Today, May 31st, Baby + Mom Fit opens its doors in Scarsdale. This is great news for moms of babies because your little one will take the class with you (no babysitter needed)! Classes are specifically designed for mommies by local mommy & trainer,  Norma LaVecchia. 

Unlike other fitness classes, your baby is placed in a carrier during class and is part of the regimen. The workout consists of isolated and compound movements, cardio exercise without jumping and no mat work. It's a total body workout using TRX, dumbells, steps and of course your "weighted vest"... your baby.  Classes are one hour and accommodate baby’s unpredictable schedule. Is your sweetheart snoozing? No problem! The studio is stroller friendly. Let your pumpkin sleep! Extra weights are available to make up for it. Of course, whatever your comfortable with and can handle.  

Beyond her AFAA (American Fitness Association of America), Personal Training, Group Instructor, Kickboxing, and Cycling Certifications, Prenatal and Postnatal trainings, Norma is a Mom. She knows how hard it is for Mom to take care of Mom-- especially during the first year of baby’s life. She designed a safe environment that supports and motivates all Moms to invest the time into strengthening their bodies. 

Classes begin on May 31st. Baby + Mom Fit is offering a FREE FIRST CLASS! If you love it they offer a drop-in rate ($25 per class) and multi-class packs ($112.50 for 5, $200 for 10, $380 for 20). 
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm
Location: MYX Fitness 1142 Wilmot Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583, Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center

The unofficial start of summer is here! Memorial Day is a time to celebrate this great country of ours and thank the men and women who have worked hard to protect it.  From parades to beaches and farm festivities, Westchester County has so many fun things to do with your family this weekend.

Find more events on our Community Calendar! And if you need something, please visit our Directory or make a free Request.

Have a memorable and fun weekend!

How many times did your parents tell you to stop daydreaming as a child? Why do we continue to tell our own kids to stop as well?

Daydreaming is what fuels their creativity and inspires them. It’s what gives them an escape from an otherwise mundane school day. We should be encouraging our kids to think outside of the box instead we stuff them into a cookie cutter educational box and shut the lid.

As a child I loved to make up pretend stories. When I was eight I created an elaborate wedding dress for my Barbie made out of toilet paper with a train that would rival that of princess Diana. I hosted an elaborate Barbie and Ken wedding that would outdo Kate and William’s.

I still daydream even today mostly when I am just walking. My best writing ideas always come from when I am in motion. In fact, I am writing this as I take my morning walk. This explains my well known clumsy side where I trip over everything, bump into walls and fall over my own two feet.

Which brings me to my point. We force kids to sit at desk all day at school, remain still and stop daydreaming. Then they go home and sit for homework. So when a kid can’t sit still or daydreams they get labeled in a negative way. We wonder why they get cranky, tired and act out. We put no value in motion and their need to be be creative..and yes just play.

Perhaps that is why some of the most creative successful people failed at school and reflect on being seen as misfits. Their minds were simply someplace else.

I did fine in school. I was probably a solid B student but never liked the structure or the routine. I hating writing in high school and my papers always came back “corrected” bleeding in red ink. As I went on to college I chose more hands-on, practical classes as they let me explore outside the classroom.

We all need time to dream and let our minds go not just as children but as adults too. I recommend however you take my advice and watch out for oncoming traffic… and glass doors. Ouch

Marcie Gandell is a full time Westchester NY Mom to three boys and a part-time web designer. She is also a cook, housekeeper, chauffeur, handyman, expert negotiator and an excellent juggler!

Read more from her at her blog, Random Stupid Thoughts, a Mom's View of the World

​If you are like my wife and I, we rely on babysitters for everything from the occasional date night (occasional = once per month if we are lucky) to picking up the kids from school and taking them to an activity if we are still at work. There are a ton of services that help you find babysitters. That wasn’t our problem. The problem was we were still communicating and managing them in a very manual way. That is why we created ParentsPal.
 
ParentsPal was designed by parents, for parents, to more easily manage and communicate with babysitters they already use either regularly or for the occasional date night. This includes sharing key information, creating each babysitting appointment, managing tasks you want the babysitter to complete, and paying them through a secure mobile environment.  

The key features of the app include:

• Create a Sitter or Parent Profile: The first step is creating your Parent or Sitter Profile. This information is only seen by your connected Parent or Sitter and only while they are working for you. Now you can stop writing all this information down on scrap paper hoping the Sitter doesn't loose it.
• Setting Up Appointments: Parents can setup various dates and times when they need their babysitter. These requests are sent to your babysitter using his/her email address. You will be notified when they accept your appointment. No more Sitters wondering "Did you want me at 7 or was it 7:30?"
• Task Creation: In each appointment, a Parent can setup Tasks they want the Babysitter to do. The Babysitter will be alerted at each task and the Parent will be informed when each task is complete. Finally, enough with all the "Are they doing what I asked them to do?"
• Mobile Payment: Don't stop by the ATM on the way home. Simply use the mobile payment function within ParentsPal and save yourself time. I mean, who carries cash anymore anyway?

 
No more wondering if the babysitter knows when you need them.
No more wondering if the babysitter did what you asked them to do.
No more stopping by the ATM to grab cash on the way home.
 
The app is free for the first 30 days. After that, the Parents are charged $4 per month (you can cancel at anytime…no commitments) for unlimited use. Your babysitters are not charged anything to use the app. The charge is because we are not advertising in the app. Advertising requires us to sell or transfer your information and frankly, I use the app and I don’t want my family info shared with anyone. The information on this app is secure and is not shared.
 
Brought to you by ParentsPal. For more information, visit  www.parentspalapp.com or check out the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

A few months ago, my sister-in law Vera and I decided we needed some time to ourselves to decompress and yoga seemed to be the right choice. Between us, we have six boys; and knowing that just getting out of the house on a weeknight would be an impossible feat, we hired a yoga instructor who was willing to come to us on a weekly basis.

Other than motivating ourselves to get excited about yoga after a long day, the biggest challenge was what do with our six boys (and one cute but overly attached dog) while we would be trying to find our  “inner peace”.  We decided to have the first session in Vera’s basement. We gave the children strict instructions that they were not to disturb us or come downstairs, and left them under the not so watchful eyes of my brother-in-law Jonathan.

Our instructor arrived and we immediately took a liking to her.  If anyone could inspire us she was that person! During this first session, we were not surprised to find that we were equally inflexible and uncoordinated. Our tree poses looked like trees during a Nor’easter. We laughed as we “transitioned” from our down dogs to our cobras. We tried desperately to relax as the sounds of 6 boys running and screaming in the living room vibrated above our heads. We tried to ignore Daisy’s whimpering and scratching at the basement door. We wondered where Jonathan was and grew frustrated at his inability to keep everyone quiet. But then something surprising happened. Somewhere between the final stretching and the soothing sounds of music emanating from our instructor’s iPhone, we managed to unwind. By the end of the hour amid all the chaos and cracking bones we did actually feel more relaxed.

Since then, we have kept up with our weekly sessions, even when life’s crazy schedule gets in the way. I did once miss half a session because my toilet overflowed. I came over to Vera’s house in tears, saying  “I have no time for yoga! I need to fix my toilet. Can I borrow your plunger?”

Our instructor continues to teach us how to focus our minds on the moment and away from the stresses and sounds of our daily lives.  For one hour every week, we simply focus attention on ourselves. For the most part, we’ve learned to tune out the kids, our husbands, the barking dog, the lawnmowers, the ringing phones and find our own version of quiet. Sure, there are still plenty of good laughs and unlimber limbs but it’s one hour that belongs to us, with lots of love and sparkles!

Marcie Gandell is a full time Westchester NY Mom to three boys and a part-time web designer. She is also a cook, housekeeper, chauffeur, handyman, expert negotiator and an excellent juggler!

Read more from her at her blog, Random Stupid Thoughts, a Mom's View of the World

Today my daughter and I had the pleasure of visiting the brand new Westchester Children's Museum located next to Playland in Rye, NY.

As we approached the museum I was filled with excitement. Not only  because Westchester finally has it's own children's museum (hooray!), but also because it is situated in one of Westchester's most extraordinary settings. On one side is the picturesque beach on Long Island Sound and on the other, Playland. Nothing brings on that excited feeling more than seeing a roller coaster, ferris wheel and a stunning beach. Childhood nostalgia at its best!

To plan your visit and learn more, visit the Westchester Children's Museum website. 

They are open Wednesdays - Sundays 10:00am - 4:00pm. Admission is $7 per person, FREE for children 12 months and under.

​Stretchy bracelets have come back into style for all ages and they are easier than ever to make! Bead Everything is a new bead store in Westchester and they have all the supplies you need to make your own trendy bracelets.  Check out their step by step guide for this bracelet and channel your inner creative-self this Spring! 

​Here are the materials you will need to make the bracelet:

• Stretch Magic Stretchy Cord .7mm
• G.S. Hypo Cement Glue
• A Pair of Cutters or Scissors
• A Pair of Flat Nose Pliers
• Beads- 8mm Semi Precious Stones, Amazonites are used in the demonstration
• A Charm/Focal Piece. A Sterling Silver Hammered Bar is used in the demonstration
• A Crimp Cover
• A Bead Board

Visit Bead Everything at 175 East Post Road in White Plains to pick out your beads and start creating today. They are are open from 11am-6pm Monday through Saturday and 12-5 on Sundays. 

Mention this blog post and receive 10% off supplies for a bracelet! We hope you stop in soon to see our creative space. BE Inspired!

Written by Samantha, Bead Everything Manager
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/BeadEverything

One of the best things about spring is the abundance of carnivals! It's a great way to get some fresh air and have some old fashioned fun as a family. Our moms gave us the inside scoop about what carnivals are coming up in Westchester.

Please note that last minute weather conditions could impact scheduling.

Click on any of the images below and you will be directed to the event's details in our Community Calendar.

Tarrytown Sleepy Hollow (TaSH) Farmers Market Opens May 28, Doubling its Size in Year Two
29th Annual Tarrytown Craft Food and Street Fair- June 5th

by Vicki Salemi

Senior Helpers Westchester takes pride in helping families sustain and maintain their loved one’s quality of life and safety at home. Their customized care consists of a variety of services tailored to someone’s exact needs. All of their caregivers undergo an extensive background screening and training. Their most important credential is being caring, empathetic, and compassionate people, who get satisfaction from helping others.

To find out more, visit the Senior Helpers website.

If I could start my own school it would be magical. Not Hogwart’s magical but it would allow kids to soar…(just not on a broomstick).

It would be a school that fits a child’s needs and not the other way around.
First thing: No Labels!!

Schools are too quick to label, categorize and characterize children before they can even spell their name. These days there are too many evaluations, observations and classifications. It isn’t that most kids can’t learn but rather that they may learn in a different way.

Putting a kid in a class that doesn’t teach the way he or she needs makes the teacher disabled not the student. And in fact it is the teacher should be made to feel like a failure not the child.

More important than grades or report cards are making the child feel confident and proud of themselves. One of my proudest moments in elementary school was when at age 8 I was sent to the principal’s office. (no I never got into trouble) I had done very well on my spelling tests and was called out of class. The principal gave me a little stamp/sticker with a cartoon of a smiling bird and it had one word at the bottom: swell. I still have that sticker. I don’t remember my grades on those tests I just remember carrying that little sticker in my coat pocket and flying home.

And here are some interesting facts:

Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was stupid and had learning issues.

Thomas Edison was told his by his teachers that he was “too stupid to learn anything.”

Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade.

Darwin said about himself, “I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect.”

And in the end it really doesn’t take much to make a child feel confident and proud of themselves. It could be a kind word, a little smile, a thumbs up or a tiny little sticker. Teachers need to look beyond the labels, the sometimes blank stares or confused looks and bring out the best in all their students. Any teacher who can do that can have my swell sticker…

Marcie Gandell is a full time Westchester NY Mom to three boys and a part-time web designer. She is also a cook, housekeeper, chauffeur, handyman, expert negotiator and an excellent juggler!

Read more from her at her blog, Random Stupid Thoughts, a Mom's View of the World.

“The more anthropologists and social scientists understand about human parents, the more emphatically they conclude that we were designed to raise children in small co-operative groups, and not in nuclear families.

Parenting is meant to take place where help is always at hand, in a collective setting where even the children begin rehearsing child-rearing skills from a young age.

The main reason why we struggle, why our patience runs short, is that our nuclear-family situation is entirely un-natural, unreasonable and unsustainable.
​
No parent is meant to be at home alone with one or more children; it is Nature’s design to always have a fresh pair of hands nearby that we can turn to long before tiredness becomes exhaustion.”

So are we doing this parenting thing all wrong? Can I actually attribute my impatience, exhaustion, anxiety and craziness to an “unnatural and unreasonable” situation?

Is there an actual diagnosis to parenting in 2015?

I think doctors, pharmaceutical companies and alcohol companies have known about this diagnosis and kept it hidden from us all this time. They so easily prescribe medications for our said “depression, exhaustion anxiety and craziness."  Couldn’t they have prescribed us a trip to the movies, a dinner alone without kids,  or simply time to ourselves?

So we find ourselves in our little nuclear family of one or two parents taking it all on ourselves when it really does take a village.  But what do you if your village lives in Canada or across the world? What if you have no village at all?

We have family and friends who are there for us. But when it comes to the day to day operations it can be a very overwhelming task to run that little village alone.

When my twins were born I was very lucky. I had a huge village ready to lend a hand. My mother lived with us for three months and then I stayed with her in Canada for the summer. I told my husband I was not coming home unless there was help waiting for me. I saw every friend and family member at that time as a potential “baby holder.”

But everyone has to get back to their own day to day lives. And moms and dads are left on their own to figure out the tricky, complicated crazy world of parenting.

So if there is a diagnosis is there also a cure?

Remember that is okay to ask for help. It is perfectly permissible to say I can’t handle this today and to feel a need to walk away. We should not feel guilty about asking someone else to take over but instead welcome it. It takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a village to raise a parent.

I don’t know all the answers but I will prescribe this Motherly MD advice to you: take two minutes to yourself and call me in the morning…

​The weather is warming up and plants are in bloom. Parents and kids alike are anxious to get outside. Step into the warm weather with this list of activities recommended by local parents in Westchester County, NY!

Croton Gorge Park, Route 129, Cortlandt, NY- Trails for miles, Croton Gorge Park has a beautiful background and is great for walking and checking out the waterfall. The walk is stroller friendly and great for a Spring day with the family. At the entrance of the park you will find a beautiful little park to play, including some slides, a jungle gym and more. After you’re all worked out from the walk and the playground sit down at one of the park benches and have a picnic with the kiddos.
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: $10 per car on weekends ($5 if you have a park pass), May through September only. Free on weekdays.

Croton Point Park, 1A Croton Point Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520- Croton Point Park sits nestled along the Hudson River. The park has great trails for walking with little ones or pushing a stroller. There are two great playgrounds. One playground is meant for school age children and the other is meant for preschool age children. There are spacious seating areas under beautiful shady pavilions. In the summer be sure to check out the beach. The backdrop to the playgrounds is a beautiful view of the Hudson and the streaming Metro North as it zooms by, especially during rush hour.
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: $5 with Park Pass, $10 without Park Pass; daily, beginning May 28 - Labor Day; weekends only May and September

FDR Park, 2957 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598- FDR is a sanctuary in upper Westchester. FDR is a beautiful park, which includes walks a plenty, spacious picnic areas and a gigantic pool for summer swimming. The park is a nature retreat to families that live in bustling areas of Westchester and everyone in between. There is an awesome playground that is newly renovated with swings for the younger and the older children.  There is also a tire swing and a swing with seat suitable for mothers with babies or children who feel more comfortable in a seat. FDR Park also has a great rock wall climbing structure and spinning seats, which my toddler loves until she has to stand up post spinning.
Bathrooms: Available at parking lot 1
Parking: $8 entry fee, 5/21-6/12- weekends & holidays & 6/13-9/5- daily, swimming pool- $3 all ages; credit cards accepted

Garth Road Playground, 280 Garth Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583- Garth Road Playground is a secret gem in lower Westchester. Garth Road is not just any playground; Garth Road is fenced in, a parent dream come true. The fence makes it safer for parents with little ones. Garth Road has climbing structures, a rock-climbing wall, swings for all and of course slides. Garth Road also has some beautiful plant boxes so be sure to check it out while the flowers are in bloom. The park is also located next to the Metro North Railroad, so kids love watching the trains zoom past!
Bathrooms: None available on site
Parking: Street Parking

Gedney Park, 161 Millwood Road, Chappaqua, NY 10514- Gedney Park offers three different types of jungle gyms to suit different ages and stages of children. All are brightly colored and difficult to miss. The park has swings for both younger and older children as well. My toddlers’ favorite of course is the sandbox. Should she play with it? Taste it? Or dig? These are some of the many things that cross her mind. The scenery in the park is almost jaw dropping at this time of the year. After hours of play you can strap the kids on your back or in a stroller and head out for a beautiful adventure in and around the woods. After all the fun is over find a picnic bench, which are located in the park and sit down for a nice lunch. Gedney Park is closed until June for renovations!
Bathrooms: None available on site
Parking: Free parking lot available

Harbor Island Park, 123 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543- Harbor Island Park is another fun-filled park for the whole family. The park showcases a small roped off swimming area on the beach. Harbor Island’s main attraction is the mat surface sprinkler area. There are also public bathrooms right on the beach complete with showers. After all the water fun, dry off at the nautical themed playground, which overlooks the harbor. The playground has something for all ages including a slide, sandbox, jungle gym and more. The beach and sprinkler park are open until 5 pm every day until Labor Day. Parking for the park is $5 and the beach and sprinkler fee is $5 for adults and kids under 6 are free.
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: In season $5 per car

Kensico Dam Park, 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595- Kensico Dam Park is everything you may be looking for if you want to stay fit and let the kid’s blow off some steam. Kensico features two playgrounds, one meant for younger children and one for older children side by side; making it less likely to worry about turning your back on any of the kiddies at this park.  Kensico features a beautiful track for walking with the strollers, riding bikes, roller-skating and even running, if you are that brave. In addition to the playgrounds there is a wide-open grassy area in the middle of the track, perfect for picnics, playing ball, hula hooping, jump roping or really anything your child finds fun. The Dam has a beautiful view of the Kensico reservoir, great for those snapshots!
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free parking lots available

Pierson Park, 238 West Main Street, Tarrytown, NY 10591- Pierson Park has broad views of the Palisades, the Tappan Zee Bridge, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, and the New York City skyline; so get ready for some family selfies. Pierson Park features the Westchester Riverwalk, a paved foot path stretches for about a mile along the waterfront making stroller walks easy and accessible, soon to attach all the way up to Peekskill. Pierson Park has a playground that includes splash fountains for those hot days nestled on rubber pads to keep bruises to a minimum. Pack a swimsuit! There is also a nearby pavilion where families can relax in the shade, unwind and eat after all the fun! You can also walk over to Lighthouse Ice Cream Company and get a delicious treat or coffee to enjoy outside.
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free lot and street available, time limit

Sagamore Playground, 66 Sagamore Road, Bronxville, NY 10708- Sagamore Playground sits on a shady hill in the beautiful town of Bronxville. This wonderful hidden spot is enclosed with a fence, perfect for 1 or more children. This park has a paved area, which has ride-on bikes and push toys. My daughter couldn’t get enough of the endless toys at her fingertips. Sagamore has a number of jungle gyms including one strictly for toddlers and preschoolers and swings for all ages. The playground also has a sandbox and sand toys waiting to be played with by children. The tree-lined park is very tranquil for children and parents alike. The playground is up a little bit of a hill so make sure to keep your eyes open so you don’t miss it!
Bathrooms: None available on site
Parking: Free street parking, 2-hour limit

Riverfront Green Park, 117 North Water St, Peekskill, NY 10566- For those avid train lovers, this park is your destiny. My daughter refers to this park as the “choo choo Park”. The trains stop and go close enough to the playground that your children can count the cars, imitate the sounds or even wave to the passengers on board. My toddler loves the train and no matter where on the jungle gym she is, she will make her way to the grass to wave to the trains as they pass. The park is part of the RiverWalk, which will eventually span 51.5 miles of Westchester along the Hudson. Riverfront Green has a stage where they host shows and fireworks in the summer. Make sure to bring a picnic to eat by the water, as this can definitely be a day trip!
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free on site

Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100, Katonah, NY 10536- There is so much good to say about Muscoot Farm. I will start with the basics. Muscoot is a free day trip and is great for children of all ages. There are opportunities to explore, play and learn all in one experience. Muscoot features animals such as pigs, horses, chickens and so much more. Muscoot also has baby animals in the Spring. Muscoot can get busy so if you are going, be sure to bring snacks and drinks to keep your crew hydrated and ready for more walking.
Admission: Free on site
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free on site

Stew Leonard’s, 1 Stew Leonard Drive - Yonkers, NY 10710- Located in Yonkers, Stew Leonard’s can be a fun and exciting place to visit in the Spring. You can eat some ice cream and the best part is that you can even see the baby farm animals. Don’t take my word for it; go check it out!
Admission: Free
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free

Stone Barns, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591- Stone Barns is located on picturesque grounds.  Wednesday- Friday Stone Barns has no fee entry and self guided tours. With a map in hand this tour is enjoyable and educational. One can see animals living and eating amongst their natural habitat and a nice pardon from our bustling life. Be sure to dress the kids and yourself in sneakers and comfy clothes, as the walk can be long. After visiting with all of the animals take a nice seat with your family in the grass and have a picnic. It surely will be an enjoyable day!
Admission: Wednesday- Friday, Free; Saturday- Sunday, Adult (16+): $20, Youth (ages 2-15): $10, Members: FREE
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free on site

Teatown, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining, NY 10562– Conveniently located minutes from the Taconic State Parkway, Teatown is a secret nature haven. If you are looking for a nice place to explore and get messy, Teatown is one of the most beautiful places. The education center houses live animals safely in habitats and even life size stuffed bears for those photo ops. There is definitely a lot to see at Teatown and a lot to explore including 15 miles of hiking trails open daily and the Teatown Kitchawan Preserve. Teatown also has great educational programs if you are interested in signing up!
Admission: Free
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free on site

Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583- The Greenburgh Nature Center is a wide-open nature preserve with trails for walking or strolling, a pond for exploring and gardens. Greenburgh Naure Center is a sanctuary for wildlife habitats. Make sure to check out all of the animals once you get inside, they even have some of the animals outside including farm animals and birds. Spring is the perfect time to go as it features hundreds of species of traveling birds that use it as a resting place on their travels. The Center is a hidden escape just off of a busy Avenue. The playground is wonderful for all ages featuring different kinds of climbing gyms, rocks to explore, buildings to climb, swings to swing on, mazes to climb and so much more!
Admission: Non-Members: $7 adults, $6 seniors/students, $5 children 2-12. FREE for Members and children under 2 years
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: Free on site

Cold Spring Tot Park, High St, Cold Spring, NY 10516‬- This park is PERFECT for toddlers and preschoolers but can also be fun for children in elementary school. This hidden gem is behind the main street in Cold Spring. The park flaunts a large sandbox always filled with toys, trucks, shovels and buckets available for use by all, so make sure to bring hand wipes. There is a jungle gym available and swings for the little ones and the big ones! ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Bathrooms: None available on site
Parking: Free street parking

Bear Mountain State Park, Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911- If you ever wanted fresh air, a place for the kids to run, activities for the toddlers and pretty much something for everyone, then Bear Mountain State Park is your best bet! Bear Mountain is located in the heart of the mountains on the Hudson River, just over the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Park has fields for miles as well as picnic benches for the masses, a swimming pool for the summer, a merry go round for those trying to hide from the sun, an ice skating rink in the winter, hikes and trails, boats to rent, a museum and a zoo! Don’t forget before you leave, stop by the lodge and get some ice cream! There is more then enough to keep most occupied for hours!
Admission: Pool-$2, Merry-Go-Round- $1 (children under 42 inches must be accompanied by an adult), Museum and Zoo- Free
Bathrooms: Available on site
Parking: $10 for a full day after Labor Day

Interested in exploring ALL the parks in Westchester County? Click here for detailed information about all of the Westchester County parks!

Written by Jenna Korn. Jenna holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education in Birth through 2nd Grade. She currently works as an Education Coordinator and Teacher in a private preschool in Bronxville. Jenna enjoys bringing local families together and loves exploring everything Westchester with her 2-year-old daughter. Jenna is so excited to write for Westchester NY Moms!

Photography by Dylan K.

​When purchasing a home, not only is the price of the home a factor but so are the yearly taxes. Taxes have become a big discussion in Westchester, as we rank very high compared to NJ and CT and now some municipalities are doing tax re-assessments to make sure everyone is being assessed fairly.
 
When choosing a location to live, you must also consider how paying your annual taxes will fit into your budget. If you decide to go with a mortgage to finance your home purchase, your taxes can be figured into the monthly amount of payment and put into escrow, so they can be easily paid on time. Depending on the city/town, taxes can be paid on bi-yearly or quarterly intervals,

What Do Taxes Cover?
 
Taxes are broken down into 3 Categories: School, City/Town and Westchester County- you are paying for services in all areas.
 
When looking at a school district and the amount of school taxes that are paid, you need to decide if the money is well spent. For example: How much is the ‘per pupil spending’? Are there adequate bussing services? Are there enough sport fields? After school programs? A community pool?  Adequate recreation programs? Are there limited enrichment programs for a select few or does everyone receive the same enrichment? Are the honors programs limited in size? Special Education needs- can they service the needs of your child or will you have to seek outside resources?
 
These are all factors to consider when weighing how much you will be paying in taxes.

​Can I Grieve My Taxes?
 
Absolutely!  You need to check with your Tax Assessor’s office to see when the grievance period is, to submit your application. If you feel your home, is assessed higher then the sale value, then speak with a lawyer who specializes in tax grievances.Compare your home with similar homes in your neighborhood and see what they are paying in yearly taxes. This information is sometimes readily available on line. 

STAR Refund
 
If the combined income of the homeowners is less than $500,000, then you are eligible for a STAR Tax refund on your school tax bill  This isn’t limited to Senior Citizens, as any age is eligible. For Seniors- if one owner is 65 or older, and the combined income is $84,550 or less, they are eligible for a STAR Enhanced refund. Check with your town/city for details and forms.