Summer Survival Checklist: 2015

admin Posted OnJune 10, 2016

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Summer Survival Checklist: 2015: We like to think of What To Do as The Old Farmer’s Almanac for suburban yuppies. Each season we check in with the OFA for need to know stuff like the weather, meteorology and astrology. If we asked the OFA to edit a Summer Survival Checklist for our towns, we think it would go something like this:

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Report:

Weather: According to the OFA Summer will be hotter and drier than normal, despite a tropical storm threat in early to mid-August. The hottest periods will occur in early June, mid- to late July, and early to mid-August.

Astronomy: Full moon days: July 1 & 31, August 29, September 27. (Don’t talk politics or religion to your spouse on a full moon or you may be lawyering up in the morning.)

Perseid Meteor Shower: Considered the best meteor shower of the year this is a great year to watch the Perseids because there will belittle to nomoon to ruin the show. Take a peek pre-dawn on August 11-13 where activity could reach as many as 50 per hour. Who loves you, baby?

Best Fishing Days: According to the OFA the best fishing days are between the new and the full moon. Here’s when the fish will be biting this summer: June 16-July 1, July 15-31, August 14-29, September 13-27. “Betcha’ goin’ fishin’ all o’ da’ time, Baby goin’ fishin’ too. Bet yo’ life, Yo’ sweet wife catch mo’ fish than you.”

Astrology: Celeste Longacre’s Best Days: According to the OFA’s resident astrologer/radio personality and author Celeste Longacre, here are the best days to: Quit Smoking/Begin Diet: 6/9, 13; 7/6, 10; 8/2, 6; 9/3, 7. Go to the dentist: 6/21-23; 7/19-20; 8/15-17; 9/11-13. Start projects: 6/17-18; 7/17-18; 8/15-16; 9/14-15. Prune to encourage growth: 6/29-30; 7/17-18; 8/23-2; 9/19-20. Destroy pests & weeds/cut hay: 6/10-11; 7/17-18; 8/23-24; 9/19-20.

How to keep those mosquitoes away: According to the OFA plant basil on your deck to keep away flies, hornworms and mosquitoes. Who knew? Also can be used to make a nice pesto.

Holidays, Observances, and other Celebrations: National Ice Cream Soda Day: June 20. Father’s Day: June 21. Independence Day: July 4. Chocolate Day: July 7. Creamsicle Day: August 14. Kiss and make up day: August 25. Labor Day: September 7. Grandparents Day: September 13. Talk like a pirate day: September 19. International Day of Peace: September 21.

Farmers Markets and Farm Stands: For 2015, we’ve updated our local farmers markets guide to include farm stands for locavores who want to shop right at the farm. There we list five local markets, that range in size from 20 to 30 vendors where you can shop for a full meal from fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, baked goods and desserts, prepared foods, artisanal cheeses, and pickles – of course. Four are held on Saturdays and the Muscoot Farm market is held on Sundays. They all support local sustainable farming and offer organic and free-range products. Plus, four local farm stands – three that are open during the week. And one where you can pick your own right in the field. Read on.

Check out these “to die for” kitchens: Kitchen and bath remodeling is back! According to Remodeling magazine’s Metrostudy, spending on home remodeling in the US, after bottoming in 2011, will surpass its 2007 high for the first time by IZ2 Q3 2015. And according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies the Northeast market and kitchen and bath remodeling are leading the way. Armonk resident, and Vice President of KBS / Kitchen & Bath Source in North White Plains, Rob Stonbely echoed these sentiments, “Our showroom has never been busier.” But what’s hot in kitchen remodeling. We sat down with Rob to discuss the latest design trends. Here’s what he told us:

Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer: Do you park your car, haul your gear to the beach, find the perfect spot, set up your umbrella and chairs, roll out the blankets, park your cooler in a shady spot – and then pull out the sunscreen? (Who doesn’t?) Well if you’re trying to protect yourself it’s already too late.Sunscreen takes up to an hour to be fully effective. The biggest mistake people make is to get settled on the beach, and only after 15 minutes, have someone apply sunscreen to their back. By then, you will probably develop a burn from the exposure, according to Dr. Stuart Zweibel, a board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in skin cancer and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Zweibel offers some surprising facts about year-round skin cancer risks and tips to protect yourself here.

Horace Greeley in his New York Tribune Office

New Horace Greeley Exhibit takes up permanent residence at High School: Students from Suzanne mosca’s 11^th grade American History class recently unveiled a new permanent exhibit on the life and times of Horace Greeley at the Horace Greeley High School.The artifacts on display are part of the collection maintained by the New Castle Historical Society. . The students worked for several months on this project making several visits to the Horace Greeley House Museum throughout the project for tours, to conduct research, and to work with the Historical Society’s Collection. The students also participated in a guided walking-tour of Greeley’s former farm, what is now much of downtown Chappaqua.The exhibit is located near the Counseling Office. Read more.

What To Do: Coyotes in the backyard? When you bought your home did your realtor tell you that you would be living on coyote property? Facing the reality that you may be sharing land with a coyote family may be difficult for residents concerned over the news of coyote attacks on small dogs in our area. But Maggie Howell, the Executive Director of the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, thinks a better understanding of coyote behavior can go a long way in minimizing risks and managing any anxieties you may have. We spoke to her about what they’re doing in our yards, what you can do to avoid unwanted sightings and confrontations and how to scare them away. Read more.

How to survive your kid’s Little League pitching career: Former San Francisco Giant Rafael Riguiero of ProSwing in Mt. Kisco offers some tips on how kids (and parents) can survive a Little League pitching career. First he tells you how to pitch, how to strengthen your arm, avoid injuries and who is his favorite major league pitcher. Most importantly he offers his professional guidance on how kids can keep their confidence (and spirits up) when everything around them is falling apart – as in there are more balls going through the fielders legs (and over the fence) than over the plate. (Been there.) Read more.

The antidote for “Treadmill Burnout”: Is the treadmill your “go to” device for cardio workouts? Have your experienced the dread treadmill plateau? First your workout routine flat lines. Then you lose that added motivation that comes with tracking your steady improvement. It becomes a chore, a bore and before you know it you are flirting with total burnout. (Been there. Done that.) It’s time to mix up your cardio! We sat down with Billy Goda, Master Trainer and Fitness Director at the Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco, to discuss the importance of cardio training, why you sometimes have to mix it up, and how to get your cardio fix without running on the treadmill. Read more.

Outdoor Toys for Audiophiles and Media hounds: Every year we check in with Lou Gordon, President of Soundworks Armonk, for a techno savvy discussion of the best new toys and services in home entertainment and home automation. This year we go Soundworks Paradigm-main outdoors and in on a range of topics for audiophiles, cineastes, backyard internet surfers, and mobile media hounds. There’s good news for you if you want to watch TV outdoors – hey if you can read a book in the sun with no glare you can watch TV too. If the internet is your idea of outdoor media, Lou can tell you how to speed the web up for optimal deck and patio surfing. Indoors flat screens are getting bigger and better with Ultra HD. Some are getting less flat but the built-in audiophile quality speakers and subwoofer add a new dimension to home theatre entertainment. And he’s got some recommendations for a new line of Paradigm speakers that offer $5,000 worth of sound for a fraction of the cost. Read more.

Armonk Grill Guys: Looking for someone to tune up your grill for the Fourth of July? The Armonk Grill Guys, a couple of Byram Hills grads, are home from college for the summer and they’re itching to get their wire brushes on your steel burners and flavorizer bars. They serviced the What To Do Weber and we’re happy to recommend them. Call 914.420-2398 or email armonkgrillguys@gmail.com.

From the Archives: Best of 2014 Summer Survival

Tired of the License Plate Game on your drive to the Cape? You know the one where you track all the different state license plates you see. Try this one: Name as many movies as you can that have a number in the title. We’ll get you started: Five Easy Pieces, Eight Men Out, 8 1/2, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Fahrenheit 9/11. On the drive home switch to songs with numbers in their titles: “96 Tears”, “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover”, “25 or 6 to 4”, and of course, “One (is the loneliest number”. Have a great vacation. Take What To Do along.

A cool summer cocktail: Looking for a cool summer drink for your next garden party? At a recent wine tasting at Wine Geeks Armonk, WTD sampled a cool cocktail made with 5 parts white wine, one part gin and one part Crème De Pamplemousse Rose from Giffard Depuis 1885. This liqueur is made from an extract of essential oils found in the skin of a grapefruit. It has a bright aromatic quality that balances the bitterness and tartness of fresh pink grapefruit – a great citrus treat with just a hint of sweetness and a kick from the gin. Throw another shrimp on the Barbie and mix one up! Perfect after the pool, too. (Wine Geeks Armonk, 559 Main St., Armonk; 914.273. 9463; www.winegeeksarmonk.com)