Pickrosehillfarm.com Greig Farm 223 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook 845-758-1234. Greigfarm.com
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
Lawrence Farms Orchard 39 Colandrea Road, Newburgh 845-562-4268. lawrencefarmsorchards.com Mead Orchards 15 Scism Road, off Rte. 9, Tivoli 845-756-5641. meadorchards.com Meadowbrook Farms 29 Old Myers Corners Road, Wappingers Falls 845-297-3002. meadowbrookfarmmarket.com
Fairfield County, Conn. Blue Jay Orchards 125 Plumtrees Road, Bethel 203-748-0119. bluejayorchardsct.com Silverman’s Farm 451 Sport Hill Road, Easton 203-261-3306. silvermansfarm.com
Long Island, N.Y.
Masker Orchards 45 Ball Road, off Rte. 17A, Warwick 845-986-1058. maskers.com
Seven Ponds Orchards 65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill 631-726-8015 Wickhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fruit Farm U-Pick yearly membership required, purchase on arrival at the farm, $20/family 28700 Main Road (Rte. 25), Cutchogue 631-734-6441. wickhamsfruitfarm.com
Orange County, N.Y. Applewood Orchard & Winery 82 Four Corners Road, Warwick 845-986-1684. applewoodorchards.com
Ochs Orchard 4 Ochs Lane, off Rte. 94, Warwick 845-986-1591. ochsorchard.net Pennings Orchard 169 State Rte. 94 South, Warwick 845-986-7080. penningsorchard.com Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery 114 Little York Road, Warwick 845-258-4858. wvwinery.com
Rockland County, N.Y. The Orchards of Concklin Rte. 45 and S. Mountain Road, Pomona 845-354-0369. theorchardsofconcklin.com
Ulster County, N.Y. Apple Hill Farm 124 Rte. 32 South, New Paltz 845-255-1605. applehillfarm.com Dressel Farms 271 Rte. 208, New Paltz 845-255-0693. dresselfarms.com Hurdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family Farm 2187 Rte. 32, Modena 845-883-7825. hurdsfamilyfarm.com Jenkins-Lueken Orchards 69 Yankee Folly Road, New Paltz 845-255-0999. jlorchards.com Locust Grove Fruit Farm 199 North Road, Milton 845-795-5194. locustgrovefruitfarm.com Prospect Hill Orchards 40 Clarkes Lane, Milton 845-795-2383. prospecthillorchards.com Weed Orchards Hayrides, farm animals, cafe and bakery 43 Mt. Zion Road, Marlboro 845-236-2684. weedorchards.com Wilklow Orchards 341 Pancake Hollow Road, Highland 845-691-2339. wilkloworchards.com
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
15
Education Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
Bronx Brilla Public Charter Schools Brilla College Prep Elementary, 413 E 144th St Brilla College Prep Middle School, 500 Courtlandt Ave Brilla Veritas, 600 E 156th St. Brilla Caritas & Brilla Pax, 2336 Andrews Ave 347-273-8439 brillaschools.org Brilla Public Charter Schools, K-8 schools in the classical tradition, helps students to grow intellectually, socially and physically into young men and women of good character and spirit, and to be prepared for excellence in high school, college and beyond. Character development is just as important as academic outcomes, for that reason Brilla prioritizes a joyful environment and works in partnership with our families. Applications are rolling until all seats are filled. Call today.
Cardinal Spellman High School
ST. BRENDAN’S SCHOOL
APPLYCATHOLICSCHOOLSNY.ORG
FOSTERING SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH
UPK4 to 8th grade. Music, Art, Chess, CYO Basketball, Peer Tutoring, Dance Team, Choir, Engineering and Robotics
The philosophy of St. Brendan’s School is to provide a quality Catholic education so that each child can develop his/her full human potential. We place the teachings of the Catholic faith at the core of the curriculum so that religious values permeate all subject areas. We continue to welcome all who seek and appreciate a value- centered, quality education.
268 East 207th Street, Bronx, NY 10467 718-653-2292 stbrendanschoolbronx@gmail.com StBrendanSchoolBronx.org
One Cardinal Spellman Pl., Bronx 718-881-8000 x 206 www.cardinalspellman.org Cardinal Spellman prides itself on small school friendliness with big school opportunities. Each student is prepared for personal success in college and life through the various programs of studies and activities that Spellman offers. Why choose Cardinal Spellman? They have a 100% graduation rate with many graduates being awarded college scholarships! Being a large co-ed school, students are offered a step forward toward a more college-like environment. In addition to their strong academic foundation, they also give the opportunity to develop strong social skills while still receiving support in a nurturing atmosphere. Visit their website and take their virtual tour to learn more. “Where boys and girls with dreams, become men and women of vision.”
St. Brendan’s School 268 207th St., Bronx
16
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
718-653-2292 Stbrendanschoolbronx.org For more than 100 years, this school has provided a quality Catholic education to its students in grades pre-K through 8th. They strive to educate the spirit and develop the intellect in an environment that emphasizes Christian values and creates an atmosphere fostering responsibility and courtesy. Your child will receive a strong academic education in structured surroundings. Self-discipline, accountability, and selfmotivation are among the benefits of the school’s program. Teaching the whole child is a priority, and they offer an exemplary academic curriculum, supplemented with visual arts instruction, weekly music lessons, physical education, and technology classes. They provide an early drop-off breakfast program and after school care services until 6 pm. Scholarships are available.
St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Rd, Bronx 718-882-2882 www.scah.org St. Catharine Academy has been preparing young women in the Mercy tradition for college success, leadership, and engagement in the world community since 1889. We offer a rigorous academic curriculum, including Advancement Placement Courses, Regents Courses, and Academic Honors. We offer a 1:1 iPad Program included in tuition, which allows our students to access their textbooks and take notes on their iPad provided by SCA. We are proud that our graduates have earned over $111 million in college academic scholarships and grants over the last six years. We welcome young women of all faiths and backgrounds.
University Prep Public Schools UP High School: 600 St. Ann’s Ave., 4th Floor UP Middle School:
&$5',1$/ 63(//0$1 +,*+ 6&+22/
Where Boys and Girls with Dreams, Become Men and Women of Vision.
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: Online now at cardinalspellman.org
Cardinal Spellman High School One Cardinal Spellman Place, Bronx NY 10466 Tel. (718) 881-8000 x 206 I Fax (718) 515-6615 www.cardinalspellman.org I TACHS CODE: 303
St. Catharine Academy: Preparing Young Women for College Success, Leadership, and Engagement in the World Community
Core Values the SCA Way: • Educational Excellence through our rigorous academic curriculum (AP courses, Regents courses, Academic honors) • Compassion & Service • Concern for Women & Women’s Issues • World Vision & Responsibility • Spirituality Growth • Collaboration
“There could be no work more productive of good society ... then the careful instruction of women.” - Catherine McAuley
St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx N.Y. 10469 • 718-882-2882 • www.scahs.org
We welcome young women of all faiths and backgrounds
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
17
Education Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
REGISTER NOW Urban Dove Team Charter School Bronx Eligible Applicants Are: • Graduating 8th graders who repeated a grade in middle school • 9th graders who have less than 8 credits • 10th graders who have less than 18 credits • All students must be 16 years or younger at the time of acceptance
470 Jackson Ave., 3rd Floor 718-292-6543 uppublicSchools.org hsadmissions@ UPpublicschools.org Opening its doors over 10 years ago, University Prep Charter High School (UPCHS) is among the highest performing High Schools in the Bronx. UPCHS is a free, public, 9-12, collegepreparatory school serving 440 students in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx. They boast an average 99% four-year graduation rate, 100% college acceptance rate, and a 98% parent approval rating. UPCHS is a proud recipient of the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award and is consistently ranked among the top performing high schools in New York State. University Prep has expanded their locus of impact to grades 5-8 with the opening of University Prep Middle School last fall. At UPCMS they are extending their highly successful model and providing a path for younger students to reach even more impressive heights by 12th grade.
Urban Dove Team Charter School II
WE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED, AND WE'LL HELP GET YOU THERE! UD Team Bronx 860 Forest Ave, Bronx, NY 11210 Visit urbandove.org to Enroll. Questions? Call: (646) 341-0079 18
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
860 Forest Ave, Bronx 718-682-3975 or 646-341-0079 bronx@urbandove.org www.urbandove.org Urban Dove Team Charter Schools are completely unique and innovative alternative sports-based high schools for over-aged, under-credited youth that combine a rigorous academic curriculum with a hands-on, real-world vocational program, and an award-winning college and career readiness program that strives to give each graduate a high school diploma, a foundation for higher education, and the job skills needed to enter the workforce. New students must be 16 years old or younger, have already attended 9th grade, and have completed less than 8 core credits. Visit www. urbandove.org to apply!
Westchester Ann & Andy’s 2170 Saw Mill River Rd, Elmsford 914-592-3027 annandandychildcare.com Each child is considered first, as an individual, and then as a member of the group. Regularly planned group activities meet the natural, physical, emotional and cognitive needs of children at play. The staff is carefully trained to promote a positive environment and to keep a balanced routine that does not stress or overstimulate children. The staff is adhering to all Covid-19 protocols for the safety and well being of the children.
Ardsley Community Nursery School 21 American Legion Dr., Ardsley 914-693-4932 Acns.us The Ardsley Community Nursery School is proud of its caring staff and dynamic enrichment program. Creative and developmentally appropriate academic activities are based on weekly themes and geared toward recognizing the talents of each child. A lovely playground and local field trips enhance programming. Soccer, dance and yoga classes are included with tuition.
Montfort Academy 125 E. Birch St., Mount Vernon 914-699-7090 themontfortacademy.org The Montfort Academy is a small, private, coeducational Catholic high school that offers a timeless, foundational, inspirational, and transformational classical education. A Montfort education transcends time-classical but forward and forms faith and character as well as the mind. Montfort is a magical setting, a fortress where students and faculty members consider themselves a family and grow together in soul, mind, and body. As a family, they care deeply about one another and their futures-- they seek earthly success, but they also seek Heaven. Montfort has
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THORNTON-DONOVAN SCHOOL
Individually Focused, Globally Engaged
SCHOOL WILL BE LAUNCHING LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH! Please go to our website and find out more about Thornton Donovanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich history in Westchester!
td.edu 100 Overlook Circle New Rochelle, NY 10804
914-632-8836
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
19
Education Directory | Special Advertising Supplement
Family Owned & Operated Since 1973
Experienced Teachers
• Serving Children 2 Months – 14 Years • Field Trips • Stimulating Environment • Flexible Schedules • Beautiful Campus Setting www.annaandandychildcare.com
914-592-3027
2170 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY
Ardsley Community Nursery School 21 American Legion Dr • Ardsley
(914) 693-4932 www.acns.us ✓ AM and PM classes for children 2-5 ✓ Enrichment programs in dance, music, art, science, nature and yoga ✓ Weekly and hourly rates ✓ Diaper friendly ✓ Beautiful outdoor play area ✓ Local field trips
Celebrating over 50 Years of fun! 20
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
to be experienced—in person or virtually—to understand just how special and excellent it is. Deliberately small, with a 6:1 student faculty ratio, they have never had less than a 100% college admissions rate. As the #1 diverse school in Westchester County, Montfort is surprisingly affordable, too.
The Nurtury Montessori Schools 431 N. Ridge St., Rye Brook 11 North Brook Rd., Larchmont 2097 Palmer Ave., Larchmont 1144 North Ave., New Rochelle 1146 North Ave., New Rochelle 130 Flandreau Ave., New Rochelle 914- 632-6200 thenurtury-montessori.com The Nurtury is committed to promoting quality, full-time Montessori childcare for children ages six weeks to 6 years. The first six years of life are when intelligence and personality are formed. We significantly understand this concept, and as a result, The Nurtury has set the standard for full-time Montessori childcare. Contact bbnanny@ gmail.com directly for more information.
Oakwood Friends School 22 Spackenkill Rd. Poughkeepsie 845.462.4200 www.oakwoodfriends.org On September 14th, Oakwood Friends School launches the Fall semester with in-person programming, academic and extracurricular, with highly-advanced safety protocols to keep students
learning and growing – academically and socially! Founded in 1796, guided by Quaker principles, Oakwood educates and strengthens young people for lives of conscience, compassion and accomplishment. On a 60acre campus with luxurious space to spread out for safety, students experience a challenging curriculum, with social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion central to community. Grades 5-12, boarding & day programs available. Easily reachable from NYC and Westchester via Metro North to Poughkeepsie. Visit website for full details re: VIRTUAL Open Houses and Campus Tour.
Thornton-Donovan School 100 Overlook Circle New Rochelle, NY 914-632-8836 www.td.edu Thornton-Donovan, Westchester’s little red schoolhouse, begins its 120th school year on Thursday, September 10th. T-D’s class sizes range from as small as five and none larger than ten students. Several classes will be taught outdoors. When T-D opens, all classes will be live or remote as school family have either one as an option. The New York State Board of Education has already approved T-D’s protocols. Last year the senior class was awarded 1.2 million dollars in academic scholarships from schools as far away as Reed in Oregon and as close by as N.Y.U.
Check out our new site! We’ve given our New York Family website a major makeover
Visit newyorkfamily.com to check it out and sign up for our weekly newsletters!
HAC Family Services Inc. Bridging the Gap to Education & Success
Doris E. Stone 1165 University Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 (718) 588-1030 Highbridge Advisory Council* Day Care Center 1181 Nelson Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 (718) 681-5216 Early Childhood Center I* 1594 Townsend Avenue Bronx, NY 10453 (718) 299-3917
- Childcare (2-years to 5-years) - Family EarlyLearn CACFP - Headstart - Pre-school Evaluations - Universal Pre-K - Pre-school Special Education - Family EarlyLearn (6-weeks to 4-years) - 3-K for All program For more information contact the central office located at: 880 River Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 2nd Floor Phone: (718) 992-1321 Fax: (718) 992-8539 James W. Nathaniel, CEO HacFamilyServicesInc.org www.hacfs.org Nearly a half a century of service to the Bronx
Early Childhood Center III* 1399 Ogden Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 (718) 293-9196 Richard H. Mangum Early Learning Center 921 E. 162nd Street Bronx, New York 10451 (718) 590-0673 Marshall England Early Learning Center 800 Concourse Village East Bronx, NY 10452 (718) 742-2366/69 Head Start Program* 880 River Avenue 2nd Floor Bronx, NY 10452 (718) 992-1321 September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
21
ask the expert
the Emotion scientist Dr. Marc Brackett talks about how to cope (and help kids cope) in the COVID-19 age By Hester ABA
A
s parents, however we’ve personally been affected by the COVID pandemic, we are all suffering from some form of emotional burnout. We’re heading into an uncertain fall, with schools “reopening,” but plenty of stress and anxiety lying ahead, so we sat down for a chat with Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and member of Mayor de Blasio’s 45 member Education Sector Advisory Council, for a check-in on how we can feel, understand and manage our emotions, and those of our children. Dr. Brackett is also the author of Permission to Feel (which we recommend all NYC moms and dads grab a copy of) which features a system which has been adopted by schools across New York City, called RULER, a high-impact approach to understanding and mastering emotions. How can we support our children’s emotional wellbeing during this pandemic, when we as parents might be struggling with our own? If you have the mindset that you have to be the role model for my child, it changes your attitude about your feelings. Some people have a mindset that their anxiety makes them weak. Other people say, “My anxiety is an experience that I’m having. It may not be pleasant, but it doesn’t have to take over my entire life.” What I try to do is teach parents how to shift their relationship with their stress and anxiety, to give themselves the permission to experience the anxiety, without allowing the anxiety to have power over them. We also experience feelings about our feelings: meta-feelings. I’m a father. I’m a mother. I can’t be anxious, that’s bad. And that’s not true. So, the first step is shifting your mindset about your anxiety. The
22
Horacio Marquinez
Dr. Marc Brackett, member of Mayor de Blasio’s education sector advisory Council and author of Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive. second is labeling it properly. Because it may be anxiety. It may be stress. It may be that you’re overwhelmed. And each of those words has a different meaning. Anxiety is about uncertainty. Stress is about having too many demands on you, and not enough resources. When you’re overwhelmed, you just have so much on your plate and you just can’t function. On the surface, those things seem the same. But they’re not, because the strategies that we would use to help a parent manage overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious are different. When we look at strategies for dealing with those emotions, the first is managing physiology. We’ve got to help parents deactivate, because with any of these emotions, if you’re driving yourself out of your mind with negative talk, like, “This
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
is never going to end” and “I can’t take it anymore” and “What am I going to do about it that’s going to put you into a place of heightened arousal, which is going to make your brain go into fight or flight mode. If we can teach people how to deactivate through breathing exercises, or through taking a walk, or just giving yourself some space, then the brain becomes available for cognitive strategies that can be useful. Research also shows that you can distance yourself from your feelings by saying your name and then a phrase. So for example, “Mark, you can get through this.” Or “Mark, you’re stronger than you think.” Positive affirmations actually do help to shift thinking. You can also engage in what’s called ‘reappraisal’ which is where you teach yourself how to tell a different story. If you have catastrophic thinking around COVID, you can say to yourself, “Let’s take a look at this from a different perspective. We’re doing everything we can to protect ourselves. We’re using masks. We are distancing. So the truth is we are pretty safe.” These are core strategies that parents need to use for themselves, and they also have to help teach their kids those strategies. How much do you think it’s appropriate for parents to talk about our emotions surrounding COVID with our children? It all depends on what your face looks like, what your body language looks like, what your vocal tone looks like, and how you demonstrate your ability to regulate the feeling. So if I walk into my house and say, “I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to freak out. Oh my goodness, everybody’s going to die,” your kids are going to be off the wall. The more you catastrophize, it’s contagious. Negative emotions have a contagion effect. But if I walk in and say, “You know honey, daddy’s worried about the Coronavirus. A lot of people are sick and we want to make sure that we don’t get sick. And
so we’re going to make sure that we distance from others. When we go outside, we’re going to wear our masks. And we’re going to have talks or conversations about it every night to make sure that we’re supporting each other, so that we can get through this together.” Totally different experience. Is it helpful or unhelpful for parents to share when we are going through a difficult time emotionally, with their children? Children are listening and children are watching. So if you don’t tell them, they’re going to know anyway. Research shows that sometimes the more you suppress the feeling, the more it shows up in your facial expressions in weird ways. So you don’t want to be a nervous mess and say, “No, daddy’s fine. Daddy’s fine.” They pick up on that quickly. The most important thing is that when you’re communicating your feelings to your children, let them know that you are able to manage them effectively and that you’re not looking for them to take care of you. We want to normalize that life is filled with positive and negative emotions. Otherwise what
we tell them is that when there’s a crisis we don’t talk about it. And so what kids grow up learning, is if they’re feeling fear and anxiety themselves, we suppress those feelings, which is the worst thing we can do for children’s healthy development. How does a conversation sound where you’re introducing language around feelings and emotions with your children? You’re at the dinner table, or you’re at breakfast, and you make it a ritual to just check in with everyone. So you’d say, “You know honey, daddy’s feeling pretty excited today. I’ve got this great meeting at work. I can’t wait to meet with this new client because I’m excited about this thing.” It’s about making sure that as a parent, you are showing your child that you experience all emotions. And then it becomes normal. Then there’s no taboo, there’s no fear, there’s no anxiety. And then you can ask them to describe how they’re feeling. How will masks and online communication affect our efforts to understand the emotions of others?
The only way to really know how someone is feeling is to ask them. So we have to create rituals around checking in with people, because certainly wearing masks is going to hide a lot of our ability to express. I mean the eyes are revealing, but not enough. We have a tool called the Mood Meter, which is in use at 400 New York City schools every day. The Mood Meter is a tool to say, “Hey, everybody, let’s just check in our feelings. What color are you in today? Yellow, red, blue, or green. All right, what’s your word?” And then the teacher can see the range of feelings that our kids are experiencing, then help kids. The same thing applies at home. You can say, “Hey honey, where are you today?” “Oh, daddy’s in the red.” “Why are you in the red daddy?”, “Well, because I’m really upset about this and XYZ. What about you?” In schools, the Mood Meter is a poster board. We also have a virtual app for schools where teachers can put it onto Google classroom, or they can use our own platform. And kids can virtually check in, anonymously or with their names. Parents love the tool.
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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ask THe experT
How can we teach our children the words for various feelings and emotions and the differences between them? As part of RULER, we developed the Feeling Words Curriculum. The goal is to make sure children from preschool all the way up to their middle and high school years develop a full language to describe their inner experience. We teach preschoolers the basic words like happy, sad, calm and angry. For upper elementary and middle school, they learn words like alienation, apprehension, hopelessness. The design of the Feeling Words program includes teachers and students sharing their own stories around feelings, and it can be linked to the curriculum. So kids can use it to analyze characters in social studies and in poetry. Then they go home and teach their parents the words. And so they’re having conversations with their families around feelings. And then finally, they get into conversations like, “Well, what do you do when you have these feelings?” If you do this every year of your academics, by the time you’re in high school, you’ve got hundreds of words and dozens of conversations around how to regulate, and we find that it really does impact children in a very positive way. How will your work around RULER and emotions be pivoting to deal with these (groan) unprecedented times this school year? So all the schools that have adopted RULER are going to go deeper with the work this year, of course. We have created amendments and extra strategies to support them through COVID, and also to help think through how to use Ruler to support more culturally responsive pedagogy, as well as to support difficult conversations around race. We want to make sure teachers understand there are possible implicit biases associated with reading children’s emotions, and to be engaging in deep reflection before they attribute an emotion to a child. There is a bias associated with White people identifying Black people’s emotions. White individuals are more likely to attribute anger for example, to a neutral black male’s facial expression. And so teaching people that that’s a possible bias is very important, because it’ll make people pause and reflect, and maybe ask the question before saying something like, “Why are you angry” or before even thinking that the person is angry,
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“We have a tool called the Mood Meter, which is in use at 400 New York City schools every day. The Mood Meter is a tool to say, ‘Hey, everybody, let’s just check in our feelings. What color are you in today?’” they’re going to second guess and say, “You know what, this may be my implicit bias operating here right now. I’m not going to assume this, I’m going to actually find out how the child is feeling.” As an emotion scientist, have you been surprised by your own feelings during the COVID pandemic? I would never have anticipated my own anxiety during this crisis. Here I am, supposedly an expert in this space, and I’ve struggled with my anxiety. And even a lot of my anger about what’s happening in the world. And so I’m working on it. I’m reflecting on it. I’m thinking about how I can appraise things in different ways to support my own health and wellbeing. I think if we think of this as life’s journey, we put less pressure on ourselves to be perfect at it right away. As parents, we also just have to work at always trying to be the best possible role model for our kids. And when we mess up, we’ve got to be comfortable apologizing. And when our kids mess up, you’ve got to be comfortable forgiving. Otherwise there’s no room for error, and there’s a lot of error that’s going to be made in this work. And relationships have ups and downs. Let’s normalize the fact that everybody messes up, but that doesn’t mean that we have to dislike each other, or make each other feel bad. It’s a way to bond, by sharing that I feel bad about what I said and did.
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
What final words of advice would you like to share with New York parents at this time? We want to give children permission to feel all emotions. And so that’s an important distinction versus trying to get them to not feel negative emotions and feel more positive emotions. With that said, we do want a greater balance of positive to negative emotions. So we don’t want to spend 70% of our day in that deep blue or high red, because that’s not good for our physical and mental health. We just don’t want to have a mindset that the negative emotions are bad. They’re signals. They’re information that we need to attend to and help people out. And that means, secondly, that we really all need to strive to be, as I like to say, emotion scientists, as opposed to emotion judges. Curious explorers of our own and other people’s feelings, as opposed to critical judges who think we know how people feel. So by adopting what I call the emotion scientists’ mindset, we become open to our own and others’ feelings, and we become helpful in terms of thinking through options to manage our emotions. For more insights from Dr. Marc Brackett, pick up Permission to Feel, out in paperback now, or visit www.moodmeterapp.com to download the Mood Meter app to use with your children at home. You can also listen to Dr. Brackett’s recent appearance on Brene Brown’s “Unlocked” podcast, which is a wonderfully enjoyable conversation.
Clowns • Characters Face Painting • Balloon Art • Magic Games • Cotton Candy • Popcorn
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Party Room available for Birthday & Baby Shower Celebrations! Call (917) 579-0867 to book your party today! /ConfettiPartyPlace /ConfettiPartyPlace 3190 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461
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COULD IT BE HUNTER SYNDROME? A rare combination of common childhood complaints could indicate Hunter syndrome (MPS II ), a progressive, genetic disease.1,2,3 Talk to your doctor, or learn more at:
¿PODRÍA SER EL SÍNDROME DE HUNTER? Una rara combinación de quejas comunes de la infancia podría indicar el síndrome de Hunter (MPS II ), una enfermedad genética, progresiva.1,2,3 Hable con su médico, o conozca más en:
hunterpatients.com
hunterpatients.com/es
Recurrent Ear Infections2
Infecciones recurrentes en los oídos2
Abdominal Hernia2
Hernia abdominal2
Enlarged Tonsils/ Adenoids2
Amígdalas/ adenoides agrandadas2
Joint Stiffness2
Rigidez en las articulaciones2
1. Burton K et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2012; 171 (1 ): 631-639 2. Wraith JE et al. Genet Med 2008; 10 (7 ): 508-516 3. Keilmann A et al. J Inherit Metab Dis 2012; 35 (2 ): 343-353 Copyright ©2019 Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Lexington, MA 02421. All rights reserved. 1-800-828-2088. TAKEDA and the TAKEDA logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. S46480 04/19
Aiden, age 5
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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back to school
Ready-Made Kids’ Lunches No matter where your kids are doing their learning, we’ve rounded up some easy meals By Jenna Fanelli & Donna Duarte-laDD
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e know you keep hearing it over and over again. This school year is going to be different. It is the ‘new normal.’ And parents are amazing; we adapt, we make it work. And whether your kids are participating in blended learning or remote — the kids’ lunchtime in some form is on us. So, we’ve rounded up some great ready-made kids’ lunches and snacks: some take just a minute to heat up at home, and others that can come ready to eat. The best part — these are kid-tested and approved! *Please keep in mind that not all products may be Tree nut, milk, wheatfree, please read the packaging before purchasing.
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In-Store ReadyMade Lunches Most schools are closing the cafeteria, meaning no hot lunches. For some kids, they are going to be required to eat at their desks. If your child is at one of these public schools, they can do a grab-and-go lunch. And most schools have gotten creative, offering meal kits and deliciously nutritious meals. However, kids often get bored about school lunch, even during preCOVID times, and these meals are great to add to the school lunch mix, whether at home or in the classroom. If you are home, these are easy meals that require no heating or fast heating. If you are dealing with multiple kids or working remotely and need to be time-efficient, these are affordable meals to feed the kids this year.
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
Good & Gather™Lunch Kit Target’s in house brand of lunch kits offer yummy lunch kits offering Smoked Turkey & Cheddar Cheese and Uncured Ham & Cheddar Cheese Lunch Kit, to name a few kids’ favorites. The turkey is raised without antibiotics and growth hormones, and the ham has no added nitrates or nitrites, making this an easy, healthy lunch choice you can feel good about. Price: $2.79-$2.99
Lunchables Lunchables has always been a kid-friendly favorite. They’re available at most grocery stores, easy and fun, and there are great options to choose from offering a multitude of offerings such as Lunchables with Juice, Lunchables Uploaded, Lunchables Bruncheables, and more. From chicken kabobs to Extra Chessy Pizza, there are many options for the pickiest of kids this school year. Price: $2.69- $3.79
Happi Foodi Beef Brisket Give your taco-lover this super tasty and straightforward pack of seasoned shredded beef brisket, diced onions, Peppadew peppers and cotija cheese in white corn tortillas. Price: $3.98
Kid Cuisine Kid Cuisine meals can be heated in the microwave or oven and feature longtime favorite amongst ready-made kids’ lunches such as Bikini Bottom Chicken Breast Nuggets Meal, which features breaded, white meat chicken for a slam dunk meal your little one will enjoy. Each frozen meal comes with macaroni and cheese, corn, and vanilla pudding with graham sprinkles on top. Price: $1.98
Ready-Made Lunches f�r Delivery Listen, we all want to be able to pick the herbs from the garden and bread the chicken into the nuggets ourselves. But we’re busy! Delivery meals are yes, an extravagance, but we found two services that provide nutritious meals that not only the kids will love, but so will the parents. Also, from our research, these plans were cost-effective, and meals were well thought out, just like moms!
Yumble Yumble is quite aware of its audience. The meals are delivered in a fun box have cool names like Class Cheese Ravioli, Say Cheese! Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets and more. But they also know what parents want, which is high-quality meals that mom doesn’t have time to make. Meals such as the Class Cheese Ravioli, Say Cheese! Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets come in a chef-crafted tomato sauce that is packed with pureed veggies and lentils to give a boost of Vitamins A, C, and E, and features a side of green beans. Refreshing tricky recipe add-ons that mom (or dad!) does on the sly for her dishes are part of these meals; expect to find their signature hiddenveggies cauliflower puree cheese sauce. Meals are microwavable and ready in 60-90 seconds! Price: Starting at $5.99/meal
Nurture Life Nurture life provides meals for babies, toddlers, kids, teens & adults. Meals are nutritious with balanced portions, so your kids get to the right nutrients. Our testers loved the Cheesy Pesto Tortellini with Chicken Breast & Carrots — with mini tortellini, the favorite little cheesy pasta pockets are tossed in a nut-free pesto that is blended with spinach. Grilled chicken breast and baby carrots round out the dish with a pop of protein and a bit of crunch. And Veggie Ragout Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella- ragout features nine different veggies, and a surprising pack of protein from lentils blended right into the sauce! Tossed with fun spiral whole wheat noodles and topped with fresh mozzarella, this meal feels familiar while keeping it nutritious. Price: $7.99- $8.99
September 2020 | Bronx/Westchester Family
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Mom in the Know Beth Beckman, of Little Kid, Big City and FOMOfeed Kids, on the city she loves!
By Donna Duarte-LaDD
explore with their children. It’s why we live here, right? The culture and experiences here are worth every penny. Over the years our account has grown into a love letter to the city. Showcasing New York and inspiring others to get out and explore is amazing...but honestly, I just consider myself lucky that each day I get to wake up in the world’s greatest city. e our community in the photos — always crediting their amazing explorations and helping to showcase them discovering the city. Our platform has been getting incredible traction, and we have had many ask us for more locations. We will soon be spinning this off into its own entity and to other big cities across the country. It’s an exciting time...Stay tuned!
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ou have seen writer, explorer and photographer Beth Beckman’s gorgeous New York pictures. If not through her Instagram and website Little Kid, Big City! Certainly through FOMOfeed and FOMOfeed Kids, which she co-founded. This perpetual non-sleeper lives in Manhattan with her husband, 7-year-old son, and their Mini Dachshund, Hotdog. Beth obsessively researches NYC and shares it all with us. As an editor, what I appreciate about Beth is in one post, she gives the reader a wealth of information. You want to drop everything and run to that spot kids’ in tow — pronto! We know we are going into a school year and most likely a year where how we live comes with some significant changes; however, we live in the best city in the world, and Beth an admitted culture addict, shares how we can enjoy New York City and appreciate the beauty of a city we adore. You love to explore, have you always had wanderlust? What inspires you to explore a city? I love exploring and discovering a new destination, and have a major addiction to wanderlust. I grew up in Wisconsin and for many years my family didn’t have the means to travel or explore often, but I was always curious about the world out there. Then at a young age there were a few unfortunate events where I lost a few close family members. Tragic events change perspective, and for me this completely cemented my lifelong wanderlust and need for exploration. Every day is a gift, and I believe every day should be lived to its fullest. My goal is to see and explore as much as possible, and to make incredible memories while doing it. Start spreading the news….! While in college I had a unique opportunity to move to New York through school. I signed the contract’s dotted line without ever even stepping foot in NYC. There was no question. I knew it was where I
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wanted to be, and I never looked back. For me, I have always been inspired by discovery, and believe that researching a destination can be just as exciting as the trip itself. We love traveling, and when we book a trip I find myself enthralled with excitement, and immediately deep-dive into research on the destination to see what we can discover in person. From travel books to blogs, Instagram to TikTok, I scour the internet and grab as much information as I can get my hands on. I consider myself an “experience seeker,” always on the lookout for cultural and unique experiences at each destination. It could be an exotic locale or nearby neighborhood. To me all exploring is amazing, and equally stimulating. Discovering them in person is thrilling, and endlessly inspiring. There are amazing things to discover out there, and in New York, these discoveries change and refresh on a daily basis. From museums, parks, activities, and incredible art... We are so lucky — this is our backyard! The culture here is incredible, and all of this makes it a magical place to raise kids. When I started my blog my life mission was (and continues to be) to inspire others to get out there and
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
There are still restrictions on where we can visit, what are some of your favorite social distancing spots for parents to take kids? I’ve been *really* impressed to see how New York City has pivoted so quickly to social distancing measures. There’s been some really creative measures and adaptations — here’s a few of our current favorites: Domino Park and Madison Square Park: O Marks the Spot! Both locations have recently debuted social distancing lawns, where the park has painted large circular spots six feet (or more) apart on the grass. The spots are meant for families or friends to gather within, to help keep their social distance from others while relaxing on the grass. Great for adults and it actually works quite brilliantly for kids, as these painted lines do help to keep little ones within the area too. Pier 17: The Pier 17 Rooftop has just launched The Greens — an open air seating arrangement that gives visitors their own personal mini lawns. Perfect for New Yorkers who don’t have a backyard — each lawn has (contactless) food service, an umbrella and chairs, and an amazing view of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. They
also rent separate Gaming Lawns where your family can play unlimited yard games (think giant Jenga and toss games) for a specified time period. These lawns are insanely popular — reservations are essential, be sure to book in advance! Drive-In Movie Theaters: It’s been the summer of the Drive-In Theater, and this trend is going to roll right through fall and early winter. Skyline Drive-In NYC is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and offers great movie classics as well as a selection of familyfriendly favorites, and a jaw dropping view of Manhattan. No car? No problem! They just opened walk-in seating for those without a vehicle. Rockefeller Center: Rockefeller Center has many “family favorite” stores, that in these times of COVID have no lines nor tourists, making it a great time to explore these iconic destinations. Mask up and head over to The LEGO Store, Nintendo and FAO Schwarz — all of which are all within a couple blocks radius. Don’t miss the famous BIG Piano during your visit! As we enter into a COVID school year, kids will need to be out more than ever. What are a few of your top New York spots for kids? We have learned that outside is best when dealing with these crazy times of COVID. The good news? There are endless green spaces and outdoor destinations in NYC to explore. Here are a few favorites: Governors Island: It’s only 8 minutes away by ferry but it feels like it’s hundreds of miles away from the city. Wide open spaces, historical elements, and the view from the waterfront is epic! Be sure to try the twisting and turning slides, and then climb The Hills for a tip-top view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. There’s also an Urban Farm you can tour on weekends. Prospect Park: Brooklyn’s backyard oasis has endless things to do with kids. Try fishing on the lake and going on a nature hike, and there’s a “secret” waterfall near the Ravine! LeFrak Center at Lakeside is currently open with many fun rental options — such as paddle boats so you can explore the waters of Prospect Park Lake.
Photo by Ana Gambuto
Beth’s children’s travel adventure book series, Little Kid, Big City! was acquired by Quirk Books and will be hitting shelves in Spring of 2021. The literary adventure kicks off in her home of New York City, and then London, and continues on to other big city titles across the world. Bronx/Westchester Family
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family fun
Visiting the Empire State Building It’s time for a unique “New York for New Yorkers” experience By Regan Mies
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ccording to a 2011 Cornell study, the Empire State Building is the most photographed building in the world. A poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects named it “America’s Favorite Building.” Built in the year 1930 and towering at an incredible 1,454 feet, the Empire State Building is a beloved staple of the New York City skyline. As the city moves forward with its Phase 4 reopening plans, now might be a better time than ever to safely visit one of the Big Apple’s most iconic landmarks with your family. On a clear day, visitors can see six states from the Empire State Building’s observatories. From the 86th Floor Observatory, enjoy 360-degree views and have fun spotting Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and many more of New York City’s distinctive landmarks. On the building’s brand-new 102nd Floor Observatory, gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking vistas. Not only does a trip to the Empire State Building offer a once-in-a-lifetime view of the city, it also provides your family the chance to learn something new! The Empire State Building is home to a number of brand-new exhibits located on its 2nd and 80th floors. You and your kids will be swept up in history while learning about the building’s original site in the 1920s and its remarkable 13-month construction from 1930-31. The Modern Marvel exhibit showcases the steps taken by the Empire State Building that have led it to become a world leader in sustainability and efficient energy. With exhibits about celebrities and King Kong to exhibits about the Empire State Building’s light shows and its original elevators, there’s an experience to interest everyone! Through its international #HeroesShineBright campaign and music-to-light shows,
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the Empire State Building has honored first responders and shone as a beacon of hope during the Covid-19 crisis. Now, they’re doing everything they can to ensure their exhibits and observatories are safe for you and your family. New protocols have been put in place for employees and visitors so that the Empire State Building can adhere to all official city and state guidelines. Anthony E. Malkin, the Chairman, President and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, is confident “that New York is resilient and that our future holds promise.” As New York City begins to reopen, Malkin remains positive. If you and your family haven’t visited the Empire State Building, there’s no time better than now: “The reduced capacity and lack of tourists from out of town will create a unique ‘New York for New Yorkers’ experience.” Here’s what they’re doing: • Crowds will be prevented as ticket purchases shift to online, timed reservations. • The Empire State Building Observatory is currently open from 11 am to 11 pm. • Capacity will initially be reduced by more than 80%, allowing groups to distance by more than 18 feet. • Guests will be required to wear facial
Bronx/Westchester Family | September 2020
coverings for the entirety of their visit. • Mask-wearing and distancing will be monitored by CCTV and staff. • Guest protocol will include a contactless temperature check, and visitors’ temperatures must be under 100.4 degrees. • Signage, distance markings and hand sanitizers have been implemented throughout Empire State Building spaces. • Observatories and exhibits are suited to a one-way flow of traffic. • Interactive exhibits, like those with touch screens, have been transformed into touchfree experiences. • Enhanced cleaning methods have been put into effect, including Overnight Electrostatic Disinfectant spray of the entire observatory space and frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces. • A recent $165 million renovation included the implementation of MERV 13 air filters, state-of-the-art air purification that reduces the risk of virus transmission. • New employee protocol includes training, masks, gloves and contact tracing. Visitor tickets can be reserved online at esbnyc. com. Child tickets start at $36. Adult tickets start at $42.
FinanCiaL MatteRs
Jay Mota, ChFC® Financial Planner with Prudential Advisors Call for a complimentary personal consultation (914) 565 4287 Jay.Mota@Prudential.com
Your Rollover Options L
eaving your job can be hectic, whether you’re retired, laid off or moving to a new company. With the recent pandemic many people are adapting to new realities. You may have recently lost your job or made a change in your career. With all the uncertainty it may not cross your mind to take care of your previous employer-sponsored retirement plan, but this is an important box to check during your transition. Especially now with recent changes to the rules due to COVID it is important to understand your options. You have four options when it comes to your retirement assets. These are the standard options and do not necessarily cover options allowed under the CARES Act. Your options include leave them with your former employer, roll them over into your new employer’s retirement plan, roll them over into an IRA or cash out. As with most financial decisions, there are pros and cons to each choice, and your specific circumstances may make one choice more appealing than the others.
Leave Assets in Your Former Employer’s Plan You can choose to leave your investments where they are when you leave your job, though you will not be eligible to continue making contributions. This is the default option if you choose to do nothing. However, if simplifying your retirement savings is your goal, this is probably not the route for you. If you leave your investments behind at each company, you’ll have various accounts to keep track of throughout your career and distributions to take
from each during retirement. Keeping in touch with former employers can be difficult. Your old plan may also have high fees, limited flexibility or poor allocation options when compared with an IRA or your new employer’s plan. If your retirement account has less than $5,000, your former employer has the option of cashing you out of the plan, incurring taxes and penalties. Avoid getting cashed out by rolling the money over when you leave the company. There are some advantages to leaving your money with your former employer. For instance, some large companies have access to lower-cost institutional funds that your new employer might not offer. In this case, it would be cheaper for you to stay with the old plan than to roll over into a new plan or IRA. Additionally, if you’re 55 or older when you leave your job, you may be eligible for penalty-free withdrawals (though income tax would still apply), so keeping your investment in your former plan could give you access to money sooner.
Rollover into New Employer’s Plan A rollover is moving assets from one account to another while avoiding taxes and penalties. You can move your assets from your old employer’s plan to your new employer’s plan seamlessly without losing any money. Choosing this option is advantageous because your assets will continue to grow in a tax-advantaged account, and you won’t have to start over at each new company. You can rollover assets from a traditional 401(k) to a Roth 401(k)and but you would need to pay income
tax on the pre-tax contributions and earnings, as long as both plans allow for it. If your new company has a better selection of investments or lower prices than your previous employer, it makes more sense to do a rollover. This way, you can also avoid having to keep track of old accounts with former employers.
20 percent in taxes back when you file a return, and you’ll owe an additional 10 percent penalty for early withdrawals if you are under age 59 1/2. A direct rollover is a simpler, safer route, but you’ll have to make sure you have an IRA or new employer plan established first.
Rollover into an IRA
This is the option least likely to be recommended to you, but it can be useful in certain circumstances. It’s important to know that cashing out a retirement plan incurs a 20 percent tax and a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal, so you won’t actually get the amount listed in your account. If you’re truly strapped for cash, or if you’re over age 55 when you leave your employer (thus avoiding the early withdrawal penalty), you may want to consider cashing out. However, cashing out is generally not advisable. In addition to the taxes and penalties, your money will lose its tax-advantaged growth, and you may be damaging your future financial security. Cashing out in order to reinvest in a new employer plan or IRA is a costly mistake many workers make each year.
In general, an IRA will offer you the most versatility and flexibility, so if you’re unhappy with either your former or current employer’s plans, an IRA may be a better bet. An IRA can also be more convenient, because you won’t have to worry about rolling it over again if you leave your job in the future. One feature unique to IRAs is the ability to take penalty-free distributions early (before the age of 59 ½) in order to pay for your first home or qualified higher education expenses. You’ll still pay income tax on the distributions, but you’ll avoid the fees that you’d accrue if you cashed out of an employer plan. An IRA can also be a great vehicle for your heirs, who have the option of stretching out required minimum distributions with a traditional IRA, or avoiding them altogether with a Roth IRA. There are two types of rollovers, whether you’re rolling your money into a new employer plan or an IRA. A direct rollover is from plan to plan. No taxes are withheld, no penalties are owed and no money crosses your hands. For an indirect rollover, your previous plan administrator writes a check to you, withholding 20 percent for taxes. You’ll have 60 days to transfer it to your new plan or IRA. If you exceed 60 days, you won’t get the
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Cash Out
Now that you know your options, you can make an informed decision about your retirement assets. Leaving your job for any reason can be stressful but jeopardizing your retirement security would be even worse. To learn more about your standard options and options provided under the CARES Act register for my next live free webinar on Sept. 24th, 2020. I will be discussing these options and answering your questions.
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